April 22-28, 2004

the bell curve

The Bell Curve

City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

Flyers defeat Devils in round one of the playoffs. Satisfied, Bob Clarke tenders his resignation.
Plus 10

Chazz Palminteri's movie set in South Philly will be shot in Pittsburgh. So will Palminteri, by a guy with a "Carpenter's Union, Phila. Chapter" bumper sticker on his new Crown Vic.
Minus 2

Councilman Rick Mariano calls for hearings on whether he can post on cable TV photographs and the names of people accused or convicted of soliciting prostitutes. Also he would like a staff piano player and a bear who can juggle.
Even

The city says it paid $840,000 to dead former city workers in 2003. A city spokesperson defended the practice, saying, "Do you have any idea how gross it would be if they went on strike?"
Minus 4

From now on, some money collected from parking tickets will go to funding city schools. So now blocking people's driveways can be seen as a charitable act.
Plus 2

Philadelphia will spend a record $20 million on summer school in 2004. Of course, it's hard to trust the math.
Minus 5

Jay-Z and his entourage attend the trial of Beanie Sigel in Philly. Laptop-wielding DJs remix the proceedings with clips from the Snoop Dogg murder trial, release MP3-only album.
Plus 2

North Philly principal resigns after Daily News prints his picture and reveals that he was arrested in a prostitution sting. He thought the photo made him look too heavy.
Minus 1

Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson cuts $14 million from Operation Safe Streets' overtime budget but says service will stay the same. "Yeah, we tried that line," says SEPTA.
Minus 3

Total pluses: 14

Total minuses: 15

This week's total: -1

Last week's total: -8