Witness intimidation

I remember the first time I saw a teenage girl wearing a "stop snitching" t-shirt at the Gallery Mall. I wanted to ask her how she could wear such a thing, but an even better question would be who would make and sell a shirt like that. Suppose I made a t-shirt saying that I support rampant criminality and a culture of unchecked violence on Philadelphia's streets. Not catchy enough? How about: "Snitching is worse than rape or murder," which is essentially the moral code at work here.

There's a great article on the subject in yesterday's paper, explaining why witness intimidation is a big reason Philadelphia has the nation's lowest conviction rate for felony crime among large urban counties. (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/special_packages/78794487.html) "These rats deserve to die, right or wrong? ... My war is with the rats. I'm a hunt every last one bitch that I can, and kill 'em," said Kaboni Savage, accused of running a multimillion dollar drug ring and ordering the murder of at least seven witnesses.

The article is comprehensive but does not delve deep enough into the question of how signed witness testimony can get released and distributed, sometimes even posted on restaurant walls and telephone poles like a lost dog notice. It should be illegal for defense lawyers to give their clients copies of such statements, and lawyers should be held accountable if copies appear around town. When in my job as a writer I get emails from sources at law firms, they contain very specific statements warning against copying and distribution of confidential materials. These people know how to manage paperwork.

Teen driving

Another week, another horrible accident involving a car full of teens. Two ninth-grade girls were killed in Upper Pottsgrove Saturday night when an SUV carrying six people flipped over on Route 100. Some have called for a straightening of this road. What we actually need is for Pennsylvania to straighten out its graduated licensing law.

The law already prevents provisional license holders from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and limits the number of passengers to the number of seatbelts (somewhat redundant, as minors are already required to be buckled up anywhere in a vehicle). This law does not go far enough, as teens are known to be especially accident prone when joy riding with their peers.

North Carolina limits passengers under 21 in a car driven by a provisional driver to one. The nighttime driving restrictions also begin much earlier (9 p.m.). Other states have similar laws, but N.C.'s is considered one of the best.

While the status of the driver was not mentioned in the article, either or both of these rules would prevent many deaths here in Pennsylvania. A bill sponsored by State Rep. Joseph F. Markosek (D., Allegheny) would limit teen passengers, though it does not tighten nighttime driving restrictions. Nevertheless, let's hope it moves through Harrisburg quickly.

To read today's article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/79196867.html
A press release about Markosek's bill is here: http://www.pahouse.com/PR/025042709A1.asp

Setting the kids free

"You don't see any leaves on the ground, people are very good these days about getting them up, and it's the same way with the kids - they've all been sucked up."

Lenore Skenazy this morning on Radio Times (WHYY) commenting on suburban neighborhoods bereft of kids due to overprotective parents refusing to let children play outside unattended. She is one of my new heroes - check out her blog: http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/

A bigger Philly

Did you hear? According to the latest census data, Philadelphia actually GREW last year - to 1,540,351. This is pretty exciting, and more than just symbolic. The city has been losing population since the 1950 census, when it had just over 2 million folks primed for the news that there would soon be some modest ranchers going up in a place called Levittown. It seems that a more accurate count of people living in prisons, nursing homes and college dorms led to a boost after the city challenged initial 2008 estimates.

Granted, the crappy economy may be helping the numbers as prospects aren't looking any better outside the city than in, but the main driver has to be the success of Center City and gentrification of areas like Fishtown. Folks in Chestnut Hill (where I used to live) should not be smug: the population there has been stable for decades. It's the urban pioneers and those staying put in less wealthy areas who improve Philly's prospects and tax base.

Anyway, the story inspired this comment, posted on philly.com by "BigCH":

Glad the prison population tipped us over 1.5 M. Way to go, guys! Extra jello at lunch tomorrow!

First time one of those reader posts, usually so offensive or moronic, has made me laugh.

To my loyal readers

Yes, I'm back -- with a new layout and new resolve to have this blog read by someone whose name does not appear on my 1040. Admittedly, it's been a while. There's been an election and a new president, two World Series and some named storms, not to mention the stinkbugs (my Pa. brethren will understand). Oh, and the economy.

For now, there's lots of old posts to browse (!!), but I'll leave you with my favorite-ever quote on Philadelphia politics, courtesy of Inquirer columnist Karen Heller and published during the D.A.'s race this past April (copied from yellowed parchment on my desk):

Politicians are among my favorite fictional characters. They create strong, driving narratives to charm voters, while speaking in absolutes that approximate conversational English yet defy linear thought. And they're prone to marketing themselves like products, which in a sense they are.

Heller's probably the best "finger on the pulse" scribe the paper's got since Tom Ferrick left last year.