Vol. III No. 110 (475)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
July 9, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Gold In The Water PHILA. WATER DEPT. will hold hearings every day this week to discuss proposed rate increases. See story inside.
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Jul. 13Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell celebrates her birthday h osting and feeding city’s homeless at Holmes School, 5429 Chestnut ST. from noon till 4 pm. Jul. 16Phila. Tea Party Patriots and So. Philly/CC group meet at Prudential Bank Bldg., 1843 Oregon Ave., 7 p.m. Parking and entrance in back. Jul. 21Fundraiser for State Rep. John Taylor in N. Wildwood at Coconut Cove, 400 W. Spruce Ave., N. Wildwood, N.J., 2-6 p.m. , $25. Cash Bar. For info (215) 545-2244. Jul. 219th Annual Healthy Hoops Program, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s University Michael J. Hagan Arena, 5400 City Avenue. For youngsters 3 to 16 with asthma, heart or weight problems. Hosted by Amerihealth Mercy Foundation, Keyswtone Mercy Health Plan and Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace. Call 215-8636666 to register. Jul. 21Rep. Gary Williams’ 32nd Ward’s 5th annual Fee Summer Day Trip to Wildwood, NJ, hosting seniors and children at no cost for full day of fun, water park rides, and beach frolic. Three Buses leave
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from 16th and Berks sts. at 8 a.m. and return at 8 p.m. Jul. 27Former Sheriff Barbara Deeley hosts evening with Councilman Bob Hewnon at 270 Seabreeze Court, Anglesea, NJ. 6:30 to 9 pm. Contribution $100. Make checks payable to Bobby 11, POBox 22614, Phila. 19110. RSVP badeeley@gmail.com or call 215906- 0339. Jul. 28Brady Bunch Beach Party at Keenan’s in Anglesea, Wildwood, N.J., 4 p.m. Tickets available at door. Aug. 18Barrett Rec Ctr. Advisory Board Community Day, 8th & Duncannon Sts., 11 a.m.-3 pm. No charge. Family fun day. All invited. For info Sheila Bellamy (215) 457-4079. Aug. 1847th Ward Crab & Shrimp Fest to Baltimore leaves Progress Plaza, Broad and Oxford Sts., 1 p.m. Open bar, massive menu. $150. For info George Brooks (267) 971-5703. Aug. 19Annual Bill Meehan Clam Bake at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd., 4-8 p.m. Ferko String Band entertains. For details call Republican City Committee (215) 561-0650.
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Voter ID: How Many Lose? Administration, Foes Differ The vast majority of registered voters in Pennsylvania have identification that can be used for voting, according to a recent comparison of the Dept. of State’s voter-registration rolls and PennDOT ID databases.
between the Dept. of State and PennDOT databases, 22%, or 167,566, are inactive voters, most of whom have not voted since 2007.
“This thorough comparison of databases confirms most Pennsylvanians have acceptable photo ID for voting this November,” Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele said. “This comparison takes into account only voters with PennDOT IDs, and does not include voters who may have any of the other various acceptable forms of ID.”
One of the reasons a voter can be put on “inactive” status is if he or she has not voted in five years. A notice must be sent asking if the voter is still at the listed address. If the voter does not respond to this notice, the voter is placed on “inactive” status. Federal and state law require keeping an “inactive voter” on the registration list until he or she has not voted in two consecutive general elections for federal office after the date of the notice.
All voters identified as not having a PennDOT ID number will be contacted by letter this summer, reminding them of the new voter-ID law, what IDs are acceptable for voting purposes, and how to get a free ID if they don’t have one.
“Even though many voters identified in this comparison as not having PennDOT IDs are ‘inactive voters’, most of whom have not voted since 2007, we will err on the side of caution and include them in this mailing,” Aichele said.
County election directors will also be provided with the names and addresses of voters in their counties who did not match any record in the PennDOT database.
Other registered voters may not have matched PennDOT’s list due to a variation in names between the voter registration and PennDOT databases.
The database comparison shows: 91% of Pennsylvania’s 8,232,928 registered voters have PennDOT ID numbers Of the 758,939 voters who could not be matched
For example, an individual who is registered to vote as Jon Smith but whose driver’s-license name is Jonathan Smith, would not show as a match, and (Cont. page 5) • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) GAH-ZINTA - A name for something that is unknown or has a name that has been forgotten, temporarily. For example: Integrated circuits are those things that gah-zinta a computer.
GAME SEASONS - The various games played in South Philadelphia had seasons. It was uncanny. It seemed that some unwritten code mandated when games were to be played. Playing a game
4 BIG SALES WEEKLY
out of season was almost unheard of. For example: paper football was only played after the football season opened; springtime is when we played marbles. Some silent message signaled the end of one game season and the beginning of another. Not only did the game season rely on the weather or ongoing events, but it seemed like it started on a given day. One day, no one played a particular game. But the next day everyone played it because its season had started. That game was played until the next game season started. GEORGE THE PRETZEL MAN - His pretzels were soft, warm and delicious, but he watered down his mustard. He made a quart of mustard into about a gallon so that he could apply it to the pretzels with a paint brush. To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD be reported as not having a PennDOT ID number.
stress good news about the new voter-ID law. Philadelphia Democrats are taking a leerier view.
This list also does not take into account voters without PennDOT identification who have other acceptable forms of identification. Such other acceptable forms include identification from accredited Pennsylvania colleges or universities, Pennsylvania care facilities, military identification, valid US passports, other photo identification issued by the federal or Pennsylvania government, or employee identification issued by the federal, Pennsylvania, or a county or municipal government. All identification used for voting must have an expiration date and be current, except for Pennsylvania driver’s licenses or non-driver photo identification, which are valid for voting purposes one year past their expiration. Retired military identification with an indefinite expiration date is also valid for voting purposes. Voters who do not have an acceptable form of photo identification for voting can get one for free at any PennDOT driver-license center. We are committed to helping any eligible voter who does not have an acceptable ID get one to be able to vote in November,” Aichele said. “We are continuing our outreach to get the word to voters about this law. The goal of this law is to allow every legal voter to cast a ballot, but detect and deter anyone attempting to vote illegally.”
State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-W. Phila.) reminds her constituents that her office is ready to ensure that all eligible voters have a legal ID for the November election. “I want to make sure this crucial election is a fair and legitimate election,” Brown said. “That is why I am fighting to make certain anyone who is eligible to vote has everything they need to cast their ballots this upcoming election and every future election. “Recently, elected officials have commented they believe this new law will influence upcoming elections. How can that possibly be good for democracy? “A new report from state election officials shows that 18% of all Philadelphians registered to vote, more than 186,000 could be affected by this new law. “Our goal must be to encourage all who are eligible to get out and vote, not to make it harder for those who do vote,” she added. Brown’s office at 1435 N. 52nd Street has all the necessary forms for birth certificates and driver’s licenses, and her staff is able to assist the residents of her district in completing and submitting them.
Aichele, who is a Republican, has every reason to
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Commissioner Singer On Nat’l Talk Show City Commission Chair Stephanie Singer has become a go-to commentator as the storm over voterID legislation breaks in Pennsylvania. She debuts tonight on national TV.
“I’ll be on TV twice next week. I have a new way to explain why the law is so un-American, using some household tools as a visual aid. Please tune in!”
“Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time talking about Voter ID,” Singer told her supporters in an email yesterday, “especially since the Republican Dept. of State here released numbers showing the law will disenfranchise many Pennsylvanians, and will be especially onerous in Philadelphia.
Look for Singer’s appearances: Monday, Jul. 9, on the “Political War Room” on Current TV, between 9-10 p.m. Sunday, Jul. 15, on NBC10’s “@Issue with Steve Highsmith”, 11:30 a.m.-12 noon (local Philadelphia-area show).
Youngblood Announces Grant For Cleveland Sch. State Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood (D-Northwest) has announced the award of a $1.38 million federal School Improvement Grant to underwrite a new approach to education at Grover Cleveland School, which houses students from Head Start to 8th grade. Youngblood said the competitive grant — part of $6.9 million awarded to 10 schools through the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education — will enable Grover Cleveland to implement a Restart Model, under which it can re-open as a charter school or be operated by an education management organization. “This grant program seeks to give low-performing schools new and exciting options for improvement,” said Youngblood. “On behalf of those who 6|
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have worked hard to secure this funding, with the goal of providing a brighter academic future for our students, I thank the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education and the federal government.” Youngblood said that in an era of lean state funding for education – including more than $1 billion in state subsidy cuts over the past two years, which has ravished local school budgets – the infusion of $1.38 million in federal funding is a godsend for any struggling school. Youngblood said to qualify for the SIG grant, a school had to be among the lowest-performing schools in Pennsylvania that have failed to make substantial progress on state assessments or have a graduation rate of less than 60% in at least two of the last three years.
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Water Dept. Runs Hearings On Proposed Rate Increase The Philadelphia Water Dept. recently announced its proposal to seek rate changes, beginning October 1, 2012 to maintain the City’s top-quality water, alleviate flooding, meet regulatory requirements and improve the quality of local rivers and streams.
Broad & Master Streets *There will be a Spanish Interpreter present.
Five public hearings have been scheduled to provide customers with an overview of PWD’s programs and services and an opportunity to comment and ask questions. The first took place at noon today at Philadelphia Senior Center, 509 S. Broad Street. The remaining four hearings are listed below:
“Water rates fund the day-to-day operation of our 6,000-mile water and sewer pipe network, pumping stations, water and wastewater treatment facilities. They support a host of programs that ensure that our product ranks among the top in the nation,” stated Deputy Finance Commissioner Joseph Clare. “They also ensure that the system will work for decades to come. The proposed new rates will allow PWD to meet all of our operating expenses and fund extensive capital improvements to protect the infrastructure and in turn, protect residents from flooding during increasingly intense rainstorms.”
Tuesday, Jul. 10, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Wolcoff Auditorium 5800 Ridge Avenue Thursday, Jul. 12, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Holy Family University, Campus Center Conference Room 115 9801 Frankford Avenue Monday, Jul. 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. YMCA North Philadelphia
Tuesday, Jul. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. White Rock Baptist Church 5240 Chestnut Street
The proposed changes to rates and total monthly bills over the four-year period are below. These increases represent an average of $4.10/month or about a 6.5% annual increase. The current FY12 total monthly average bill is $57.43.
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD Residential Customer Average Monthly Billings
Fiscal Year Percentage Increase of
Additional Monthly
Total Monthly Bill
Monthly Bill
Water & Sewer Charge
2013
6.1
$3.52
$60.95
2014
6.2
$3.76
$64.71
2015
6.7
$4.36
$69.07
6.9
$4.75
$73.82
2016
Income eligibility for the senior citizen discount is being raised to $30,800. Other assistance programs, including discounts for qualifying individuals and educational/charitable institutions, will continue.
For more information about the proposed rates filing and process, please visit the Department’s website at www.phillywatersheds.org.
Collins-Greenwald Skippers Public Property Mayor Michael A. Nutter last week appointed Bridget Collins-Greenwald as the new Commissioner of the Dept. of Public Property. CollinsGreenwald succeeded Joan Schlotterbeck on her retirement on Jun. 9. “I’m confident Bridget’s broad experience in the Managing Director’s Office and her work on vacant property, as well as the Mayor’s Facilities Task Force, will serve her well as she takes the Department’s helm,” Mayor Nutter said. “I am excited to take on the role as Commissioner of Public Property. I look forward to continuing the hard work and improvements that have taken place under Commissioner Schlotterbeck,” said Collins-Greenwald. “Serving the City of Philadel8|
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phia and its residents is a privilege, and it is an honor to maintain City Hall, one of the most treasured landmarks in Philadelphia.” Collins-Greenwald was first employed by the City in 1997 in the Office of Human Resources. She then moved to the Dept. of Licenses & Inspections where she rose to Deputy Commissioner for Operations. In 2010, she became Deputy Managing Director and was responsible for initiating and implementing the Mayor’s vacant land strategy; served as the Chairperson of the City’s Space Allocation Committee, and coordinated the citywide Facilities Task Force, chaired by Tom Knox. Collins-Greenwald also served as the Managing Director’s de-
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD signee to the Philadelphia Housing Development Corp. Board, as a member of the City’s labor negotiation team working on union contracts and as a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.
continue to be involved in implementing the vacant land strategy and serving on the Facilities Task Force. She holds a BS in Business Management from Drexel University and a Master’s in Human Resources Management from Holy Family University.
As Commissioner of DPP, Collins-Greenwald will
A Brand-New Park Is Dedicated In S. Philly Mayor Michael A. Nutter dedicated Hawthorne Park, Philadelphia’s newest public park at 12th & Catharine Streets in South Philadelphia. The park is the fourth new park added to the Parks & Recreation system this year. At three quarters of an acre, the $2.1 million greenspace features a world-class landscape, cutting-edge sustainable features and new public art honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Joining the Mayor at the dedication were Michael DiBerardinis; Deputy Mayor for environmental and community resources; Mark Focht, first deputy mayor for Parks & Facilities; Michael Johns, acting deputy executive director of housing operations, Philadelphia Housing Authority; Drew Becher, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Cindy Dunn, deputy secretary for conservation & technical resources at the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources; and Pat Bullard, chairperson of the Hawthorne Enterprise Center.
space. We identified a deficiency in South Philadelphia and acted to correct it. This is a great case of planning informing action and follow through,” said Nutter. Formerly the site of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Homes towers, the location was previously a vacant gravel lot, containing urban fill. Hawthorne Park represents a green keystone in the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s dramatic revitalization of the neighborhood beginning in the late 1990s. The original master plan called for open space, and robust community engagement in the design process ensured the implementation of this vision. A design team headed by LRSLAStudio incorporated the community’s desire for a park that was simultaneously green, relaxing and animated. More than 50 trees, 4,000 square feet of plant beds and 19,000 square feet of lawn were planted.
Hawthorne Park represents a key milestone in Mayor Nutter’s Greenworks plan and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Green2015 plan – both of which urge investment in greenspaces in underserved areas.
Monumental granite seatwalls and game tables create places for mingling. An ample stage area exists for public performances. In addition, the Hawthorne is part green infrastructure with sustainable features such as 6,000 square feet of permeable paving, a high-efficiency irrigation system, bike racks and drought-tolerant plantings.
“Greenworks has committed the City to bring all Philadelphians to within a 10-minute walk of open
From concept to completion, Hawthorne Park benefitted from robust collaboration among neighbors, • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD funders, state and local government and non-profits. Funding for the park came from a $1.1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources, $300,000 in capital funding from the City of Philadelphia, a $300,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community & Economic Development grant, $250,000 from The Pew Charitable Trusts through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and $250,000 from The
William Penn Foundation through PHS. “In many ways this represents a community’s vision triumphing over adversity,” said DiBerardinis. “From the very beginning, groups like the Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition ensured this project remained a priority. I think it’s clear that others will invest in places that have such strong champions.”
Memorial Fund Is Set Up For Slain Motorcycle Cop Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby wishes to announce a memorial fund has been set up at the Philadelphia Police & Fire Federal Credit Union for Police Officer Brian Lorenzo.
Fund” and contributions can be made at any PPFCU branch or by phone at (215) 931-0300. Lorenzo was killed in the line of duty yesterday. He leaves a wife and three children.
The fund is named the “Brian Lorenzo Memorial
Alliance Française To Honor Barnes Foundation Head DEREK GILLMAN, president of Barnes Foundation, will receive Ambassador of the Arts Award from Alliance Française de Philadelphie at annual Bastille Day event. Photos by Bonnie Squires 10 |
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The Alliance Française de Philadelphie will honor Derek Gillman, of Merion, president of the Barnes Foundation, with its Ambassador of the Arts Award at the annual Bastille Day dinner event on Jul. 14 at the Independence Seaport Museum. Nancy Gabel, of Wynnewood, VP of the Alliance Française and chair of the Bastille Day event, announced the schedule: At 7:00 p.m. there will be a cocktail reception, followed by a buffet dinner by Brulee Catering and Chef Jean-Merie Lacroix. There will be dancing under the stars with live music by the Fred Hall Orchestra and Susan Gay, of Bryn Mawr, as vocalist. There is also an open bar. There is a large silent auction, and the raffle prize is two
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD round-trip tickets to Paris on Delta-KLM-AirFrance-Alitalia. Gillman was appointed president of the Barnes Foundation in October 2006. From 2001-06 he held the position of president and director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he oversaw the celebration of the institution’s 200th anniversary in 2005. Prior to moving to the Academy as Executive Director and Provost in 1999, Gillman served as deputy director of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia’s largest encyclopedic art museum. From 1985-1995 he was keeper (equivalent to director) of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, which houses the Robert & Lisa Sainsbury Collection of modern art, antiquities, and the arts of Africa, the Pacific region and the Americas. Since its founding in 1903, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Alliance Française (nonprofit) has encouraged the study of the French language and
literature, promoted French culture and fostered friendly relations between France and the United States with a uniquely Philadelphia touch, style and tradition. Members of the Honorary Committee include the Hon. Michael E. Scullin, honorary Consul of France in Philadelphia & Wilmington; Diana M. Regan, president of the Alliance Française; Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown; Donald R. Caldwell; US Sen. Robert P. Casey; State Sen. Daylin Leach; Congressman Patrick Meehan; Leslie Miller and Richard Worley; Mayor Michael A. Nutter; Hon. Edward G. Rendell; State Rep. James R. Roebuck; Dr. Neil L. Rudenstine; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz; Hon. Arlen Specter; and Joseph Zuritsky. Sponsors of the event include Arkema, Trois Petits Cochons and Lillet. For tickets and information call (215) 735-5283 or visit the website at www.afphila.com.
SEEN HERE at planning meeting at Barnes offices are, from left, Martine Chauvet, executive director of Alliance Française; Andrew Stewart, director of communications for Barnes Foundation; and Nancy Gabel, of Wynnewood, VP of Alliance Française and chair of Bastille Day event.
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Police Crackdown Begins In Wissahickon Park Sgt. Mike Vassallo of the 5th Police Dist. informed the Friends of the Wissahickon of a step-up in patrolling and law enforcement in and around Devil’s Pool and Valley Green Inn in Wissahickon Valley Park. Officers began the enforcement with an allday intensive enforcement effort yesterday, Jul. 8, and will continue enforcement activities throughout the summer. A group of officers from the 5th and 14th Police Dists., along with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Park Rangers, will begin intensive patrolling and enforcement in the area to combat a variety of problems that afflict the area each summer, including illegal parking, swimming, diving, and littering, and violations of open container laws and the City-wide leash law which requires all dogs in the
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park to be on a six-foot leash. “We will be enforcing all park rules and regulations, as well as citywide laws,” said Sgt. Vassallo of the effort, which will involve officers in patrol cars and on foot, bike, and motorcycles. “This time of year is the peak season for use of the park around Valley Green Inn and Devil’s Pool,” said FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy, “and every year we see an increase in environmental damage to the park and the creek, car break-ins and thefts, and injuries related to illegal swimming and diving. The extra effort put forth by these officers is greatly needed and appreciated.”