Daily record by The Public Record

Vol. III No. 80 (444)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

May 2, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Broken Back Taxes

WILL STATE LAWMAKERS from N.E. Phila. Sen. Mike Stack and Rep. Mike McGeehan be able to spur City of Phila. into collecting that $470 million in unpaid property taxes it’s owed? Maybe – if they stop City from raising anybody’s rates until all old money is in first.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

The Philadelphia Public Record

Calendar

Translation/Interpretation Arabic, Hebrew, English, French For more information, call William Hanna

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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CANDIDATES • POLITICIANS News You Can Use! Boost Your Popularity, Win On Election Day! Tell Your Constituents To Read About All the Work You Do For Them On the

Philadelphiadailyrecord.com Email them a copy of this Publication! 2|

May 5Historic AME Church’s Rev. Dr. Mary Lou Moore of “I Can Ministries, Inc.” and Wells Fargo Bank host “I Can Empowerment Expo”, 1at Union AME Church, 1600 W. Jefferson St., 10 a.m.-3p.m. All invited to attend. Activities include financial workshops, breakout sessions for all ages. Family event. For info Dr. Moore (215) 920-8604. May 7Fundraiser for Phila. 9/11 Memorial at Pub & Grub, 2001 Hamilton St., 6-9 p.m. Open bar, food. Donation $30. For info Joe Eastman (609) 290-8803. May 11State Rep. Ron Waters hosts Senior Health Expo & Luncheon for 191st House Dist. at KIPP W. Phila. Charter Sch., 5900 Baltimore Ave., 11 a.m.-2 pm. Free. For info (215) 748-6712. May 15Mothers In Charge hosts 9th Anniversary Celebration at Penn’s Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30 p.m. For info

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Dorothy Johnson Speight, Mothers In Charge, 1415 N. Broad St., Suite 229, Phila., PA 19122. May 171st Annual Spring Social for Chapel of Four Chaplains, 1201 Constitution Ave., Bldg. 649 in Navy Yard, 5:307:30 p.m. $20 Early Bird, by May 16. At door, $25. For info (215) 218-1943 or Events@Fourchaplains.org. May 19Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration at Franklin Sq. Park, 6th & Race, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 23Jobs With Justice annual Solidarity Reception at District 1199C, 1319 Locust St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. To be honored are Henry Nicholas, Jody Dodd, Jim Savage, Amanda Geraci and Occupy Phila. Jun. 10St. Edmond’s Parish Centennial Dinner at Penn’s Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 2-6 p.m. Ticket $65 with a cash bar. For info (215) 334-3755. Jun. 15-16-7- Annual St. Maron Church Lebanese Festival on Ellsworth Street beween 10th and 11th. Friday from 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. No admission. All welcome. Authentic Middle East cuisine and entertainment.

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Dems Call Guv’s Budget Numbers ‘Way Off’ Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes offered the following comments regarding today’s Independent Fiscal Office Revenue Estimate Report, which stated the projected shortfall will be $300 million, not $719 million as reported by the Governor during his budget presentation earlier this year. Costa remarked, “The Independent Fiscal Office release of its independent preliminary estimate of the fiscal condition of Pennsylvania confirms what Senate Democrats have predicted since the Governor made his budget presentation in February. The governor’s estimated deficit of more than $700 million was way off target.

“There now is no question there will be far more available dollars to restore key budget lines that support job creation, education, safety-net programs and investments for the future. “Funds are tight and resources must be stretched. However, it is clear the administration does not need to cut so deeply into social safety-net programs, education and human services that impact so many.” “Hughes was scathing: “For a second year, the Governor has miscalculated the revenues. The Independent Fiscal Office has reinforced what Senate Democrats have argued for months. There is additional funding available, by IFO estimates, of more than $800 million.

“With April’s revenue collections reducing our current shortfall to below $289 million, the likelihood is our yearend shortfall could be below $200 million, providing even more state revenue. “Instead of providing false choices – pitting seniors against students – we have the option to do so much more – restore education, protect our social safety net programs and tackle our number one priority – job creation. “The devastating cuts the Governor has proposed should be set aside and a new fiscal plan developed that is reconciled with the new revenues. Pennsylvania can move forward if it moves away from the Governor’s fuzzy budget numbers based on rhetoric, not arithmetic.”

Corbett Confirms Philly Appointees Gov. Tom Corbett announced confirmations of his appointments by the Pennsylvania Senate on Apr. 30. Three Philadelphians

were named to state positions.

Joseph I. Wells.

Placed on the Council of Trustees of Cheyney University were Larry C. Skinner and

John Paone was appointed to sit on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) Yo! Here we go again with these thoughts on things that require valid ID: AIR RAID BOXES- During World War II, storage boxes were used for air-raid supplies and were placed in various neighborhoods. They were large wooden boxes with slanted, lift lids that were padlocked. In these

boxes, the air-raid wardens kept their helmets, arm bands, shovels, ropes and fire buckets. These items were to be used in the remote chance of an air-raid. The boxes remained long after their need.

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ACCENTIn South Philadelphia, some words are pronounced uniquely. They are spoken with a distinctive accent. The residents don’t think they have an accent. Non-residents however, usually detect it. These words appear in their phonetic spelling, approximating the South Philadelphia accent. Pronounce them as you read them. Each has an example explaining their usage. ACTION IN THE AFTERNOON - was a live western show from Hubberly, Mont. However, Hubberly wasn't in Montana. It wasn’t even west of the Mississippi River. Hubberly, Mont. was located in Philadelphia, just west of the Schuylkill River, at City Avenue & Monument Road. There, behind the WCAU television studio, Channel 10 had a western town built. It was a western set used for the first live Western TV show. “Action in the Afternoon” was broadcast live, daily on the CBS network nationwide. You could visit the set on weekends, when they were not broadcasting. To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Sen. Williams’ Protégée Falls Short In 188th by John Kromer and David Lynn In the 188th Dist., which encompasses University City, Spruce Hill, Cedar Park and parts of Southwest Philadelphia, The outcome of a fiercely contested primary was: James R. Roebuck, 3,888 votes (55.77%); Fatimah Loren Muhammad, 3,081 votes (44.20%). A billboard displaying the well-known Obama “Hope” image, accompanied by an image of State Representative candidate Fatimah Muhammad in a similar style, can be seen by voters a half-block away from the 46th Ward, 19th Division polling place, the Garden Court Plaza, located at 47th & Pine. Muhammad posters are taped to telephone poles lining the approach to the polling site. Outside the entrance to Garden Court, Muhammad campaign workers are distributing sample ballots and flyers, including a Liberty City flyer urging voters to “Be part of history by voting for … FATIMAH MUHAMMAD — helping to elect the first out members of the LGBT community to the 5|

state legislature in the history of Pennsylvania!” In 2010, Roebuck won 46/19 with 220 of 223 votes cast in this division (he was virtually unchallenged in that race). This time, a total of 235 votes were cast in 46/19, with 182 for Roebuck and 53 for Muhammad. In all, Muhammad won 10 of the 23 divisions in the 46th, Roebuck’s home ward. Although she lost the 46th Ward decisively, Muhammad won the 60th Ward’s nine divisions (south of Market between 45th and 52nd), 682443, and nearly matched Roebuck’s results in the 51st Ward’s 11 divisions (south of Baltimore Avenue between 50th and 58th Streets). Roebuck’s victory was made possible in large part by substantial margins in the University City-oriented divisions between 45th and 49th Streets, where he outpolled Muhammad by as much as 5 to 1, as well as by his 522-277 victory over Muhammad in the 27th Ward’s 18th division (east of 45th , south of Market). According to a Roebuck sup-

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porter outside the polling place for the 46th Ward’s 1st Division, located opposite the St. Francis de Sales Catholic church, many of the parents picking up their children at the de Sales parochial school that afternoon were Roebuck supporters — this election was about a lot more than vouchers (a barrage of negative advertising by the Muhammad campaign during the weeks leading up to the election had portrayed Roebuck as a staunch opponent of school, choice). Roebuck won the 1st division decisively, with 141 votes to Muhammad’s 34 (in 2010, Roebuck had received 155 votes in the 1st Division). Muhammad raised enough money to mount a credible campaign against Roebuck. In 2012 cycle 1 and cycle 2 alone she raised $75,195.03 – $49,400.00, or almost 2/3, through PAC contributions. Roebuck, on the other hand, began 2012 with $42,106.92 in the bank, and raised an additional $21,841.83 in 2012 cycle 1 and cycle 2 to give him a total of $63,948.75 available to spend. Of this amount, $23,050.00 came from

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD PACs, and $13,950.00 came from individual contributions. Of the PAC contributions, $500.00 came from APPAC (Associates of PA PAC) which appears to have received large sums of money from well-heeled donors over the past few years, including charter-school proponent Vahan H. Gureghian. Additional education-related contributions came from Faculty Federation of the Community College of Philadelphia ($500) and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Committee to Support Public Education ($5,000). During 2011 and 2012, Roebuck's campaign had only $48,963.51 in expenses. $6,444.00 of this amount was in public relations work. There were no staff, payroll, or volunteer expenses in 2011 or 2012, indicating Roebuck was intent on using the well-established Democratic machine in West Philadelphia to turn out votes for him. On the other hand, Muhammad spent $25,259.90 on canvassers and canvassing related expenditures. She also spent $13,118.77 on wages for staff in 2012.

Two takeaways from the candidacy of Muhammad and certain other candidates in the 2010 primary: 1. The SuperPACs have now entered the city limits. The pro-voucher Students First PAC that funded a major portion of State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams’ 2010 statewide campaign for Governor was a major contributor to Muhammad’s campaign, and this PAC and others like it have the potential to become a force in local Philadelphia politics. For a SuperPAC, a political campaign represents a short-term investment that can produce long-term benefits if the candidate wins. Will other SuperPACs — both right- and leftleaning — get involved in Philadelphia politics in the future? With a growing population, a revitalized downtown, and newly-trendy neighborhoods emerging despite the setbacks of the recession, Philadelphia could be viewed as a promising location for political investment by outsiders—with serious consequences for the city.

2. Williams has made major advances in building a political infrastructure – one that includes challengers such as Muhammad and other Students First-supported candidates, as well as recently elected officials such as 2nd Dist. Councilman Kenyatta Johnson — and this infrastructure is likely to grow stronger as plans for the 2015 mayoral election take shape. Mayor Michael Nutter never had a grassroots political infrastructure, with consistently loyal supporters capable of influencing political outcomes in large areas of the city, and neither did his three predecessors (although Wilson Goode’s election as Mayor owed much to the political infrastructure skillfully managed by thenCongressman William Gray). With Vincent Fumo out of the picture and once-powerful Northwest Philadelphia leaders Dwight Evans and Marian Tasco in decline, Williams has a good opportunity to build on the already strong political network that he has already created.

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SEPTA Now Recruiting Summer Intern Program The 2012 SEPTA Internship Program will consist of a 10week period, commencing on Jun. 4, 2012 and concluding on Aug. 10, 2012. Interns will be selected through a competitive interview process and will have the opportunity to work closely with SEPTA staff on a wide variety of projects. All applicants must apply online via SEPTA’S Applicant Tracking System. For a listing of the specific Internships available, please click on the web address listed below: http://autohire.careershop.com/septajobs_intern/J obSearch/JobSearchList.asp. Note: if you are unable to open the web page from this link, please copy the address into your web browser and select enter/go. Click on “Apply for this Job” at the bottom of each job posting page and complete the online form. Candidates may submit applications for more than one internship. Students who applied for a

SEPTA Internship last year must enter the application system as a Registered User, using their preestablished user name and password. Please remember to update the application on file and then apply for any Internships of interest. Students who cannot locate their user name and password from last year should call (215) 580-7110 for assistance. The deadline to apply for Internships is Saturday, May 5. Four internships are in Information Technology – IT desktop support, Legal Dept. video evidence management, Control Center realtime passenger-information design and Rail Transportation database www.development/audit. Six are in Engineering – Civil/Structural, Mechanical and Electrical. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program (going into sophomore year or higher), or graduate program. They must hold a Cumulative

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Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or better. They should be available to work a full-time schedule (40 hours per week) for a 10-week period, beginning on Jun. 4 and ending on Aug. 10. Previous SEPTA Interns will not be considered for new positions, unless they have been designated as career-track Interns. SEPTA does want to increase the opportunities for family members of SEPTA employees. The rates of pay for Interns will range from $12.00 to $16.00 per hour, depending on grade level and area of specialty assigned. In addition, Interns will receive free transportation passes for the duration of their assignment. For further information on this program, please contact Dan Amspacher at x 7018 (www.damspacher@septa.org) or Joe Quinn at x 3578 (www.jquinn@septa.org).