Theressa McCormick and Tiffany Green (photo: myfoxphilly.com)
Ori Feibush and several other attendees at Monday night’s zoning meeting allege that Tiffany Green committed voter fraud during last night’s vote on the proposed retail space and apartment building. Feibush says Green passed around fake voting sheets — intentially targeting supporters of the project to lead them to believe that they had voted — and left with the sheets.
Meanwhile, the result of the votes has been delayed, “probably until [Wednesday],” according to South Philadelphia HOMES Zoning Director Zelda Simkins. Simkins acknowledged that Green had left with her own voting sheets, but stated that everyone’s vote would be counted.
(Tiffany Green could not be reached for comment because I have no idea what her phone number is. If any reader out there knows her, please have her e-mail info@pointbreezephilly.org so we can try to get her side of the story.)
While we wait for the results, here is a quick round-up of the news coverage from last night’s meeting:
- Fox29 has a video and online news story that is some of the worst journalism I have seen in a while. The report makes it seem like all of the supporters of the project are white and all of those in opposition are black. (Inside the meeting, there were a number of African American supporters hoping the project will bring new businesses and jobs and a number of Caucasians worried about gentrification.) Meanwhile, Fox29 skipped basic facts like what the project will be and what is currently located on the site.
- Local gossip blog Philebrity, which earlier had predicted a “Hyperspace Clusterfuck,” pronounced that That Point Breeze Zoning Meaning Went About As Well As You Could Expect. They repeat the allegation that Green walked off with voter sheets.
- The great Liz Spikol (writing for Curbed.com) calls her new film “The Other Side of Midnight” (a joke that I stole from her and used on Facebook last night).
- As far as I can tell, no other news organization wrote anything.
- I now regret using bullet points for just three real links.
Not a single news organization mentioned either of these fliers:
And, although videos are (for some reason) not allowed at SPHINC zoning meetings, all of these appeared on YouTube:
Proof is in the Youtube pudding. I love how on camera, they bring the tears or speak calmly about the issues, yet when the TV cameras are off, they don’t let anyone else get a word in or even listen to what they said. No matter what answer they were given, nothing was good enough. -”How much is the rent?” –”I don’t know exactly, but it’ll be about less than $800.” -”BUT HOW MUCH WILL THE RENT BE?!” And I don’t know where Tiffany Green is getting her facts, but they are not “million dollar homes” not even half a million. If they have a problem, then they should storm Nutter’s office because it’s a CITY-WIDE initiative to redevelop blighted neighborhoods and properties.
I attended as interested citizen. I fully understand the resident’s concerns, regarding no jobs, no skills, no opportunities, no amenities in area. Three points should have been made in response that were not stated.
1) applicant’s are NOT to blame for all the social ills noted by the resident’s. They need to direct their anger at their elected officials who have failed them so miserably. Poverty and hopelessness are huge issues which need to be resolved by government, not private developers. Clearly, the residents need a forum to resolve their issues, but blaming these applicants for their problems is misguided and let’s our elected officials OFF the hook.
2) CVS, WAlmart’s doctor’s offices, clinic all need one thing – PEOPLE and lots and lots of them to justify the $$$ and time investment that must be made.
Therefore, as long as lots remain vacant, unbuilt, littered with trash, it will be extremely difficult to attract private investment in the area. That is just simple common sense.
Also, sorry to see the application for coffee shop slated for 20th and Federal has not yet been heard, fourth time up. I suggest applicant proceed directly to ZBA and show eveidence of four meetings aborted before coffee shop was aired. This would be a awesome addiion to the area and will serve as a beacon that the older residents and newer residents have come to peaceful terms with each other.
I wish everyone the best, discussion is wonderful, air differences is wonderful, new residents and new homes (rent or sale) will make the entire area safer for ALL residents. There is always safety in numbers.
PS – Taxes will be going up, read the papers, watch the news, listen to Council sessions. We all need to be afraid of that. But blaming this pplicant when it happens is not accurate.
Barbara Capozzi
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