frankford: Philadelphia Metropolis

My Declaration of Independence

Best of VoxPop» It is no coincidence that I now live only a few blocks from Independence Hall. When I was a toddler, I was determined to do everything by myself, so my grandfather dubbed me the Declaration of Independence. The name still suits me. To appreciate this, you need to know that I am legally blind. That means that I have minimal sight in one eye and none in the other, and no depth perception. While I can get around without the assistance of either a guide dog or a white cane, I can't read street signs or facial expressions, and I hold printed matter inches from my eyes to read it. You will be relieved to learn that the state of Pennsylvania, in its wisdom, will not grant me a driver's license. (Comments)

Diary of a Teenage Eater

By Ada Kulesza» Everyone talks about what poor teenagers eat. At Metropolis, we decided to take it a step further: We asked them what they eat. For two weeks, two 18-year-olds texted details of their daily intake to reporter Ada Kulesza. The results are illuminating and surprising. So, sit down with a piece of chocolate cake, a Coke, a half-dozen cookies and a bag of Doritos and read: Diary of A Teenage Eater. (Comments)

The New Flophouses: Part Two

By Ryan W. Briggs» We're standing near the fenced-off grass lot in Kensington that adjoins the clubhouse, used for barbecues and lectures by The Last Stop's mercurial owner "Eddie Z", short for Edward Zampitella. A Kensington native who never learned to read or write, Eddie is a 20-year recovering addict who styles himself as champion of men struggling free from the grip of addiction. His brand of recovery uses tough talk and violent imagery to remind addicts what they stand to lose with their habit. The side yard features a handmade plywood coffin, spray-painted black, with a mannequin inside. A crude, grim idol, the mannequin represents the fate of everyone at the clubhouse, if they start using again. (Comments)

Growing Up at the Roosevelt Mall

By Tracey Levine» It's been a little over 10 years since I was a teenager in Northeast Philly. Most of the neighborhoods are laid out on a grid and, back then; most lawns were well tended and uniform. On a cloud-covered day, the grayish light would marry with the gray concrete, transforming it into a world of dull, lackluster gray, which I fancied an appropriate metaphor for my experiences there. But, there was an impressive camaraderie. Though a single parent, my mother had resources. There were genuinely kind and decent people, and it was a place where I learned some questionable, but mostly useful, values and a work ethic. But there are other things about the Northeast worth remembering when I was a teenager. In the mid-90's, before technology became invasive, being a teenager largely involved occupying physical space and finding a spot to socialize. For me, that was the Roosevelt Mall. I hung out there the summer before and after my senior year in (Comments)

Per Student Allocation, 2010-2011

Source: Phila. School District         School Budgets, 2010-2011                                             2010-11 2010-11      2010-2011  %%... (Comments)