East Falls School Mural Ruined By Racist Graffiti [cbs3.com]

The vandalism at the Thomas Mifflin School in the city’s East Falls neighborhood was discovered Wednesday morning. School district spokesman Vincent Thompson says the faces of the black children on a mural depicting diversity were marked out. Also, swastikas and other racist markings were painted on the outside walls.

Also on the page, right above the story-

Let civilians direct traffic, city’s transit chief proposes [Inquirer]

Philadelphia should replace traffic police with trained civilians to reduce gridlock and to free up police for more important duties, the city’s new transportation chief said yesterday.

Rina Cutler, deputy mayor for transportation and utilities, acknowledged the police officers’ union and some state lawmakers would probably fight such a move.

Video at The700Level.com

Philadelphia’s Michael Nutter was in attendance at the game with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Nutter tried to talk some baseball which didn’t exactly go real smoothly. But what I want to know is, did Nutter really drink a “glass of water” while NYC’s mayor enjoyed a cold adult beverage? What gives Nutter? No love for the glorious hot dog and beer combo?

The Phillies once had an 11-year old boy thrown in jail for a night because he kept a foul ball.

Losing Proposition: How a foul ball and an 11-year-old kid still define our feelings about Phillies management 85 years later. [Philadelphia Weekly]

Some Local Residents Say More Shoes Mean More Confidence [KYW1060]

The TV show ”Sex and the City” (cast above) really helped highlight the importance of shoes. Kristen is the manager of Head Start shoes in Philadelphia. She says what you choose conveys a message:

“A heel automatically to me resembles power. In a heel you feel taller, stronger. And a flat always says ‘I’m comfortable with who I am.’”

‘Scumbags’ get no Peace in Upper Darby [Daily News (The People Paper!)]

Bonus: Upper Darby police chief Michael Chitwood gets to use the word “scumbag” in a press conference for the millionth time.

Army vs. Navy: A Dimming of Splendor [New York Times, Nov. 29, 1975]

Philadelphia police and bus drivers call it “Black Friday” that day each year between Thanksgiving Day and the Army-Navy game. It is the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year in the Bicentennial City as the Christmas list is checked off and the Eastern college football season nears conclusion.

From The Dept. Of Amazing Documents: The Water Works’ Water Menu [phoodie.info]

From the restaurant at the Fairmount Waterworks. Waters, ranging in price from $5 - 50.

Phils hurled insults at the ‘noble experiment’ [Inquirer]

“I have to admit that this day,” Robinson wrote in 1972 of his first encounter with the [Philadelphia Phillies] - April 22, 1947 - “of all the unpleasant days of my life brought me nearer to cracking up than I have ever been. For one wild and rage-crazed minute I thought ‘To hell with Mr. Rickey’s noble experiment.’ “

SEPTA to increase after-school policing on subway - comments [Inquirer]

Some selections:

The entire Market St. East corridor needs to be redone and the ghetto element needs to be move elsewhere. The intense ghetto flavor increases the likelihood of a continuing violent crime wave.
Posted by franknstein

You’re right, dww. Unless this ghetto element is tamed, and tamed big time, SEPTA and the city is going to lose out on the gains made with more people taking public transit. This b****s**** is ebyond sensless, and it needs to stop.
Posted by ncatina

I think we all know which demographic is responsible for keeping this city a dangerous and dirty cesspool. There’s just no stopping them.
Posted by Simon

It’s disgusting and we all know who is responsible for it. I agree, they’re animals. Mayor Street is responsible for giving them this false entitlement and right to bully. “The brothas and sistas are running the city!” Remember that one?
Posted by rizzle