Philadelphia Daily Record by The Public Record

Vol. III No. 24 (394)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

February 8, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Business Plan

STATE SEN. VINCENT HUGHES explained details of his plan to jump-start Penna.’s economy – part of an effort to develop a coherent alternative to Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2012 budget which was announced Tuesday. Story page 5.

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Fundraiser for sister of Joe Rafter - survivor of fire at her home. Fundraiser will be held at Finngans Wake., 2nd Spring Garden Sts. 4-8 p.m.

Steve Aldrich of IBEW Local 269 invites all to reception in honor of Feb. 10-12- Penna. Progressive Summit at Convention State Rep. Tina Davis at Ctr., Broad & Arch Sts. Bailey’s Bar & Grille, Variety of registration 6922 Bristol Emilie Rd., fees, $50-$150. For info Levittown, Pa. Host paprogressivesummit.or $1,000, Patron $500, g. Friend. $250, Supporter, $50. RSVP Seth SkverFeb. 11- Bill Pettigrew launches sky (215) 550-1186. Petition-Signing Team for Republican Nat’l Feb. 10- State Rep. W. Curtis Convention Delegate at Thomas holds Job Fair Oxford Cir. Burger at People for People, King, Castor Ave. near 800 N. Broad St., 10 Roosevelt Blvd., 10 a.m. a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 9-

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Petition Signing for Feb. 10State Rep candidate Brian Sims at 215 S. Broad St., 2nd fl., 5:308:30 p.m.

Feb. 10- Fundraiser for cancer Feb. 13- Fundraiser for State Rep candidate Al Simpson at survivor Vicki CumBreen’s Pub, Huntingmings at SmokeEaters don Pk., 6-9 p.m. Ticket, Pub, 7681 Frankford $35, sold at door. Ave., 7-10 p.m. Donation $35. If you cannot make event, donation to Feb. 15- State Sen. Larry Farnese addresses Pt. Richmond “Friends of Vicki CumCAN at Firm Hope Bapmings” c/o The Lucas tist Ch., 2313 E. Auburn Family, 3128 Cottman St., 7 p.m. For info (267) Ave., Phila., PA 19149. 650-1668. For info Friendsofvickicummings@yahoo.com Feb. 17- Retirement Reception . for Judge Thomas Dempsey at City Hall, Feb. 10- Arthur Green presents th Conversation Ha., Rm. 14 Ward Pre-Valen200, 4:30 p.m. Contributine’s Day Cabaret at tion $10. RSVP RoseBarber’s Ha., Broad & mary Donnelly Oxford Sts., 9 p.m.-??? rosemary.donnelly@cou Donation $10. For info rts.phila.gov. Arthur Green (267) 9867948.

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Governor Applauds General Assembly For Marcellus Shale Law Gov. Tom Corbett thanked the members of the House and Senate for passing House Bill 1950, which is a comprehensive Marcellus Shale package. The Conference Committee report passed today in the House. “After long negotiations and a lot of hard work, we have reached a consensus on how to address the impacts in the Marcellus Shale regions,” Corbett said. “I am very pleased with the cooperative spirit

shown by the General Assembly and their staffs while working to resolve this complex issue. I look forward to signing this legislation into law.” Last October, Corbett outlined his Marcellus Shale proposal, which followed the work of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and includes a plan to help create thousands of jobs for Pennsylvania residents, to enhance protection of our natural resources, and to move

the state toward energy independence. HB 1950 contains 24 of the legislative recommendations offered by the advisory commission. “This legislation reaffirms our strong commitment to safe and responsible natural gas development here in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. Once the bill reaches the Governor’s desk, he will have 10 days to sign it into law.

Environmentalist Calls Bill ‘Giveaway’ “Gov. Tom Corbett has chosen to continue to stake the future of Pennsylvania’s environmental, economic and public health on fracking by signing a natural gas drilling impact fee that was passed into law by the Pennsylvania legislature,” said Charlie Kratovil, a spokesperson for Food & Water Watch.

“The Governor’s support for controversial legislation that will take away the rights of towns and cities to regulate or restrict fracking drilling is most alarming, but we are also concerned that entrenching the extractive industry in the state budget will only force future lawmakers to choose between addressing dangers of fracking and

funding important programs like schools, public safety, and social services,” Kratovil said. “The legislation will initiate drilling impact fees, a major giveaway to the oil and gas industry, which is happy to pay the relatively small tax now required by the State.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD “The broad powers granted to the Pennsylvania Utility Commission in the bill are cause for serious concern,” continued Kratovil. “In the event a town exercises its right to regulate drilling with higher standards than the State’s, the commission can order the ‘impact fee’ payments to the municipality stopped. This is precisely the type of framework for which the fracking industry lobbied. “In a classic case of putting the cart before the horse, the Governor is only admitting the serious impacts fracking has on communities after serious damage has been done. In Pennsylvania alone, there have been numerous cases of water contamination, several toxic-chemical spills, and an explosion, all related to

fracking. “Does the Governor really expect the citizens of Pennsylvania to believe he will now begin to rein in the industry that has been allowed to run amok and that contributed over $1.6M to his own campaign? “Corbett’s continued push for drilling flies in the face of simple economics: The price of gas has gone down precipitously, causing hesitation on the part of drillers. More significant is that the official government estimate for the amount of gas contained in the Marcellus Shale was cut by 66% just last month. These new developments make it impossible for drilling to create even a fraction of the overblown jobs estimates repeated by the industry and pro-drilling politicians.”

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Hughes Touts Plan For Investment, Jobs Following Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) is pursuing a concerted effort to coordinate State legislators, local-government officials, and religious, educational, business and labor leaders for an alternative plan to boost job creation and economic investment in Pennsylvania. The Senator is engaging in a flurry of news conferences across the city today and tomorrow targeting different constituencies. This morning, he addressed the business community at the University City Science Center.

“The Governor un veiled a budget proposal that does not make an investment in job creation, provides no plan to lift Pennsylvania’s lagging economy, and further slashes job-training programs.” Hughes said the state’s economy “has stalled” in the last year. While the national unemployment rate has fallen by nearly one percentage point since January 2011, Pennsylvania’s has inched up for 7.5% to 7.6%, he said. Hughes discussed four options to boost the state’s economy. First was creation of a Pennsylvania Investment Bank Fund within the Commonwealth Financing Author-

ity to finance proven economic-development programs. Other existing programs have not been proven effective; Hughes said they should be “restructured.” The Senator called on the Governor to issue Grant Application Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to deal with the transportation-funding crisis in the short term. Hughes urged adoption of a “responsible” tax plan to target tax incentives and provide help to small businesses, homeowners and working families.

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DCNR $$s Wissahickon To Spiff Up Andorra also known as the Tree House, the most visited center within the Philadelphia park system. FOW’s work will make the trails a more suitable educational facility for visitors to the WEC.

A YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST works on trail maintenance in Andorra Natural Area. The Friends of the Wissahickon has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program administered by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources for capital improvements to the Andorra Natural Area. According to FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy, the trails in this area are severely degraded, the habitat is marred by invasive plants, and educational wayfinding signage is dilapidated. FOW will 6|

DCNR funding for these types of projects comes from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93), the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener 1) and federal funding sources. “We are gratified to be the recipient of these DCNR funds,” says McCarthy. “It is a very competitive funding process and we are proud to have the State of Pennsylvania place its trust in FOW to make these improvements on behalf of the public on park land.”

rehabilitate and redesign 18,000 linear feet of trail to benefit the natural environment and user experience, install signage, and a public, ADA accessible composting restroom. This project is considered Stage 4 of FOW’s Sustainable Trails Initiative, a project to restore 50 miles of natural surface trails in Wissahickon Valley Park.

Key partnering organizations for this project are: the Philadelphia Dept. of Parks & Recreation; Commission on Parks & Recreation; and the Philadelphia Water Dept., Office of Watersheds. “FOW would not be able to complete this project without the support of our partners,” says McCarthy, “particularly Parks & Recreation.””

The Andorra Natural Area of Wissahickon Valley Park serves as the outdoor classroom of the Wissahickon Environmental Center,

FOW, founded in 1924, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the Wissahickon Valley.

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Taylor’s Bill To Cut BID Tax Reaches Guv A bill introduced by State Rep. John Taylor (R-Kensington) to reduce tax assessments for residential properties in Business Improvement Districts has passed both the House and Senate and is headed to the governor for his signature. Introduced as HB 1582, the bill reduces the assessments on residential properties that are within Business Improvement Districts. “This would encourage people to move into areas undergoing a

transformation, but not force the residents to endure spikes in assessments as the surrounding community improves,” Taylor said. A BID is an area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district’s boundaries. When many BIDs were created, it was not anticipated that so many residential units would be built in these areas throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in Philadelphia.”

Under the bill, assessments on residences in the BIDs would be reduced by 50%. It would also change the way assessments are made on condominiums to make sure individual unit owners receive the reduced assessment. “This is designed to make our BIDs more attractive to those looking for an expanding community without the risk of inflated property-tax assessments,” Taylor said. “This is a way of helping everyone win.”

Josephs Calls On DeWeese To Resign State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) demanded former House Speaker William DeWeese’s immediate resignation following his conviction on corruption charges. DeWeese (D-Greene) was found guilty on Monday of five felony counts, including conspiracy, theft and conflict of interest, but has vowed to keep his seat in the General Assembly and to run for reelection. “DeWeese has been convicted in a court of law and he has no business coming back to the House floor,” Josephs said. “Lawmakers may not use state legislative resources and staff for campaigns, and Mr. DeWeese’s conduct is a disgrace to himself and to the body he has served. I call on him to resign immediately and to withdraw from the primary ballot. He’s a felon and he has to go.” Josephs serves the people of Center City, Logan Square, Bella Vista and Gray’s Ferry. As the minority chair of the State Government Committee, she is a powerful voice for Democratic values and a staunch advocate for the city of Philadelphia.

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Metcalfe Legislation Targets Copper Thieves Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) to make the punishment more adequately fit the crime for copper wiring theft was approved by the State House today. Metcalfe introduced HB 2032 in response to a group of local smallbusiness owners who alerted him to the issue of criminals repeatedly stealing copper wiring and other types of secondary metals from their private-company properties. A secondary metal is defined as “wire or cable commonly used by communications and electrical utilities, copper, aluminum or other metal, or combination of metals that is valuable for recycling or reuse as raw material.” “Two individuals were daring enough to attempt to steal copper wiring from an operating electrical 8|

substation located in the center of my legislative district,” said Metcalfe. “The incident caused an explosion that left approximately 3,800 residents in two counties without electricity for several hours and caused $61,000 worth of damage. Final passage of my legislation will create the increased penalties that actually fit crimes of this caliber.” Under current law, individuals charged with stealing copper wiring are minimally charged with theft for the unlawful taking or disposition of private property, regardless of total property value. Once enacted, Metcalfe’s legislation would create a “grading” based offense in the Title 18 Crimes Code for thefts of secondary metals where criminals would be “graded” and penalized based on the total amount stolen.

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In an effort to crack down on repeat offenders and district attorney plea bargaining to minimal offenses, HB 2032 would create a third degree felony offense (maximum penalty seven years imprisonment and/or $15,000 fine) for individuals who are charged with a third and subsequent theft of secondary metals, regardless of the amount stolen. “By signing this legislation into law Pennsylvania can send an undeniable message, just like more than 30 other states,” said Metcalfe. “Repeat offenders who make a criminal enterprise out of stealing copper wiring or any other secondary metal should spend serious time behind bars.” HB 2032 now advances to the State Senate for consideration.

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Sam Katz Addresses Bala-Narberth Rotary

FROM LEFT: Patrick Walsh, senior VP investments of Merrill Lynch, and program director for the Bala Cynwyd-Narberth Rotary, welcomes Sam Katz to weekly luncheon at Al Dar Bistro. Katz spoke about his film project, The Great Experiment, a series on the history of Philadelphia, as well as his role at USA 250, the planning committee for the 2026 celebration of 1776. Katz also mentioned his various political races for Mayor and Governor. 6ABC will air one of his history films this spring. Photo: Rick Trivane â&#x20AC;˘ PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM