Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. I No. 147

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

January 25, 2011

Philadelphia

Daily Record

Closing An Era

ALL SMILES, after making a tough decision, first woman to ever become President, Council President Anna C. Verna, announced she will not seek reelection.

Verna, besides being longest-serving member in City Council, is also its longestserving President.

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A New State Constitution?

State Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre) will introduce legislation calling for a State constitutional convention. Under the bill’s provisions, a referendum question would be placed on the Nov. 8, 2011, General Election ballot calling for such a convention.

If approved by the voters, the convention would convene Apr. 2, 2012, to elect officers and form committees. Any proposed constitutional changes would then be presented to the voters for the November 2012 general election.

Conklin said, “A lot of folks ask why we can’t just do a legislative process.” He added, “If you want true reform, you have to do it from the people. Everything must come from the bottom up.”

Carpenters Union Backs Nutter For Mayor The Carpenters Union will gather to endorse Michael Nutter for a second term as Mayor of Philadelphia, during a rally at the union’s hall at 1803 Spring Garden Street at 5 p.m. today.

tary-treasurer/business manager for the Metropolitan Regional Council for Philadelphia & Vicinity, will announce the union’s support with approximately 250 members on hand.

The Council represents more than 12,000 members – 3,500 in Philadelphia alone – as the parent organization for 17 locals in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Coryell cited the Mayor’s leadership during the nation’s tough economic downturn, as well as his focus on strengthening the city’s economic footing through innovation and cooperation with its partners, as reason for the union’s backing.

“Mayor Nutter is a proven leader who understands the importance of all parties working together to maintain and improve employment opportunities in Philadelphia. Fair wages, good working conditions and open access to opportunities for our members are the tenets on which this union has stood for more than a hundred years,” said Coryell. “We believe Mayor Nutter embraces these tenets as well, and has shown his ability to work with us to continue to achieve them for all our members. We are happy to stand with him today and in this primary election.”

Edward Coryell, Executive secre-

For more information, call William Hanna

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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Duck Boats Are Sunk In The Schuylkill, Says Mayor Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today the City of Philadelphia will not award a contract in response to its request for proposal for an amphibious tour on the Schuylkill River.

“The City has fully reviewed Ride the Ducks proposal for the Schuylkill River and does not feel that it meets the City’s standards for operations,” said the Mayor Nutter.

An RFP was issued on Nov. 19, 2010 for Amphibious Tours on the Schuylkill River. The Managing Director’s Office, Parks and Recreation, the Office of Transportation and the Law Dept. carefully crafted that RFP to capture many community concerns, including noise, traffic, the on Schuylkill Banks and other potential disruptions of recreational uses on the River. Responses were due on Dec. 22, 2010. Ride the Ducks submitted the only response.

Managing Director Richard Negrin said, “We appreciate Ride the Ducks efforts to address community concerns, but when all is said and done the proposal’s potential traffic impact, the number of vessels that could be on the river at 25 JANUARY, 2011

one time and the inability for the tours to operate during special events were issues with which the City was uncomfortable.”

A technical review committee consisting of representatives of the Managing Director’s Office, Office of Transportation, Parks & Recreation, Office of Economic Opportunity, Commerce Dept. and Planning Commission, with input from Finance, Law and Risk Management, unanimously recommended the contract not be awarded.

W. Philly High Student Heads To State Of The Union Address Brandon Ford traveled to Washington, D.C. last September to receive an X PRIZE for his work on an experimental car designed to travel extreme distances on little or no fuel. The West Philadelphia HS junior will make his second trip to Washington in nearly four months today to receive an even bigger prize. Brandon and his mother have been invited to attend President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress tonight at 9 p.m.

At the awards ceremony in September, Brandon and his teammates from the Hybrid X Team were invited to the White House, which they didn’t know was on the agenda, to hear remarks from the THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

President about their efforts, but Brandon had forgotten his ID, which meant he wasn’t allowed to attend. Officials at the White House promised to make it up to Brandon. Last week, they did just that. John Holdren, the President’s science and technology advisor, called Brandon last week to invite him to attend the historic event.

“The success of our students is clearly not contained to the borders of this city,” said School District of Philadelphia Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman. “We are so proud and excited for Brandon and know that he will represent his family, teammates, classmates and fellow District students extremely well.”

Brandon has been instrumental in the success of his build-team over the past several months, including working multiple days recently to fill in for another student and showing up in the early morning hours on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to participate in the King Day of Service.

Butkovitz Selects Deloitte For Forensic Audit of Sheriff’s Office City Controller Alan Butkovitz announced today the selection of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services as the firm that will conduct the comprehensive forensic audit of |

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the Sheriff’s Dept.

The audit team will be led by Deloitte Director, Louis Pichini, a former Chief of the Criminal Division for the United States Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia.

Pichini oversaw federal investigations and prosecutions of Ponzi schemes, tax fraud and corruption cases.

“The Deloitte team exhibited a superior knowledge of forensic investigations and demonstrated a clear understanding of the complexities involved in conducting a forensic audit of the Sheriff’s Dept.,” Butkovitz said.

Butkovitz added, “In addition, Deloitte’s experience includes forensic investigations of municipal and State government agencies, nonprofit organizations, utilities and corporate entities that resulted in prosecutions and convictions.”

The Deloitte forensic team includes former law enforcement officials, Certified Fraud Examiners, and Certified Public Accountants. Deloitte has over 50 years of auditing experience.

Sabatina: Keep adultBasic Solvent For Working Uninsured State Rep. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) joined legislative colleagues 4|

at a news conference urging Gov. Tom Corbett to continue the adultBasic program that provides lowcost insurance for about 4,300 uninsured working families in Philadelphia.

Sabatina said 40,556 working families are still on the waiting list in Philadelphia.

“Many of my constituents are on the adultBasic program because they are in fixed incomes, some earning a median salary of $385 a week,” Sabatina said. “These people can’t afford to lose their benefits.”

The Corbett Administration has negotiated a plan, called Special Care, to cover adultBasic but at a much-higher rate – $80 to $120 per month – with less coverage.

AdultBasic was created by the legislature in 2001 with funding received through the National Tobacco Settlement Agreement.

The program provides coverage for the basic health-care needs of people between 19 and 64 who do not have health insurance. They must also meet certain eligibility requirements, and cannot have an income greater than 200% of the federal poverty level.

Since 2005-06, additional funding for the program has been provided by the State’s four Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans under an agreeTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Jan. 25Traffic Club of Phila.’s annual dinner honors James T. McDermott’s Phila. Regional Port Authority as company of year and Jeffrey L. Sustch, Pres. SMS Rail Lines, as Person of Year at Hyatt Regency Ballroom, Penn’s Landing, 6 p.m. For info www.tcphila.org.

Jan. 26Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., the Mayor’s Office of Community Service along Wachovia Bank host “Fiscal Workshop” from 4 to 7 p.m. a Kendrick Recreation Center, 5871 Ridge Avenue.

Jan. 27Edward J. Lowry, founder of Phila. Veterans MultiService & Education Ctr., has retirement party at Waterfall Rm. in Plumbers Local 690 Union Hall, 2791 Southampton Rd., cocktails 6-8 p.m., followed by Tribute Program. Tickets $65.

Order by phone (215) 238-8050.

Event Chair Ed Keenan, Board Chair Jim McNesby and Exec.

Dir. Marsha Four.

Jan. 28Swearing-in Fundraiser for State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., 6-9 p.m. RSVP (215) 820-7308.

Jan. 31Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz’s “Thank You For Your Support” reception at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 6:30 p.m.

25 JANUARY, 2011

ment with the Rendell administration. That Community Health Reinvestment agreement expired in December, and continuing the program through June will create a deficit of more than $50 million.

legislation that passed the House (HB 1) that would have ensured adultBasic was properly funded and expanded to provide coverage for even more families that need it.

The waiting list across the state is 464,000.

The State Senate refused to act on that legislation.

Last session, Sabatina voted for

25 JANUARY, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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