Vol. II No. 88 (248)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
June 22, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
A Square Ball
ANNUAL Rittenhouse Square fundraiser, Ball on the Square, saw hundreds of Center City and suburban supporters donning gowns and tuxedoes for the tented festivities, co-chaired by Nicole Cashman. This year’s funds will go toward internal lighting for park. Among charitable merrymakers were Parkway Corp. executive Joe Zuritsky & wife Renee, with Philadelphia Magazine publisher David Lipson & wife Susan.
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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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Toomey Calls For Dems To Show Budget Plan Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement regarding the Congressional Budget Office’s long-term budget outlook released today: “This CBO budget outlook further shows that out country is on an unsustainable fiscal course, with massive deficits and unrestrained federal spending. This dismal long-term outlook underscores my
concerns that the president hasn’t put forth a responsible plan to address our nation’s fiscal future, and my colleagues across the aisle haven’t even proposed a budget for the coming year. Our country has been operating without a budget for 784 days now, and it’s clear that neither the president nor my colleagues across the aisle have a plan to tackle Washington’s spending problem.
“That’s why I introduced a budget earlier this year that balanced within nine years and included pro-growth, job-creating economic policies. As today’s report shows, we cannot afford to keep ducking the tough choices, and I urge my colleagues to support my budget and help put our country on a fiscally sound, pro-growth path,” Toomey said.
Casey Calls For New Plan In Afghanistan US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) took to the Senate floor yesterday to call for a shift in US strategy on Afghanistan. “After an exhaustive review and based on measurable gains in Afghanistan, I believe the US can shift from a strategy of counterinsurgency towards an increased focus on counterterrorism,” said the Senator. “It is time for the US to lighten its footprint in the country, accelerate the shift in responsibility to Afghan forces and drawdown a significant number of US troops from the country. The capabilities of Al Qaeda and the Taliban have been severely degraded. US-led development projects have strengthened the health and education sectors. At a time of economic austerity in the US, the $120 billion per year price tag is unsustainable. We must make a significant shift in our strategy.” On the fight against terrorism, Senator Casey said: “As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern, South and Central Asian Affairs, I am focused on our broader national security interests in the region. We must focus on extremist groups that have the capability and intent to project terrorism on the US homeland and interests around the world. Casey also laid out some of the challenges that remain, including the need to redouble efforts to train 13 JUNE, 2011
the Afghan security forces; making more progress in Pakistan to stop the flow of material used in roadside bombs and to deal with extremist elements; ongoing concerns over the treatment of Afghan women and girls; and concerns about Afghan governance. Casey continued, “We have made progress in Afghanistan. Significant challenges remain, but based on these advances and on the significant cost of our current posture, it is time, after 10 long years, to begin the drawdown process.”
PGW Turns An $18M Profit For Philly The Philadelphia Gas Works today announced the payment of its annual $18 million dividend to the City’s general fund. In lieu of taxes, PGW is required by ordinance to make this annual payment. In past years, the City immediately granted this money back to PGW. But as a result of the company’s improved financial condition, today’s payment marks the first time since 2004 that the City will retain the full $18 million. “There was a time when PGW needed the City to return the annual payment because we couldn’t afford to be without it,” said Craig White, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Gas Works. “But now,
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thanks to the hard work of PGW’s Management Team, a strong relationship with City Hall and continued support from Mayor Nutter, we are in the best financial shape that we have been in a decade.” Some of the highlights of PGW’s financial transformation include: An improved bond rating from Moody’s Investor Service (Baa2), Standard & Poor’s (BBB+) and FitchRatings (BBB) with stable outlooks; No short term borrowing and meaningful cash reserves as of 2010, for the first time in 15 years; $24 million in internally generated funds from PGW’s financial reforms that were used for capital expenditures in FY 2011; and A collection rate that has improved from 87% in 2003 to 95.1% as of May 2011. In the coming months, PGW will continue to improve its finances through its existing reform efforts. It is also focused on converting more customers to natural gas, expanding into new revenue generating markets, and taking advantage of growing natural-gas supplies and stable prices from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale play.
Controller Finds Numerous Violations, Tax Debts With Multiple Property Owners City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released a study of Philadelphia’s multiple property owners that found half of the 46 owners sampled in the examination of 261 properties, had 135 unresolved violations for property maintenance, fire code and licensing-related violations. These violations were found at 36 properties owned by 23 different individuals. Fifteen of the properties were licensed as rentals. One owner had 22 separate unresolved violations at one property dating back to 2007. A rental property was found to have three violations that referenced imminent danger and could endanger lives. “We found an alarming failure on the part of the multiple-property owners to comply with the law and to resolve these violations,” said Butkovitz. “It’s impor4|
tant that the Licenses & Inspections Dept. enforce all regulations and maintain follow-up procedures to find out if any violations have been corrected.” The Controller’s review also found 32 multiple-property owners who owed the City a total of $160,553 for unpaid water and sewer bills for 97 properties. There were another 27 owners who owed the City $196,446 for delinquent real estate taxes for 67 properties. “Multiple property owners who fail to follow City laws and regulations and keep their properties clean and safe cause blight on the neighborhood and ultimately depreciate the value of surrounding properties,” said Butkovitz. The Controller’s investigators also uncovered one property owner who is operating three rental properties without the required rental licensing. Of the 121 on-site visual inspections of the sampled properties, eight of the properties were found to be in a blighted condition. To view a copy of the report, entitled “Philadelphia’s Multiple Property Owners: Review of City Property Requirements & Conditions”, visit the Controller’s website at www.philadelphiacontroller.org.
Nutter Orders New Stop & Frisk Procedures Mayor Michael A. Nutter has signed two significant Executive Orders aimed at enhancing the public’s trust in their law enforcement public servants by updating the procedures that citizens can use to file complaints against police officers and by establishing new procedures to track and audit citizens held in temporary investigative detention. The order related to investigative detention, both pedestrian and vehicular investigative detentions, frisks and searches, is part of a settlement of a lawsuit, Bailey v. City of Philadelphia, filed in US District Court last November. “Philadelphia’s police officers are the best-trained law-enforcement agency in the nation. Today’s announcement makes certain their actions are held to a
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high standard,” said the Mayor. “These procedural changes are being implemented because we have a Police Commissioner who values a transparent and accountable Police Dept.” The first executive order will establish an electronic database so all Department Pedestrian Investigation Reports (75-48A) can be entered into a searchable computer system. The computer database will be established to support increased monitoring and audits of investigative detentions, frisks and searches. Additionally, the PPD will prepare and issue an annual report detailing the results of the audit. Another order updates the processing of complaints alleging police misconduct including the investigation, review and disposition of complaints. Citizens Complaint Reports will be made available on the PPD’s website and at Districts. Complaints of criminal misconduct and serious non-criminal misconduct shall be referred by the Commissioner to the District Attorney’s Office and the Police Board of Inquiry as necessary. “I am fully supportive of these measures and welcome outside review,” said Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey. “It is not only our responsibility as law-enforcement officers to uphold the constitutional rights for all people; it is the foundation of the oath to which we swear. These measures today will help ensure the Department is providing the highest quality of police service possible.” In Bailey v. City of Philadelphia filed on Nov. 4, 2010, the plaintiffs allege stop & frisk temporary detentions were in violation of the 14th Amendment. The City of Philadelphia and plaintiffs agree to the following responses and procedural changes: All Philadelphia police officers will carry definition cards explaining standards for Terry stops and “stop and frisk” searches. Definitions are in conformity with legal standards and MPO training materials. [Terry refers to the 1968 US Supreme Court case, Terry v. Ohio in which the Court held that brief, investigatory stops are legal]. By Jan. 1, 2012, PPD will have the capability of entering all stop reports (75-48A’s) into an electronic 22 JUNE, 2011
database for more efficient management review and analysis. PPD has developed and implemented automated audit procedures to analyze the stop reports (75-48A) prepared by PPD officers and provide a reasonable assurance that the stops made by PPD officers are compliant with policy and the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions. Divisional and Special Unit Inspectors have been trained to perform the “75-48A Audits” and an Audit Guide has been developed to ensure consistency in the review and analysis of the stop reports. These Inspectors will produce quarterly reports on the outcomes of each audit. The Inspector’s Audits shall then be subject to an independent audit by the Internal Affairs Unit to ensure quality controls, consistency, and to identify any aberrant patterns or trends. PPD publication Legally Speaking titled “Revisiting Stop & Frisk” has been distributed to all Districts and is available to all police officers. Dean JoAnne Epps of the Temple University Beasley School of Law has been appointed by the parties as an Independent Outside Auditor who will conduct analysis and audit all proposals and procedures and will have the authority to recommend additional policies, practices and procedures to ensure compliance. The City of Philadelphia has provided plaintiffs’ counsel with 75-48A forms from selected periods during the years 2006-2010, so counsel can analyze historic patterns and trends and offer recommendations and additional improvements in training and the review process. “I am honored to accept this assignment, which will provide an exciting opportunity for law students to assist me in working with real issues of criminal justice. I look forward to working with the parties to ensure effective law enforcement that is consistent with the requirements of our Constitution,” said Dean JoAnne Epps of the Temple University Beasley School of Law. David Rudovsky of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing & Feinberg, LLP added, “We are very pleased that the Plaintiffs and the City have settled the pending ‘stop
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and frisk’ lawsuit under terms which, if followed by the Police Dept., will ensure police stops and frisks of persons in Philadelphia
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will not be conducted on the basis of race or ethnicity, and will only be conducted where there is reasonable suspicion of criminal ac-
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tivity.�
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