Vol. II No. 8 (168)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
February 23, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
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GATHERED at Pinn Memorial Baptist church in Wynnefield on Saturday morning was a host of volunteers geared up to fan out over 4th Council Dist. circulating petitions for Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (D), shown here with his granddaughter.
Democratic Policy Committee Takes A Grim Look At School Vouchers
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The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing yesterday at the Independence Visitor Center on school vouchers, chaired by State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster). House Education Committee Democratic Chairman Jim Roebuck (DW. Phila.) was also in attendance. “With our State facing a $4 billion budget deficit, we need to fully explore the additional burden of vouchers and the resulting higher property taxes,” Sturla said. “The current voucher proposals are more about private and parochial schools hand picking which students get to fill a few vacant slots in their schools at taxpayer expense than it is about parents getting to choose where their kids go to school. Today’s hearing was the first step in our evaluation process.” “The hearing highlighted for the public the negative impact vouchers would have on taxpayers and the limited options they will provide to students and parents seeking improved educational options,” Roebuck said.
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Those testifying included Joe Watkins, chairman, Students First; Dr. Leroy Nunery, deputy superinTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
tendent/deputy CEO, School District of Philadelphia; Shelly Yanoff, executive director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth; Lawrence Feinberg, co-chairman, Keystone State Education Coalition; Mary Rochford, Archdiocese of Philadelphia superintendent; Susan Gobreski, executive director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania; Dr. Joan Duvall-Flynn, Education Committee Chairman, Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches; and a panel from REACH Alliance and Foundation: Otto Banks, executive director; Dick Komer, senior attorney, Institute of Justice; and Phillip Murren, Esq. of Ball, Murren & Connell.
Poll Shows Public Backing For State Employee Cuts And Contract Voidings Two-thirds of likely voters agree State legislatures have the authority to cut State employee salaries and 52% agree they can void collective-bargaining agreements to reduce spending.
Voiding collective-bargaining agreements is also seen as preferable to continuing to pay State employees at current levels or layoffs of State workers in order to reduce spending and control deficits. These results come from a Zogby Interactive poll conducted from 23 JANUARY, 2011
Feb. 18-21, 2011. Do you agree or disagree with State legislatures having the authority to cut state employee salaries in an effort to reduce spending? Response All
Dem.
Rep.
Ind.
Agree
67%
44%
88%
71%
Disagree
31%
53%
9%
29%
Not Sure
3%
4%
4%
1%
Honkala Vows To ‘Keep Families In Their Homes’ by Belinda Davis Cheri Honkala, www.cherihonkala.com, announced her intent to seek the Green Party nomination for Sheriff of Philadelphia at 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 17. She addressed an overflow crowd of some 60 supporters and members of the press at 718 Market Street (the headquarters of Casino-Free Philadelphia). Before her announcement, Jim Moran led the crowd in chants to “Keep families in their homes,” echoing the central theme of Honkala’s anti-foreclosure platform. Next, numerous speakers offered their enthusiastic support, as Holly Walker interpreted their comments in sign language. Rev. Robert Johnson, whose own family has suffered under foreclosure, asked the crowd to “put themselves in [his] shoes.” Esther Smith, whose family was able to avoid foreclosure, emphasized how Honkala had stood by her and how she now in turn stands by Honkala. Galen Tyler of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign said as the Green Party candidate for 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
Sheriff, Honkala would be “for the people, not for the corporations,” and urged everyone to “get their friends, families, and neighbors out to work for Cheri.” Hugh Giordano, a union organizer speaking on behalf of the Green Party of Philadelphia, www.gpop.org, stressed Honkala “was what a Green Party candidate should be. The Green Party stands for people, getting candidates who stand for us, not the CEOs and the banksters.” He added that the Green Party does not accept contributions from corporations. Honkala then came to the microphone. She said, “I am a formerly homeless single mother of two, and I am running for Sheriff.” She noted she would not be alone in this quest: There were hundreds of thousands who agreed with her message. “I’m running because I love Philadelphia,” she emphasized, noting, “ideas are born here.” Honkala named numerous of her own significant ideas and solutions, via which, she suggested, Philadelphia could set an example for the rest of the country. These included means of “keeping families in their homes, and opposing the politics of scarcity.” We’ve been protecting the wrong people.” She set as her goal to “fill the vacant homes, the 40,000 empty vessels in the city” as a major step in creating “affordable housing for everyone.” She advocated for a community-controlled land bank, “where we’re in control of what happens in our neighborhoods.” She added, “Yes, we are upholding the law, this higher law that says the poor people of Philadelphia have the same rights as the banks do.” Honkala founded the Philadelphia-based Kensington Welfare Rights Union in 1991 to house and feed Philadelphia’s poor. In 1998 she launched a national umbrella organization called the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, www.old.eco-
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nomichumanrights.org, to advocate for the human rights of people struggling with issues of poverty across the country.
Dr. Ackerman Wins Award From Her Peers
Feb. 24- State Rep. James Roebuck hosts birthday bash at Warmdaddy’s, Columbus Blvd. & Reed St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Great jazz, good food. RSVP (215) 382-1268. Feb. 24- Willie Jordan’s 44th Ward hosts Jazz Night at VFW Post, 4812 Fairmount Ave., 6-10 p.m. For info (215) 879-6630. Feb. 25- State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts free blood-pressure screenings at her District office, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 2-4 p.m. Feb. 25-26- Free clothing and other items giveaway at Mt. Hebron Baptist Ch., 1415 Wharton St. For info Pastor Richard J. Walter, Jr. (215) 336-8163. Feb. 25- Donna Aument’s 33rd Ward Fundraiser Beef & Beer at Juniata G.C. For info Donna (215) 427-1645. Feb. 28- Tea Party PatriotsSouth Meeting at Champs, 2100 S. Columbus Blvd. (near IKEA), 7 p.m. All welcome. Joe McColgan speaker. Mar. 2Petition party for Mayor Michael Nutter at W. Phila. YMCA, 5120 Chestnut St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mar. 3Reception for Council candidate Verna Tyner and Councilman Bill Greenlee at Ceisler Media, 1525 Locust St., 6th fl., 5:307:30. For info (610) 271-5365. 4|
Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman was honored last week with the American Association of School Administrators’ 2011 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award. Dr. Ackerman was recognized in a ceremony on Feb. 19 at the AASA National Conference on Education in Denver, Col. The award honors leadership in educational equity and excellence. A panel of judges from the education community selected honorees based upon their proven commitment to working towards the advancement and mentorship of women and minorities into positions of leadership in the field of education and/or who have demonstrated a commitment to tackling social justice issues among children, youth and adults in schools. “Dr. Ackerman has been a passionate advocate for women and minorities throughout her distinguished career,” said AASA Executive Director Daniel A. Domenech. “From her beginnings as a school teacher in St. Louis to leading the charge for reform in Philadelphia, Dr. Ackerman is a truly inspiring role model for young people across this country and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this prestigious honor.” Dr. Ackerman, a long-time advocate for the less fortunate, was honored for her tireless commitment to diversifying the field of education with high quality leaders and ensuring the best education for all students, especially those who are poor or minority. The ASSA, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world.
Brownlee: IRS Offering Free Online Tax Prep And Filing State Rep. Michelle Brownlee (D-N. Phila.) said taxpayers whose 2010 adjusted gross income was less than $58,000 can visit the Internal Revenue Service’s website for free federal tax preparation and e-file federal tax-return services. Brownlee said taxpayers who meet the income guideline can visit IRS Free File’s website at www.IRS.gov/efile to prepare, complete and e-file THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
23 JANUARY, 2011
their federal tax returns at no cost. A link to the service is also available on Brownlee’s website, www.pahouse.com/Brownlee. “Last year alone, 100 million taxpayers used this service to prepare their tax returns accurately and without having to use costly tax-preparation businesses,”
23 FEBRUARY, 2011
Brownlee said. “I encourage anyone who qualifies to consider using this service and to not wait until the last minute to file. Apr. 18 will be here before you know it!” Brownlee added a refund could be received in as little as 10 days.
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