Ron Panepinto Jewelers
Jim Stevenson
700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
9371 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114 215-698-7000 JStevenson@ChapmanAutoGroup.com
www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds
Serving Citywide Political, Labor, Legal and School Communities of Philadelphia
Vol. XI. No. 40 (Issue 505)
“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”
Value 50¢
October 1, 2009
Bishop Bronson Sees Black Clergy More Focused by Joe Shaheeli She’s new to the job, but Bishop Audrey Bronson has not slowed down the pace set by her predecessors of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, an organization numbering over 400 African American ministers of various denominations. “We have already met with Gubernatorial candidates Tom Knox and Tom Corbett, and US Senatorial candidates Sen. Arlen Specter and Congressman Joseph Sestak. We’ll be meeting with others shortly,” she says, making it obvious BISHOP AUDREY BRONSON she knows a great deal of the power achieved by …assessing Black Clergy goals her group has come through its ability to unite
behind successful City, State and Federal candidates. As strongly sought after as the Black Clergy is by candidates, Bishop Bronson believes her group has a more-important role to play in the world of seniors, and in restoring equity to the criminal-justice system. She told her pastors at the first meeting she officiated of the Black Clergy, “It is time to forge our own path, one not influenced by the past or by others.” She feels this has to be, “if the battle to control guns, reduce violence on the streets and in the schools, and to insure public services help
those for which they are intended is to be successful. We have to do more. In order to do more, we have to step back, reassess what was done, and how not to cover old ground again.” Bronson is the first female to head the organization and definitely cuts a different mold than the majority of her predecessors. She projects less an aura of enthusiasm around her, than a calm anchored by the surety of her mission. Sitting with the Bishop in a small conference room in The Sanctuary Church of the Open Door, which she founded over three decades ago, it is easy to sense whatever path her group (Cont. Page 2)
PHA’s Homework Pays Off Big Time Philadelphia Housing Authority’s aggressive grant-writing efforts have nabbed two more HUD awards, bringing Philadelphia’s affordable-housing stimulus total to $127 million, jump-starting new construction and modernization projects at six PHA developments.
COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell and PHA Executive Director Carl R. Greene stand beside picture of future Mantua development on its site. Greene’s grant campaign proves successful again.
Why Casino Foes Keep On Fighting Could a generational shift in how people view gambling mean the beginning of the end for new casino development and any rise in the income of casinos now in business? There is a strong belief “the new generation of potential gamblers would rather do their gambling online
than go to existing casinos and those now being built in this city.” Online gambling covers every facet from poker to blackjack to Texas hold ‘em, to college and professional sports, to horseracing. Even dice-rolling and high-stakes backgammon are online. (Cont. Page 2)
Enjoy Columbus Day Festival at Marconi Plaza October 11. Call Jody Della Barba at 215-334-6673
Mayor Michael Nutter joined PHA Executive Director Carl Greene in Mantua to announce an additional $22 million in Federal stimulus funds for PHA. These funds are in addition to the $91 million PHA received earlier this year through American Recovery & Reinvestment Act formula funding and the nearly $14 million in competitive grants announced two weeks ago. PHA sought capital funds in all four of HUD’s competitive grant rounds and was successful in all but one round. The first competitive grant, totaling $13.9 million, will help PHA demolish and rebuild the outmoded Paschall Apartments in Southwest Philadelphia. The second and third grants, announced last week, will provide $10 million for new construction at the former site of Mantua Hall in West Philadelphia and $12 million for wheelchair-accessibility upgrades at four existing PHA sites. (Cont. Page 3)
Union Claims District Underpays Workers The School District of Philadelphia may owe some of its food-service workers and noon-time aides back pay amounting to over $ 4 million. Making that claim is the Philadelphia Joint Board of Workers United/SEIU which has asked the Mayor and City Council to investigate
potential wage and hour violations affecting 2,300 employees. The union charges they are being paid below the minimum set by the City’s 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard enacted in 2005. That law requires the City to pay municipal (Cont. Page 2)
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