September 28: No DNC deficit | SEPTA token elegy | Call for city courage on Jewelers’ Row

Ashley Hahn

September 28, 2016

Twenty-four of SEPTA's Broad Street and Market Frankford Line stations lack token vending machines — Twenty-four of SEPTA’s Broad Street and Market Frankford Line stations lack token vending machines

Katie Colaneri breaks down the $85 million raised for this summer’s Democratic National Convention and reports that the city isn’t stuck paying any extra bills. “This will be the first Democratic Party Convention in 32 years to not leave a deficit, to actually have a little bit of a surplus and to pay all its bills,” said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, host committee chairman

Joey Sweeney gives the SEPTA token as we know it, 1965-2016, its due. “Because in a life of uncertainty, the SEPTA token was one of the only sure things in this world.”

PennDOT is wrestling with ways to relieve Schuylkill Expressway congestion, reports Jason Laughlin. Secretary Leslie Richards said the ways to relieve congestion include investments in alternative modes, alternative routes, permitting driving in shoulder lanes, and digital signage to recommend lanes. Tolling was not considered.

Aaron Wunsch lays out the case for why the Toll Brothers planned demolition and development on Jewelers’ Row may not be so cut-and-dry, what the city could do to support preservation, and urges Mayor Kenney to put his pro-preservation lenses back on. Meanwhile, Toll’s Jewelers’ Row project will go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment today.

Alan Domb explained to NewsWorks Tonight’s Dave Heller why he favors “tax lien securitization” to collect delinquent taxes. Philadelphia is $492 million in delinquent real estate taxes, the vast majority owned by out-of-towners or commercial interest, not individual homeowners.

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