To a discussion meeting of
Nichiren Buddhism (SGI-USA) Wissahickon District
Sunday November 20, 2011 11am-12:30 and
Saturday Dec. 10, 2011 10am-11:30
at the home of Leila & Ernie Martin
7517 Newland Street
Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA 19128
For more info or directions, call 215-806-7308
www.sgi-usa.org
Come enjoy learning about the humanistic life-philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.
(We hold a discussion meeting once a month.)
Thank you!
Tag: Philadelphia
bookmark_borderPhiladelphia: Where the Victim Goes to Jail
Reader input:
Hi, we need some help getting our story our. We went to Valley Green Park on 7/31/11, parked at 500 W. Springfield Ave in Chestnut Hill and our car was vandalized. Rob was taken into custody for bogus charges (cops say they found drugs in the car in the same location where my wallet was stolen). We have a petition up on Change.org (Philadelphia: Where the victim goes to jail). Any help or coverage is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
OVERVIEW
Philadelphia: Where the victims go to jail!!
On July 31 2010, Rob DeMarco and I went for a walk at Valley Green Park in Chestnut Hill, and I parked my car in a parking lot at 500 W. Springfield Ave, Philadelphia PA 19118. We arrived back at my car about 2 hours later to find it had been vandalized. There were also 2 Philadelphia police officers waiting for us. My car door was damaged, window smashed, my wallet containing my ID, and several cards were stolen from the closed glove box, and my back seats had been set on fire!
The officers promptly asked who owns the car. Once I tell them I own the car, they tell me that they have to arrest me because illegal substances were found in a cigarette pack in my glove box. We did not have any illegal substances in my vehicle upon our arrival to the park and my cigarette pack was full of cigarettes. We tried to reason that my car was vandalized and my personal items were stolen from my glove box and this was not ours, but the officer tells me that either one of us or both of us are going to jail. Rob said he would go with the officers and was handcuffed and placed in the back of the car. We cooperated, figuring that this matter would be cleared up very quickly. He was never formally arrested, read his rights, nor were either one of us asked for a statement. Instead, Rob was locked in a holding cell overnight and released the following morning. Rob is now facing drug possession charges. If convicted, he may face incarceration and/or loss of his license.
I understand the police have a job to do and substance abuse is a serious crime. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who put their lives at risk for the safety of the public. However, in this case, I believe the officers used very poor judgment. All I received was a police report number written down on a piece of paper. I asked for names and badge numbers, and I was told it would all be on the report. I am writing this petition 2 days after these events and the reports are still unavailable.
I am asking for 14th District Captain Joel Dales to dismiss these charges. We are the victim of vandalism, theft, arson and now false charges!
Please call Captain Dales, Philadelphia 14th district at 215-686-3140, or email him at police.co_14@phila.gov
bookmark_borderPhiladelphia Area Among Top 20 Cities
PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that more buildings than ever have earned the EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010. The Philadelphia-area added many first-time labeled Energy Star buildings in 2010, jumping to a national ranking of 14th up from 24th. Many of the most recently added buildings in Philadelphia are schools. Energy Star buildings play an important role in preventing harmful air emissions that effect climate change, plus they reduce energy use and save money.
“I am pleased to see progress across the Philadelphia metropolitan area in energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “From Philadelphia to the smaller communities across the region, we are seeing growth in design, construction and retrofits to energy challenges of the 21st century.”
Philadelphia has 21 commercial Energy Star certified buildings, and across the country more than 6,200 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star in 2010. Nationally this is an increase of nearly 60 percent compared to 2009. Since EPA awarded the first Energy Star to a building in 1999, more than 12,600 buildings have been certified.
Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide compared to similar buildings and be independently verified by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect each year. Energy Star certified buildings use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide than average buildings. Fourteen types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings, K-12 schools, and retail stores.
To see a short video about one of Philadelphia’s recently labeled buildings:
http://www.epa.gov/region3/multimedia/playercontents/video/septa/septa2.html
More information on the other top cities in 2010 with Energy Star certified buildings:
http://www.energystar.gov/TopCities
More information on EPA’s real-time registry of all Energy Star certified buildings:
http://energystar.gov/buildinglist
More information about earning the Energy Star for commercial buildings:
http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings