CLOSE UP Video Interviews

Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation project coordinator Curt Helm oversaw the felling and removal of three large diseased trees at the Allens Lane Art Center. The trees were in danger of falling onto the playing fields or the other way over power lines and onto McCallum Street which bears significant vehicular traffic. Helm, with direct experience in the field, complimented the adroitness of the park's subcontractors. As the final chainsaw cuts were made to the diseased oak tree, it began to tumble. A truck with a rope attached to the tree began to pull it forward in the direction the contractors wanted the tree to fall. A couple seconds later the top branches hit the ground with a resounding crash.  The two other trees to be taken down that day were ashes. Sadly, Helm reports, all the park's ash trees will eventually succumb to the emerald ash borer and, for safety reasons, will be taken down within the next five to ten years. Watch video here

Unionized Verizon telephone company workers (Communication Workers of America - CWA) conducting an informational picket outside the Chestnut Hill Philadelphia central station, which houses thirty to forty thousand landline connections, explain why they are on strike. They object to high executive pay and unwillingness to sign a contract without concessions from workers giving the company the right to reassign them to locations 50 or even a couple hundred miles away, freeze their pensions at 30 years of service and outsource their jobs to workers in the Philippines or Mexico. Watch video interview here.

 Over lunch, I engaged David Komar of Phoenixville, Pa on why he's a loyal supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump for President of the United States. "[He's] a successful man, knows a lot of people around the world. I think he's been a good sparring partner with the candidates he's had so far to date and I think that says it all." Komar went on to deflect criticism of the candidate and added that we shouldn't hate Trump because he's got billions of dollars. "Like him because maybe that would spread." Watch video here.

Bernie Sanders has his ardent supporters, too. An 88 year old supporters Bernie Sanders based on his free college plan and opposition to the Iraq war. Watch video here. And a young African American woman sings "Speak Dirty  Bernie to Me."  Watch video here.