Consequences of school closures, area bridges failing, ACLU/NAACP sue Philly over billboard, Verizon Hall re-tuned

As the city waits for school closing/consolidation recommendations in the coming weeks, people are considering the issue from neighborhood and national perspectives:

• Patrick Kerkstra looked at possible effects of closing and changes for elementary schools in University City, as part of PlanPhilly’s onging coverage of school closure news in partnership with the Public School Notebook.
• The Daily News reports on a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative examining school closings in seven big cities, including Philadelphia. The Pew study found that school closings do not provide significant budget relief and that the vacated schools often remain empty.

A study by Transportation for America found that 20% of Philadelphia area bridges are structurally deficient, ranking Philly third on the list of metro areas with highest percentages of deficient bridges, the Inquirer reports. Pennsylvania roads and bridges are in dire shape, and NewsWorks reports state lawmakers are trying to find funds and move forward to repair the Commonwealth’s aging transportation infrastructure.

The City Paper’s Naked City reports the NAACP and ACLU are suing Philadelphia over a billboard NAACP wanted to place at the Airport decrying the incarceration rate in the United States. Not the welcome mat the city had in mind, but the groups are making a free speech claim.

Verizon Hall’s acoustics were modified again this summer to improve the Philadelphia Orchestra’s sound. The Inquirer’s Classical Music Critic takes a listen and hears an improvement.

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.