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bookmark_borderPhiladelphia: Where the Victim Goes to Jail

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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

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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

bookmark_borderDonations needed for the annual Paul "Earthquake" Moore Turkey Run

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / NOV-2-2010

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THE ANNUAL PAUL “EARTHQUAKE” MOORE TURKEY RUN

Philadelphia Community Activist Paul “Earthquake” Moore, needs donations of turkey and stuffing and running enthusiasts as well, to participate in his annual run down South Broad Street and food drive, Both events are to help reduce hunger among families during the holiday season.

What started as a one man jog-a-thon 10 years ago, has become the Paul “Earthquake” Moore Annual Celebrity Turkey Run, and will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2010. Quake, winner of the Wrice-Campbell Award for Neighborhood Safety, has asked for all Philadelphians to join him and support this effort. Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Johnson, a longtime run supporter, will lead this year’s trek with Tia Gray and her fellow employees at Nova Care. In addition Moore will host his second annual, 24-hour food-a-thon drive the weekend before the run. Stop by, socialize and party while you donate.

The event will have live entertainment, a DJ and more in the parking lot at McDonalds, Grays Ferry Avenue, beginning at noon on Saturday, November 13 and ending at noon on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. He is asking for canned food donations of all kinds to be brought to McDonald’s parking lot to add to his Thanksgiving baskets for needy residents of Philadelphia and Delaware counties.

The run route will occur the following week. It begins at City Hall, and finds its way down South Broad Street to the finish line at Broad and Pattison. “Remember our goal is to get 1,000 turkey dinners, and in order to accomplish this we need you,” Moore emphatically emphasized.

Moore needs every runner to show up with a turkey and stuffing, to help reach his goal of feeding 1,000 families in Philadelphia and Delaware counties for Thanksgiving. Monetary donations and turkeys and stuffing from those unable to run will gladly be accepted on the day of the event.

Any well wisher can mail a donation to P.O. Box 5323 Phila., PA 19142.
Email earth_quake1@hotmail.com for other info.