Vol. III No. 81 (445)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
May 3, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Eternal
FALLEN IN LINE OF DUTY, city’s lost public-safety officers were honored at Living Flame ceremony by Mayor Michael Nutter and top Administration officials yesterday. Two new names were inscribed in memorial.
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.
267-808-0287
Meat & Deli Prego Pizzelle Baker Uno Panini Grill
$
29.99 $39.99
2024 S. 10th St Philadelphia PA 19148
215-468-5363
When You Want Your Roof To Be Done Right The First Time
215-464-6425
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
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
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.
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Obama Widens Lead In Pa.; Not Elsewhere Riding the voter perception that he is as good as or better than President Barack Obama at fixing the economy, Republican challenger Mitt Romney catches up with the President in Florida and Ohio, two critical swing states, while the President opens an 8-point lead in Pennsylvania, according to a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released today. This compares to the results of a Mar. 28 Swing State Poll by the independent Quinnipiac University showing President Obama ahead of Gov. Romney 49-42% in Florida, 47-41% in Ohio and 45-42% in Pennsylvania. Matching Obama against Romney in each of these key states – no one has won the White House since 1960 without carrying at least two of them – shows: • Florida: Romney with 44% to Obama’s 43%, too close to call; • Ohio: Obama with 44% to Romney’s 42%, too close to call; • Pennsylvania: Obama tops Romney 47-39%.
“Gov. Mitt Romney has closed President Barack Obama’s leads in Ohio and Florida to the point that those two states are now essentially tied, a turnaround from the end of March when the president enjoyed leads in those key states,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “The good news for the president is that he has an 8-point lead in Pennsylvania, approaching the 11-point margin he had in carrying the Keystone State in 2008,” Brown added. “Overall, Obama is doing slightly better than Romney in these critical swing states today.” At least 67% of voters in each state say the economy is in a recession, but at least 51% of voters in each state say the recovery has begun. Voters in Florida and Ohio say Romney would do a better job on the economy. Pennsylvania voters are divided. “Romney’s ability to cut into the president’s leads in Ohio and Florida reflects two changes in the political environment: First, since he is now the de facto nom-
inee, Romney is no longer being attacked by his fellow Republicans, who are closing ranks behind him. Second, voter optimism about the economy has leveled off, reflecting economic statistics over the past month and the public reaction to them. “A very small gender gap in Florida grows significantly in Ohio and Pennsylvania as women flock to Obama. Romney offsets Obama’s edge in Ohio with a big lead among men, something he doesn’t achieve in Pennsylvania. What appears to be keeping Romney in the ball game, at least in Florida and Ohio, is the perception he can better fix the economy. “When it comes to picking a Republican running mate, geography is the coin of the realm. In Ohio a quarter of voters say home state Sen. Rob Portman would be the best choice, while four in 10 Floridians say that about their Senator, Marco Rubio. In Pennsylvania, almost a third favors neighboring Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. Christie and Rubio do best outside their own neighborhoods, but there is far from any kind of
• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
|
3
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: BANANA MAN - sold bananas from his horse-drawn wagon, only bananas. He bought them at the Dock Street Produce Market. He then traveled from the produce market, up and down the streets of South Philadel-
phia, selling the bananas as he went. When they were gone, he returned to his stable. There, he cared for his horse, stored his wagon, then went home. Some days, depending on how fast he sold his wares, he got home early.
LIVE AUCTIONS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 5PM (Preview 3PM) LIVE AUCTIONS EVERY SATURDAY AT 11AM (Preview 9AM) LIVE INTERNET AUCTION EVERY SATURDAY AT 4PM AT:
www.capitalautoauctions.com To Register & To Bid 3 BIG SALES WEEKLY
On other days, late. He varied his route every day and he only worked when the bananas were available. BANGING ERASERS was done every day to bang out the chalk dust that had accumulated in the eraser from erasing the blackboard. Banging erasers was done in the fire tower or in the schoolyard, where there was ventilation. Hopefully, you did not get too much chalk dust on your clothing or body. A small breeze was always helpful to carry away the chalk dust. BANK The South Philadelphia National Bank at Broad & South Streets has been closed for quite a long time. It is now being revived as a part of the Avenue of the Arts along South Broad Street. Construction specialists are now converting it into an Arts Bank. It will be a performing center for future generations of artists.
To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
4|
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD consensus about who would be Romney’s best choice.” Pennsylvania women are wild about Obama, giving him a 5235% general-election lead. Men tip to Romney 44-41%. Voters approve 50-46% of the job Obama is doing and say 5046% he deserves four more years. The economy is in a recession,
voters say 69-28%, but 56% say recovery has begun. Obama would do a better job on the economy, 44% of voters say, while 43% point to Romney. The Supreme Court should overturn the health-care law, 46% of voters say, while 43% say the court should uphold the law. Pennsylvania voters approve 56-34% of the way Obama is
handling Afghanistan, but say 61-30% the US should not be involved. The pace of troop withdrawal is about right, 48% say. “The President’s lead in Pennsylvania is across the board. He carries independent voters 4536%,” Brown said. “Of the three states, Pennsylvania is the one in which the largest number of voters say the economy is beginning to recover.”
ACLU Sues State Over Voter-ID Law
Between 90,000 and 900,000 Pennsylvanians could be shut out from the voting process because they don't have the right kind of photo identification under Pennsylvania’s voter-ID law, according to one argument in a lawsuit being filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
essary burden on Pennsylvanians, who may have limited means to secure identification that would be suitable at the polls.
The ACLU claims the law is unconstitutional. Its Pennsylvania legal director, Vic Walczak, says the Constitution mentions nothing about needing a photo ID to vote.
“We have found many people who have literally been trying for years, sometimes with the assistance of lawyers, and have been unable to get an original birth certificate, which is what you need in order to get this voter ID from the state of Pennsylvania,” Walczak said.
“This is a burden that is going to fall largely on the poor, on the elderly, on students, on the transgender community and on people with disabilities,” Walczak says. He argues the law puts an unnec-
The voter-ID law also exposes voters to any number of problems on Election Day, Walczak says. If voters arrive at a polling place with an unacceptable form of identification, he says, they’ll
5|
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
have only six days – two of them on a weekend – to get ID that will be accepted. “It will be virtually impossible for a person to get that valid photo ID within those six days, which means all those people who show up at the polls who don’t have acceptable ID, their votes will not be counted.” Proponents of the law say it will help curb incidents of voter fraud. State election officials say they get many reports of voter fraud, but say only one case, in Chester Co., has been confirmed. Walczak says he has yet to see proof that even a single incident of in-person voter fraud has taken place in Pennsylvania.
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Obama Camp Hammers Corbett On Ultrasound by Keegan Gibson, Politics PA Gov. Tom Corbett recently spoke about his now-infamous remarks regarding the proposed ultrasound mandate. President Barack Obama’s campaign and Pennsylvania Democrats jumped all over it. In another example of the “war on women” campaign theme from the Dems, OFA (Obama’s campaign) and the state Democratic Party forwarded reporters the video above. OFA sought to use the clip to tag presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney. “Mitt Romney and his allies like Gov. Tom Corbett just don’t get it. It is extreme policies like Gov. Corbett’s that have left Romney and Republicans underwater with women,” said Obama for America Pennsylvania Press Secretary Jennifer Austin. In an interview with Seattle
Times political reporter Thor Tolo that was posted Monday, Corbett was asked about the reaction to his March comments that no one could be forced to watch anything, and that a woman receiving an ultrasound could, “close your eyes.” Corbett tried once again to make a semantic point about whether it was physically possible to force anyone to watch anything. “The question was asked of me – and if you saw the whole press conference, and the media there didn’t bat an eye at it – I said, ‘You can’t make somebody watch it. You can put the monitor in front of them but you can’t make them watch it’.” It’s not the first presidential foray into the issue. Obama himself referenced Corbett’s comments at a fundraiser last week. And when Corbett first endorsed Romney earlier in April, the
“close your eyes” remark was front and center in the Obama campaign’s response. Important note: the ultrasound mandate is now so far on the back burner in Harrisburg that it has zero chance of seeing the light of day, let alone passing – rendering the entire issue as moot except in political terms. While OFA focused on Romney, Keystone State Dems were content to jab Corbett. “Gov. Corbett doesn’t get it. His remarks are demeaning toward women and completely out of touch with Pennsylvanians,” said Lindsay Fritchman, a spokeswoman with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “Gov. Corbett believes that we cannot trust women to make their own medical decisions, and when he has been challenged, he has simply doubled down on his insensitive and demeaning remarks.”
• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
|
6
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Guv Appoints Women’s Commission Members Gov. Tom Corbett announced yesterday the appointment of 28 accomplished and dedicated community leaders to serve and represent the interests of women and girls as members of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. “Pennsylvania is at a crucial time in women’s business and civic leadership. It is vital to create initiatives that support women taking the lead as entrepreneurs, civic leaders and as mentors,” said the Governor. “The women
7|
selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women are diverse and dynamic, their impact in our state has been significant. I look forward to the great successes the Pennsylvania Commission for Women will achieve.”
government to presidents of borough council, international speakers and writers to local mentors for young women. The women selected are from every corner of the state, a diverse age group and reflect the many ethnicities of the state.”
Maria Montero, PCW executive director, stated, “The women selected to serve represent a diverse cross section of Pennsylvania, from CEOs to sole proprietors, leaders in county
Among the women named to this commission are two Philadelphians, Dr. Pamela Hadley and Farah Jimenez.
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
In The 195th Dist., Money Buys No Victory by John Kromer and David Lynn In the 195th State House Dist., which represents Fairmount, Brewerytown, Lower North Philadelphia West, Mantua and Powelton Village, incumbent Michelle F. Brownlee took 4,355 votes (57.71%) in the Apr. 24 primary while her chief challenger Andrew J. Kleeman won2,532 votes (33.55%). Kleeman spent a lot of his own funds to support his candidacy for State Representative in the 195th Dist., just as Howard Treatman had done in his 2011 campaign for the 8th Dist. City Council seat, and just as Michael R. Bloomberg had done in his campaigns for Mayor of New York City. Although good-government types frowned on what they viewed as a buy-the-election strategy, Bloomberg’s campaigns were highly successful. Chestnut Hill resident Treatman’s campaign was the only 8th Dist. campaign that featured television advertisements, and the Treatman campaign budget paid 8|
for a high level of field support prior to and during primary election day. But Treatman lost decisively, winning only 2,950 votes to victorious candidate Cindy M. Bass’s 8,883 votes. Kleeman lost the 2012 primary election because his campaign was not enough like that of Bloomberg and too much like that of Treatman: a well-financed effort by a candidate who was not well known throughout the voting area and not deemed as reliable as his main opponent. During the slow mid-afternoon hours, Councilman at Large and 15th Ward Leader Bill Greenlee stood outside the 1st and 2nd Division polling place at Trinity Baptist Church near 27th & Poplar, in the heart of the “Art Museum” area. During the course of one five-minute interval, he approached three voters who were about to enter the polling place and encouraged them to vote for incumbent candidate Michelle Brownlee. One was an older white woman who appeared to be a longtime resident of the area; another was a young man with the “hipster” ap-
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
pearance of some of the newer residents of the area (casual attire, facial hair); a third was a young woman of color (longish hair, piercing), who could have been a newcomer or a secondgeneration family member. Each of these voters paused, listened to Brownlee, took the sample ballot he offered, and walked into the polling place past a Kleeman Election Day worker. Greenlee was promoting Brownlee (an interesting lastname similarity!) as a known quantity, as a candidate that could deliver reliable service to the community. She brought the new supermarket to the neighborhood (a slight exaggeration). She created a job bank (What’s a job bank? one voter asked. Answer: her office has information about job openings). For many voters in a district such as the 195th, a candidate who is believed to be reliable and capable of delivering services is likely to be judged superior to a candidate who may be intelligent, creative, and professionally successful but who is not known in the district’s neighborhoods.
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD The primary election results support this conclusion. Despite organizing a much better financed campaign, Kleeman won about the same number of votes as Brownlee’s 2010 challenger, Anthony P. Ingargiola (Ingargiola’s vote total was 2,274, compared with Brownlee’s 2010 total of 4,459). Like Ingargiola, Kleeman made a strong showing in the 15th Ward (Spring Garden to Poplar west of Broad), where he defeated Brownlee, 1,262 to 931. But Brownlee outpolled Kleeman decisively everywhere else, by roughly 2-to-1 and 3-to-1 margins: 1,217-326 and 1,140-453 in the 29th and 32nd Wards, respectively (north of Poplar to north of Diamond), 798370 in the 24th Ward (Mantua and Powelton), and 269-121 in the 6th (six divisions west of 40th and Haverford). Two African American candidates other than Brownlee participated in the election, but these two candidates together won only 648 votes, about 8% of the overall vote total — so any expectation that these candidates would split the African American votes to Kleeman’s advantage proved to be unfounded. With increasing enrollment at Drexel and an influx of younger, white population north from Powelton Village into Mantua, Kleeman might have anticipated
achieving strong results in the 24th Ward (Schuylkill River to 40th Street, north of Market). However, this area did not produce a significant number of votes for Kleeman. Of the five divisions that are located within the Drexel-influenced triangle bounded by the Schuylkill River, Lancaster Avenue, and Spring Garden Street, three are lowturnout divisions (which produced a combined total of 17 votes for Kleeman and Brownlee), and the other two provided Kleeman with very small margins (33-23 and 46-32). In the 195th Dist., Kleeman needed a benefit that Fatima Muhammad had from the start in her campaign in the 188th. Although Muhammad may not have been well known to many voters in the 188th Dist. at the beginning of her campaign, State Sen. Anthony Williams’ political allies (who delivered large numbers of votes for his 2010 gubernatorial campaign in the 46th Ward and elsewhere in the 188th Dist.) provided Muhammad with a support network that nurtured her candidacy and brought out the votes. Kleeman’s candidacy did not start out with a comparable network in the 195th Dist., and Kleeman did not have the ability to create one within the time available. By contrast to the other two
challengers mentioned here, Kleeman only raised $50,005.00 in the reporting 2012 cycle 1 and 2. The campaign received no PAC money – all of his contributions were from individuals. The largest contribution by far was made by the candidate himself, $38,900, all of which is shown as a loan to his campaign. Kleeman received only 52 contributions for his campaign. By contrast, his opponent, Brownlee, received 5,532.39 in 2012 cycle 1 and 2012 cycle 2. The bulk of this money, $5,400, came from PACs. Kleeman spent $27,070.12 during 2012 cycle 1 and 2, most of it for consulting and polling ($16,864.88.) He also spent $2,000 on database consulting, and only $270 on postage. There are no expenses shown for volunteers or staff. Brownlee, on the other hand, spent only $5,950.60 in 2011 and $3,889.87 in 2012 in the run-up to the campaign. There are two expenditures that relate to campaign door knocker distribution that total $1,631.62. There are no volunteer or staff expenses shown. Like State Rep. Jim Roebuck (D-W. Phila.) , it is apparent Brownlee was intent on using the established Democratic machine in her area to get out the vote.
• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
|
9
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Murt Rallies To Protest Developmental Cuts State Rep. Rep. Tom Murt (RNortheast) joined mental-health advocates for a rally at the Capitol in Harrisburg against Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cuts in programs that benefit those with intellectual disabilities. “The main drawback in this budget is that it does not address the more than 15,000 people with developmental disabilities who are on a waiting list for services,” Murt said. “Most are in emergency or critical need status, and many are cared for by eld-
10 |
erly parents. We have a moral responsibility to take care of these individuals.” In the budget, Corbett proposes block-granting funds for human services to the counties. "This would result in a 20% cut in funding to critical programs, like those aimed at homelessness and child welfare,” Murt said. “This will no doubt mean individuals will be cut off from services.” Murt was joined at the rally by representatives from the Pennsyl-
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
vania Waiting List Campaign, Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Police and Fire Association for Handicapped Children, Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, Self Advocates and Family Alliance, Self Advocates United as One, the Arc of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Alliance, the Philadelphia Coalition, and the Vision for Equality.
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Controller: City Fails To Assess What It Owns City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released the FY08-09 Dept. of Public Property audit that found City-owned properties do not include asset valuations. Without the valuations, the City does not know the value of the property in its possession. Public Property had obtained a list of the City’s real-estate holdings from the Records Department, but the listing did not include how much each property was worth. A complete inventory of real-estate holdings including valuations is required for finan-
cial reporting purposes.
cludes asset valuation capability.
“Public Property management needs to obtain a comprehensive inventory listing that includes asset valuations based on historical cost or appraisal value,” said Butkovitz. “Without asset valuations, the City cannot properly account for the value of real estate assets.”
“The City needs to utilize all of its technology to ensure all Cityowned real estate is recorded and can be easily accessed by appropriate departments,” said Butkovitz. “This is especially critical if the City wants to improve its land-bank capabilities.”
While conducting the audit, Public Property stated to auditors that they are working with the City’s Office of Innovation and Technology to obtain an assetmanagement system, one that in-
To view the FY08-09 Department of Public Property Auditor’s report, please visit the Controller’s website at www.philadelphiacontroller.org
• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
|
11
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Mayor Leads Tribute To Fallen Police, Fire
In a day of reverence, recognition and reflection, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety/Chief of Staff Everett A. Gillison and other officials honored police officers and firefighters in the City of Philadelphia’s annual Living Flame Memorial Service at Franklin Square Park, Sixth & Race Streets yesterday.
phia police officers and firefighters who died over the years in service to the City. They placed wreaths and carnations at the Living Flame Memorial in Franklin Square Park. The names of deceased police officers and firefighters who succumbed while serving the public are inscribed on plaques on the Living Flame Memorial monument.
The Living Flame Memorial Service is designed to acknowledge the sacrifices of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty.
Two PFD firefighters – Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney – died in the line of duty, following a five-alarm fire at the former Thomas Buck Hosiery Factory – a six-story vacant building – at York & Jasper Avenue in the city’s East Kensington section on Apr. 9, 2012.
Since records were kept in the Philadelphia Fire Dept. in 1871, 288 members of PFD have made the ultimate sacrifice in the official line of duty. Since 1828, at least 250 Philadelphia police officers have been identified as dying on duty. The Mayor, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and led a procession of family members of the fallen Philadel-
12 |
Lt. Neary and Sweeney, both of the Ladder 10 Co. in Kensington, sustained fatal injures due to a building collapse inside the adjacent Giamari Furniture Store. Lt. Neary, 59, was a 37-year veteran of PFD while Sweeney, 25, was a five-year member. He comes from a family of firefighters. Their names will be added to
PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •
the roster of deceased firefighters at the Living Flame Memorial in Franklin Square Park. The Neary and Sweeney families laid down a bouquet of flowers at the monument, following by a similar tribute by the firefighters’ colleagues in Ladder 10 from Kensington. No active member of the Philadelphia police force has died in the line of duty since last year’s service (last May). “On this solemn occasion, we remember Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney who joined the honor roll of our fallen police officers and firefighters who selflessly gave their lives serving and protecting the citizens of our city,” said the Mayor. “All of our first responders – our fire fighters, police officers and paramedics – are heroes and make unimaginable sacrifices each and every day. Lt. Neary and Firefighter Sweeney made the ultimate sacrifice. I would like to thank them for their service. My prayers go out to their families and to the Philadelphia Fire Dept. whose members
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
have lost two of their brothers.” The program featured musical selections including violinist Rachel Kuipers Yonan’s stirring rendition of the National Anthem .The Philadelphia Police & Fire Pipes & Drums as well as the Police Dept. Honor Guard and Police Dept. Buglers performed poignant musical tributes during the wreath-laying portion of the program. Everett Gillison, the program’s emcee, provided information about the new stone and steel Fallen Heroes Memorial planned near the current monument in Franklin Square Park. Design renderings by the Moto Designshop, based in Old City, were on display.
Other program participants from the law-enforcement community included: Fraternal Order of Police/Philadelphia Lodge 5; Fraternal Order of Police/University of Pennsylvania, Lodge 113; Philadelphia Firefighters Union, Local 22; Police and Fire Color Guards; Police Dept. Rifle Team; Retired Police, Fire, & Prison Guard Association; Polish Police Association; International German-American Police Association; The Spanish American Law Enforcement Association; The Guardian Civic League Incorporated; The Legion of Cornelius, and American Legion Police Post 937.
Church, Shomrim Society/Philadelphia, Delaware Valley region, League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Police Chaplains Office and Destiny Worship Center participated in the service. Two trained white doves were released at the conclusion of the ceremony to symbolically honor fallen firefighters Neary and Sweeney. The Living Flame Memorial Service precedes National Police Week this month, which memorializes those in law enforcement, who gave their lives to protect and serve the public. Established in 1962, the national week is observed in May.
Representatives of the clergy came from the St. Anne Catholic
• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
|
13