Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 187 (347)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

November 21, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Family Affairs

ENSURING A BOUNTIFUL Thanksgiving feast, State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson hands one of 10 turkeys to a citizen in a giveaway at his office on S. Broad Street today. All over town, politicians and other civic leaders are doing likewise this week.

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Dec. 1Reception honoring U.S. Senator Bob Casey with Special Guest, James Carville, 6:00pm at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia, 215 S. 16th Street.Friend: $250/person. Committee Person, Young Professional: $100/person. Kindly R.S.V.P. to 267601-4450 or rsvp@bobcasey.com.

Dec. 4Fundraiwser for Tracey Gordon at 1033 Christian St.. 5 to 5:30 p.m. For more Info call 215501-2197.

Dec. 7 — United Republican Club celebrates 131st birthday at Sheraton Society Hill, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

For information call 215-5452244.

Dec. 8State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas hosts “Weatherization and Energy Forum,” 6:00PM to 8:00PM, at Temple’s Dentistry Student Faculty Center located at 3340 N. Broad Street (Broad & Ontario). For more information contact Nat alie Davis at 215/560-3261.

Dec. 15Christmas Celelbration in 6300 Block Germantown Avenue, 6 to

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7 pm. Corporate and community donations are welcome! For more information to make a donation please contact: A. Neal at 215-438-1768 or A. Alexander at 215-844-9345.

Dec. 17Black Professionals Christmas Party at African American Museum, 8 pm. to 1 a.m. $50 includes Live Music, entertainment. For info call Earl Harvey at 267-244-3860.

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Casey Would Hold Pakistan Accountable For Roadside Bombs US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has introduced a provision that would prohibit some US security assistance from going to Pakistan until the US Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, certifies the Pakistani government is making significant efforts toward regulating and reducing the flow of materials used in roadside bombs, the biggest killer of troops in Afghanistan.

“Pennsylvania’s troops and their families have made extraordinary sacrifices in the interest of the safety and security of us all, so we have an obligation to make sure the Pakistani government is making a concerted effort to crack down on the flow ingredients used

in bombs that target our brave men and women,” said the Senator.

“This amendment would hold Pakistan accountable and make our troops safer as they carry out their mission.”

quires the Secretary of Defense to certify Pakistan is taking measures to prevent its transport into Afghanistan, where it is used in roadside bombs to target US troops.

The amendment to the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization bill would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to certify the Pakistani government has demonstrated a sustained commitment and is making significant efforts towards monitoring and regulating the sale, transport and use of calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer, the main ingredient in roadside bombs.

Casey has led the way in the Senate to increase international pressure to stop the flow of calcium ammonium nitrate and protect our troops. Senator Casey has pushed the Dept. of Defense to increase coordination and end unnecessary duplication in efforts to counter roadside bombs, or IEDs. Last August, Casey traveled to Pakistan to push officials to regulate bombmaking materials and prevent their flow into Afghanistan.

Additionally, the amendment re-

New DPW Office Targets Fraud, Waste And Abuse The Dept. of Public Welfare has created an Office of Program Integrity to better coordinate efforts to stop welfare fraud, Secretary of Public Welfare Gary D. Alexander announced this morning.

“Preventing waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars is a top priority, and it is time for a culture change to instill and infuse integrity into the department’s programs and services,” said Alexander. “We have an obligation to the truly

needy as well as to taxpayers.

There is simply no room for any waste, fraud or abuse.”

Since January, the department has reviewed all of its processes in order to enforce and tighten rules and regulations. It identified new opportunities for more efficient management reporting and deployed analytic tools to prevent wasteful and fraudulent payments across all welfare programs.

As a result of this work, more than 100,000 ineligible welfare cases – many involving clients who died or moved out of state – have been eliminated from the rolls, saving taxpayers more than $34 million.

Created using existing staff and resources, the new Office of Program Integrity will consolidate all department-wide efforts into one office, integrating fraud-detection efforts, implementing fraud prevention initiatives and ensuring

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD compliance, efficiency, and accountability.

The Office of Program Integrity is directly linked to the Office of Inspector General, the agency re-

sponsible for investigating welfare fraud. “The Office of Inspector General is glad to be a partner in this vital effort, recognizing that fraud prevention is as equally important to detection and prosecu-

tion,” said Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner.

For more information, visit DPW online at www.dpw.state.pa.us.

LWV Calls For More Transparency In Drawing New Districts The Pennsylvania League of Women Voters is asking the Commission charged with redrawing the state’s Senate and House district lines to make the process more open and transparent.

In testimony at a hearing Friday on a proposed new map for Pennsylvania Senate and House districts, the League will request all communications received regarding the new plan be posted on the Commission’s Pennsylvania Redistricting website. The League is also asking that any alternative plans that were considered by the Commission and rejected, and any plans submitted for consideration by the public also be posted.

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League President Olivia Thorne, said, “Redistricting goes to the very heart of our democratic process. Past history shows politicians draw maps that protect incumbents. We believe voters should have a meaningful choice when they go to the polls. It is important the public have access to the same information as Commission members when they draw district boundaries so citizens can judge if the maps are fair and put the interest of voters first.”

The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved a Preliminary Plan for state legislative districts on Oct. 31.

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Anyone can submit comments and file an exception to the plan up to midnight Nov. 30. The Commission then has another 30 days to make revisions if it wishes to do so, and approve a Final Plan. The Final Plan can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The boundaries of legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years in response to new population data collected during the Federal census. Representative districts must be substantially equal in population to comply with the constitutional one-per-one-vote requirement.

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Roebuck, Ross Talk Urban Issues

STATE REP. JIM ROEBUCK of W. Phila., Democratic Chairman of House Education Committee, had a chance to discuss informally some education issues and pending legislation with State Rep. Chris Ross of Chester Co., Republican Chairman of House Urban Affairs Committee, out at Cabrini College at Comcast Newsmakers studio there. Photo by Bonnie Squires

Jesse Jackson Visits Occupy Philly Jesse Jackson and members of the Black Clergy visited Occupy Philadelphia’s Interfaith Tent at noon today. Rev. Jackson has been visiting Occupy encampments throughout the US, including Occupy Philadelphia, where he stopped by both Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Asked how the Interfaith Working Group might reach out to welcome members of the Black clergy, Rev Jackson suggested a press conference at noon on Monday, promising to invite fellow clergy to attend.

Referring to the Occupy Movement as a continuation of the Civil Rights movement, he noted, “Occupy is a ‘Spirit’ that cannot be arrested, and that Occupy is not about a ‘place’ but a ‘space’….

That space between the rich and the poor, those who have homes and those who do not. It is not a battle with the Mayors or the police, for they, too, are part of the 99%. Rather, it is with the banks and the corporations.”

The Interfaith Working Group of Occupy Philadelphia grew out of Quaker worship being offered at the lower level of Dilworth Plaza

starting the first Sunday of the encampment. A “Quaker” tent was erected at 15th & JFK on Oct. 24 to become a peaceful presence and space of retreat and quickly became known as an “interfaith/sacred space.” Members of the IWG are of faith communities working for social and economic justice.

The group offers Quaker and Christian worship and learning opportunities at Dilworth Plaza six times a week, and welcomes other faiths to its speaker series and to offer additional worship services and pastoral care.

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Mayor’s Commission Has A Plan For Aging The Mayor’s Commission on Aging released its Strategic Plan on Friday. It will serve as an outline for the City of Philadelphia’s vision for a more-engaged, betterserved senior population.

The Strategic Plan seeks to utilize existing City services, residents, local and national nonprofit organizations, and public agencies to promote access to essential support services through education, outreach and advocacy.

In 2009, Mayor Michael A. Nutter commissioned former Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd-Eisenhower to complete a study on the state of older Philadelphians. This study served as the basis for the MCOA’s strategic planning process, which launched in April 2010. The plan-

ning process identified priorities and broad goals to serve as the blueprint for future City policy and initiatives on behalf of elder Philadelphians. The Strategic Plan will build on existing City services and initiatives.

“Older Philadelphians, like many elderly Americans, are worried about stability. Our seniors are vital to the culture and development of our neighborhoods,” said the Mayor. “This Administration believes the City of Philadelphia has a duty to support, serve and connect with our seniors. The Mayor’s Commission on Aging’s Strategic Plan is a great start to making Philadelphia a more agefriendly city.”

much time and effort was put into this plan by the MCOA Board and staff. When fully implemented, the Mayor’s Commission on Aging will have done a great service for our senior community.”

“Envisioning an age-friendly Philadelphia will continue to move our City forward to a strong future, keeping all residents engaged and safe. The work of the Mayor’s Commission on Aging is valuable to create a dynamic place where the knowledge across all sectors and ages is part of the civic dialogue,” said Lydia Hernandez Velez, deputy managing director, Mayor’s Commission on Aging. “I am excited and focused on the work that has been set out by the Strategic Plan.”

City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown said, “Clearly,

Chenault Gives Medal – To Her New Boss

RENEE CHENAULT-FATTAH, Renee Chenault-Fattah, NBC10 anchor, served as Mistress of Ceremonies for PPRA Gold Medal Award luncheon, honoring David L. Cohen. She pointed out now Comcast has purchased NBC Universal, she technically works for Cohen! Photo by Bonnie Squires 6|

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Lomax Takes Eddy Award

PHILANTHROPIST Dr. Walter Lomax received Eddy Award from Phila. Education Fund at ceremony at College of Physicians last week for his contributions to education. Photo by Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography

Zarwin Baum Joins New Sheriff’s Turley Posse In the spirit of giving, Philadelphia law firm Zarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Schaer, Toddy, PC partners with Sheriff-Elect Jewell Williams to host a turkey dinner giveaway for families in N. Phila.

The Zarwin Baum team, their family members and Williams will ease the financial burden of many during these challenging economic

times and ensure that needy families in our community have an opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving.

“Zarwin Baum takes great pride in serving the communities in which we do business, whether our team is packaging food at Philabundance or collecting money for one

of our monthly charities,” says managing shareholder Mitchell S. Kaplan. “Hunger is a widespread and growing problem exacerbated by the recession and a high unemployment rate. Partnering with Sheriff-Elect Jewell Williams, we wanted to ensure that some families would not go without a meal this Thanksgiving holiday.”

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Turkeys Flock To ‘Earthquake’s’ Run For Needy Families

TURKEYS ARE FLYING into Paul “Earthquake” Moore’s hands as he prepares for his annual turkey giveaway to needy Philadelphians. Side by side with District Council 33 President Pete Matthews and Phila. Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Johnson, Moore jogged down Woodland Avenue Saturday.

It is 11th year for Moore’s jog-a-thon to reduce hunger at Thanksgiving. This year’s effort gets a major boost from Matthews, who has promised to donate more than 100 turkeys. Other donors are Pasco, Inc.; Democrat Party Chairman Bob Brady; and Novacare. Earthquake is shooting for 200 turkeys.

EPA Awards 45 Universities with Grants to Help Design Sustainable Technologies Drexel University students to design project for the environment, economy PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 18, 2011) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Phase I grants for the 2011-2012 school year. A team from Drexel University in Philadelphia is one 8|

of 45 teams of college and university students across the country that won funding to design creative solutions to sustainability challenges in the developed and developing world.

The Drexel students will use their $15,000 P3 grant for a waste-tofuel project, examining a specific use of waste and leachate from municipal landfills to produce fuel-grade oil. Their project aims to show how a municipal landfill

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facility can use its waste byproducts to produce its own fuel. Additional potential benefits include the creation of new jobs, a reduction of the facility’s dependence on fossil fuels, and a reduction in the cost and energy required to ship leachate off site for treatment.

“I commend Drexel’s team of students for their ambition and interest in exploring the potential beneficial use of municipal waste to help meet energy needs and spur new jobs,” said Shawn M.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD Garvin, EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “EPA’s P3 grant to these students is enabling our future leaders to play an important role in designing sustainable solutions that support the growth and stability of our nation’s future.”

EPA’s P3 grants challenge students, working together on interdisciplinary teams, to design and build sustainable technologies that improve quality of life, promote economic development and protect the environment. The annual com-

petition begins with Phase I grant awards of $15,000 to student teams that then work on projects in a range of categories including water, energy, agriculture, built environment, and materials and chemicals.

After working on the project for eight months, the teams will bring their designs to the 8th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C around Earth Day. At the expo, the projects will be judged by a panel of experts. A few teams

will be selected for Phase II grants up to $90,000 for students to improve their designs, implement them in the field, or move them to the marketplace.

Applications are being accepted through Dec. 22, 2011, for the next round of Phase I awards for the 2012-2013 school year. In addition to the categories above, teams can also propose innovative ideas for green infrastructure and designing clean cookstoves.

FOW Works To Warm Up Valley Green

F.O.W.’S STRUCTURES CREW erected ridge beams and Y-braces for Valley Green Warming Shed on Nov. 17.

Pictured here from left are Merritt Rhoad, Crew Leaders Buzz Wemple and Mike Souders, Ron Kanter and Jeff Hayes.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD Volunteers from the Friends of the Wissahickon Structures Crew are making great progress with the reconstruction of the Warming Shed at Valley Green, which burned down in October 2010 due to an electrical fire during a rainstorm.

Crew Leader Mike Souders esti-

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mates that the shed will be finished by the spring of 2012.

The Pennsylvania Equine Council and FOW organized the “Ride to Rebuild” in November 2010 that raised over $8,000 toward the estimated construction cost of $20,000. Members from Courtesy

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Stable in Roxborough, Monastery Stable in Mount Airy, and Northwestern Stable in Chestnut Hill all participated in the fundraising effort, as well as riders from New Jersey, Harrisburg and York.