Vol. II No. 132 (292)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
September 1, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
In His Own Words
FORMER PENNA. SPEAKER JOHN PERZEL had this to say about his guilty plea on corruption charges. See page 3.
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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar Sep. 2Friends of Quibila Divine hold Fish Fry at Lou & Choo’s, 21st & Hunting Pk. Ave., 5-10 p.m. Platters $10. For tickets (215) 225-7241. Sep. 3State Sen. Anthony Williams’ Neighbor to Neighbor Summer of Peace 2011 Cookout at Eastwick Park, 74th & Lindbergh Blvd., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free food. Family fun. Adults’ and children’s activities. For info (215) 492-2980. Sep. 5Tri State Labor Committee and Philadelphia AFLCIO annual Labor Day Parade & Family Fun Day, starting at Sheet Metal Workers, Columbus Blvd. & Washington Ave., 9 a.m. Sep. 101st Nat’l Organizational Policy Summit at School District Bldg. Main Audit., 440 N. Broad St. to fight for additional
federal and State funding, 10 a.m.1 p.m. For info Dr. Churchville (215) 848-8511 or Mr. Adams (215) 397-2734. Sep. 10Billy Meehan Clambake at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd., 4-8 p.m. $100 per person. For info Carmella (215) 561-0650. Sep. 10Jobs with Justice and DC 47 President Emeritus Gary Kapanowski hold Sustainer Soiree in Sir Francis Rm. at The Drake, 1512 Spruce St., 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Sep. 11Phila. Firefighters Union Local 22 and Penn Treaty Special Services Dist. invite all to attend unveiling of “All the Heroes of 9/11” Memorial at Local 22 Union Headquarters, 5th & Willow, 1 p.m.
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
1 SEPTEMBER, 2011
Statement By John M. Perzel Former House Speaker John Perzel (R-Northeast) released the following statement yesterday after he pled guilty to charges of corruption. “I said from the start of this case that I would fight the charges against me, and I have done so for nearly every day of the last two years. It is a fight that has taken an enormous toll on my family and the friends who have been so
steadfast in their support. “I have decided today that my fight has come to an end. The truth is that as the legislative leader of my caucus, I oversaw the spending of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, and I bear the responsibility for the improprieties that occurred in the spending of those dollars. It was up to me to see that taxpayer funds were spent only for the betterment of the people of Pennsyl-
vania, and not for my political benefit of that of my party. “To the people of Pennsylvania; to the voters who put their trust in me for the 32 years that I had the privilege of serving the 172nd Dist.; and to my family and friends, I want to express my profound regret for my actions. You had a right to expect better from me, and I am sorry that I let you down.”
Obama Approval Hits All-Time Low President Barack Obama’s overall job-approval rating has sunk to an all-time low, as American voters disapprove 52-42%, compared to 47-46% approval in July, and among whites and men his approval has dropped into the 30s, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Congressional leaders rate even lower in the public eye, however. Voters nationwide are more pes-
simistic about the economy, saying 49-11% it is getting worse rather than improving, a precipitous drop from a Jul. 14 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University, in which voters said 32-23% the economy was worsening and Jan. 18, when voters said 36-20% it was improving. The economy is in a recession, 76 percent of voters say, and is not beginning to recover, voters say
68-28%. Voters trust Obama more than congressional Republicans to handle the economy 44-41%, but they say 46-42% Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would do a better job than Obama. They are split 43-41% on whether Obama or GOP candidate Rick Perry would be better on the economy.
HHS Awards $1 M For Public Health Infrastructure In Penna. US Dept. of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today $1,164,213 in grant funding, partly supported by the Affordable Care Act, to the Pennsylvania State Dept. of Health and to the City of Philadelphia Public Health Dept. to enhance public-health infrastructure and 25 AUGUST, 2011
strengthen its public-health workforce.
& Public Health Fund created by the Affordable Care Act.
The grants will fund key State and local public-health programs in Pennsylvania supported through the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Most of these grant dollars come from the Prevention
This is the second year of CDC’s five-year program known as the National Public Health Improvement Initiative Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes grant
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program. The NPHII funding allows health departments to improve the delivery and impact of the public health services they provide by improving how they track the performance of
their programs; fostering the identification, dissemination and adoption of public health’s best and most promising practices; building a network of performance-improvement managers across the country that share strategies for
improving the public-health system; and maximizing cohesion across states’ and communities’ public-health systems to ensure seamless and coordinated services for residents.
Casey Visits Pa. Troops In Afghanistan, Pushes Pakistan To Protect Them US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern & South & Central Asian Affairs, is just back from leading a weeklong congressional delegation trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan to press government officials in the region to implement a strategy to restrict the flow of ingredients used to make roadside bombs, the biggest killer of US troops in Afghanistan. The Senator also met with military leaders and Pennsylvania service members in Afghanistan to thank them for their service and discuss the situation on the ground in the fight to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a haven for terrorism. “I was deeply impressed by the commitment and sacrifice of our troops in Afghanistan,” said Casey. “Significant challenges remain, particularly in dealing with the corrosive effects of corruption and in fielding a fully functional Afghan national security force. I hope to see continued development of the Afghan forces and believe that significant improvements must be made in 4|
Afghan governance in order to alleviate the war’s burden on our troops, their families and American taxpayers.” “Success in Afghanistan will be extremely difficult without the cooperation of Pakistan,” Casey continued. “We need to see far more cooperation from the Pakistanis on critical issues including stemming the flow of calcium ammonium nitrate and other harmful ingredients into Afghanistan, where they are used in bombs to kill US troops. Pakistan has developed a plan to counter these bombs, but the proof will be in its implementation. It is important that we continue to rebuild this strategic partnership with Pakistan in order to support our fight against extremist groups and our mission in Afghanistan.” In Afghanistan, Senator Casey met with and thanked service members from Pennsylvania at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, a forward operating base in Kandahar province and the Regional Command East headquarters. In Pakistan, Senator Casey met with the President, Prime Minister, Army Chief of Staff, legislators THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
and other officials to press them to implement a plan to establish tight restrictions on ingredients found in bombs which kill and injure our troops in Afghanistan. The Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Casey calling for increased support to combat the flow of calcium ammonium nitrate.
New Program Will Teach Government IT Pennsylvania State government spends in excess of $1B annually on information technology. County and local governments collectively make similar investments each year. All governments are challenged by decreasing budgets and increasing demands for service. If properly planned and implemented, technology can help governments at all levels through these challenging times. The role of the IT executive within government is quickly changing and expanding. Just knowing how technology works is no longer sufficient for those responsible for 1 SEPTEMBER, 2011
leading IT organizations. Until now, there were few opportunities for public sector CIOs and other IT executives to learn how to get a seat at the executive table and how to provide meaningful advice to government officials and others. Harrisburg University of Science & Technology plans to change this through its new Government Technology Institute. A ribbon-cutting is being set for October, but the Institute is up and running now. It includes an Innovation Center as well as a Learning Center to support learning, IT innovation, entrepreneurship and intergovernmental collaboration. Public-sector IT executives are expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of areas such as communications, finance, human resources, policy-making, management practices and how to effectively connect the technology to the business needs. Additionally, beginning October 2011, a new certification program for government CIOs is being offered through the University to specifically address the unique challenges of public sector IT executive leadership. By joining forces with the national Consortium for State and Local Government Technology Leadership Development, the Government Technology Institute at Harrisburg University will offer the Certified Government Chief Information Officer program. The program will enable current and aspiring information technology executives working at a senior level in public service to earn a recognized credential, and develop the skills and 1 SEPTEMBER, 2011
knowledge to manage the demands of their complex role. To ensure relevance in its application, most of the instructors for the CGCIOT will be successful IT executives from public and private sector organizations. The 2011-2012 CGCIOT Inaugural Class at Harrisburg University will begin Oct. 13. Nominations will be open from now to Sep. 23. You can inquire at (717) 982-3772 or 717.901.5146 (office) or sinfanti@harrisburgU.edu.
making announcements regarding business developments all across our city. Today, we are recognizing how far we have come and how far we have to go in order to build a great 21st century workforce in Philadelphia.” The Mayor also touted progress made by many of the City’s agencies toward ensuring a sustainable and equitable business environment:
Mayor Holds PhillyStat Outcomes Meeting: City Is ‘Place Of Choice’
In FY2014, the Administration will resume Wage and Business Privilege Tax rate reductions to lower the overall tax burden on businesses and residents. The Administration is currently reforming the property-assessment system to ensure fair and equitable assessments.
Mayor Michael A. Nutter presided over the third televised PhillyStat Outcomes meeting, focused on his goal that Philadelphia become a place of choice for businesses and residents. Since the start of the recession and in spite of challenges such as poverty and low educational attainment, Philadelphia’s diverse economy has helped the city to manage economic downturns. The Mayor assembled key members of his senior Administration to discuss how the City can better create a business-friendly climate where entrepreneurs and companies are supported and can thrive.
The reorganized Office of Business Services has seen significant increases in its caseload and client satisfaction is recorded at 92% in the first quarter of FY2011. The Dept. of Licenses & Inspections has reduced the number of permits from 138 to 35 and has begun cross-training for inspectors so they are able to check for residential, commercial and fire code compliance at the same time. The Office of Economic Opportunity has increased minority, women, and disabled-owned business participation to 23% in FY2011, and the City continues to reach toward the target goal of 25%.
“Job creation and economic development are two of the most important means to spur prosperity and create a high quality of life for our citizens,” said the Mayor Nutter. “Throughout this month, I will be
At the PhillyStat meeting, the Mayor highlighted that Philadelphia must continue to build on its existing assets while also improving the business climate. The three key components of the strategy to
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encourage business growth and formation include: smart government, making City services and
transactions predictable and userfriendly; smart location, investing in the city’s infrastructure; and
smart people, investing in the city’s workforce.
Kevin Boyle: Methadone Clinic Would ‘Cripple’ Business State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Northeast) released the following statement following a meeting of the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment regarding a proposed methadone clinic in his District: “The Zoning Board of Adjustment will take three weeks to announce their decision on whether to revoke the permit for the proposed
methadone clinic in my district. Should this clinic become fully operational, it could serve as many as 600 to 700 patients daily. Healing Way must provide ample parking for its facility and this location does not allow for that. “The facility’s placement will cripple a crucial economic corridor of the city by placing an undue bur-
den on local business owners and residents. I will continue to join my neighbors and constituents in the fight against this clinic, and will continue to push the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health to reject the clinic’s application to be a narcotics treatment facility.”
A Happy Occasion
CONGRATULATIONS are in order to Connie Rogers, Democrat Ward Leader of the 41st, and Leo Dougherty, local businessman and former labor activist, who were married by Judge Adam Beloff. Congratulations also go to Judge Beloff, who has trimmed off 60 lb. and is a trim shadow of his former self.
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
1 SEPTEMBER, 2011