Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 16 (176)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

March 7, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

It’s Jewell

ANNOUNCING for Sheriff in Democratic May Primary in City Hall this morning, State Rep. Jewell Williams enjoyed impressive backing from his General Assembly colleagues, City Council Members and labor leaders. NAACP head Jerry Mondesire emceed announcement. Acting Sheriff Barbara Deeley endorsed Williams to succeed her, as did Williams’s chief rival for that office, Alan Kurtz, who dropped out of race on the spot.

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JAZZED UP and bigger than ever, Penna. Convention Center opened its new wing Friday to major hoopla. This facility can now handle largest conventions in America. Phila. Flower Show also opened at Convention Center this weekend, with audacious new strategies. Photo by Bonnie Squires

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Nutter, Casey Rally Against Block-Grant Cuts Mayor Michael Nutter, Sen. Bob

investment – all of which promote

Casey (D-Pa.) and community leaders

economic development and job cre-

flocked to the Mayor’s Reception

ation.

Room in City Hall this morning, calling on federal officials to protect Community Development Block Grant funding. The federally funded CDBG program has provided small and large communities across Pennsylvania with the flexibility to use al-

Translation/Interpretation Arabic, Hebrew, English, French For more information, call William Hanna

267-808-0287

located funding to address issues that directly affect their residents, including blight reduction, community revi-

The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would cut funding for the CDBG program by 66% for Fiscal Year 2011. If passed by the US Senate, Pennsylvania communities could lose $150 million in FY11. Significant cuts to CDBG funding have also been proposed for Fiscal Year 2012.

talization and private sector 2|

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

4 MARCH, 2011

The Mayor and Senator were joined by John A. Garner,

munity Development Corps.; and Sister Mary Scullion,

executive director, Pennsylvania League of Cities and Mu-

Co-Founder, Project H.O.M.E.

nicipalities; Rick Sauer, Pennsylvania Association of Com-

Philadelphians Feel Less Positive About City, Poll Finds A new poll from The Pew Charitable

“It’s hard to say exactly what is be-

Roughly equal numbers of Philadel-

Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initia-

hind this shift in attitudes, said Larry

phians see their city as being “headed

tive shows a downward drift in

Eichel, project director of Pew’s

in the right direction” (40%) as view

Philadelphians’ attitudes toward their

Philadelphia Research Initiative. “But

it as “off on the wrong track” (39%).

city and its government.

the across-the-board nature of it sug-

Last year, right direction outnumbered

gests to our pollster the deep and lin-

wrong track, 41% to 34%.

This slightly-less positive outlook appears in the forms of fewer residents approving the city’s overall direction,

gering impact of the recession on the lives of Philadelphians may have something to do with it.”

poorer ratings for most City services,

Those who approve of Nutter’s job performance outnumber those who disapprove by 52% to 37%; last year,

lower assessments of the quality of

As a group, Philadelphians are dis-

the margin was a bit wider, 53% to

life in the neighborhoods, and reduced

heartened about their own economic

32%. As in the past two years, the

job-approval numbers for Mayor

situations. More than half of the resi-

Mayor polls better with whites and

Michael Nutter and City Council this

dents polled – 52% – report that they

Hispanics than with African Ameri-

year compared to last. Most of the de-

or someone in their household were

cans.

clines are in single digits.

unemployed and looking for work at some point in the last 12 months.

The wide-ranging survey of 1,604 Philadelphians was conducted by Abt SRBI Public Affairs, working with

Sixty-three percent describe their own finances as “only fair” or poor.

In the past year, City Council’s jobapproval rating has declined, moving from positive to slightly negative.

Thirty-nine percent approve of the job

Rutgers University Professor Cliff

Sixty percent of residents rate their

City Council is doing, while 42% dis-

Zukin. The poll also gauged public at-

neighborhoods as excellent or good

approve. In 2010, 42% approved,

titudes on casino gambling and some

places to live, compared to 61% last

34% disapproved.

of the policy questions facing city

year and 65% in 2009.

In the poll, respondents were asked to

leaders.

Ratings for City services have

select between more government

Some of the numbers – including

dropped off. Over the past two years,

services and higher taxes on the one

those about the city’s overall direction

the declines in the combined good and

hand, or fewer services and lower

and the Mayor’s job performance –

excellent ratings are down anywhere

taxes on the other; 43% opted for

are not as low as they were in an April

from 1 percentage point for senior

more services/higher taxes, 44% for

2009 survey conducted at the height

services to 13 percentage points for

fewer services/lower taxes.

of that year’s City budget crisis.

street maintenance and repair (from 33% to 20%).

4 MARCH, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

And when asked whether the City |

3

should seek to save money by reduc-

$30,000 want the City to provide

ing guaranteed pension benefits for

equal pension benefits, compared to

new employees, 44% said yes, 45%

29% among those with family in-

no. There is a big split between

comes above $100,000.

African Americans and whites on this question. Fifty-two percent of Blacks

Mar. 10St. Patrick’s Day Parade Luncheon & Sashing of Grand Marshal at Doubletree Hotel, Broad & Locust Sts., 12 m. Tickets $50.

RSVP Kathy McGee Burns (215) 872-1305.

Mar. 10Cocktail Party for Traffic Ct. candidate Fred Mari at American Pub, 1500 Market St., in Center Sq. Bldg., 5-7:30 p.m. Donation $50. For info Mark (215) 9909352.

Mar. 10Fundraiser for Controller Alan Butkovitz at Vesper Club, 226 S. Sydenham St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Donation $500. For info (412) 721-9489.

Mar. 10South Philadelphia Business Association annual Scholarship gala at Galdo’s catering, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 6-10 p.m. Honoring DA Seth Williams, and Row Home magazine’s Dawn Rhoades and Dorette Rota Jackson. For info (215) 336-1108.

Mar. 10State Sen. Anthony Williams hosts foreclosure-prevention workshop at Ezekiel Baptist Ch., 5701 Grays Ave., 6-8 p.m.

Mar. 11Sen. Bob Casey, John Dougherty and others host St. Patrick’s Day Toast at Finnigan’s Wake, 4rd & Spring Garden Sts., 6 p.m. Contributions $35/person, $60/couple, $250/sponsor. RSVOP recommended. For info rsvp@bobcasey.com.

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want new employees to get pension benefits equal to those of current City workers and retirees, while only 36% of whites take that position. Answers also vary according to income; 50% of those with family incomes under

Philadelphians remain generally in favor of casino gambling in the city, supporting it by 53% to 34%, a result little changed from a year ago before the first casino opened within the city limits. As for a possible second casino in Philadelphia, 47% oppose the idea and 42% favor it.

Environmentalists Will Hold Forum On Gas Drilling In City Hall Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds

To put public health at the center of

Brown has partnered with Clean

the debate, Philadelphia groups and

Water Action and other environmental

elected leaders are banding together to create a forum for spoken comment which will be transcribed and sent to the DRBC before the April 15th deadline for comments.

groups to host a forum on natural-gas drilling in the water supply of Philadelphia. The Delaware River Basin Commission, which governs water use in the whole Delaware River Watershed, has released a set of draft rules for hydrofracking for natural gas: http://bit.ly/e48Ax0.

Doors at 5:15 p.m. The forum begins at 5:30 and ends at 7:30 in City Council Chambers (Room 400, City Hall).

People may begin lining up outside

If these rules were allowed to be final-

City Hall at 4 p.m. or earlier; musi-

ized and implemented, natural-gas

cians will be on hand at the northeast

drillers would begin exposing the

corner of City Hall along with advo-

water we all drink from to the high

cates.

levels of radioactivity, toxic chemicals and other dangerous contaminants that have so many people concerned all over the rest of the state, the activists charge. Most Philadelphians drink water taken from the Delaware

Co-sponsoring organizations are Delaware Riverkeeper Network, PennEnvironment, Protecting Our Waters and Sierra Club Southeastern Pennsylvania.

River, with intakes downstream from

There will be no pre-selected speak-

18,000 future natural-gas develop-

ers. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown

ments.

will open the forum and speakers will speak in the order that they sign up

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

4 MARCH, 2011

for the open forum. Each speaker will

submit written comments of any

have three minutes, though they can

length and Clean Water Action staff

will deliver those to the DRBC.

School District: Report Shows Nothing Amiss With Security-Camera Buys A summary report released by Pepper

The law firm found that no evidence

Hamilton, LLP has shown no evi-

there were any improper or unlawful

dence of wrong-doing by the superin-

motives behind the selection of the

tendent and CEO or deputy

contractors used in the South

superintendent in the installation of

Philadelphia HS Camera Project in

security cameras in 19 “persistently

December 2009. Neither did it find

dangerous” schools, the School Dis-

evidence the initial recommendation

trict announced today.

to consider using Security Data Tech-

For months, Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Leroy Nunery have been scrutinized for the installation of emergency security cameras in 19 “persistently dangerous” schools. In

nologies, Inc. and the later decision to use IBS Communications, Inc. as the

recommendations of the state study.

Pepper Hamilton found the original proposal submitted on behalf of SDT, stated that there would be Minority Business (MBE) participation of 33% and Women Business participation of 34%, but no information about any proposed subcontractors was included.

prime contractor overseeing the in-

It reported the original SDT walk on

stallation of cameras in 19 “persis-

resolution was not given to Dr. Acker-

tently dangerous” schools was based

man and/or Dr. Nunery with sufficient

on improper or unlawful motives.

time to review and ask questions about the proposal before the Septem-

December 2010, the District retained

Because of the apparent need to expe-

the services of Pepper Hamilton, a na-

dite the installation of the security

tionally-recognized firm with a local

cameras at the 19 “persistently dan-

Pepper Hamilton found that after the

office, to conduct an in-depth investi-

gerous” schools, the process was not

Sep. 22, 2010 SRC meeting, the pro-

gation after multiple agencies re-

as transparent and inclusive as it

posed MBE/WBE participation in the

quested a complete and detailed

could have been.

SDT proposal was not adequately ex-

account of contracting practices and procurement policies related to the installation of the above-mentioned cameras. This allowed for unbiased investigative efforts.

Because certain senior staff involved in the contracting process failed to effectively present a plan that was consistent with the School District’s policies and goals, the School District

Pepper Hamilton obtained and re-

administration made decisions based

viewed electronic communications

on incomplete information.

containing 676,668 pages. It interviewed 32 School District employees, three School District vendors and counsel for IBEW Local Union 98.

plained to Dr. Ackerman. Dr. Ackerman and Dr. Nunery expressed concern that minority contractors were not being considered to act as prime contractors on School District projects and asked whether IBS had the ability to act as the prime contractor on the “persistently dangerous”

from 35 School District employees.

This amounted to 166,398 records

ber 22, 2010 SRC meeting.

There is no evidence to suggest that

schools camera project. They were

Dr. Ackerman or School District staff

told IBS had the ability to do so.

did not believe there was not an urgent need to expedite the installation of security cameras in 19 “persistently dangerous” schools in response to the

Pepper Hamilton found that Procurement Office staff delegated the role of managing the project to the Office of School Safety, with full knowledge

4 MARCH, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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5

that they did not have sufficient re-

prepare a cost estimate for the project

tively plan significant capital projects

sources or expertise to properly man-

and instead used SDT’s $7.5 million

to avoid the use of emergency con-

age a project of this size.

budget proposal.

tracting processes and create more

Pepper Hamilton found that Procure-

Pepper Hamilton recommended the

ment Office staff failed to have IBS

School District should more proac-

transparent and inclusive procedures to govern them when exceptional situations arise.

Professional Women Choose New Board Members Professional Women’s Roundtable

tions, she chairs the Blue Ribbon

– a nonprofit providing networking,

Committee for the Philadelphia Lib-

leadership, educational and personal

erty Bell Chapter of the American So-

growth opportunities to a diverse

ciety of Metals. Rosenbloom is a

group of emerging women business

resident of Wynnewood, Pa.

leaders in the Greater Philadelphia region – announced new officers and board members.

is senior manager at Grant Thornton

hood Club of Bala Cynwyd, Pa.,

LLP. In addition to sitting on the

where she resides.

Philadelphia office leader of

for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber

Women@Grant Thornton, the firm’s

of Commerce. Sitting on the PWR

initiative to recruit, retain and pro-

board since 2010, she serves on the

mote client-serving women. Ireland is

Volunteer Committee for the Vision

a resident of South Philadelphia.

community positions. Dietrich is a resident of E. Coventry, Pa. Jennifer L. Lemert, MS-FNP, VP and Chair, Events Committee. Lemert is a family nurse practitioner at Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center’s emergency department. A member of PWR’s board since 2010, Lemert resides in Ardmore, Pa.

Christie Mills sits on the Events Committee. Mills is corporate secretary/treasurer for Karr Barth Administrators, Inc. A member of the board of both the Philadelphia Doctors’ Chamber Orchestra and the Rox-

Liza Herschel is Chair, Board Devel-

borough Symphony Orchestra, she

opment Committee. Herschel is a

resides in Springfield, Delaware Co.

senior consultant for SDI Communications. In addition to sitting on the board of PWR and co-chairing its Events Committee since 2009, she is a member of the board of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Herschel resides in Manayunk in Philadelphia.

Caroline Bean is Co-Chair, Public Re-

Karen Moustafellos is Co-Chair, Ambassador, Membership and Sponsorship Committees. Moustafellos is CEO and co-founder of Elements and Alloys Inc. A member of the board of DOCOMOMO (Documentation and Conservation of buildings of the Modern Movement), she is a resident of Chestnut Hill.

lations/Communications Committee.

Shari Nathanson Rosenbloom, PhD, is

Bean is the national media

Treasurer. Rosenbloom is director,

relations/social media manager at the

Failure Analysis and Biomedical De-

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Market-

vices, at Corrosion Testing Laborato-

ing Corp. Sitting on the committee for

ries, Inc. (Newark, Del.). Among

the Southwest Center City Run, Walk

other professional leadership posi-

& Roll 5K fundraiser, she is a resident

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lationship manager, Commercial serves on the board of The Neighbor-

Dietrich is regional account executive

Technical College HS, among other

ship Committee. Briggs is VP and re-

Elizabeth Ireland is Secretary. Ireland

board of WOMEN’S WAY, she is the

tional Advisory Committee for the

Amara M. Briggs is Chair, Sponsor-

Banking for Citizens Bank. She also

Melissa Dietrich is the new President.

2020 Conference and the Occupa-

of Philadelphia.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

In addition to Dietrich, Lemert and Herschel, existing board members are Anne Marie Aaronson, Esq. (partner, Dilworth Paxson), chair, Membership Committee, and Alexandra KaneWeiss (associate vice president, Star4 MARCH, 2011

Toplin), chair, Public Relations/Com-

hance business development and other

working/leadership programs, visit

munications Committee.

professional development skills. For

pwroundtable.com or contact (215)

more information on PWR and its net-

628-9844.

Founded in 2002, PWR seeks to en-

Spring Approaches With A French Flair At The Flower Show The image of Paris here has been a bit

the largest and oldest indoor flower

under siege lately. December’s must-

show in the nation.

see Philadelphia theater included the touring production of Les Miserables, which, although outstanding, presented an image of 19th-century Paris for which “sordidly corrupt” would be euphemistic. As did the rest of world, Philadelphians heard in October about full-blown riots related to pension re-

The 10 acres of exhibit space at the Show feature various exotic plants and eclectic designs. The entries total 2,000, and the Show also includes a marketplace, featuring 150 vendors, including some from outside the United States.

form and student tuition, occurring in

Many locals are taking advantage of

well-known parts of Paris. (These Oc-

the opportunity to showcase their pas-

tober riots were, for the most part, by

sion for horticulture. For example, the

very-much native Frenchmen, unlike

Greater Philadelphia chapter of the

the immigrants who periodically riot

American Rhododendron Society,

in the city’s suburbs). Perhaps most

which meets at Morris Arboretum in

horrifyingly to Philadelphians, the

Erdenheim/Chestnut Hill, presented

very pages of the Philadelphia Public

an exhibit called “Place des Rhodo-

PHILA. INTERNATIONAL

Record last Thursday included an arti-

dendrons.” According to chapter

FLOWER SHOW preview gala,

cle describing Paris’s population of

member Norm Sumner, “Most of

held Saturday night at “Springtime

163 City Councilors and 21 Mayors.

what we have here is evergreen, but

in Paris” exhibition, had hundreds

This article is reprinted blow.)

some plants here are deciduous. There

of patrons attending a cocktail exhi-

So the timing could not be much op-

bition on main floor of Convention

portune for the 2011 Philadelphia In-

Center, followed by a gala dinner.

ternational Flower Show to have a

Here, from left, are Drew Becher,

theme of “Springtime in Paris.” Open-

CEO of Penna. Horticultural Soci-

ing yesterday and running through

ety, turns microphone for opening

this coming Sunday, Mar. 13, the

ceremony over to Mayor Michael

show takes place at the Pennsylvania

Nutter, who had the privilege of

Northeast Philadelphia’s Horticultural

Convention Center. A tradition since

flicking giant switch which turned

Academy at Abraham Lincoln HS

1829, the Show has evolved from a

on lights on Eiffel Tower display.

presented the exhibit “Thomas Jeffer-

gathering of professional growers

Photo by Bonnie Squires

son’s Horticultural Legacy.” The ex-

showcasing their own prized plants to

4 MARCH, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

are literally thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas that are available.

This is just a limited selection.” Fellow chapter member Myo Myint added: “There is a tremendous variety of flowers and foliage.”

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7

hibit included various flowers sur-

Media, Delaware Co., was titled “A

ample, Plastics Make it Possible®, an

rounding a small-scale replica of

Garden in the Bayou,” The exhibit

initiative sponsored by the American

Monticello. According to Sara Abdul-

featured, among other forms of plant

Chemistry Council, teamed up with

rasoll, a junior at the school, “People

life, a bald cypress tree covered in

artist Michael Dee to create a replica

may not be aware, but Jefferson

Spanish moss, as well as river birch

Arc de Triomphe with recycled,

brought some plants from Paris to

trees and Little Henry Virginia sweet-

reused and virgin plastics.

Monticello and Virginia in 1770. One

spire shrubs.

Revenues generated by the Philadel-

of his purposes on that trip was to According to Mike O’Malley, a senior

phia Flower Show help support the

majoring in horticulture at Williamson

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s

Free School, “The plants that we have

outreach program Philadelphia Green.

Many of the featured exhibits com-

in the exhibit will survive the winters

This program offers encouragement

bined aesthetics with not only the

here in Pennsylvania. They’re all

and technical support to thousands of

practical but also with a nod to

cold-hardy enough to sustain not just

residents, community groups, and

French, or at least sometime-Fran-

one winter, but to continue on and

public and private agencies who work

cophone, environments. For example,

thrive.”

together to transform Philadelphia’s

bring back fruit, vegetables and beautiful flowers for his gardens.”

the exhibit by the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades of

communities and public landscapes Green technology and innovations are

into vibrant green spaces.

also prominently on display. For ex-

IT’S NOT ALL flowers either – here, an Arc du Triomphe made of recycled plastics by artist Michael Dee. (More Pictures Pag e 12) 8|

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

4 MARCH, 2011

Ah, To Be Politicking In Paris In The Spring! each level differ dramatically between the two nations. De-

by Tony West Some folks say Philadelphia’s City Council, with 17 Members, is too big.

All right; so how would you like to have 163 of them instead? That’s what citizens of Paris deal with all the time.

And they love Mayors so much, they have 21 of them.

partments are stronger than Counties, Regions are weaker than States.

So in Philadelphia, if we want to affect police or fire policy, we vote for a Mayor, who then picks his police and fire chiefs. But in Paris, armed cops and firefighters are run by the national government, so you must vote for your

People from all over will be flocking to Philadelphia this

Senator or Deputy in the National Assembly to lobby the

week to marvel at the sights and sounds – and smells – of

President to change them.

Paris. This will happen when the Flower Show opens this Sunday, as this year’s theme is “Springtime in Paris”.

Traffic cops, on the other hand, are run by the City of Paris. So are meter maids – who in Philadelphia, through

One feature of French life that probably won’t be coming

an accident of history, are run by the State of Pennsylva-

to Philadelphia soon, though, is its unique soufflé of gov-

nia! Every great city’s government is weird in different

ernment and politics, which is nothing like ours.

ways.

That’s so even though the two cities have a lot in common.

One feature both Paris and Philadelphia share (aside from

Both cities are large (theirs, 2.2 million; ours, 1.6 million),

beautiful women and fabulous food) is that each city is

dense, diverse, historic cradles of liberty. Each is host to

two levels of government rolled into one. Philadelphia is

world-class science, culture and wealth – as well as world-

both a City and a County; Paris is both a Commune and a

class problems.

Department. Because it’s a Department, it gets national legislators of its own assigned to it.

But the tools of governance the two cities employ to deal with city life are very different. That’s because France and

Paris also happens to be the national capital – as Philadel-

the United States have very different approaches to gov-

phia once was, but no longer is. Yet Paris is governed

erning. As Philadelphia approaches the Flower Show, it

much more like the Quaker City than like Washington,

also is approaching its biggest municipal election, with the

D.C. Parisians have a say in both national and local affairs

Mayor, the Council and most other offices at stake. Paris’

just like every other Frenchman, whereas Washingtonians

next municipal election will be very different from

complain they have “taxation without representation.”

Philadelphia’s, though.

It gets weirder. Philadelphia has no true political body

“Civic government gets a little convoluted in France,”

below the City. Wards are mere hollow vessels for data-

notes Diana Regan with a grin. “Leave it up to the French

collecting and political organizing. Civic associations are

to make simple matters complicated.” Regan is a French

self-anointed private bodies which the City may reach out

professor at La Salle University and skippers the Alliance

and kiss if it wishes.

Française in Philadelphia. She runs frequent tours to Paris and knows that city well.

Paris, on the other hand, is divided into 20 Arrondissements (translating this as “Wards” would be misleading).

Where we have Municipalities, Counties, States and the

These are powerful independent governments in their own

federal government, France has Communes, Departments,

right, with locally elected officials, a common office

Regions and the national government. But the powers of

(Mairie) for lots of public services, headed by neighbors

4 MARCH, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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9

you can easily meet on the street every day, where big-city citizens get small-town service.

In part, that’s because they can’t afford to meet you only in their Mairie office to survive. While French politicians do get paid to go to work, few elected jobs pay a full-time salary compared to the US. It’s part-time work, like a

tional Assembly, 1981-1986, and subsequently Senator of Paris, 1995-2001. Shortly thereafter, he became Mayor of Paris and has been reelected once. But he’s still one of 11 Counselors at the 18th Arrondissement, along with his neighborhood butcher perhaps. However, he’s not his Arrondissement’s Mayor.

small-town public official. So a pol has two options to feed

So Parisians take it for granted their elected representa-

his family: either wear many public hats at once, or keep a

tives will always wear many hats. You can be a neighbor-

business on the side.

hood politician AND a city politician AND a national

At the Arrondissement level, it’s mostly the latter. “The

politician at the same time.

Arrondissement’s Mayor could also be your butcher,”

Parisians never get to vote for their executives directly. In

Regan says. The result is an urban society that is very

theory, the only City officials you can choose are your

comfortable with politicians because it has lots of small-

Ar.rondissement Councilors. These vary with size but a

timers – people whose lives are very similar to their voters

typical part of town might have 12 Councilors. You elect

– and very easy to reach. For everyday paperwork and

these Councilors, but the Councilors elect your local

neighborhood crises, no Parisian has to go downtown to

Mayor from amongst themselves. Then the 20 Arrondisse-

“City Hall”. Instead, they pop into their community

ment Councils select a handful of their Members to form

Mairie. It could be a combo post office/police

the City Council, which, as I said, had 162 Members the

station/health center/records department, all within walk-

last time they anybody counted. These City Council Mem-

ing distance. All French couples are married at their

bers in turn elect the Mayor of Paris – not you.

Mairie. Your license plate tells the world which ArThat’s in theory. In practice, political parties make clear

rondissement you live in.

who they’re running to have run the City; voters get this All political power flows upward from the Arrondisse-

and vote accordingly.

ment. This unit varies greatly in size, but its representation is proportional to its population. The average Arrondissement harbors about 105,000 people, midway between a Philadelphia State Rep District and a City Council District.

In your Arrondissement – and at every other level of French society – you don’t have “legislators” and “executives”. Those categories are as American as apple pie. Instead, you have “Councilors.” The Councilor is the basic building block of public officialdom. These fellows debate the problems, make the rules AND run the office. All higher elective offices are based on your local Council

Once installed, this Mayor then chooses his cabinet from amongst the other City Councilors.

Parisian voters get a lot more political choices than Philadelphian ones do. Pennsylvania’s government, in practice, permits only two political parties to survive and prevents Philadelphia voters from having any other options. France’s government encourages many political parties to organize, to reflect all “shades of public opinion.”

This important concern is baked into French law. The French hold it illegal for a government not to include a space for minority views. “Winner take all” is not the

membership.

French way.

The 18th Arrondissement, for example, has, as one of its 11 Councilors, a guy named Bertrand Delanoë. He was elected in 1977 and has been reelected after many six-year terms. In the meantime, he also became a Deputy in Na10 |

So Parisians are represented in City Council by not one, not two, but six different parties. Many more parties are allowed to run for office. As a result, none of their elections

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

4 MARCH, 2011

are like the typical Philadelphian show, where you get two

of loving government too much, and that may be true.

party choices at most, and only one choice more often than

However, what Parisians get in return for their strange and

not. There are laws forbidding one-party contests and com-

complex system, is – well, Paris. So they must be doing

pelling competitors even in “safe Districts”. This regula-

something right.

tion guarantees all political views in a diverse neighborhood will always be heard.

What about intraparty power struggles? Primaries like the one we’re facing this spring don’t exist. However, Party discipline often breaks down and candidates in the General Election often put together rival slates, or “lists”, that can split parties or mix parties. You don’t vote for the man, you vote for the list, on which each candidate is numbered in order. Then the electoral commission sees what percentage of the vote your list got.

Say you’re running to fill 12 seats with 12 candidates. If your list gets two-thirds of the vote, the top eight candidates on your list will be elected. If a less-popular list gets only 8% of the vote, only one of its candidates – the “head of the list” – will be elected.

With all these players and all these rules, Parisian elections can get wild and wooly. Runoffs, one week after the first round, are often necessary. Lists for the second round may change as a result of dealmaking after the first round.

Elections are always held on Sundays, to make it as easy as possible for citizens to vote.

Americans often accuse the French 4 MARCH, 2011

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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GIGANTIC EIFFEL TOWER greets Flower Show attendees at gate. Photo by Adam Taxin

BALD CYPRESS TREE covered in Spanish moss, part of Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades of Media, Delaware Co. exhibit: “A Garden in the Bayou”. Photo

by Adam Taxin 12 |

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

4 MARCH, 2011