iradiophilly | News - Squilla Bill 160016 Squashed by Music Industry; SEPTA Stabber ID'd; NTSB Releases Amtrak 188 Docs

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Squilla Bill 160016 Squashed by Music Industry; SEPTA Stabber ID'd; NTSB Releases Amtrak 188 Docs

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 02/01/16 8:23 pm | updated: 02/01/16 8:23 pm

The controversial bill that was introduced by Philadelphia Councilman Mark Squilla two weeks ago amending the existing "special occupancy license" (Philadelphia Code, Section 9-703) for venues that play music has officially been squashed. Today, Councilman David Oh organized a group of Philadelphia music industry professionals to sit down at City Hall and talk with Squilla about their concerns regarding Bill No. 160016. At the end of the discussion Squilla agreed to withdraw the bill in it's entirety. (see his Facebook post) The most controversial amendment called for all venue owners to collect the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all performers and make that information available to police. It also gave police a say in who gets licensed based on public safety and crime statistics. There was also a significant hike in fees from $100 annually to $500 biannually. Squilla has said the intention of the new bill was to close a loophole that allowed places to forgo the license and just play recorded music while not employing a DJ or live entertainment, but those other amendments didn't have anything to do with that. The bill won't be revisited until the city's new 15 member Music Industry Task Force is put together and can have positive input into its drafting. This action speaks to the strength of Philadelphia's growing and vibrant music scene who quickly acted and spoke with one voice against this legislation. READ the BILL

SEE ALSO: Councilman Squilla Responds to Criticism
SEE ALSO: Music Community Upset over Squall Bill

Police have identified the man arrested in last Friday's stabbing on a SEPTA bus. 27-year-old William Smalls of the 9200 block of Masland Street turned himself in on Sunday after surveillance footage of the incident was released Saturday. Smalls allegedly got on the Route 56 bus on Torresdale Ave in Frankford and didn't have the proper transfer. The drive told him to get off at the next stop. Once there he refused to leave the bus. A passenger argued with him and then pushed him off the bus. Smalls retaliated by stabbing the passenger multiple times and running off. The victim is still in the hospital in stable but critical condition. Smalls is charged with aggravated assault and related offenses.

The NTSB has released hundreds of pages of documents related to the Amtrak 188 derailment at Frankford Junction in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. The documents do not come to a conclusion as to what caused the train to come flying off the tracks. At the heart of the release are the transcripts of the two interviews with train engineer Brandon Bostian. One was taken a few days after the crash and the other months later. He says he doesn't remember much of what happened, that he blacked out before the curve and woke up after the crash. You can read all the NTSB documents yourself at NTSB's website at NTSB.gov

Tonight,
Rain showers early, temperatures in the mid/upper 40's this evening in Center City

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