Monday showers

• Lots of new principals in city schools -- Out of 270 Philadelphia district schools, 37 will get new principals. Retirement and resignation are causes. (Note, this is only slightly above average.)
  
  
• Shooting victims often are violators -- Those shot in Phila. increasingly have mug shots on file. Violence is largely confined to poor areas, a study found. It's hard not to read this as justification for not worrying about the homicide rate. (They deserve it.) Oh, look!

  "Because of the media attention to the homicide rate, people are now saying this is a dangerous city," Clayton said. "But it's a very narrow group of people in this world of violence. If you are not in this world, this is not a dangerous city."

  On the up-side, perhaps this means that better general anti-crime (and anti-recidivism) measures will help.
  
  
• Gun-control bill passes legislature -- small steps, but they sound positive (unlike this wisecrack).
  
  
• Pa. budget passage likely today; GOP claims win on taxes
  
  
• Pa. House passes bill to cover autism care -- sponsored by the new House Speaker. Senate unlikely to take up the measure before fall.
  
  
• Casino bits: Fishtown residents divided over SugarHouse casinos and its outreach in the community. The current version of the state smoking bill no longer exempts casinos from smoke-free working condition requirements. And finally, the Planning Commission will hear from the Foxwoods group tomorrow, with raucus community input expected.
  
  
• The Daily News solicits general guidelines for good waterfront developments in Philadelphia, as a measure by which to judge the casino plans and other future proposals.
  
  
• Alex U-A has some aptly snide thoughts on an upcoming guest at the Constitution Center.
  
  
• Finally, Ray Murphy resurfaces at YPP with a reflection on gentrification in Philadelphia and its many ramifications.