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PhiladelphiaPublicRecord

Vol. XV No. 6 (Issue 680)

“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”

www.PhillyRecord.com

February 7, 2013

Value 50¢

Dancing Like The Dickens

SEPTA! ‘Best Of Best’

AMERICAN Public Transportation Association has awarded SEPTA its “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award”. Celebrating were, from left, State Reps. Vanessa Lowery Brown and Jordan Harris, SEPTA General Mgr. Joe Casey, Councilmen Jim Kenney and Bill Greenlee, and Assistant General Mgr. Frances Jones. Other Photos Page 3.

Why Pension Crises Won’t Go Away See Reasons Why - Page 2

KINGSESSING Morris Men perform ancient English country dance at Charles Dickens Statue in Clark Park to honor that author’s 201st birthday, while their comrades trip the light fantastic with Democratic 27th Ward Leader Carol Jenkins, who sashays down line of dancers in USP’s Griffith Hall at Dickens’ Birthday Party.

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Black History Supplement call John David 215-755-2000

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The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 2

Pensions Crisis Could Drag Corbett Down

by Tony West The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a few problems with its public pension plans. To be precise, 827,773 of them.

That is the number of members in the State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System combined, according to a report released

by State Treasurer Rob McCord on Jan. 31.

Retirees number 308,167; paying into these two systems are 390,565 current employees.

These plans are hurting because not enough money has been put into them to meet expected future legal obligations. Gov. Tom Corbett vowed to tackle state pension woes in the budget he proposed this week.

Politically, state pension plans can be a live rail for elected officials who wish to reform them. It’s not hard to see why: if one out of five households depends on them for survival in old age, they form a powerful voting bloc that is leery of tinkering with them.

Tinker we must, however.

McCord’s report states the ac-

tuarial funded ratio of SERS ended the year 2011 at 58.6% while PSERS’s ratio was 66.4% at the end of its fiscal year on Jun. 30, 2012. These ratios measure projected future liabilities against future values of the assets held by these funds. Short form: The money won’t be there when it’s some people’s turn to get theirs.

But there was a time when state pension plans were responsibly funded. From 1996 through 2003, their funded ratios stood at 100% or more.

The seeds of rot began earlier, though. Starting in 1994, the Commonwealth – under newly elected Republican Gov. Tom Ridge – slashed its contributions to fund SERS. (The employees’ contributions remained the same.) Starting in Ridge’s second term, in 1999, PSERS began to get the same treatment.

“The practice of contributing less than was required to meet future obligations during those periods contributed $3.5 billion and $2.25 billion to the deficits at SERS and PSERS, respectively,” McCord’s report concluded.

What lifestyle do these

pensions offer? A modest one.

The average annual annuity for a SERS retiree is $25,083; PSERS pensioners average $24,122 yearly.

Public pensions are under pressure across the nation.

Pennsylvania is not in great shape. But other states are far worse. Ohio’s public-pension liabilities add up to 36% of that state’s gross domestic product.

New Jerseyans owe 29% of their GDP to public pensioners.

But unfunded pension plans are not an act of God, beyond local control. Citing a study by the Pew Center on the States, McCord’s report notes that neighboring New York state’s liabilities are 94% funded.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in municipal pension plans – at least in sheer numbers.

McCord’s report says there are 3,196 local-government defined benefit plans in the United States. Of those, 1,422, or 44%, are in Pennsylvania.

Most of these locally sourced plans are tiny; onethird of them have three or fewer active members.

Any effort Corbett makes to rein in state pension costs

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

Will AVI Taxes Reflect Housing Price Decline?

House prices in Philadelphia decreased by an average of 4.2% last quarter. Home prices are still up 0.4% from a year ago, but the stalled growth from Q3 has turned into a more-significant decline in the fourth quarter.

With that in mind, will City Council and Mayor Michael Nutter settle on AVI rates that truly reflect the real-estate value of every home? If so, will those rates bring in lower revenue to the City than anticipated?

Overall, there were 3,164 arms-length sales of singlefamily homes this quarter.

This is down 3.7% from the previous quarter, but still up

13.4% from the same quarter a year ago.

Median price per square foot was $88. There were 307 sales in the most-expensive category with prices over $200 per square foot, and 490 in the least-expensive category of $25 per square foot or less.

The number of home sales with values of more than $1 million continued its upward trend. There were 33 of these homes this quarter, up from 24 the previous quarter and 13 in the same quarter a year ago.

The median sale price of $120,000 represents a 5.5% decrease over the previous quarter, but an increase of 14.0% over the same quarter

one year ago. Unlike the index value, the median price is not quality or seasonally adjusted.

Housing prices in the Central area of the city fell 6.0% from the housing market peak in 2007, but have recovered 5.5% from the 2011 trough.

With a total population of almost 110,000 and a land area of 5.7 square miles, the Central District is one of the most-densely populated areas of Philadelphia. It is also one of the best-educated and mostaffluent areas, with approximately two-thirds of residents over 25 holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, and an average household income of over $90,000.

will face unusual political constraints. While his Republicans enjoy majorities in both houses of the General Assembly, their margins are tight. And while Republicans usually make do without much electoral support by state employees, school employees are a different constituency to which many Republican legislators listen.

Even at the executive level, Corbett is in an unprecedented pickle. All three state row offices – Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer – are held by Democrats now.

Treasurer McCord and Auditor General Gene DePasquale

both hold independent number-crunching positions. If any of Corbett’s proposals look shaky to them, these officials will not hesitate to knock them down.

Further complicating the knot is that pension obligations are legal obligations. If any reform idea of Corbett’s is legally dubious, Attorney General Kathleen Kane has the power to challenge it.

During her successful campaign in 2012, Kane vowed to investigate Corbett for other causes. She will not flinch from undermining his Administration on pensions either.

AFSCME Sues Nutter: Furloughs ‘Unconstitutional’ Long stung by Mayor Michael Nutter’s cost-saving measures, city workers have decided to sting back in court.

The Center City law firm Willig, Williams & Davidson, representing AFSCME Local Union 2186 and AFSCME District Council 47, has filed suit with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeking relief from the City’s “complete and unabashed derogation of AFSCME members’ property rights” enacted under Philadelphia Civil Service Regulation 16.

The suit was filed late Friday afternoon, Jan. 25.

Its target is the unlimited furlough provisions recently enacted by the Civil Service Commission which “grants unfettered discretion to the City to furlough AFSCME’s members, prohibits AFSCME’s members from earning or receiving compensation during the furlough period, lacks any procedures or criteria to effectuate furloughs and prohibits AFSCME’s members from appealing a furlough at any time and under any circumstances is, on its face, unconstitutional under both the

United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions,” in the lawsuit’s words.

The lawsuit seeks to enforce city workers’ Constitutional claim “not to be deprived of their property interest in continued employment without due process.”

Public employees have a property interest in their continued government employment pursuant to the just clause provisions of the Home Rule Charter, the Pennsylvania Constitution (Article 1, Sections 1 & 26) and the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, the suit alleges.

Prior to the new Civil Service Regulations, AFSCME members could appeal a layoff when the layoff did not comply with ‘the required procedure’ or ‘the layoff has not been made in good faith or was otherwise improper,’ Willig, Williams stated in its brief.

The new provisions basically state any employee can be furloughed at the whim of any manager for any reason, at any time and for any duration and there’s nothing the employee can say about it before, during or after.

The Philadelphia Public Record (PR-01) (ISSN 1938-856X) (USPS 1450) Published Weekly Requested Publication ($30 per year Optional Subscription) The Philadelphia Public Record 1323 S. Broad Street Phila., PA 19147 Periodical Postage Paid at Philadelphia PA and additional mailing office POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: The Public Record 1323 S. Broad Street Phila. PA 19147 215-755-2000 Fax: 215-689-4099 Editor@phillyrecord.com EDITORIAL STAFF Editor & Publisher: James Tayoun Sr. Managing Editor: Anthony West Associate Editor: Rory G. McGlasson Social Media Director: Rory G. McGlasson Editorial Staff: Joe Sbaraglia Out & About Editor: Denise Clay Contributing Editor: Bonnie Squires Columnist: Hon. Charles Hammock CitiLife Editor: Ruth R. Russell Dan Sickman: Veteran Affairs Creative Director & Editorial Cartoonist: Ron Taylor Photographers: Harry Leech Kate Clarke Leona Dixon Production Manager: William J. Hanna Bookkeeping: Haifa Hanna Webmaster: Sana Muaddi-Dows Advert. Director: John David Controller: John David Account Exec: Bill Myers Circulation: Steve Marsico Yousef Maaddi The Public Record welcomes news and photographs about your accomplishments and achievements which should be shared with the rest of the community. Contact us by phone, fax, e-mail or by dropping us a note in the mail. If you mail a news item, please include your name, address and daytime telephone number so we can verify the information you provided us, if necessary. The Public Record reserves the right to edit all news items and letters for grammar, clarity and brevity. ©1999-2011 by the Philadelphia Public Record. No reproduction or use of the material herein may be made without the permission of the publisher. The Philadelphia Public Record will assume no obligation (other than the cancellation of charges for the actual space occupied) for accidental errors in advertisements, but we will be glad to furnish a signed letter to the buying public.

funds that are not spent by April 2013. Royer said the Department had “made this decision in part because some counties in recent years have not spent or earmarked significant portions of their remaining Section 251 funds.”

Royer went on to inform Clark, “The Department is sensitive to the unique needs of Philadelphia Co. as it relates to polling-place accessibility and we are also familiar with Philadelphia’s history regarding compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. We also appreciate how critically important these funds are in furthering your efforts to bring Philadelphia’s polling places into compliance.

Therefore the Department is inclined to work with you to extend the deadlines outlined in Commissioner John Marks’ Nov. 16 letter as they relate to funds earmarked for polling place accessibility.”

Clark compliments the effort by the Dept. of State to recapture over $1.2 million from Help America Vote Act, Section 251, funds targeted to increase ADA access to more of this city’s polling places.

Chairman Clark also said he will continue to fight for an increase in the pay for poll workers.

“These unsung community heroes put in more than a 10-hour day. They have not received an increase in a decade.”

“DO/AC”, Atlantic City’s famous tourist slogan, is not ringing any bells attracting Pennsylvania slot players.

They are doing their thing in the Commonwealth and losing enough bucks to set another record in income to the State from gambling.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reports gross revenue from slot-machine gaming for the 2012 calendar year of January through December was $2,470,935,317, FROM LEFT, State Rep. Scott Petri, SEPTA Chairman or 2.7% higher than in calen- Pasquale “Pat” T. Deon, Sr. and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley condar year 2011, when gross rev- gratulate SEPTA at Agency’s Center City HQ. enue totaled $2,405,867,897.

According to Spectrum Gaming Group – a gaming-research and professional-services firm – that haul put Pennsylvania behind only gambling Mecca Nevada.

Spectrum reports for a full year ending Oct. 31, 2012, Nevada produced $6.8 billion in slot-machine revenue, compared to $3.1 billion for Pennsylvania.

SEPTA Independence Pass Ideal For the Flower Show Saturday, Mar. 2 from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 3 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Monday-Friday, Mar. 4-8 from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Mar. 9 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Mar. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Showgoers can beat the morning and evening commuter crowds by traveling to the Convention Center before and after rush hour. Independence Passes are not valid on Regional Rail trains arriving to Center City before 9:30 a.m. on weekdays.

The One Day Independence Pass costs $11 per person. The $28 Family Independence Pass provides unlimited travel for one fam-

ily of up to five people, traveling together on any one day, on all regularly scheduled SEPTA service (at least one person, but no more than two, must be 18 years of age or older).

While additional fees apply on Regional Rail travel to and from Trenton and West Trenton, N.J., passengers still save when purchasing Independence Passes over individual rail tickets.

Passes can be purchased in advance — they are not activated until the date they are punched by a SEPTA operator, cashier or conductor.

Independence Passes are sold at all SEPTA Regional

Rail Ticket Offices, SEPTA Sales Offices, the Transit Gift Store and SEPTA Sales Office at 1234 Market Street and online at shop.SEPTA.org. Independence Passes can also be purchased on board SEPTA Regional Rail trains.

As an added bonus, SEPTA customers can purchase discounted Flower Show tickets — $28 for adults and $15 for children ages 2-16 —at all major SEPTA Transit Sales Offices and Regional Rail Ticket Offices.

For more information on tickets, passes and “shedules”, visit www.septa.org or call SEPTA Customer Service at (215) 580-7800.

State Reps. Maria Donatucci and Tina Davis congratulate SEPTA Board Member John Kane.

STATE HOUSE Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph congratulates General Mgr. Joe Casey on tremendous achievement.

State Reps. James Clay and John Taylor discuss how SEPTA achieved its recognition with General Mgr. Joe Casey.

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

SEPTA can take its passengers “across the pond” without leaving the Delaware Valley when they ride one of the Authority’s buses, trains or trolleys to the 2013 Philadelphia Flower Show, “Brilliant!”, a tribute to Great Britain.

The Flower Show will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Mar. 210.

Riders don’t need their passports for this excursion.

SEPTA’s “One Day Independence Pass” and “Family Independence Pass” offer customers convenient, economical and unlimited oneday travel on all SEPTA trains, trolleys and buses.

The Flower Show is open

SEPTA Riders Get The Best!

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

by Joe Shaheeli Contrary to the confusion over the provisional ballot voting last November, Chairman Anthony Clark, of the City Commissioners’ Office, said this week, “We work hand in hand with a very cooperative agency.”

He indicated proof of this was the Pennsylvania Dept. of State’s latest effort to work with the City Commissioners to insure more voter accessibility on all levels.

Shannon E. Royer, Deputy Secretary for External Affairs & Elections, informed Chairman Clark the Dept. of State would honor Chairman Clark’s request to reconsider its decision to close the county grant agreements for the Help America Vote Act and recapture any

Only Nevada Tops PA Game Revenue

Page 3

Department of State Responds To Clark Request For ADA Aid

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 4

Heavy Support Seen For Butkovitz Kickoff

City Controller Alan Butkovitz has lost no time in criticizing Brett Mandel’s Bulldog Budget website, released with fanfare recently.

Butkovitz charges Mandel with publishing inaccuracies which have forced Mandel to withdraw some of the material from that website.

Butkovitz blasted the Bulldog Budget website as inaccurate without waiting for the kickoff of his reelection campaign at the Center City Sheraton Monday, at 11 a.m.

Based on RSVPs received, a veritable Who’s Who will be present, including some Republicans.

He noted Mandel’s site had hoped to detail how every penny of the City’s $3.5 million budget is spent. Mayor Nutter’s administration has been working on such an effort for some time now.

Explaining why Mandel beat the Mayor to the punch with just Right to Know requests and a tech savvy friend, Adel Ebeid, the Nutter’s chief innovation officer, was reported in the major media as saying, “We thought it was

Promoting Military Academies

SUBMARINE Captain Lt. Commander Robert Crosby, 21year Navy servviceman, is interviewed by Congressman Bob Brady about his monthly breakfast show on WURD radio discussing Crosby’s tour of 1st Congressional Dist. high schools providing information about admission to military academies.

In photo are Ducky Birts, Glenn Ellis and Cody Anderson. more important to make sure we’re publishing accurate data than just releasing an app and getting a headline.”

Butkovitz agreed. “It is inaccurate. The first thing that I did was look myself up and his site said that my salary was $128,000.”

Butkovitz said that he had frozen his salary a few years ago, along with the Mayor and other city officials, and

actually makes much less than what Mandel reports. A search of the site revealed that the “Budget Bulldog” misreported those officials’ salaries as well.

Mandel had originally refuted the charges of inaccuracy in the UPenn student paper.

But today, Butkovitz stated, if you go to his site to look up salaries, they are all gone, including his Butkovitz, Nutter,

and all city employees. This quiet removal of one of the hallmarks of his budget app is an early stumble by Mandel.

The Controller’s office is in charge of auditing every department of city government and publishing, what the public trusts are, accurate results.

Butkovitz added, once you raise questions about the accuracy of the information being released then you start to question the source.

He concluded, “The Controller’s audits cannot be a source that the public does not trust. Looks like the Nutter Administration got it right in erring on the side of releasing accurate information rather than rushing to grab a headline.”

Will Hope Survive Judicial Primary?

Mayfair native Christine Hope has thrown her hat into the Democrat primary for judge. She will face an estimated 20-plus fellow contenders, from the reports coming in from ward leaders and campaign consultants. Vacancies to be filled may go up to nine or more.

She started her legal career

STATE SENATOR

LEANNA M. WASHINGTON

Delco To Host Women Dems

MAYOR Delores Butler, of Yeadon, and Dr. Carolyn Collins, president of Women’s Democratic Club of Delaware Co., are co-chairs of 86th annual statewide Penna. Federation of Democratic Women conference, Jun. 27-30, being held for first time in Delaware Co. Dr. Collins is also director Photo by Bonnie Squires of Region One of Federation. with the Defenders Association, paign will be to help Pennsylserving from 1989 to 1994. She vania’s municipalities make established Beloff & Hope PC their own decisions without over 15 years ago, handling a being dictated to by the Govwide range of cases spanning ernor and the State Legislature the gamut of marital cases. ... that’s one long haul.

Like we played with her Koplinski, an attorney, has name in headline above, the been a Harrisburg City Counformer wife of the late Judge cilman for the last five years.

Adam Beloff is using it as Campaign-savvy, he was well. Her motto: “Time for statewide political director for Hope ... for Judge”.

US Sen. Arlen Specter’s 2010 Will This Early Bird Senate effort, Central PennGet The Worm? sylvania political director for Harrisburg City Council- Sen. Hillary Clinton in her man Brad Koplinski, a Demo- 2008 presidential campaign crat, has announced he will be and controller for the 2008 a candidate for Lieutenant Obama-Biden Pennsylvania Governor. campaign.

The platform of his cam(Cont. Page 5)

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

DISTRICT OFFICE

1555-D Wadsworth Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19150 (215) 242-0472 Fax: (215) 753-4538 WEB SITE www.senatorwashington.com

Rep.Maria P.

Donatucci

D-185th District 2115 W. Oregon Ave. Phila PA 19145 P: 215-468-1515 F: 215-952-1164

State Senator

Senator Tina

Tartaglione 2nd Dist.

127 W. Susquehanna Ave. 1063 Bridge St. Philadelphia, PA 19122 Philadelphia, PA 19124

215-291-4653

215-533-0440

Kevin J.

Boyle 172nd Dist.

7518 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

215-331-2600

State Rep. Cherelle

Parker

Anthony Hardy Williams

200th Legislative District 1536 E. Wadsworth Ave. Phone: (215) 242-7300 Fax: (215) 242-7303 www.pahouse.com/Parker

8th Senatorial District

2901 Island Ave. Suite 100 Philadelphia, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 Fax: (215) 492-2990 Always Hard Working .. . for You!

State Rep.

Councilman Wm.

Greenlee

Room 506 City Hall P. 215-686-3446/7 F. 215-686-1927

State Rep.

William Keller 184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

215-271-9190

5

City GOP Draw Many To Post-Election Rally

City Republicans Eye Primary Dream Ticket

The Republican leadership in town may be creating some excitement in the general election, and possibly the primary as well. Highly likely to become their candidate for District Attorney is Danny

State Unions To Sue If Pensions Get Cut

The two largest public-sector unions in Pennsylvania will sue the state if their members’ pension benefits are changed. That includes AFSCME and the Pennsylvania AFT. They say any changes would amount to a breach of contract, deemed unconstitutional in past state court cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati has said he’s wary of any pension-reform plan that results in a legal battle.

Sims Opens Office, Uses Babette Number

State Rep. Brian Sims (DS. Phila.) held an open house for residents of the 182nd Legislative Dist. last week at his district office, 21 S. 12th Street, Suite 182.

“I look forward to meeting more of the people I am honState Rep.

Kenyatta

Johnson 2nd Dist.

City Hall Room 580 Phila., PA 19107

215-686-3412

215-676-0300

State Senator

1802 S. Broad St.• Phila. PA 19145

Councilman

170th Dist.

14230 Bustleton Ave. Phila., PA 19116

215-744-2600

www.SenatorFarnese.com

City Commission staffer Tracey Gordon was tapped as one of 2013 African women

Boyle

(R) 177th Dist.

4725 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

Tel. 215-952-3121

Tracey Gordon Tapped For Jane Shepp Honor

Brendan F.

Taylor

First Senate District

ored to represent. This is a chance for you to see the new office, meet my staff and learn about some of the state services and programs we can help you with,” Sims said.

The 182nd Dist. includes Rittenhouse, Fitler and Logan Squares, the Gayborhood and parts of Washington Square West, Bella Vista, Graduate Hospital and Grays Ferry.

Regular hours for Sims’ office will begin Thursday.

The office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on state holidays. The office phone number is (215) 246-1501, the same as former State Rep. Babette Josephs’ office.

State Rep.

John

Larry Farnese

ELLA BUTCHER, judicial candidate, joined three dozen other Republicans at this month’s Paddy Whacks get-together with supporters Byron Johns, left, and Ed Jenkins.

R EPRESENTATIVE

]|ÅÅç W|Çà|ÇÉ GOP (215) 468-2300

A NGEL C RUZ DISTRICT OFFICE

3503 ‘B’ St. 215-291-5643 Ready to Serve you

VIC STABILE, right, Republican candidate for Superior Court, shared a moment with Ward Leader Pete Wirs at January monthly Republican leadership Council social at Paddy Whacks on South Street.

receiving the Joan Shepp award. Her picture will appear in Shepp’s women’s boutique salon window at 1616 Walnut Street.

Guv Has Strong Campaign Funds

Since money talks in election campaigns, the over $3 and half million Gov. Tom Corbett has in his campaign treasury is enough to guarantee only an insane Republican challenger will take him on. It all serves notice to those calling him a “one termer”, that his ability to raise even more will put him among the other high rollers who ran for governor and succeeded.

He has been waging a media blitz and his exposure with this budget message should earn him more Republican support from rank and file.

STATE REP. JOHN

SABATINA JR. 174th District 8100 Castor Ave Phila, PA 19152 T: 215-342-6204

PHILA. Young Republicans were alive and kicking at Paddy Whacks’ lively regular affair last week, with Chairman Steve Boc, 3rd from right, at helm.

United Dem Ward Leaders Of Color Host Cocktail Gala

Look for a major turnout of judicial and other candidates to appear at a cocktail gathering at 3801 Market Street hosted by United Democratic Ward Leaders of Color. The event kicks off at 6:30 and ends at 8:30. Tickets are $100, $1,000 per table of 10. Those interested in attending should send noncorporate checks made out to C & D PAC, 5409 Addison Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143. The majority of this

city’s Black ward leaders support this group. Popular activist Jeffrey Felder is treasurer. For further info call (267) 809-2626.

GOP Ward Leader Havey Posts On Craig’s List

Republican Ward Leader Annie Havey has posted information on Craig’s List for those interested in signing up to run for Republican positions of judge and inspector of election coming up this primary. Her efforts brought in 300 Republicans for minority clerk last election.

The PA FAIR CARE program helps Pennsylvanians with pre-existing health conditions. Many Pennsylvanians with pre-existing health conditions may find private health insurance plans to be unaffordable. The PA FAIR CARE program is subsidized with money from the federal government to make health insurance more affordable for people with pre-existing conditions. For more information or to submit an enrollment application, please call toll-free 1-888-767-7015 or visit pafaircare.com Parkwood Shopping Center 12361 Academy Road, Phila., PA 19154, 215-281-2539

State Representative

RONALD G. WATERS 191st Leg. District

8016 Bustleton Avenue Philadelphia PA 19152 215-695-1020

6027 Ludlow Street, Unit A

215-748-6712

COMMISSIONER

AL SCHMIDT ROOM 134

City Hall 215-686-3464

Open Mon. - Fri. 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Sen.Mike Stack SERVING THE 5TH DISTRICT

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

The Philadelphia Black Republican Council held its reorganization meeting and elected the following officers for the next two years: Calvin R. Tucker, chairman; Ronald Currie, secretary; Ronald Holt, treasurer; Lamont Foreman, financial secretary; Rev. Todd Johnson, chaplain; Joseph Thomas, assistant secretary; and Joseph Samuel, sergeant at arms.

According to Tucker, PBRC was formed to further engaged the African American community in a dialog which will result in a better understanding of the Philadelphia Republican Party, elect African American Republicans to one or more positions in the city, state and/or federal government, raise funds to support Republican candidates, and help all Republican candidates navigate the “sometimes stormy waters of the African American community” and to create business opportunities and jobs for African Americans.

The city hasn’t had a strong African American Republican since Dr. Ethel Allen served on City Council at Large in the ’80s.

Alvarez. He has a record of being a tough assistant District Attorney in prosecution of gun felonies for the eight years he worked in that office. He’s now in private practice and will make sparks fly.

Showing their inclusiveness, the Republicans in town may allow a fight for City Controller in the primary, by entering Megan Rath, a 32 year old, who works for Biotech insuring Orthopedic surgeons get the right tools.

If that occurs, look for news to be made as she contests business exec and declared candidate Terry Tracy.

This could be a dream ticket.

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

(Cont. From Page 4) Black GOP Council Elects Leadership

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 6

Heard on the Hill And City Hall

Sen. Williams Pushes AIDS Awareness Day

Union Labor…

Building it right for a better and stronger community!

Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and vicinity is comprised of four unions:

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

Local 332, Samuel Staten, Jr., Vincent Primavera, Jr. Business Manager/Co-Chairman L.E.C.E.T. Co-Chairman Local 135, Daniel L. Woodall, Jr., Damian Lavelle Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Local 413, James Harper, Jr., Fred Chiarlanza Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Local 57, Walt Higgins Harry Hopkins Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Laborers District Council, Ryan N. Boyer, Business Manager.

Laborers’ District Council promotes a safe work environment, jobs completed on time and on budget, and represents union members, who are well trained, productive, professional, and take pride in their work. Union labor…building better and safer communities in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.

This ad is presented by LECET The Laborers Employers Cooperation and Education Trust 319 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Telephone: 215-922-6139 Fax: 215-922-6109 Web: www.ldc-phila-vic.org Juan F. Ramos Administrator

According to city health statistics, nearly seven in 10 new HIV/AIDS infections are contracted by African Americans, with the 19143 zip code, in the 8th Senatorial Dist., one of the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS in the city.

To raise awareness about the importance of learning more about this disease, State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-W. Phila.), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., will host a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event today at 5 p.m. at Kingsessing Recreation Center, 4901 Kingsessing Avenue.

Information, confidential testing and free pizza will be provided to participants.

The facts around HIV/AIDS and African Americans still aren’t permeating the African American community, despite the fact Blacks in the United States make up 44% of the nation’s HIV cases, while only being 14% of the total US population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report close to one in 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV in his lifetime; for Black women, it’s one in 32. For Black women locally, heterosexual contact remains the lead cause of infection; for Black men, both heterosexual and male-to-male sexual contact are lead causes of infection.

“This horrific disease stands to decimate the African American community, but it doesn’t have to, not if we take charge by getting involved, getting educated and getting tested,” said Williams. “That’s what this event is about. We cannot let fear or stigma stop us from knowing our status and acting

Remembering The Supremes STATE REP. Rosita Youngblood and Mary Wilson, formerly of the Supremes, were among VIPs at opening of exhibit at African American Museum highlighting costumes worn by Miss Wilson when she sang with The Supremes.

Photo by Robert Mendelsohn Exhibit runs through June. proactively with that knowl- families out of the social service safety net and provide substanedge.

“Knowledge is power, so tial local tax revenue.

“These are the type of jobs come out and empower yourself,” he added. “Get the infor- that Pennsylvania public policy mation you need about should be fostering and encourHIV/AIDS. Get tested – it’s aging, rather than eliminating or free. And bring a friend. You shipping overseas.

“While Pennsylvania’s jobjust might save a life – yours.”

Tartaglione Blasts creation ranking has plummeted Liquor Privatization and its unemployment rate has State Sen. Christine M. remained stubbornly high, the Tartaglione (D-Kensington) administration has busied itself blasted Gov. Tom Corbett’s by tinkering with the parts of plans for Pennsylvania liquor state government that are funcstores stating “It’s obvious there tioning well. is little support in the General “Making it a little easier and Assembly for the Governor’s a little cheaper to purchase alstrange agenda and holding cohol is an odd priority to hold school funding hostage reveals while our cities struggle to put a sad desperation. enough police on the street to “After gutting staffing for make people feel safe, while a unemployment call centers, million citizens have no access Gov. Corbett’s plans for selling to health care and while urban off liquor stores and handing the and rural schools wonder how lottery to a foreign company they’re going to make ends would push the number of fam- meet. ily sustaining jobs he wants to “Gov. Corbett should be eliminate or ship overseas to making jobs, health care and more than 5,000. education easier to get not “Lawmakers on both sides booze.” of the aisle want Pennsylvania Rep. Waters Sponsors children to get a first-class edu- Informational Workshops State Rep. Ron Waters (Dcation and they’re willing to work to find a stable, sound W. Phila.) has scheduled five revenue plan for the workshops throughout his future. They’re not going to fall 191st Legislative District covfor a liquor-for-schools scheme. ering energy, housing, tax and Both the lottery and the liquor expungement topics.

Weatherization will be the store systems are returning significant revenue to the state, topic tonight at Turner Middle while providing jobs that keep (Cont. Page 7)

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The Public Record • February 7, 2013

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Philadelphia taxpayers deserve to know where their money is being spent and how effective are the City programs they fund, states Councilman Bill Green, and that was the goal of hearings held last Friday by City Council’s Finance Committee, which he chaired.

Last November, voters approved a ballot question authorizing Council to require the Finance Director to provide “information about the cost of performing specific functions, the effectiveness of such functions, and the costs versus benefits of proposed expenditures as part of the City’s budget.”

The additional information, part of a national shift towards so-called “program-based budgeting,” aims to identify efficiencies and gauge effectiveness of government programs.

“There’s a general feeling in the country that there’s got to be a better way [to budget],” Gary VanLandingham, director of the Results First Initiative at the Pew Center on the States, testified. “The challenge is people have a very hard time identifying where we’re not spending money wisely.”

Friday’s hearings concerned Councilman Green’s bill (Council 120109) introduced last February which would make the ballot question’s requirements into law. The bill would direct the Finance Di-

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Councilman Green’s Bill Seeks Budget Answers

PRESENTING Senate certificate to Delaware Valley Veterans Home Commandant Peter Ojeda, right, is State Sen. Mike Stack. Landmark nursing facility in Far Northeast just celebrated 10th anniversary. Residents commemorated with a color-guard parade.

R

As students, teachers and families alike struggle with the School District of Philadelphia’s hasty plans to close or merger dozens of public schools across the city, State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.) has proposed legislation which would suspend the School Reform Commission’s (SRC) authority to close or merge schools until 2014.

Under SB 341, the suspension will last until Jun. 30, 2014 to permit the school district to investigate changes in various areas and permit the school district and the General Assembly to consider financial reform.

“The Superintendent’s plan came as a shock to many families and school district employees across the city. Now, families are scrambling to figure out how their children will safely get to their new schools, and teachers and staff are worried about their jobs,” said Kitchen. “Many of these schools are in close-knit communities where families and staff alike care deeply about the education of our children,

rector to submit “complete program-based budgeting data for each function for which appropriations are made in the proposed budget, including both cost and performance data, with a goal of moving towards a zero-based budgeting approach” beginning with the submission of the 2016 (Cont. Page 8)

0

Kitchen Bill Would Stop School Closings

and it’s shameful that they were blindsided by the closures.”

Schools Superintendent William Hite’s plan calls for closing 22 elementary-school, four middle-school and 11 high-school buildings, as well as moving or merging several other schools. The SRC is expected to vote on the plan in March, according to the school district. Eight schools in the Senator’s district are scheduled to close.

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(Cont. From Page 6) School cafeteria, 59th & Baltimore, from 6 to 8 p.m. and again at the same time on Feb. 26 at the Roach Post, 6400 Paschall.

What is entailed in trying to get an expungement of a criminal record will be discussed at a workshop at Myers Recreation, 58th & Kingsessing, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Housing Forums on foreclosures and other topics will be held Monday, Mar. 4 at Christian Compassion CDC, 62nd & Cedar, and on Mar. 28 at 1st Genesis Baptist Church, 6901 Kingsessing Avenue.

Both run from 6 to 8 p.m.

His Mobile Office will work with constituents on Property Tax/Rent Rebates from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Mar. 6 and 7 at Walnut Park Plaza.

Page 7

Stack Honors Vets Home

Heard on the Hill And City Hall

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 8

Heard on the Hill And City Hall (Cont. From Page 7) budget. A pilot of the program-based approach would be launched in 2015. Green authored a policy paper on program-based budgeting during his 2007 campaign for Council.

“We spend a lot of money in the City’s budget, but we don’t have consistent ways to measure if those dollars are well spent,” the Councilman said. “This was part of the Mayor’s transition report when he was elected, I agreed with him then as I do now, and I’m excited to see the final Nutter Administration budgets move to program-based budgeting.”

Department budgets currently contain line items which

show what each dollar will be spent on: salaries, benefits, office supplies, travel, utilities, equipment, etc. The Program Budget shows what each dollar will accomplish, generally in the way of a measurable result achieved (such as a reduction in accidents, an improvement in health, an increase in customer satsifaction, etc.), or in the way of an activity performed (such as process a grant application, inspect a worksite, review a compliance activity, etc.).

“Program budgeting is a tool that can align an agency’s goals, strategies and budget,” Deputy Police Commissioner Nola Joyce said in submitted testimony. “It can help focus

the agency, executives and legislators on policy priorities and not on past patterns as reflected in a line item budget.”

The bill is under consideration by City Council.

Bishop Designates Feb. To Child Abuse Awareness

The State House has adopted a resolution introduced by State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D-W. Phila.) designating February 2013 as “Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.

“There are two reasons that I have introduced this resolution. One of them is to let victims know we are very sorry for the pain that you had to endure as a child sexual abuse victim,” Bishop said. “I want victims to know that you do have big brothers and big sisters in this legislature and we

are trying our best to protect you.

“Secondly, our message to abusers of child sexual abuse is this: the party is over and you will be exposed and apprehended as the days go by. We are watching you. Sexual misconduct against children is vile and horrifying.”

McGeehan Wins Records Fight Against Authority

A mostly favorable ruling by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records represents a qualified success in State Rep. Michael P. McGeehan’s (DNortheast) ongoing efforts to pry public information from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, according to the veteran Philadelphia Democratic lawmaker.

After the PHA failed to comply with his initial request for information related to its

landlords, McGeehan appealed to the OOR, which issued a final determination largely in his favor. The OOR ruled that McGeehan was entitled to two of the three items he requested: A list of landlords and the amounts of PHA money they’ve received in the past two years, and a list of landlords who have sought to participate in the PHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.

“For reasons only it knows, the PHA chose to fight me on what the Office of Open Records has determined are in fact public records,” McGeehan said. “I sincerely hope that the PHA now complies with my request, instead of digging in its heels and taking the next step by appealing this decision to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

(Cont. Page 14)

Corrections

In “Protecting Your Security & Privacy: Gun Owners’ Names Are Public Info” (Jan. 31), thanks to Jim Saring of the Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Dept. for letting us know that according to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, “The Office of Open Records has received numerous inquiries in recent weeks about whether concealed weapon permits and applications for weapons permits are public records in Pennsylvania pursuant to the Right to Know Law. They are not public records and as such not available for review or copy. Information is not public under the Right-to-Know Law when it is exempt from disclosure by another state law. Regarding firearms purchase and license information, the Uniform Firearms Act expressly prohibits disclosure of any information provided by a potential purchaser of a firearm or any applicant for a license to carry a firearm.”

----------------In “Pols on the Street” (Jan. 31), Judge Carolyn Nichols was incorrectly identified as “Judge Carol Simmons.” We regret the error.

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Our Opinion ...

Brady Finds A Way

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Philadelphians have gotten to know Congressman Bob Brady more as the “go-to man” to fix city problems than as the 1st Congressional Dist. representative and chairman of the Democratic Party.

They have seen him in key peacemaker roles in union, school, city, and community disputes. He was also the key man to go yo when nonpublic funds were needed to keep the Mummers Parade and now the city’s Bicycle marathon a continuing tradition.

He knows instinctively what needs to be done and the “contact” list on his cellphone includes everybody in this city who can help make a difference.

His latest role has been to save the enthusiasm of bicyclists racing against the formidable Manayunk Wall. He has formed a nonprofit with the hope of raising the $500,000 such an event will cost. Now those joining up know the necessary goal, and know they have his support, to keep the “Philly Cycling Classic” alive and a reality.

To his credit, he attracts the talent and places them on the track, letting them move forward as fast as they see fit.

What readers may not know is Bob is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he weekly teaches courses on organizational dynamics to students seeking their doctoral degree.

We now wonder why it is Mayor Michael Nutter insists on going to the courts to settle his contract grievances with the City’s unions. He should know to ask Bob to sit beside him and mediate his conflicts with the union leadership representing the City’s employees.

Kingsessing Ave., 5 p.m.

Feb. 8-9- Democrat State Committee meets at Hotel Hershey, Hershey, Pa. Republican State Committee meet at Hilton in Harrisburg, Pa. Feb. 7- State Sen. Anthony Feb. 8- State Sen. Shirley Williams hosts Nat’l Black Kitchen hosts public meeting on HIV/AIDS Awareness day at 2nd-chance legislation for inKingsessing Rec Ctr., 4901 mates at STOP, 2534 N. Broad

St. Lunch.

Feb. 9- Pasta Dinner Fundraiser for Omar Sabir at Masjid Muhammad, 414 E. Penn St., 47 p.m. All you can eat. Tickets $10, Children & Seniors $5, children under 4 free. For info Jeri Sabir (215) 554-7957.

Feb. 11- IBEW Local 98 Business Mgr. John J. Dougherty hosts fundraiser for Controller

Alan Butkovitz at Union HQ, 1719 Spring Garden St., 5:30-7 p.m. PAC $5,000, Gold $2,500, Silver $500. For info Marita Crawford (215) 410-9200.

Feb. 11- Council Members Jannie Blackwell, David Oh sponsor seminar on running for election board at USP PTC Bldg., Rm. 40, 636 S. 43rd St., 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 12- Germantown Republican Club hosts Lincoln Day Dinner at Racquet Club, 215 S. 16th St., 6:30 p.m. Tickets $65.

James E. Nevels receives Lincoln Award. For info Keith Kunz (215) 514-7703.

Feb. 13- State Rep. John Sabatina, Jr. hosts Mardi Gras Party at Ladder 15, 1528 Sansom St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets

$150.

Feb. 14- Campaign Finance Training presented by Board of Ethics and City Commissioners at BoE, 1515 Arch St., 18th fl., 5 p.m. Covering requirements for candidates and political committees. To obtain registration form email hortencia.vasquez@phila.gov.

For info (215) 686-9453.

Letters • Letters • Letters • Letters • Letters • Letters Corbett Was Corrupt

enough evidence from a teenage boy — known as Victim One — to charge Sandusky with indecent assault.

Patrick Shane

Money Must Be There Lawmakers should end the Fire Dept. dispute.

Where is the revenue going from the movies made and concerts held here? Where is the revenue from the casino in Phila going? Where is the money from the sale of properties at Sheriff sales? What is the general fund into which the revenue from the JayZ concert went?

It seems there is money in Philadelphia, but it is mismanaged. There need to be more

audits conducted within the departments of the City of Philadelphia and made public.

Carol Griggs

Prohibition Is Problem “Today’s drug culture has managed to invade the very police units whose missions are to curtail drug traffic (‘Should We End War On Drugs?’, Jan. 17).”

The “drug war” is about money, not drugs. That’s not the “drug culture” invading the police; that’s corruption that is always associated with prohibition. See the example of alcohol prohibition for a good example of this.

“Now, there are more young people using marijuana

than smoking cigarettes.”

Tobacco kills 430,000 Americans per year; marijuana kills zero. The youth use rate in Holland is 1/4 the US use rate. Marijuana is sold in coffee shops in Holland to adults.

Marijuana is sold to teenagers in the US by illegal dealers.

“In 2010, more than 150,000 young people (12 to 17) went to rehab to recover from marijuana addiction.”

That’s because they were busted for possession and given the choice between rehab and jail. Self-admission for “marijuana addiction” is rare.

Marijuana is not physically addictive, and it does not cause death like alcohol and pills do.

Time to legalize marijuana

and put the crooked cops and illegal dealers out of business!

Kevin Hunt

Youths Are Lied To Although I agree wholeheartedly teens should not be using marijuana, the use of marijuana has been the sole cause of not one reported death in the recorded history of mankind.

The reason young people don’t trust adults when it comes to drugs, is that they are fed fear instead of honest information. Telling a juvenile that all drugs ruin their lives doesn’t further the cause. If they try marijuana and realize its relatively benign effects, they may wonder what other drugs they have been told lies about.

What we need is honest

communication with our youth.

Too much truth is available via the internet to them; and there is no going back to the “good old days” where children listened blindly to their parents.

Rather than tell them all drugs lead to death and addiction, let’s tell them the truth about what each drug does.

That smoking pot can reduce their productivity. That heroin actually does cause death.

That way, if a teen were to experiment with marijuana, (and let’s face it, many do), it affects them the way their parents and teachers told them, and they could make an informed decision about the use of the drug, rather than a decision rooted in distrust.

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

As Attorney General, Tom Corbett received over $647,000 in campaign contributions from members of the Second Mile Foundation, while only assigning one investigator to the case.

Meanwhile, at the same time, he assigned 14 investigators to Bill DeWeese and spent more than five years trying to get him.

It is difficult to believe these campaign contributions did not improperly influence his decision to not file charges against Jerry Sandusky.

The State Police trooper who initially handled the Clinton Co. case against Jerry Sandusky believed there was

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 10

Charter Proponents Meet United Against ‘Citizens United’

STATE REP. Dwight Evans addresses Phila.

Black Alliance for Educational Options’ 1st annual Charter School leadership for Change breakfast.

Agenda captured birth of charter-school movement, how to strengthen charter system and how to lead for change.

L O V E PARK saw demonstration Friday by activists organized to overturn Supreme Court “Citi z e n s United” decision that unleashed unlimited secret campaign funding. Speakers included Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez, left; former State Rep. Babette Josephs, 2nd from left; and State Rep. Mark Cohen, 4th from left.

Strong support is developing around Daine Grey for a run at Common Pleas Court position. Attending a teeming fundraiser in Center City were, from left, Laborers’ Pete Lyde, Grey, Har Chou and Amato Sanita.

Brown’s ShopRite Makes Splash In Advance

EVERYBODY wanted to get next to judicial aspirant Daine Grey at cigar social hosted by Levant Martin Levin law firm in Logan Square.

Clover Club Laps Up New Members

CLOVER CLUB President William Brennan welcomed new and returning members to recruiting cocktail hour at Union League. From left are Lou Busico, Brennan, Judge Jim DeLeon and Tim Lawn.

Pushing Irish Investment

IN TOWN to promote tax breaks for US firms that hire in Ireland, two Irish legates spoke at Volpe Koenig law office in Center City. From left are Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State at Ireland’s Dept. of Finance; Judge Joe Waters, President of Brehon Society; and Peter Ryan, Deputy Consul General of Ireland.

Fashions Fund Scholarships

SHOPRITE owner Jerry Brown listens as Council- MORE THAN 1,000 N. Philadelphians turned out at woman Cindy Bass, who grew up in N. Phila., ex- Dobbins HS to applaud Brown’s Family ShopRites plan to open a new supermarket in their area. tols plan to bring healthy foods to community.

POLITICAL behind-the-scenesmen Republicans Joe DeFelice, left, and Mike Cibik are pushing membership in Clover Club, a confraternity of newsmakers and newsmen dating back to 1882.

Decorated Hero Addresses Franklin Post

THIS SEASON’S flu strain is a significant danger, warned Deputy Mayor Dr. Donald Schwarz in official CITY COUNCILMAN David Oh, a miliannouncement at health center. He urged seniors, tary veteran himself, congratulates David children, health workers and other Philadelphians in Christian on his award.

Photo by Joe Stivala risk categories to obtain flu vaccinations promptly.

Looking Toward A Busy Future Daine Grey Lights Up Room

US HOUSE Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Congressman Bill Shuster was given tour and briefing on Phila. International Airport’s $14 billion proposed capacity expansion plan. In photo are Congressman Pat Meehan, Mayor Michael Nutter, Shuster, Deputy Mayor of Transportation Rina Cutler and PHL CEO Mark Gale.

Photo by Maria Merlino

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

Flu’s No Joke

ENJOYING convivial hour among Clover Club movers and shakers were, from left, Judge Ken Powell and GOP Ward Leaders Lindsay Doehring and Walt Vogel.

OVER 800 beautiful, stylish and glamorous women attended 1926 Foundation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter’s “An Afternoon of Elegance, Style & Glamour Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show” helping Omega Omega Chapter award over $500.000 in scholarships and grants.

In photo are Kathleen Lacey; Lorina Marshal Blake, president AKA, Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter; and Crystal Lacey.

Photo by Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography

Black GOP Ward Leaders Elect

NEW Black Republican leadership officers are, top row, Secretary Ronald Currie, Treasurer Ron Holt, Sergeant at Arms Joseph Samuels; bottom row, Chaplain Rev. Todd Johnson, Chairman Calvin Tucker and Financial Secretary Lamont Foreman.

snow event was snarling traffic, I saw District Council 33 members on the job in the City salting the roads, picking up trash, maintaining water lines, staffing the airport, safeguarding kids crossing streets and doing all the other jobs that make this City work.

“Who is being held hostage?”

Mayor Nutter has now escalated the dispute between DC 33 and his administration: He has broken off negotiations.This will do nothing to reach a fair contract settlement but it could set a precedent that could have far-reaching and harmful effects on public employee contract bargaining in Pennsylvania – but Mayor Nutter doesn’t seem to care.

“DC 33 is not at an ‘impasse’ in negotiations. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, DC 33 has made substantial efforts to adjust our contract proposals in order to find a way to a fair settlement.

“The City has not made any increases in contributions to the Health & Welfare Fund in going on five years.

“Mayor Nutter wants to force any new employees who would become DC 33 to accept a 401(k) type pension plan instead of the traditional defined benefit plan that has been the norm for years.This is the same plan in which an arbitrator ruled members of the FOP could enroll on a voluntary basis. To date, only three FOP members have enrolled.

“Nutter wants DC 33 members to be forced to accept this inferior pension plan with no option. This demand

by Nutter is both punitive and fiscally irresponsible. It would cut off the funding stream to the traditional defined benefit plan that covers current City employees and to which they contribute from their pay each week.”

MEMBERS of city’s Muslim community gather to announce increase in reward to $105,000 leading to arrest of women dressed in Muslim garb who kidnapped a five-year-old girl from Bryant School.

Muslim Community Increases Kidnap Reward To $105,000 The Majlis Ash-Shura of Philadelphia & Delaware Valley has announced it is redirecting its reward money from those posted for bank robbery crimes to the reward for the apprehension of the woman, dressed in Muslim garb, who kidnapped a five-year-old child from her public grade school.

That announcement was made Wednesday as more than 35 imams and other Muslims gathered outside Bryant School, 60th & Cedar, the site of the crime.

According to Imam Farid W. Rasool, chairman of the Youth & Education Committee, the reward is now up to $105,000, one of the largest ever posted by private groups in the city’s recent history.

He indicated, “Because we have seen a reduction in persons robbing banks with Muslim dress, we now focus on this horrendous crime committed with this five-year-old and shift our reward monies from those crimes to this kidnapping.

“We must flush out the individual and those in conspiracy with her if it takes a million dollars along with millions prayers which we believe will be answered, we will do it.”

Present at the rally was Ryan Boyer, business manager of Laborers’ District Council. He acknowledged the concern of the Muslim community, saying, “The increase

in the reward reflects this religious community’s concern,” adding another rally will be held on the school grounds at 60th & Cedar this Saturday at noon.

Our gift from God, our family’s rock.

Our hearts are still heavy, but we know that you are with the Lord.

Sadly missed by Mommy & Daddy, Brothers and Sisters, and a host of Family and Friends all over the world!

LONG LIVE THE KING. WE LOVE YOU LITTLE BIG PETE! HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY!!!

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

the issue out in court. Spear was the lawyer who handled the precedent-setting case on behalf of DC 33 heard before the Commonwealth Court in 1993 which Nutter is challenging.

Matthews vows to fight Nutter’s challenge in the courts and has made it clear he is willing to continue negotiations on a wide range of contract issues, but that the Nutter administration is taking a hard line on a handful of issues that is preventing progress towards a settlement.

Concerned Democratic elected officials share the conviction this is shaping up to be a long fight with the potential for a lot of collateral damage both politically and administratively for the City and the State.

The Mayor’s handling of contract negotiations with the other city unions has been a rough one. As a result, FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby joined IAFF Local 22 President Bill Gault and other firefighters’ union leaders earlier today at a press conference outside City Council Chambers to call upon Nutter to drop legal challenges to the firefighters’ binding-arbitration award. That award has been upheld twice by a neutral arbitrator and once by a Common Pleas Court judge.

This event marks the first time the FOP has called upon the Mayor to honor the firefighters award. Just weeks ago, the Nutter administration opted not to challenge the police arbitration award, despite the fact that its cost is equal to – if not more than – than the firefighters arbitration award.

Matthews noted, “Mayor Nutter held a press conference where he accused District Council 33 of holding our members and the citizens of the City ‘hostage’ because we refuse to accept the conditions of his so-called ‘last, best offer’ on our Union.

“On that same day, when a

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

AFSCME District Council 33 President Pete Matthews responded to a lawsuit filed by Mayor Michael Nutter in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at a press conference last night.

Mayor Nutter is seeking a ruling allowing him to impose the City’s last contract proposal on AFSCME District Council 33, the city’s largest union.

President Pete Matthews and DC 33’s attorney Samuel Spear blasted the Mayor’s move as one more example of his hiding behind the courts and asking the courts to do what he should be doing himself, “sitting face to face with union officials in an honest bargaining effort.”

Mathews noted when Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker started pushing for an end to collective-bargaining rights for unions, it touched off a national battle. Unions, both private- and public-sector, went into action and the campaigns against workers have continued in other states.

By filing a lawsuit in Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court asking for a ruling on whether he could impose the City’s final contract offer to DC 33, the Mayor either unwittingly or by design, has opened up a “Pandora’s box of trouble for unions in the state,” stated Matthews.

Matthews, the fiery president of AFSCME District Council 33, characterized Nutter’s move as “going full Scott Walker” on his union as he indicated this case may have even more-serious implications for all public-sector unions in the state. He said, “Nutter’s case goes directly to the heart of Act 195, the Pennsylvania Public Employee Bargaining Act which has been law in the state since the early 1970s.”

The real implications of this move may not be known for months or even years as lawyers for both sides battle

Page 11

Nutter Appeal To Court Could Set Off Labor War

Page 12 The Public Record • February 7, 2013 www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

This Tuesday GOV. TOM CORBETT issued his budget plan for the fiscal year 2013-2014 of $28.4 billion, which is an increase of $697 million or 2.4% over the previous year. Once again Corbett delivered a budget that does not increase taxes. However, he does recommend some increases in fees and fines.

Of course, we expect the Democrats to criticize him for not raising taxes and for raising fees. While this elephant may not agree with each and every allocation of funds, the overall budget is good for the state. Two elements of the budget specifically pension reform and the privatization of the Liquor Control Board will receive significant headwind from the unions, as well as the State Representatives and Senators that rely on their endorsement to be elected. We expect most of the Philadelphia contingent of elected officials in Harrisburg to be opposed to both aspects of the budget.

Corbett’s pension reform calls for new employees to be put into defined contribution plans (401Ks). Current retirees will see no changes to their pension payments. Current employees will not see any changes to benefits already accrued, but future benefits will be lower. However, employees will have the option to contribute more to maintain a higher level of future benefits (the mechanics of how this works is the subject of its own essay).

The two state pension plans, Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System, are funded at 69% and 65% respectively. The shortfall for the two funds collectively is $41 billion.

(Cont. Page 17)

Because I live with someone who was born and raised in Baltimore, Md., I knew I was going to wind up in a neighborhood bar somewhere watching Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Fortunately, I didn’t end up in a room filled with wannabe jocks vying to see who could be the most obnoxious jerk in the room.

Instead, I was with a group of women (and some men) learning about why it’s important to take care of your heart while I munched on heart-healthy food and watched the Baltimore Ravens take care of the San Francisco 49ers.

Chris and I watched the Super Bowl at the South Philly Bar & Grill at 1235 E. Passyunk Avenue as part of Female Football Frenzy, a semi-annual event put together by radio personality Tashyra Ayers to give folks the chance to celebrate the unofficial national holiday that is Super Bowl Sunday while giving to a worthy cause.

Hosted by CBS-3/CW Philly’s Kharisma McIlwaine, this year’s celebration benefitted the American Heart Association.

It was an evening filled with football trivia, drawings for things including signed sports memorabilia, and screaming Beyoncé fans anxiously awaiting the diva’s halftime extravaganza.

(And the power outage that accompanied it. My guess is that a combination of pyrotechnic lights, a video screen, and a wind machine the size of Citizens Bank Park contributed to the problems with the power grid.)

(Cont. Page 17)

Yo! Here we go again with the “Top 8 Morons of the Year”, sent to me by Willie G. 1. WILL THE REAL DUMMY PLEASE STAND UP? AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked intellectual leadership. He received a $26-million severance package. Perhaps it’s not Walter who’s lacking intelligence.

2. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: Police in Oakland, Cal. spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing 10 tear-gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting.

3. WHAT WAS PLAN B? An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated-teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.

4. THE GETAWAY! A man walked into a Topeka, Kans. Kwik Stop and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.

5. DID I SAY THAT? Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who couldn’t control himself in a lineup. When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words: “Give me all your money or I’ll shoot,” the man shouted, “That’s not what I said!”

6. ARE WE COMMUNICATING? A man spoke frantically into the phone: “My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.” “Is this her first child?” the doctor asked. “No!” the man shouted, “This is her husband!”

7. NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED! In Modesto, Cal., Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank of America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a finger to simulate a gun. Unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket. (hellooooooo)!

8. THE GRAND FINALE! Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located an hour east of Bakersfield, Cal., some folks, new to boating, were having a problem. No matter how hard (Cont. Page 18)

A.V.I. REAL-ESTATE TAX INCREASE values of YOUR home might be too high. If the assessment office used sales from 2006-2012 instead of 2010-12, then you could file mass appeals. Check 2010-12 sales of homes COMPARABLE to yours. You can use PHILA.GOV website. Once in, select Office of Property Assessment from city departments on the right.

A new page comes up; click “property information” on that.

On the next page, click “search a property”. On next page, hit the “Disclaimer”, scroll down and click “I accept”. Next page is “Property search” page. You may search a whole block or individual home there. CITY COUNCIL should check sales too – it is UP TO CITY COUNCIL to discover (and let you know) what YEARS were used to determine values!! ”THERE IS NOTHING in the caterpillar which says it will turn into a butterfly.” That quote from Buckminster Fuller might be a best description of what “reformers” want TRAFFIC COURT to become (?). It hearkens back to the old rules of hanging your wash on the clothesline: Hang your sheets and towels on the outside, so you could hide your “unmentionables” from public view. I heard of a hush-hush plan to install hearing officers instead of judges. Hearing officers take orders from a superior, while judges must weigh the evidence presented. How about the assertion the connected got discharged while all others had to pay a fine? As one who has covered Traffic Court for 40 years, I never saw that occur. I also NEVER SAW or heard of some of the critics to have SET FOOT in the court! One of the court’s judges owns a bar (Cont. Page 18)

MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER was the special guest of the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce. The trade organization celebrated its 25th Anniversary at the XIX Restaurant in the Bellevue Hyatt. The cosmopolitan crowd included shipping magnate LEO HOLT; LISA WORDEN of the Dept. of Community & Economic Development; STAN WHITE, who is CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY’S Chief of Staff; NICOLE JOHNSON-REECE of PHL Culture; and PEDRO PABLO ARESTI, the Chilean Trade Commissioner.

The Chamber’s President, BOB PALAIMA, also introduced COUNCILMEN MARK SQUILLA and DAVID OH, and STATE SEN. MIKE STACK. RICARDO MALDONADO serves as executive director and gave praise to SHERYL ROTHBERG, whom he succeeded. The chamber has increased business through trade dramatically, starting from $192 million per year to the current $1 billion per year. Also present were THOM NEILSON, district chief of staff for STATE REP. ROSITA YOUNGBLOOD and brother of STATE REP. ED NEILSON. JOHN McNESBY reached his monumental goal of opening the FOP union Hall in Northeast Philadelphia. The project was completed in record time and will meet the needs of policemen and women throughout the region. The spectacular venue includes a banquet hall, health club and sports bar.

The ribbon-cutting was attended by newly elected and FOP darling ATTORNEY GENERAL KATHLEEN KANE. Also on hand were DISTRICT ATTORNEY SETH WILLIAMS, SHERIFF JEWELL WILLIAMS, COUNCILMAN BRIAN O’NEILL, CITY COUNCILMAN AT LARGE DENNY O’BRIEN, STATE REP. ED NEILSON, CITY CONTROLLER ALAN BUTKOVITZ, STATE SEN. MIKE STACK and COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON. JOHN DEL RICCI, MIKE MCALEER, BOB DELLAVELLA, JOHN SABATINA, SR. and STATE REP. JOHN SABATINA, JR. were also there to support the police.

COUNCILMAN JIM KENNEY enjoyed dinner at the Palm with the Geator, JERRY BLAVAT. SHARON PINKENSON, the executive director of the Philadelphia Film Office, was seen (Cont. Page 18)

by Michael A. Cibik, Esq. American Bankruptcy Board Certified Question: What is the Great Computer myth on credit reporting?

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But if you don’t read and keep the notices and bills, it is much harder for someone else to help you. Folks come in to see me and have no real idea who they owe now, how much, or what for. Often folks think it’s OK because there’s a record somewhere of everything they owe, like there is some Great Computer that has

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The Public Record • February 7, 2013

into the workforce in larger numbers. Some of the increase is due to the raising of the retirement age from age 65 to closer to age 66 currently.

Some have speculated that the rise in beneficiaries is due to the economic downturn we experienced following the 2008 recession. While applications for SSD benefits have risen since then, there is no evidence that unqualified people are being awarded SSD benefits.

in the national economy.

Nationally, almost 2/3 of the SSD applications that are filed are denied at the initial level. In those areas of the country that require a request for reconsideration, almost 90% of those requests are denied.

Your chances for getting benefits improve if you request a hearing before a judge.

Still, the prospect of applying for and receiving benefits is daunting. The notion that undeserving applicants routinely are approved for benefits is a myth perpetrated mainly by those who wish to dismantle the safety net. by accident, it can be harmful to your financial health.

In the simplest cases, it just means you have to spend more in attorney fees and court filing fees to fix the paperwork filed in your case. But in extreme cases – particularly when some money is paid into the bankruptcy trustee’s hands from your assets or your payment plan – then the unlisted debts may not be wiped out at the end of a successful case.

So even if it is physically painful to keep the bills and threatening notices from creditors, do it anyway. Don’t put your faith in the Great Mythic Computer to save you otherwise.

Next Week’s Question: Have reports of death of refund-anticipation loans been greatly exaggerated?

Page 13

by Michael P. Boyle, Esq. You may have read elsewhere warnings about how growth in the Social Security Disability program presents funding problems in the long run.

The number of SSD beneficiaries has doubled since 1995, from approximately 4 million recipients to about 8 million in 2010. Reasons for this increase are due mainly to the aging of the baby-boom generation and the entry of women

To qualify for SSD benefits, an applicant has to show that she meets the stringent criteria to be found disabled. SSA does not automatically grant benefits to someone who lost her job due to the bad economy.

To get benefits, you still must show you have a severe impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months.

In addition, you must prove either that your condition meets or equals one of the Listings that appears in the Listing of Impairments, or that your impairments render you unable to perform your past work or other work that exists in substantial numbers all this information in it….

There are services that allow us to access your credit reports, with your consent.

And you can have free copies of your credit report each year too. But your credit report is not going to help us very much in building your case for you.

However, some lenders do not report to credit bureaus.

Some debt may be too old to appear on your report – but still be a debt you owe. Some is just not the type of thing that pops up on credit reports – like a debt for damage to a neighbor’s car or money you owe a friend.

Mistakes on credit reports happen a lot more than the bureaus want to admit.

If you don’t list some of your debt in your case, even

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 14

Kitchen Saluted By Churches

Heard on the Hill And City Hall

(Cont. From Page 8) That will only drag things out further.”

McGeehan said such a move would constitute additional waste of taxpayers’ money, and would not be in keeping with the spirit of reform and transparency the PHA seeks to embrace as the scandal-plagued agency works to remold its tattered public image.

“This is all about transparency and accountability,” SPECIAL RECOGNITION went to State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, center, for her pursuit of human rights in MLK McGeehan said. “I seek this Day celebration by Phila. Council of Clergy, Inc. and Inter- information in the name of national Council College of Bishops in Tioga. To left are public service, so we can all Health Partners President William George and Archbishop acquire a better understanding Anthony Floyd; to right are Pastor Jeffrey Branson and Rev. of how the PHA operates, how Paula Branson of From The Heart Church Ministries, who it spends tax dollars, and who receives them.” also received awards.

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA Public Hearing Notice The Committee on Public Safety of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, February 11, 2013, at 12:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item: 130030

Resolution calling for the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings on the status of the City's surveillance camera program.

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Public Safety, open to the Public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed items.

Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

Michael Decker Chief Clerk

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA Public Hearing Notice The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at 11:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hail, to hear testimony on the following item: 121006

Resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the planned closure of approximately forty public schools and the impact that said closures will have on students, parents, teachers, principals and members of all school district unions

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Education, open to the Public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed items.

Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.

Michael Decker Chief Clerk

JOINING thousands at city labor rally last Saturday were 35th Ward Leader William Dolbow and son DC 47 President Cathy Scott blasts William Jr.; Dan Grace, leader of Teamsters Local 830; Mayor Michael Nutter for his mayoral Dan McCaffery, Esq.; and Mark Calvert, Local 107. “Grinch” approach to his dealing Photo by Joe Stivala Photo by Joe Stivala with city’s unions.

Lonnie Kornegay (4 rounds / Hvy), Alex Barbosa D4 Arthur Parker (4 rounds / 130 lb.), Javontae Starks TKO2 Chad McKinney (4 rounds / 154 lb.), Tyrone Crawley W4 Benjamin Burgos (4 rounds / 147 lb.), and females Althea Saunders and Lakeesa Williams put on a 3-round exhibition.

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Eye Celebrates Anniversary A distinctive night of boxing took place inside Harrahs Philadelphia to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Joey Eye Boxing Promotions partnership with David Feldman and the casino. It was the 10th show the pair has put on in Harrahs Philadelphia and clearly won’t be their last.

“We expect to have a long run here and will continue to put on the best fights possible,” said Joey “Eye” Intrieri, founder of Joey Eye Boxing.

In the main event, lightweight Victor Vasquez beat Esteban Rodriguez by 6-round unanimous decision. Undercard results were as follows; Decarlo Perez W8 Dante Moore (8 rounds / 147 lb.), Julio DeJesus KO1 Ramon Ellis (6 rounds / 154 lb.), John Mercurio W4

Page 15

Labor Unions Rally Against Nutter Inaction

Ringside With The Shadowboxer

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA Public Hearing Notice The Committee on Law and Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items: 120960

An Ordinance amending Chapter 21-1700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Publication of Notices by City," by revising provisions concerning how and when certain required notices shall be published and advertised; all under certain terms and conditions.

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Law and Government, open to the Public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed items.

Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.

Michael Decker Chief Clerk

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

121002 An Ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelplhia Code, entitled "Regulation of individual Conduct and Activity," to provide for the licensing of certain horses, to provide for requirements with respect to keeping certain horses, and to further provide for penalties and enforcement all under certain terms and conditions.

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Page 16

IN BONNIE’S EYES: Leaders In Sweet Harmony At Academy Of Music Ball

WILLIAM HANKOWSKY and his wife Rosemary join Lidia and State Rep. Mike Turzai, Penna. House Majority Leader, at Academy of Music for Phila. Orchestra’s 156th All photos by Bonnie Squires annual concert and ball.

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

SECRETARY of Commonwealth Carol Aichele and her husband Steve Aichele, Esq., Penna.

General Counsel, were among politicos who joined in Academy of Music celebration.

NEW TEMPLE UNIVERSITY President Neil Theobald & wife Sheona were squired around by Dr. Larry Kaiser, head of Temple’s Health Systems.

PNC PRESIDENT Bill Mills & wife Dr. Patti Riley Mills were among sponsors of evening.

RENEE CHENAULT FATTAH and her husband Congressman Chaka Fattah love to support Orchestra and Academy of Music.

COUNCILMAN Kenyatta Johnson and his wife Dawn enjoyed President’s Reception, concert and dinner dance at PAUL TUFANO, executive vice president of Park Hyatt after Hugh Jackman-Phila. Independence Blue Cross, greeted Governor Tom Corbett at the Academy Ball.

Orchestra concert.

BARBARA CAPOZZI and her husband Frank enjoyed being with their friends Karen & Frank Guida at Academy Ball.

VULGALLISON AMORE, president and CEO of Phila. Orchestra Association, and Joanna (Jody) Lewis, president and CEO of Academy of Music, headed up receiving line outside Academy ballroom. Orchestra VP Blodgett Katherine gives all credit to Lewis for designing the fabulous evening’s receptions, concert and dinner dances.

CAROL HAAS GRAVAGNO, long-time supporter and officer of Phila. Orchestra, & her husband.

AQUA AMERICA’S Chris Franklin & his wife – his company was a major benefactor of Academy Concert & Ball.

SEN. BOB CASEY and his wife Terese were seated in VIP box next to stage and got to see Hugh Jackman perform up close and personal.

HUGH JACKMAN brought down the house with his song from Les Misérables, “Who Am I?

ARRIVING early to check on arrangements are, from left, Leslie Anne Miller, Esq.; her husband Richard Worley, chairman of Phila. Orchestra Association; and Leslie’s sister Sarah Miller Coulson, who co-chaired 156th MARK SEGAL is interAnniversary Concert & Ball with Dan viewed by Maria Papadakis for Philly.com.

Hilferty, CEO of Blue Cross.

DIANA REGAN, president of Alliance Française, & husband Dr. John Regan, love to support Yannick and Orchestra.

BILL SASSO, ESQ. and Joe Frick are long-time supporters and leaders of Academy Concert & Ball.

S T E P H A N I E BRANDOW, president of Volunteers Committee for Phila. Orchestra, and her husband renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Kirk Brandow.

HEIDI & COLE HAMELS participated in concert program.

Out & About

(Cont. From Page 12) Without changes to the current system, the funding requirements for yearly increases to pension obligations (without any contributions to the deficit) would double every two years. Without the reforms, contributions for 201314 would increase $500 million.

While this elephant does not want to see people’s pension plans reduced, the State cannot afford the current sys-

Passport for Learning Block Grant. The grant will be for school districts and may be used for school safety, enhanced kindergarten programs, individualized learning and improved math and science classes. Approximately $200 million of these funds will be allocated to fiscal 2013-14. While the State does profit from the sale of wine and spirits, it expects that it will make as much from income taxes and sales taxes from increased sales. The privatization is to be phased in over a four-year period.

Pennsylvania and Utah are the only states that require that state-owned stores to be the sole purveyors of wine and spirits that are not consumed in the store. It is not surprising that Utah, the home of the Mormon religion which shuns alcohol, would have significant controls over the sale of liquor.

However, the fact that the state-store system still exists in Pennsylvania, where apparently over 80% of its citizens want it abolished is stunning.

While the stores have improved over the last decade, people find them inconvenient. The privatization plan will allow grocery stores and other retailers to sell beer and wine as in other states.

The pushback here has been from the unions and the beer distributors. While again this elephant does not want to see people loss their jobs, I have to believe there will be plenty of opportunities for experienced liquor-store workers in the new privately held entities.

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$5,000 for the American Heart Association. When I get their final tally of monies raised, I’ll share it with you.

But as someone who lost their Mom, the woman who showed them that being a sports fan doesn’t make you any less of a woman, to congestive heart failure, I appreciate Ayers’s efforts. I

hope that folks understand that heart disease and stroke, the number one and number four killers in the United States, aren’t things that are just restricted to men.

Hey, my guess is a great many women in Baltimore darn near had heart attacks watching the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game before the Ravens put it away….

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tem. While many are not so opposed to tax increases as I am, I believe few are willing to see sizable tax increases to fund these pensions. The Corbett Administration estimates funding the current system would cost each household in the state $10,000. For privatesector workers most of whom have 401(k)’s, this is not palatable.

Corbett’s budget calls for the privatization of the LCB. The plan which was outlined last week is expected to raise $1 billion from the sale of store licenses and the proceeds will be used to finance the

Grill gave diners the option of having heart-healthy fare to snack on during the game.

Because all you have to do is show me where the hummus is on any menu, it made me feel kind of good to know that I could have hummus, black olives and cucumbers at a football party and not look like a knucklehead.

The goal was to raise

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Elephant Corner

Congestive Heart Failure when she was 46 years old.

In fact, many of the women (and even a few of the men) who attended Sunday night’s event had also been impacted by heart disease.

“I wanted to create awareness for women about heart disease,” she said. “We’re so busy taking care of everyone else. We need to take care of ourselves, too.”

Toward that end, the folks at South Philly Bar &

Page 17

(Cont. From Page 12) The idea behind Female Football Frenzy came from a conversation that Ayers had with a group of fellow female football fans at a networking event, she said.

“We were all in a group and just started talking about football,” she said. “At first, we said that we should just get together and watch the Super Bowl in high heels

and have champagne. But then we said, let’s have a Super Bowl party for a reason.”

The first Female Football Frenzy was a benefit for an autism foundation founded

by Afea Tucker, a fellow member of the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society.

But the cause for this year’s Frenzy was a little closer to home. You see, Ayers lost her mother to

Page 18

Walk The Beat (Cont. From Page 12) which was described as a “South Philly Dive Bar.” Does South Philly have “dives?” What is that? And of what RELEVANCE is it to the issue? It seems a slam at the people who live in that part of town (?). Obnoxious.

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

Waffleman (Cont. From Page 12) they tried, they couldn’t get their brand-new 22-foot boat going. It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power they applied. After trying to make it go, they putted into a nearby marina, thinking someone there might be able to tell them what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition. The engine ran fine, the out-drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. (Now remember, this is true.) Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer!

What seems FORGOTTEN is that within the borders of the USA, there is the PRESUMPTION of INNOCENCE. Innocent unless proven guilty.

Those who judge defendants now can be judged later.

When there is injustice, resistance is a duty. What I am saying is some of the defendants should STICK TOGETHER. THE VERY IDEA. Mayor Nutter filed suit to impose contract terms on District Council 33. Is this happening within the borders of the USA? It is NOT what FREE collective bargaining is about. Did he hope to prevail and thus bring in DC 47 with a royal decree? It’s straight out of MACBETH: “My countryman, but yet I know him not.”.... And how about an editorial which says that because “usual sources” were critical of Gov. Corbett’s plan to sell liquor stores – then it is a workable idea? It could be workable in terms of taking people out of jobs (when the nation is recovering). The usual sources have a right to complain in America, and by no means does it mean a sale can work for the better!

Still the usual scribes have a right to complain, as explained

by Sen. Thaddeus Stevens in

Get an Insider’s Look

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at Politics in Philadelphia For $30 a Year, Get Yourself a Weekly Digest of the Activities of State and City Political Leaders and Behind the Scenes Reports. Subscribe to the Public Record

the film LINCOLN. Look at the University of Massachusetts @ Boston plan to end the LABOR STUDIES course which has produced many labor leaders since 1980 – and operates in the black. There seems to be a national attack to end such courses.... Does the City really need an ETHICS Board? NO. Go away!

The PHA bout in federal court of STREET vs Greene – from what I read, it seems Mayor John Street’s comments were SOUND.... Last week 163 FIREFIGHTER Cadets graduated, as reported

by Fire Commissioner Lloyd AYERS before City Council.

They will now get good handson training in fire stations across town. Best of luck.

The DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT Corp. has plans to build an 8-acre park

which would mean covering I95 and taking down the scissors ramps on Columbus Boulevard between Market and Walnut Streets. The park is for people to “Linger”, or Gather as they used to say. The overall plan included bringing streets to the river for more public access.

The ramps which do that must seem a visual intrusion; but without them, drivers must find a longer route to Market Street or Columbus Boulevard. So did they change the plan? Is the park OK until a condo developer wants it?.... THOSE SUPERWIDE corner sidewalks built in the 2nd Councilmanic Dist. are really screwing up motorists at 17th & Snyder Avenue, and other corners. When it snowed, they stayed snow-covered. Too massive for homeowners who say it was done without their input. True, they are federally

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mandated, but there is a WAIVER for every such regulation. So far, I do not know what Kenyatta JOHNSON is saying about this. Do you?

I was sad to learn Art HERRING and William HILL, Jr. both passed. Art was a Merchant Mariner in WW2, and top insurance executive who kept our Navy League Strong. HILL was past President of Local 92 UAW. After a life of VIGOR, they have crossed the river and rest in the shade of the trees.... BIRTHDAYS! State Rep. Jim ROEBUCK will be having one on 2/12. The

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PAT PARKINSON, Leader of Ward 57, will host a St. Patrick’s gala in the Welsh Road Paddy Whacks.

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47cpm with our new Your Choice Pay Plan (TM). Great Benefits & Flexible Hometime. 800-535-8714. AA/EOE. GoRoehl.com Drivers: HIRING EXPERIENCED/INEXPERIENCED TANKER DRIVERS! Earn up to $.51 perMile! New Fleet Volvo Tractors! 1 Year OTR Exp. Req.-Tanker Training Available. Call Today: 877882-6537 www.OakleyTrans-

(215) 335-4884 Fax (215) 333-7793 In accordance with Chapter 73 of the Vehicle Code and authorization of the Department of Transportation, there will be a public auction of the below listed vehicles, THURSDAY February 7, 2013 @ 2:00 PM. The location: 7000 State Road, Philadelphia, PA. All sales final. Cash only.

STOCK# YEAR MAKE US-4768 US-4769 US-4840 US-4861 US-4868 US-4874 •••

1998 2002 2000 2007 1988 2004

V.I.N.

CTRL#

TOYOTA 4T1BG22KXWU224243 917965 DODGE 1B3AS46CO2D584033 913538 NISSAN 4N2XN11TOXD841350 918400 JEEP 1J8GR48K97C549229 918399 JEEP 2BCCV8138JB510703 918398 MERCURY2MRDA20284BJ17886 918397

Highest Cash Paid Instantly For Junk Cars No Keys - No Title No Problem!!!

Call: 215-715-9316

port.com Driver: Qualify for any portion of $.03/mile quarterly bonus: $.01 Safety, $.01 Production, $.01 MPG. Two raises in first year. 3-months recent experience. 800-414-9569 www.driveknight.com Drivers-CDL-A $5,000 SIGNON BONUS For exp'd solo OTR drivers & O/O's. Tuition reimbursement also available! New Student Pay & Lease Program. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www.US-

ELECTRICIAN BARRY FISHER LICENSED ELECTRICIAN

ATruck.jobs Drivers: CDL-A TEAM WITH TOTAL. $.50 /Mile For Hazmat Teams. Solo Drivers Also Needed! 1 yr. exp. req'd. 800942-2104 Ext. 7308 or 7307 www.TotalMS.com GORDON TRUCKING, INC.CDL-A Drivers Needed! Up to $3,000 SIGN ON BONUS. Refrigerated Fleet & Great Miles. Pay Incentive & Benefits! Recruiters available 7 days/wk! EOE. TeamGTI.com 866-554-7856 LAND FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL ADIRONDACK CABIN 5 Acres w/ Camp: $29,900 Nicely wooded Set-

Over 42yrs experience low prices, fast service lic/ins* FHA/VA Cert

215-927-0234

The company for women and a few good men

MANY MORE VEHICLES TO BE ADDED •••

TO BUY OR SELL contact:

We Buy Junk Cars

$300 to $400 Cash Paid Free Towing Same Day Service

MARY IERO Independent Sales Representative

‘IF IT’S ELECTRICAL, WE DO IT”

National Recruiter

100 & 200 AMP Service Specials

215-906-1321

FREE ESTIMATES

215-783-3844 24-Hr. Emerg. Service

Discounted Specials

LICENSED & INSURED

LI. NO. 18313 PA LIC # 053919

K-Squad Auto Salvage Batteries: $35.00

We Buy Junk Cars!

4087 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

(215) 288-9500 (215) 688-0949

ting. Locations include: NY's Southern Tier Adirondacks, Salmon River Region, Tug Hill Snow Country. Call for details: 1-800-229-7843. Christmas & Associates MISCELLANEOUS AIRLINE CAREERS begin here-Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualified-Housing available.

Job placement assistance.

CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-834-9715 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified.

SCHEV authorized. Call 888220-3984. www.CenturaOnline.com VACATION RENTALS

Drivers: Start up to $.40/mi. Home weekly. CDL-A 6 mos. OTR exp.

Req. 50 Brand New Coronados’s you’ll be proud to drive!

888-406-9046

x:3289

Titanium Construction Group For All Phases of Construction Residential • Commercial • Industrial And Maintenance Work

• All Electric • HVAC • Tilework • Stucco/Drivit • Painting • Carpentry

• Plumbing • Dry Wall • Cement • Brickwork • Cleanouts

267-275-8631

877-704-3773 or apply @

Smithdrivers.com Drivers: Local, Home Daily!

Weekly Pay Guarantee. Weekend, PT Also Avail. CDLA, 2yrs Exp. 23yoa.

GoPenske.com #1203677 or 866-823-0357

Get an Insider’s Look at Politics in Philadelphia For $30 a Year, Get Yourself a Weekly Digest of the Activities of State and City Political Leaders and Behind the Scenes Reports. Subscribe to the Public Record Name: __________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Signature:_________________________________ [ ] Check/MO enclosed [ ] Bill me [ ] Charge My Credit Card: ________________________ Expiration: ______/_______ Visa: [ ] MC: [ ] AX: [ ] Today’s Date: _____________

Cost is $30.00 yearly 1321 S. Broad Street Philadelphia PA 19147

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

Drivers: Home weekends.Pay up to .40 cpm.

Chromed out trucks w/APU’s.

70% Drop & Hook.

CDL-A, 6mos Exp.

Say You Saw It In The PUBLIC RECORD

Eddie (888)220-2030 HELP WANTED DRIVER **EAST REGION ONLY: Owner Operators: $3,000 Sign-On Bonus. Excellent Rates & Paid FSC. Home Daily. 80% Drop & Hook.

Great Fuel & Tire Discounts.

L/P available. CDL-A with 1 year tractor-trailer experience required. 888-703-3889 or apply online at www.comtrak.com

Drivers: Dedicated DayCab Work!

Full benefits! OTR regional work available. recruiting@westmotor.com Call

800-456-7885 7 Days a Week • 9AM-5PM

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks.

Call for FREE brochure.

Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com ADOPTION/PERSONALS ADOPT - WE PROMISE to give your baby a life filled with love and happiness. Expenses Paid. Marygrace &

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

BUSINESS OPPORT BE YOUR OWN BOSS. Make Life Good. Net Over $60k Per Year. Investment Required $4,750. Huge Profits. Call 1-888-748-7383 HELP WANTED "Can You Dig It?" Heavy Equipment Operator Training!

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Public Record Classifieds: small ADS BIG Deals

www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000

The Public Record • February 7, 2013

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