Tuesday headlines

• Mystery donor astounds charities: Erie-area shelters and other institutions receive $100 million.
  
  
• Nutter urges cooperation in Chester County talk -- there's certainly room for better cooperation between Philadelphia and its surrounding communities!
  
  
• Shops, growth bring hope -- La Salle University gets more involved in its surrounding community; great news for North Philly.
  
  
• Neighborhood woes (via the DN):
  
  
  
  • Ronnie Polaneczky | Couple: Violent vagrants are destroying their neighborhood
    
    
  • Landlord's tapped out, tenants go waterless -- sheriff's sale leaves residents in no-mans land.
  
  
• Under the Sun | Stunted political careers of blacks: Why few mayors ever advance to higher office.
  
  
• Opinion: Grid is good -- folks lining up to hear about the riverfront planning process. More here.
  
  
• Opinion: PA. TURNS LIGHTS UP FOR POOR: PROMISE OF STATE EITC IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL
  
  
• Opinion: 10 IDEAS NUTTER CAN STEAL FROM OTHER CITIES -- Albert has a round-up of other suggestions here.
  
  
• Two architectural notes (Saffron):
  
  
  
  • See Broad Street in a New Light -- more holiday building lighting schemes around town.
    
    
  • What's behind (or, in front of) City Hall's concrete addition -- a wheelchair ramp made to look like it was always part of the building
  
  
• 10,000 Pages Book Drive -- a local candidate sponsors community activism for schools.