What's Closed in Philadelphia on Labor Day?

How Labor Day impacts Philadelphia services.

Like most federal and state offerings, the City of Philadelphia will close all offices for the Labor Day holiday Monday, according to the Office of the City Representative. Other services are similarly curtailed. Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson said trash and recyclables will not be collected Monday. Residents who have collection set Monday will instead operate on a Tuesday schedule. All other residents will be pushed back one day. Additional offices closed on Monday include: City police and fire stations will fully function. The Municipal Court’s Arraignment Court at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St., will be open, as well. Visit phila.gov for more information. 

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Philly Scores Well in Car Thefts Report, Insurance Group Says

Philadelphia area not in top 100 most likely places to steal a car.

Residents may feel their cars could get stolen in Philadelphia, but apparently, 110 metropolitan areas nationwide are worse. In an annual report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau analyzing auto thefts, the Philadelphia area ranked as the 111th top hot spot for stolen cars throughout the United States. With 13,171 thefts reported in 2011, the Philadelphia metropolitan area, which included Camden, NJ, scored very well. The NICB provided that caveat that "an area with a much smaller population and a moderate number of thefts can—and often does—have a higher theft rate than an area with a much more significant vehicle theft problem and a larger population to absorb it." However, Philadelphia did score better than Los Angles, San …

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3-1-1 Will Have Smartphone App

City service hotline will allow mobile access.

April Fools—City's Sidewalk Texting Lane Makes Point

Mayor Nutter's faux law takes aim at absented-minded pedestrians.

Mayor Michael Nutter's designated texting lane for walkers on mobile devices may be fake, but the city's concern for neglectful pedestrians is real. In an April Fools' Day prank, city officials released a hoax YouTube video, which depicted a new sidewalk exclusively for those who need to text message and walk simultaneously. On Sunday, Nutter tweeted, "Philly pedestrians, please review our new sidewalk regulations effective today," with a link to the attached YouTube video. The city also created an #ELane hashtag to spread the message, before giving people a head's up to the joke. "We all know that many, many people are using the sidewalk and looking at their iPhones, BlackBerries and electronic devices, and they are quite distracted, …

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State Texting Law Supersedes City Ban

Pennsylvania State Police remind drivers that the state's new law prohibiting text-based communication while driving will take effect on March 8. The primary offense will result in a $50 fine.

Pennsylvania’s new law prohibiting text-based communication while driving will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 8, making texting while driving a primary offense carrying a $50 fine, according to a press release provided by Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. "Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving. Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that’s how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “It’s not just your own life you’re risking; it’s the lives and safety of every motorist around you.” The City of Philadelphia already has a texting…

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City Could Conditionally Sell PGW

Philadelphia Gas Works could hit the open market.