Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 136 (296)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

September 9, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

We Remember

PHILADELPHIANS, like all Americans, will note 10th anniversary of Sep. 11 attack this Sunday. A day-long series of commemorations will occur at National Constitution Center. See story page 3.

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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar Sep. 15Senior Fair sponsored by State Rep. Brendan F. Boyle at Klein JCC, 1100 Jamison Ave., 11 a.m.2 p.m. For info (215) 342-1700.

Sep. 15President John McNesby and FOP Lodge 5 host City Council candidates at 1336 Spring Garden St., 5:30 p.m. By invitation.

Sep. 15Mario Lanza Institute & Museum will be beneficiary of 3-tenor concert featuring Viktor Antipenko, Luigi Boccia and Maurice El Zein at Settlement Music Sch., 416 Queen St., 7 p.m. Ticket $25. For info (215) 238-9691.

Sep. 1611th Ward Fish Fry at Lou & Choo’s, 21st & Hunting Pk. Ave., 5-9 p.m. Tickets $10. For info V. Tutie Edwards (215) 228-3134.

Sep. 16Fundraiser for Bill Rubin, Democrat candidate for City Council 10th Dist., at Ashburner Tavern, 8400 Torresdale Ave., 5-8 p.m.

Tickets $25. For info Ed McMullin (215) 510-0444.

Sep. 17Ward Leader John Sabatina hosts Fall Picnic, in conjunction with Democrat Wards 35, 53, 55, and 63 at Burholme Pk., Central Ave., from 1:30 p.m. $35 donation.

Sep. 17Autism Beef & Beer Fundraiser at EOM Club, 138 Moore St., 7-11 p.m. 50/50 raffles, silent auction.

Tickets $30. Call Mina Deever (215) 427-1133 or email cjdever@aol.com.

Sep. 18Korean Folk Festival for Children at John Russell Field, 7420 Penrose Ave., Elkins Pk., Pa. 1-5 p.m.

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Free. For info (215) 884-8443.

Sep. 18Northeast High School 62nd Reunion Brunch for January/June 49 classes brunch at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Trevose, from 10 a.m. to 2 .m. For info call Jay Silver at 215698-1556 or Phil Klear at 856985-5811.

Sep. 20Republican S. Jersey Coalition hosts candidates forum Sep. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at N.E. Sheraton, 9461 Roosevelt Blvd. Confirmed candidates include Karen Brown for Mayor, Al Schmidt for City Commissioner and David Oh for Council at Large. Free for members and $20 for “e-team and nonmembers”. For info (610) 667-1263.

Sep. 24Fundraiser for Frank Talent at World Gym, Haldeman Ave. & Roosevelt Blvd., 7:30-9 p.m.

Wrestling matches. Meet Frank himself. Donation $25. For info Marvin Barrish (215) 342-7020.

Sep. 25Vendemmia Wine & Food Festival, Girard Park, 21st & Porter Sts., 2-7 p.m. supporting Students of Italian heritage in S. Phila. For info www.vendemmifoundation.org.

Sep. 26Spirit of Life Award Reception hosted by Tri State Labor & Mgmt. Council honor AFL-CIO President Richard W. Bloomingdale and Edward J. Radetich, Jr., CPA and Kyler Award honoree Penna. AFT President Ted Kirsch at Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. & Dock St., 6-9 p.m.

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Day Of Remembrance Brings Us Together At Constitution Ctr. On 9/11 On the 10th anniversary of the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks, the National Constitution Center will unite with a coalition of leaders from the City of Philadelphia, the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, and other community groups for a city-wide commemoration that fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity across lines of religious, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

The Center will open early at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sep. 11, and admission will be free to first responders (fire, police and emergency medical personnel).

A public commemoration on Independence Mall led by Mayor Michael Nutter and National Constitution Center President & CEO David Eisner begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Center’s 9/11 commemoration activities and exhibitions include “Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America.” It costs $15 for adults, $14 for seniors (ages 65 and up) and students, and $11 for children (ages 4-12). Active military personnel and children ages 3 and under are free.

Group rates also are available.

Created by the International Spy Museum, this exhibit dramatically illustrates the challenge of securing our nation without compromising the civil liberties upon which it was founded. Visitors will have the 25 AUGUST, 2011

chance to see 9/11 artifacts, including fragments of the planes that hit the World Trade Center, first responder rescue badges, a remnant of a New York City police car that was recovered from the Fresh Kills Landfill, a bent 78thfloor stairwell sign from one of the Twin Towers, and a copy of the 9/11 Commission Report.

“9/11: A Day in the Life of a People”, which will be shown at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the F.M. Kirby Auditorium, written by Charles Dumas, tells the story of 9/11 from the perspective of 12 ordinary people, compiled from actual narratives and fictionalized accounts. The play takes place just before, during, and 10 years after the attack on the World Trade Center.

Throughout the day, visitors can participate in the 20-minute, interactive program, “Memorials: How a Nation Remembers.” This special program explores how Americans remember people or events from our history, and teaches students about the history of our nation’s most interesting memorials, including Little Bighorn, the U.S.S. Arizona and the Lincoln Memorial.

The National Constitution Center, Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, and the City of Philadelphia, have jointly developed a unifying THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

pledge that will be disseminated to the public through a variety of formats. The goal is to encourage citizens from all walks of life – from elementary-school students to prominent Philadelphians – to share their signatures, hopes, prayers and commitments. Visitors to the Center on 9/11 are invited to add their thoughts and signatures to a life-size version of the pledge, which will be located in the Grand Hall Lobby. An online version can be signed at Phillyuniteson911.org.

Pa.’s Senators Respond To Presidential Speech US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) released the following statement after President Obama’s speech to tonight’s joint session of Congress: “Tonight I am traveling to Eastern Pennsylvania, which faces a grave threat from rain and floods. This is a tragic reminder that we are all in this together. It is time to work together in the interest of Pennsylvania and the nation to confront our shared challenges, create jobs and get the economy moving.

“As I travel around Pennsylvania, job creation and economic security have been and continue to be the top issues. The truth is we need more action on concrete ideas to put people back to work and less partisan rhetoric.

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“President Obama has put a number of ideas on the table tonight. I agree with some, I disagree with others and I have ideas of my own that I will continue to push.

“I have proposed a job creation tax cut to help small businesses hire new employees, a bipartisan lifesciences tax credit to create jobs in one of the leading sectors in the Pennsylvania economy and I have repeatedly called for the Administration to crack down on China’s currency manipulation that puts Pennsylvania workers at a disadvantage and is stifling Pennsylvania manufacturing.

“Our focus on trade should be on leveling the playing field for US workers, not on shipping Pennsylvania manufacturing jobs overseas.

Instead of pushing new NAFTA-

style trade deals, the Administration should enforce existing trade laws and protect Pennsylvania workers.

“I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats toward bipartisan consensus on common-sense solutions that will move our economy and the nation forward together.”

Casey’s Republican counterpart, Sen. Pat Toomey, had terser thoughts after the speech.

“As a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficits reduction, I was disappointed with President Obama’s speech,” Toomey said.

“Right now, we need to be focused

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on the joint goals of reducing our deficits and creating jobs, but tonight I heard the President call for hundreds of billions of dollars in increased spending. President Obama has tried massive stimulus spending and it hasn’t worked; most of tonight’s speech appears to be more of the same.”

“Furthermore, the President claimed that everything in his bill is paid for, but instead of specifying how he intends to pay for his proposals, he attempted to pass the buck to the Select Committee. The Select Committee has a short period of time to tackle our overspending and deficit problems, and the bulk of the President’s proposals tonight would move us in the wrong direction.”

Fattah Vows FEMA Will Get Disaster Resources Congressman Chaka Fattah (DPhila.), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued this statement after meeting yesterday with W. Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Capitol Hill: “I met this morning with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, along with Congressman Meehan and about 40 other House colleagues from Pennsylvania and five other affected states, for a briefing on FEMA’s response – and its urgent needs – following Hurricane Irene and additional storms. I spoke with the Administrator about the severe flooding and infrastructure damage

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9 SEPTEMBER, 2011

in Philadelphia from the overnight downpour that has hit our saturated watershed, and he is well aware of that situation.

“FEMA has been doing an excellent job. But it requires additional resources to respond to this series of storms and to replenish its reserves for the next unanticipated emergency.

“It is the clear responsibility of the Congress, beyond politics, to provide the disaster relief resources required by FEMA to meet the critical needs of our citizens, businesses and communities in the wake of these storms. I told the Administrator that this is the least that Americans expect when disaster strikes.

“I will continue to work with Congressman Brady, Congresswoman Schwartz and others in our hardhit region on immediate and appropriate disaster relief efforts. On the national scale, I assured Administrator Fugate we are absolutely going to get FEMA the resources that it needs.”

Mayor, CHOP Celebrate Expansion Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Dr. Steven Altschuler, CEO of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, elected officials, and representatives from Philadelphia’s business community celebrated the development of CHOP’s Ambulatory Care Center. Currently under excavation, the 500,000-squarefoot development will create more than 700 jobs comprised of direct and indirect construction jobs and is a component of CHOP’s ongoing $2.6 billion expansion of their campus since 2002.

“CHOP is an internationally renowned pediatric hospital that has been directly serving Philadelphia’s children and improving their quality of life for more than a century,” said the Mayor.

“CHOP’s expansion not only brings jobs to skilled Philadelphians, but it will also allow CHOP to continue its life-saving research.

This expansion will help to transform University City as an international destination for families seeking the best medical care available and to attract the best doctors and researchers from around the world.”

CEO, said, “The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s capital expansion is one of the largest hospital projects of its kind in any city in America, and is anticipated to create significant construction-related jobs, additional economic and community benefit to the City of Philadelphia, and most important – a higher level of care for children.

During the event, Livingston White, a contractor and Philadelphia resident, discussed working on CHOP’s expansion projects since 2000, “I feel very fortunate and thankful to have maintained employment during a time with so much economic pressure on society and unemployment at an alltime high,” he said.

“I am proud to announce an additional $2 billion of investment in the City of Philadelphia through 2017. We will continue to drive innovation through the care we deliver and the research we do.

These capital investments, and our employees, will continue to secure CHOP’s position as the nation’s top ranked children’s hospital.”

The City of Philadelphia, which possesses a strong life-sciences sector, graduates one of every five physicians in the United States.

One out of every six jobs and 15% of all economic activity in the Greater Philadelphia region can be traced to this sector.

The newly opened Ruth & Tristram Colket, Jr. Translational Research Building, which overlooks the expansion site, is a $500 million facility, which houses pediatric research labs for cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, blindness and hemophilia. This facility was dedicated in 2010 and has allowed CHOP to expand its research innovation to discover and lead the next generation of treatments.

With 13,000 employees, CHOP is Pennsylvania’s 21st largest employer and Philadelphia’s 5th largest employer. The Hospital’s expansion is ranked among the largest of its type in the United States. The Hospital has more than one million patient encounters each year, and is growing thanks in part to a new international medicine program that attracts children and their families from over 26 countries.

Dr. Steven Altschuler, CHOP’s 9 SEPTEMBER, 2011

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Green, Sánchez Unveil Business-Privilege Tax Reform City Council Members Bill Green and Maria Quiñones Sánchez introduced new legislation yesterday providing significant tax relief for Philadelphia-based and small businesses, continuing their efforts to reform Philadelphia’s businessprivilege tax.

“For three years, we have been working to further the goals of tax fairness; leveling the playing field for local businesses, including manufacturers; small business tax relief; and generating economic growth by removing some tax-related disincentives to locating and expanding a business in the City,” Sánchez explained. “This legislation is part and parcel of that ongoing work and is as close to a compromise as we were able to come with the Administration and in discussions with stakeholder groups, including the Chambers of Commerce.”

The legislation contains two main parts: (1) an exemption from the gross-receipts and net-income parts of the BPT for the first $100K of receipts of all businesses; and (2) putting in place “single sales factor apportionment,” meaning Philadelphia businesses would pay the high rate (6.45%) net income tax only on income derived from sales in Philadelphia.

“This legislation proposes far more and far more targeted business-tax reduction than is currently in the Five-Year Plan,” 6|

Green remarked. “By focusing tax relief on Philadelphia businesses and small businesses – which are the heart of our local economy – this legislation is an important step on the path toward broader BPT reform, which we continue to believe is essential for removing the ‘profitability penalty’ businesses now face for locating in the City.”

Further discussing the legislation, Sánchez noted the importance of extending the $100K exemption to both the gross receipts and the net income prongs of the BPT: “One of the key findings from our analysis of BPT data over the past three years is that Philadelphia’s small businesses pay a disproportionately high share of the net income tax. Providing an exemption just on the gross receipts tax would do little to help these businesses, which we know are especially important to economic growth in post-recession periods.”

Regarding “single sales factor apportionment,” Green explained the current apportionment structure – whereby Philadelphia businesses with property and employees in the City pay net income tax on a portion of their non-City sales – is particularly burdensome for the City’s exporting industries, including manufacturing. “With the distressing news this week from Sunoco, this change, which helps level the playing field for Philadelphia businesses, gains ever more urgency. We must take THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

bold action to at once maintain and grow our manufacturing sector and its family-sustaining jobs.”

While the legislation continues planned gradual reductions in the net income tax, Green and Sánchez remain committed to complete elimination of this tax.

The legislation introduced today will provide over $50 million per year of tax relief targeted toward Philadelphia-based and small businesses, they claimed.

Nutter Promotes A Literate City Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy celebrated International Literacy Day by announcing their vision to make Philadelphia one of the country’s most-literate cities by 2016 by connecting adults directly to literacy services. More than 100 representatives of nearly 50 literacy-providing organizations — including service organizations, churches, postsecondary education, community-based agencies, unions, City agencies and volunteers — attended the event to learn about the Commission’s plans and to join an alliance in support of its vision.

“Philadelphia is in crisis: 550,000 adults do not have the literacy skills to apply for a job,” said Nutter. “One year ago, when I announced the Mayor’s Commission 9 SEPTEMBER, 2011

on Literacy and a new Executive Director for the Commission, I confirmed fighting this crisis is a priority for our Administration.

Mayor Nutter and E. Steven Collins, chair of The Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, detailed major plans and discussed their commitment to integrating workforce development with adult literacy throughout the city. The goal of the initiatives is to help unemployed and underemployed Philadelphians obtain jobs, advance in family-sustaining careers, and build the economic vitality of the city.

The plans include an online referral system that will allow real-time matching of adult learners to classes, tutors, testing and instruction. This system will be designed and launched within the year.

The Commission aims to work in partnership with neighborhoodbased organizations, such as library branches, recreation centers

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and faith-based institutions.

It will offer online learning and practice on computers in public computing centers like those created by the Freedom Rings Partnership, Free Library branches and Recreation Centers throughout the city. Research is also being carried out on smart-phone instruction.

The project hopes to recruit a new type of volunteer, Career Sponsors, drawn from the ranks of successful adult learners who will work with others in their neighborhoods to help them.

Collins reported how $1 million in City funds — which has been allocated for adult literacy for the first time in the City’s history — will be used to support and enhance the work of literacy and workforce organizations, agencies, and volunteers. Collins said the Mayor’s Commission has defined literacy as much more than reading and writing. It includes numeracy, digital literacy, critical thinking, prob-

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lem solving and the work ethic necessary for success on the job.

Dr. Judith Rényi, who was appointed as the Commission’s Executive Director last fall, spoke about the work that has already begun to integrate workforce development with literacy in Philadelphia, “Today, we have gathered leaders and staff from more than 50 literacy service provider agencies from every corner of Philadelphia to form a new, comprehensive alliance for workforce literacy. We pledge to help every adult in Philadelphia get on a pathway to the learning they need to get a good job.”

Siobhan A. Reardon, president and director of the Free Library, discussed the Library’s role in advancing literacy and fostering workforce development in the region. Carla Gaskin, a member of the Commission and employee of the Free Library, discussed her personal experience as an adult learner.

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Comcast, Nutter Team Up In Vast Broadband Adoption Program

This photo is from 9/6.

Brian Roberts greets a student first day of school at Kipp Charter School, morning before launch event. He David Cohen passed out Internet Essentials materials so all eligible families learn about it.

FROM LEFT: Brian Roberts, Comcast Chairman & CEO, Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael Nutter, Ron Tomalis, Penna.’s Secretary of Education, and David Cohen, Comcast Executive VP, launch ambitious program to spread internet literacy throughout city.

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9 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Comcast Corp. Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter have launched Internet Essentials, a program which provides families in Philadelphia with children who are eligible to receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program with lowcost Internet service, affordable computers and digital literacy training. The goal of Internet Essentials is to help close the digital divide and ensure more Americans benefit from all the Internet has to offer.

The program addresses what research has identified as the three primary barriers to broadband adoption – 1) a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful; 2) the cost of a home computer; and 3) the cost of internet service.

“The launch of Internet Essentials across the United States and in Philadelphia is one of the most important community projects that I have ever been involved with at Comcast,” said Roberts. “There is no doubt the internet is a great equalizer and life-changing technology and being connected to the Internet is critically important to society, our youth and our future.

This program can help low-income American families get online so they can take advantage of all the internet has to offer.”

“Digital literacy is a defining issue of our time,” said Nutter. “Internet and computer access contribute to the education, career progression and innovation of Philadelphia’s citizens. I would like to thank Comcast for their dedication to narrowing the digital divide in our 9 SEPTEMBER, 2011

city. The Internet Essentials program provides an invaluable service to the children and families who will benefit the most from affordable Internet access.”

According to David L. Cohen, Comcast executive VP, “Internet Essentials helps level the playing field for low-income families by connecting students online with their teachers and their schools’ educational resources. The program will enable parents to receive digital literacy training so they can do things like apply for jobs online or use the internet to learn more about healthcare and government services available where they live.”

At the launch event at the Salvation Army Kroc Community Center in Nicetown, Roberts, Cohen and Nutter were joined by School District of Philadelphia Acting Superintendent and Chief Executive Dr. Leroy David Nunery II, school officials, city leaders and community organizations.

Comcast’s effort to bridge the digital divide for Philadelphia students is extremely encouraging,” said Dr. Nunery. “Now more than ever, access to assignments, grades and other classroom information is offered online and those who can tap into home computers and the Web are at a distinct advantage.

We thank Comcast for making a difference in many students’ lives.”

Internet Essentials participants will receive residential Internet service for $9.95 a month + applicable taxes; no price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees; a voucher to purchase THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

a low-cost computer for $149.99 + tax; and access to free digital-literacy training in print, online and in person.

Additional benefits include the Norton™ Security Suite ($160 value) for comprehensive online security protection at no additional cost.

A household is eligible to participate in the Internet Essentials program if it meets all of the following criteria: • Is located where Comcast offers Internet service; • Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free school lunch under the NSLP; • Has not subscribed to Comcast internet service within the last 90 days; • Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment.

Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program for at least three years, through the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies during this three-year period will remain eligible for Internet Essentials provided a child eligible for a free lunch remains living in the household.

For general information about Internet Essentials, visit www.internetessentials.com for English or www.internetbasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at www.internetessentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1 (855) 8468376 or, for Spanish, 1 (855) 7656995. |

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Brian Sims Announces Candidacy In 182nd House Dist.

Brian Sims today formally announced his candidacy yesterday to represent Philadelphia’s 182nd State House Dist. in Center City and South Philadelphia.

“I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for the citizens of our great city,” Sims said. “Now I am ready to step up and fight for our communities as a public servant.”

Sims said his historic, communitybased campaign will be dedicated to making Philadelphia safer, strengthening and protecting public education, expanding civil rights for all Pennsylvanians, preserving our environment while investing in alternative energy, creating jobs and cleaning up Harrisburg.

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“I look forward to a great campaign, focused on ensuring the State continues to support the progress and growth our District and City have seen over the last decade,” Sims added. A national and local voice for legal and civilrights issues, the Center City attorney recently stepped down from a two-year term as the board president of Equality Pennsylvania.

Sims was the Staff Counsel for Policy & Planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association from 200810, worked to protect the rights of disabled Philadelphians as an attorney for Seltzer & Associates, P.C. from 2005-08, and served as senior law clerk at the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003.

In 2010 he was named one of the 40 Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40 in the nation by the National

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

LGBT Bar Association/ABA, is a past Chairman of the Gay & Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia, and is a past member of the National Campaign Board of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

In 2000, the son of two retired Army lieutenant colonels came out to his college football team after leading them to the Division II National Championship game as their captain. He remains the only former NCAA football captain to have ever come out, and is one of the most notable collegiate athletes to do so in any sport.

Sims holds a BS from Bloomsburg University in business administration and a JD in international & comparative law from Michigan State University College of Law.

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