A Center City pizzeria, a 'hot-spot' in the heart of the gayborhood has gone high tech to deal with drugs, and solicitation--by both male and female prostitutes, and to have a safer community...for residents, and visitors alike.
Now, with the aid of high tech surveillance equipment, and a PC a local business owner is able to monitor activities around his establishment near 13th and Chancellor Streets in Center City's "Gayborhood".
Open drug sales, prostitution, agressive pan-handling and other so-called "quality of life crimes" were making life in the neighborhood anything but quality. Through the efforts of anti-crime activists like Greg Bucceroni (Taking Back Our Streets Movement); C B Kimmins (Mantua Against Drugs co-founder) and town watch members, business owners are seeking a meeting and a new relationship with 6th police district Commanding Officer, Captain Brian Korn.
Korn will be able to view, first hand, what occurs at the busy location via an internet link, fed by surveillance cameras and other high tech crime fighting equipment. Recently, Bucceroni, Kimmins and other anti crime, anti drug vigilists assembled outside the establishement and watched as one by one some of the undesirable elements left. Maybe for good; maybe to return later...in either case, the deterrent effect of a physical presence and technology are helping this community regain its lost ground.
[The link at http://pizza.kicks-ass.net features a "Live" feed from the popular night spot...and a bird's-eye-view of the activities outside and around the shop. You'll have to enable 'cookies' on your browser to view the action, but it is well worth at least a look. Go to Internet Explorer, click on "Tools" and select the tab for Custom security level. Enable "Download unsigned active x controls. You should change it back after you download the web viewer for the first time.](log in: SYSTEM Password: pass) You'll have to configure your screen to 1024x768 pixels and 32 bit for best resolution.]
As voters considered a referendum on the ballot in Tuesday's election, this tech-savvy business owner considered his business--and community and took action.
Big Brother is watching--and hopefully, getting an eyeful of the illicit activities near 13th and Chancellor Streets. So, think twice before you show out. Smile! You're on candid camera!
EDITOR'S NOTE: For security purposes, no names were used in this item. Anti-Crime activist's organization names used for identification purposes only.
2006 Logan News Group
DMB COMMUNICATIONS~Philadelphia
A Liberty Communications Group, LLC partner
Gayborhood?
That kind of intollerance is unnaceptable here. If your point was to mention that the neighborhood is popular with the gay and lesbian community, and that it is concerning that activities there are being video taped - well that's something. But your post does not make that clear. If that is your point - it is an important one - so I suggest re-wording this post.
We're not in the practice of banning offensive material - there is no right not be offended - and we don't actively moderate posts - but I tell you this - it will NEVER be promoted to the home page - and if it crosses the line to hate speech - we will ban that user with predjudice. Attaching 'Gayborhood?' with 'illicit activities' (what does THAT mean perchance?) comes real close to that definition.
Your link forwards to JustChat.com by the way.
Either you made a mistake, or this is veiled spam.
"Gayborhood"
Re: Comment posted by 'moderator' "Karl": "Gayborhood" was a term used a subject of the article--in my experience, the LGBTQ community uses that term to roughly designate the community spoken of--and they use it with pride! I once lived in a Philadelphia neighborhood referred to as "Jewtown" because at one point it was populated by cultural jews--and practicing religous jews. No one was offended by the term.
As for the term "Illicit activities" it referred to "Illegal" open market drug sales, prostitution (BOTH 'gay' and straight) and 'gay bashing' to a limited degree.
The "source" of the article did not balk at the article...the Liberty City Democratic Club ( a "Gay" political lobby) didn't...only you. No "hate Speech" was implied, intended, or felt by anyone other than yourself. As for the link-it worked when i posted it, and i observed what the cameras saw, as of 12 Midnight on the post-date of the original article. it was not blatant "Spam" or meant to be insensitive, or intolerant. Perhaps "Philly Future" is just too Politically Correct" to be a forum for this writer. "Promotion" to the front page is NEVER my goal, so that is a moot point.
The ONLY thing I am willing to do is contact the source for a more correct link--the video is worth a thousand words, and would define your inquiry about "Illicit activities" for you--and anyone else who may be confused or dazed. Otherwise, the piece stands on its own merits, despite your trashing it as moderator. If we're "Banned" that will speak volumes about your belief in the First Amendment. That's the beauty of 'blog' publishing. One doesn't necessarily need to be at either the mercy or whim of a so-called "Editor" with issues. The internet offers too many possibilities to be read in a wider arena to suffer the slings and arrows and barbs of an unenlightened tyrannical blog czar.
Whatever your decision, thanks for the opportunity.
Logan News Group
DMB COMMUNICATIONS~Philadelphia
A Liberty Communications Group, LLC partner
It means in the course of 1
It means in the course of 1 week there have been 2 stabbings and many drug transactions that have occured in the area. I work in this area and the things the author says are true. prostitution is rampant in the neighborhood and drugs are just as worse as well as the panhandling and numerous fights. The police are constantly in the area now and things are very slowly getting quiet.
As for the term "gayberhood" it is a widely accepted term for those of us who go to this neighborhood for whatever reason. An as for "illicit activities" I think that the 2 bath houses, the JO club and the multitude of prostitutes and dope fiends warrants the usage of the term "illicit activities".Just my opinion.....