City Council, Home Of Pointless Arguing

Wednesday, there was a hearing in City Council about a housing bill that would require developers to set aside homes to low- to middle-income residents. And, of course, developers had a problem with it. But there was a reasonable debate in City Council about the bill, and although the developer Carl Dranoff disagreed with Councilman Wilson Goode, he… oh, whatever, you know this is a lie.

(Goode): “What you’re saying is that, as a developer, you do not want to reinvest in an inclusionary zoning program?”

(Dranoff): “No, I never said that sir. Not at all. I am saying, and remember I started my testimony, excuse me I have the floor! I’d like to finish what I’m starting!”

(Goode): “No actually, I have the floor.”

(Dranoff): “You asked me a question. I’m answering it. I’m answering your question.”

(Goode): “I have the floor. The chair recognized me.”

(Dranoff): “OK.”

Both of these guys make a ton of money and could afford a really nice house, if you’re wondering.

Affordable Housing Bill Triggers Testy Exchange in Council [KYW 1060]

Leftovers: Please Speak Section 8 When Renting

• A landlord in Abington is renting a house with one caveat: “Section 8 & Meagan’s [sic] Law Welcome.” He’s also looking for convicted arsonists, professional heroin users and Terrell Owens. [CBS 3]

• Dear gods of the blogoverse, please please please make the liberal bloggers come to Philadelphia. (And, for that matter, any conservative bloggers, too.) Then we can get bowling balls and make the greatest game in the history of the world. [Attytood]

• A trucker in East Whiteland Township got a ticket for $17,000. “But once you get in the there with a 53-footer, its impossible to get out,” he said. Tell me about it. [NBC 10]

• In response to his uncle’s arrest, Bam Margera is going to move to Kazakhstan. With Borat! [Inquirer]

Drexel Not Only Ugly — It’s Expensive, Too

Yesterday, the Princeton Review released its annual survey of college students, and Drexel was named the ugliest college in the nation. Drexel officials and students area contesting the rankings, or saying they’re not taking any stock in them, or whining. One of those three.

However, as a graphic on CNN just showed, here’s one thing they can’t really dispute:

But, hey, they have a Subway at least. Oh, and a 7-11, too.

Drexel Fires Back At Princeton Review [NBC 10]

Northeast Times Letters Page enters new levels of fun

Today’s Northeast Times letters page is the second straight small edition in a row, meaning the Northeast’s wacky letter writers must still be sleeping off New Year’s Eve hangovers. (It’s possible.) There’s a reference that something’s important because the Northeast Times covers it, a discussion of whether a Muslim bus driver has peripheral vision and a link to an example of haters of White culture in, like, 1999.

But, there is this letter from a man nicknamed “Tony Irish” from all the way in Florida:

The homes on the 800 block of Foulkrod St. were built in approximately 1926, priced at $2,000 to $4,000. It was mostly farmland and just Sears (1920).

I lived on the 800 block of Foulkrod from 1974-2000. I broke camp because it turned into a ghetto because of all the Section 8 housing. Now, those same 1926 homes are going from $85,000 to $100,000. I smell a rat.

Anthony “Tony Irish” Porta
Sebring, Fla.

Geeze! I mean, they sold for $2,000 to $4,000 in 1926? They should only be like $10,000 bucks right now!

Letters 01.12.06 [Northeast Times]