Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. I No. 148

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

January 26, 2011

Philadelphia

Daily Record

Building Support

BEFORE 300 cheering carpenters, Executive Secretary-Treasurer/Business Mgr. Ed Coryell and Political Director Guy Pigliacelli hold up arms of Mayor Michael Nutter to mark their endorsement for another four years. Metropolitan District Council has over 12,000 members, representing 17 locals.

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Casey Cheers State Of The Union Address Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) released the following statement after President Obama’s State of the Union Address: “Domestically, the country faces many challenges to put people back to work, invest in our workers and foster long-term economic prosperity. We face continued foreign and domestic threats and our fighting men and women are still serving in harm’s way.

“President Obama’s charge to the Congress and to the country offered a roadmap to promote American prosperity and security.

“The challenge we face together is to make America more competitive, prepare workers for the 21st Century and rebuild our economy for the future. Investments in our children, workers and infrastructure are vital for our future. These investments, however, must be combined with a renewed focus on fiscal responsibility and a more efficient government.

“Sen. Toomey and I don’t agree on everything, but we do agree on the importance of working together for Pennsylvania and for the country. I hope the spirit of bipartisanship

shown in the discussions on seating arrangements extends past tonight and translates into work by the entire Congress on our shared challenges and responsibilities.”

11 Free Tax Preparation Sites Open City officials and partners will join The Campaign for Working Families to announce the opening of 11 free tax-preparation sites this week throughout Philadelphia. New this tax season is the ability to buy US Savings Bonds with a portion or all of your tax refund for yourself or others.

The Campaign for Working Families boosts the number of people who receive FREE tax filing assistance and do not have to pay skyhigh fees to commercial tax preparers.

Over the past eight years, the Campaign has brought $146.4 million directly into the homes of low-income working families. It has saved these families an additional estimated $20.2 million in interest, fees, and charges for tax preparation and check cashing, and loans.

The Campaign offers e-filing, direct deposit, U S Savings Bonds, Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion and fairlypriced financial products to help

For more information, call William Hanna

267-808-0287 2|

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you save money. This service allows working families and individuals to maximize federal and State tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.

EITC is a tax benefit for families and individuals who earned, in 2010, less than $48,362 (have children) or less than $13,460 (no children). EITC refunds can be up to $5,666 per year, based on family size and income.

The Campaign services are available to families earning $49,000 or less, and to individuals earning $20,000 or less. Taxes are prepared

by IRS-certified volunteers.

The locations and hours of service of the Campaign’s free tax sites are available on the website phillyfreetaxes.org <http://www.phillyfreetaxes.org> or call 311.

Singer Enters City Commissioners race – To Abolish Her Job Close supporters of Stephanie Singer (D), candidate for Philadelphia’s City Commissioner, gathered yesterday with members of the press to hear her official announcement entering the City Commissioner’s race. Singer’s father, who worked to protect voting rights in Mississippi during the 1960s, stood by her side as she gave her announcement speech.

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“If you elect me Commissioner, I will be a crusader against corruption,” Singer said. Singer also proposed ending over 35 years of abuse in Philadelphia elections by calling to end the elected office of City Commissioner. “I will take the politics out of our elections by getting rid of elected Commissioners and putting Philadelphia elections in the hands of nonpartisan professionals.”

Singer continued, “The City Commissioners Office is responsible for registering voters, educating voters and conducting elections. That office should be protecting every Philadelphian’s right to vote. Instead, that office is part of the problem. That office is the root of the problem. Voters are sick and tired of the corruption, waste and disenfranchisement.”

Singer, the Democratic 8th Ward Leader, lives in Center City with her husband Thomas and daughter Luna. She holds a PhD in Mathematics from New York University.

This is Singer’s first run for public office.

Josephs Supports Legislation To Help Wrongfully Imprisoned, Calls On Corbett For More DNA Tests At a Capitol news conference Tuesday, State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) called on

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Gov. Tom Corbett to take steps to immediately clear up the Commonwealth’s immense backlog on DNA testing.

Josephs was at the news conference to support legislation that would help people who were wrongly convicted and incarcerated to obtain compensation for their time lost and clear the conviction from their records.

Josephs said the legislation is necessary, but it pales in comparison to the need to address the Commonwealth’s backlog of 5,000 DNA testing requests.

“If someone is wrongfully convicted, that means the person who did commit the crime is still free to commit more crimes,” Josephs said. “There’s a woman who was raped and murdered, and she might still be alive today if the man who committed the crime had been arrested. But he wasn’t, because his DNA was not analyzed in time.

How many people need to become victims before the right person is behind bars?

“This is the first time in recent Pennsylvania history in which our Attorney General is now our Governor. Corbett has said he has a passion for justice. This backlog is shameful. Of course it will cost money to remove the backlog, but it’s worth it. How much, Mr. Corbett, is public safety worth? Gov. Corbett, take action to address this backlog. Do it now. Do it today. Do |

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it this afternoon.”

Josephs also expressed her support for the measures that were unveiled. One bill would base compensation for lost wages on the current level of legislative per diem payments, allow restitution for economic damage, attorney fees, time on death row and the expense of reintegration into society. The exact amount of restitution up to the limits specified in the bill would be determined by a Commonwealth Court judge.

The second bill would detail conditions under which the exoneration of a wrongfully convicted individual would lead to automatic expunging of the charge from their record, including the removal from records of fingerprints, documentation and incarceration data. The clearing of an inmate’s record would occur when a conviction is reversed or vacated, they are pardoned or found innocent in a new trial, or if judgment of a guilty or no-contest plea is reversed.

Sen. Williams, PHA Co-host Free Healthy Eating Program State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-W. Phila.) and the Philadelphia Housing Authority will co host a free five week healthy eating lunchtime program for parents of Bartram Village in Southwest Philadelphia every Thursday from Feb. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will 4|

be held at the Bartram Village Management Community Center, 5404 Gibson Avenue.

A nutritionist and a chef will teach participants how to prepare healthy meals and provide tips for food and snack shopping. Free lunches will be provided and there will be giveaways at every session, as well as gift cards for completing the fiveweek program.

7 Agents Picked To Turn Around Troubled Schools The School District of Philadelphia today announced the seven organizations that are finalists to serve as turnaround teams for a cohort of chronically low-performing District schools as of the 2011-2012 school year. These organizations participated in an open and competitive process which is one facet of the School District’s signature school turnaround program, the Renaissance Schools Initiative. The process included a Request for Qualifications and a Request for Proposals.

The RFP finalists for year two of the Renaissance Schools Initiative are Aspira, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Nueva Esperanza, Inc., Foundations, Inc., Johns Hopkins University/TD Diplomas Now, Mastery Charter Schools, Mosaica Turnaround Teams, and Universal Companies, Inc.

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Jan. 27State Sen. Anthony Williams introduces documentary The Cartel at German Society of Pa., 611 Spring Garden St., 7-9 a.m.

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. 27State Rep. Cherelle L Parker, together with 9th Ward Leaders John O’Connell and Frank Hendrie, hosts 9th Ward Town Hall meeting at United Cerebral Palsy, 102 E. Mermaid La. 7-9 p.m.

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. 29Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell hosts prayer breakfast for ministers in 3rd Councilmanic Dist. at Sharon Baptist Ch., 3955 Conshohocken Ave., 8 a.m. For info (215) 6863418.

Jan. 29Campaign Kickoff for Damon K. Roberts, 2nd Council Dist. Democrat candidate, Ch. of the Redeemer, 1440 S. 24th St., 2 p.m. For info (267) 334-0244.

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“The School District of Philadelphia is pleased with the outcome of our RFP/RFQ process and with the depth and breadth of experience of these organizations,” said Superintendent of Schools Arlene Ackerman. “Soon, our parents and community members will be meeting representatives of these organizations and ultimately making recommendations to me about which turnaround teams best meet their schools’ needs.”

Today the School District identified the 18 Renaissance schools for year two of the program. Six of the 18 will be operated by these turnaround teams through the program’s Renaissance Match model — one of the four reform models for program year two. The schools slated to run under turnaround teams as of 2011-2012 include four District high schools, Gratz, King, Olney East and Olney West, and two elementary schools, Birney and Clymer.

The District will now seek stakeholder involvement through School Advisory Councils at the six Ren-

26 JANUARY, 2011

aissance Match schools. Members of the SACs reflect the larger school community and include parents, students (if the school is a high school), area residents, alumni, local businesses, representatives from faith-based/community-based organizations, members of the local university community, and representatives from offices of locally elected officials.

After interviewing the turnaround teams, the SACs will make recommendations to Superintendent Ackerman. The Superintendent then will incorporate the SACs’ findings into her recommendation to the School Reform Commission, the School District’s governing body.

The SRC is expected to vote on the Renaissance Match agreements this spring.

As of the 2011-12 school year, the Renaissance Match schools will be operated by their turnaround teams under charter agreements or other contract agreements with the School District. As neighborhood public schools, the Renaissance Match schools will continue to

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serve the same students and communities they do now while affiliated with the School District.

The turnaround team will determine the curriculum, and the length of the school day, week and year.

The buildings will remain the property of the District under lease arrangements. The staff members of Renaissance Match schools will be employees of their respective turnaround organizations.

In the first year of the Renaissance Schools Initiative, seven District schools were converted to Renaissance charter schools under the Renaissance Match model as of 2010-11. These schools, and the external turnaround teams now running them, are: Bluford and Daroff, both elementary schools (Universal Cos., Inc.); Stetson, a middle school (Aspira, Inc. of PA); Harrity, Mann and Smedley, all elementary schools (Mastery Schools); and Douglass, an elementary school (Young Scholars).

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