Vol. II No. 199 (359)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
December 13, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
Feather In SRC’s Cap
IT’S OFFICIAL: Gov. Tom Corbett confirmed Phila.’s roving executive Feather O. Houstoun for a seat on School Reform Commission yesterday. Mayor’s comments page 5
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Dec. 15Berean Institute Christmas Open House at 1901 W. Girard Ave., 5-9 p.m. For info (215) 763-4833. Dec. 15Christmas Celebration in 6300 block Germantown Ave., 6-7 p.m. Corporate and community donations welcome! For more info, to make a donation, A. Neal (215) 438-1768 or A. Alexander (215) 844-9345. Dec. 15Join Stephanie Singer for an evening of political comedy at “This Is the Week that Is”, 1812 Productions’ yearly political satire. Tickets, $20, cover cost of theater ticket, plus a donation of any size (from $1 up to the legal individual maximum of $2,600). For info John Barber (484) 469-0633. Dec. 17Volunteers needed to help wrap gifts for Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell’s Christmas Holiday Party for Homeless. Join her in City Hall Rm. 401, 9 a.m. Call to sign up (215) 686-3418. Dec. 17Phila. Federation of Young Republicans hosts Christmas Party at Liberties, 705 N. 2nd St., 3-7 p.m. Tickets $20. Dec. 17Committee to Elect Brett Mandel hosts Auld Lang Syne cocktail reception at 2303 Lombard St., 6-8 p.m. Contributions $100 to $1,000. For info www.brettmandel.com. Dec. 17Black Professionals Christmas Party at African American Museum, 7th & Arch Sts., 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $50 includes live music, entertainment. For info Earl Harvey (267) 244-3860.
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Dec. 17N.W. Futures PAC Christmas Bash at 5547 Germantown Ave., 9 p.m.1 a.m. $20. BYOB. For info Derek S. Green, Esq., (216) 205-4988. Dec. 20Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell hosts City’s homeless at her annual Christmas Party at Pennsylvania Convention Ctr., 3-7 p.m. Dec. 29Friends of Council Majority Leader-Elect Curtis Jones hosts “Black Out Party” at 4130 Main St., next to Manayunk Brewery, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dress in black. VIP Cocktail 6-8 p.m. $1,000 host, $500 sponsor, $250 VIP, $50 general admission, guest. For info Dorian Stanley (732) 642-2163. Dec. 30Kwanzaa Dinner & Show fundraiser to send 50 students to Africa at Imhotep Charter HS, 6201 N. 21st St.,7-11 p.m. Tickets $40; seniors and children under 12, $30. For info Maisha Sullivan (215) 385-0214. Jan. 2Inaugural celebration for Jewell Williams, Sheriff of Phila., at Horizons Rooftop Ballrm., Sheraton Hotel, 17th & Race Sts. Attire: boots and denim, and party gear. RSVP JewellWilliams2011@gmail.com. Jan. 3- S. Phila. Tea Party meeting at Prudential Savings Bank, entrance from parking lot in rear, 1834 Oregon Ave., 7 p.m. Guest speaker. All invited. Apr. 262012 Centennial Pk. Celebration honoring Joseph Manko, Ryan Howard and Vanguard at Phila. Horticultural Ctr., Montgomery Ave. & N. Horticultural Dr., 6 p.m. For tickets, etc. Arthur (215) 9889341.
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Take a Ride On A Holly Jolly SEPTA Trolley Forget “Deck the Halls” — at SEPTA it’s “Deck the Trolleys” with twinkling lights, wreaths and bright ornaments.
SEPTA assistant general manager for customer service and advocacy. “After a long day at work or returning home from the hustle and bustle of shopping, customers always have During the holiday season, passento smile when they see the decogers will be transported to a winter rated trolleys pulling into the stop.” wonderland on one of several festive trolleys adorned by the Author- Operators use their own decoraity’s operators. tions and trim their trolleys on their own time, all to make the season “This is one way our operators brighter for their passengers. In adspread holiday cheer along their dition to the lights, trees and garroutes,” said Kim Scott Heinle, land, holiday tunes can be heard
throughout the cars. Passengers can look for the jolly trolleys on the following routes: Operator Gary Mason’s Route 10, operating Tuesday through Saturday; Operator Wendolus Hart’s Route 11, 13, 34 or 36, operating Monday through Saturday; Car #120 on Routes 101 and 102 (Media/Sharon Hill), operating Monday through Saturday and Norristown High Speed Line.
Casey: Grant Will Speed 90,000 Commuters US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) reports the US Dept. of Transportation has awarded a $10 million grant for the City of Philadelphia’s “IMPaCT Philadelphia – Improving Mobility for Pedestrians, Cars and Transit” program. The program aims to improve the commutes of over 90,000 drivers, transit riders and pedestrians. “This project will have a significant positive impact on the everyday lives of thousands of Philadelphians,” said the Senator. “By prioritizing transit vehicles and making improvements to traffic lights and
pedestrian crossings, the IMPaCT Philadelphia program will make Philadelphia an even more attractive place to live and work.”
safely, by replacing more than 40year-old traffic signals and controllers with the latest technology. I’d like to thank Sen. Casey, Congresswoman Schwartz and the en“I am thrilled US DOT has again tire Philadelphia delegation for recognized Philadelphia is a smart helping secure this grant.” place to invest competitive grant dollars in a cost-effective and sus- The grant is available through tainable project,” said Philadelphia DOT’s Transportation Investment Mayor Michael A. Nutter. Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER III) grant program, which “US DOT, the Streets Department, funds transportation projects that PennDOT and SEPTA will partner will create jobs and have a signifito make a $20+ million investment cant impact on the nation, a region to help tens of thousands of drivers, or a metropolitan area. transit riders and pedestrians get where need to go faster and more
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Hughes Presses For Transit Repair Funds State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-W. Phila.) and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) General Mgr. Joseph M. Casey called for immediate action to address the agency’s transportation needs and repair infrastructure. At a news conference at SEPTA’s East Falls Station yesterday, Hughes said the General Assembly should act quickly because repairing infrastructure not only prevents catastrophes, but also creates jobs.
sity that focused on the developing crisis in infrastructure funding. He said that he is speaking out on this issue because “this is serious stuff’ and “no one wants to see a bridge collapse like in Minnesota.” Hughes and Casey pointed to the East Falls Station to highlight the type of repairs that are not being completed because of the lack of funding. Hughes is calling on Gov. Tom Corbett to move transportation funding to the top of his issue priority list.
bridge at a lower cost or let it crumble and be forced to replace this bridge and bridges like this at a significantly higher cost.” The East Falls Station serves the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line and has been in service since the early 1900s. Plans call for a $10 million upgrade to include a new station building, high-level platforms, renovated pedestrian tunnel and improvements to parking, landscaping and stormwater management.
Hughes recently hosted an Infrastructure Summit at Temple Univer- Casey said, “We can rehabilitate this Hughes said the Marcellus Shale LIVE AUCTIONS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 5PM (Preview 3PM) LIVE AUCTIONS EVERY SATURDAY AT 11AM (Preview 9AM) LIVE INTERNET AUCTION EVERY SATURDAY AT 4PM AT:
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legislation now before the House and Senate, if amended, would provide a responsible way to significantly increase funding for important projects like the East Falls Station. He said if his shale amendment were included in the final legislative product by 2014, the total funds available for infrastructure work would nearly double. SEPTA would be in line to receive an additional $100 million in bond-funded investment to do rehabilitation work within Philadelphia alone, the Senator said. “The news conference today sends a message to the public of the issues we are facing because we are in need of a solution,” Hughes said. “We are facing a crisis and must
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raise the level of attention and sense made. of urgency. According to the West Philadelphia “Let’s work together and let’s put lawmaker who serves as DemoPennsylvanians back to work.” cratic Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, 22.8 million According the Federal Transit Advehicles cross deficient bridges in ministration, SEPTA’s backlog of Pennsylvania on an average day. He maintenance totals $4.2 billion. But said Pennsylvania has more bridges Hughes said the problem isn’t just a structurally deficient bridges than Philadelphia regional issue. He said any other state. Hughes said 26.5% the infrastructure problem extends of the state’s bridges are deficient statewide and could spur job creand 17% are obsolete. There are ation if proper investments are 5,906 bridges that need attention.
Hughes called on Corbett to provide leadership on transportation and move on the recommendations made by his own task force. Corbett’s transportation task force reported an immediate need of $3.5 billion in funding. It also recommended uncapping the Oil Franchise Tax and increasing license and registration fees to generate more revenue.
Mayor Hails Houstoun’s Appointment To SRC Mayor Michael A. Nutter issued the following statement after the Pennsylvania Senate yesterday unanimously confirmed Feather O. Houstoun to serve on the School Reform Commission. Gov. Tom Corbett nominated Houstoun.’ “Feather Houstoun is one of the most accomplished public servants in the Commonwealth, and I am very excited that she will be em-
ploying her considerable talents on behalf of the school children of our great city,” Nutter said. “The School Reform Commission now has its full complement, and I look forward to working with Feather and all of the members of the SRC. I know that the SRC expects to begin the serious work of recruiting a permanent Superintendent and charting a course toward an educational system that provides a complete educa-
tion for all students, a result that will benefit our entire city.” Houstoun has a long career of nonprofit leadership. Last year she stepped down after a five-year stint as head of the William Penn Foundation. She has also served as Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare secretary and New Jersey State Treasurer.
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Equal Benefits Bill Goes Into Law Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed Bill No. 110057, which requires certain City service contractors to offer the same benefits to the life partners of their employees as are offered to the spouses of married employees. Bill No. 110057, or the Equal Benefits Bill, will take effect Jul. 1, 2012. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown; Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations; and Gloria Casarez, director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Transgender Affairs were also present for the bill-signing. “For 13 years, City employees have been eligible to receive benefits for their life partners. The Equal Benefits Bill is a natural extension of that recognition,” said Nutter. “The City of Philadelphia is an ally to the LGBT community and will con-
tinue to show support against issues in this day and age. Period. We have changed that standard through the of inequality.” Equal Benefits Bill.” The bill provides contractors who enter into a service contract with the “The purpose of the law is simple – City of Philadelphia for an amount equal treatment,” explained Landau. of $250,000 or more must extend “Its passage would fall in line with the same employment benefits to the strong history of commitment the life partner of employees as it the City has to promoting equality does to the spouses of employees. for LGBT community.” In order to be eligible for equal benefits, employees must meet the stan- Each eligible City service contracdard of proof for a life partnership. tor must notify all employees of this extended-benefit provision. If a City Reynolds Brown, who introduced service contractor does not comply the legislation, said, “In the 21st cen- with the provisions, the City will tury, the battle for equal rights needs find the contract in breach. As a reto end with equality being the vic- sult, the contractor may be sustor. With the enactment of this bill, pended or debarred from bidding on we have taken one more important or participating in City contracts for step to ensure that all Philadelphi- up to three years. Under certain cirans who are ‘created equal’ are cumstances, the City of Philadeltreated equal. Judging one’s em- phia can exempt a service ployment benefits due to the gender contractor from compliance. of their life partner is not acceptable
Tom Smith Campaign Adds S.E. Director The Tom Smith for Senate Campaign named Tom Stoner of Philadelphia as Southeastern Director. The campaign also announced the addition of its second regional headquarters located at 800 Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike in Blue Bell, Pa.
said Smith. “We are excited to add someone with Tom Stoner’s depth of experience to our team, and to expand our presence in this crucial region as we continue to build momentum.”
Stoner is a veteran Republican campaign professional at both the state and national level. Stoner is a former Philadelphia ward leader and has worked for the Republican National Committee and the McCainPalin Presidential campaign. Most The Montgomery Co. headquarters recently, Stoner managed Castor“My family and I have been over- will serve as the campaign’s base of Brown for Montgomery Co. Comwhelmed by the outpouring of sup- operations for Southeastern Pennmissioner. port we’ve received from sylvania, complementing the existRepublicans across Pennsylvania,” ing Pittsburgh-area headquarters. 6|
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