Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 57 (217)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

May 5, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Forever In Our Hearts

MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey pay tribute to fallen police officers and firefighters during National Anthem at Living Flame Memorial on at Franklin Square Park yesterday. See story page 5. Photo by Tony Webb, Office of the City Representative.

Obama Gets 6-Pt. Spike After Bin Laden Dies, Poll Finds American voters approve 52-40% of the job President Barack Obama is doing, his highest score in almost two years and up from a 46-48% approval among voters surveyed before the President announced the death of Osama bin Laden, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This is President Obama’s highest job approval since a 57-33% score in a Jul. 2, 2009, survey. Men shift from a negative 39-54% before the bin Laden announcement to a positive 51-42% today. Women approve 53-39% today, compared to 52-43% as of Sunday. Voter approval of Obama’s handling of foreign issues also is up this week. But Obama’s 20point negative score for handling the economy is unchanged and voter attitudes on whether he deserves reelection are only slightly improved.

Voters surveyed after the bin Laden announcement say 46-42% the President deserves to be reelected,

compared to a negative 45-48% before bin Laden.

“The killing of Osama bin Laden has helped President Barack Obama’s popularity but not massively,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Voters have upped their opinion of the president’s handling of national security matters. But they have not changed their minds about his stewardship of the economy.

The number of people opposed to his reelection has dropped, although they seem to have moved to ‘undecided,’ rather than to the pro-Obama column,” Brown added. “The good news for the President is that his largest improvement is among two key groups, men and independent voters.”

Independent voters go from a negative 41-52% overall approval as of Sunday to a positive 47-41% today.

But only 36% of independent voters say today he deserves reelection, compared to 41% Sunday.

Casey Awarded ‘BIO Legislator Of Year’ For Boosting Life Sciences US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, was named Legislator of the Year for 2010-2011 yesterday by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

“Investments in biosciences are critically important for Pennsylvania and the nation because they improve people’s lives and are an engine of economic growth,” said the Senator. “I am honored to receive BIO’s Legislator of the Year award and look forward to continuing to support biosciences for the sake of America’s economic health 2|

as well as the health of its citizens.”

“The Senator’s service on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee has been tremendously important to this nation’s health-care industry and the patients we serve,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood.

“Furthermore, we are grateful for his leadership on other issues critical to our nation’s biotech industry, such as his sponsorship of the Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act.” Pennsylvania BIO President THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Christopher Molineaux said, “His leadership on numerous issues of importance to the industry and commitment to meeting with and understanding the needs of individual bioscience companies should serve as a model to all his colleagues in the Senate.”

Casey has been a strong supporter of funding for the National Institutes of Health, fighting to prevent cuts to the agency to prevent the country from falling behind on research that stimulates the economy and promotes advances in treatments and cures for diseases. He also continues to champion a ro5 MAY, 2011

bust biodefense and countermeasure program to protect Americans.

Last year, Casey introduced the Life Sciences Jobs & Investment Act (S. 4018) to promote innova-

tion and job creation by providing targeted tax incentives for small and mid-sized businesses to invest in life-sciences research and development. Casey will reintroduce the legislation soon.

In March, Casey introduced the Creating Hope Act (S. 606) to encourage greater investment in development of new treatments and cures for rare and neglected diseases affecting children.

Josephs Bashes ‘Marriage Amendment’ Bill State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) issued the following statement in response to the introduction of legislation that would define marriage in the Pennsylvania Constitution.

“Never is the right time for this discriminatory legislation, in my opinion, but especially today, what with all of the challenges Pennsylvanians face, constitutional amendments making certain people secondclass citizens are especially repugnant,” Josephs said.

“This Republican-supported plan detracts from the serious issues resulting from our difficult economy, including high unemployment, educating our children properly, protecting our environment and filling a significant State budget gap.

“We have a Governor who has demonstrated he doesn’t value learning, the environment or the working poor. Our task now is to restore public-education funding, strengthen the safety-net programs and to ensure health care for the 41,000 working poor he kicked out of the adultBasic program and to eliminate the Governor’s $2 billion slush fund. It is also 5 MAY, 2011

imperative we protect our public forests and drinking water from international oil and gas conglomerates drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Raising the issue of same-sex marriage is at its best frivolous and its worst, destructive and profoundly un-American.

“Indeed, now a majority of Americans (51%) look favorably at same-sex marriages and unions. It is contrary to their American sense of fair play and justice.

“Furthermore, under this constitutional amendment, our fight against domestic violence is stymied. A woman who faces abuse, or even death, at the hands of a tormentor to whom she is not married, has no way to remove that person from the home, because government would not recognize her domestic partnership status. Children in the household will suffer.

This has occurred in states that have adopted similar measures.

“Domestic partners who are recipients of public-sector bargaining benefits will lose them, because government may not recognize any relationship other than formal marriage. Blameless children of these unions will be especially hard hit.

“I am unalterably opposed to this amendment and the mean-spirited, small-minded mentality that supports it. Last session and the session before when I was in the majority, I was instrumental in stopping this unwise and unjust policy. I intend to do all in my power to make sure that marriage between Pennsylvania citizens of the same sex becomes legal.”

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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar May 5Phila. Young Democrats host BLUE: Pre-primary Election Soirée aboard Moshulu at Penn’s Landing, 401 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Admission $20 includes hors d’oeuvres and raffle for gifts and services. For info Dough Bennett (484) 225-3129 or purchase online blue55.eventbrite.com.

May 5Fundraiser for Derrick Coker For Municipal Court at New Palladium, 229 W. Allegheny Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m. For info Iliana Renoso (215) 740-5273.

May 5State Sen. Mike Stack’s Democrat 58th Ward Reception at Bliss Restaurant, 224 S. Broad St., 5:307 p.m. Tickets available. Contact Rosemary (215) 964-3140.

May 5Democrat 43rd Ward Cinco de Mayo Beef & Beer at Copas Cubanas, 4637 N. 5th St., 6-9 p.m.

Donations $35.

May 5Fundraiser for judicial candidate Angelo Foglietta at DePasquale Law Offices, 2332-34 S. Broad St., 1st fl., 6 p.m. Patron $250, Friend $150, Supporter $100. For info Thomas T. Muldoon, Jr. (215) 545-1776.

May 5Cocktail fundraiser for Phila. Republican Leadrship Council, Racquet Club, 6 p.m.

May 5Fundraiser for Communities United PAC at Mill Creek Tavern, 42nd & Chester Ave., 6 p.m. $15 at door. For info Rasheen Crews (215) 807-9255. PAC is supporting

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State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson for 2nd Dist. Council, Fred Mari for Traffic Court and Stephanie Sawyer for Common Pleas Ct. May 5Fundraiser Reception and Dinner for Council candidate Verna Tyner at Primo’s, 8460 Limekiln Pk., Wyncote, Pa., 7-11 p.m.

May 6State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts Senior Healthy Living Expo at Columbia N. YMCA, 1400 N. Broad St., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free event.

Breakfast and lunch will be served. For info (215) 227-6161.

May 6State Rep. Michael McGeehan hosts tour of Samuel Baxter Water Treatment Plant celebrating National Drinking Water Week at 9001 State Rd., 10 a.m. To join tour call Nancy Hartey (215) 3339760. Need photo ID. May 622nd Ward Democrat Committee Spring Fundraiser at Gathering Place, 6755 Germantown Ave., 6-8 p.m. Candidates $100, community $50. Meet 8th Dist. City Council, at-Large City Council and judicial candidates. For info Ward Leader Ron Couser (215) 817-6159.

May 6AOH 40 names John McNesby Labor Leader of Year at Ironworkers Ha., 11600 Norcom Rd., 7-11 p.m. Open bar, dinner, music.

Tickets $50. For info Brian Coleman (215) 779-1330.

May 6Cocktail fundraiser for 8th Dist.

Council candidate Verna Tyner at Maia’s Fine Dining & Jazz, 5920 Greene St., 7-11 p.m. $50. For info (267) 297-7470.

5 MAY, 2011

Mayor Leads Tribute At ‘Living Flame’

AT CEREMONIAL CLOSE of Living Flame Memorial Service to honor City’s fallen police and fire personnel, five doves were released. Photo by Tony Webb, Office of the City Representative

Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett A. Gillison and other officials honored police officers and firefighters in the City of Philadelphia’s annual Living Flame Memorial Service, at Franklin Square Park yesterday.

The Living Flame Memorial Service recognizes the sacrifices of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Since records were started in 1871, 286 members of the 5 MAY, 2011

Philadelphia Fire Dept. have made the ultimate sacrifice in the official line of duty. Since 1828, at least 250 Philadelphia police officers have died on duty.

The Mayor, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers led a procession of family members of the fallen Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who died over the years in service to the City placing wreaths and carnations at the base of the Living Flame Memorial.

The names of deceased police offiTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

cers and firefighters who succumbed while serving the public are inscribed on plaques on the monument.

Firefighter Joseph Dugan’s memory was honored and his name was added to a plaque of deceased fire personnel at the Living Flame Memorial. Dugan suffered injuries while fighting a fire on a ship in Philadelphia in 1942. He passed away the following year, resulting from the incident. Firefighter Dugan was a hoseman on Fire Boat 2, a Fire Dept. rescue unit |

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specifically trained and equipped to manage complex fires (on boats, railroad cars, explosions, subway accidents, collapsed buildings). He was severely injured while being lowered into hatch while attached to a rope onboard a burning ship.

He lived on the 1900 block of Hamilton Street in the city’s Fairmount section. He was survived by his wife Margaret and eight children.

Nutter said, “We have lost no active officers or firefighters in our ranks this past year and, for that, we are eternally grateful.”

Nutter added: “From the selfless act of David Humphreys, the first firefighter on record to die in the line of duty back in 1872, to the most recent police officer who perished in the line of duty in 2009,

Officer John Pawlowski, we honor those who made the supreme sacrifice. We offer our deepest sympathy to all of the families who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty. The City of Philadelphia is forever in their debt. And as the 10th anniversary of Sep. 11 approaches, we are further reminded of the courage and vulnerability of all of our men and women in uniform who walk a fine line between life and death every day.”

Department Rifle Team; Police Dept. Honor Guard; Police Dept.

Buglers; Retired Police, Fire, & Prison Guard Association; Polish Police Association; International German-American Police Association; American Legion Police Post 937; and various representatives of the clergy, including from the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Shomrim Society/Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Region and the Police Chaplains Office.

Other program participants from the law-enforcement community included: Fraternal Order of Police/Philadelphia Lodge 5; Fraternal Order of Police/University of Pennsylvania, Lodge 113; Philadelphia Firefighters Union, Local 22; Police and Fire Color Guards; Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums Band; Police

Trained white doves were released at the conclusion of the ceremony to symbolically honor all of the fallen police and fire personnel.

The Living Flame Memorial Service precedes National Police Week (May 15-21), which memorializes those in law enforcement, who gave their lives to protect and serve the public.

W. Phila. Hybrid X Team Takes Top National Honors The West Philadelphia HS Hybrid X Team recently took top honors in the Conrad Foundation’s Spirit of Innovation Competition, a program that challenges teams of high-school students to create innovative products using science, technology, and entrepreneurship to solve 21st century, real-world problems. They are only one of four high-school teams from the US and the UK to receive such an honor.

The team traveled to California to compete as finalists and took home the Spirit of Innovation Award for their work on the EVX GT, a performanceminded hybrid car combining power with sustainability and range. “I am overwhelmingly proud of these students and their ability to accomplish their goals and challenge each other to achieve great things,” said West Philadelphia Principal John Chapman. “They have only begun to realize their 6|

potential and I’m excited to see where they go from here.”

The West Philadelphia Team is led by Coach Paul Holt and team members Stefon Gonzales, Kaya Presley, Leon Johnson, Brandon Graham and Shamere Palmer. “These students are the embodiment of what it means to be a team and exemplify what can be accomplished when we empower our students,” said Coach Holt. “They’ve worked so hard throughout the year and to see their efforts rewarded on a national stage is incredibly inspiring.”

The Conrad Foundation is a 501(C)3 organization built upon astronaut Charles “Pete” Conrad’s history of innovation and entrepreneurship. Conrad’s accomplishments spanned three decades of manned space flight.

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5 MAY, 2011

Butkovitz Uncovers Weak Monitoring Of Law Dept. Payments To Collection Agency City Controller Alan Butkovitz released a report yesterday entitled, “Review of Contract Compliance Procedures” for the City’s Law Dept. that uncovered 85% of the commissions paid or to be paid to the City’s real-estate tax-collection agency could not be supported with corroborating documents to justify the commission payments.

The City’s Co-Counsel, Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP, was paid $5.5 million to collect $47.6 million in delinquent real-estate taxes during the two-year period covered in the report.

A sample of $133,470 in commissions selected from detailed information provided by the Law Dept. as support for payments to Linebarger found $112,833 of the commission amounts could not be

conclusively corroborated.

Butkovitz called these figures “troubling.” He added, “We must ensure the firm is receiving a commission only for revenue that it generated.”

Co-Counsel collections occur after the City’ Revenue Dept. submits delinquent real-estate tax accounts to the Law Dept. to initiate collection efforts. The Law Dept. then sends the accounts to the CoCounsel, who gets a commission agreed to in its contract, for its collection efforts.

In reviewing transactions with other third parties involved in the collection process along with Linebarger, it was found that for 18 of 23 sampled amounts, Linebarger did not provide the required Petition and Rule order to prove that they were involved in

the collection effort.

The review also found approximately 20% of the expense invoices could not be supported or justified. In addition, auditors were unable to determine the deposit dates on collection checks because two different databases contained different, conflicting data and images.

“There is no excuse for one department to have a database that cannot sync within systems used by other City agencies,” said Butkovitz. “Technology cannot be used as an excuse for uncorroborated payments and incomplete documents, especially if our City has any hope of meeting the demands of today’s technology.”

Parking Employees Urge Customers To Roll Back Tax Parking-garage employees throughout the city greeted their clients yesterday morning with postcards in hand, urging them to support the movement to lower the 20% parking tax to 15%.

Representatives of the Philadelphia Parking Association will present their proposal before the City Council Rules Committee on May 11.

The postcards informed customers they pay a 20% City Tax every time they park. This is one of the 5 MAY, 2011

highest parking taxes in the nation – almost 2% higher than New York City’s tax. In addition, the Association’s licensed parking operators are competing against more than100 unlicensed lots in the city – parking operators who pay no taxes at all.

“Anyone who has run a business or a household budget can see what we are up against. Fifty-five percent of our operating expenses go to taxes – the Parking Tax, Property Tax, Use & Occupancy Tax and the Wage Tax. That means we have already paid out 55%

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in taxes before we begin to pay our employees, our utility bills and our insurance,” pointed out Robert Zuritsky, president of The Parkway Corp. and head of the Philadelphia Parking Association.

The proposed legislation calls for steps to balance the revenue scales by enforcing existing laws on the rogue lots and hiring two City auditors.

The parking tax stood at 15% until 2008, when it was increased to its current 20%.

Councilman James Kenney, sponsor of the legislation, says it is time for the tax to be reduced. He also said he is in negotiations with Mayor Michael Nutter on lowering the tax. If the tax is passed at Wednesday’s hearing, it will go before the full Council before this year’s session ends.

Miller Celebrates Opening Of Presser Senior Apts.

Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller and Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined Nolen Properties to celebrate the opening of Presser Senior Apartments on historic Johnson Street in Mount Airy. The development, which was supported in part by federal stimulus funds, restored a 1914 historic property at risk of demolition into 45 mixed-income apartments for seniors.

Presser Senior Apartments was recently awarded a Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Grand Jury Award for successfully maintaining the historic integrity of the building while adding modern amenities and energy efficient features during the restoration.

Originally commissioned by sheetmusic publisher and philanthropist Theodore Presser, the Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers is a grand 52,248-square-foot building that once housed those who dedicated their lives to music.

The building became vacant in 2002, suffered significant deterio8|

ration and was a candidate for demolition under plans of prior owners. A coalition of community groups formed to prevent the demolition, and in 2005 they succeeded in adding the Presser Home to the National Register of Historic Places.

ing to the residents of this neighborhood.”

With the assistance of the Councilwoman, Nolen Properties acquired the property in 2006 with the promise to restore it to its original beauty while using the structures in a manner pleasing to the neighbors. The development preserves a cornerstone building in the Philadelphia City Planning Commission 2004 Mount Airy Neighborhood Plan and has set the stage for the restoration of the adjacent Nugent building, also to become senior affordable housing.

Six apartments are accessible for people with physical disabilities and two more apartments are accessible to persons with vision or hearing impairments. Residents must be age 62 and above. The six apartments for people with physical disabilities will be available to seniors with incomes at or below 20% of the Area Median Income, ($13,725 for one person); 21 apartments will be affordable to seniors with incomes at or below 50% of AMI ($27,450 for one person) and 18 apartments will be affordable to seniors at or below 60% of the AMI ($32, 940 for one person).

Miller said, “The significant history of this community is one of the reasons it is so special. I commend Nolen Properties, not just for preserving an important cornerstone building, but also for listenTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

“Together, we created nearly 140 construction jobs. We believe the philanthropic mission of the original home remains in the modern Presser Senior Apartments,” said Jim Nolen, president of Nolen Properties.

Miller helped provide $2,000,000 in stimulus funds for the CDBG-R program.

5 MAY, 2011

Roberts Bows Out Of 2nd Dist. Race, Backs Johnson South Philadelphia community leader Damon K. Roberts announced yesterday he is ending his campaign for Philadelphia City Council’s 2nd District in the May 17 Democratic Primary, effective immediately.

ber of City Council.”

Roberts announced he is officially withdrawing as a candidate and endorsing State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson (D-S. Phila.) for the position.

Roberts, 40, is a Democratic Committeeperson in the 36th Ward; a block captain; former President of the City Wide Neighborhood Advisory Council’s Alliance Board; and current Chairperson of South Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks. Roberts is also Vice Chairperson of Board of Directors of the Housing Association of the Delaware Valley, and VP, Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia.

“After spending the past few weeks speaking with supporters, my family and key community leaders throughout Philadelphia, I have decided that I can best serve Philadelphia at this time as a civic and community leader and not as an elected official,” said Roberts.

“I have carefully studied the track records of other candidates running in the 2ndDist. Democratic Primary and have developed a healthy respect for all of them.” Roberts continued. “Kenyatta and I have been friends for years and have worked on many projects together. I expect Kenyatta will be an excellent mem-

“I thank Damon for his endorsement and support,” Johnson said. “He ran a strong campaign and he should be proud of his accomplishments.”

A real-estate and land-use attorney in his 10th year of practice, Roberts served as the president of The Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, 2004-2005. The Barristers represent more than 1,200 African American attorneys in the Philadelphia vicinity.

Kitchen To Host Senior Healthy Living Expo State Sen. Shirley Kitchen’s upcoming 7th annual Senior Healthy Living Expo will be held tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbia North YMCA, 1400 N. Broad Street (Broad & Master Streets).

The theme of this year’s expo is “Baby Boomers and Beyond: Mind, Body and Spirit.” The expo will have a variety of exhibitors, health screenings, door prizes, giveaways, fitness demonstrations 5 MAY, 2011

and entertainment. Participants will learn more about tax-estate planning, nutrition, finding employment after age 50, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Estella Hyde, state director, AARP of Pennsylvania, will be the keynote speaker. Dobbins HS Cosmetology & Barbering Unit will host a “pamper me” section featuring hand, neck and back massages, mini-manicures, makeup applications and barber cuts for men.

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Employment Lawyer Stuart Davidson Is Reappointed Vice-Chair Of Law Examiners Board obligations as charged by the Court.

“I am honored to serve the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by acting as the Vice-Chair of its Board of Law Examiners,” said Davidson.

Davidson has represented labor unions and employee-benefit plans for nearly three decades. He counts among his clients a wide range of union workers, including musiPhiladelphia labor and employ- cians, longshoremen, food and ment law firm Willig, Williams commercial workers, university & Davidson is pleased to anfaculty, machinists, firefighters, ponounce Partner Stuart W. lice officers, teamsters, football Davidson has been reappointed players and many others. His work Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania for public- and private-sector Board of Law Examiners. unions includes leading contract Davidson’s second three-year negotiations, presenting interest term on the Board commenced on April 1, 2011. Under the aus- and grievance arbitrations, reprepices of the Supreme Court of senting employee benefit funds and Pennsylvania, the seven-member advising clients on internal union Board emphasizes the impormatters. Davidson has also played tance of professional responsibilkey roles in the development of ity and character in the legal new and progressive benefit strucprofession, and evaluates the tures with the pension, health and likelihood of an aspiring welfare plans he represents. lawyer’s ability to uphold and commit to the standards of the profession.

Davidson is a frequent lecturer, teacher and author on such issues In carrying out this mission, the as ERISA, fiduciary responsibiliBoard reviews bar-admission rules ties, labor law, employment disand recommends rule changes, re- crimination, OSHA matters, drug views proposed essay examination and alcohol testing and other labor questions and analyses, approves and employment concerns. A dediexamination results, sets policy cated member of his community, and handles all other bar-admission he has been a commissioner of the 10 |

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Delaware River Port Authority; board member and executive committee member of the Development Corp. for Israel; member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ Attorneys Committee; President of the American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center; and a member of the Board of Trustees of The Johns Hopkins University. Davidson has also received the Jewish Labor Committee’s Humanitarian Award.

Willig, Williams & Davidson is one of the largest and most respected union-side labor-law firms in the United States. Founded in 1979, the firm focuses on representing labor unions, employee benefit funds, individual working people and their families on a variety of legal fronts, including national, regional and local contract negotiations; dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and litigation; tax and benefit law compliance issues; discrimination and other employment matters; advocacy for injured workers; and prepaid legal services for union members.

5 MAY, 2011

The Bridge Club, Premiering Tonight, Features Local Ben Franklin Impersonator

by Adam Taxin The world premiere of the new play The Bridge Club is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at Society Hill Playhouse (507 S. 8th Street in Center City).

The play’s foundation is the decision by Jack, a man in his late 30s whose virulent cancer has just returned, to take his own life. He heads to the nation’s “it” suicide destination, the Golden Gate Bridge between San Francisco and Marin Co., and soon discovers his karma is such that he is not even the only person on the bridge with suicide in mind on that November evening. The interaction that follows between Jack and the similarly-suicide-intending Sue drives the play’s action, dialogue and eventual surprises.

The under-two-hour play is written

by Richard Raskind, whose credits include television shows such as “Hart to Hart,” “Coach” and “Family Ties,” as well as dramatic productions such as Newtonville Weekly, which won three DramaLogue Awards in Los Angeles.

Both leads are making their Society Hill Playhouse debuts. Jack is played by Michael Kelberg of Cherry Hill via Northeast Philly, who is perhaps most familiar to audiences for his roles in commercials for Susquehanna Bank and Cottman Transmission. Sue is played by Laura Chaneski, who has recently performed at the Bucks Co. Playhouse in Footloose 5 MAY, 2011

BILL ROBLING takes time off from his life as Ben Franklin’s double, to play a guardian of would-be suicides.

who patrols on bicycle for the Golden Gate Bridge Authority, as “basically a keeper of the bridge,” with a main job of looking out “for people who are doing things they shouldn’t do on the bridge, most often looking to do away with themselves.” Robling adds, “The Golden Gate Bridge has historically been, as I say in the play, an attraction for people who are thinking of harming themselves.

By the time this play is set, some 1,300 people have jumped from the bridge from the time it opened in 1936. Harold Smyth patrols that bridge from 1936 up until the late 1960s. He is very much invested in looking out for people who might be thinking of joining ‘The Bridge Club.’”

and A Christmas Carol.

The Bridge Club performer likely most recognizable to audiences is that of Bill Robling, who plays Harold Smyth, the police officer on the bridge who encounters the two contemplating suicide. Although Robling has an extensive theatre, opera and commercialand-industrial-video resume, he is most in the public eye due to the over 100 appearances he makes per year portraying Benjamin Franklin, including in the “Independence After Hours” show at Independence Hall. (Outside Philadelphia, Robling has been featured, for example, in the History Channel film Ben Franklin: An American Life.)

Robling describes his character, THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

The actor considers his interaction with Jack his favorite part of the play: “He’s someone that I encounter and have a fairly lengthy conversation with.”

Of the play, Robling says, “I think it has a nice humanity about it. It has that dark side, obviously, of being jumping off a bridge. But there’s enough humor in the play to keep the audience from wanting to jump off with them. It’s not a very long play, so it’s not a huge investment of time. I think it’s well written and an interesting concept.

It’s not the same as a lot of things, and there are some twists there.

Most of all, I think the audience will find themselves relating to the characters and liking the people in the play.” |

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