Ok... I've recovered from my encounter with Al Taubenberger's new blog (oh no... I opened it again!)
Several minutes later and still whistling the Taubenberger tune...
This election is over as far as I'm concerned. I don't know what Nutter can do to compete with that. The Olivia ad was a stroke of genius but a midi version of "You're a Grand Old Flag" will be impossible to top. He's not giving up, though. Taking a page out of Sam Katz's 2003 playbook, Nutter is courting the skater vote, which I think got Sam all of 3 votes and those were guys who accidentally showed up at the voting booth. I can laugh about it since it was partially my idea for him to do this. I stand by the idea since it I still think embracing LOVE Park's iconic status would go a long way in upping the city's cool factor and generating some of that great buzz that helps draw creative, entrepreneurial types... that and lowering the costs of starting a business.
Anyway, Nutter doesn't quite see LOVE Park in the same light but he is willing to help out with the compromise plan, which, I gotta admit, looks pretty cool. Judging from the location of tomorrow's fundraiser, a penthouse at the Phoenix apartments, I don't think Nutter will have to worry about bringing a helmet.
Oh yeah, and he's doing the "vision thing" with some very thoughtful Drexel students.
Comments (6)
Scattered wonders , permanent directions , undeclared committments and outstanding options never cease to amaze me.
How does the rest of Philadelphia feel about Mayor Nutter's flash forward vision of Paine's Park as a skatepark.
Posted by Jasper Zeigler Jr | August 8, 2007 9:06 AM
So the same man who banned skateboarding at LOVE Park and Dilworth Plaza is simply supporting a skateboard park no one really wants? He isn't going to do what one of his opponent is doing, which is re-opening those spots, which is just what skateboarders want?
He might as well forget the skateboarder vote! It's going to that Larry guy!
Posted by Anonymous | August 8, 2007 9:31 AM
skateboarders vote?
Posted by Anonymous | August 8, 2007 12:01 PM
I take exception to no one wanting the skateboarding park. Certainly the skateboarders want it, and they're Philadelphia citizens, too, lest we all forget. And others, such as me, want them to have it because it's their right to.
What I'm saying is, if we start down the path of those other than ourselves not having the things they're entitled to, and that they want, because we don't want it, where does this all finally lead? Right now, for instance, we don't have any really great movie theaters in this city because some don't want that. And in many instances Philadelphia lacks quality affordable housing, because some don't want that. And there's no plans on the table whatsover to restore Philadelphia's massive Delaware River waterfront to being a global seaport once again, because some don't want that.
So to be totally fair, think of many things that exist in this city here and now that some want but others don't, and then let's get rid of all those things -- the Eagles Stadium, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the entirety of the Fairmount Park system, Elfreth's Alley, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Zoo, the American Academy of Music, the city's leading universities, and yes, even City Hall itself, because some don't want it.
Posted by Steve W. | August 12, 2007 3:56 AM
Ok Steve
You gotta answer a few questions for me
First
Have you ever been to the Bridge movie theater? Is that not a great theater?
Second
What the heck is affordable housing? Ireally don't understand this arguement. To me the ONE thing this city has tons of is affordable housing. But maybe I don't understand the definition, enlighten me please?
Posted by philly on the rise | August 13, 2007 11:23 AM
In answer to your theater question, the city of Philadelphia as a whole lot bigger than just Center City alone. And outside of Center City, where's the theaters? Where? There used to be plenty! But then some came along and decided they didn't want them. And regarding Center City itself, while the Bridge might be so-so, what became of the great movie palaces Center City once had in abundance? The only one left now is the Boyd, and that hasn't been open for over five years straight now. Why? Because some don't want it.
As for affordable housing, I'm factoring property taxes into that. And so far as Center City goes affordable housing is zilch, neither here nor there. And not just due to market conditions but because some don't want that. And "affordable" itself is a relative term. For sure, if you're somebody like Bill Gates, ALL housing throughout Philly is "affordable," and readily so at that.
But I know, I know. In these arguments I'm making, some don't see it that way as I and others do... [sigh]
Posted by Steve W. | August 14, 2007 3:53 AM