Vol. III No. 119 (484)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
July 26, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
A Senator In Motion
SCOPING OUT his probable new district, State Sen. Vincent Hughes was delighted to hear praise from (left to right) Leslie Richards, vice chair of Montgomery Co. Board of Commissioners; former State Sen. Joe Rocks, CEO of NHS Human Services; Sharon Powell-Lee of Comcast; and Jason Salus, Montco Treasurer. More pictures inside. Photo by Bonnie Squires
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Jul. 26State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown hosts Beat The Heat In The Street at Kelly Pool, 281 N. Concourse Dr., 1-5 p.m. Free. Jul. 27Former Sheriff Barbara Deeley hosts evening with Councilman Bob Henon at 270 Seabreeze Ct., Anglesea, N.J., 6:30-9 p.m. Contribution $100. Make checks payable to Bobby 11, POBox 22614, Phila. 19110. RSVP badeeley@gmail.com or call 215- 906- 0339.
267-808-0287 Jul. 28Brady Bunch Beach Party at Keenan’s in Anglesea, Wildwood, N.J., 4 p.m. Tickets available at door. Jul. 28Rep. Rosita Youngblood hosts Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Seminar at Nicetown Community Development Corp., 4340 Germantown Av., 10 am to 3 pm. For info, call 215-849-6426.
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Jul. 31Ebenezar SDA Church, 1437 Christian St., hosts Alzheimer’s Symposium, 6 to 10 pm. RSVP July 25-800272-3900 Aug. 3Arthur Green’s 14th Ward Cool Summer Madness Night, New Barber’s Hall, Broad & Oxford Sts., 9pm, $10 admission.
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Aug. 6Golf Outing to support Charles Gehret, Penna. State Senate GOP candidate in 17th Dist., at Sand Barrens G.C., 1765 Rte. 9 N., Swainton, N.J. Registration 9 a.m. For info Judy Camiel (610) 668-1730. Aug. 15Happy Hour FundraisEr for City COmmission Chairlady Stefanie Singer,5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Happy Rooster, SWC 16th and Sansom, enter Sansom St. $100 to $500. Checks should be made out to Friends of Stephanie Singer, 250 S. 17th st., 701, Philadephia, PA 19103. 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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Senate Rivals Take Stands On Tax Cut Pennsylvania’s contenders in the November senatorial race wasted no time striking opposite positions on yesterday’s vote, in which the US Senate’s narrow Democrat majority passed a measure that will allow the raising of taxes on the highest income-earners, while extending middle-income tax cuts: I would have preferred that these tax cuts be extended for earnings up to $1 million but I believe voting for this bill was the right thing to do to prevent a tax increase of about $2,200 on Pennsylvania working families. This bill also extends tax relief to 97% of small businesses and therefore will provide them with a measure of certainty that will help sustain job creation across the Commonwealth. “There is much work left to be done this year to protect middle-class families and reduce the deficit. Therefore, it is imperative that Republicans and Democrats work together in the best interests of the people of Pennsylvania and the United States. I have supported a trillion dollars in spending cuts and more spending cuts are needed. At the same time, we can’t afford to further add to the debt by
extending the tax cuts for the wealthiest few.” His opponent, Western Pennsylvania coalmineowner Tom Smith, slashed at Casey’s vote, saying, “Today, Bob Casey, Senator Zero, again demonstrated his loyalty to President Obama by casting votes that punish small businesses, families and threaten our country's economic recovery.” Smith continued, “Having voted in favor of higher taxes more than 50 times, Casey’s governing philosophy is crystal clear: grow government, spend more and raise taxes. “Pennsylvania deserves a United States Senator who will fight for small business, reform the tax code, and encourage entrepreneurs to expand and create jobs. Instead, Pennsylvania's Senator Zero votes in favor of policies that actually cost us jobs.” Smith charged 940,000 small businesses will be hit by a big tax hike. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, “75% of small businesses are organized as pass-through entities, meaning they pay taxes on their business income at the individual rate.”
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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) HORSE STABLES - were in many neighborhoods. They housed the many horses and wagons in the area. Like garages, they were in residential areas. HORSE WATERING TROUGHS - were provided for the many horses throughout the city. They were also a great place
for a thirsty kid to get a drink of water that was really cold. There is a trough at Broad Street & Oregon Avenue. Another is at 24th Street & Passyunk Avenue. Of course, they do not operate now. HOSE BALL - was played like half-ball or pee-wee, the differ-
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ence was the ball was a six inch piece of garden hose. It was to be batted with a length of broom or mop handle. HUCKSTER - John-a-Moske sold fresh fruit and vegetables from his horse-drawn wagon along Fifteenth Street, South of Snyder Avenue. His horse white was called Chubby. John carried the bags of produce into his customers homes when they could not to come to the wagon. Talk about service. HULA HOOPS - were four foot rings of plastic frustration that was a fad in the fifties. The idea came from Australia about 1958. It was marketed by the Wham-O Corp. At $1.98, Wham-O and a lot of other manufacturers sold about thirty million or so of them. The object was to get the hula-hoop to twirl around one's waist or other part of the body. It was only restricted by one's ability to cause the hoop to do what it was supposed to do. I called it frustration because I did not, nor will I probably ever, master it. My sister Bernice seemed to have a magical power over the hula-hoop. She made it seem like child's play, which it was. To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
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Casey Bill Would Boost Natural-Gas Investments STATE SEN. VINCENT HUGHES planned ahead when he held a fundraiser in Conshohocken! Redistricting will probably add Conshohocken to his territory, so he got a head start at Great American Pub event on Jul. 25. Here Hughes greets Amy Grossman, a Whitemarsh Twp. supervisor; Jason Salus, Montgomery Co. Treasurer; and Bob Hart, chair of Whitemarsh Supervisors, who is also a possible candidate to replace retiring legislator Mike Gerber. Photos by Bonnie Squires
INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS came to salute Hughes as well.. Seen here are, from left, Hughes; Dana Yamate, Gail Chavis, Connie Vile, and IBX Senior VP Stephen Fera.
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LABOR-UNION SUPPORT was evident in support of Sen. Hughes, as seen by presence of, from left, Vernon Woodall, Bill McLane, Charles Tabourn and Daniel “Tiger” Woodall, Jr., all from the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 135.
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Extra Hearing Scheduled For Water Rate Hike Philadelphia Water Dept. recently announced its proposal to seek rate changes, beginning Oct. 1, 2012, to maintain the City’s top-quality water, alleviate flooding, meet regulatory requirements and improve the quality of local rivers and streams. An additional public hearing has been scheduled in the Lawncrest section of the city for customers
to continue to comment and ask questions. It will be next Tuesday, Jul. 31, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6500 Tabor Avenue. Even with the proposed additional rates, PWD’s water and sewer charges will continue to be among the lowest in the region.
Stack, Tomlinson Announce Grant For Torresdale Hospital PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 2012 — State Sens. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) and Robert Tomlinson (R-Montgomery) have secured $3 million in state funding for an expansion project at Aria HealthTorresdale in Northeast Philadelphia. The lawmakers presented the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds to the hospital at a news conference yesterday. The Emergency Dept. construction project at Aria’s Torresdale campus will expand current capacity from 30 to 42 beds, while also helping streamline patient evaluation and treatment, meeting both minor and major emergency care needs effectively and efficiently. The $37 million project is expected to be complete by March 2014.
“Every second counts in an emergency. Quick and accurate decisions lead to better outcomes, and this expansion project will help Aria medical personnel do their job while meeting the rising demand at the hospital,” Stack said. “It’s important that the state supports our health care providers, which are providing a much-needed service in our communities. Aria is committed to providing quality care to every single person that walks through the doors, so this additional state funding is good news for the hospital, its patients and the entire community.” “In addition to the quality of care, this project will create jobs”, said Stack. “Aria expects to create 200 new jobs as a result of the emergency department expansion, and that’s in addition to the 1,500 jobs they already supply at Aria-Torresdale, and 4,000 jobs they have created on their Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County campuses.” • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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OIG Busts Fraudulent Woman-Owned Business Following a Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General investigation into a woman-owned subcontractor arrangement, the City of Philadelphia has entered into a $1.85 million settlement with a prime city contractor and will initiate debarment proceedings against the subcontractor. Philadelphia Inspector General Amy Kurland has released a summary of the OIG’s investigation, which found prime contractor Prison Health Services, Inc., now known as Corizon Health, Inc., subcontracted with JHK Inc. to make it appear JHK – a City-registered, woman-owned business – had provided pharmaceutical supplies to the Philadelphia Prison System. In fact, JHK was paid only for the use of its name and its woman-owned business certification. ?”For more than four years now, the Philadelphia Inspector General has been aggressively rooting out fraud and corruption in city government and among those who do business with the city,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I applaud Amy Kurland and her hard-working staff who have saved or recovered millions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers. Regarding this case, the City will not tolerate any business that fraudulently circumvents our antidiscrimination policies.” The Inspector General said, “Many disadvantaged yet qualified small businesses are still struggling to keep people on the payroll. We’re
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committed to leveling the playing field here in Philadelphia so all businesses can compete for City contracts and create jobs for talented minority-, women- and disabled-owned businesses.” In documents provided to the City, PHS represented that it had entered into a subcontract with JHK worth 40 percent of its $196 million healthcare contract with the Philadelphia Prison System. Instead, from 2007 to 2011, Secure Pharmacy Plus LLC and Maxor National Pharmacy Services Corporation actually provided pharmaceuticals to the Philadelphia Prison System while PHS paid JHK more than $410,000, about 1% of the total contract value, to make it appear that JHK was supplying pharmaceuticals. JHK admittedly failed to provide any services to the Philadelphia Prison System other than placing its name on paperwork PHS submitted to the City. In addition to the settlement with PHS, Kurland recommended that the City remove JHK from the OEO registry of certified M/W/DSBEs and initiate debarment of JHK and its owner from participation in any City contract for two years. Acting on the IG's recommendation, the City has removed JHK from its registry and begun the debarment process. As part of the settlement, PHS agreed to strengthen its corporate compliance program by reviewing all of its subcontracting agreements to en-
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sure compliance with City anti-discrimination policies. PHS has appointed an M/W/DSBE Compliance Team Member, who ensures that M/W/DSBE requirements are fully understood by PHS personnel and who, along with PHS's in-house counsel, must approve the M/W/DSBE portion of any bid or contract submitted to the City or any City-related agency. PHS will also provide training to its employees about these requirements.
Additionally, PHS is developing a corporatelevel vendor diversity program and will join the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council in order to continue to promote diversity among its vendors nationwide. “We hope this investigation sends a message that compliance with the City’s anti-discrimination policies is essential,” Kurland said.
City Hires Engineers For ADA Sidewalk Ramps The City of Philadelphia has undertaken massive efforts to ensure the ADA federal standards are properly in place. Since early 2010, the City of Philadelphia and PennDOT review teams have worked together to approve approximately 2,500 ramps in the city. An additional 2,000 ramps were approved as a result of state projects in Philadelphia. This week, the City has contracted with Dawood Engineering to support those efforts. Dawood will be leading a team, comprised of McCormick Taylor, UCI Architects, and Hunt Engineering, to review and design ADA ramps on an on-call basis. Dawood has a great deal of expertise and experience working on similar projects from recent ADA review teams in the City and statewide. “Philadelphia is one of the nation’s largest cities, and an important destination for visitors. We are
proud to be working directly with the City of Philadelphia to help the birthplace of our nation to be accessible to all,” stated Bony Dawood, the firm’s president. Dawood may also be called upon to prepare ADA related technical manuals, perform field survey, public involvement surveys, and conduct educational training services for City personnel. The team is cognizant of the prominent historic nature of the City that attracts millions of tourists each year, with its structures and cobblestone sidewalks. Dawood, founded in 1992, is a multi-disciplined consulting firm with a corporate office located in the Harrisburg region, with additional Pennsylvania regional offices near Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Sayre, and Hershey; and an Ohio regional office in Canton.
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