Stanton and Sheppard spared from closure | public property ad balance | Philadelphia Media Network sale imminent | minority contracting failings | Franklin Square’s new addition

The School Reform Commission voted to close eight schools, but spared Stanton and Sheppard, reports the Public School Notebook. Stanton and Sheppard both have improving educational performance and strong partnerships, but the schools could be relocated because of their aging facilities. The School District still faces a $186 million budget gap for the 2012-2013 school year, reports the Inquirer.

Can Philly sensibly manage Council President Darrell Clarke’s proposal to place ads on public buildings or will the badly needed revenue make us slowly sell out on the city’s visual character? Annette John-Hall considers that balance in her column today, hoping that the city’s contracts with advertisers will provide enough controls against visual pollution and inappropriate placement. Will we become ad-revenue junkies anyway?

The Philadelphia Media Network sale is imminent, reports media watch blog JimRomenesko.com. Word is the sale to a new ownership group, led by businessman Lewis Katz and political powerbroker George E. Norcross III, could be announced today. The New York Times’ Media Decoder blog has a good rundown too.

The Daily News examines if the city’s limp approach to minority-contracting requirements have led to a system of fraud that falls far short of the requirements objectives.

Franklin Square has a new permanent event space that will enhance the park’s revenue stream and offer the possibility of more year-round uses, reports PlanPhilly’s JoAnn Greco. Franklin Square is now open for the season.

 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal