Tuesday quick bits: Activist edition

An unexpected theme underlying today's stories...

• An old Superfund site on the banks of the Schuylkill has activists frustrated over the lack of a safe long-term solution for the lethal wastes stored there -- specifically, one good flood could breach the liquid waste tanks and send it all (heavy metals, arsenic, and various chemical byproducts) downstream. Not the kind of story to improve your sleep...
  
  
• A majority of Donna Reed Miller's constituents voted to dump her from her City Council seat, but their divided loyalties gave her a narrow win; now Jesse Brown wants a shot at her in the fall, planning to run as an Independent with the backing of numerous progressive groups. Just a short note here, but he could well pull many of those who backed either Irv Ackelsberg or Cindy Bass, both of whom would probably prefer an essentially Democratic alternative to the incumbent...
  
  
• A large organization of Philadelphia School District parents has voted to express no confidence in the School Reform Committee after looking at its budget plan and recent staffing moves.
  
  
• Marc Stier is right back in the trenches today, reminding us that we continue to be in the midst of a transit funding crisis, and noting various ways that you can speak up right now to help pressure the state to make a substantive commitment.
  
  
• Hallwatch also notes that (anti-)casino activists met with State Rep. Mike O'Brien tonight to talk about the SugarHouse approval bills introduced by Councilman Juan Ramos. Will be interested to hear what, if anything, is suggested...