Ron Panepinto Jewelers
Jim Stevenson
700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
9371 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114 215-698-7000 JStevenson@ChapmanAutoGroup.com
Vol. XI. No. 48 (Issue 513)
“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”
The fate of the Port of Philadelphia hinges on the outcome of a hearing in the US District Court in Wilmington, Del., taking place Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 9:30 p.m. That hearing is to decide if a 20-year ef-
GRIM-FACED PRPA Board Chairman John Estey and State Rep. Bill Keller advise rally of Port workers Delaware’s efforts to end dredging project will prove economically disastrous.
rights of all firefighters and paramedics equally, no matter their race, their gender or their religion. We represent all members equally. That is our history. That is why we have always fought against two-tiered wageand-benefits schemes that would ben-
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November 26, 2009
Army Corps Of Engineers Rebuts Delaware Challenge
Fire Fighters’ Chief Answers Charges
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It’s Grow Or Die For Port In Federal Court, Dec. 8
Around the City, turkeys – some with accompanying trimmings and some without – are being given to needy families in time for Thanksgiving, thanks to the efforts of unions and elected officials. Notable for its yearly effort to deliver a minimum of 1,000 turkeys is IBEW Local 98, under the supervision of Business Mgr. John J. Dougherty, Jr. The union delivers the birds to many legislators and community groups for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas. 8th Dist. Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller announced her 15th annual Turkey Drive to benefit her constituents in need. The annual holiday turkey giveaway started while Miller worked with the late David P. Richardson, Jr. of the 201st Dist. Since 1996, after Miller became Councilwoman, she continued the drive and partnered with current 201st Dist. (Cont. page 6)
IAFF Local 22 President Bill Gault has rejected charges filed against his Union by Club Valiants, an organization of Black firefighters. He said, “Local 22 does not allow or condone discrimination in any fashion at any level. We fight for the
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efit one group over another.” Fire Lt. Kenneth Greene, president of the Club Valiants, said his lawsuit names Local 22, the Concerned American Firefighters Association and the City as defendants in the Federal class-action lawsuit. Greene was reported as stating, “I’m tired of trying to get Local 22’s presidents to sit down and talk with us. I want to stop the racist practices because it is dividing the union.” Gault noted, “The union’s job is to ensure the safety, health and financial security of all firefighters, paramedics, their widows and survivors. Every member has an equal say in the operation of the Union. Every mem(Cont. page 2)
fort to get the River dredged to an additional depth of five feet will be able to move forward or come to an economically-disastrous end. The State of Delaware has challenged a decision by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Delaware River shipping channel without awaiting long-delayed permits from the State of Delaware. Dredging to the depth of 45 feet is necessary to permit the new wave of larger ships now plying the oceans, as well as those ships currently under construction, entrance into the Port of Philadelphia. Delaware has petitioned the Court, alleging its right to approve or disapprove the project was being ignored by the Corps. Should Delaware’s motion prevail, the dredging will come to a halt. The process would have to begin again with funding, which is now in place, no longer available. By then, shippers and shipping lines presently using the Port, as well as worldwide shippers, have indicated they will need to reroute their destinations for the majority of ships now requiring channel depth to 45 feet. Asking to intervene on behalf of the Corps was the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, which has long since received the necessary Federal and Pennsylvania State (Cont. page 2)
Sheriff SOS’s For Homeless Philadelphia Sheriff John Green’s office has launched its Holiday Drive for Homeless – SOS (Socks Or Shoes). The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office is looking for donations of new socks and shoes for men, women and children, which will be accepted until Dec. 16. It’s an annual SOS effort to give poor families the things they need most. Rev. John H. Roberts, special assistant to the Sheriff, the coordinator and contact person for this event, said, “This year’s drive was guided by studies that indicate items most needed in the homeless communities are socks and shoes. We serve God by serving one another.” To make a donation during this holiday season, socks and shoes can be dropped off in the holidaywrapped boxes located at the five Sheriff’s Office locations. The Administrative Office at 100 S. Broad Street, 5th floor; the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street; Family Court, 1801 Vine Street or 34 South 11th Street; and Traffic Court, 800 Spring Garden Street, are all drop-off locations.