Opinion Eyes on the Street

Debating North Central NID, calling on Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron, Penn Treaty Park nominated historic, Mt. Airy USA focuses on cultural events, Rendell subpoenaed

PlanPhilly staff

March 12, 2012

(A nomination for Penn Treaty Park to be listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places was accepted Friday. | Flickr user pwbaker, Creative Commons.)

Just who will control and benefit from the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District? Many neighbors believe it’s all about Temple and landlords who own student housing, not homeowners and long-time residents, reports the Daily News. Everyone says they want cleaner and safer streets, so is the core of opposition to the NID about who controls the process or does it stem from a communication strategy that did not involve residents early enough? NID committee spokesman Herb Reid told DN, “This is a preliminary plan and out of the last two community meetings, we have already made changes.” The North Central NID is on City Council’s Committee on Rules agenda tomorrow [pdf].

Joseph G. Brin visits Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Heysiner-Ezras Israel, at Fourth and Emily Streets, an Orthodox synagogue survivor deep in South Philly. Brin, writing for Hidden City Daily, finds a shul out of the past, looking forward to a second century of use.

The Historical Commission heard a tale of two parks on Friday, reports Anthony Campisi for PlanPhilly. The Commission denied a nomination to designate the 1970s-era Coxe Park at 20th and Cherry streets, while a nomination for Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown was given the green light.

Mt. Airy USA intends to expand its focus to emphasize arts and culture through its new speaker series and outdoor events in Lovett Library’s spruced-up park, NewsWorks reports.

Ed Rendell has been subpoenaed by the US Treasury’s counterterrorism arm because he accepted speaking fees from an Iranian group that the US State Department classifies as a Terrorist Organization. Phawker picks up the Washington Times story, explaining that it’s illegal to take money from the group (Mujahideen-e Khalq), even if the US essentially agrees with its anti-Iranian government message. Whoops.

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