Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
All very true. However -- and concisely -- there's no legal reason and no rational expectation you would get the kind of information you're asking for about any other project in the city, on anybody else's website. Not swearing it's never done; but it is seldom done. So faulting the locals for not doing what no one else does seems misguided. Work positively with them instead to urge them to excel, if you want them to do what few others do. -- Tony West UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN wrote: zoning is a public question, and yet if a neighbor coming in the middle of things wanted to know about the hotel, or about the progress of the hotel, or about opposition to (or support for) the hotel, he/she would be hard pressed to learn anything outside of this list or the uc review or the dp or (some other periodic source? who knows?). but one thing is clear: that neighbor wouldn't learn much of anything about the hotel from penn praxis, from shca, from uchs, or from ucd. and that neighbor certainly wouldn't learn much from pcpc, who 'erased' neighbors' testimony from their publicly accessible minutes, and scrambled neighbors' names view the pdf at http://tinyurl.com/6zvllw. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St, 1st Thurs.
the office could be more effective with greater resources. The timing of the first Thursday monthly meeting at 8 a.m. prohibits many people from attending, particularly residents who have school-age children to attend to. The committee recommends that more resources should be provided to this office so that it can hold more than one meeting a month, advertise it more widely and develop alternative strategies to inform the public. In addition there is an impression that while the University does seek community opinion on new initiatives, in fact in most cases the key decisions have already been made and the University is unlikely to reverse them. Yes, the committee's report is pretty good despite seeking info from Melani. Many people do not realize that this meeting was conducted for years as invitation only. It was designed for the anointed only. When I founded the Clark Park Music and Arts Coommunity, I tried to work collabaratively with this Penn office. I took the University at its word and I put forward several proposals based on Penn's initiatives. Specifically, retaining students in the city and constructive engagement with the rich cultural and artistic assets in this community. I asked on a few occasions to present to the anointed at this first Thursday meeting because I foolishly hoped for a constructive relationship with them. I was not permitted and instead presented to Melani's group, the UCCC, in an attempt to work with the anointed. I don't know when they decided to allow other members of the public attend this 1st Thursday dog and pony show. After Councilman Blackwell blasted UCD and Penn, Penn Real Estate sent their people like Andrew Zitcer to watch Bryan from the back of the room. I went to one more of these things directly after UCD's violation of the law was the topic. Penn real estate so obviously tightened this dog and pony show that there was no reason to spend that much time surrounded by the anointed. They post their report in the Review but never the agenda in advance. It is not intended as community outreach by the U. It is part of the courtship with the anointed, as privledged anointed, allowed to support the Penn agenda. glenn -Original Message- From: UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 10, 2008 1:47 AM To: univcity Univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St. Glenn moyer wrote: These regular meetings never have agenda items publicly announced in advance. These are not the public forums you are pretending. Scheduled at 8 AM, it is ridiculous to contend that it is the duty of community members to dutifully attend all of these meetings for the anointed to catch Lussenhop. The one time he was caught and the geriatric social was announced a day or two in advance in the UC review, Lussenhop didin't show!!! He showed up next time at 8 AM. Why must community members attend all monthly 8AM, tightly controlled dog and pony shows, or lose their chance at voicing their views or asking questions? It's absurd when Lussenhop could announce any real public forum which he wants to assert. 'first thursday' meetings were evaluated back in 2004 http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v50/n23/comm_relations.html This report represents the findings of the Committee on Community Relations for the Fall semester 2003 Does the community need a watchdog for University real estate activities? To explore the feasibility of a watchdog role for our committee, we first sought input from the community on this issue. We met with Ms. Melani Lamond, the secretary (an elected office) of the University City Community Council (UCCC). This group is an umbrella organization of University City neighborhood organizations and special interest groups, including Cedar Park Neighbors, Garden Court Community Association, Walnut Hill Community Association, Powelton Village Civic Association, Saunders Park Neighbors, Squirrel Hill Community Association, and a few other groups. The UCCC is comprised of the presidents of the individual organizations in order to provide one strong group that could give advice, share expertise, and build consensus. Ms. Lamond is also an Associate Broker at Urban Bye Realtor, a University City real estate office. Ms. Lamond shared with us some issues that had been contentious between the community and the University but felt that, in general, the community, or at least those members who are active in community associations, was happy with recent University initiatives What impact does the University's real estate policies have on the UC communities and how well does it seek and use input from its members? The general feeling of the Committee was that although the Office of Community and City Relations does very well in its outreach work to the public, the office could be more effective with greater resources. The timing of the first Thursday monthly
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
So, are you for more meetings or against more meetings? Take a stand, concisely. More meetings, or no more meetings? -- Tony West These regular meetings never have agenda items publicly announced in advance. These are not the public forums you are pretending. Scheduled at 8 AM, it is ridiculous to contend that it is the duty of community members to dutifully attend all of these meetings for the anointed to catch Lussenhop. The one time he was caught and the geriatric social was announced a day or two in advance in the UC review, Lussenhop didin't show!!! He showed up next time at 8 AM. Why must community members attend all monthly 8AM, tightly controlled dog and pony shows, or lose their chance at voicing their views or asking questions? It's absurd when Lussenhop could announce any real public forum which he wants to assert. Oh yes, Lussenhop does assert that there have been lots of meetings The one time he was caught by the community, he was told to shove his Campus Inn where the sun don't shine. Sorry West old boy, you need the barking cheese gang to back you up with the death ray. Without them, you're just a wanker up the creek without a paddle. A trusted citizen journalist, Mr. Moyer -Original Message- From: Anthony West [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 8, 2008 6:34 PM To: University City List UnivCity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St. He had about 20 minutes. That's a lot at First Thursday, because the agenda is always packed. No way a development of this scale can be resolved in any one 20-minute presentation. Thus -- more meetings are needed, many more. So, are you for more meetings or against more meetings? Take a stand, concisely. More meetings, or no more meetings? -- Tony West It was a long First Thursday meeting, packed with agenda items, and Tom had only a few minutes to make his presentation. -- Melani Lamond concise! .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Glenn moyer wrote: These regular meetings never have agenda items publicly announced in advance. These are not the public forums you are pretending. Scheduled at 8 AM, it is ridiculous to contend that it is the duty of community members to dutifully attend all of these meetings for the anointed to catch Lussenhop. And yet, sixty West Philadelphians who are concerned about issues and developments in our community manage to attend the First Thursday meetings. As anyone who's run a community meeting knows, that's actually a good turnout. And some people even manage to endure being around the nursing-home residents whom Glenn finds so comical and amusing. I also don't see where Tony claimed that it's anyone's duty to attend these meetings. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Anthony West wrote: Ray and Glenn are saying, then, that no meetings count as meetings and no neighbors count as neighbors unless everyone present agrees with Ray and Glenn. It's hard to imagine this view carrying much weight with City officials. Councilwoman Blackwell is wide awake at 8 am when she shows up at First Thursday meetings, and she expects others to listen well. The 60-odd West Philadelphians who attend find they're an excellent source of diverse information. Attendees at First Thursday heard about the hotel proposal several months before it was presented at the SHCA Membership meeting, for instance. Also unlikely to persuade ZBA members is the idea that meetings don't count when held in a senior center. There's not a politician in the city who doesn't regularly attend public meetings in senior centers. Therefore, people who wish to have a practical impact should take advantage of any opportunity to present their case (and also listen) at any relevant meeting. Those with concerns about 40th St. development might explore this opportunity, then. When a person runs out of substantive grounds to stay excited, using lots of exclamation marks won't make a blunted critique sharp again, or a windy parody concise, or a poor political approach clever. It was a long First Thursday meeting, packed with agenda items, and Tom had only a few minutes to make his presentation. -- Melani Lamond concise! .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
He had about 20 minutes. That's a lot at First Thursday, because the agenda is always packed. No way a development of this scale can be resolved in any one 20-minute presentation. Thus -- more meetings are needed, many more. So, are you for more meetings or against more meetings? Take a stand, concisely. More meetings, or no more meetings? -- Tony West It was a long First Thursday meeting, packed with agenda items, and Tom had only a few minutes to make his presentation. -- Melani Lamond concise! .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Anthony West wrote: So, are you for more meetings or against more meetings? Take a stand, concisely. More meetings, or no more meetings? yes, let's see more meeting minutes! http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/40th//reference.html http://www.sprucehillca.org/publications.html http://www.uchs.net/ http://tinyurl.com/6p266k http://www.upenn.edu/secretary/council/ccl.html .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
and who are easily frightened by security officers, I read a story once about a young kid who was killed running away from cops. His mother said he was terrified of cops since they had beaten him up and framed him. Tony, will you sing this song with me at the next Praxis meeting to help ease the fears of NIMBY wankers? I love Penn cops I love Penn cops Why don't you Why don't you They only shoot the bad guys Only shoot the bad guys Whoopsie do Whoopsie do -Original Message- From: Anthony West [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 6, 2008 6:56 PM To: ucityList univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St. This community room is used as meeting space by various groups. Collectively, any people from around the community attend these groups' meetings there. A meeting in a senior residence hall is as normal as one in a church hall or a school auditorium. I don't think the presence of senior citizens at a public meeting is a fit subject for ridicule. Contemptuous, dismissive jokes about their health, etc. aren't funny. More importantly, they don't invalidate the meeting. Public meetings should make it easier, not harder, for seniors with activity limitations to attend. Community members who insist on old-folk-free venues, and who are easily frightened by security officers, probably should steer clear of this venue. Most people find it's a convenient, well-equipped meeting space. -- Tony West Glenn moyer wrote: You might not know how funny this is! At 8AM, Penn Praxis holds these regular forums at the old folks home. Nurses wheel down their clients for donuts. As Praxis and Tom do the blah-blah, the folks take naps in their wheel chairs and the nurses get to go out for a smoke. Once Praxis shuts up, the folks get to socialize a bit before they're wheeled away. (I made a mad dash for the door because the Penn cop was giving me the eye after I called Tom's drawings deceptive. They had that drawing where the teeny weeny 10 story building was hiding behind the gigantic 3 story historic building.) You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
I don't think the presence of senior citizens at a public meeting is a fit subject for ridicule. Contemptuous, dismissive jokes about their health, etc. aren't funny. More importantly, they don't invalidate the meeting. Public meetings should make it easier, not harder, for seniors with activity limitations to attend. I wasn't making fun of seniors-hahaha. I was making fun of you, your propaganda, and Praxis. I guess others could fault me for contemptuous dismissive jokes about someone with mental health issues but it's so much fun. And the wankers on the UC-list needed to understand why Tom and Praxis never give public forums except at Penn's tightly controlled 8AM meeting and at the geriatric donut social surrounded by armed Penn coppers. Citizen journalist clarifying yellow propaganda, Honest and satirical Mr. Moyer -Original Message- From: Anthony West [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 6, 2008 6:56 PM To: ucityList univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St. This community room is used as meeting space by various groups. Collectively, any people from around the community attend these groups' meetings there. A meeting in a senior residence hall is as normal as one in a church hall or a school auditorium. I don't think the presence of senior citizens at a public meeting is a fit subject for ridicule. Contemptuous, dismissive jokes about their health, etc. aren't funny. More importantly, they don't invalidate the meeting. Public meetings should make it easier, not harder, for seniors with activity limitations to attend. Community members who insist on old-folk-free venues, and who are easily frightened by security officers, probably should steer clear of this venue. Most people find it's a convenient, well-equipped meeting space. -- Tony West Glenn moyer wrote: You might not know how funny this is! At 8AM, Penn Praxis holds these regular forums at the old folks home. Nurses wheel down their clients for donuts. As Praxis and Tom do the blah-blah, the folks take naps in their wheel chairs and the nurses get to go out for a smoke. Once Praxis shuts up, the folks get to socialize a bit before they're wheeled away. (I made a mad dash for the door because the Penn cop was giving me the eye after I called Tom's drawings deceptive. They had that drawing where the teeny weeny 10 story building was hiding behind the gigantic 3 story historic building.) You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Ray and Glenn are saying, then, that no meetings count as meetings and no neighbors count as neighbors unless everyone present agrees with Ray and Glenn. It's hard to imagine this view carrying much weight with City officials. Councilwoman Blackwell is wide awake at 8 am when she shows up at First Thursday meetings, and she expects others to listen well. The 60-odd West Philadelphians who attend find they're an excellent source of diverse information. Attendees at First Thursday heard about the hotel proposal several months before it was presented at the SHCA Membership meeting, for instance. Also unlikely to persuade ZBA members is the idea that meetings don't count when held in a senior center. There's not a politician in the city who doesn't regularly attend public meetings in senior centers. Therefore, people who wish to have a practical impact should take advantage of any opportunity to present their case (and also listen) at any relevant meeting. Those with concerns about 40th St. development might explore this opportunity, then. When a person runs out of substantive grounds to stay excited, using lots of exclamation marks won't make a blunted critique sharp again, or a windy parody concise, or a poor political approach clever. -- Tony West UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN wrote: Glenn moyer wrote: People don't think Penn Praxis does anything useful. These geriatric socials are very important for the well being of these folks. It's meant to make a pretense of public engagement for Penn but luckily both the low paid nurses and old folks get some donuts, coffee, and a little group nap. I'm sorry, glenn, but penn praxis and friends of 40th street are NOT mere window dressing! they're NOT shams! the people who attend them are WELL-INFORMED and WIDE AWAKE at 8 am! just ask al! You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
One year is but the blink of an eye in complex developments with zoning and other neighborhood issues. Truly large-scale, multipartite ventures like Bart Blatstein's transformation of Northern Liberties have been going on since, egad, 2000 at least. Many parts of it have been controversial in that community. So at any given time, there's always some proposal being batted back and forth between this committee and that board. As a spectator sport, developing is a lot more like baseball than volleyball. Find a comfortable seat. -- Tony West haha all this 'help' for both developer and neighbors, and here we all are, one year later! long game indeed. .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Anthony West wrote: PennPraxis facilitates a regular monthly forum at which neighbors who are either for or against the hotel proposal can communicate and learn. This is not a panacea, but running meetings is PennPraxis' chief stock in trade. If regular public meetings can't help your faction, then yes, PennPraxis hasn't helped it and can't help it. It's not a sort of Planning Police, if that's what you have in mind. Ray, You might not know how funny this is! At 8AM, Penn Praxis holds these regular forums at the old folks home. Nurses wheel down their clients for donuts. As Praxis and Tom do the blah-blah, the folks take naps in their wheel chairs and the nurses get to go out for a smoke. Once Praxis shuts up, the folks get to socialize a bit before they're wheeled away. (I made a mad dash for the door because the Penn cop was giving me the eye after I called Tom's drawings deceptive. They had that drawing where the teeny weeny 10 story building was hiding behind the gigantic 3 story historic building.) People don't think Penn Praxis does anything useful. These geriatric socials are very important for the well being of these folks. It's meant to make a pretense of public engagement for Penn but luckily both the low paid nurses and old folks get some donuts, coffee, and a little group nap. If the people who show up at Friends of 40th St. meetings frequently express concern about the hotel proposal, then PennPraxis would likely record it in some way. By the same token, if nobody ever mentions opposition at any of these regular meetings, that too becomes a datum -- a way to measure public opinion. No one owns a copyright to the phrase the neighbors, after all. Hahaha. There are no little green men collecting datums for Penn Praxis. Besides the sleeping old folks, it looks like a used car salesman convention at these forums. This whole process Mr. West describes in detail and the little alien data collectors are just something in Mr. West's head-hahaha! Citizen journalist, Glenn -Original Message- From: UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sep 6, 2008 1:48 AM To: ucityList univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St. Anthony West wrote: PennPraxis facilitates a regular monthly forum at which neighbors who are either for or against the hotel proposal can communicate and learn. This is not a panacea, but running meetings is PennPraxis' chief stock in trade. If regular public meetings can't help your faction, then yes, PennPraxis hasn't helped it and can't help it. It's not a sort of Planning Police, if that's what you have in mind. If the people who show up at Friends of 40th St. meetings frequently express concern about the hotel proposal, then PennPraxis would likely record it in some way. By the same token, if nobody ever mentions opposition at any of these regular meetings, that too becomes a datum -- a way to measure public opinion. No one owns a copyright to the phrase the neighbors, after all. As for UCHS -- didn't Karen recently mention that one of its board members testified to its opposition to the hotel proposal at some public hearing? That sounds like help for the anti-hotel faction. It was clear she had wanted even more help. But that doesn't mean it didn't help. SHCA helps both sides as well as the ZBA by providing a Zoning Committee. An organization that acted without a report from its Zoning Committee would seem impetuous and unreliable. In a long game, one needs a closer as well as an opener. haha all this 'help' for both developer and neighbors, and here we all are, one year later! long game indeed. .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
This community room is used as meeting space by various groups. Collectively, any people from around the community attend these groups' meetings there. A meeting in a senior residence hall is as normal as one in a church hall or a school auditorium. I don't think the presence of senior citizens at a public meeting is a fit subject for ridicule. Contemptuous, dismissive jokes about their health, etc. aren't funny. More importantly, they don't invalidate the meeting. Public meetings should make it easier, not harder, for seniors with activity limitations to attend. Community members who insist on old-folk-free venues, and who are easily frightened by security officers, probably should steer clear of this venue. Most people find it's a convenient, well-equipped meeting space. -- Tony West Glenn moyer wrote: You might not know how funny this is! At 8AM, Penn Praxis holds these regular forums at the old folks home. Nurses wheel down their clients for donuts. As Praxis and Tom do the blah-blah, the folks take naps in their wheel chairs and the nurses get to go out for a smoke. Once Praxis shuts up, the folks get to socialize a bit before they're wheeled away. (I made a mad dash for the door because the Penn cop was giving me the eye after I called Tom's drawings deceptive. They had that drawing where the teeny weeny 10 story building was hiding behind the gigantic 3 story historic building.) You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Glenn moyer wrote: Anthony West wrote: PennPraxis facilitates a regular monthly forum at which neighbors who are either for or against the hotel proposal can communicate and learn. This is not a panacea, but running meetings is PennPraxis' chief stock in trade. If regular public meetings can't help your faction, then yes, PennPraxis hasn't helped it and can't help it. It's not a sort of Planning Police, if that's what you have in mind. Ray, You might not know how funny this is! At 8AM, Penn Praxis holds these regular forums at the old folks home. Nurses wheel down their clients for donuts. As Praxis and Tom do the blah-blah, the folks take naps in their wheel chairs and the nurses get to go out for a smoke. Once Praxis shuts up, the folks get to socialize a bit before they're wheeled away. (I made a mad dash for the door because the Penn cop was giving me the eye after I called Tom's drawings deceptive. They had that drawing where the teeny weeny 10 story building was hiding behind the gigantic 3 story historic building.) People don't think Penn Praxis does anything useful. These geriatric socials are very important for the well being of these folks. It's meant to make a pretense of public engagement for Penn but luckily both the low paid nurses and old folks get some donuts, coffee, and a little group nap. If the people who show up at Friends of 40th St. meetings frequently express concern about the hotel proposal, then PennPraxis would likely record it in some way. By the same token, if nobody ever mentions opposition at any of these regular meetings, that too becomes a datum -- a way to measure public opinion. No one owns a copyright to the phrase the neighbors, after all. Hahaha. There are no little green men collecting datums for Penn Praxis. Besides the sleeping old folks, it looks like a used car salesman convention at these forums. This whole process Mr. West describes in detail and the little alien data collectors are just something in Mr. West's head-hahaha! I'm sorry, glenn, but penn praxis and friends of 40th street are NOT mere window dressing! they're NOT shams! the people who attend them are WELL-INFORMED and WIDE AWAKE at 8 am! just ask al! as a matter of fact, anyone can read all about penn's proposed hotel, in great detail, in the meeting minutes posted on the friends of 40th street website. just click on all the recent links there: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/40th//reference.html furthermore, glenn, uchs and shca have been extraordinarily helpful to the neighbors in their opposition to this proposed hotel! for one thing, uchs and shca knew about the hotel plans back in april 2007, long before the public knew about it in oct 2007 when uc review first published the story. that was helpful! and ever since then, uchs and shca have silently witnessed false testimony at the phc and pcpc hearings -- without saying a word! that, too, was enormously helpful! in addition, uchs and shca have held numerous public meetings where the overwhelming public opposition to the hotel was demonstrated, and, true to their missions, uchs and shca have upheld and championed their constituents' mandate to oppose the hotel. that was above and beyond helpful! and not only that, glenn, but ucd has been very visible and vocal in their rallying the neighbors over this proposed hotel zoning question! just like they were before and after the dock street zoning question last year! in fact, anyone can read all about ucd's close involvement with this hotel zoning question on their website: http://tinyurl.com/5mm3se if you think about it, glenn, you'll find that the combined efforts of penn praxis, ucd, shca, and uchs have been enormously helpful to all our neighbors as they face this penn-proposed hotel! besides publishing useful details about the proposal's progress, both uchs and shca have been extraordinarily vocal and visible in demonstrating how this hotel is counter to their stated missions. meanwhile, penn praxis and ucd have used this hotel controversy as a clear demonstration of how involved they are with the community, how committed they are to ensuring that the community has a real voice in shaping their business corridors! could our neighbors ask for more? could our neighbors be any better served? I strongly doubt it, glenn! we are the luckiest people in philadelphia! imagine: having such committed advocates whenever penn or developers want to have their way in our neighborhood! and this is all in stark contrast to our neighbors across the river, who have to fend for themselves whenever some large institution determines how a bridge is renovated! if only other philadelphians would look to us and our organizations, as THE model of civic involvement and transparency and sensible development, things in philly would happen a lot smoother, a lot more transparently, and not drag on for years, ultimately putting
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
Anthony West wrote: An opportunity arose to get first-hand information on PennPraxis' current role in 40th St. planning. Andrew Goodman, a planning fellow with PennPraxis, explained U Penn originally asked PennPraxis to assist in starting the group Friends of 40th St. in 2004. That role continues. PennPraxis' function is solely to facilitate meetings for Friends of 40th St. This service is one specialty of PennPraxis, which it is known for in many other arenas. Friends of 40th St. holds regular monthly meetings on the last Friday of every month at the Community Room of 3901 Market St. The next meeting will be Sep. 26. There will be presentations on the trolley portal renovation, the Lancaster Ave. Jazz Fest, retail in the Radian building and more. The developer of the extended-stay hotel project made a presentation to Friends of 40th St. It's an appropriate subject for Friends of 40th St. meetings and Goodman welcomed people who are interested in this subject to attend those meetings. no one disputes that penn praxis exists, just as no one disputes that shca or uchs or ucd exist. the fact remains that neither penn praxis nor shca nor uchs nor ucd have helped the neighbors in this year-long hotel battle. .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
PennPraxis facilitates a regular monthly forum at which neighbors who are either for or against the hotel proposal can communicate and learn. This is not a panacea, but running meetings is PennPraxis' chief stock in trade. If regular public meetings can't help your faction, then yes, PennPraxis hasn't helped it and can't help it. It's not a sort of Planning Police, if that's what you have in mind. If the people who show up at Friends of 40th St. meetings frequently express concern about the hotel proposal, then PennPraxis would likely record it in some way. By the same token, if nobody ever mentions opposition at any of these regular meetings, that too becomes a datum -- a way to measure public opinion. No one owns a copyright to the phrase the neighbors, after all. As for UCHS -- didn't Karen recently mention that one of its board members testified to its opposition to the hotel proposal at some public hearing? That sounds like help for the anti-hotel faction. It was clear she had wanted even more help. But that doesn't mean it didn't help. SHCA helps both sides as well as the ZBA by providing a Zoning Committee. An organization that acted without a report from its Zoning Committee would seem impetuous and unreliable. In a long game, one needs a closer as well as an opener. -- Tony West Friends of 40th St. holds regular monthly meetings on the last Friday of every month at the Community Room of 3901 Market St. The next meeting will be Sep. 26. There will be presentations on the trolley portal renovation, the Lancaster Ave. Jazz Fest, retail in the Radian building and more. The developer of the extended-stay hotel project made a presentation to Friends of 40th St. It's an appropriate subject for Friends of 40th St. meetings and Goodman welcomed people who are interested in this subject to attend those meetings. no one disputes that penn praxis exists, just as no one disputes that shca or uchs or ucd exist. the fact remains that neither penn praxis nor shca nor uchs nor ucd have helped the neighbors in this year-long hotel battle. .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] PennPraxis and 40th St.
An opportunity arose to get first-hand information on PennPraxis' current role in 40th St. planning. Andrew Goodman, a planning fellow with PennPraxis, explained U Penn originally asked PennPraxis to assist in starting the group Friends of 40th St. in 2004. That role continues. PennPraxis' function is solely to facilitate meetings for Friends of 40th St. This service is one specialty of PennPraxis, which it is known for in many other arenas. Friends of 40th St. holds regular monthly meetings on the last Friday of every month at the Community Room of 3901 Market St. The next meeting will be Sep. 26. There will be presentations on the trolley portal renovation, the Lancaster Ave. Jazz Fest, retail in the Radian building and more. The developer of the extended-stay hotel project made a presentation to Friends of 40th St. It's an appropriate subject for Friends of 40th St. meetings and Goodman welcomed people who are interested in this subject to attend those meetings. -- Tony West You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
