Morning Headlines: Labor Day Wrap-Up/Post Brothers Update

Yesterday there was a lot of union activity from the organized laborers of the area. Not long ago, we wrote about the latest in a long line of volleys between the Post Brothers–developers and managers of numerous buildings in the city–and building trade unions, which have been largely absent from the Post Bros.’ work sites (except as protesters).

The most recent dustup came when Post Brothers co-owner Matthew Pestronk told us residents were being videotaped by members of Local 98 as they walked in and out of Rittenhouse Hill, a Post Brothers property. Initially, Local 98 spokesperson Frank Keel was skeptical of the claims, but after seeing photos of the men involved, he conceded it was, indeed, union members–but they were only there for one day and only to monitor the placement of their protest signs on the lawn.

Subsequently, Pestronk sent us photographs of guys with videocameras outside the residence date marked from several different months of this year and last, suggesting it was not, in fact, a one-day union project.

Pestronk declined to comment further after sending the photographs except to say, “I am not trying to further an already pointless public dialogue,” and indeed it does seem as though the conflict between the two sides is intractable.

We’ll keep you posted–though we imagine by next Labor Day, things won’t have changed too much.

• Many people don’t know what “short sale” means, though to both buyers and sellers, it looks like a great bargain. But you now what they say: If it looks too good to be true… The story of one man’s struggle with short sale. [phillyburbs.com]
• Though the city has long emphasized that it cannot make the final decision about which casino wins the bid, it will have influence when it presents its recommendations to the state on Sept. 24. The recommendation will be based, in part, on which will do the least damage to Sugarhouse. [Inquirer]
• The first wrongful death suit is being filed in the building collapse case. The family of Mary Lea Simpson has named The Salvation Army, Richard Basciano, STB Investments Corporation, Griffin Campbell, Sean Benschop, and Plato Marinakos as defendants.
• Chinatown Neighborhood smackdown: “There’s nothing like this in Chinatown,” owner Kenny Poon said as he surveyed his Tea Do. “A Chinese Starbucks.” [Inquirer]