Vol. III No. 72 (436)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
April 19, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Where’s The Park Money?
DEMONSTRATORS PACKED City Council Chamber Tuesday to demand an $8 million tax earmarked for city parks, but diverted to general fund, be restored. Story Page
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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. Apr. 26Black Tie Clover Club Dinner at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., starting 6:30 p.m. DA Seth Williams keynote speaker. Formal. Members seeking info call Clover Club Treasurer Mike Cibik (215) 735-1060 or sign on at www.cloverclub.org. Apr. 26Phila. Greens’ Presidential Caucus at Buzz Café, 1800 N. Howard St., 7 p.m. Free and open to all, but only registered Green voters may vote. For info (215) 2437103 or gpop@gpop.org.
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Apr. 26Committee to Re-Elect State Rep. John Taylor hosts Historical Site Cigar & Wine Tasting at Colonial Dames Of Phila., 1630 Latimer St. Tickets $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,500. For info (215) 5452244. Apr. 27Republican Women’s Luncheon at the Vesper Club at noon. No cost other than your lunch choice. To share ideas, thoughts, events that en-
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courage a more active role for women in the party. Call for reservations at (267) 246-6347 or email karenbrownmayor@yahoo.com. Apr. 28Rev. C.W. Gregory 1 Mile Walk & Mt. Zion 5K Walk/Run. Starting from Mt. Zion Baptist Ch., 50th & Woodland Ave., 8 a.m. For info Janice Bullock (215) 206-4627. Apr. 28Ducky Birts Foundation Health Fair, 12 m.-2 p.m. and Gospelrama, 2-5 p.m. at Zion Baptist Ch., 3600 N. Broad St. Sponsored by Keystone Mercy Health Plan. Apr. 28Bok Tech HS Reunion classes from 1970 to 1979 at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd. Tickets $45. No ticket sales at door. Celebrating retirement of Tom DeFelice after 43 years of teaching and coaching. Former student Jeff Chandler will also be honored. For ticket info Eddie Everett (302) 561-1434. May 4Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee hosts annual Contest & Open House at Training Facility, 10401 Decatur Rd., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For info Director Charles T. Brock (215) 824-2300.
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President Barack Obama Salutes Dick Clark President Barack released the following statement on the occasion of trail-blazing producer Dick Clark, who ushered in the rock-and-roll era: “Michelle and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Dick Clark. With ‘American Bandstand’, he introduced decades’ worth of viewers to the music of our times. He reshaped the television landscape forever as a creative and innovative producer. And, of course, for 40 years, we welcomed him into our homes to ring in the New Year. “But more important than his groundbreaking achievements
was the way he made us feel – as young and vibrant and optimistic as he was. As we say a final ‘so long’ to Dick Clark, America’s oldest teenager, our thoughts and
prayers are with his family and friends – which number far more than he knew.”
Guv Touts ‘Excellence’ In Green Winners Gov. Tom Corbett announced 17 environmental projects from across the state will receive the 2012 Environmental Excellence Award. “These businesses, schools and organizations have demonstrated a commitment to reducing our impact on the environment, and I commend them for their efforts,” Corbett said. “The winning proj-
ects raise the bar for all of us to be more environmentally conscious.” Dept. of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer was the keynote speaker at last night’s Pennsylvania Environmental Council award event at the Hilton in downtown Harrisburg.
“Innovation is paramount to our ability to craft sensible environmental policy,” Krancer said. “We applaud all the award winners for their spirit of innovation and their passion for improving the environment.” Three Philadelphia projects were among the winners. ARCA Advanced Processing LLC installed the first URT refrigerator recy-
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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) Yo! Here we go again with these things that most people do not know about. The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma. No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times. Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes or
shark attacks. (So, watch your ‘Ass’.) You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television. Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older. The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum. The King of Hearts is the only king
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without a moustache. An airline saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class. Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning. Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin! The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer. So did the first ' Marlboro Man'. Walt Disney was afraid of mice! Pearls dissolve in vinegar! The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order. It is possible to lead a cow upstairs - but, not downstairs. A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why. Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. (I keep my toothbrush in the living room now!) And the best for last. Turtles can breathe through their butts. (I know some people like that, don't you?) So Remember, knowledge is everything, so pass it on......and go move your toothbrush! To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD cling plant in the United States. PECO, in partnership with the Franklin Institute and the National Energy Education Devel-
opment Project, developed the PECO Energizing Education Program. And the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was com-
mended for its Bird Lake Wetland.
Kitchen: SNAP Test Will Hurt Seniors As the May 1 state implementation of an asset test on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients looms, State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.) said senior citizens who rely on the program will suffer. “Many of our seniors are already on fixed incomes, but they are also instilled with the value of saving a dollar. For many of them, their savings account is their safety net when the unforeseen happens, like increased heating costs or even a hospitalization,” Kitchen said. “The implementation of an asset test will force seniors to choose between their hard-earned savings and
putting food on the table. They don’t deserve this treatment from the state government.” Under the Corbett administration’s plan, any SNAP recipient under the age of 60 who has more than $5,500 in savings and assets, including cash, stocks, bonds and money in checking and savings accounts, would no longer qualify. Individuals who are over 60 or disabled who have $9,000 in savings and assets would no longer qualify. In Philadelphia, 36,700 households with at least one person 60 or older are receiving SNAP.
“Gov. Corbett and the Dept. of Public Welfare say they are trying to root out fraud and waste in the welfare system. Instead, they’re instilling worry and frustration from our elderly citizens who rely on food stamps in order to have a hot meal,” Kitchen said. “Pennsylvania has one of the lowest food-stamp fraud rates in the nation, and DPW has not shown us any proof that this asset test will save the State any money. This administration shouldn’t be targeting vulnerable citizens and jeopardizing federal funding over a so-called problem that doesn’t actually exist.”
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Parks & Rec Advocates Want Their $8 M Back
GREG COJULUN, president of Friends of Malcolm X Park in W. Phila., made no bones about fact his community wants its park well funded. City Council Chambers was alive Tuesday with the chanting of 250 citizens and 97 organizations calling for Council to “Restore 8 Million!” of promised funding for the Dept. of Parks & Recreation. The Philadelphia Parks Alliance brought together advocates from every corner of the city, united in their call to reverse decades of systemic underfunding and four years of broken promises to parks and recreation. “In FY 2009, the Mayor promised to dedicate a portion of the parking tax increase to Parks & Recreation. Park advocates ral6|
lied in support of the increased tax to fund parks. City Council approved it,” explains Parks Alliance Executive Director Lauren Bornfriend. “But four years later, not one penny of it has been dedicated to parks. That’s why we are asking City Council to amend the Mayor’s budget. Restoring $8 million would get us back to the funding level approved for FY 2009. We have had years of cuts and flat lines. Enough is enough.” During the hearing, Council Members asked City Budget Director Rebecca Rhynhart what
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happened to the tax revenue generated from the parking tax which Council had approved four years ago as a way to increase funding to Parks. The Mayor’s budget director admitted, “It isn’t dedicated to Parks & Rec because we needed it to support general fund operations.” “A promise is a promise,” Councilman Kenyatta Johnson declared and went on to say that it was time to rededicate parking tax revenue to parks and recreation.
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD “We made a commitment and I understand things change, but where is the backup plan?” asked Councilwoman Cindy Bass, chair of the Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs. Derek Freres, Center City Residents Association Board member and Friends of Schuylkill River Park VP, is an enthusiastic supporter of the campaign to restore $8 million: “If we have more money available to Parks & Recreation we can proactively use it to better maintain equipment and facilities rather than paying more in long-term deferred maintenance costs.” “We can’t have the best park system in the world with a lack of safety” offered Councilman Curtis Jones, who was concerned about the current state of parks
and recreation facilities for his grandchildren. Mastery Charter HS student, Shawnda Gilbert says, “I always try to get my brothers and sisters away from the television so I take them outside to a park to exercise and have fun doing it. But, if we see parks that are in bad condition, we know they aren’t safe or fun and we walk right past them.” Students from Discovery Charter School crowded into the balcony waving green hand puppets, cheering when Council Members mentioned the $8 million that would fund much-needed park maintenance and programs. Rhynhart conceded in the hearing that an increase to Parks & Recreation “is something that we can definitely talk about.”
“We can not only talk about it, but we can do something about it” Councilman Mark Squilla responded. “We are delighted that Council Members are voicing support. Now we need them to amend the budget with $8 million restored to Parks & Recreation,” declares Bornfriend. The Philadelphia Parks Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that seeks to champion the public’s interest in outstanding parks, recreation and open spaces, key to making Philadelphia a healthy, vibrant and sustainable city for all. For more information about the Restore $8 Million campaign and the Parks Alliance, go to www.philaparks.org or call 215879-8159.
EPA Congratulates 10 ShopRites On Food Waste Ten Philadelphia-area ShopRite stores, owned and operated by the Brown Family, have joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge, a program to lessen food waste. They were joined by Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest food bank, and Organic Diversion, of Marlton, N.J., an organic recycler. The official signing ceremony took place at
the ShopRite of Parkside in West Philadelphia. “With Earth Day approaching, this is an excellent time to raise awareness of two issues which go hand-in-hand: food waste and hunger. Composting food waste not only creates a valuable soil product but diverts food waste from the landfill where it can produce harmful gases that contribute to climate change. But
much of the food that is thrown away is actually safe and wholesome, and could potentially feed millions of Americans. EPA is working with the grocery industry and hunger-relief organizations to increase food donations. The Brown Family, Philabundance and Organic Diversion are all helping to solve our food waste problems and we’re pleased to welcome them as Food Challenge members,” said
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. Food is the largest waste category in the US going into landfills. In 2010, 34 million tons of food waste was generated. When excess food, leftover food, and food scraps are disposed of in a landfill, they decompose rapidly and become a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change. Brown’s ShopRites began a composting partnership with Organic Diversion in 2011 and since then have diverted more than 170 tons of food waste
away from local landfills and into composting bins. Brown’s has also been donating unspoiled food to hunger relief organizations for more than 20 years. Since January, Brown’s ShopRites have donated 42 tons of fresh food, equal to 85,000 meals, to help feed the needy in the Philadelphia area. As a participant in the Food Recovery Challenge, Brown’s ShopRites have made a first year commitment to increase by at least 5% the amount of food they are already diverting away from landfills. The Brown Family will work with EPA to track waste
generation and reduction activities, including changes in purchasing, food donations, and composting. Philabundance, created in 1984, provides food to approximately 65,000 people per week through direct services and a network of 500 member agencies including emergency food kitchens, food cupboards, senior centers, and more. Organic Diversion offers collection and hauling services as well as customer training to ensure successful on-going organic recycling programs.
Streets Dept. Is Hailed For Innovations The City of Philadelphia Streets Dept. has been recognized for “innovative community and government initiatives” by the Corbett Administration for the implementation of BigBelly Solar compacting litter baskets and recycling containers. The baskets have saved the City a million dollars in annual costs by reducing the trash collection rate per trash can from an average 17 times per week to 2.5 times per week. The award was part of the 16th annual Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence, which were presented on Apr. 17. 8|
“I commend the Streets Dept. on the installation of BigBelly Solar litter baskets, which have been both an economic and sustainable benefit to Philadelphia,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I congratulate Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson, Deputy Commissioner Carlton Williams and the rest of the department on this great recognition.” Beginning in April 2009, Streets replaced litter baskets with nearly 900 BigBelly solar-powered compacting litter baskets and more than 400 public recycling containers. The new technology has allowed for a
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dramatic increase in collection efficiency. The recycling containers mark the first time that Philadelphia has on-street public recycling, keeping approximately 23.5 tons per month of recyclable materials out of the trash stream. “The Streets Dept. is proud to be using this innovative technology and to embrace ideas like Big Belly, ideas that save money and natural resources,” said Tolson. “We would like to thank Gov. Corbett and the Dept. of Community & Economic Development for recognizing our ongoing measures to support Mayor Nutter’s commitment to
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD advancing recycling and sustainability. The use of Big Bellies allowed for the introduction of public space recycling to the City for the very first time. This is one more important step towards achieving the City’s sustainability goals.”
Since December 2009, the Streets Department has installed BigBelly units with recyclers outside of Center City. Most of these have been installed in 12 commercial corridors throughout Philadelphia. Funding for BigBelly Solar baskets has come from Pennsylvania’s Department
of Community and Economic Development, the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department, Cleaning and Streetscape project grants and American Recovery and Reinvestment ActEECGB grants.
Black Clergy, Guardians Endorse Muhammad Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity President Rev. Terrence Griffith joined Bill Mahoney, chair of the Guardian Civic League PAC, to announce each organization’s endorsement of Fatimah Muhammad for State Representative in the 188th Dist. The leaders from the two organizations gathered alongside Muhammad and other campaign supporters in front of the Monumental Baptist Church to make the announcement. Both Griffith and Mahoney spoke about the need for change and commended Muhammad’s successful track record of community involvement, her strength in overcoming obstacles, her determination to improve West Philadelphia, and highlighted her success at the University of Pennsylvania in which she graduated summa cum laude. “It is time for a change in West Philadelphia,” said Rev. Griffith.
“We are tired of having an absentee landlord as State Representative in this District. If the people of this District ask themselves if they are better off now than they were before Jim Roebuck took office 27 years ago, then they will know who to vote for – Fatimah Muhammad.”
and reading. Additionally, crime and violence in the district are significantly above the national average, with the robbery risk 500% greater, the murder risk 333% greater and the unemployment rate at 50.4%. It is not just time for change — it is time for change now.”
“I represent about 1,700 current and retired police officers in Philadelphia and we wholeheartedly support Fatimah Muhammad,” said Mahoney. “We need to ensure we have good representation for this district and fight for change.”
A professional vocalist, Muhammad was outreach coordinator of Welcoming Center West, which is an organization founded to develop a community center that focused on supporting immigrant and African American businesses, while also handling the tensions that emerge when new immigrants arrive. She also founded an organization that looks at the LGBT community and women of color within it, and is the former associate director of University of Pennsylvania’s Greenfield Intercultural Center. Muhammad also previously worked for the Service Employees International Union, in which in which she organized
“I want to thank both the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and the Guardian Civic League for their endorsements,” said Muhammad. “It is time for a change and I plan to tackle the education problem head on and find ways to create jobs for constituents. The schools in the 188th Dist. are failing, with West Philadelphia HS in the 15th percentile in math
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD daycares.
Muhammad graduated in 2006 from the University of Pennsyl-
vania summa cum laude with a degree in sociology.
W. Philly Wards Back Roebuck, Brownlee
FROM LEFT: STATE REPS. Michelle Brownlee, 195th Dist., and James Roebuck, 188th Dist., received wholehearted support from Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Democrat leader of 46th Ward, and Bernadette Wyche, leader of 24th Ward. Carol Jenkins, 27th Ward leader, also participated in three-ward preelection committee dinner at 1st Dist. Plaza.
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Mayfair GOP Holds Riverside Spring Picnic
UNITED REPUBLICAN WARDS – 23rd, 54th and 62nd – convened at Quaker City Yacht Club beside bucolic Delaware River in Wissinoming for a jolly evening of society mixed with politicking. Among crowd were, from left, 23rd and 54th Ward Leader Bill Pettigrew, 1st Congressional Dist. Delegate candidate Marian Taxin, former City Commissioner Joe Duda, former Commissioner candidate Marie Delany, former congressional candidate Rick Hellberg and 62nd Ward Leader John Stalmaster.
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