• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

CONTENTS: From the Editors SEPT. 16, 2015 For a country that celebrates our love of independence, we have an unusual way of showing it. Considering the rom Daniel Ellsberg to Edward how likely would we be to learn this? Who City 4 Snowden, we often vilify individuals would hold our regulators accountable? Diminish Blight by Fwith the singular courage to risk ev- Whose truth would we be forced to swal- Repopulating Erie erything when a truth is too important to low, contamination and all? silence. We invite corporations and billion- Recently, 21st Century Fox, now helmed Editors-in-Chief: aires — like Rupert Murdoch and his ilk by Murdoch’s son James, acquired Nation- Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Desperate Times — to own our entertainment, news, and al Geographic. The Murdoch empire al- Managing Editor: elections. Essentially, the truth is for sale. ready controls an enormous share of the Katie Chriest Call for Creative It would be nice if all of the biased in- media, including FOX News. Intriguingly, Contributing Editors: Measures 5 formation we receive came with the same Murdoch (along with Dick Cheney) also Ben Speggen “Sponsored Content” label that pops up on holds a major stake in Genie Oil and Gas, Addressing Erie’s housing Jim Wertz Google searches. Instead, it’s up to us to Inc., under which American Shale Oil falls: crisis strategically through Associate Editor: maintain a healthy skepticism and inde- a company already at fault for leaky ex- smart development tax Alex Bieler pendence of mind, especially when weigh- traction wells in Colorado. Imagine what incentives. Contributors: ing the evidence regarding a subject as this could mean for NatGeo’s scientific Lisa Austin, Civitas contentious as fracking. coverage. Mary Birdsong Here in Erie County, we’ve largely dodged Rick Filippi This is the fourth time the Reader has Frank Garland Erie at Large 6 featured an exploration of fracking on our the fracking bullet. But as Jim Wertz James R. LeCorchick Cruel Truths and cover. For this issue, we collaborated with points out in “Erie at Large,” “As corporate John Lindvay Public Herald, a fully independent team attention shifts from the Marcellus Shale Bob Protzman Comfortable Delusions to the Utica Shale, and as fracking prac- Dan Schank of investigative journalists who “believe William G. Sesler in the vital role the Free Press plays in a tices for the Utica Shale are refined, there Chris Sexauer democracy and society to protect truth, will be greater interest toward drilling in Tommy Shannon News of the Weird 9 transparency and accountability.” Public our watersheds.” Ryan Smith Moving forward, it will be critical to give Sara Toth Drones, Dentistry, and Herald, “in the largest release of fracking Bryan Toy Rattlesnake Selfies records in Pennsylvania history,” reveals our independent news sources the atten- Cover Design: that the Pa. Department of Environmen- tion and support they need to carry out Mark Kosobucki tal Protection has “cooked” data about wa- the crucial mission of journalistic integri- Photographers: Cooked! 10 ter contamination from fracking. ty. Ryan Smith If it weren’t for independent journalism, We hold this truth to be self-evident. Brad Triana How Pennsylvania Publisher’s Assistant Regulators Kept Water Emily Hanisek Contamination from 1001 State St. Suite 901 Fracking “Off the Erie, Pa., 16501 Books.” An exclusive Just a Thought. [email protected] whistleblower report by The Erie Reader is the local voice Public Herald “You have some pretty big shoes to fill.” for news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only independent, alternative newspaper. Founded in 2010, the By: Katie Chriest We talk a lot about how much better Erie Reader has quickly become the The Road to would be if we just did this like Buffalo, or region’s award-winning source for heard that one a few times when peo- that like Pittsburgh. In other words, how arts coverage, a strong cultural Dismaland 16 compass, and a dynamic resource ple found out I was taking over the great Erie would be if only Erie wasn’t for news and opinion. With a role of Managing Editor at the Reader. Erie. dedication to long-form journalism An Edinboro Art Professor I and a commitment to provoking Enters the World of So what does this idiom imply? 1) The Truly, we all have growing to do, and thoughtful discussion, the Reader tells the stories of the people and Banksy. person who used to do your job did it re- some urgent issues to resolve. And com- places making and shaping Erie, ally well. (Absolutely true, in this case.) 2) parison can be healthy, both personally while highlighting the events A Conversation with and issues influencing life in You’re probably not capable of doing it as and in communities. If — and that’s a big northwestern Pennsylvania. The Derek Trucks 32 well. (Possibly true.) 3) Congratulations, if — it’s used as a tool to inspire positive Erie Reader is published every but please try to be just like that other emulation and change, instead of paralyz- other week and distributed at The guitar great opens over 250 high foot-traffic locations person. (Impossible.) ing self-loathing and resentment. in Pennsylvania from North up about the Allmans, Outwardly, I might manage a response Still, whether self or city, dwelling too East to Girard to Edinboro. In Colbert, and life on the addition to appearing in print, Erie like, “Actually, I have my own shoes.” But much on what we lack hijacks our ability Reader adds new content daily road with wife Susan on the inside? The DJ cues up the “You’re to progress. We’ll always fail at trying to at ErieReader.com as well social Tedeschi. media sites. All rights reserved. All Gonna Blow It” blues, cranks it to full vol- be something we’re not. The real danger is content © Flagship Multimedia, ume, and hits “repeat.” that we might also fail at being what we Inc, 1001 State St., Suite 901, Erie, Pa, ER SPORTS 42 16501. No part of this publication This is debilitating stuff. Because ob- are. may be reproduced without permission. The opinions of our JRL notched an impressive viously, we can’t be anything other than While we’re tackling many of the major columnists and contributors 53-12 record after the first what we are. Still, many of us spend our issues Erie faces, let’s also hold space for are their own and do not always reflect that of the editorial board two weeks of grid picks, lives trying. And the more energy we what makes this particular community — or organization. Direct inquiries to but he did miss an eye- drain this way, the less we’re devoting to with all of its wonders and WTFs — worth 814.314.9364 or contact@ErieReader. com. popping 107-90 bout. actually cultivating what we have to offer. calling home. We tend to do this to our fair city, too. Forget filling shoes. Let’s go barefoot. September 16,, 2015 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & OPINION Considering the City Diminish Blight by Repopulating Erie By: Civitas Members Lisa Aus- tin and Stephen Sonnenberg s most readers know, the plan- ning firm CZB is working on a Acomprehensive plan for the city of Erie. One of the biggest concerns CZB has outlined is the issue of blight- ed properties and diminishing real es- tate values. Though Erie was built to accommo- date 140,000 people, today, fewer than 100,000 live in the city. But, thousands of people work in Erie. Every weekday morning, Erie’s highways and arterial streets are clogged with suburban- ites rushing to jobs in the city. This is partly due to the fact that the city of Erie has no residency requirement; many of the city’s police, fire-fighters, school teachers, and office workers live in Millcreek, Summit, Harborcreek, and beyond. Concerns about safety, schools, and taxes drove many people out of the city. Sadly, it is a worsening spiral: as more residents leave, taxes go CONTRIBUTED PHOTO up, crime increases, schools suffer, and CONTRIBUTED PHOTO more residents leave. To reverse this exodus, we could re- ers find that these programs stabilize live in — these buildings. Left: one of many vacant and disintegrating downtown Erie homes. consider the residency requirement neighborhoods surrounding their The strength of NYC’s UHAB is based Right: a home currently on the market, for city workers. But, rather than a firm’s property, reduce absenteeism, on principles including self-help and just waiting for the right investor/ mandate, perhaps we can find ways to “tardiness, and stress as commuting cost-effective sustainability. Erie com- resident. attract new homeowners. times decrease,” and increase produc- munity leaders could serve on a board tivity in the workplace. to form and oversee a new urban home- Imagine if a percentage of the thou- steading project in our downtown. While the news from CZB is grim (too Employer-assisted housing programs sands who commute to Erie could be Church leaders could nominate much housing and too few residents), lured to downtown living. If employers homesteading candidates, and parish- a recent study by Wise Preservation Employer-assisted housing programs including Gannon University, UMPC ioners could collectively assist in ren- Firm noted that Erie — especially the provide loans, or gifts, to employees Hamot, Erie Insurance, the YMCA, the ovating blighted homes. Ethnically-fo- city — is very rich in diverse and signif- who choose to live in neighborhoods Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, and the cused private clubs could also locate icant residential properties. next to their place of work. Dr.

Load more

  44

Copy Link