What exactly is the city of Philadephia doing when they talk about cutting the budget and closing libraries yet they host holiday shenanigans like the one I saw at Dilworth Plaza tonight?
Time: 7PM
Place: Dilworth Plaza
Temperature: 25 Degrees F and freezing!
Audience: Myself (on the way to the Broad Street subway) and like 10 homeless people
Setting: City Hall is apparently host to a so-called ‘Christmas Village’ which features stands, bands, etc. At this particular time, a group of (terrible) karaoke singers were belting out a tone-deaf version of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” I swear, even the homeless were wincing. And it takes a lot to make a homeless man cry. Now let me ask you, what does this have to do with Christmas/Hanukah/Eid/X-Mas? Nothing. How does this celebrate the holiday season at all? It’s just another case of gross misappropriation of funds on the part of someone, somewhere. Apparently these festivities go on till 8PM (sometimes 9) every night till the 24th. The city even has a website that explains it all. I’m not a Scrooge. Let a historic, beautiful city like Philly have its wreaths and lights. But sound equipment, security, etc being used till late in the evening when any normal soul is tucked in flannel sheets somewhere with a hot water bottle? Ridiculous. Okay, so it’s sponsored by Lufthansa, the East German airline. And the German American Society of Pennsylvania is involved. But couldn’t they [The corporate sponsors] buy a couple of books? Or librarians or something? Hello, Toys for Tots anyone? A recession-ridden city Whoever is involved should be tightening its belt, not throwing away dollars on spectacles nobody in their right mind would attend.
Please do basic research before posting screeds like this. It’s not costing the city a dime. It’s privately funded and organized, and the organizers are paying the city $17,000 in rent for use of the space. In other words, the event is generating revenue for the city directly. As well as indirectly through sales (and perhaps wage) taxes that probably wouldn’t be happening in the city without the event. See link and comment at your YPP cross-post for details.
You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry for unfairly criticizing the city. But the point remains, whether it was city spending, Lufthansa spending or German Society of Pennsylvania spending – money was spent. Money that could be used elsewhere, for better things! There’s a recession going on! Someone, somewhere should realize (before planning useless events that no one attends) that now is not the time for trifling extras. The homeless that congregate in Dilworth Plaza don’t need concerts, they need coffee (and maybe some blankets).
The point here is that your screed faults city hall. What is the city supposed to do, take an org/biz that has a hitherto next to nothing presence in the city and say, “Sorry, why not just give us a big pile of cash?”
Whatever moral high ground you’re trying to maintain in your rebuttal to Thomas is simply belied by your inability to understand the story in the first place. I mean, you even linked to the website that explains the origins/financing of the project. How can anyone take a writer seriously when the writer herself fails to give her subject matter a serious read?
That was admittedly irresponsible and a good lesson for the future. Thanks for your comments, I do appreciate the scolding.
See this is why it’s better never to assert that you know anything about what you’re talking about. It’s a hell of a lot more fun to spew your opinion with no regard to truth and then take a poop on ThomasT’s car.
…I mean…
Pingback: Five Reasons I <3 Blogging « My Philadelphia Story