SEPTA to hold hearings on transpasses
Next month, SEPTA will host public hearings on its proposed 2014 budget, which includes a plan to eliminate gender markers from its transpasses.
The local hearings are 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. April 17 at 1234 Market St.
SEPTA announced last year it would eliminate the gender sticker before the 2014 rollout of its new fare system. Activists have long contended the gender stickers invited discrimination against transgender and gender nonconforming individuals.
Visit www.septa.org/notice/asp/hearings-asp.html for hearing information.
— Jen Colletta
Siloam out of suit
Attorneys for AIDS agency Siloam have notified Commonwealth Court that the agency won’t file briefs in the dispute over the demolition of an old Catholic church, since Siloam is no longer the owner.
In 2006, Siloam purchased the church, at 1133 Spring Garden St., and two adjacent buildings from the Archdiocese. But in 2010, the Philadelphia Historical Commission granted permission to demolish the church, noting it would be a hardship for Siloam to maintain the structure.
The Callowhill Neighborhood Association filed suit to block the demolition, contending the church is an architectural icon.
Siloam was named as a party in CNA’s lawsuit, even though it had already sold the buildings to MJ Central Investment, which also wants to demolish the church. That entity has yet to be named in CNA’s suit.
“Siloam should be removed as a party to the appeal, and MJ Central Investment should be denied demolition approval on the grounds that a ruling does not run with the land and Siloam’s hardship ruling was issued in error to begin with,” said CNA member Andrew R. Palewski.
A stay of the demolition is in place, pending a Commonwealth ruling.
Carl S. Primavera, an attorney for MJ Central Investment, had no comment.
Siloam continues to operate in a rectory adjacent to the church.
— Tim Cwiek
