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SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

Vol. XVIII No. 7

Issue 493

February 16, 2017

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

PhiladelphiaPublicRecord

@phillyrecord

PhillyRecord

PhillyRecord.com

KIDS TACKLE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Students in 4th and 5th grade at Eliza B. Kirkbride School were enthusiastic upon receiving a 500 dollar award for their essays in the Lenfest Citizenship Challenge from the Hon. Marjorie Rendell, C, president of The Rendell Center for Civics & Civic Engagement. Subject of the essays was “Should the Constitution be amended to eliminate the Electoral College system for selecting the President and replace it with the national popular vote?” Photo by Wendell Douglas

BLACK HISTORY

D.A.’S RACE

KENNY

MONTH

BECOMES

GAMBLE,

SALUTE

FREE FOR ALL

S. PHILLY

BEGINS P. 3

SEE P.16

STAR - SEE P.2

GAMBLE IS S. PHILADELPHIA SOUND

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KENNY GAMBLE is widely known for having written, produced, recorded and published more than 3,000 songs.

BY ELDON GRAHAM R A M M Y Award-winning songwriter and musician Kenneth “Kenny” Gamble is a South Phil-

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adelphia native who has achieved amazing feats.

Works of art like his smash hit “Me & Mrs. Jones,” sung by Billy Paul, were written by Gamble and his

partner, Leon Huff, a native of Camden, N.J. The song earned Paul a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1973, for which Gamble and Huff also received a Grammy as songwriters. They also received a Grammy for the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” covered by the band Simply Red in 1990.

There are more public and mainstream accolades that Gamble has achieved, but his hometown Philadelphia also knows him for staying true to his South Philadelphia roots. As he and Huff have moved and grooved the world over the past five decades, Gamble has kept Philadelphia in his heart and in the soul of his music.

The prominent artists Gamble and Huff have collaborated with are immensely popular. Performers like The Jackson 5, Teddy Pendergrass, Jerry Butler, The O’Jays, Spin-

ners, Delfonics, Jones Girls, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Phyllis Hyman, Dionne Warwick and many others have sung songs written by the iconic duo. A number of those songs have listed high in ratings charts.

Gamble is highly regarded in the Philadelphia community. Although he spent most of his career in the suburbs, he moved back to South Philadelphia to help communities in his hometown. His efforts have made huge strides in raising up the communities of Point Breeze and Southwest Center City. Gamble is the founder and chairman of Universal Cos., a nonprofit education management and development organization.

Universal has improved the quality of life for thousands of children and families residing in historically disenfranchised communities. According to Universal, it currently educates more than 4,500 students in 10 schools (K-12). The

company is also one of the largest African American-led businesses in Philadelphia, employing nearly 650 people.

Gamble’s other endeavors and business affiliations include the African American Foundation, The Universal Community of Truth, the South Philadelphia Ministries Task Force and The Philadelphia Music Foundation.

Philadelphia has not turned a blind eye toward Gamble, his achievements or his activism. Philadelphia presented Gamble, along with his partner Huff and fellow South Philadelphia artist Patti LaBelle, with the Marian Anderson Award this past year.

Gamble is a proud adherent to the Muslim faith and has contributed much to its advancement and understanding in the city.

According to Gamble, he considers rebuilding the African American community as “the biggest hit of my life.”

PHA Police Chief Branville Bard credits involvement by residents for helping make PHA communities safe.

We took our cue from PHA resident leaders who wanted us to focus our efforts strictly on PHA communities rather than including the broader areas around our sites,” Bard said. “Having our officers concentrated at our developments has allowed us to increase community engagement and work more closely with residents.”

Another initiative that has contributed to the trend is PHA’s decision to recruit PHA residents to the PHA Police Dept. Once hired, these men and women undergo the same training as Philadelphia police officers.

An officer who will soon graduate from the police

academy will bring the total number of resident officers to eight, all of whom are assigned to their home developments and others.

They are fully accredited, full-time sworn officers.

Chief Bard says they have had an immediate positive impact. “They have roots already established in the community, so that allows them to hit the ground running. They know these areas very well. And individual residents feel more comfortable going to them because they know them.”

PHA enjoys an enhanced relationship with the Philadelphia Police Dept., which allows PHA to share information and systems. Chief Bard has a close working relationship with Philadelphia Commissioner Richard Ross

and other members of the PPD. That kind of coordination is instrumental in helping PHA’s focused efforts.

But it is resident involvement that has made the largest contribution. PHA’s Board of Commissioners includes two resident leaders. They in turn lead the PHA Police Advisory Board.

“We use the police advisory board to identify and attack the big problems,” Bard said. “We work with these leaders on tough issues. Based on their feedback, we moved to high visibility patrols in certain areas during certain times.

They helped us focus on domestic violence, which was the source of a lot of our aggravated assault and child safety. This partnership is working very well.”

CRIME FALLS AT P.H.A. SITES

he Philadelphia Housing Authority, working closely with residents, has achieved a stunning decrease in crime at its developments.

Statistics just released for 2016 show crime fell in virtually all categories, with thefts decreasing by 68%, robberies cut in half, and sexual assaults down by 78%. Overall, crime decreased in 2016 by over 41%.

PHA made the decision to increase the size of its police department three years ago after Kelvin A. Jeremiah assumed the role of president and CEO. Jeremiah not only committed to increasing the number of sworn police officers, but also ensured at least 10 PHA residents would be recruited to join the force.

“Our goal continues to be to make PHA communities ‘neighborhoods of choice’,” Jeremiah said. “A feeling of safety and well-being plays an important role in that.

The increase in the department and having a police department that works hand-inhand with residents to create crime-free areas is definitely paying dividends. I want to thank PHA’s Board of Commissioners for its support, and commend Chief Bard, the entire PHA Police Dept. and the residents on their collaboration so that everyone can have a sense of security that all citizens deserve.”

Jeremiah stated that in addition to the PHAPD expansion, PHA invested heavily in a closed circuit television security system and multilayered door entry access controls.

Copyright @2017 City & State PA LLC

Union Made

An artist’s renditon of the night Octavius V. Catto, the forgotten African American hero of Philadelphia, was assassinated on Oct. 10, 1871.

Gen. John Fulton Reynolds, Gen. George McClellan and Matthias William Baldwin.

Catto’s statue, which will be finished in early spring of 2017, joins the elite club on the southern half of City Hall along Market Street.

Upon the announcement in June, Mayor Kenney spoke delightedly about the African American activist. “I look

around City Hall, and certainly the people memorialized, there are important people; but there is a space left, and that space belongs to Octavius Catto,” he explained. “He was the Dr. King and Jackie Robinson of his age.”

Listing all of Catto’s accomplishments during his short period on Earth is a feat in itself. He was a member

of civil, political, and literary groups, while also a talented athlete, playing well in both cricket and baseball. Catto was also a major in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and a civil-rights activist who worked to integrate Philadelphia and fought for voter rights for African Americans.

Although history books are scarce with references to

Catto, he was the essence of patriotism in his time. He actively recruited African Americans to the military, hence his big following and by military personnel, who honor him to this day.

According to Dr. Andy Waskie, a professor of Temple University and member of the O.V. Catto Society, “The society and supporting organizations have been commemorating Catto and his outstanding efforts, service and sacrifice for over 20 years and were pioneers in resurrecting the memory of Maj. O.V. Catto.”

They predate any other groups or organizations on behalf of Catto.

In an odd occurrence, the O.V. Catto Society has thus far not been asked or invited to be involved in the city-sponsored Catto Monument. “In fact, our sincere invitation to the Mayor and (Cont. Page 6)

Saluting The Achievements Of All African Americans

ROBERT BRADY

Congressman 1st District Paid for by Committee to Elect Bob Brady

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methods to honor this great American hero of Emancipation and his endeavors.

Recently, Mayor Jim Kenney announced arguably the most honorable recognition to date: a new sculpture of Catto that will stand outside of City Hall.

Designed as a 12-foot bronze statue, it will be the first monument dedicated to the accomplishments of a single African American located at City Hall or on city public property. Accompanying the statue of Catto is a granite representation of an 1860s horse-car and a mid-19th-century ballot box.

Both items will be engraved with details about Catto’s life.

Other statues located outside City Hall include prominent figures such as William Penn (atop City Hall), John Wanamaker, President William McKinley, John Christian Bullitt, Maj.

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BY ELDON GRAHAM HE NAME “Octavius V. Catto” might not be famous nationwide today among the roster of historical African American figures. But he is definitely deserving of recognition and worth being mentioned alongside names such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and W.E.B. DuBois.

In addition, his story unfolded right here in Philadelphia.

Catto, an advocate of social reform for African Americans during the tail end of the slavery period, was known as a Black educator, intellectual and civil-rights activist before he was assassinated in the streets of Philadelphia near his home on Oct. 10, 1871, near Lombard Street. He was 32 years old.

Since his death, Philadelphia has tried several

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BLACK HISTORY IS BEAUTIFUL FOR KIDS

BY TONY WEST

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t was history writ small; history up close and personal; and, most importantly, history passed down.

African American history was marked by Southwest Philadelphia District Services at Kingsessing Recreation Center. Kingsessing is a largely Black, blue-collar community of two-story rowhomes. It lies far off the city’s museum trail and its modest residents don’t make history as a rule.

Last Friday evening, 100 neighbors piled into the recreation center to make their history come alive. It was deliberately entertaining – and fun for the young. About one-third of the attendees were children and teenagers, most of whom performed in the show, exhibiting martial arts and dance

That was intentional, explained Kevin Horne, executive director of Southwest Philadelphia District Services, Kingsessing born and bred.

He grew up with legendary figures of Black leaders in the civil-rights era: Hardy Williams was his baseball coach, Lucien Blackwell his mentor. “It’s so important for kids to have memories like these when they grow up,” he said.

SWPDS President Mike Ross elaborated, “Often when you have meetings and gatherings in the community, they’re always geared to adults and the children are left out. They get happy when they know they are included.

This was an opportunity to sit back and show us what they can do.”

Kingsessing Rec was Horne’s after-school base while he was growing up;

it’s where he did his homework. It remains a vibrant center of community life.

“On a Friday night, you see nothing in it but elderly people and kids,” he said.

Horne’s goal is for the elderly people to pass their knowledge on to those kids.

Performers such as Drop Squad, which specializes in African drumming and storytelling, laid a soundtrack to start the evening.

Storyteller Nashid Ali told tales of Philadelphia Black history. How Marcus Garvey, the “Back to Africa” promoter, led the Universal Negro Improvement Association in the 1920s, a branch of which is still based on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. How Cecil B. Moore himself, a fiery lawyer, integrated Girard College, (Cont. Page 7)

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CATTO (Cont. From Page 3) City officials to attend and participate in the 2017 Catto Honor ceremony was declined. For what reason, I do not know,” Waskie said.

“I hope we will eventually be invited to participate in any dedicatory ceremony. We are, of course, thrilled and delighted that O.V. Catto is finally receiving the honor and respect that his immense stature as a leader in the Emancipation crusade is being recognized and celebrated in his own hometown!”

On Feb. 25, the O.V. Catto Society will pay its annual tribute to the fallen hero on Octavius Catto Day. The day will begin with the honoring of Catto with a wreath-laying ceremony at 6th & Lombard Streets, near his home and where he was assassinated.

Following will be the presentation of the Maj. Octavius Catto Medal to two National Guard soldiers at the Union

OCTAVIUS V. CATTO, the great American hero of the Emancipation Era, fought for equal rights for African Americans during the Civil War era.

League Armed Services Committee luncheon.

This year, the Pennsylvania National Guard recipients of the 2017 Maj. Catto Medal of Achieve-

ment are Lt. Col. Adam Colombo, 111th Attack Wing Air Guard; and SSG Travis Goebel, EAATS Army Guard. Tickets for the event are $35.

Representative

Maria P. Donatucci

Honors

Black History Month 2901 South 19th Street, Philadelphia Pa 19145

215-468-1515

spoke of the vital role of veterans in the civil-rights struggle, citing Moore, who was a Marine in a segregated unit in World War II, and Congressman Lucien Blackwell, who served in an integrated unit in the Korean War. Praise dancers also performed. They were graceful and stirring. But their relevance to African American history was brought out when a presenter noted that the first nation in the world to become officially Christian was Ethio-

pia, in Africa. “Christianity is part of our history,” said Ross.

The evening concluded with a free and tasty dinner.

SWPDS coalesced around the Woodland Avenue street gang of bygone days. It is an all-male group, although it works closely with women who are leaders in their community. Members dig into their own pockets to support a wide range of programs throughout the year, with some assistance from Parks & Recreation activity grants.

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ENGAGED in Black history at Kingsessing Rec Center were, L-R, SWPDS Exec. Dir. Kevin Horne, Civil War re-enactor Albert El, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, judicial candidate Betsy Wahl and Ward Leader Pete Wilson.

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(Cont. From Page 4) which had always been restricted to white boys: “He got all the gangs together to march around its walls until they let us in.”

Ali spoke of today’s “Black Lives Matter” movement and linked it to the “Black Is Beautiful” movement of the 1960s.

Albert El, an Army veteran and military re-enactor, appeared in Civil War uniform.

He was portraying a soldier in the US Colored 3rd Regiment, which was recruited out of Philadelphia. 11,000 Black soldiers from Philadelphia fought in the Civil War, out of 200,000 total, he said. They trained at Camp William Penn, which was located at Broad Street and Cheltenham Avenue. In the Philadelphia National Cemetery in Oak Lane, 1,000 of these troops are buried.

El’s own great-great-grandfather was a Union soldier. He

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TAYLOR: GRANTS TO FIGHT TEEN DRINKING

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TATE REP. John Taylor (R-Northeast) is urging community groups and nonprofits committed to the fight against underage drinking to apply for a two-year grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

“This is a great opportunity to magnify your message and strengthen your fight against this dangerous behavior that

can lead to a host of reckless conduct,” Taylor said.

The PLCB is now accepting applications from schools, community organizations, municipalities, law-enforcement organizations, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit institutions for two-year grants to fund programs that focus on proven strategies to discourage

and reduce both underage and dangerous drinking.

The grant cycle is for up to two years, from July 2017 through June 2019, with a maximum award of $20,000 per year and $40,000 over two years. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and are subject to the availability of funds, and grant amounts will be deter-

mined by the Bureau of Alcohol Education.

This year, grant applications must be submitted through PLCB+, an online system developed to streamline licensing and alcohol education functions.

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Friday, March 31. Detailed information – including a Grant Application In-

struction Guide, answers to frequently asked questions, and access to PLCB+ – is available on the grants page of the PLCB website.

The PLCB sets aside about $2 million per grant cycle, and initiatives funded in previous years include increased police patrols; social norms campaigns; “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaigns; college alcohol assessment surveys; online

alcohol education programs; peer training; and more.

There is no limit to the number of organizations from a single county or municipality that may apply for grants, but each must be a separate entity, and only one grant will be awarded per organization.

For more information about the PLCB, visit www. lcb.pa.gov.

CRIME FALLS AT P.H.A. SITES

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HE PHILADELPHIA Housing Authority, working closely with residents, has achieved a stunning decrease in crime at its developments.

Statistics just released for 2016 show crime fell in virtually all categories, with thefts decreasing by 68%, robberies cut in half and sexual assaults down by 78%. Overall, crime decreased in 2016 by over 41%.

PHA made the decision to increase the size of its police department three years ago after Kelvin A. Jeremiah assumed the role of president and CEO. Jeremiah not only committed to increasing the number of sworn police officers, but also ensured at least 10 PHA residents would be recruited to join the force.

“Our goal continues to be to make PHA communities ‘neighborhoods of choice,’” Jeremiah said. “A feeling of safety and well-being plays an important role in that.

The increase in the department and having a police department that works hand-inhand with residents to create crime-free areas is definitely paying dividends. I want to thank PHA’s Board of Commissioners for its support, and commend Chief Bard, the entire PHA Police Dept. and the residents on their collaboration so that everyone can have a sense of security

that all citizens deserve.”

Jeremiah stated that in addition to the PHAPD expansion, PHA invested heavily in a closed-circuit television security system and multilayered door entry access controls.

PHA Police Chief Branville Bard credits involvement by residents for helping make PHA communities safe.

“We took our cue from PHA resident leaders who wanted us to focus our efforts strictly on PHA communities rather than including the broader areas around our sites,” Bard said. “Having our officers concentrated at our developments has allowed us to increase community engagement and work more closely with residents.”

Another initiative that has contributed to the trend is PHA’s decision to recruit PHA residents to the PHA Police Dept. Once hired, these men and women undergo the same training as Philadelphia police officers, all of whom are assigned to their home developments and others. They are fully accredited, full-time officers.

Chief Bard says they have had an immediate positive impact. “They have roots already established in the community, so that allows them to hit the ground running. And individual residents feel more comfortable going to them because they know them.”

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derstand that office is truly responsible for the quality of life we lead in this city. It can ferret out problems, address them and abate them before they become bigger. Everyone, every neighborhood, all our communities, deserve to live in peaceful neighborhoods, not plagued by circumstances beyond their control and the lack of response by city officialdom to those problems.”

Grossman is planning her campaign around the need for the public to look to the DA’s office as its champion, especially with the continued rise in killings now occurring in this city. “People are tired,” she finds. “They want a return to a decent quality of life in this city…ranging from the elimination of drug corners, drug houses, nuisance bars, and neighborhood nuisances such as poorly maintained rental properties which often lead to their occupancy by drug traffickers.”

She is passionate about rescuing neighbors whose homes were being affected by the conditions of those properties.

“Their voice was heard while I was there. We got rid of many eyesores,” she boasts.

She resigned from the

DA’s office over a year and a half ago and became the chief of staff to the Commissioner of L&I, bringing with

her a great deal of knowledge on how to rid the city of nuisance properties.

She is the endorsed GOP

candidate and awaits the announcement of the party’s choice for city controller to intensify the campaign.

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with vital tidbits on a laptop she carries everywhere.

Grossman believes she can fuel the resentment of many Democratic voters over the long record of convictions of local elected officials in their party. She says, “It’s a doable challenge.” She brings up the fact the Castille-Gola Team for DA and Controller changed the way politics was played when they won an uphill fight against Democratic incumbents back in 1985.

She is convinced “Democrat voters are fed up with corruption in this city due to a long line of convictions of their party’s city and state officeholders. I see Philadelphia voters are patient, but there comes a time when enough is enough, especially among those suffering in crime-riddled neighborhoods.”

Her familiarity with the Office of District Attorney is obvious, based on her more than 21 years of service in it, dating back to the beginning of the reign of DA Lynne Abraham.

“DA Williams,” she says, “changed the course of the office almost continuously.

Neither he nor those seeking to replace him will ever un-

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BY JOE SHAHEELI ETH GROSSMAN would be a natural shoo-in for Philadelphia District Attorney if everyone agreed the individual with the most credentials for that office would be the one supported.

She’s served in almost every capacity in that office.

She would need the acclaim of the daily press media and local TV talking heads on Sunday mornings interviewing her for voters to decide she indeed knows that office inside out.

Alas for her, that won’t happen since she is running on the Republican ticket in a city where the Democratic registrations are still 7 to 1.

To her dismay, her easiest target, incumbent DA Seth Williams, has removed himself from the race. With Williams, whom she was betting would survive the primary, out, she now loses the role as the “better government” candidate, having to share the same with a host of Democratic challengers seeking the Democratic nomination in the primary for that office.

She remains undaunted, taking her campaign to everyone who will listen, recording the support she garners along

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ms re med he he

OV. TOM WOLF proposed a $32.3 billion budget last week.

During his speech introducing his 900-page budget, he stated, “I’m offering a budget proposal that represents a responsible solution to our deficit challenge – and a different approach from the way things have been done in Harrisburg for almost a generation. Let’s start here: In my proposed budget, there are no broadbased tax increases.” It almost sounded as if he finally realized he has a Legislature

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ELEPHANT CORNER

BY DENISE CLAY “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and the choices you make will shape your life forever.”

HIS LINE comes from Chazz Palminteri’s autobiographical play “A Bronx Tale,” which was later turned into a movie directed

by Robert DeNiro. It’s the story of a young man and the two very different father figures who guide his life.

As I watched Seth Williams announce he wouldn’t be seeking a third term as Philadelphia’s District Attorney in a press conference

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with a significant Republican majority and lives in a state that elected a Republican president. Almost.

Wolf expects that cost-cutting from consolidations and closing facilities such as the commonwealth’s most expensive prison will yield the funds necessary to fill Pennsylvania’s “structural deficit.”

This sounds somewhat Republican. Of course, he did not mention the size of the structural deficit, because the estimates have ranged from $1.8 billion to over $3 billion.

He also did not mention how our skyrocketing pension costs are contributing to the problem. But then, perhaps he did not want to bring up the pension topic for fear that the GOP-dominated Legislature would demand pension reform in exchange for his tax increases.

Wolf’s budget calls for the equivalent of a $25-per-capita fee to be placed on the roughly 1,300 municipalities that do not have their

own police forces and rely on the State Police for law enforcement. The funds will go to the State Police’s operations and are expected to amount to $63 million in the first year.

This is a tax I can live with, as it is only fair that these municipalities pay for these services. In a statement to another news outlet, Philadelphia STATE REP. JOHN TAYLOR said it is “about time” these municipalities are paying for these services. I might have done it differently. I might send the municipalities bills at the end of the year for the services, taking into consideration the number of hours state troopers performed duties there.

Wolf also wants to expand the Commonwealth’s 6% sales tax to include computer-based services ($330 million), commercial storage ($154 million) and airline meals ($800,000). Taxing (Cont. Page 21)

on Friday, I watched someone who was the embodiment of that line in spades.

When Williams was elected to the office a little over seven years ago, he came in with the goodwill of a city that saw him as someone who would revamp a criminal-justice system that’s had its issues.

And he did a lot with that goodwill. Felony conviction rates went up. Diversion programs for nonviolent drug offenders were created. Williams was also considering decriminalizing low-level drug offenses.

Most recently, the DA’s office had added more people to its Conviction Review Unit, the group of lawyers charged with making sure that wrongful convictions were more of the exception and less of the rule.

But unfortunately, and this is where the “wasted talent” part comes in, Williams and his personal foibles started to get more newspaper ink than the

positive changes – including community-based prosecutors who worked directly with police to make sure victims of crime got justice – he had managed to make in his tenure in office.

“I have made regrettable mistakes in my personal life and my personal financial life that cast an unnecessary shadow over the District Attorney’s office,” he said. “[My recent controversies] have brought much embarrassment, shame and adverse publicity to me and, unfortunately, the office I love.”

No one could argue that.

Between the various gifts that he got from donors and failed to report that led to a $62,000 fine from the Philadelphia Ethics Board, to a messy breakup that led to an ex-girlfriend slicing up the tires on his city vehicle (something that made the songs “Bust Your Windows”

by Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan and “Rolling In The Deep” by Adele pop (Cont. Page 22)

WALKING the BEAT

BY JOE SHAY STIVALA OU MAY WONDER what happened to the PELLMELL post-presidential dash of the GOP to repeal OBAMACARE. It SLOWED because they discovered that many GOP-held congressional districts have a large number of Obamacare enrollees. It is re-election death to throw thousands of constituents into a no-health-insurance void.

The Congressional Quarterly noted that the GOP “Bet-

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HE footsoldiers of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party trudged to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrisburg last weekend to make endorsements for the statewide judicial slate.

Philadelphia’s own Common Pleas Court JUDGE MARIA MCLAUGHLIN was endorsed for Superior Court.

She is the lovely wife of relentless former Philadelphia controller and fiscal watchdog JONATHAN SAIDEL. At the opening dinner on Friday night, the crowd was raucous. The bitter defeat of HILLARY CLINTON and the

ter Way” is little more than refinements. And the OUTCOME will, in time, be just that – refinements. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING – but campaign BULL. GREAT NEWS: two Philly jurists were endorsed by Democratic State Committee for a seat on state Superior Court: Judges Maria McLAUGHLIN and Carolyn NICHOLS. The Committee showed wisdom. Judge Paula PATRICK will run on the Republican side for that court.

Patrick is liked by county chairs and, at one point in the past, had some 32 Dem Chairs ready to back her. The McLAUGHLIN and PATRICK names sell well across the state (just as Marutani, a Japanese American, sold well in Italian areas years ago). I have met the mothers of McLaughlin and Nichols, and am CERTAIN that great genes make both candidates top jurists.

Former State Rep. Mark COHEN made a good point

on Facebook: There is almost ZERO NEGATIVITY in judicial races. Cohen is soon to be an announced candidate for judge. In the past, he has been underestimated.

But make no mistake, he is a MENSA, and uses his body to carry his brain around.

The trial date for State Rep. Vanessa BROWN is upon us.

Unnecessary as it is, it comes at the end of a very UGLY period of SCAM-SLEAZE on state lawmakers, which erupted in headlines that sold papers, but made me wonder how the DA’s office and AG office could COOPERATE in fighting crime. Some have called that era ALI-GATE or PORN-GATE. In whatever tense, it can be described as STINK, STANK, STUNK. We all read where the DA won’t run again. But he did not resign (?). A great online page – BIGTRIAL.NET – has features on the DA, some of it getting into NEWSWEEK Magazine.

(Cont. Page 20)

progressive movement has energized the footsoldiers. Now Democrats know they can take nothing for granted and if they want to take back America, they’ll have to reclaim the line in Pennsylvania.

This is good timing for the GOV. TOM WOLF–LT. GOV. MIKE STACK ticket. Had Hillary in fact won, a disgruntled Republican majority in Harrisburg may have continued to seek sacrificial lambs for their anger.

But now the trend seems to have turned in favor of the Democrats.

Making speeches on Friday night in addition to Gov. Wolf were Stack and RICH FITZGERALD, the county executive from Allegheny. Also, in a rare occurrence, Supreme Court JUSTICE DEBORAH TODD addressed the crowd. She is running for retention. If everything works out according to plan, she will succeed to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She will be the first woman Chief Justice in Pennsylvania history.

STATE REPS. PATTY KIM and RYAN BIZZARRO were on hand, as were STATE SEN. ART HAYWOOD and Philadelphia City COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM. KENNY WASHINGTON from the Laborers’ Union made his way through the whole crowd. Everybody knows Washington. The relentless LOU FARINELLA, a BOB BRADY quarterback for State Committee, marched on with purpose. Lou has been battling illness, but ill health couldn’t keep Lou from his masterful craft.

STATE REP. MIKE O’BRIEN kept him company.

Gov. Wolf recently addressed the General Assembly with his budget plan. It calls for no new taxes and a smaller, more-efficient government. The budget still increases its funding to K-12 public education and higher education. Such a budget surely has the Republicans baffled and frustrated. It demonstrates Wolf has (Cont. Page 20)

Al of CL in to he m as ha of

co th ly sid str

ove kno the not ten J new ic Pat we St. we p rele ma tim tics S ST flow

TAKEN FOR GRANTED

MARK your CALENDAR Feb. 16- State Sen. Sharif Street opens N.W. District Office at 4458 Germantown Ave., 2-5 p.m. Refreshments.

Feb. 16- Pol People hosts Petition Party at Parkside Café, 4942 Parkside Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Candidates $150. For info: Rasheen crewsconsulting@ gmail.com.

Feb. 16- Sherman Toppin is hosted Kickoff & Petition-Signing Party at Philly Platinum Grill in Market Sq. Mall, 7719 Crittenden St., 6-8 p.m. Contribution levels $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000. Payable to “Committee to Elect Sherman Toppin for Judge,” 1800 JFK Blvd., Su. 300, Phila., PA 19103 or at door. For info: (215) 564-

wine, soda. Tickets $35, 2 for $60. For info: (215) 370-3689.

Feb. 18- 42nd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Candidates Morning Out at Aspira Olney HS, 100 W. Duncannon Ave., enter at Mascher & Duncannon, 9:30 a.m.-12 m. Meet & greet community members, voter petition-signing.

Refreshments. Candidates’ donation $50, checks payable to “42nd Democratic Ward,” P.O. Box 24419, Phila., PA 19120. Send checks + info by Feb. 4.

RSVP: Elaine Tomlin Elaine.

Tomlin@verizon.net or (267) 496-5662.

Feb. 18- Democratic Women of Phila. meet at Gloria Jacob Manor, 1100 Fairmount Ave., 1 p.m. For info: Janice Sulman (215) 470-7542.

Feb.18- 9th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Fundraiser/Petition-Signing Party at 7165 Bar & Lounge, 7165 Germantown Ave., 7-10 p.m. Tickets $60, Host level $100, Sponsor level $250. For info: (215) 917-4410.

Feb. 18- State Rep. Angel Cruz and 7th Ward Democratic Committee host Candidates Fundraiser/Petition Party at Salsa, 2126

T HE S O U T H PHIL A D L EPHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

3600 or vote@ToppinForJudge.com Feb. 16- Phila. Democratic Progressive Committee hosts “How to Run for Local Office & Win, N. Philly Edition” at Dobbins HS, 2150 W. Lehigh Ave., 6 p.m.

Feb. 16- 58th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Mtg. at 1247 Southampton Rd., 7 p.m. Candidates invited to bring petitions.

For info: Skip Montell (267) 444-7945 or Jim Donnelly (610) 360-5682.

Feb. 17- AFSCME D.C. 47 hosts Meet-&-Greet Candidates Night at Field Ho., 1150 Filbert St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. RSVP: Ethelind Baylor or Candido Silva (215) 893-3756.

Feb. 17- 44th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Evening of Jazz & Petition Party at Danny Banquet Ha., 50th & Market Sts., 6-10 p.m. Featuring Napoleon Black Redeemed & 61st St. Band. Tickets $150. Checks payable to “Ward 44” RSVP: (215) 429-4819 by Feb. 13.

Feb. 17- 33rd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Sweetheart Dance Fundraiser at Juniata G.C., 1391 E. Cayuga St., 7-12 p.m.

Parking, dancing, beer,

E. Lehigh Ave., 7-10 p.m.

Friends $50, Candidates $100. Checks payable to “7th Ward.” For info: José Giral (267) 228-7231 or elections215@gmail.com.

Feb. 19- Fop Lodge 5 hosts Survivors Fund Gala at Phila. Ballrm., 2014 Horning Rd., 3-8 p.m. Tickets $45.

Feb. 21- Ward 39A Democratic Committee hosts Petition Party at Viking Ha., 1815 S. 11th St., 6-8 p.m.

Candidates $100. Payable to “Public Service PAC.” Feb 21- Len Deutchman is hosted Kickoff for judge at Freedom Theater, 1346 N Broad St., 5-7 p.m.

Feb. 21- Phila. Democratic Progressive Committee hosts Candidate Petition Party at Field Ho., 1150 Filbert St., 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 22- Public Record hosts Who’s Who Night honoring Councilman James Tayoun at Sheet Metal Workers Ha., 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30 p.m. Congressman Bob Brady, others speak.

Buffet, premium bar, hors d’oeuvres. Tickets $40, 4 for $140. For tickets: (215) 755-2000, ext. 7 or events@cityandstatepa.com.

Feb. 22- Phila. Democratic Progressive Committee hosts “How to Run for Politi-

cal Office – S. Philly Edition” at St. Barnabas Ch., 1814 Wharton St., 6-7:30 p.m.

Feb. 22- Green Party elects New City Committee at Shissler Rec Ctr., 1800 Blair St. (near Girard Ave.) 7 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. The meeting open to the public with no admission charge. For more info: (215) 843-4256 or gpop@gpop.org.

Feb. 23- Lt. Gov. Mike Stack hosts Mardi Gras Celebration at Scarpetta Restaurant, 210 W. Rittenhouse Sq., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Tickets $250 up. Checks payable to “Committee to Elect Mike Stack,” PO Box 292, Newtown, PA 18940.

For info: (215) 893-4281.

Feb. 23- State Rep. Jim

Roebuck celebrates his Birthday Bash at Warmdaddy’s, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Jazz, soul food & fun. RSVP: Bonnie Squires (610) 3296826.

Feb. 23- Commissioner Al Schmidt holds Fundraiser at Firefighters’ Union Ha., 415 N. 5th St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Open bar, catering from Paesano’s.

Contributions $100. Payable to “Friends of Al Schmidt,” P.O. Box 18538, Phila., PA 19129.

Feb. 23- State Rep. John Taylor hosts Mtg. on Saving Lives with Narcan at St. Anne’s Ha., 2328 E. Lehigh Ave., 2nd fl., 6-8 p.m. Free. Must be 16 years or older. RSVP: (215) 708-3139 (Cont. Page 20)

F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

W

E WONDER if City Controller Alan Butkovitz hasn’t opened a Pandora’s box for this city’s administration with his report on the lax monitoring of grants by the Dept. of Human Services which can be read on P. 2 of this issue.

What is startling is the grants have totaled about

come from the commonwealth or from the federal government. In the current climate of 2017, Philadelphia must be extra careful with the way it handles these monies, as any missteps may be used against us – in the case of DHS, some of the neediest among us.

We must mention here that Mayor Kenney may need to either scale down his pre-K program at least, because almost 40 legislators are moving to get rid of his soda tax, which now provides its funding.

March 3, 2017 Jim Donnelly hosts the

58th Ward Democratic 45th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Bash at Knowlton Mansion, 931 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111, from 7 PM to 11 PM. Special guest Lieutenant

Governor Mike Stack.

Tickets $50.00pp, food, drink, live music.

Candidates $100.00pp R.S.V.P. Jim Donnelly 610-360-5682 or Skip Montell 267-444-7945

P H IL LY R E CO R D.C O M - 215 -755 -20 0 0

OPINION

$230 million – not exactly chump change. DHS had no idea of what some of their nonprofits were doing with the money earmarked for specific children and youth programs. How was it spent? Where was it spent?

Did the children or youth designated get any of it?

If DHS is in such poor shape, we ask if grant programs received by other city agencies are going along without proper monitoring.

Again, we are not talking about chump change, but hundreds of millions.

Most of these grants

15

WELCOME TO THE D.A. CIRCUS

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

16

POLS on the STREET

BY JOE SHAHEELI A SETH WILLIAMS will soon feel the error of his ways; and we are not talking about how badly he handled his personal life, his office and his financial misfilings. He will suffer in silence forever, or maybe not, for caving in when the going got tough. With all the worst publicity he could

D

Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

190th Legislative District

ever get, repeating itself on local media daily, he still had the name recognition that voters would have retained foremost when they entered the polls this May primary.

He could have fought back and possibly picked up even more support, since history has proven underdogs win the heart of the voting populace as they claw their way back up the slippery slope of poor polling and bad publicity. We think he knew this – but figured, as in the case of Bill Cosby, more individuals would step out and offer up more reasons to dislike him, hurting his family even more.

Only Williams knows why he is pulling himself out of the primary race for his office. We wish him well and urge him to ignore the request of our two frustrated daily newspapers’ State Rep.

William Keller 184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

1435 N. 52nd St. Phila. PA 19131 (215) 879-6615

215-271-9190

Always Hard At Work for You!

P H IL LY R E CO R D.C O M - 215 -755 -20 0 0

State Senator

Anthony Hardy Williams 8th Senatorial District

2901 ISLAND AVE. STE 100 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 FAX: (215) 492-2990 ---419 CHURCH LANE YEADON, PA 19050 (610) 284-7335 FAX: (610) 284-5955 6630 LINDBERGH BLVD.

2103 SNYDER AVENUE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19145 (215) 755-9185 FAX: (215) 952-3375 ---SENATE BOX 203008 HARRISBURG, PA 17120 ROOM: 11 EAST WING (717) 787-5970 FAX: (717) 772-0574

editorial staffs which are demanding he resign.

His withdrawal has opened the floodgates. Early on, we found out money will be the decisive factor in who wins the Democratic primary for District Attorney. Unfortunately for the pros, television will be the door-knocker of consequence in making the difference. Since that’s the case, candidates need to recall and study how Mayor Michael Nutter came from being an underdog to topping the charts at race’s end. He looked the television camera straight in the lens and said the same message over and over again; then, putting on the finishing touches, was a commercial of him taking his daughter to school.

Democratic City Committee Chairman, Congressman Bob Brady, has for some time announced the DA primary race would be open, with no endorsement forthcoming. This increases the opportunity for those candidates mulling a run.

With the biggest war chest is Michael Untermey-

er, who ran for DA on the Republican ticket, and discovered then the hold the Democratic Party has on local elections. He switched parties and has been a Democrat long enough to be considered a credible Democratic candidate now.

But there is the matter of racial identity. A frantic effort is underway in some quarters to seek out wellknown African Americans who might consider running for DA. Political consultant Mustafa Rashed said, “There is (Cont. Page 17)

KYRIAKAKIS’ KICKOFF

FORMER GOV. Ed Rendell was special guest at the campaign kickoff of Anthony Kyriakakis for judge. Sharing the moment with him are fellow candidates Zac Schaffer; Judge Vincent Melchiorre; Rania Major; and Ward Leader Robert Dellavella. Photo by Joe Stivala

JUDICIAL CANDIDATE Anthony Kyriakakis, C, welcomes campaign consultant Joseph Russo; Rania Major; Carmella Jacquinto; and Omar Sabir, campaign manager for Judge Melchiorre. Photo by Joe Stivala

POPULAR SUPPORT FOR HENON

WITH ARMS folded, Councilman Bob Henon is all smiles as he welcomes many of his district’s top supporters to a fundraiser at Maggie’s Waterfront Café. Photo by Joe Shay Stivala

State Rep. Jason

City Commissioner

Dawkins

Lisa M.

District Office: 4915 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 744-7901 M. – Th.: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

F.: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Room 132 City Hall

Deeley Philadelphia PA 19107

215-686-3460

State Rep.

Councilman

Mark

Joanna E.

Squilla

McClinton 191st Leg. Dist.

6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139

1st District City Hall Room 332

T: (215) 748-6712 F: (215) 748-1687

215-686-3458/59

Represintative

Angel Cruz

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

Boyle

198th District

310 W. Chelten Ave.

172nd Dist.

7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

Phila PA 19148

P: 215-849-6426

215-331-2600 State Rep.

John

Donna

(R) 177th Dist.

4725 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

195th Leg. Dist.

2835 W. Girard Ave Phila, PA 19130

215-744-2600

D-185th District 2901 S. 19th St. Phila PA 19145 P: 215-468-1515 F: 215-952-1164

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

Kevin J.

Youngblood

Taylor

Donatucci

Greenlee

State Rep.

Rep. Rosita

State Rep.

Rep.Maria P.

Councilman Wm.

Bullock T: (215) 684-3738 F: (215) 235-4629

City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker 9th District City Hall, Room 577, Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-686-3454 or 3455

www.phlcouncil.com/CherelleParker

Facebook: CouncilwomanCherelleLParker Twitter: @CherelleParker9

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

17

Seniors at The Paschall Senior Home Center Group in S. Phila. enjoyed the gathering of the Senior Ball hosted by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. Photo by Wendell Douglas.

ALSO attending the Senior Ball were, L-R, Jerald Johns, Jordan Harris’ Chief of Staff and State Rep. Jordan Harris, supporting Councilman Johnson’s event. Photo by Wendell Douglas

F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

(Cont. From Page 17) now a concentrated effort to rally behind one African American candidate that people feel will do the best job of implementing the criminal justice reforms that will have a significant impact on communities of color.”

Sounds good; but the odds are more than one African American will enter the race.

And why not? It’s a great opportunity to get to be known, especially with a number-one pull for a ballot position.

Among candidates of color being written about as the Black candidate of substance are Kevin Harden, Jr.; Tariq El-Shabazz, a defense lawyer and radio personality who landed a slot as Williams’ top lieutenant in the DA’s Office; State Rep. Joanna McClinton; and Common Pleas Judges Leon Tucker and Renee Cardwell (Cont. Page 18)

KENYATTA JOHNSON’S SENIOR BALL

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POLS on the STREET

DEMS SLATE SUPERIOR COURT

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

18

DEMOCRATIC State Committee met in Harrisburg and endorsed four jurists as candidates for Superior Court.

They are Debra Kunselman, Esq. (Beaver); Judge Carolyn Nichols (Phila.); Judge Geoff Moulton (Montgomery); and Judge Maria McLaughlin (Phila.). Congrats from the Public Record! Courtesy of Joe Stivala

P H IL LY R E CO R D.C O M - 215 -755 -20 0 0

F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

JUDGE Maria McLaughlin told attendees at the Democratic State Committee meeting she will work hard to ensure its endorsement of her for State Superior Court will end in victory. Photo by Joe Stivala

POLS on the STREET (Cont. From Page 17) Hughes. Of this group, McClinton is the only one assured of the support of State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.)

What perplexes judicial candidates of color who are being pushed to jump in, is if the odds favor their cutting loose from a guaranteed seat to delve into a race where money counts the most.

Any candidate in this group could surface as the front-runner, depending on

who can garner the support of the powerful Laborers’ District Council.

One judge who believes she can make a real difference has surrendered her seat to do so. That’s Teresa Carr Deni, who resigned from her six-year term on Municipal Court in December to challenge Williams.

She is picking up endorsements from a number of active women’s organizations.

Joe Khan, a lifelong Philadelphian who served over 16 years as a prosecutor at both the Philadelphia DA’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia,

has been bringing in bucks, and is seeking the support of his dad’s influential Muslim community. He’s also campaigning on keeping Philadelphia a sanctuary city.

Former Managing Dir. Rick Negrín needs to meet with Latino ward leaders if he hopes to garner those votes.

Newly arrived on the scene is Larry Krasner, whose name has often surfaced in civil-rights cases.

He’s hoping the rumor that George Soros will buy the election for him develops substance.

In any event, the smart ones will advertise here, in the paper committee people read every week.

RADIO MODERATERS EIDING, DOUGHERTY

Moving into mainstream AM radio are Joseph Dougherty and Joe Krause, of PhillyLabor, which has for the past three years promoted union leaders and (Cont. Page 19)

POL NOTES OF IMPORT

The Delaware River Waterfront Corp. has established the William R. Miller Urban Youth Activities Fund, in memory of its late board member and tireless community advocate, Bill Miller.

The fund supports meaningful outdoor recreational opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth on the waterfront.

The fund will sustain the Good Skates Program and will also support equally valuable programming throughout the upcoming summer season. DRWC will commit $10,000 annually and will look to raise additional funds from corporate and philanthropic sources.

We see the influence of State Sen. Sharif Street (D-N. Phila.) in the announcement that Marnie Aument-Loughrey has been appointed treasurer of the Pennsylvania Black Caucus.

She is closely allied to Jim Harrity, one of the senator’s most- oyal supporters and a member of his staff.

er of the 36th ward.

STATE DEMS NAME EAGEN Todd Eagen, Candidate for Commonwealth Court, was overwhelmingly endorsed last Saturday by the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee out of a crowded field of seven candidates.

“We feel very good that the party has endorsed me because they see me as the strongest candidate, not only for the election in May, but also in November, and right on the issues that are important to us as Democrats,” Eagen said after the endorsement.

Also endorsed for the four seats open in Superior Court were Philadelphia Judges Maria McLaughlin and Carolyn Nichols as well as Debra Kunselman of Beaver County and Judge Geoff Moulton of Montgomery County. Good maneuvering by Philadelphia County Chair Bob Brady here!

Our two, plus possibly a win by Philadelphia jurist Paula Patrick, running as an endorsed Republican candidate, could increase needed

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAYORAL LUNCHEON

PERZEL GETS DAY IN COURT

Former House Speaker John Perzel and one of State Rep. Mike Veon’s former aides will get to appeal portions of their political-corruption convictions.

On the heels of Veon’s winning a new trial regarding parts of one of his convictions, that aides, Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, and Perzel have been granted the opportunity to appeal portions of their convictions.

The Associated Press reports Perzel’s appeal focuses on whether he should have to pay the state $1 million in restitution imposed by a judge, while Perretta-Rosepink’s appeal concerns a conviction on a charge of conflict of interest.

Perzel pleaded guilty in 2011 to felony conspiracy and conflict-of-interest charges stemming from an illegal campaign operation. He received jail time and was ordered to pay back over $1 million to the commonwealth.

Similar penalties were doled out by judges in dozens of other state corruption cases, including, crucially, that of Veon, who won a 2016 appeal that granted the once-powerful Democrat a new trial some four years after his own conviction on nearly identical charges. But that decision also determined that a judge in his original trial erred by layering on $1.9 million in court-ordered restitution on top of state sentencing guidelines.

Joel Sansone, lawyer for both Perzel and Veon, said the latest ruling is an outgrowth of that decision. “The Veon case ruling that said people cannot be sentenced to pay restitution when the ‘victim’ is the Commonwealth,” he said. “They were convicted of breaking the law and sentenced to jail time, but the judge went beyond the guidelines on this one by ordering restitution.”

AMONG those filling the Marriott ballroom for the Mayoral Luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce were, L-R, Bill Sasso, Stradley Ronon; Mayor Jim Kenney; Trayce Parker, UPS; and Craig Adams, PECO. Photo by Bonnie Squires

CONGRATULATING the annual Gus Amsterdam Scholarship Award-winners were, L-R, Mayor Jim Kenney; Fakirah Awawdeh of CCP; Widchard Faustin of Drexel University; and David L. Cohen, of Comcast. Photo by Bonnie Squires

19 T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

Philadelphia representation on that court, which often ignores the city’s side of cases.

L-R, DREXEL PRESIDENT John Fry, who chairs the L-R, MEXICAN Consul Alicia Kerber-Palma; Romy Diaz, Chamber of Commerce board, chatted with TemPECO; Alan Kessler, Esq., Duane Morris; and State Sen. ple University President Richard Englert. Photo by Anthony Hardy Williams. Photo by Bonnie Squires Bonnie Squires

L-R, MICHAEL LUCIANI; Rob Wonderling, C of C CEO; Sharon Pinkenson; and Councilman Derek Green. Photo by Bonnie Squires F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

(Cont. From Page 18) union promotions on their radio show. They’ve now teamed up with Pat Eiding, president of Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and Electricians Union leader John Dougherty, to co-host a “Saturday Night Live w/ Philly Labor” show on 1210 AM-WPHT. The show will air Saturday evenings at 7 p.m.

It’s a call-in show, so expect to get early in line when they give out the phone numbers to call if you want your views aired.

It’s a good opportunity for Eiding and Johnny Doc to get the rank-and-file to explain why they deserted their leaders in big numbers to vote for President Donald Trump.

That phenomenon wrested the state from a sure win for Hillary Clinton.

Former State Rep. Leslie Acosta is hanging in and is now promoting a news agency on the web.

Joe Driscoll, a young progressive, has been setting up a number of meetings around the city teaching potential candidates how to run for local office. He sees a field day for new faces in the next year and a half, as the city will be electing hosts of election officers and 3,372 Democratic committee people.

We see Gov. Tom Wolf has finally morphed into being a politician. He’s campaigning now around the state promoting why his nofrills, no-statewide-tax budget should be remembered and thought of well when he seeks re-election.

Congratulations to Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who was just voted in to replace Harold James as lead-

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POLS on the STREET

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

20

WALKING THE BEAT (Cont. From Page 14) A fog rolls in quietly. Almost as quietly, fans of State Rep. Joanna McCLINTON are promoting her for DA. McClinton does SO MUCH for her constituents that all might be REVERSED as DA where she would have to

prosecute some of them (?).

A great American commented to me that the media covers mostly the PROSECUTION side of cases, and this is a stranglehold on juries. It could give the prosecutor extra empowerment to strike a hard plea-bargain in some matters. Maybe you court writers NEED to REACH OUT MORE to

defense lawyers. They are ever-changing, while you see the same jurists and prosecutors in federal court all the time. MORE HOPE from the federal bench was in the finding for Atlantic City firefighters by Judge Renee BUMB! How about Joe DOUGHERTY’S “Philly Labor Radio” featuring co-hosts John

DOUGHERTY, Building Trades chief, and Pat EIDING, AFL-CIO leader with radio host Joe “Coats” KRAUSE. Let’s have MORE of it.

Lots of Local 98 attendance at DEM State Committee with Phil CONVEY, Brian EDDIS and Mike NEIL! The daily press featured the salaries of the top six administrators at the Philly

PARKING AUTHORITY – near $1.3 million in total. If each took a 1/3 pay cut, it would mean some

$400k could GO TO OUR SCHOOLS! Councilwoman Helen GYM, why are you SILENT on this?

CITY HALL SAM

in politics.

STATE SEN. SHARIF STREET hosted an overflow crowd at Dobbins High School for a pardons workshop. He was joined

by SHERIFF JEWELL WILLIAMS; MIKE LEE, a lawyer for Lawyers for Social Equity; and MAVIS NIMOH, the secretary of the Board of Pardons. Street is working closely with Lt. Gov. Stack to give Philadelphia and Pennsylvania citizens a true second chance by educating them about the pardons and expungement process for criminal records.

(Cont. From Page 14) learned a lesson or two over the past two years and knows he has to appeal to the voter base. That face is not always liberal and is often against big government.

JIMMY DONNELLY, the new 58th Ward Democratic leader, is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party on the weekend of March 3. Since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekday, the parties will probably be relentless and that’s what makes St. Patrick’s Day time so much fun

P H IL LY R E CO R D.C O M - 215 -755 -20 0 0

F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

CALENDAR (Cont. From Page 15) Feb. 23- 60th Ward Democratic Committee hosts meet-greet-&-eat Petition Party at Urban Art Gallery, 262 S. 52nd St. 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 23- Councilwoman Helen Gym hosts Community Action Meeting, 5:30 to 7:30 at Arch St. United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad.

Feb. 24- Friends of 56th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Fundraiser & Petition-Signing Party at FOP Lodge 5 Ha., 11630 Caroline Rd., 7-11 p.m.

Tickets $50, Candidates $125. Checks payable to “Friends of 56th Ward.”

RSVP: John Sabatina, 7720 Castor Ave., 2nd fl., Phila., PA 19152. For info: (215) 742-8600.

Feb. 25- Octavius Catto

Day is honored at 6th & Lombard Sts., 10 a.m.; then at Union League for Lunch and Awards. Tickets $35.

For info: (215) 204-5452.

Feb. 25- 32nd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Petition Party at Mander Plg., 33rd & Diamond Sts., 2-5 p.m. For info: Bernard Lopez (215) 317-9232 or email Blop21457@gmail. com for candidates.

For Further Listing See “Calendar” Online At www.phillyrecord.com

For Advertising at The Philadelphia Public Record Call Melissa Barrett at 215-755-2000 ext.

5 or email her at mbarrett @phillyrecord.com

In The Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 160300779 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Nationstar HECM Acquisition Trust 2015-2, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not Individually, but Solely as Trustee, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Georgia L. Roberts a/k/a Georgia Roberts, Deceased, Defendant(s) To: The Unknown Heirs of Georgia L. Roberts a/k/a Georgia Roberts, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 5529 Belmar Terrace, Philadelphia, PA 19143. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, Nationstar HECM Acquisition Trust 2015-2, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not Individually, but Solely as Trustee, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 160300779, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 5529 Belmar Terrace, Philadelphia, PA 19143, whereupon your property will be sold by the Sheriff of Phila. County.

Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you.

You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila. Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-238-6333. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

Tickets on Sale Now! For a Salute to Philly Icon

Jim Tayoun

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 5:30 p.m.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 1301 Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19148

Premium Open Bar, Hors d’Oeuvres and Buffet by Penn’s Landing Caterers

21 T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

Delaware counties, working on House seat elections in 2012 and 2014.

Wagoner was recently the Chester County GOP’s executive director. She is also the national committeewoman for the Young Republicans.

It is rumored that South Philadelphian TOM ROSSAMONDO will be joining the PAGOP staff. Rossamondo is a longtime Republican activist and worked in the Corbett administration.

Master of Ceremonies: Mr. Jonathan Saidel Featured Speakers: Congressman Bob Brady, Lt. Governor Mike Stack, RCC Chairman Joe DeFelice & Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding Presenting Sponsors:

heet Metal Workers Local 19

L.E.C.E.T

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Supporting Sponsors: PRPA

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Philadelphia AFL_CIO

Local 57

City Commissioner Lisa Deeley and Sheriff (Ret.) Barbara Deeley

Tickets are $40 each can be purchased by contacting events@cityandstatepa.com or call 215-755-2000 Ext. 7

F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

(Cont. From Page 14) airline meals is probably fair in that we pay taxes on meals we get in restaurants.

While Wolf’s proposal did not include broad-based tax hikes, such as increases to the personal income or sales tax, it does include yet another attempt for a broad-based tax on Marcellus Shale drillers. He essentially cut and pasted most of last year’s proposal of a 6.5% severance tax of the value of the natural gas. It is estimated the tax would amount to roughly $300 million in revenue.

However, I find it hard to believe this tax will get through the Legislature.

Even if you believe it appropriate to selectively tax only certain industries, do you believe this is the time to impose this tax? While natural-gas prices have rebounded somewhat, prices are not high enough to warrant rehiring many of the people laid off owing to low price levels.

We expect Pennsylvania Republican Party CHAIRMAN VAL DiGIORGIO to fill his staffing needs shortly. Thus far, he has announced his appointments of ROB BROOKS to executive director, GREG MANZ to communications director and LAURA WAGONER to finance director.

Brooks is a former political consultant who focused on campaign operations and strategy for elections at federal, state and local lev-

els. He was the executive director of the Chester County GOP for six years.

Manz was the communications director of DONALD TRUMP’S campaign in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Trump campaign, he was the deputy director of Carson for Iowa during the 2016 presidential campaign. He worked for the Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee in Chester and

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ELEPHANT CORNER

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understanding BANKRUPTCY

BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK, ESQ. AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED UESTION: Are payday loans “cash advances” under bank-

Q

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F E B RUA RY 16, 2017

EVERYDAY (Cont. From Page 14) into my head every time I read about it), Williams’ professional and personal lives got more than a little messy.

One thing the life of the person in charge of enforcing the city’s laws can’t be is messy. If the opposing attorney can say, “Well, you’re the DA and you broke the law!” that’s a problem.

While I’m pretty sure Williams himself realized that, what’s more important is that potential campaign donors probably realized it too. And since money is the mother’s milk of politics, and the most-recent campaign reports show that Williams was dead last in campaign fundraising, pulling the plug was probably the best course of action here.

My guess is this is the end of Williams’ politi-

ruptcy law?

Answer: Typically a “payday” loan is just a shortterm loan you take out and promise to pay back within a couple weeks or possibly months. They can sometimes require you to give them a postdated check or access to your bank account or debit card so they can take their money – plus their very-high interest – on the due date. They are usually designed as onetime loans, even though many people are forced to roll them over multiple times – for extra fees and interest.

Payday loans are a common source of quick cash if you

are in trouble. It’s the local loan shark; you know you should avoid but you can’t.

Sometimes payday lenders think they’re special in bankruptcy court. But they are not.

However, bankruptcy law gives more protection to some lenders who have made a “cash advance” loan to a person over $925 in the 70 days before a bankruptcy is filed. Those debts are “presumed” to be protected from discharge unless the debtor can prove they were not committing fraud in taking this money.

Next Week’s Question: Bankruptcy basics: What is an adversary proceeding?

cal career. Right now, he’s pledged to serving out the remainder of his term as DA. But the word I’m hearing on the street is the FBI, a group that’s spent far too much time among Philadelphia’s Black politicians, and the IRS are looking into his finances.

Williams has said that his 2011 divorce led to a financial crunch that his $175,000 salary couldn’t cover. Records from his nonprofit Second Chance Foundation and his campaign committee have been subpoenaed.

What’s sad about this is that it didn’t have to happen. Williams’ story, the story of an orphan from Cobbs Creek who rose to make history as the City of Philadelphia’s first Black lead prosecutor, is the kind of story that makes political strategists salivate. The sky, or at least the governor’s

mansion, could have been the limit.

Instead, we get another example of the sadness of wasted talent.

Prior to Williams’ decision to pull the plug on his campaign, lawyers of color had decided to stay far away from the DA’s race.

But the word on the street is that that’s about to change.

The names I’m hearing include former judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, president of Philadelphia’s American Red Cross (and FOP President John McNesby’s pick), State Rep. Joanna McClinton, and Keir Bradford-Grey, head of the Defender Association of Philadelphia (billionaire George Soros is a supporter).

While the ladies I just mentioned are the subject of speculation, Tariq El-Shabazz, the Chief of Investigations for the DA’s office, is supposed to announce his candidacy on Friday. He resigned from the DA’s office on Monday.

While some are concerned he might face opposition due to his being a Muslim, a quick Google search shows something that might wind up being brought up during the campaign.

That something? An overdue IRS bill.

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Veal cutlets then cost $1.99 a pound and were freshly sliced.

A $25 meat purchase from these shops could not be carried by one person. Today, $25 worth of meat could fit into one bag.

On Seventh Street, the kosher butcher shops provided kosher meats to their patrons with the same caring attitude that seems to have disappeared from today’s supermarkets.

The clam vendor – Jigs, as he was nicknamed – opened and sold fresh clams on the half-shell from his pushcart.

He could open the clams almost as fast as the hungry buyers could eat them. The clams were served on paper plates and eaten at his cart. He charged 15 cents for six clams on the half-shell, 25 cents for a dozen.

There was no charge for the hot pepper sauce or lemon wedges used to flavor the clams.

The Greek’s luncheonette was on Snyder Avenue between

Broad & 15th Streets. The real name of this great luncheonette is “Texas Wieners,” but the owner was from Greece, therefore the nickname “The Greek’s.” The Greek would line up the bottoms of six hot dog buns on his left arm. He would then put a split, grilled hot dog on each bun. Mustard, relish, onions and his special Greek sauce were then applied to each hot dog. The tops of the buns were put on and the sandwiches were put on a paper plates if they were to be eaten there. If not, they were wrapped to go.

The hot dog sandwiches cost 15 cents each. Fishcake sandwiches were 10 cents. They also served delicious homemade soup that was different every day.

And the diner is still there, although the Greek is not … but the dogs with the works are.

They are still delicious, but now cost more than 15 cents.

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O! HERE we go again with these memories from the Waffleman.

Butcher shops are now almost all gone. They were meat retail stores. Beef, veal and pork meats were bought there for the family dinner table.

The meat was not better than the supermarkets that soon drove the butcher shops out of business. The one thing that the larger markets could not provide was service, really personalized service. The customers waited for only one meat cutter to wait on them. Men like Mario, Paul, Vince and Tom knew their customers’ likes and dislikes and would provide the required meat products accordingly.

Those shops made their own sausage from individualized recipes. Some butcher shops made real liver sausage, Italian style.

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