The big news on the Philly-area blog front this week is steam being picked up on the Latoyia Figueroa case. Perfect example of when MSM can and should poach stories from bloggers -- after all, the point is to get the information out there. So hooray for that, and keep it going.
But while all this happens, Susanna Goihman still hasn't talked to police, and Kayla Peter goes without justice. Some background, in case you haven't heard of Kayla Peter or heard about her weeks ago and forgot.
Kayla Peter was a 15-year-old East Falls girl, a student at Hallahan. The night of June 19, she stepped off a Septa bus at the East Falls transfer center, headed home after a night hanging out in Andorra with friends. A white Lexus mowed her down, killing her within eyesight of the rowhouse where she lived.
A few days later, the fancy Lexus coupe was found -- with accident damage -- in the driveway of Goihman's house not far away. Goihman, who owns a restaurant downtown, has acknowledged the car is hers but has refused to talk to police. Think about who, in this day and age, gets to blow off police investigating the death of a child? I mean, to just say "screw you, I'm not talking." And she's getting away with it.
Goihman had a previous DUI arrest adjudicated on June 3rd, and her license was suspended on June 19th. Is this why she's so afraid of talking to the police, because she wasn't supposed to be driving that night at all? If so, I wonder which Goihman prefers: Having people think she's a drunk, or that's she'd leave a little girl to die in the street?
Again, think about it: She won't even talk to the police. And she's getting away with it.
Since the night of July 8th, clusters of people from the 21st Ward area (that's the general East Falls, Wissahickon, Manayunk, Roxborough and Andorra neighborhoods) have gathered to hold vigil in front of Goihman's house. They stand near her restaurant, handing out fliers about the case and telling them about Goihman's possible involvement.
And about her refusal to speak to the police. Her refusal. Who the hell is this woman? Why haven't the homicide detectives who finally joined the case on July 19th dragged her ass to the Roundhouse, like they would have if Goihman was -- I don't even want to say a black guy, but yeah, a black guy -- instead of a woman who either has gigantic brass balls, no heart and conscience, or political connections.
(And where the hell has Councilman Mike Nutter been? He could take five seconds out of his march to the mayor's office to actually do something meaningful for the people who live in his district. Show up at a rally. Hold a news conference. Formally ask the police to classify Kayla's death a homicide and force Goihman to sit down with them. Believe me, I'm not the first person wondering whether the media darling councilman wouldn't be more involved if Kayla had been an African-American and run over on Germantown Avenue. Then again, it's such a deeply Democratic section of the city, maybe Nutter feels secure enough not to give a shit either way?)
Working, sadly, in this disgusting woman's favor is the fact that the 21st Ward is a section of the city that likes to keep its business to itself. Far flung out on the city's northwest side, it's home to dozens of city employees and officials, big mahoffs of the city's labor unions, police and fire types -- the refuge of people have to live within the city for their jobs. In fact, there's usually little serious crime (another reason Nutter ignores it). And when there is a major crime, nobody likes a fuss.
It seems ridiculous to think that someone stole Goihman's car, used it to run Kayla over, then thoughtfully returned it to the owner's house. So either she was driving the car, or she knows who was. Either way, all people are asking is for her to talk. How long will the Philadelphia police allow themselves to be blown off by this woman, I wonder? Because it's making them look like they don't give a shit, either.
Meanwhile, the vigils continue in front of Goihman's house and restaurant. Don't call them protests, because the teens who gather have shown remarkable class and restraint. The summer wears on. It's been a rough summer in the 'hood.
