Ron Panepinto Jewelers
7001 ROOSEVELT BLVD.
700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
PHILADELPHIA, PA 215-331-6600 Jim Stevenson Union Member Sales Representative
J.Stevenson@northeastlincoln.com
Vol. X. No. 32 (Issue 445)
GPUAC: Tackling Large Problems large and small was an early hallmark of “the Urb” and it remains a trademark of GPUAC today. The initial supporters of “the Urb” included major private-sector entities such as banks that wanted to play a role in relieving problems in the ghetto. So from the beginning, it was prepared to consider the role of capital in social problems. Under the leadership of its first executive director Charles Bowser and leaders such as Congressman Bill Gray and Wilson Goode, “the Urb” tackled redlining. (Cont. Page 23)
Bonusgate Could Boost Perzel To Speakership Though Philadelphians haven’t been paying much attention to the “Bonusgate” scandal unleashed by Attorney General Tom Corbett when he filed 289 criminal counts against a dozen Democratic insiders last month, it could well spell the end of the Democratic control of the State House and the possible return of Speaker Emeritus John Perzel into the Speaker’s role. The gist of the scandal is Democratic staffers were receiving bonuses for working in campaigns, essentially underwriting political campaigns. It’s running big in local papers throughout Western Pennsylvania, stirring up as
much voter resentment this time as happened when the legislators gave themselves a pay raise in the wee hours of the morning in the last session. It may not have as much of an impact, but Republican sources feel the fallout will shake out some Democratic State Representatives. Already concern among Democrats has caused State Rep. Josh Shapiro to publicly ask Majority Leader Bill DeWeese to resign his leadership post, insisting he knew what was happening and “as the Democratic leader, he should take responsibility.” (Cont. Page 23)
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Homelessness? Jannie Blackwell Has An Answer!
“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”
by Tony West It was inspired by a will to tackle large problems and it is not afraid of size. When the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition’s forerunner, the Philadelphia Urban Coalition was created in 1969, Philadelphia’s inner-city minority communities were awash in crisis, anger and despair. The problems of crime, poverty and ignorance were deep-seated. Many local people wanted to make a change at a grass-roots level and many large bodies wanted to help them. Making that bridge between
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There was a time, not too long ago, when Philadelphia seemed to be one city with an effective answer to reducing homelessness. Its official number of homeless was down to 400. Today, that number is estimated at 4,000 “and growing,” according to State Sen. Anthony Williams, who joined Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell this week on a mission to provide the kind of supportive services now in effect in New York, a city which spends $1 billion a year on the homeless. Blackwell visited New York with a panel of Philadelphia’s top personnel involved in the homelessness problem. She came back with a fourpoint plan she feels can begin to reduce the numbers dramatically. (Cont. Page 2)
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August 7, 2008
ON A MISSION to end homelessness is Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. She has support of State Sen. Anthony Williams, who is setting up a StateCity committee to explore additional funding for changes.
Sheriff Offers Foreclosure Help Facing a foreclosure on your property? Get help by going to the Sheriff’s office, the agency that handles foreclosure sales. That’s because Sheriff John Green continues to forge new avenues to help those with foreclosure problems. He has now made available to those who need it, without charge, the services of a top Foreclosure Intervention Specialist twice a week. The specialist Jim Johnson, with 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, will meet with individuals on Tuesday and Thursday at Sheriff Green’s office, on the 5th floor of the Land Title Building, Broad & Samson Streets, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Johnson has an extensive background in management of loss mitigation, assisting with work out resolutions and as director of sales and marketing for a title insurance and settlement services company. To schedule an appointment with MAYOR Michael Nutter shares this photo with “Brave Warriors” Mr. Johnson, contact the Sheriff’s OfMime Group as he kicked off Philadelphia’s 25th year celebrating Nafice at (215) 686.3570 or (215) tional Night Out. Annual event was staged at Wal-Mart parking lot in 686.3548 for voice mail. Walk-ins are South Philadelphia. (More Pics Page 13) welcome.
National Night Out Marks 25th Year