Veteran reporter Ralph Cipriano at
BigTrial.net offers a piece on the Columbus Statue in South Philadelphia.
After city workers got through boarding
up the 20-foot high Christopher Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza, the city
solicitor signed a stipulation yesterday that will prevent trigger-happy Mayor
Jim Kenney from toppling the marble monument in the middle of the night, like
he did with the Frank Rizzo statue.
The stipulation was signed by City
Solicitor Marcel Pratt, and George Bochetto, the attorney for the South Philly
residents who went to court Sunday night seeking an emergency injunction to
protect the Columbus statue from the city and Kenney.
At 12:37 p.m. today, Common Pleas Court
Judge Paula Patrick signed the stipulation, which became the judge's order. And
"any violation of the terms . . . will be contempt of court, and
punishable in the same fashion as an injunction order," Bochetto wrote to
his clients.
The order calls for the Philadelphia Art
Commission to hold a public process "to determine the possible
removal" of the Columbus statue. "Consistent with its prior plan, the
City presently has no intention to and will not remove, damage, or alter the
Statue, until such time as the Art Commission determines whether it should be
removed, or, if sooner, upon Court Order," the order states.
In the meantime, "The city will
reasonably protect the Statue pending a decision by the Art Commission,"
the order states.
"Accordingly, the City has
constructed a wooden box that encompasses the entirety of the Statue. At the
request of Plaintiff's Counsel, the City will negotiate in good faith with
Plaintiff's Counsel in developing a plan within the next ten days to possibly
modify the boxing apparatus.
"After the city boxed up Columbus, photos
were circulated around South Philly statue saying, "I can't breathe."
Bochetto wants to alter the wooden box.
"It is my intention to get a Plexiglass panel to show the top of the
statute," Bochetto wrote his clients.
The city posted a message at the base of
the wooden box saying that the Columbus statue "has been a source of
controversy in Philadelphia and across our country."
"Many are calling for the removal
of the statue," the message reads. "The City understands their
concerns," and, "We are committed to listening to all and moving
forward in the best way to heal our deep divides."
"The boxing is to preserve the
statue while the Art Commission process is followed. No decision has been made
on whether the City will remove the statue."
… On Tuesday, Fumo went on Facebook to
denounce Kenney as a "small-minded immature fat baby" who is so
"insecure the only way he thinks he makes himself big is to punish South
Philadelphia where he came from."
In his Facebook post, Fumo blamed Kenney
for "vindictively and as a punishment" transferring Captain Louis Campione, commander of the 1st Police
District out of South Philly after Campione acted to quell tensions in Marconi
Plaza by ejecting a so-called "reporter" for Unicorn Riot who the
captain said was "inciting a riot."
You can read the rest of the piece via
the below link:
https://www.bigtrial.net/2020/06/columbus-in-box.html
