These are my rants about Philadelphia, the city I'm stuck in. This is not merely a collection of senseless ravings. Everything I write here is opinion coming directly from my own experiences.

Not everyone in Philly is angry or nasty or rude or insane. There are good things and people in this city. When I think of some I post them.

Why do I live here if I hate it so much? I can't afford to move. Yet.
Until that glorious day comes when I can finally leave this wretched place, this is my sounding board. That's all.

Philly’s Finest At It Again

November 25th 2009

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/72250012.html?cmpid=15585797

Self-defense, or gun-happy cop?

By STEPHANIE FARR
Philadelphia Daily News

PORT RICHMOND residents said yesterday that an off-duty officer who fatally shot a young man during a large street fight Saturday night is a bully who’s maced their kids and brandished his gun around the neighborhood for years.

Police said that the officer had been trying to break up a street brawl about 11 p.m. when he was attacked, leading him to shoot unarmed William “Billy” Panas Jr., 21, once in the chest.

But Port Richmond residents, who identified the officer as Sgt. Frank Tepper, said that the fight had spilled out from a party at Tepper’s own home on Elkhart Street near Edgemont, and that many of his relatives, including his own son, had been involved.

Several neighbors also claimed that Tepper was visibly intoxicated when the shooting occurred.

“He just shot my son in the heart,” said Panas’ father, William Panas Sr. “He’s supposed to serve and protect, not kill.”

Travis Marko, 19, one of eight friends with Panas on Saturday night, said the group had decided to get Chinese food when the fight on Elkhart Street caught their attention.

They decided to walk by the fight and one of the members of their group was sucker-punched by one of the fighters, Marko said.

Their group then got swept into the fight. Marko said that Tepper had punched him and that the officer had come out of his house holding a clear plastic cup.

“You saw clearly that he was drunk,” Marko said.

When the punch leveled Marko, his friends dragged him away from the fight, he said. He claimed that as they were leaving, Tepper pointed his gun at them and said: “Back up or I’ll shoot you.”

Panas Jr. was fighting with someone on the ground as Marko and the others ran away, he said.

They were a few houses from the scene when he heard the gunshot that killed his friend, he said.

Panas Sr. said that his son was fighting with Tepper’s son on the ground during the melee and that he didn’t run when Tepper allegedly made the threats.

“He said, ‘I’ll shoot you,’ and my son said, ‘No you won’t,’ ” Panas said that witnesses told him. “He said ‘Oh, no?’ And then, boom!”

Lt. Frank Vanore, police spokesman, would not comment on whether Tepper had called 9-1-1.

Police confirmed that members of Tepper’s family had been involved in the fight but declined to say if Tepper had been intoxicated.

Neighbor Chris Bolduc, who watched the police response after the shooting, said that police had put Tepper in the front seat of a patrol car.

“He was obliterated out of his mind,” Bolduc said. “I definitely know for a fact that he was drunk.”

Vanore said several independent witnesses had said that Tepper identified himself as a police officer before the shooting, though Marko denied that claim.

“I know there is a contrary side to all these things,” Vanore said. “Until this investigation is complete, I can’t get into the details.”

Panas said numerous people had contacted his family to claim that Tepper had harassed them or their children.

Debbie Spencer said that in 2002 Tepper, dressed in civilian clothing, walked by her then-17-year-old son and his friend on the street and demanded to know who they were.

Tepper did not identify himself as a police officer, Spencer said, so her son demanded to know who he was. Tepper then fired pepper spray in the face of her son and his friend, she said.

Blinded, her son started swinging his arms and hit Tepper, not knowing he was a cop, she said.

Tepper called for backup and had Spencer’s son arrested for assault on a police officer, she said.

Spencer said that within 25 minutes of the altercation, she went to Tepper’s house, where he claimed that he wasn’t required to identify himself as a police officer to her son. Spencer said that she could smell beer on Tepper’s breath and that he appeared intoxicated.

“My father was a cop for 36 years in Philadelphia,” Spencer said. “My son respected police up until that day.” Spencer said that she never filed a civilian complaint, out of fear for her son, she said.

“But my son was one of the lucky ones,” she said. “My son lived. It could have been my son that was shot.”

Christine Killian said that in 2001 her son was playing basketball in the park across from Tepper’s house about 10 p.m. Tepper came outside brandishing his gun and telling him to get off the court and be quiet, she said.

Killian said that she and her boyfriend confronted Tepper, but because he still had the gun in his hand during their conversation, they decided to walk away.

She said they went to the local police district and filed a report, but nothing ever came of it.

“It’s sad,” she said. “Something has to be done because he’s been getting away with this for years.”

Calls by the Daily News to the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau about civilian complaints filed against Tepper were not returned yesterday.

Other residents talked of a video of Tepper shooting an opossum on city streets and how they didn’t feel like it was safe to park their cars in front of his house or even to tread on his sidewalk.

According to city payroll records, Tepper was hired in 1993. Last year, he made $67,688 – $4,811 of which was for overtime, records show. Tepper is a member of the Civil Affairs Unit, which is responsible for policing demonstrations, picket lines and other forms of public assembly.

Prior news reports indicate that Tepper shot a robbery suspect during a foot pursuit in March 2002. Tepper claimed that the suspect, who survived, had fired at him first.

Vanore would not comment on Tepper’s record.

In Saturday’s case, Tepper was the only one armed, police and neighbors said. Police reported no arrests in the crowd for the alleged assaults against Tepper.

Panas Jr.’s only arrest was for driving under the influence, according to court records. A status hearing in the case had been scheduled for January.

His family said that he was a loving son who helped care for his mother during her recent battle with cancer. He had just received his barber’s license and was planning to open his own shop, said his aunt, Debbie Ditro.

“He had the biggest heart you could ever imagine,” she said. “And now his own parents’ hearts have been ripped out.”

Tepper has been placed on desk duty while an investigation is conducted by Internal Affairs and the District Attorney’s Office.

Through a family member yesterday, Tepper declined to comment about the case.

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The Great Car Cut-off Saga Continues

November 25th 2009

Cars driving down the road have the right of way over cars entering the road from a side street or parking lot. Correct? Not in Philadelphia, apparently.

Our characters:
Unicorn - female driver, clean driving record for 24 years, no accidents, last speeding ticket 1992
Ignoramus - various drivers in the Philadelphia area

Situation 2:

Unicorn is driving on a road with two lanes in either direction and approaches an intersection with a red light. The vehicle slows accordingly, blinker goes on, preparing to make a right at the light.

There are currently two cars waiting at the intersection, both in the left lane to make left turns. Unicorn is going right so the path is clear.

On the right side of the road, very close to the intersection, is the exit from a shopping center parking lot.

A minivan called Ignoramus barrels out of the lot, glancing to the left and visibly registering Unicorn’s approach. It doesn’t stop.

Ignoramus wants to make a left at the light. But since there are already two cars waiting in the left turn lane, there’s not enough room for Ignoramus to even partially fit in the lane behind those cars.

This is of no consequence to Ignoramus. The minivan is now stopped at an angle, completely blocking the right lane.

Unicorn is unable to continue on its way. The intersection is a scant 30 feet away. There’s not a no turn on red sign. Unicorn needs to go somewhere. It’s agonizing.

The driver of Ignoramus can clearly see Unicorn. After all, the driver side window is at an almost perpendicular angle about five feet from where it cut off Unicorn.

This is Philadelphia. The driver of Ignoramus and its occupants ignore that their vehicle is blatantly blocking a lane of traffic.

Mind you, Unicorn’s right turn blinker has clearly been on and there are no other vehicles behind Unicorn. There is no logical reason for Ignoramus to pull out in front, cutting Unicorn off. Only lack of courtesy and respect, the trademark of Philadelphia behavior.

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The Great Car Cut-off Saga

November 25th 2009

Cars driving down the road have the right of way over cars entering the road from a side street or parking lot. Correct? Not in Philadelphia, apparently.

Our characters:
Unicorn - female driver, clean driving record for 24 years, no accidents, last speeding ticket 1992
Ignoramus - various drivers in the Philadelphia area

Situation 1:

At an intersection, a red light turns green and Unicorn makes a right turn onto a street with a speed limit of 30 mph. Roughly two hundred yards from the intersection is a shopping center.

The driver of Unicorn is not a speed demon. The car gradually gains the 30 mph speed limit, just as it approaches the shopping center parking lot exit/entrance.

A second car known as Ignoramus is exiting the shopping center. It comes almost to a stop as it approaches the street. The driver of Unicorn alertly keeps an eye on Ignoramus. Unfortunately, even though Ignoramus does indeed look to the left, the driver decides to pull out anyway.

Unicorn is forced to slam on the brakes to avoid collision, sending the dog occupying the passenger seat flying to the floor.

For once, Unicorn is not going to let this slide. A beloved and innocent dog bouncing onto the floor can make even the most magical of creatures lose sanity temporarily.

After an inspection of the dog to ensure she’s OK, the chase begins.

Unicorn has become a speed demon and quickly catches the sputtering Ignoramus, which has made a turn and is now cruising down a street at a leisurely 25 mph. The speed limit on this road is 30 mph.

Hey Ignoramus, what was your hurry to get out of that lot when you drive so slowly a bicycle can pass you?

At the next red light, Unicorn’s horn is repeated blasted to get the attention of Ignoramus. Neither of the two heads turn around or glance in the mirror. Completely oblivious.

The light turns green and Ignoramus continues lumbering down the road. Unicorn is following closely, flashing lights and blaring horn. Still no reaction.

That’s OK. Unicorn has time.

After a few miles, Ignoramus turns into an upscale townhome community. So does Unicorn.

As Ignoramus pulls into a driveway, Unicorn slows a prudent distance behind and stops. The door pops open and the driver jumps out. It’s on.

Approaching the middle-aged occupants of Ignoramus, who are now taking bags of groceries from the trunk, Unicorn’s driver lets loose.

“Do you realize what you did back there? You saw me coming and cut me off! I had to slam on my brakes and my dog flew to the floor. What were you doing? What’s wrong with you?”

Ignoramus responds after a moment, “Maybe you were speeding and shouldn’t have been driving so fast”.

Unicorn is flabbergasted. “I was not speeding, I just turned onto the road, you just didn’t care that my car was coming down the street, you pulled out anyway and you know it! You put me and yourself in jeopardy. Why?”

“What do you want me to do?”. All the while he’s still unloading groceries, barely even looking at me. Meanwhile Ignoramus-ette looks on with an expression of amusement but doesn’t move from her position or say a word.

“Well now that I know where you live I can find out your name and you’ll hear from my lawyer to cover the vet bills. You obviously couldn’t care less what you do to other people but maybe if it takes a chunk out of your wallet maybe you won’t do it again.”

With this, Unicorn takes note of the address and returns to the vehicle.

Admittedly, this was not good behavior on the part of Unicorn. It’s shameful. But maybe some of what was said did get through, even though the lawsuit threat was an empty one. Maybe Ignoramus will think twice before cutting someone off like that again. Maybe not.

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Supermarket Adventures – Part Two

November 21st 2009

There are no express lanes at one of my local Philadelphia supermarkets. This store carries my favorite type of brownie mix and the big bags of Pupperonis that my dog inhales, so I’m compelled to make quick trips there frequently. I use the term quick trip to denote my intention in going to the supermarket. It’s never that easy.

You may think the self-checkout lanes would be express. Isn’t the point of the self-checkout machines, to speed people through the store? In most stores there’s a 10 to 15 item limit in these lanes. This establishment does not enforce such rules.

The result? Another exhibition in the splendor of Philadelphia residents.

Imagine a person in line at one of the self-checkout aisles with a cart full of groceries. Look behind that person and notice that the person standing next in line is holding three items.

In Manhattan, in a similar situation, eight out of ten times the person with the big load of groceries will volunteer that the person behind him go ahead in front.

That’s happened to me twice, maybe three times, in the six years I’ve lived in Philadelphia.

Treating others with consideration seems like an alien concept here.

So boo-hoo,  the mean Philadelphia people never give me a go ahead in line at the grocery store like people do in big bad NYC.
But that’s not my only gripe. I suppose this happens everywhere, so to be fair to this city, it doesn’t belong exclusively to you, Philly. I can sum it up in one scream:

If you don’t know how to use the self-checkout machine, DON”T USE IT! Go to the cashier and let them handle the job of swiping the bar code past the scanner that is too difficult for your decrepit pea brain to master!

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Supermarket Adventures – Part One

November 14th 2009

Never try to squeeze in a quick visit to a supermarket in Philadelphia on a Sunday in the hours before an Eagles game. It’s a madhouse. A free-for-all. Philadelphians in all their glory.

Walking down an aisle, I’m toting a red plastic shopping basket, eager to gather what I need and be on my way out. Near the end of the aisle is a man standing behind a shopping cart. The cart is poised at an angle that blocks the aisle while it’s current owner intently studies different varieties of Campbell’s soup.

When I reach the obstruction, I say “excuse me”.
No reaction from soup man.
“Excuse me” again, a little louder.
Still nothing.

My parents raised me to be polite. So I keep trying, inching a little closer and raising my voice a little louder each time.

I might as well be invisible.

What to do? I can’t reach over and tap him on the shoulder. The angle doesn’t work and I can’t reach. Being a small person, I decide to try to edge my way around the cart. In the process of doing so, I accidentally bump into the cart. It moves a few inches and hits soup man on the hip.

How much velocity can a shopping cart have, when pushed about three inches by a 100 pound woman? It’s certainly not rocketing at bone-shattering speed.

Tell that to soup man. He turns around and finally, lo and behold, he notices me and spews some choice obscenities my way. Judging by the decibel level of his voice, this man is not hard of hearing.

Could he have simply chosen to ignore my repeated attempts to get past? That brings up the thought- what causes a person to want to intentionally cause inconvenience for other people? What motivates the takers in this world?

But I digress.

Once soup man ends his mini-tirade, I say “I said excuse me at least five times and you didn’t move so how long am I supposed to stand here waiting for you before I try to get by?”

At this, he seems to have no answer other than some unintelligible muttering and turns back to his Campbell’s survey.

I stand there a moment longer. This man’s face has been ravaged by time, but more than that, I can see anger ingrained so deeply that it’s become who he is. Soup man has been consomméed by anger.

This reinforces my belief that Philadelphia is a terrible place to live is due, in part, to the general discontent in the lives of those who live here.

It’s a shame.

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Three Reasons Why I’m Glad the Phillies Lost

November 5th 2009

1. No danger of hearing the dreaded word “threepeat”.

2. No parade and subsequent violence. Does anyone remember the looting and other crime that took place after the Phillies parade last year? Lighting fires and breaking store windows is a very classy way to celebrate a championship. In bizarro world, that is.

3. The Yankees were able to christen their new stadium with yet another World Series championship.

(Note to Yanks fan haters: Some of us like the Yankees because our parents were and took us to the stadium when we were growing up, just like your parents took you to Phillies games. I grew up loving the Yanks of Reggie Jackson and Bucky Dent and Thurman Munson, before salaries were ever an issue. You don’t abandon your hometown team regardless of the management. Neither will we.)

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