Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 87 (247)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

June 21, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Shale Shock

ONE OF NATION’S original experts on Marcellus Shale formation, geologist Daniel Soeder gave a scientific update on this important new energy resource, which can transform Penna. – in both good ways and bad. Soeder estimated current natural-gas reserves in Penna., N.Y. and W. Va. at 1 trillion cubic feet – twice size of Sa’udi Arabia’s oil reserves. But he warned of significant public hazards and costs, which should be planned for and borne by industry, and called for major new research into problems. He gave his talk to Sierra Club at Free Library last night. Other Marcellus story page 3.

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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar Jun. 25Susquehanna Community Festival along Susquehanna Avenue from Broad to 22nd St., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. For vendor and sponsor info, State Rep. Jewell Williams invites you to call (215) 765-2200.

Jun. 25State Sen. Anthony Williams will host a Family Fun & Food Day free cookout at Stinger Square, 32nd & Reed Sts., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For info (215) 492-2980.

Jun. 28SEPTA and State Sen. Anthony Williams co-host career clinic for potential SEPTA employment at Sayers Memorial United Methodist Ch., 61st & Catherine, Sts., 3 p.m. For info Don Cave or Desaree K. Jones (215) 492-2980.

Jun. 29Montgomery, Mc-

Cracken et al. invite all to portrait presentation of Hon. Judge Gene D. Cohen at City Hall Rm. 653, 4 p.m. Reception follows in Conversation Ha., 2nd fl. RSVP Stephanie Redding (215) 7727260.

Jun. 29PRO-ACT 2-hr. workshop on “How to Talk to Your Legislators & Get Them to Hear You, ” at PRO-ACT Recovery Training Ctr., 444 N. 3rd St., Suite 307, 6 p.m. Again on Sat., Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. at the same location. Free. Call William Webb (215) 923-1661.

Jul. 10Benefit for Women Veterans hosted by Cathy Santos at Mom’s Kitchen Table Garden Courtyard, 2317 Ridge Ave., 4-9 p. m. For info Cathy Santos (215) 834-4228.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

13 JUNE, 2011

Marcellus Shale Boom Adds Less Than 10,000 Pa. Jobs Between late 2007 and 2010, the Marcellus Shale boom created fewer than 10,000 new jobs in Pennsylvania, much less than the 48,000 figure reported in recent news stories, statements and commentaries.

In a new policy brief, the Keystone Research Center, a liberal economic think tank, explains that those recent reports with exaggerated claims about Marcellus job creation rely on data about “new hires,” which are not the same as

new jobs. “New hires” track additions to employment but not separations due to resignations, firings or replacements.

Between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2011, Marcellus industries added 48,000 “new hires,” while all Pennsylvania industries added 2.8 million “new hires.” As Pennsylvanians well know, the commonwealth has added nothing like 2.8 million jobs to the economy since 2009 – in fact, only 85,400 new jobs were

created.

“The number of new hires by itself tells half the story and is not a meaningful indicator of job creation,” said Stephen Herzenberg, PhD, executive director of the Keystone Research Center. “You have to also look at the number of people who leave jobs.”

View the policy brief, Drilling Deeper into Jobs Claims: The Actual Contribution of Marcellus Shale to Pennsylvania Job Growth, online at www.keystoneresearch.org.

Josephs says Allegheny Co. DA Letter Confirms Widespread Voter Fraud Is A Myth State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) said a response to her letter asking for proof of voter fraud proves HB 934, a bill that would require unexpired, valid photo identification of every voter at every election, is a waste of money and profoundly undemocratic. She said the alleged massive fraud simply does not exist and never did.

At a March House State Government Committee public hearing, the co-chairwoman of the Republican Lawyers Association claimed students were bused in from New York to vote illegally on the University of Pittsburgh campus for the 2004 general election. Josephs asked for evidence, but when she had not received any some two months later, she wrote to Allegheny Co. DA Stephen A. Zappala Jr. and Pennsylvania’s Attorney General.

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Josephs received a response from Zappala last week in which he said that he was unable to confirm the allegations. Furthermore, Zappala involved the county solicitor, police superintendent and elections manager, and no one could verify the statement.

“It is very telling that law-enforcement and election officials in the very County this alleged voter fraud was supposed to have happened cannot substantiate the claim,” Josephs said. “I continue to stand by my statement HB 934 is a solution in search of a problem. This just proves it is even more important than ever to safeguard our fundamental right to vote, and fight efforts to suppress it.”

Zappala’s response included a letter from the Election Divisions Mgr. Mark Wolosik, who said it THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

was not uncommon in high-profile elections such as that one to have unfounded allegations of fraud to be made, but he was not aware of the allegation.

“My letter also asked for any other records the county may have of voter fraud that could have been prevented by requiring photo identification at all elections as this bill would do. It is telling that Zappala’s letter was silent on that aspect, as well,” she said.

Masterman Teacher To Run 100 Miles To Harrisburg School District of Philadelphia teacher Louis “Luigi” Borda announced last week that he will run 100 miles from Philadelphia to the State Capitol building in Harrisburg in order to draw attention to |

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the importance of public education for our children, our communities, our economy and the future of the entire Commonwealth.

Borda will begin his journey at the School District’s headquarters, 440 N. Broad Street, on Jun. 23 at 9:30 a.m., and plans to make stops along the way in other school districts, encouraging parents, teachers and students to run with him for different legs as he makes his way across the state.

Borda will be joined by more than 20 District teachers pledging to run with him for the first leg of this trip to Harrisburg. Before he leaves, a few speakers will offer words of encouragement to the runners and express support for the cause.

The goal of this event is to draw attention to the state

of education in Pennsylvania, engage people around the issue and prompt a larger dialogue about our collective priorities for education in the short and long term.

“I am a teacher, a parent and a runner and I want to combine the three to get people informed and involved,” explains Borda.

Borda has partnered with nonprofit education advocacy organization Education Voters of Pennsylvania for the planning and promotion of this event. EVPA works to engage citizens and policymakers around education issues on the State and local level to ensure that both understand the importance of public education to our communities and that they support a propublic-education agenda.

Young Scholar’s Initiative Lands Senator As Graduation Speaker With her mortarboard neatly perched and gown hanging perfectly, Alisia Flemings stood ready to soar from her perch as salutatorian of the Laboratory Charter School of Communications & Languages and dive deeply into preparation to be the mechanical engineer she dreams of becoming.

While her classmates cheered her academic and athletic leadership awards, the biggest applause came for the coup she landed on graduation day – getting State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.), education champion, to offer the commencement address.

“I had heard of Sen. Williams and all that he has done for education, so I decided to write a letter and ask him to come,” the Southwest Philadelphia teen said. “I was very surprised, and happy that he came.”

It was an offer that Williams said 4|

he could not resist, even amid a crushing schedule and duties as the chamber’s minority whip in the closing days of the State budget negotiations.

“When I read Alisia’s letter, I was impressed by her initiative and leadership,” said Williams, an architect of the State’s charter-school law and a longtime proponent of student achievement. “I was touched by the opportunity to come and encourage her and all of her fellow graduates to continue on the path of leadership they already are exhibiting at Lab Charter and Ad Prima.”

Both programs, Ad Prima in North Philadelphia and two Lab Charter schools in West Philadelphia, were founded by renowned educator June Brown. They are among the state’s first charter schools and hold a joint graduation ceremony.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Some 54 graduates and more than 300 friends, family members and supporters gathered in the auditorium of the Main Line Academy in Bala Cynwyd to hear Williams share advice and insights with the class of 2011.

“You are the leaders of our community, right now,” said the fourterm Senator and son of a retired public-school educator. “Because these three schools are not just three of the best schools in Philadelphia, but three of the best schools in the state.

“I am confident, that right here, in this auditorium, are future doctors.

A Barack Obama. A music mogul.

The next Marc Cuban.”

Not to mention, the next star engineer.

While Central HS admitted Alisia, 21 JUNE, 2011

her heart’s call led her to turn down the coveted slot and instead choose Carver HS for Engineering & Science – the next plot on her blueprint. She’d next go on to Drexel, and then launch her mechanical engineering career, tag-teaming with her sister in a few short years.

“Right now, engineering is a male-dominated field,” Alisia said. “My sister and I plan on changing that.”

Science, technology, engineering and math – the STEM fields – are poised to offer the highest level of job growth and opportunities, regionally, nationally and globally. Encouraging more students to enter the STEM pipeline and be able to compete in future industries can become a reality – if students are prepared, Williams said.

It’s why he’s pushing to enact SB 1, legislation that would increase opportunities for students like Alisia across Pennsylvania by freeing children from underperforming and violent schools and allowing families increased options with a state-funded opportunity scholarship.

It is the latest of more than 80 education-centered bills he has sponsored or supported in the past 20 years, making him a leading voice in the school-reform arena.

“There are thousands of Alisias in our neighborhoods, and for them, the sky should be the limit,” Williams said. “At a time when America lags behind most industrialized nations in math and science achievement, students like these graduates demonstrate that given the opportunity, they can handle an academically rigorous curriculum and compete with any students in the world.”

Farnese Appointed To PHEAA Board Of Directors State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S. Phila.) has been appointed to serve on The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s Board of Directors.

“I have long been an advocate of economic development in the Commonwealth,” said the Senator. “One 21 JUNE, 2011

of the best ways to ensure the future economic vitality of Pennsylvania is to maintain a highly-skilled workforce through access to affordable higher education. I look forward to helping to further those efforts as a member of the PHEAA Board.”

“We welcome Sen. Farnese to the Board,” said State Rep. William Adolph (R-Delaware), PHEAA Board chairman. “He will bring a fresh perspective to our board that will help us in our efforts to address various issues facing the students, families and post-secondary schools of Pennsylvania.”

Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, PHEAA has evolved into one of the nation’s leading student-aid organizations. PHEAA is a national provider of student financial aid services, serving millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial-aid processing, outreach, and other student-aid programs.

Black Professionals Muster A Plan To Boost Schools – And Lower Taxes Sharif Street, son of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street and one of the leaders of Philadelphia Professionals for Progress, a subsidiary of the National Coalition of African American Organizations, hosted a press conference this morning at City Council’s Caucus Room in City Hall to announce a $500 million dollar tax-lowering, school-funding plan and to demand the State adequately and fairly fund our schools.

Other speakers included Christopher Norris, Raheem Watson, Curtis Wilkerson, Ogbonna Hagins and Emmanuel Bussie.

NCAAO was founded in the early 1990s to unify efforts of the city’s Black civic, religious and community-based organizations. Today, the Coalition is focused on galvanizing the resources of Philadelphia’s most-influential leaders along with the city’s young professionals to make Philadelphia the national model for youth development.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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