March 26: Old City’s frat nightmare | Corbett’s transportation funding plan debated | Philly’s brand of “world class” | Wynn promises a classy casino | snow removal savings

Happy Tuesday, Streeters. Here’s what’s making news this morning:

Can Old City weekends become less of a frat party nightmare? Captain Brian Koran of the 6th Police penned a stern letter to Old City District’s Graham Copeland after drunken college kids descended on Market Street by the school busload last Thursday. Korn warns that party buses – long a neighborhood complaint – can create unruly crowds that are an especially bad idea given Old City’s struggle “to regain a good reputation as a desirable night time entertainment destination.” Korn is asking nightclubs not to coordinate or welcome party buses, and Copeland vows to collaborate with club owners to solve the problem.

Should Pennsylvania raise one part of its gas tax only to cut another? The Inquirer reports that Democratic legislators, labor, and business leaders repeatedly questioned this aspect of Governor Corbett’s transportation funding plan at a public hearing Monday. Corbett has proposed removing the oil company franchise tax cap while cutting the liquid fuels tax by 1¢ per gallon for two years. But each cent of the liquid fuels tax currently accounts for $60 million annually. As Rep. Joseph Markosek said, “If you don’t cut that two cents, your net gain is bigger. And we need it.”

What would it mean for Philadelphia to be a “world class city”– as the Economy League has been planning – and in the process can we holding on to our city’s essential character? Flying Kite’s Lee Stabert ponders the question and thinks one of the keys to attracting outsiders to Philly is to have better ambassadors: “Get the world to see Philadelphia the way Philadelphians see it.”

Philebrity pointed out this full-page ad run by Steve Wynn in the Fishtown Star last week, promising that Wynn Philadelphia would be classy, not a slot-box. Wynn said he wants his Philadelphia outpost to be a “remarkable destination on the East Coast” with an “elegant hotel” and nice amenities along the river walk like a band stand and bike rentals. Read the letter here.

Yesterday’s slushy snow didn’t put a dent in the city’s budget for big snow removal, and that means money in the bank. Philadelphia saved $4 million in snow removal costs this winter, the Inquirer reports. The city spent none of the $4 million it budgets for private contractors to help Streets Department crews plow streets after a heavy snowfall.

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.