<![CDATA[Local news from metro.us/philadelphia]]> en-us <![CDATA[Nifty Fifty's facing federal tax evasion charges]]>
Robert Mattei, 73, of Delray Beach, Florida; Leo McGlynn, 52, of Swarthmore, Pa.; Brian Welsh, 48, of Springfield, Pa.; Joseph Donnelly, 49, of Springfield, Pa.; and Elena Ruiz, 46, of Drexel Hill, PA were charged for underreporting profits and evading taxes since the restaurant opened in 1986.

They are also charged with filing income tax returns claiming refunds based on the allegedly false income information. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143310--nifty-fifty-s-facing-federal-tax-evasion-charges Wed, 16 May 2012 17:28:49 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGELSWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143310--nifty-fifty-s-facing-federal-tax-evasion-charges <![CDATA[Anderson Sotomayor: New Jersey man arrested for fifth DWI in five weeks]]> The Press of Atlantic City reports.

Police told the paper that they received a call about erratic driving and pulled Sotomayor over around midnight. He allegedly smelled of alcohol and told police he was taking the narcotic painkiller oxycodone, but refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Sotomayor was charged with DWI, open container, reckless driving and use of a controlled substance.

He was just arrested for drunk driving Saturday after allegedly steering his car against traffic down a one-way street, hitting a curb and driving onto a property.

No stranger to police in Vineland, Sotomayor was arrested for drunk driving charges on April 9, 11 and 25. He was also arrested April 2 for grazing a school bus as it let off children, running a stop sign, hitting another car – hospitalizing its driver – and fleeing the scene.

During the April 9, he reportedly hit a police car while backing out of a parking space, on April 11, he hit a utility pole and on April 25, he was stopped for erratic driving, at which point the officer recognized him from previous DWI arrests.

In at least one incident, he was unable to take all the necessary field sobriety tests because he is missing his right leg, according to police reports obtained by The Press of Atlantic City.

Sotomayor has a long list of drunk driving-related arrests dating back to 1985, when he got his license. It has since been suspended 23 times. Now Sotomayor is being held on $10,000 cash bail. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143306--anderson-sotomayor-new-jersey-man-arrested-for-fifth-dwi-in-five-weeks Wed, 16 May 2012 16:41:35 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143306--anderson-sotomayor-new-jersey-man-arrested-for-fifth-dwi-in-five-weeks <![CDATA[City Council, mayor spar over PPA ticket surcharge to fund parks system]]>
That year, parks advocates fought to pass Nutter's proposed Parking Tax, which was to serve as a dedicated revenue stream for the "chronically underfunded" department. But, though the tax was approved, the money went to other places when the economy took a turn for the worse.

"We're looking at how do we begin to rededicate that stream of revenue," Councilman Kenyatta Johnson said. He, along with Council members Cindy Bass – Chair of the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs – Mark Squilla and Jim Kenney all spoke today the importance of the city parks system. "For me, at a minimum – a minimum – a promise was made and if a promise was made, we need to revisit that promise and start funding these parks," Johnson said.

Despite inflation and increased maintenance costs, the Department of Parks and Recreation's budget has flatlined over the past 30 years, remaining virtually unchanged since 1970. Comparable cities like Cincinnati, Chicago and New York spend over twice as much per resident on parks and recreation as Philadelphia.

As the meeting at City Hall commenced, an example of the Department's vitality was taking place just across the street in the form of a lunchtime dance workout at Love Park, part of the roster of events celebrating Love Your Park Week.



As far as concrete suggestions to increase money allocated to the parks, Squilla said he recently submitted a proposal to the Nutter administration that would add a $2 surcharge to parking tickets, with the extra revenue going straight to the Department of Parks and Recreation. He estimates it would raise an extra $2 million per year.

But legal squabbles have stalled the legislation for the time being. According to Squilla, lawyers with the Nutter administration found Monday that a state ordinance prohibits Parking Authority revenue from bypassing the city's general fund and the state-overseen School District, the two areas that currently divvy up PPA profits.

In contrast, Squilla said a legal opinion released by the Parking Authority last week found his suggestion to be viable due to a precedent set earlier this month when the PPA approved a $1.25 fuel surcharge for taxi riders that goes directly back to the drivers.

"My position is, don't tell me we can't do it," Squilla said. "Find a way we can do it. ... It's submitted, it's about whether we introduce it, whether we need to tweak something or if we can find some middle ground."

Kenney said that money raised by activities hosted in city parks need to go directly back to the parks, not into the city's general fund. "This just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished," he said to the packed room. "Because all the time and effort you put in voluntarily becomes taken for granted. You shouldn't be taken for granted and we need to have the funds to maintain your efforts."

Volunteers at Philadelphia parks worked a total of 220,000 hours in 2011, amounting to an estimated $4.8 million in what the Parks Alliance calls "sweat equity." That's not even counting volunteers at city recreation centers. There are 30 percent fewer recreation center staffers today than in 2000 – 75 of the city's 130 rec centers don't even have a custodian – and Fairmount Park Rangers have dropped from 525 Guard Police in 1971 to only 18 rangers in 2009.

"Parks are not optional. Parks are not something we can say, 'Maybe we can have, maybe not. Maybe they're good for neighborhoods, maybe they're not.'" Bass said. "That's not the way a world-class city like Philadelphia treats its parks and recreation."

Though the parks were slated to receive $59.6 million by 2013 per Nutter's 2009 Five-Year Plan, the administration this year proposed a $47.8 million Parks and Recreation budget, $2.1 million of which simply represents a funding shift and is not new money. If approved, it will be one of the lowest budgets for the department in the last 10 years.

"We need to recognize that parks have an economic impact – they bring people in and grow our city," Bass said. "People who move in pay business taxes and city wage taxes. ... Parks and Recreation are a no-brainier. They bring people in." ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143267--city-council-mayor-spar-over-ppa-ticket-surcharge-to-fund-parks-system Wed, 16 May 2012 12:42:17 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143267--city-council-mayor-spar-over-ppa-ticket-surcharge-to-fund-parks-system <![CDATA[PHOTOS: A first look at the new Barnes Museum]]>
The building will be dedicated Friday at 11 a.m. and The Barnes Foundation is celebrating by offering ten days of free admission from May 19 through May 28, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., culminating in a Memorial Day festival weekend featuring entertainment and an opening gala.

The new $150 million, 93,000 square-foot campus features gardens, cafes, educational facilities and a gallery preserving the original Merion collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, as well as African sculpture and Pennsylvania Dutch decorative arts.

The Barnes Foundation is located at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Tickets are free to members and children under the age of six. General admission prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Admission is free on the first Sunday each month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and information and tickets are available online and by calling 1-866-849-7056.

All images by Rikard Larma/Metro:































]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143228--photos-a-first-look-at-the-new-barnes-museum Wed, 16 May 2012 11:07:51 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143228--photos-a-first-look-at-the-new-barnes-museum <![CDATA[VIDEO: Chris Christie and Cory Booker need their own sitcom]]>
Yes, ties to the Garden State go far deeper than anything like shallow politics, which is why New Jersey governor Chris Christie (a Republican) and Newark mayor Cory Booker (a Democrat) joined forces in a hilarious video for the New Jersey Press Association dinner.

In the short video, the two pols leave no stereotype unturned, making laughs out of Christie's veep speculation, Booker's oppressive need to always play the hero, and Bruce Springsteen's godlike status among the Jersey faithful. And they even avoided making a Snooki joke, which, when you're trying to be funny about New Jersey, is not always easy to do.

We hope this becomes a regular thing. Just think of the hi-jinks these two could get up to! Like: What if Booker accidentally commited to shoveling two streets at the same time? Or if Christie's in-laws were visiting, and they wanted to him take them out to dinner — in New York! It's gold, readers! Gold!

Check out the full video below:


]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143218--video-chris-christie-and-cory-booker-need-their-own-sitcom Wed, 16 May 2012 09:47:16 -0400 NATE JONES http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143218--video-chris-christie-and-cory-booker-need-their-own-sitcom <![CDATA[Man facing fourth DUI charge in just over a month had license suspended 23 times]]> The Daily Journal reported.

Anderson Sotomayor, 45, was taken into custody around 1:40 a.m. after Vineland police saw him drive against traffic down a one-way street, strike a curb and slam into a property.

He refused to take a breathalyzer and was arrested for DUI. Sotomayor was charged with the same crime in the same town on April 9, 11 and 25.

He was also issued five summonses April 2 for allegedly swerving around a school bus as children were exiting, running a stop sign, hitting a car – hospitalizing its driver – and fleeing, according to the paper. Police were able to track him down in that case after finding half of his handicapped tag at the scene.

Sotomayor has a history of violations since he got his license in 1985, according to The Press of Atlantic City. He was convicted of speeding and careless driving the same year and charged with drunken driving in Cape May County in 1989 and in Atlantic City in 1992.

His license has reportedly been suspended 23 times. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143208--man-facing-fourth-dui-charge-in-just-over-a-month-had-license-suspended-23-times Tue, 15 May 2012 21:57:03 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143208--man-facing-fourth-dui-charge-in-just-over-a-month-had-license-suspended-23-times <![CDATA[Hiker attacked by rabid raccoon in Valley Green bathroom]]>
The Philadelphia Public Health Department issued a warning to anyone who came into contact with a raccoon in late April or early May to immediately seek medical attention, as the disease is almost always fatal to humans if preventative measures are not promptly taken.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment so he doesn't catch the infection. The Health Department said the animal is the 26th rabid raccoon on record in the city since 1989. There have been 61 reported cases of infected wildlife in total during that time period. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143207--hiker-attacked-by-rabid-raccoon-in-valley-green-bathroom Tue, 15 May 2012 21:43:57 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143207--hiker-attacked-by-rabid-raccoon-in-valley-green-bathroom <![CDATA[Man arrested for stealing wrench from auto body shop after returning to ask for job]]>
Police said Harold Williams, 59, stole the half-inch impact wrench from a mechanic's toolbox at Joe's Auto Repair on the 3500 block of Indian Queen Lane April 23. When he came back on April 27 looking for work, the manager recognized him as the alleged tool thief and told him to sweep the front of the shop.

As Williams busied himself with the task, the manager went into his office and called police. Williams was taken into custody and is charged with theft. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143205--man-arrested-for-stealing-wrench-from-auto-body-shop-after-returning-to-ask-for-job Tue, 15 May 2012 21:35:43 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143205--man-arrested-for-stealing-wrench-from-auto-body-shop-after-returning-to-ask-for-job <![CDATA[Neighbors have mixed reactions to arrest of alleged coffee tosser David Timbers]]>
But she received a horrifying lesson in customer service a week ago when an angry customer hurled a cup of scalding coffee on her after an argument over payment for a $2.40 food order. Luy, who does not speak English, gingerly peeled back bandages to reveal a large raw patch where the skin was sloughed off her arm due to second-degree burns sustained while shielding her face from the blistering liquid. She was trying to soothe the wound with an aloe leaf wrapped in bandages.

After police released surveillance video of the incident last Thursday, phone lines were flooded with tips identifying the alleged suspect as David Timbers, 52, who lives in an apartment on the 3700 block of Haverford Avenue a few blocks away from the store. Timbers turned himself in Monday evening and was released yesterday after posting 10 percent of $25,000 bail.

"He was a regular customer and he never acted like that," Eap said. He said that he tried to intervene, but was outnumbered by Timbers, a man who accompanied him and at least one other patron who joined the argument. "I tell them 'stop,' but they not gonna respect me," he said.

"We've been here over 20 years and nothing like this ever happened," Eap continued. "From 1991 to now, it never happened. They are good people around here, there is never any trouble. Then last week – I don't know what happened."

He said that Luy is still scared. "She still come in every morning. She still training because next year, she want to open her own store," he said. "But she still worried about it, she still not happy. She don't want to make trouble, though."

'Just a cup of coffee'




Neighbors reactions to the shocking incident, which has made national headlines, were mixed. "I don't care what she did, she didn't deserve to get hot coffee thrown on her," said C. Burton, who, like Timbers, is a routine Fresh Donuts patron. He said that, while he was familiar with Timbers from the neighborhood, the man mostly kept to himself. "He's a little unstable upstairs."

Timbers didn't answer the door at his apartment, but neighbors said he lived with his wife and two children. "He's doesn't mess with anybody like that – he probably snapped. It was just a cup of coffee," said Harry K. Moore. "He's not a bad guy."

A man who asked to be identified only by his first name, Mark, said he became involved in the altercation while waiting for his own breakfast. "[Timbers] took out a $10 bill and gave it to her and she gave him $7.40 back. When his sandwich was done, he was outside talking and I told him it was finished. She kept telling him he didn't pay, but I saw him. I was standing right there."

He said that, after Timbers allegedly threw the coffee, Eap tried to block him and his companion from leaving by standing in front of the Cadillac they were driving, which neighbors said has since been impounded by police. "He was talking crazy and told the guy not to move the car. Then he argued with me because I said the man did pay," Mark said.

"That was wrong," he said of the coffee-tossing, "But they have a tendency of coming off real smart at the mouth and they pissed him off – he flipped. ... The only thing he was wrong about was throwing coffee on her. Other than that, he was not wrong at all." ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143200--neighbors-have-mixed-reactions-to-arrest-of-alleged-coffee-tosser-david-timbers Tue, 15 May 2012 20:30:13 -0400 ALEX WIGGLESWORTH, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143200--neighbors-have-mixed-reactions-to-arrest-of-alleged-coffee-tosser-david-timbers <![CDATA[Change our name? Rutgers says no way]]>
The compromise plan is the work of a behind-the-scenes group that includes New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, state Sen. Donald Norcross and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, plus Rutgers President Richard McCormick and Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Wendell Pritchett.

Senator Norcross' brother George is a powerful South Jersey politician who has been actively promoting Christie's plan. George Norcross is chairman of the board of Camden's Cooper University Hospital. The hospital will be home to Rowan's new medical school.

Norcross and Christie were in Camden yesterday for the groundbreaking of a new cancer institute at Cooper.

Rowan representatives have not been involved in the compromise talks, according to Joe Cardona, associate vice president of university relations. Cardona hopes that some form of merger or collaboration will happen, whether under Christie's plan or some other plan.

Rutgers-Camden students, faculty and administration have very publicly opposed the loss of the Rutgers name, and on May 3 the board of Rutgers University overwhelmingly voted to reject the merger. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143186--change-our-name-rutgers-says-no-way Tue, 15 May 2012 19:55:40 -0400 JUDY WEIGHTMAN, PHILADELPHIA http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1143186--change-our-name-rutgers-says-no-way