Good Planning Or Campaign Contributions?

Two nearly identical development plans for an abandoned industrial site get very different receptions from the Mayor.

1 minute read

June 24, 2002, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Shortly afterward, a Blue Bell firm stepped in with a similar plan for the site. Principals in that firm, the Goldenberg Group, are among Street's top campaign contributors... And though that proposal differs little from the one rebuffed a year ago, it now has the support of the Street administration... Commerce Director James Cuorato said the Goldenberg proposal fit the criteria of a new policy developed to consider rezoning requests for industrial land. The policy was crafted as a result of Lipkin's proposal, he said. But Lipkin, who declined to comment for this article, never benefited from it."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Sunday, June 23, 2002 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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