Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. III No. 82 (447)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

May 8, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Stokes Chairs It

CHAIRING PENNA. African American Advisory Commission is Governor’s S.E. Regional Office Deputy Director Karen Stokes, who formerly worked development at Phila. Education Fund. Story page 4

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

The Philadelphia Public Record

Calendar

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

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) 7486712.

267-808-0287

Meat & Deli Prego Pizzelle Baker Uno Panini Grill

$

.99

29 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 15Mothers In th Charge hosts 9 Anniversary Celebration at Penn’s Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30 p.m. For info Dorothy Johnson Speight, Mothers In Charge, 1415 N. Broad St., Suite 229, Phila., PA 19122. st

May 171 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.

PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •

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.

Jul. 23Filitalia Int’l, together with UNICO Phila. Chapter and Commissione Giovani, presents 2012 Phillies Italian Heritage Night at Citizens Bank Pk., 7 p.m. Tickets $30. Call Christine Macolino (267) 9842954 or Rosetta Conigliaro (267) 231-6887. Email for tickets to rconig812@verizon. net. Deadline for tickets May 1. Paying via Paypal will cost $31. Mention Public Record.

Aug. 19Annual Bill Meehan Clam Bake at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd., 4-8 pm. Ferko String Band entertains. For details call Republican City Committee (215) 5610650.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Casey, Nutter Push For 1st Responder Resources Joining forces, US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mayor Michael Nutter and local firefighters called yesterday for immediate reauthorization of programs that have provided firefighters in Philadelphia alone with over $4.2 million in recent years to keep firefighters and the public safe.

The City of Philadelphia and suburban Counties have benefited greatly from these programs, including the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants, and Fire Prevention & Safety Grants (FP&S). These programs, which allow fire stations across the Philadelphia region to purchase life-saving equipment, meet staffing needs and conduct critical safety training, will cease to exist without reauthorization.

“Every day, brave firefighters across Southeastern Pennsylvania put their lives on the line for

us, so making sure they have the equipment and personnel they need to do their job and stay safe must be one of Washington’s top priorities,” Casey said. “These investments in our firefighters are essential, and Congress should act right away to reauthorize these programs.”

Since 2003, Philadelphia has received more than $1.7 million through the AFG program to fund equipment purchases and firefighter training programs.

The City has also received more than $2 million in FP&S grants for fire prevention and firefighter safety programs, including public education and research.

Since the inception of the AFG program, fire companies across Pennsylvania have received more than $334 million – more than any other state – to purchase firefighting equipment, vehicles, and personal protective gear. Pennsylvania communities have also received more than

$17 million in SAFER grants to maintain and improve firefighter staffing levels. These grants have helped communities remain safe despite budget cuts suffered during the economic downturn.

The SAFER grant program was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards.

Currently, Philadelphia’s firefighters are in the running for a SAFER grant that would be used to hire 160 additional firefighters and help the Fire Department improve response times and expand safety training opportunities for firefighters.

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

|

3

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Guv Designates Members Of Black-Affairs Body In recognition of Pennsylvania’s more than 1.4 million African American citizens, Gov. Tom Corbett yesterday named distinguished community leaders to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs.

“The history of African Americans in Pennsylvania reflects a diverse and unique blend of cultural, social and economic influences which have had and continue to have a beneficial impact on life in the Common-

wealth,” Corbett said.

The commission advises and makes recommendations to the Governor on policies, procedures, legislation, and regulations that affect the African American community. It works to articulate and address the unique needs and issues of concerns of the African American community.

Karen Stokes, who is deputy director for the Governor’s Southeastern Office, will chair the commission. Other Philadelphians on the commission are Wayne Barnett, Maurice Goodman, Rev. Terrence Griffith and Rodney Little.

For more information about the commission, contact Executive Director Karen Stokes at (215) 560-2640.

Eighteen individuals have been named as commission members, among them five Philadelphians.

Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) Yo! Here we go again with these thoughts on things that require valid ID: BOARDS - The boardwalk in Lanic Cidy, Wildwood and other seashore resorts.

BOND BREAD - One of the product names that are gone.

The bakery is still in business, but it now makes bakery products for many other companies, but not under the Bond Bread label.

BONNOMO TURKISH TAFFY - was a hard, candy 4|

taffy. It had to be chilled or frozen, then smacked on a hard surface to break it into bitesized pieces. Only then was the wrapper opened. A piece of the taffy was then popped in to your mouth and savored as it slowly melted. Only one piece was consumed at a time in order to make the taffy last longer. It came in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate and banana.

BOWLING ALLEYS - Park

PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •

Lanes was at Broad & Pollock Streets. There was one at 20th & Mifflin Streets, and another was on Juniper Street near Snyder Avenue. You could bowl a regular game or roll a game of Duck Pins for a quarter a person per game.

BRANG - Brought with you.

For example: I brang my lunch to school.

To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Josephs: Focus On Jobs, Not Size Of Legislature State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) is criticizing a planned meeting of the House State Government Committee to vote on yet another bill that would reduce the size of the State House.

The committee meeting is set for tomorrow to vote on HB 876, which would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to reduce the size of the House.

“I’m not sure why we are wasting valuable committee time to vote on another bill to reduce the size of the legislature, when Pennsylvanians have been saying that state government should be focusing its effort on creating jobs and improving the econ-

omy,” Josephs said. “This is just another Republican attempt at misdirection, with smoke and mirrors, to avoid the real fact that Republicans have not addressed the issues that Pennsylvanians want addressed.

“Voters across the state are as interested in job creation and economic development as us Democrats,” she said. “Yet Republicans, who control the legislative agenda, refuse to put the General Assembly on that path.

“Besides, the House chamber already voted on a bill to reduce the House membership, and had an opportunity to vote on a more-gradual reduction effort

during that debate, but they voted against each amendment that would have done that. I said then, and I’ll say it again now: A reduction will make sense only if spending also can be reduced,” Josephs said. “There is nothing in this bill that insists legislators do more with less. Pennsylvanians I’ve spoken to tell me they want the legislature to be less expensive, and this bill does not address that.”

The bill would reduce the size of the House by 10 districts after each Census until the House membership drops to 153.

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

|

5

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Med-Mal Stats Level Off As Court Rules Pay Off Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille announced a leveling off in the number of medical-malpractice case filings statewide after a six-year decline.

quired medical-malpractice actions to be brought only in the county where the cause of action takes place-a move aimed at eliminating so-called “venue shopping.”

Although the figures released today for 2011 show a slight increase in the total number of lawsuits filed, there remains a 44.1% overall decline in filings for the latest reporting period from the statistical “base years” of 2000-2002. In Philadelphia, the judicial district with the largest caseload, the decline exceeded 65% during the same period.

The figures also show 2011 had the fewest number of jury verdicts in comparison to earlier years. The same data also shows more than 70% of the jury verdicts were for the defense. The number of non-jury verdicts for 2011 remained in single digits for a sixth consecutive year.

The base years are the period just prior to two significant rule changes made by the Supreme Court. The first change required attorneys to obtain from a medical professional a certificate of merit that establishes that the medical procedures in a case fall outside acceptable professional standards. A second change re-

“What we’re seeing is essentially a leveling off in what had been a growing decline in numbers that is not surprising,” Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille said. “Although the numbers are likely to show slight changes in the years ahead, the pattern suggests a solid footing for the systematic tracking and rule changes initiated and instituted a decade ago by the Supreme Court to address con-

cern over medical-malpractice litigation.”

The AOPC began methodically collecting data from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties seven years ago as part of the judiciary’s commitment to intergovernmental collaboration in addressing medical malpractice litigation issues. Counties also began to track med mal case information to enhance the focus and accuracy of data collections.

New statewide Rules of Civil Procedure were promulgatedPaRCP 1018 and 1042.16-to help identify med-mal cases together with a new rule of Judicial Administration-PaRJA 1904-to codify the reporting requirements. An extensive collection of data, rules and other information may be viewed on the medical malpractice resource page of the Pennsylvania Judiciary’s website at http://www.pacourts.us/Links/Media/Medical Malpractice/default.htm.

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

|

6

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Sen. Williams: Citizens, Send Videos On Budget!

As budget negotiations heat up to head toward completion, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.) is urging constituents to ensure their voices are heard on how they think the state should spend its limited resources.

Williams, who serves as Democratic chair of the State Government Committee, has introduced a new feature on his website, Budget Stories. Constituents can submit a video up to three minutes long, offering their priorities for the 2012-13 budget. The feature can be found at http://www.senatoranthonyhwilliams.com/budget-stories.

“Governing requires a two-way conversation. That’s the basis of our democracy,” Williams said.

“Yes, our lives are busier than ever, and finding the time to be more engaged, to write those letters or drop by a legislative office, has become more difficult. I get that.

“Thankfully, technology is helping to close these gaps. And we want to encourage constituents to use the full spectrum of tools to express themselves. That’s what this initiative is all about.”

Williams plans to draw insight from the submitted videos for ongoing budget discussions as well as upload selected clips to his social media pages and other outlets. All entries should be family-friendly in tone.

Budget Stories is just the latest effort by Williams to deepen citizen engagement in the legislative process.

A year ago, he introduced a statewide contest for citizens to submit legislative suggestions to lawmakers. That inaugural competition contest yielded a new bill to protect against false claims of non-payment on child support by allowing noncustodial parents the right to have their child-support payments documented with the State.

Likewise, another submission led to an amendment to a bill submitted to help put criminal background checks under the purview of the State, rather than error-prone private firms, whose mistakes have cost would-be employees job offers. The amendment would prohibit disclosure of misdemeanor offenses committed when the applicant was under 21 as well as misdemeanor offenses by an applicant who has been free of arrest or prosecution for seven years or more.

“As these cases demonstrate, some of the best ideas come from beyond the Capitol, and creating avenues to amplify them just makes sense,” Williams said.

“Today’s technology is helping in cost-effective ways. Many cell phones now have video features.

I want people to use them.”

Those without video equipment can call the office before June 1 at (215) 492-2980 to schedule a taping.

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

|

7

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

5 New Democrats Take Oath Of Office Today Five Democrats who won special elections on Apr. 24 took their oath of office during a ceremony at 11 a.m. today at the State Capitol to begin serving their districts in the Pennsylvania

House of Representatives.

The five new members of the House are State Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery), Ed Neilson (D-Northeast), Martin

Michael Schmotzer (D-Allegheny), Harold James (D-S. Phila.) and Gary Williams (D-N. Phila.).

City Picks A Vendor To Provide 311 App The City of Philadelphia announced that a vendor has been chosen to produce a 311 mobile application to help Philadelphians file service requests. The app will work across platforms, including iPhone, Android and others, will directly integrate requests into the City work order systems and will allow users to submit requests through Facebook and Twitter. City officials expect the app to be ready by Labor Day. “The new state-of-the-art app will engage citizens across all devices in ways never achieved before and will allow Philadelphians to have City government at their fingertips,” said Richard Negrin, deputy mayor for administration and coordination and managing director.

8|

posals were originally received.

Chief Innovation Officer Adel Ebeid said, “This is yet another innovative approach for using technology to bring residents closer to their government. In many instances, 311 is the front door to government and the new Philly311 mobile app is yet another tool for streamlining the feedback and interaction process.”

PublicStuff, a New York Citybased company with Philadelphia roots, has agreed to produce the app as part of an $18,000 one-year contract. The company was chosen through a competitive process by a working group comprised of representatives from the Office of Innovation & Technology, 311 and the Managing Director’s Office. Four pro-

PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •

PublicStuff Founder and CEO Lily Liu said, “We are thrilled to work with the City of Philadelphia to build out their 311 service request tool. The project is especially meaningful to us since we launched our company, PublicStuff, in the City of Philadelphia and consider it home. The Philadelphia Mayor’s Office has already proven to be a leader in technology initiatives.

We’re excited to see them incorporate the app and tool to further enhance city services and engage residents in a new, innovative way.”

App users will also receive “push” notifications when their service request is updated, will have the option of anonymous

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD reporting and will be able to view existing requests on a map.

The selection is a great example of Philadelphia as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovative businesses.

The organization began in a Philadelphia business incubator, Good Company Ventures, which was sponsored by the Nutter Administration. The company focuses on solving community issues through mobile tools. More than 110 cities currently use PublicStuff technology. The company will open a satellite office in Philadelphia in conjunction with one of its investors, First Round Capital. PublicStuff is a minority- and woman-owned business and is currently filing for MBE/WBE certification.

Council Invites Vets To Resource Fair Council President Darrell L. Clarke announced City Council will hold a Veterans Resource Fair on Monday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Inquirer Building on 400 N. Broad Street.

“With our men and women still facing danger abroad, it is a travesty that any returning service member faces difficulty finding work or receiving benefits owed to them,” Clarke said. “Yet the recession appears to be impacting veterans in a disproportionate way.

“The City of Philadelphia owes a debt to American veterans that

can never fully be repaid. That being said, we should try each and every day.”

“I am excited and appreciative the Veterans Advisory Commission has been re-energized under the leadership of Council President Clarke,” said Councilman David Oh, the only veteran on City Council. “Each member of City Council has demonstrated their commitment to recognize and repay the veterans and active-duty military people who call Philadelphia their home.

“As a veteran, I am proud that City Council and the Veterans Advisory Council will host the

first-ever Veterans Resource Fair. I look forward to this event growing and offering more resources to the brave men and women who have earned them.”

More than 20 City and local agencies, including the Dept. of Health and the Dept. of Housing, will be on hand. Nonprofits and corporations including PECO, Philadelphia Legal Assistance and Philabundance also will be represented.

To RSVP or receive more information about the Veterans Resource Fair: Reinvesting in Your Potential, see City Council’s website or call (215) 686-3256.

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

|

9