Bill Rubin of Philadelphia's Board of Pensions and Retirement explains the costs of DROP to Bustleton residents.

In what quickly devolved into arguments and accusations, the Greater Bustleton Civic League tackled several issues at last night’s meeting, including recent crime spikes, DROP and zoning.

Though more neighborhood-centric topics dominated the three-hour meeting, Bill Rubin, vice chairman of the city’s pension fund, was slated as the highlighted speaker, with the intent of talking with Bustleton residents about DROP.

“Nobody had any idea who I was three years ago,” Rubin commented about the recent public scrutiny of the Deferred Retirement Option Program. continue reading »

Jim Sanders, a representative for 311, explains the number's purpose to attendees at the January GBCL meeting.

“[The Northeast] is the envy of the city.” That’s what 311 employee Jim Sanders told attendees at last night’s Greater Bustleton Civic League meeting as he began his presentation on the city’s answer to the abundance of 911 calls.

Sanders, the Citizen/City Council Engagement Coordinator for 311, explained to Bustleton residents the background story around 311, and its purpose in Philadelphia. continue reading »

Democratic District Attorney candidate Seth Williams was one of three candidate to address GBCL members last night.

“It’s going to be a brief meeting for tonight’s important game,” Greater Bustleton Civic League President Bernice Hill told antsy residents at last night’s monthly meeting. Though the room was full, the sense of urgency to wrap up the meeting in time for game one of the World Series was palpable.

Not wasting time, GBCL  board members got right down to business following some announcements, and introduced their three guests for the evening: incumbent Democratic candidate for City Controller Alan Butkovitz, Republican candidate for City Controller Al Schmidt and Democratic candidate for District Attorney Seth Williams.

Next Tuesday, Nov. 3 is election day. See where you vote here. continue reading »

Zoning denial form supplied by Maureen Green, on behalf of Committee for a Better Bustleton.

Zoning has been denied for Cowgirls, a family/entertainment restaurant slated to fill the vacant spot in Whitman Tavern in Whitman Plaza at 9701 Roosevelt Boulevard just north of Grant Avenue.

Bustleton residents and members of Committee for a Better Bustleton made a trip to the Zoning Board of Adjustment Aug. 12 to shut down to zoning request made by Cowgirls lawyers Carl Primavera and Ron Patterson and partner David Braverman. continue reading »

Lynn Abraham discusses her decision not to seek re-election after 19 years as district attorney.

District Attorney Lynn Abraham addressed many issues at last night’s Greater Bustleton Civic League meeting, including her decision not to run for re-election this term.

“It was not that I really wanted to go,” Abraham said, as she corrected those who said she is retiring. The 19-year DA said her decision was based on the health of her husband of 33 years, who became ill around the time Abraham would have been starting a fresh campaign. The decision was an easy one, she said. Her husband has since passed away.

But the longtime public official made it clear she isn’t finished with her career

Continue reading for notes from the rest of the GBCL meeting, and a hot zoning issue. continue reading »

About 30 Bustleton residents went down to the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, August 12, to make it clear that they do not want Cowgirls, Inc., to open a prototype family restaurant/night club in Whitman Square across from a solid residential community.  Most of the protesters rode down on a school bus but many who work downtown took the afternoon off to support the Committee for a Better Bustleton’s fight to prevent a business born from Seattle’s Cowgirls flagship (see www.cowgirlsinc.com or www.bustleton.org). continue reading »