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11/05/2002 Anti-DiCicco Signs Blanket South Philly on Election Day (Ed Goppelt)

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• Hallwatch News

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What Councilman DiCicco saw when he got up this morning?
2002/11/05 Sometime last night a person or persons plastered South Philly with Anti-DiCicco signs including fake "Puckett for Council" signs like this one in front of Councilman DiCicco's house. The men behind this stunt had to be pretty visible--the high placement of the signs would have required a truck with special equipment but probably blended in next to others posting legitimate campaign signs.

In addition to their location in front of the Councilman's home, the signs were placed on 11th St. to Washington Ave., by the Acme at 10th & Reed and all around Capitolo Rec. Center.

I didn't see any signs in Bella Vista during a walk this morning, but according to Colleen Puckett, former President of Queen Village Neighbors there were signs in her neighborhood, but not in Bella Vista, Society Hill or Pennsport.

The Councilman has been a target for harrassment for some time, having endured an Anti-DiCicco web site, heckling at public meetings and having his planter torched.

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Capitolo Rec. Center, 10th & Federal
2002/11/05

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Fake "Colleen Puckett for Council" Sign at 10th St. Between Federal and Wharton
2002/11/05 Colleen Puckett is a community leader from the Queen Village section of South Philly. Puckett says the signs are fakes, part of a misinformation campaign to sew confusion among voters. She thinks she was targeted by the signs because of her recent association with Councilman DiCicco.

"I opposed Councilman DiCicco's Bill 629, but for the past year I've been working closely with him. I think the signs are political payback for that." says Puckett. "Why am I upset? I am being messed with. They're throwing down a challenge to me. The point seems to be annoy me and confuse voters. This is not legitimate harrassment. If you want to run somebody (for office), ok, but this stuff is bogus."

Puckett says she doesn't know who is behind the signs, but the following is clear: Whoever put the signs up had access to abundant men, material and money. Head Electrician & Polticial Boss-on-the-rise John Dougherty is said to detest DiCicco and his political patron Sen. Vince Fumo and presumably would have the necessary means.

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Passyunk & Wharton
2002/11/05 Pat's steaks is visible in the lower left of the picture.

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Acme, 10th & Reed
2002/11/05 The signs are located about 10-12 ft. above the ground, making them hard to remove. I'm guessing that a truck with some sort of lift was used to put them up.

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Carmen's Restaurant, 11th & Wharton Sts.
2002/11/05

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1st District Service Office, 11th & Federal
2002/11/05 The signs appear intended as a kind of poke in the eye to DiCicco and his supporters. Councilman Frank DiCicco, Vince Fumo and Congressman Bob Brady recently opened this snappy new constituent service office. Anti-DiCicco signs were placed right in front of it.

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Citizens Alliance, 1131 Wharton
2002/11/05 When I stopped by Citizens Alliance, workers were unloading Anti-DiCicco signs from the truck.

Citizen's Alliance is a non-profit street sweeping organization reported to be controlled by Councilman DiCicco and his political patron Sen. Vince Fumo.

In 1999, Citizens Alliance received a $5.6 Million anonymous gift. I have been told the money comes from Sen. Fumo's settlement with Peco, but I have not been able to verify this.

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Anti-DiCicco Signs at Citizens Alliance
2002/11/05 According to a staffer at Citizens Alliance the Anti-DiCicco signs were placed "everywhere" around South Philly sometime last night. The staffer said he and his crew were removing signs in response to complaints from neighbors.