Plan Philly: Engaging in Urban Dialogue

In this week's Multimedia section of Philadelphia Weekly, Stephen Metzger posts a video about the Delaware riverfront, the many neighborhoods it touches and the variety of activities at the river's edge.  Rene Goodwin, board member for Pennsport Civic Association and Communications Director of the Central Delaware Advocacy Group, acts as the tour guide.  Notable sites include Penn's Landing, Yard's Brewery, Penn Treaty Park, Wood Street Steps, the SS United States and Johnny's Hots.

Philadelphia Weekly: Delaware Waterfront

Previous videos done by Metzger include profiles of Baltimore Avenue and Northern Liberties.

GRID Philly, April 2010

GRID magazine is a new Philadelphia-based magazine for sustainability. Covering topics such as energy, food, shelter, transportation, ecology and culture.

DVRPC Focus Newsletter, March 2010

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission presents Focus, news and events for local governments within the DVPRC region.

Green Jobs Philly News #17, March 2010

GreenJobsPhilly.org makes it easy for Philadelphians to offer and request GREEN JOBS, green GRANTS and green LOANS.  Our job is to help you connect with the people, money, raw materials and know-how you’ll need.

Councilman Darrell Clarke, 5th District Update, March 2010

This is Councilman Clarke's "5th District Update" which was created to keep you posted on ongoing events and happenings in our district. Click on the link above and feel free to forward to friends or other organizations of the 5th Councilmanic District. If there is anyone who would like to be on the list to receive the "5th District Update" please reply to darrell.clarke@phila.gov with the subject line "5th District Update Email List."

Preservation Alliance e-news, March 2010

The mission of the Preservation Alliance is to actively promote the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes.

Next Great City Newsletter, 8 March 2010

The Next Great City coalition is made up of diverse groups all working towards a common goal: making Philadelphia the Next Great City. The initiative is dedicated to creating a positive future for Philadelphia by advocating for common sense, cost effective policies that enhance environmental quality, strengthen neighborhoods and increase our economic competitiveness.

Federal Transit Administration, Transit Research and Industry News Update (January - February 2010)
The Federal Transit Administration's Transit Research and Industry News Update, a report that provides a variety of information about transportation-related research and technology.

University City Community Enews, March 3, 2010

Click here to read the community newsletter from the University City District, which includes updates on free events and workshops across the neighborhood.

PA Chapter of the American Planning Association Newsletter

The February 2010 Issue of The Vantage Point is now available.  In this issue: PA Land Choices Teaches the Importance of Land Use Planning; Integrating Transportation and Land Use into Comprehensive Plans; Call for Presentations for the 2010 Annual Conference; Required Training Initative; PA Chapter Annual Awards - Applications Now Available

Inquirer: Disputed dredging begins on the Delaware

The bitterly contested deepening of the Delaware River's shipping channel officially began at noon yesterday, in water near Delaware City, Del.

No fanfare marked the moment, no fireworks or ribbon-cutting.

To most observers, digging five feet deeper might have been indistinguishable from the routine maintenance dredging that has been going on for several weeks in that stretch of river, to keep the channel at its current 40-foot depth. But supporters and opponents of the controversial project seized the occasion to launch dueling media blitzes.

Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.), who in 1983 introduced the initial legislation to deepen the river ports to 45 feet, heralded the start of the 102.5-mile dredging in a conference call.

Yesterday, he said, he introduced a bill to amend the federal Mining Control and Reclamation Act so that federal funds may be used to transport dredge material taken from the river, after drying at federal sites, to abandoned coal mines in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Hazleton.

Dredging opponents - led by Gov. Christie, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D., N.J.), and New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney (D., Gloucester) - stood next to the river at Red Bank Battlefield in Gloucester County and vowed to use every resource possible in the courts and in Congress to halt the six-year project.

"It makes no sense economically. It is dangerous environmentally," said Christie, joined by Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum and representatives of other environmental groups.

"There is no reason why, for a project that will have no positive effect on the economy for the state of New Jersey, that New Jersey should wind up being the repository for the dredge spoils that are going to be created," he said. "I simply don't buy the argument from the oil industry that this is going to be helpful to the economic situation in our region."

Andrews said he would battle to hold up future federal funding, and noted that President Obama's proposed spending plan for the coming fiscal year contained "zero dollars" for the dredging.

"We are going to work with our congressional delegation to keep it that way," Andrews said. "No earmarks, no additions, no pork projects going in for this."

Specter, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called it "customary" for the president's budget to lack funds for not-yet-started public-works projects.

"We will get whatever additional funding is needed," he said. "This program has the support of the administration. It has the support of the Department of Defense."

Former Philadelphia Park GM to Lead Philadelphia’s Newest Casino

Philadelphia—February 24, 2010—Subject to all regulatory approvals, Philly native Wendy Hamilton has been appointed to the role of General Manager at SugarHouse Casino, which is scheduled to open summer 2010. Hamilton replaces Bob Sheldon, former president and COO of SugarHouse Casino, who stepped down earlier this year.

Prior to joining SugarHouse Casino, Hamilton served as General Manager of Philadelphia Park Casino (now Parx Casino) in Bensalem, Pa. where she was integral in planning the operational elements of the casino’s grand opening and subsequent operations.

Hamilton spent much of her career with Harrah’s Entertainment, starting as a hotel guest service representative and eventually advancing to Assistant General Manager at Caesars Atlantic City. She has worked for Harrah’s properties in Atlantic City, N.J., Kansas City, Mo., Metropolis, Ill. and Memphis, Tenn. She received a bachelor's degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C. and earned her Masters in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa.

“The depth and breadth of Wendy’s experience in the gaming industry make her a great leader for our team,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of SugarHouse Casino. “She’ll play a major role in planning the grand opening of SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia.”

“It’s a very exciting time for our neighbors and partners as we prepare to launch a new gaming venue of which the city of Philadelphia can be proud,” said Hamilton. “I’m looking forward to working with this talented team to make the casino a huge success.”

Contact: Leigh N. Whitaker
SugarHouse Casino
215-300-9413
lwhitaker@sugarhousecasino.com