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
www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds
Serving Citywide Political, Labor, Legal and School Communities of Philadelphia
Vol. X. No. 48 (Issue 461)
“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”
Value 50 ¢
November 27, 2008
Sheriff Makes Cell Phones Into Crime Fighters by Rory G. McGlasson The Philadelphia’s Sheriff’s Office wants your old cell phones so they can be refurbished and then used to fight crime. To show how it can be done, Sheriff John Green’s office distributed 80 of its new 9-1-1 cell phones to two victim-service agencies: Women Against Abuse and Northwest Victim Services. Under Operation ICE (In Case of Emergency) and Project CELL (Communications in Emergencies to Save Life and Limb) programs are combined that will allow cell phones to report crimes as well as to summon help.
Sheriff John Green ...seeks cell phones
The 911 Cell Phone Bank is a nationwide program designed to maximize community cell-phone donations. In cooperation with The Cell Phone Bank, endorsed by Sheriff John Green and the National Sheriff’s Association, cell phones are issued to the public which will enable them to contact help at no cost. In addition, this enables quick response not only by law enforcement and medical aid, but allows for the notification of loved ones. The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office is the only lawenforcement agency in the City and County of Philadelphia that partners with the National 911 Cell Phone Bank. (Cont. on Page 2)
Waters Adds Goals As PLCB Chair
Every Hungry Belly Gets A Turkey Fill by Tony West As dark clouds of recession cast a gloomy shadow over the approaching holidays, civic leaders pulled together to ensure no family would go without a joyous Thanksgiving meal. One large effort was led by Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition. This agency, which specializes in linking neighborhood nonprofits to major corporate supporters, marshaled Thanksgiving meal fixings for more than 1,000 low-income families across the city. GPUAC itself provided the turkeys. Brown’s Family ShopRite, a chain with a strong tradition of charitable giving, rounded up the other dinner ingredients from its vendors, among them Pepsi and Glory Foods. The ShopRite handled storage challenges. A horde of volunteers from corporate sponsors gathered at the ShopRite on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia Saturday to pack (Cont. on Page 4)
TOBACCO EXPRESS Claymont, Delaware
TRI-STATE MALL
(302) 798-7079 5 Minutes from Comm. Barry Bridge, Naaman’s Rd, Turn Left, Next to K-Mart
Marlboro
$
.75
37
Camel
$
Carton
Kool
$
.75
36
Carton
.25
37
.9
28
$
Carton
Eagle
$
Winston
Carton
Salem
.75
34
Carton
Monarch
$
28.9
Carton
$
37.25
Grand Prix $ 28.99
Carton
(Prices Subject to Change) • SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks To Your Health
...crime fighters
BOB BRADY …Hill’s ‘Mayor For Life’
Brady Still ‘Mayor On The Hill Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Congressman Robert A. Brady has been re-elected Chair of the Committee on House Administration. At a Democratic Caucus meeting Congressman Brady was nominated as Chair by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and unanimously approved by the Democratic Caucus. Congressman Brady is the first Philadelphian to chair either a full or subcommittee since then-Congressman Bill Gray was Chairman of the Budget Committee in the 99th and 100th Congresses. (Cont. on Page 2)
Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus have elected State Rep. Ronald G. Waters as its chairman. Other officers chosen include State Rep. Jake Wheatley, vice chairman; Rep.-elect Kenyatta Johnson, secretary; and Rep.-elect Vanessa Brown, treasurer. Waters, a House member since 1999, previously held the positions of PLBC treasurer and, most recently, vice chairman. Waters said members of the PLBC have accomplished many legislative initiatives under the direction of former chairman, State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, such as passing legislation to increase the minimum wage and supporting a Committee of the Whole legislative session focusing on gun violence. "There is still more work to be done to pass legislation that will decrease health disparities, lower the crime rate, create more economic opportunities, promote increased funding for education and help senior citizens and children," Waters said.
REP. RON WATERS …heads PLBC
Boys Towns Of Italy Fetes DeBenedictis Philadelphia’s labor community continues to be one of the main fundraisers for the Boys Town of Italy, now marking its 63rd year from the day a group of orphaned young Italians were transported to a seaside villa near Rome in August 1945 by the US Army. From that inception to now, the Boys’ Towns of Italy have provided, (Cont. on Page 3)