Posted on 12/29/2015 10:41:46 PM PST by beaversmom
Shocked onlookers watched Monday night as a man took a sledgehammer to a Center City crosswalk celebrating Philadelphia's LGBT community -- but it turns out the entire incident was a simple misunderstanding.
Officials said two men first believed to be vandals actually worked for the Philadelphia Water Department and were looking for a possible problem.
The water department said it was investigating a leak nearby at Broad and Locust streets when it fanned out crews to find a possible root of the leak.
That led workers to a rainbow-colored crosswalk at 13th and Locust streets, in what's commonly called the city's "Gayborhood."
"The Water Department was investigating a leak on a water main and as part of the investigation, had to remove a valve box cover to to identify the location," said water department spokesman John DiGiulio.
An onlooker captured cellphone video of the hammering as people walked by.
"There was a man in the middle of the road with a sledgehammer beating the rainbow sidewalks with it, and another man came up behind and began chiseling with him," recalled witness Michael Depiano.
Depiano, believing the men were up to no good, called 911. A police officer arrived moments later, but the men had walked away, leaving minor damage to the brightly colored crosswalk.
Police said no crime appeared to be committed.
"We apologize for any concern this may have caused," said DiGiulio.
Police said no crime appeared to be committed.
"We apologize for any concern this may have caused," said DiGiulio.
DiGiulio sent another statement Tuesday apologizing for the confusion:
"The Water Department recognizes that the work that we performed last night at the intersection of 13th and Locust caused some concern amongst citizens in the area. While the work being performed was not unusual, we apologize for the disturbance and any misunderstanding regarding the nature of our activities. Throughout the year the Water Department actively works to identify sources of leaks, water quality issues, and many other infrastructure concerns for which we are responsible. Quite frequently the optimal time of day to perform this work is in the evening hours.
This time.
In the future no excuses for blaspheming the icons.
[[Center City crosswalk celebrating Philadelphia’s LGBT community ]]
Hmmm- does the city also have a crosswalk celebrating Christianity? Or Morality?
I was curious if this was something the public in that area did on their own or something the city did for them. I wouldn’t be surprised, with how crazy things are, if it was the city, but not sure.
probably the city- had it been doen by citizens without approval, it would be vandalism and graffiti and the city would perhaps clean it up and arrest the vandals unless the city were cowards- which could very well be the case-
Sledgehammer pounding away, another man chiseling a leaky hole in gay Philly, nothing out of the ordinary going on there.
No. They would consider that to be judgemental, racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic, Islamophobic. Did I miss anything?
:-)
I’m wondering... do Philadelphia City workers not wear some kind of vest & carry ID identifying them as “official”. You would think. Because the “perpetually offended” could have created a nasty situation here.
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