Vol. II No. 27 (187)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
March 23, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
Good For Budget Blues STATE SEN. VINCENT HUGHES argues the Penna. Liquor Control Board, properly run, could pour an additional $100 million into State’s empty coffers. See story page 3.
Most Support Police, Even Stop-And-Frisk Philadelphians have considerable respect for city police and strongly favor the stop-and-frisk policy that allows officers to stop individuals suspected of engaging in criminal activity and pat them down in a search for weapons. But residents are less certain police use good judgment in deciding whom to stop and frisk. Pluralities of several groups, including African Americans and young people, say they do not think good judgment is being used. These are among the findings of a new poll from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative. The survey of 1,604 Philadelphians was conducted from Jan. 31 to Feb. 13, 2011, by Abt SRBI Associates, working with Rutgers University Professor Cliff Zukin.
Seventy percent of Philadelphians say they have a “great deal” or a “good amount” of respect for Philadelphia police. While there are some demographic variations in the answers, respect for the police is high across the board. High levels of respect were voiced by 78% of whites, 65% of African Americans and 65% of Hispanics; by 82% of Philadelphians over age 65 and 63% of those between ages 18 and 34; by 83% of individuals with household incomes over $100,000 and 67% with household incomes under $30,000. As for stop and frisk, 61% of residents approve of the policy and 29% disapprove. Residents are not as confident, however, police use good judgment in implementing the policy. Forty-three percent say police use good judgment, 31% say police do not, and the rest say
it depends or have no opinion. Attitudes on this topic varied significantly by race and age. Among whites, 57% say police use good judgment in determining whom to stop and frisk while 15% take the opposite view. Among African Americans, 30% support the police on this question and 44% do not. Residents aged 18-34 also tilt against the police here, with 37% saying officers use good judgment and 42% saying not. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey have made stop and frisk a key element in their fight against street crime. In November 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging the policy and its implementation in Philadelphia.
Toomey: Sanction Foreign Firms Who Deal With Iran Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today, urging the Secretary and the administration to ratchet up pressure on Iran and pursue aggressive sanctions against Chinese stateowned companies and other institutions doing business with Iran in violation of the Iran Sanctions Act passed last year. In July 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Iran 2|
Sanctions Act. Among other things, the act required the State Department to issue a report at the end of this month detailing its investigation into companies investing in Iran’s energy sector in violation of the sanctions act. It is already clear that a number of prominent Chinese companies have ignored the Iran Sanctions Act and continue to invest in Iran’s energy sector. In addition,
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companies based in Singapore, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates have failed to withdraw their operations in Iran.
Toomey urged Secretary Clinton to pursue aggressive sanctions against these companies, as well as
publicize the coming report to the maximum extent possible consistent with United States law and our national security interests.
State Gov’t Tax Take Dives Again State-government tax collections decreased $14.3 billion to $704.6 billion in fiscal year 2010, the US Census Bureau reported today. There was a $65.8 billion decrease in 2009. These new data come from the 2010 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections, which contains annual statistics on the fiscal-year tax collections of all 50 State governments, including receipts from licenses and compulsory fees. Tax revenues also include related penalty and interest receipts of the governments.
revenue was $38.2 billion, down 6.6%, while tax revenue on individual income was $236.4 billion, down 4.4%. General sales-tax revenue was $224.5 billion, down 1.8%. These taxes comprised 70.8% of all State-government tax collections nationally. Severance taxes — collected for removal or harvesting of natural resources (e.g., oil, gas, coal, timber, fish, etc.) — were down $2.3 billion, a 17.4%decrease. This followed a 24.8% decrease in fiscal year 2009. The largest decreases in severance tax revenue were seen in the West and South. The Midwest saw an increase in severance tax revenue this year.
According to the survey, corporate net income tax
Hughes Says PLCB Could Bring In $100 Million More State Sens. Vincent J. Hughes (D-W. Phila.) and Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny) yesterday commended the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, for its continued efforts to modernize its retail operation and its willingness to increase its contribution to the General Fund during these tough budget times. “The PLCB is a significant resource for our State that, from an economic perspective, still has untapped potential,” said Hughes. “Allowing the PLCB to continue to modernize will generate substantial, additional annual revenue for the benefit of Pennsylvania.” “In a year when the State is struggling for revenue, it remains unclear to me why the Corbett administration has asked the LCB for $25 million less than in each of the previous two budget years,” Ferlo added. “It’s clear from our hearing today the Board is able and willing to support the State General Fund at a higher level.” 23 MARCH, 2011
Modernization of the PLCB would include initiatives that allow market-based pricing, increase the percentage of Wine & Spirits stores that can be open on Sundays, and extend Sunday sale hours. Currently, under the Liquor Code, the PLCB must apply its markup of 30% equally on all products. With market based pricing, the PLCB would be given flexibility to make pricing decisions in a way that maximizes profits, while still allowing the agency to offer consumer-friendly prices. The Liquor Code also limits the number of Wine & Spirits shops that may be open on Sundays. Sunday is the second busiest retail day of the week. Increasing the number of stores that can be open on Sundays and expanding hours to meet demand will not only increase revenue but enhance the customer experience. “These common sense PLCB initiatives, and others, are expected to generate $50-$100 million annually
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2011 Mar. 24Fundraiser for Marnie Aument Loughrey at Law Offices of Daniel McCaffery, 2 Penn Center, Suite 1030, 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info (215) 427-1645. Mar. 24Reception honoring Marty Bednarek, Democrat candidate for City Council, 6th Dist., at Historic Glen Foerd on Delaware, 5001 Grant Ave. 7-9 p.m. RSVP by Mar. 20. For info (215) 6241700. Mar. 24State Sen. Anthony Williams promotes School Choice forum hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Bright Hope Baptist Ch.’s Sr. Pastor Kevin Johnson, at Bright Hope Youth Center, 12th and Cecil B. Moore Ave., 7-9 p.m. Mar. 25State Rep. Michelle Brownlee hosts Open House for constituent feedback at office, 2839 W. Girard St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; free breakfast 9-10:30 a.m. For info (215) 684-3738. Mar. 25Spring Fundraiser for Victim/Witness Services of S. Phila. at Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catherine St., 6-9 p.m. Tickets $50. Light fare, wine, beer and music. Mar. 25Gov. Tom Corbett addresses 82nd Airborne Phila. Chapter All American Dinner & Awards Ceremony at Iron Workers Union Hall, 11600 Norcom Rd., 7-11 p.m. Tickets $35. For tickets Eunice Lee at elee@zarwin/com or (215) 569-2800, ext. 1179, or David Oh, chairman, ext. 1157. Mar. 25Springtime Cabaret fundraiser for State Rep. Rosita Youngblood and 13th Ward Democrats at 5551 Germantown Ave., 8 p.m.-1 a.m. BYOB. Tickets $20. For info Shiela (267) 581-0025 or Dayne (267) 5939156. Mar. 25Rep. Michelle Brownlee hosts open hosue at her cxonstiuent service officd at 2839 W. Girard Av., from 9 to 5 p.m. with Continental Breakfast at 9 a.m. to 10:3 a.m. 4|
for the State,” said Hughes. “With Gov. Corbett proposing egregious cuts to basic and higher education, the revenues produced modernizing the PLCB retail system are dollars that can be used to offset at least some of those misguided budget proposals.” In addition, Ferlo pointed out that modernizing the current system can make the privatization debate
irrelevant. “The PLCB has even more opportunities to increase revenue and savings through statutory changes, further mooting calls for privatization,” Ferlo said. “We should do everything we can to improve this golden goose rather than pursuing a wrong-headed privatization policy.”
Josephs: Legislation Would Impose Barriers To Voting At a recent committee hearing, State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) expressed her concern with legislation that would require photo identification for Pennsylvania voters. “With all of the issues facing the state and country right now, I think people would be even more motivated to vote,” she said. “It seems like now is not the right time to be
making it more difficult to do so.” The House State Government Committee held a hearing Monday on HB 934 and HB 647. The first bill would require voters to show photo ID at any election, while the second would require voters to submit two photographs to the county voter registration organization for the creation of a voter photo ID card.
Bid To Cut City’s 20% Parking Tax Is Weighed The City Council Rules Committee will hold a hearing on a proposal to roll the City parking tax back from its current 20% to 15%. The reductions would come in increments of 1% per year for five years. The Parking industry has made a case to the City that by collecting the tax from the approximately 100 unlicensed lots in the City, the amount of parking tax revenue would increase even as the tax rate is lowered. In fact, with the help of the Parking industry, the City has conducted audits of THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
some of these unlicensed operators and collected $1.8 million already. The City would lose $3.5 million in the first year by reducing the tax 1% but has the potential of collecting $12 million from the unlicensed operators. The Parking industry recommends the City hire two auditors whose sole job would be to enforce the parking tax. The argument the legitimate parking operators make is tax fairness. They are competing against lots 22 MARCH, 2011
that don’t pay the tax or other expenses that come with being licensed, including Property Tax, Use and Occupancy Tax and the Wage Tax. Over the long term, argue the lot operators, the parking public pays the price for this because there is little money left for
maintenance and construction. Thus, over time, the city will have fewer lots and garages, and the prices for the decreased supply of spaces will rise. The parking tax was 15% until it was increased to 20% in 2008.
Mayor, Other Volunteers Deliver Meals To Seniors Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City officials, volunteers and community leaders participated in a series of Meals on Wheels events across the City as part of the national 6th annual Meals on Wheels Campaign. The Mayor joined senior and student volunteers at South Philadelphia High School in preparing, packaging and delivering meals to homebound seniors in the local community. Volunteers also prepared and packaged meals at the Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels location and the Klein and Stiffel Jewish Community Center. “Today, we’re serving an important and growing population in Philadelphia. Approximately onefifth of Philadelphia’s population is over the age of 55 and by 2015,
that number is expected to increase to t27%, which makes the delivery of basic needs and services even more essential,” the Mayor Nutter said. “We are very proud that Klein & Stiffel JCC and Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels are members of our national association and that their mayor is committed to our cause,” said Enid Borden, President and CEO Meals On Wheels Association of America. “Together, and by working with programs like Klein & Stiffel JCC and Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we can end senior hunger by the year 2020. We are Meals On Wheels so no senior goes hungry.”
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Generally Good Vibrations, Definitely Excitations At Wilma’s In the Next Room
A PLAY WITH a vibrant theme, In the Next Room is a humorous entertainment for adults. “Outstanding Original Music”). by Adam Taxin The historically-attuned-if-certainly-risqué play In the Next Room, or the vibrator play is currently in the middle of a five-week run at the Wilma Theater which ends on Sunday, Apr. 3. Directed by Blanka Zizka, the Wilma’s artistic director for the last thirty years, In the Next Room is the third production of a play written by Sarah Ruhl to be performed at the Wilma. In 2005, the theater performed The Clean House, and, in 2008, Eurydice took stage (and ended up winning that year’s Barrymore Award for 6|
In summary, the play explores, in hardly-shy and consistent-withthe-play’s-title fashion, the effect of the emergence of electric power on sexual pleasure, in particular that of women whose physical frustration was once a major part of the diagnosis of “hysteria.” Set in a Victorian New York home which includes a doctor’s office, the plays also explores how the relationship of Dr. Givings (Jeremiah Wiggins) and his wife Catherine (Mairin Lee) is impacted by his invention of the vibrator.
surprise that portions of the play’s “dialogue” bring to mind the Meg Ryan/Estelle “I’ll have what she’s having” Reiner Katz’s Deli scene from When Harry Met Sally, as well as the last minute or so of Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 hit “Big Love.” The staging of the play, designed by Alexis Distler, is unusual and effective. The stage sits in the middle of two parallel seating sections, successful creating an intimate effect for the audience.
Perhaps it is not that much of a
The play engages audience members pretty soon after it begins. The first act was funny, with in-
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sightful dialogue. The acting is strong throughout. And, of course, the self-selection process likely involved in merely reading the play’s title means that audience members should really have little reason to become offended by the subject matter. The second act, however, drags a bit, without providing quite the
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same energy, laughs or surprise of the excellent first act. For my own taste, there are a few too many “you go, girl”-type moments. And there was something wardrobe-related at the end of the play I definitely did not need to see (but let’s just say it wasn’t, um, all that big a deal).
Adam Taxin, a Center City attorney, can best be contacted via Facebook or at adamtaxin@gmail.com.
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