Northeast Times Letter Of The Week

I don’t know, guys. I think I’m calling BS on this one:

What’s happening to Somerton?

There are about four shopping centers in Somerton that have really turned around, but you could only appreciate that if you were Russian.

It seems to me that all the American stores have been shut down and taken over by Russian business owners who don’t seem to realize that they are in America and that American people need to understand what they are selling in their stores.

I even heard if you aren’t Russian, you aren’t able to work there. Plus, I don’t think any American people could stand to go in these stores. Something has got to give.

Yes, it’s possible people in Northeast Philly are going to start hating on Russian immigrants now, too. But I don’t know. This just seems a little over-the-top. Thoughts?

Letters to the editor Feb. 5, 2009 [Northeast Times]

Dracula’s Bookcase For Sale

Look what you can get on Craigslist for $350!

That’s right, a coffin-shaped bookcase. Custom-made!

Better act now. I hear people are dying to buy this thing.

Sorry.

Coffin Shaped bookcase - $350 (NE Philadelphia) [Craigslist]
Thanks, Emily

Anti-McCain Letters Sent To Northeast Philly Residents

Hey, it looks like somebody in the Great Northeast is having a little fun with McCain supporters. Or maybe it’s a McCain supporter sneak attack! Ohh, the possibilities are endless. But here’s the story:

Some Northeast residents who have signs on their lawns expressing support for John McCain have received letters in the mail accusing them of being racists.

McCain, a white Republican senator from Arizona, faces Democrat Barack Obama, a biracial senator from Illinois.

The printed letter reads, in part, “You white racist that sign is offensive. You make sure you vote for Mr. Barack Obama. Get use to a black house in Washington.”

The letter tells the residents to move if they think blacks make the city look bad and that anyone supporting McCain is “a loser, a racist and a sinner.”

“Mr. Barack Obama is the man. It is our time our city our country. So just move racist. Anyway your vote does not count. Obama got it!”

Well, at least the letter got the part about your vote not counting correct.

Local mom has a brush with Sarah Palin [Northeast Times]
Photo by NCinDC used under a Creative Commons license

Annoying Neighbors Arrested

Thank God for the Phillies! Their Game 2 win made sure that the mother-daughter prostitution team arrested yesterday stayed off the front page of the Daily News. “Just to be clear, the threesome specifically advertised ‘w4m’ or women for men,” the paper says. Yes, there are 7500 of those ads in Philadelphia alone. Also, shouldn’t it be ww4m? Just want everything to be clear, you know.

Editor’s Note: After typing the previous paragraph, I noticed the story is now on the front page of Philly.com. And there’s not even comments! Sigh.

But the real fun was on television, where the pair had to do a perp walk for the cameras. (This was in Wissinoming, by the way.) One of the women told the station, “It’s a messed up world out there and we have to do this just to get by.” Most importantly, though, was this:

“You always hear that prostitution is a victimless crime, well you see these neighbors, you see how upset they are,” said Lt. Charles Green. “A victimless crime, look at those three kids going down to D.H.S., you tell me they’re not victims?”

If you could get the cops to arrest your neighbors just for making you upset, everyone in Philadelphia would be in prison. And as to the second part, it is Philadelphia DHS, no? So, um, yeah, everyone’s a victim there.

Cops wrestle ‘mom-n-daughter tag team’ [Daily News]
Mom, Daughter Busted In Northeast Philly Sex Sting [CBS 3]