Jannie Blackwell DRAMA!

[ArcticSplash]

Add a Federal lawsuit from a Mantua community group to the asteroid belt of drama that surrounds West Philly's favorite member of City Council...

Jannie Blackwell + Gentrification + Federal Lawsuit = Hilarious - Philadelinquency

[FKD19124]

<sarcasm>Oh Im sure it's all a conspiracy because she is African American!</sarcasm>

Add a Federal lawsuit from a Mantua community group to the asteroid belt of drama that surrounds West Philly's favorite member of City Council...

Jannie Blackwell + Gentrification + Federal Lawsuit = Hilarious - Philadelinquency

[Swinefeld]

How old is this woman? Seriously, even her Wiki page doesn't say. I want to see the birth certificate!

[seand]

<sarcasm>Oh Im sure it's all a conspiracy because she is African American!</sarcasm>

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!!

Did you read the freakin' story? She's heavily invested in redeveloping Mantua (with PHA funded mixed income developments, not necessarily because she's in Drexel's pocket) and is accused by a rabidly anti-gentrification community group of using strong arm tactics to push them to step aside for a group she feels she can work with more easily. So its a group of very old black church folks that are suing her.

RTFA, already.

[JMphilly]

Some people are lawsuit crazy and will come up with half truths or no truths to try to bully people into doing things. These people are against everything and dont stand fo anything. If people like this ever get to a level of public accountability they would not do anything. It is proved by the fact they have not done anything in decades for the community. If they were so active then why not just meet somewhere until you get this sorted out? It is because they just want a scene.May common sense prevail.These are the people that clog the judicial system with nonsense.

[seand]

Some people are lawsuit crazy and will come up with half truths or no truths to try to bully people into doing things. These people are against everything and dont stand fo anything. If people like this ever get to a level of public accountability they would not do anything. It is proved by the fact they have not done anything in decades for the community. If they were so active then why not just meet somewhere until you get this sorted out? It is because they just want a scene.May common sense prevail.These are the people that clog the judicial system with nonsense.

Hello, first time poster.

So people in city government do read this thing, after all.

[seand]

If any of this holds up, which is a big "if", dead dogs and threats is not how elected representatives or their employees should behave towards constituents in a democracy.

No matter how wrong they may be on this or other development.

Some people seem to have a hard time with the concept that they are elected to serve their constituents, not vice versa.

[darthsinatra]

Poverty. Pimp.

[OffenseTaken]

Poverty. Pimp.

I believe you mean "poverty madam," don't you?

It's actually hard to say who's side is wronger: there's an insane, insanely stupid councilwoman using Third World-dictatorship-type tactics to silence a legitimate neighborhood group, which itself is advocating an insane position.

It'd be great if this escalated until both sides annihilate each other, but that's a bit optimistic.

[Swinefeld]

Seriously, how old is this woman? Nobody knows?

[chrisD]

It is unfortunate that these people are suing for records. I wish my paperwork was worth nearly 1/2 million dollars! Ha ,what a joke coming up with that number. Let me guess, this community group does not have any money? Also if you google this woman, she comes from a troubled past both emotional and phycological. Some people turn into activist for everything and seem to thrive on the drama, when thier lives are really about nothing. Sometimes activist for worthy causes but mostly for just the emotional high of getting attention and to fill their lives with some purpose. I am not saying Jannie Blackwell is a saint, but think that this groups accusations will be too far fetched to prove.

[seand]

It is unfortunate that these people are suing for records. I wish my paperwork was worth nearly 1/2 million dollars! Ha ,what a joke coming up with that number. Let me guess, this community group does not have any money? Also if you google this woman, she comes from a troubled past both emotional and phycological. Some people turn into activist for everything and seem to thrive on the drama, when thier lives are really about nothing. Sometimes activist for worthy causes but mostly for just the emotional high of getting attention and to fill their lives with some purpose. I am not saying Jannie Blackwell is a saint, but think that this groups accusations will be too far fetched to prove.

PA has an Open Records law for a reason. Elected officials that try to dodge that state law should pay sharp penalties.

They are suing over civil rights violations that if they bear out are shocking and deplorable, no matter how ill-conceived their view of development. If their accusations are true, people in Blackwell's office really deserve to be in jail, if you ask me.

Oh and hello to first time poster #2.

[seand]

In case readers didn't follow the links.

The other plaintiff in the suit is Samantha M. Monroe, who alleges she was struck by Blackwell's car.

Talking to reporters, Monroe, who said she lived in the area, said she had attended a Nov. 16 community meeting to learn more about neighborhood cleanup schedules.

Monroe said she saw Blackwell dismiss a question asked by Gerald Washington, president of Mantua Community Planners, and decided to insist that Blackwell answer the question.

At that point, Blackwell's aides surrounded her in a threatening manner, the suit alleges. Later, an aide approached Monroe and told her to meet outside with Blackwell to arrange a time to talk about issues.

When Monroe approached Blackwell, who was in her city car, the councilwoman allegedly drove away, hitting Monroe with a side-view mirror. The suit says surgery has been recommended to repair an injury to her right abdomen.

The suit also alleges that Monroe has been subject to death threats and harassment. A news release mentioned that a dead dog was left at her door.

West Phila. community group suing Jannie Blackwell - Philly.com

On what planet is it OK (if this is true) for City Council employees to issue death threats and dump dead dogs on citizen's door steps?
Any thoughts on that, chrisD?

[seand]

And the DN story.
Councilwoman Blackwell's Mantua feud heads to federal court

[Litter Box]

PA has an Open Records law for a reason. Elected officials that try to dodge that state law should pay sharp penalties.

They are suing over civil rights violations that if they bear out are shocking and deplorable, no matter how ill-conceived their view of development. If their accusations are true, people in Blackwell's office really deserve to be in jail, if you ask me.

Oh and hello to first time poster #2.

I don't pay much attention to stuff like this but with two surrogate posters there must be some real meat.

[seand]

I don't pay much attention to stuff like this but with two surrogate posters there must be some real meat.

That or Council staff has time on their hands while Council is out of session.

Of course we are talking about of member of City Council whose office spontaneously caught on fire, twice, at times very convenient to avoiding a federal investigation.

[ArcticSplash]

I don't pay much attention to stuff like this but with two surrogate posters there must be some real meat.

I'm thinking the same. The story showing up in the two majors plus I've make sure this story gets the full GoogleJuice it deserves has piqued interest, methinks.

Either way, I'm really interested to see how this FEDERAL (yes, Federal!) case pans out.

[Litter Box]

That or Council staff has time on their hands while Council is out of session.

Of course we are talking about of member of City Council whose office spontaneously caught on fire, twice, at times very convenient to avoiding a federal investigation.

Hint to the two first time posters if you don't want something to go viral don't toss fuel on the fire.

[ArcticSplash]

I just checked PACER and I don't see anything new filed against Jannie. Just a PHA suit still on-going where Jannie was captioned. Wonder if this is all just showboating?

[seand]

Daily News says the city itself is named in the case, as well as Blackwell. Try the complaintant's names.

We probably would not get the first time poster's quick responses if there was not a real case.