Philly Love #68: SEPTA

Obviously, nobody really loves SEPTA. Or, possibly, even like SEPTA. Or possibly many of you feel an intense deep hatred for SEPTA.

No matter. You still have to admire their moxie (or whatever). What other company, public transit agency, or any business, really, facing a $140 million budget shortfall would release a budget like this?

SEPTA hopes to spend $426 million in the next fiscal year for reconstruction, new buses and railcars, and other repairs and upgrades.

The agency’s capital budget for the 12 months that start July 1 calls for $100 million to be spent on rebuilding the Market-Frankford El in West Philadelphia. An additional $49.5 million is earmarked for new buses and $10 million for Regional Rail cars.

SEPTA plans to buy 400 buses and 104 railcars. Also, $15 million of the 2008 capital budget is for repairs and improvements on the R5 Paoli line, the busiest of the Regional Rail lines. And $47 million is earmarked to overhaul vehicles.

Yeesh. As usual, the chances of all of this happening is roughly the same as a giant elephant attacking City Hall in retaliation for letting the elephants leave the zoo.

SEPTA releases budget wish list [Inquirer]
[Image via dalig]

Philly Love #67: This Transition

Note to local news producers: Just because you have two unrelated stories that happen to involve human body parts does not mean you have to link them together.

Philly Love #66: T. Milton Street

Yeah, Milton’s been in this feature before, and he will again, because, ohmigod, have you seen the video? Most likely, there will be more reflections on yesterday’s Milton Man March later today. Frankly, though, I find it hard to write about it without my head exploding, as thinking about what happened yesterday pretty much violates all principles of logic.

So let’s, for now, take a look at Milton Street’s website, tmiltonstreet2007.com and campaign slogan (click to enlarge):

As you can see, not only do I have a new Milton head to cut out for a “MILT(MILTON STREET’S HEAD)N!” logo, but Milton Street has a slogan: “The ‘T’ Stands for Tough on Violence, Homelessness and Unemployment.”

It also, coincidentally, stands for tax evasion.

T. Milton Street 2007
Archives: Milton Street

Philly Love #65: 76ers

I may have done the 76ers before, but no matter. Last night, our local basketball team continued its confusing, infuriating season by holding the high-scoring Suns to 94 points and never trailing in a 99-94 win.

Okay, so the Suns were missing Shaun Marion and Boris Diaw, but they probably should have won anyway. They hadn’t lost on the road to a team from the Eastern Conference this season and were looking to become the first team to go undefeated on the road against the opposing conference. And all they had to do was beat the 76ers!

But Andre Iguodala had 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and the 76ers inexplicably won the game, leaving the Suns at 14-1 — the same number of road losses against the opposing conference as the 82-83 76ers, our city’s last championship team. And Kyle Korver even dunked last night. Twice!

Yes, the 76ers may not get the top pick in the draft — and even if they do, they’re going to figure out a way to blow it — but at least they amuse us once in a while.

Oh, yeah, and Andre Iguodala did this:

Sixers rain on streaking Suns [Daily News]
[Photo by Yong Kim, Daily News]

Philly Love #64: CBS 3

I don’t know what it takes to label an interview with Milton Effing Street — also interviewed here and here and here and here and probably a few hundred other places, too — exclusive, but I do know it takes a lot of it, whatever it is. Good show, CBS 3. Good show.

CBS 3 Exclusive: Milton Street Interview [CBS 3]

Philly Love #63: Central Girls Hoops

Almost every year, Central High School’s girls’ basketball team makes it to the public league championship. And every year, they have girls that look like this.

Seriously, what do they feed the girls at Central? It’s like this every year; girls who could not only kill me with one punch, but can do a pretty good job driving to the hoop as well! Did you see that one girl’s play? She’s, like, Charles Barkley but she can make a sweet spin move to the basket.

Perhaps this is why, even though I couldn’t watch a WNBA game if you paid me to, I always, without fail, enjoy both the boys’ and girls’ public league championship games every year. (Plus, there’s always some unintentional hilarity from announcer Don Tollefson.)

Philly Love #62: Wintry Mix™

I’m not quite sure when our area stopped getting snow and started getting Wintry Mix™, but ever since the forecasters started using the term pretty much exclusively, that seems to be pretty much all we get.

And so, after a January where we were in the 70s and a winter where we didn’t have a snowstorm — er, a Wintry Mix™ storm — until two weeks ago, we now have two of ‘em this month. Yesterday’s and today’s weather wasn’t nearly as bad as the Valentine’s Day massacre, as overnight temperatures weren’t all that cold and kept the Wintry Mix™ from freezing the roads, closing interstates, et cetera.

So huzzah to you, Wintry Mix™. I don’t know when you replaced snow as the winter storm this area gets, but, hey, I’ll take what I can get.

Winter, Round Two [Inquirer]

Philly Love #61: Nicole Tranquillo

Last night, Nicole Tranquillo — the UArts student on American Idol — was voted off. Now, I don’t really care a lick about Idol, but I do feel bad for the local girl, so I figured the least I could do was make this post about her.

It’s not really all bad, though: Since she’s been eliminated early, we (1) don’t have to hear about her anymore and (2) we won’t hear about her enough to grow sick of her and hate her! Really. Remember how much everyone was sick of Justin Guarini and Anthony Federov Fedorov by the time they were voted off? Exactly. Nicole, you’re probably upset about losing, but, really: You just dodged a bullet here.

Update, 3:37 p.m.: Jesus, people.

Nicole Tranquillo and Paul Kim on Good Day [MyFox Philly]

Philly Love #60: Hall Of Famers

Yeah, I changed the name of this daily feature. But it’s still going to be tagged the same at the bottom. I was kind of just tired of having the headline wrap and look ugly and such. Okay, moving on…

Today’s reason to love Philadelphia is pretty much just because I wanted to post this unintentionally hilarious (and intentionally awesome) photo. Last night at the 76ers’ game — Which they won! By 20! In front of 15 fans! — there was a ceremonial exchange of jerseys between four Hall of Famers: Moses Malone (a 76ers assistant and a member of the ‘82-’83 title team), Mannie Jackson (chairman of the Harlem Globetrotters), Harvey Pollack (76ers stat guy) and Walt Frazier (Knicks’ great and broadcaster).

Okay, so it was just a promo for several upcoming Harlem Globetrotters games in and around Philly. (Geeze, do the Globetrotters ever stop touring? Oh, wait, they don’t. That’s why they’re the Globetrotters, natch.) But any promotion can be forgiven if it leads to this photo:

Korver scores 31 in Sixers’ win over Knicks [Inquirer]

Reason #59 To Love Philadelphia: Jimmy Rollins

As Spring Training begins to get into full swing, it’s time to start actually getting excited about the Phillies. And, as much as we should all love Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, etc., by far the coolest guy on the Phillies is Jimmy Rollins.

And not only is he the coolest guy on the Phillies, he’s going to make the 19 games between the Phillies and Mets this season even more awesome than usual.

It was Rollins who repeatedly has said that the Phillies, not the Mets, who finished 12 games ahead of them last season, are the team to beat in the East thanks to their improved starting rotation. Mets third baseman David Wright said he was irked by Rollins’ confidence.

After he took part in the team’s first full-squad workout, he reiterated those feelings and dismissed Wright’s concerns.

“If they needed motivation to play this game, then they’re playing the wrong game,” Rollins said. “They had a chance last year to get to the World Series. Last year’s over.”

And this is the Phillies’ year?

“I want to put that pressure on [his teammates]. And myself.”

Might that not have an adverse effect?

“If you’re afraid, then I don’t want you on this team, anyway.”

Oh wah wah wah, David Wright. How dare a guy on the Phillies be confident!

This season can’t come fast enough.

Rollins embraces leadership role [Daily News]