iradiophilly | News - Mayor Changes Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day; Off-duty Cop Slams into Home; SUV in Sinkhole

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Mayor Changes Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day; Off-duty Cop Slams into Home; SUV in Sinkhole

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 02/07/21 4:16 pm | updated: 02/07/21 4:33 pm

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order last week, 1/27, designating a new City holiday and changing the name of another. Kenney designated June 19, Juneteenth, a holiday for all City employees. Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 that Union troops brought word of the Emancipation Proclamation and the freedom of slaves to Texas. The ratification of the Thirteen Amendment would come in December 1865, but Juneteenth has been celebrated as the 'end of slavery' informally and formally for 155 years. Last June, the mayor declared the day a city holiday and closed city offices.

Kenney also renamed the City holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October. Columbus Day is now designated as Indigenous Peoplesâ€™ Day. He cited the explorer's â€œdeeply complicatedâ€ story for making the change. Last summer, the Christopher Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia was subject of controversy and location of clashes between police and protesters on both sides. It has since been covered in a plywood box. Columbus Day has long been celebrated by the many city residents of Italian heritage including an annual parade.

SEE ALSO: EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2-21 DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL CITY HOLIDAY AND RENAMING THE HOLIDAY FORMERLY KNOWN AS COLUMBUS DAY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLESâ€™ DAY

An off-duty Philadelphia police officer has been arrested after driving under the influence, crashing into a home, and critically injuring a female occupant. 27-year-old Gregory Campbell of the 14th District is charged with aggravated assault, DUI, and related offenses. It happened around 8:20 p.m. on the 2800 block of Comly Road near Caroline Road in Northeast Philadelphia. Campbell plowed straight through the front of the house. A 53-year-old woman was pinned under the car. She was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital in critical condition. A 45-year-old man suffered injuries to the right side of his body and back. One of the woman's dogs was killed in the crash.

"The consequences of choosing to drive while under the influence are enormous, and all too often, life-changing," said Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. "A family should always feel safe in their home, and yet the actions of this individual shattered that reality. The fact that the offender, in this case, is a Philadelphia Police Officer is appalling. Police Officers must be held to a higher standard - even while off-duty - and I assure the victims and the public that a complete and thorough investigation will take place. My prayers remain with this family."

FOP President John McNesby said, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family and hope those injured will make a full recovery," he said. "This is an unfortunate incident and we continue to monitor the investigation."

An SUV was swallowed by a large sinkhole in North Philadelphia on Sunday morning, 2/7. It happened on the 5500 block of N. 11th Street in the Logan section. The car was parked and unoccupied. A 12-inch water main break sent streams of water into the air as the heavy snow fell. The vehicle was eventually removed from the hole. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. (see photo below)

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(2) responses

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by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA | responded: 02/07 4:32 pm

27-year-old Gregory Campbell of the 14th District is charged with aggravated assault, DUI, and related offenses.

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by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA | responded: 02/07 4:33 pm

Car swallowed by sinkhole on the 5500 block of N. 11th Street.

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