Vol. III No. 47 (415)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
March 1, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Up, Up, Up...
EVERYBODY’S SEEING THEM, everybody’s talking about them and every politician’s trying to do something about them – among them Sen. Bob Casey. Story Page 3.
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Mar. 15Commissioner Al Schmidt hosts fundraiser at Tír na nÓg, 1600 Arch St. Donations $100. Mar. 15Councilman Jim Kenney’s St. Patrick’s Day Party at Galdo’s, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 6-8 p.m. Tickets at door, $35 each. Mar. 16State Sen. Michael Stack hosts St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Brookside Manor, 50 Bustleton Pike, Somerton Springs, Feasterville, Pa., 8 p.m-12 a.m. Tickets $40. For info Rosemary Rubino (215) 9643140. Mar. 16-17- Programs for Teaching Educational Conference sponsored by Phila. Federation of Teachers Health & Welfare Fund at Sheraton, 17th & Race. 50 topics. State Rep. James Roebuck, special guest speaker. For info (215) 5612722. Mar. 17State Sen. Shirley Kitchen cohosts Women with Disabilities Expo at Resources for Human Development, 4700 Wissahickon Ave., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For info Zarifa Roberson (215) 200-8387. Mar. 17Pentecostal Clergy holds 12th Anniversary
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Breakfast at View, 800 N. Broad St., 7th fl., 7:30 a.m. Tickets $25. Full tables $250. Call Dorothy Sturgis (215) 991-9830. Mar. 17Judge Jimmy Lynn hosts St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at Plough & Stars Restaurant, 2nd St. south of Chestnut, 7:30-11 a.m. Kids eat free. Traditional Irish breakfast and entertainment. Tickets $25 made out to Plough & Stars. For info (215) 686-8330. Mar. 17State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas hosts 52 women over 90 and 114-yearold Genoveva Rodriguez for breakfast at William H. Gray III Youth Ctr., 1601 N. 12th St., 10
a.m. Mar.17Wreath Laying Ceremony at Irish Memorial, Front & Chestnut Sts. 11:00 a.m. For info John Donovan (215) 605-8845 jdonovan@compas-inc.com. Mar. 17State Rep. Mark Cohen, NAACP and AARP host Health Fair at Zion Baptist Ch., 3600 N. Broad St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Screenings, workshops, pharmacist’s advice and more. For info Lenise Miller (267) 582-9489.
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Casey Outlines Plan To Tackle Gas Prices With gas prices in the Philadelphia area up nearly 7% since last year, US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) unveiled what he called commonsense steps” to combat Pennsylvania’s skyrocketing gas prices. Standing near a BP Station in Pittsburgh, Casey unveiled a new proposal to boost the state’s natural gas industry, urge the Administration to use its authority to crack down on speculation in the oil market and call on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that would allow the Justice Dept. to take on OPEC’s collusive practices. “There’s no quick fix to healing the pain Pennsylvanians are feeling at the pump, but there are commonsense steps we can take that can have an impact,” Casey said. “Expanding the development of natural gas, cracking down on Wall Street speculators and taking on OPEC are all things the federal government can do right away to help combat the rising price of gasoline.” Specifically, Casey’s plan would:
Expand natural-gas development in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Casey outlined a bill which he will introduce in the coming weeks that will fund natural-gas development on the state level. Casey’s bill will provide increased funding for states to promote natural-gas development and allow states to decide how best to deploy those resources – not the federal government. Crack down on speculation in the oil market. Casey called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use its authority to limit speculation in the oil market so investors on Wall Street cannot continue to drive up the price at the pump. Take on OPEC’s Collusive Practices. Casey called on Congress to pass the bipartisan NOPEC (No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels) Act. The bill would close a loophole in current law that prevents the DOJ from bring suit against members of the OPEC cartel for collusive practices. The Casey-supported bill would close the loophole and give the DOJ the tools it needs.
The legislation the Senator announced would encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel by supporting state-level initiatives. The abundant supply of natural gas in the United States is a vital resource that must be utilized as the country transitions to a cleaner energy portfolio. In achieving this goal, it is important to recognize that States differ in their capabilities to encourage the deployment of natural-gas-based transportation and technology. The most efficient way to support States is to allow for tailored initiatives to meet different
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD landscapes. This grant program will support States by offering both funding and flexibility to develop initiatives which support the following principles: To encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel; To encourage public and private investment in natural gas vehicles and transportation infrastructure; and To recognize that each State is different and initiatives are most effective when structured to meet the specific needs and challenges of an individual State.
In July 2010, Congress passed the Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act. The bill gave the CFTC the authority to limit the ability of speculators on Wall Street to inflate the price of oil by putting in place position limits. The position limits set the maximum amount of the oil market a single speculator could control. Nearly two years after the bill became law, the CFTC has yet to use its authority to limit speculation in the oil market, leaving consumers suscepti-
ble to price spikes driven by Wall Street speculators. The bipartisan NOPEC Act would amend the Sherman Act to declare it to be illegal and for any foreign organization to act to limit the production or distribution of oil or natural gas, or engage in price fixing. The bill would permit the DOJ to bring actions against foreign states – such as members of the OPEC cartel – for collusive practices in setting the price or limiting the production of oil.
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City Dems Gives James Endorsement In 186th Politics took center stage last Tuesday at the caucus meeting of Democratic Ward Leaders. The Mar. 6 meeting garnered Former State Rep. Harold James the endorsement of the Democratic Party for the special election for the186th Legislative Dist. The meeting was chaired by Former Council President Anna Verna. His endorsement received a stamp of approval by the Democratic State Committee on Saturday. If their words carry weight,
James will be heavily favored to return to Harrisburg and represent his constituents in South Philadelphia. James received the vote 5 to 1 among the ward leaders from the 2nd, 27th, 30th, 36th, 48th and 51st Wards. Other candidates who sought the endorsement Tuesday from the Democratic Party were Timmy Hannah, Damon Roberts, Jordan Harris and Fawwaz “Jazz” Beyha. Now, James’ only
opponent for the special election will be the Republican nominee for that position. “I would like to thank Caucus Chair Anna Verna and the other ward leaders for their support and for giving me this opportunity to return to Harrisburg to represent the people of the 186th,” James said. “I will use all the experience I have gained over the years to do the very best that I can for all of my constituents.”
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School Dist. Releases Super’s Job Description The School Reform Commission’s Superintendent Search Team has released the official job description for the School District of Philadelphia’s next Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer of Schools. The Superintendent Search Team also released a summary of the ideas and recommendations collected from approximately 15 community forums held throughout the City. In addition, the SRC also announced the appointment of three new members to the search team. The job statement calls for specific leadership and experience requirements that are necessary in a candidate. These requirements were shaped by the input collected from the public in a series of community forums that were held in February and March. As a result of these discussions, the Search Team edited the Educational Leadership Criteria to take into account many concerns expressed by stakeholders in the forums. Among the themes that stakeholders communicated are a desire for the new Superintendent/CEO to: 1) be sensitive to issues of equity within the school system; 2) manage the business aspects of the district with an unwavering focus on what is best for the edu6|
cational enterprise; 3) understand and respect the diversity of the City of Philadelphia; 4) engage, listen to, and be responsive to students, families, and other stakeholders; 5) be committed to transparency and openness in the management of the school district; and, 6) Understands excellent schools should be determined by more than standardized test scores but a collection of school based outcomes. A copy of a report detailing the information collected during the forums can be found at www.gse.upenn.edu/pcel/programs/ppce.
The SRC announced the appointment of three new members to the Superintendent Search Team. On the recommendation of the Mayor, Rev. Albert Campbell, pastor of Mt. Caramel Baptist
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Church, will be appointed to the search team, joining previous mayoral nominees Lori Shorr and Sylvia Simms. SRC Chairman Pedro Ramos, concurrently named Len Rieser, executive director of the Education Law Center, and Patricia DeCarlo, executive director of the Norris Square Civic Association, to join the search team, joining previous nominees Robert Wonderling and Fred Ginyard. All members of the SRC serve on the search committee, which also includes Ed Williams, appointed by Secretary Tomalis as an executive advisor to the District, and Ken Kring of Korn/Ferry International, who serves as pro bono consultant to the search team. The SRC aims to have the new Superintendent/CEO take office in time for the new school year. Nominations are welcome. Applicants should submit a compelling letter of interest and a current resume. All will be treated in strict confidence. Materials should be sent via email to superintendentsearch@philasd.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. However, prospective candidates who apply before May 15, 2012, will be assured full consideration.
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Red Cross Backers Have A Ball THEY WERE POURING INTO Please Touch Museum Saturday night for annual Red Ball, hosted by Red Cross of Southeastern PENNA. Mayor Nutter’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor Everette Gillison and his wife Elaine Gillison, left, were greeted at Red Ball by Red Cross of S.E. Penna. CEO Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, right. Photos: Bonnie Squires
FROM LEFT, State Sen. Larry Farnese, a regular attendee at the Red Ball, brought along friends Tiffany Tran and Rob Molinaro. ModSpace was prime sponsor of event once again, and CEO Charles Paquin was delighted close to $300,000 was raised for Red Cross House - The Center for Disaster Recovery House. PECO IS ANOTHER major sponsor of Red Ball, and the company was represented by, from left, Dennis James; Romy Diaz, Jr., PECO VP of governmental and external affairs; and Melisa & Frank Moffa. Frank Moffa is manager of PECO’s construction and maintenance. Over 1200 supporters attended gala, which featured dozens of stations with food from area restaurants, bakeries and caterers, a live band, courtesy of CTO, tarot card-readers and photo booths and lots of merriment. • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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Happy Birthday, Tony Williams!
STATE SEN. TONY WILLIAMS celebrated his birthday Mar. 3 at Oaks Ballroom in Delaware Co. Here Williams poses with his mother Carole Williams Green and his uncle Norman Chew. Photos: photosbyron1.com.
FROM LEFT are State Sens. Mike Stack and LeAnna Washington with Congressman Bob Brady.
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CONGRESSMAN Bob Brady, Lee Tolbert and Sen. Williams share a moment.
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