Category: Philadelphia

bookmark_borderJoe Frazier Statue

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When Jesse Jackson visited Occupy Philadelphia after Joe Frazier’s funeral, he called for a statue of a real hero (as opposed to Rocky Balboa) be erected. The City Of Philadelphia has announced:

Lawrence J. Nowlan will be the artist to create a statue in honor of Joe Frazier. Mr. Nowlan previously created the Harry Kalas Memorial Statue at Citizens Bank Park. The statue is scheduled to be erected at XFINITY Live! by Spring 2014.

“I have no doubt that Lawrence Nowlan will capture Joe Frazier’s tenacity, energy and spirit in his work,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Mr. Nowlan’s previous work has proven to be exceptional, and I look forward to the finished product. Smokin’ Joe is one of Philadelphia’s great sports icons and deserves to be memorialized this way.

Eight artists were solicited for presentations. Then a statue review panel, which included several representatives from the Frazier family, selected Mr. Nowlan from among the presenting artists.

“To kids like me, growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970s, Joe Frazier was a hero. I became aware of Joe Frazier, the athlete and Smokin’ Joe, the personality during an era when the sweet science of boxing was at the forefront of the sporting world,” said Lawrence Nowlan. “To be selected by the Frazier family to create the monument that will forever represent one Philadelphia’s most enduring icons and greatest boxers is a heavyweight honor to me. Words cannot properly describe the gravity and meaning that sculpting this monument will have on this artist.”

The $160,000 raised will cover the cost of the statue and a perpetual maintenance fund administered by the City Board of Trusts. The major contributors to the project are as follows:

Cordish Family: $70,000;
Hand family: $27,000;
Bernard Hopkins and Golden Boy Productions: $25,000;
Jerry Perenchio: $25,000.

Reed Cordish of the Cordish Company said, “Along with Comcast Spectacor, owning and operating XFINITY Live! has been a great privilege and honor for our family. We welcome this new statue of one of the greatest boxers of all time to the iconic statues of Philadelphia sports heroes at XFINITY Live!. Being able to give back to the City by honoring one of its great sons is incredibly meaningful and gratifying for us.”

Joe Hand, Sr. of Joe Hand Promotions added, “Back in March 2012, I pledged that a statue would get built so I’m very happy to hear about the progress it has made with the help of Mayor Nutter and the city. Joe never complained or spoke out about not having a statue, but it bothered me. It’s about time we honored him. Joe deserves it. Philadelphia should be very proud of him.”

bookmark_borderSpy: The Secret World of Espionage

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Franklin Institute
Opens May 5

In SPY: The Secret World of Espionage, learn the importance of intelligence gathering and discover how real men and women can change the world every day—one secret at a time. Featuring over 200 historical artifacts and the stories they have to tell—including a collapsible motorbike, a two-man submersible, and a CIA robotic catfish—combined with firsthand spy experiences like personal disguises, voice alteration and navigating through a field of laser beams—find out what it’s truly like to be a spy!

There has never been a shortage of intrigue in the world of spies, and the artifacts and interactive displays in the exhibit vividly tell their stories, past and present, through actual tools, technologies, and testimonials. Discover the real-life evolution of spy technology and experience life as a spy by navigating through an actual laser field, using voice altering technologies to conceal your voice, and creating your very own spy disguise.

bookmark_borderThe Outlaw Sheriff John Green

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PHILADELPHIA, PA — The City of Philadelphia filed suit Common Pleas Court against a former vendor of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and former Sheriff’s employee, including former Sheriff John Green, in an action that seeks monetary damages and payments of money owed to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW).

The filing was prompted by an action commenced by the City in October 2012. After an independent forensic audit of the Office of the Sheriff, City Controller Alan Butkovitz released a forensic investigation report prepared by Deloitte Financial Services, LLP in the Fall of 2011.

City Controller Butkovitz urged City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith to initiate civil action to recover from two primary service vendors, Reach Communication Specialists, Inc. (“Reach”) and RCS Searchers, Inc. (“RCS”), and others specified in the report for various apparent fiscal improprieties including: excessive fees and overcharges paid to Reach and RCS; unpaid amounts due PGW as a result of gas liabilities for properties sold at sheriff sale and other unpaid pass-through amounts; and improper, unauthorized or unsupported payments.

The Controller’s forensic report identified potential improper relationships, conflicts of interest and other alleged wrongdoing by and among former Sheriff John D. Green and other former Sheriff Office employees, as well as James R. Davis, Jr., his companies Reach and RCS, and others related to Davis and his companies. Moreover, the report noted that millions of dollars remained unaccounted for and millions of dollars in payments were unauthorized or unlawful.

With the assistance of attorneys at the law firm of Kaufman Coren & Ress, P.C., a prominent, well-regarded commercial litigation firm, the City initiated a lawsuit by writ of summons in October 2012 against the Reach entities and others. Today, the law firm has filed a complaint in that action on the City’s behalf.

In this action, the City seeks to recover for the wrongdoing of the Defendants named therein. The City asserts the following claims, among others: (a) an accounting with respect to the payment and disposition of more than $115 million that flowed from the Sheriff’s Office to Defendants Davis and his companies, and a judgment in favor of the City for the return of all ill-gotten gains established by that accounting, including any sums that may have been overcharged to the Sheriff’s Office in connection with the advertising of Sheriff sales, and $600,000 unpaid to the Philadelphia Gas Works; (b) treble damages for violations of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act; (c) treble damages for the submission of false claims in violation of The Philadelphia Code; (d) breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (e) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (f) conversion; (g) unjust enrichment; and (h) civil conspiracy.

In addition to those named above, the Defendants include Sheila R. Davis; Karen Coursey; Crystal Stewart; Darrell Stewart; Tyrone Bynum; Processing Link; Rory Lane Gazaway; Yellow Rose Enterprises; 400 PTM, L.L.C.; and Jackiem Wright.