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SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

Vol. XIV No. 1

Issue 539

January 4, 2018

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

PhiladelphiaPublicRecord

@phillyrecord

PhillyRecord

PhillyRecord.com

MARCHING HOME

WENCHES with a twist – these comics came back to South Philadelphia along Broad Street after their stint at City Hall. Fortunately, they were warmly dressed. Photo by Leona Dixon

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MUMMERY FINERY

COMMITTEE RACES P. 12 1/3/2018 10:36:14 AM

Scenes from the Inauguration

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

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CLOCKWISE from top: The Philadelphia Fire Department Color Guard presented colors. Mayor Jim Kenney gave official greetings. Larry Krasner was sworn in as district attorney by his wife, Common Pleas Court Judge Lisa Rau, with his son Nathan Krasner holding the Bible, as Church of the Advocate’s Rev. Isaac Miller witnessed. Rev. Gregory Holston of Janes Memorial United Methodist Church prayed for justice, calling out that “Black lives matter.”

The Philadelphia Public Record (PR-01) (ISSN 1938-856X) (USPS 1450) Published Weekly Requested Publication ($20 per year Optional Subscription) The South Philadelphia Public Record 325 Chestnut St., Suite 1110 Phila. PA 19106 Periodical Postage Paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing office POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: The Public Record 325 Chestnut St., Suite 1110 Phila. PA 19106 (215) 755-2000 Fax: (215) 525-2818 editor@phillyrecord.com EDITORIAL STAFF

In Memoriam:James Tayoun, Sr. Editor: Greg Salisbury Managing Editor: Anthony West Editorial Staff: Joe Sbaraglia Everyday People Editor: Denise Clay Contributing Editor: Bonnie Squires Correspondent: Eldon Graham Photographers: Leona Dixon

Wendell Douglas

Harry Leech

Bill Myers Director of Operations:Allison Murphy Production Manager: Sana Muaddi-Dows Sales Director: Melissa Barrett Account Exec: Bill Myers Circulation: Steve Marsico

Dawood Starling

Yousef Maaddi

James Henderson 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.

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1/3/2018 11:35:04 AM

NUHHCE Local 1199C leader Henry Nicholas throws an annual New Year’s Day party in his artistically furnished mansion. Among his guests this year were Rev. Wilson Goode, Sr., our former mayor, and former judge Thomasine Tynes. Photos by Wendell Douglas

RON GATHERS (late basketballer Hank Gathers’ uncle) sang for the crowd.

IMMERSED in conversation were, L-R, Dr. Samuel Quartey, Henry Nicholas and Joshua Crabbe.

LEON BIRD, R, welcomed a chance to reunite with his old friend Henry Nicholas on New Year’s Day.

OFFSPRING of another legend, “Etta James’ daughter” (as she wished to be known) celebrated the New Year with Henry Nicholas

MOTHER-AND-DAUGHTER team: L-R, Shanta Bristow and Ernie Bristow, an aide to DA Larry Krasner.

I

N THE Dec. 21, 2017 issue of the Public Record, “Walking the Beat” issued a birthday greeting to “former Philadelphia Managing Director Ken Martz.”

That man’s correct name is Joseph Martz, who was 34 years old when he was appointed managing director.

He is younger than that now.

For Advertising Call Melissa @ 215-7552000 Ext. 5

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READ THE PAPER LEADERS READ Vote! May 15, 2018

Nicholas DiDonato Jr Democrat

Pa State Representative 184th Nicholas DiDonato, Jr. •Retired Police Officer •DA Detective •Proponent/Active Advocate of Public Safety •Seeking solutions for: o Cleaner Streets o Parking o Opposes the Soda Tax o Educational Funding o Healthcare William Keller • Representative for South Philadelphia-25 years • Has made being a politician his career

• Integrity/Transparency • Strong-willed, outspoken • Will provide South Philadelphia with a voice, will represent the people and not look to complete deals to benefit himself • Seeks to end party lines • Term Limits

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Nicholas Holds Court on New Year’s Day

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• Politics as Usual • Invisible • Party Machine Puppet

We aren’t sure what Keller has done for South Philadelphia.

How about you?

#didonato2018 facebook/twitter

1/3/2018 12:04:19 PM

State Rep Race of the Century? Could Be

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POLS on the STREET

BY JOE SHAHEELI ORE PEOPLE are eyeing the 177th Legislative District race than were watching in the stands by the fourth quarter of last week’s Eagles game.

It is unprecedented for a state Rep. race to draw so much attention so far in advance of the May 15 primary. But this is no or-

M

Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown JA N UA RY 4 , 2018

190th Legislative District

dinary seat. It’s the one currently held by State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast) in the neighborhoods of Port Richmond, Bridesburg and Mayfair. Taylor will retire at the end of this year and many are wondering what will become of it.

Taylor is the last inner-city Republican in the Pennsylvania legislature and one of only two Republicans in the Philadelphia caucus on Capitol Hill. A 34-year veteran, Taylor has held numerous leadership roles, currently chairing the Transportation Committee. Diligent, thoughtful and unassuming, he speaks softly but carries a big stick.

His district is solidly Democratic in registration now. But he has shrugged off Democratic challengers for decades because of his stellar reputation for con-

stituent service. In blue-collar communities, service is a legislator’s first mission.

People with slim resources and weighty problems need help with their affairs. And no appeal to Taylor goes unaddressed. His offices on Thompson Street and Richmond Street are as essential as Wawas to 63,000 Philadelphians.

Who will fill his shoes?

Both parties have a big stake in this game. Democrats, at historic low numbers in the State House, cannot pass up an opportunity to take a seat on what should be their turf. Philadelphia Republicans are likewise at a long-term low in competitive offices and badly want to hang onto it.

By general consent, the backup go-to for constituent service in that area is Patty-Pat Kozlowski. Once an

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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.

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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

“Paid for with Pennsylvanian taxpayer dollars”

Street

1621 W. Jefferson Street Philadelphia, PA 19121

2733 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

215-425-5708

215-271-9190

Anthony Hardy Williams

Sharif

197th Legislative District Office

184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

State Senator

State Senator

Emilio Vazquez

William Keller

Always Hard At Work for You!

aide to Democratic Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, Kozlowski also worked for the Port Richmond Star. But she has served for years in the Parks & Recreation Department, where she is now its stewardship coordinator.

She is well known and universally respected on home ground.

Kozlowski also meets an-

State Representative

State Rep.

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

STATE REP. Jim Roebuck, C, drew a large crowd to his holiday skating party at the Laura Sims Skate House in Cobbs Creek. He will face a challenger in the May primary.

215-227-6161

Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

State Rep. Jason

other useful political test: ethnicity. Port Richmond is a center of the city’s Polish American community. But hers is one of two Polish surnames being bruited about. Meanwhile, there are three possible competitors on the Democratic side alone named Sean … more on them later.

Both parties have reached out to her. But no person from a blue-collar background walks away from a good City job for an uncertain future as a politician.

So Kozlowski is weighing her options.

City Commissioner

Dawkins

Lisa M.

District Office: 4667 Paul St. 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

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

Representative

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

Greenlee

Kevin J.

Youngblood

Taylor

Donatucci

Councilman Wm.

State Rep.

Rep. Rosita

STATE REP.

Rep.Maria P.

If Kozlowski doesn’t run, that’ll be fine with, at last count, the 13 other people who are studying this race.

Three have already declared, at least three others have teams in place and the remainder are sniffing. Because of the unique importance of this seat, outside power brokers are probing its possibilities.

Let’s start with the formally announced. All are young, as Philly pols go.

Joe Hohenstein, an immigration lawyer, challenged Taylor on the Democratic (Cont. Page 5)

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

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the city may wheedle some of what it needs from the upstaters; without him – no way. Dems are used to turning to Taylor to make practical asks of the State. Without him, as one highly placed Democratic official said,

“Whom do I go to?”

The answer, at this time, is nobody.

More State Rep Races Light up Plenty of attention has already been focused on

the 184th Legislative race, where State Rep. Bill Keller (D-S. Phila.) is as well ensconced as Taylor. Both have served working-class neighborhoods throughout their careers.

But Keller’s district is

under considerably more pressure from demographic change. His district, which encompasses Pennsport, Whitman and E. Passyunk, has seen serious immigration from upscale yuppies (Cont. Page 13)

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comes with a deep base in the building trades, which matters in the 177th.

Other players are Dan Martino, secretary of the Olde Richmond Civic Association who has been active in town watch; Tom Forkin, 55th Ward Democratic Chair, now allied with State Rep. Mike Driscoll (D-Northeast) but who earlier worked for Republican House Speaker Denny O’Brien; and 45th Ward Leader Harry Enggasser, who has also challenged Taylor before and enjoys name recognition as well as contacts. Democratic City Committee Chairman Congressman Bob Brady will back Enggasser if asked.

And that’s just the Democrats. Other GOP hopefuls are also scanning the gameboard.

Republican 55th Ward Leader Chris Vogler must be mentioned, his father, 21st Ward Leader Walt Vogler, is a heavyweight on the Republican City Committee. Brian Caputo is a former staffer of Councilman Brian O’Neill (10th District). Tim O’Brien is a former bail commissioner who now works with Councilman David Oh (at Large).

All three have names that matter in this district.

There is an odd tension in this race, in that it’s not clear it’s in the Democratic Party’s best interest to win.

Regardless of how big a wave Keystone State Democrats ride in November, there is no chance they will take back either chamber of the General Assembly. Therefore, all State legislation that affects Philadelphia must be blessed by Republicans.

There is no way this can be reversed before 2022 at least.

Many city Democrats have, for this reason, long looked to Taylor as the unofficial head of the Philadelphia caucus in Harrisburg. Through Taylor,

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(Cont. From Page 4) ballot in 2016. Taylor beat him 55-45%. Starting with ballot name recognition, Hohenstein should have some advantage. But his platform has always been issue-based, not service- based.

Sean Patrick Wayland has been campaigning for a year. An Iraq War veteran from a union family, he joined Ironworkers Local 502 when he got back. He used his GI benefits to get a degree and now is an engineering tech for a commercial-lighting company.

Iraq got him started. “For the first time, I realized that political decisions affected my life,” Wayland said.

He went on the Women’s March in Washington last year and resolved afterward to seek political office.

Working from home, Wayland has an edge in a kind of politics where shoes still matter. He has hit about 1,000 doorsteps so far, he estimated.

Justin Salmasi early announced a campaign but has since dropped out. He is a copier-repair sales agent. Keep an eye on him for the future.

Known to be gunning for this seat are three other ambitious up-and-comers.

Fresh out of law school, Maggie Borski will be barely old enough to occupy this seat. But she is the daughter of former Congressman Bob Borski, who, even many years later, still has name recognition in the River Wards.

Did we mention “Borski” is a Polish name? Also, if Kozlowski is out, Borski would be the only female on the ballot in the year of #metoo.

Democratic 23rd Ward Leader Dan Savage is an obvious candidate. He served as Philadelphia district councilman and has the background to carry out a state rep’s duties.

Sean Kilkenny is a union Plasterer with Local 592. He

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Outcome of 177th Race Will Affect the City

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1/3/2018 10:54:07 AM

Cold World, Warm Welcome

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OPINION

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I

S THERE anything more uplifting, more hopeful than an inauguration? It’s like the season opener, a fresh start in a new locale and the first day of spring, all rolled together.

Of course, the sub-freezing temperatures outside the Kimmel Center on Tuesday left no doubt that spring was two months and many degrees away, but that didn’t deter the warm glow of goodwill and the embrace of a new

start for the city as District Attorney Larry Krasner and Controller Rebecca Rhynhart were sworn in.

As was constantly referred to during the day and in the months since their victories sent shockwaves through the city, state and national political establishment, the duo rode to victory on the strength of their progressive, anti-status quo bona fides. This being a city in need of change – and of being able to see tangible results of that change yesterday, especially on flashpoint issues like bail reform and following the money spent at city agencies – Krasner and Rhynhart’s honeymoon will no

A Life in Review

doubt be brief.

We will do our best not to sound like Jody Watley too often, but both officials must be exquisitely aware that voters aren’t anywhere near as interested in press conferences, appearances and position papers as they are in “what have you done for me lately?”

We have no doubt that both the DA and controller plan to hit the ground running to address that very real concern, and we look forward to covering this new chapter in the city’s body politic. We wish them well and, like everyone else enjoying this fresh start, will be watching their progress closely.

A Year in Review and A New Year Ahead

BY RICHARD BLOOMINGDALE 2017 began with the promise of being a year we would never forget, and three hundred and sixty plus days later that promise seems to ring even more true. January 2017 signaled a major change in our federal government. A massive, titanic, huge change. Not only in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, but in the electorate ourselves.

While legislators and administrative officials in Washington swung to the political right of center, taking the U.S. Supreme Court with them, the American people have watched policies supported by corporations and wealthy political donors make their way to the floors of Congress.

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Pennsylvania’s state government too, entertained legislation that benefited the few by sacrificing the many. Working people across our commonwealth and the country watched as the world they thought they once knew, changed.

We watched, but we did not stand idly by.

The labor movement is no stranger to grassroots action. Across our state and our country, people of all backgrounds, genders, orientations, races, and creeds stood up for what they believed in. Many people took action for the first time in their lives.

When the U.S. Congress decided to make their priority the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, effectively stripping millions of vulnerable Americans, of

their health-care coverage, working people took to the streets, called their legislators, wrote to their newspapers, and made their opposition to the repeal of the ACA clear. When state legislators in Harrisburg tried to silence public workers and deprive them of their right to have their union dues and contributions deducted from their paycheck, we stood together and defeated SB 166. In the end, working people won.

The final months of 2017 brought decades of misconduct, discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace on the part of so many people in power to the forefront of our collective attention. From cultural hitmakers in the film industry to political (Cont. Page 7)

THE FUNNY BONES comic brigade, all 90 of them, honored the Public Record’s founder and publisher Jimmy Tayoun in their Mummer routine on New Year’s Day. They even paid a surprise visit to his house on S. Broad Street, where, in bygone days, when the parade rolled up South Philly’s main drag. “For the first time in years, it felt like New Year’s Day, Jimmy’s favorite holiday!” said Nora Truscello, Tayoun’s daughter. Bringing joy and happiness into a New Year, they helped release the sorrows of the old.

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

sylvanians who work every day without the OSHA protections that guard their private-sector brothers and sisters. Securing physically safe workplaces and conditions for all is one step.

As a commonwealth, and as a country, we have much work ahead of us to see a society where all working people are treated with dignity and respect on the job. Every step we take toward that goal matters.

The Pennsylvania AFLCIO is resolved to continue fighting for working people and to demand dignity and respect for all those who need to make a living. We will continue to organize new workplaces with our affiliate unions so that more working people will benefit from the protections of a collective bargaining agreement. We will campaign to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, so all working people can make enough to live and support their families.

We will work with local unions to strengthen contract language protecting workers from bullying, harassment, and abuse at the workplace. We will fight back discrimination in the workplace by supporting the Pennsylvania Fairness Act. We all have our work cut out for us in 2018, but as 2017 reminded us, when we fight back together, we can win.

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(Cont. From Page 6) leaders in both parties, men in positions of power have been called out by brave individuals for intolerable, unacceptable and destructive behavior.

Misconduct in these high-profile workplaces, involving high-profile individuals and institutions has been exposed. What comes next following the continuing wave of revelations? We suggest that it is time to face the facts: There are no professions or workplaces that are immune from these behaviors. The conversation must progress from what has happened to today’s working women and men, to how we will prevent it from happening in future workplaces.

The last few months have transitioned 2017 from a political awakening to the beginnings of a social reckoning.

The past has revealed that, although we live in the 21st century many of the ills of the 20th still cling on to our society. We knew this prior to January 2017. Prejudice, discrimination and gross mistreatment on the job are not new topics of discussions.

What we see now is a breaking of the silence; people are sharing their own stories. People are listening to one another.

This conversation is the beginning of finding a solution.

Sexual harassment and abuse on the job is intolerable. Always. Let us also recognize that no workplace or profession is exempt from the stories we have heard this year.

Women colleagues and co-workers across industries and sectors are too often faced with or denied the same opportunities as

their male counterparts.

Too many of our working sisters have had to face unacceptable behavior from people who should be their allies and professional support system. Women are not alone in this marginalization; people of color and our LGBT brothers and sisters are also at a higher risk of being subjected to behavior that is at best unacceptable and criminal at its worst.

When we openly talk about this behavior and the experiences that so many of our fellow working brothers and sisters experience, we begin the process of change.

Merriam-Webster declared “feminism” the word of the year for 2017. But what word will define 2018?

The labor movement is no stranger to grassroots activism and fighting for fairness and equal treatment in the workplace. Pennsylvania’s labor unions and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO stand with working people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, or background.

All working people deserve a safe workplace and a professional environment where they can do their job with dignity. In 2018, Pennsylvania’s labor movement will continue to fight for safety and health standards for public sector workers, more than half a million Penn-

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BLOOMINGDALE

1/3/2018 11:37:49 AM

Brown Marks Kwanzaa

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NEITHER snow nor frigid cold could halt the opening event reception of Kwanzaa Week at the African American Museum in Center City. The annual kickoff, hosted by State Rep. Vanessa Brown, featured data to assist citizen awareness of city, state and federal services. Legislative aides Yolanda Braxton and Larry White displayed brochures to attendees.

Photo by Joe Stivala

ANGELA Sadic Watson leads a band of young jem- RICHARD Watson shows young Sulayman Uanjuru be players in a sacred Nigerian song. how to make colorful rattles from found materials.

Meade’s Memory Served

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The annual celebration of Gen. George Gordon Meade took place at his gravesite amid bitter cold with 100 attendees at Laurel Hill Cemetery & Education Center. Meade, called “The Savior of the Union” for his success at the Battle of Gettysburg, lived at 18th & Delancey Streets. At right, Gen. John F. Reynolds and Union soldiers warm up at the “bonfire” prior to the event. Photos by Joe Stivala

LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL HEALTH & SAFETY FUND 665 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19123

(215) 236-6700

www.ldc-phila-vic.org

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Alan Parham, Adminstrator

Local 57 - Esteban Vera, Jr., Business Manager Local 135 - Deniel L. Woodall, Jr.,, Business Manager Local 332 - Samuel Staten, Jr., Business Manager Local 413 - James Harper, Jr., Business Manager Laborers’ District Council - Ryan Boyer Business Manager

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Building better and safer communities in Philadlephia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties

Do it Right, Do It Safe, Do It Union.

A LONE sentinel stands guard at the gravesite of Gen. George Gordon Meade in Laurel Hill Cemetery, following a firing squad and playing of Taps held each year on December 31. The ceremony, hosted by the Gen. Meade Society, concludes with a Champagne toast and soup.

1/3/2018 10:35:18 AM

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A Bright and Brrr-y Day of Mummery

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Photo by Wendell Douglas

Photos by Leona Dixon

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NOW IT’S official: no day is too cold for the Mummers to parade! Here is a sampling of sights on Broad Street from Monday. Below: noted Wench Joe DeFelice, who moonlights as HUD regional administrator, gets a chance to introduce his son Joey to Police Commissioner Richard Ross, Jr.

1/3/2018 11:38:29 AM

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ELEPHANT CORNER

A

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YEAR in review – the three best and worst moments in 2017 Pennsylvania politics.

Let’s start with the more optimistic view – the best of 2017. #1: Pension reform. In June of this year, GOV. TOM WOLF signed a pension bill that moves new state workers, except those in high-risk jobs (state police and corrections officers), into a hybrid retirement system whereby they will obtain half of their benefits from the current taxpayer-funded plan and half from a 401(a) defined-contri-

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

BY DENISE CLAY ELL, THAT was interesting.

I know I’ve probably said THAT about every year in the 2000s, but 2017 kind of demanded this kind of assessment.

In 2017, or as I like to call it, The Year Your Four-YearOld Discovered Twitter And Ran Your Car Through a Garage, we found out what it would look like if all of our institutions were at the mercy of a group of recalcitrant 4-year-olds.

Since the parents of the

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bution plan. New employees hired after Jan. 1, 2019, can elect to participate solely in the 401(a) plan. Current employees can opt into the new hybrid plan in 2019.

“The law is projected to save more than $5 billion and shield taxpayers from $20 billion or more in additional liabilities if state investments fail to meet projections,” said a news release issued from the office of State Senate MAJORITY LEADER JAKE CORMAN (R-Centre), the bill’s chief sponsor. #2: Injecting sanity into K-12 economic education decisions. In November, Wolf allowed a bill to become law that reduces teacher seniority protections and allows school districts more flexibility.

Now districts now will be able to cite “economic reasons” as the basis for furloughing teachers. What a novel thought – school boards can evaluate options while considering the taxpayer.

Previously, districts could

only slash staff by closing schools, cutting whole academic programs or pointing to enrollment declines.

Previously, any layoffs had to be done in inverse order of seniority. Now, schools must give priority to effectiveness scores.

Of course, the teachers’ unions have criticized these changes, emphasizing the importance of experience and longevity. Experience and longevity are of value only if they are positively reflected in the teacher’s performance, in my opinion. #3: Liquor reform. The 2017 legislation allows grocery stores to sell wine and more gas stations to sell sixpacks of beer. The law allows wine producers to ship directly to consumers.

While the law does not go far enough, it is a significant step in reforming the Commonwealth’s 80-year archaic liquor system founded on hysteria over the repeal of the Volstead Act in 1933.

(Cont. Page 11)

School District of Philadelphia have been negotiating this particular set of circumstances since 2003, folks should have come to them for help negotiating this.

As we look back at the first year of the Trump administration, an administration that I’m pretty sure even its participants don’t quite understand, many of us are still asking ourselves a form of the musical question posed to us by the Talking Heads, “How did I get here?!”

But here we are. And while the national crazy was on a stage so big you couldn’t miss it, we had enough nutso of our own here in Philadelphia. I mean, how else would you describe your district attorney getting locked up over a nearly $300 cheese plate from the Union League?

So here’s a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2017.

We got through it. That’s something.

Probably the biggest news in Philadelphia came out of the District Attorney’s Office.

When DA R. Seth Williams was forced to amend his campaign expense report, something that led to his getting slapped with the mother of all fines from the Ethics Board, political watchers kind of knew this was the tip of a pretty large iceberg.

When he got indicted for using everything from the money that was supposed to pay for his mother’s longterm care to the money raised for his electoral campaigns to pay for memberships at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue and the Union League, designer clothes for his kids and girlfriend, and child support for his wife, everyone saw what the rest of the iceberg looked like.

And when several people, including Woody’s owner Michael Weiss and the (Cont. Page 11)

WALKING the BEAT

BY JOE SHAY STIVALA CHAMBER OF Commerce guy will run against State Rep. Curtis Thomas. A former WHYY person will run against State Rep. William Keller. A former mayoral official was elected City Controller. A mayoral official will run against Bob Brady.

Is there a plan afoot? Was it launched in a smoke-filled room? (The Union League has the only such room – on the left, just inside the Broad Street entrance.)

That is the REAL STORY, yet unmentioned by the me-

A

the WAFFLE MAN

Y

O! HERE WE go again with this serious item which will make you say, “Pass the biscuits.” It was sent to me by Joan G., a reader from West Virginia.

She says when she was a kid, “every now and then my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

“On that evening so long ago, my mom placed

dia. Is it CLASS WAR over office-holders who come from humble beginnings?

Could the highly educated candidates feel they are better suited to hold an office?

Does such a SECRET PLAN EXIST? Curiously, the WHYY political commenter zeroed in on the Brady re-election.

And a former WHYY reporter now runs for legislator (?). Hmm. HAPPY BIRTHDAY on New Year’s Day to Judge Maria McLAUGHLIN, soon to take her seat on the State SUPERIOR COURT! She will be joined by Judge Carolyn NICHOLS, who will also be ROBED as they bring fresh air to that high court. ROBING CEREMONIES today are for Hons.

Marissa BRUMBACH and Shanese JOHNSON. Brumbach amassed 78,000 VOTES. She is a STRONG REBUKE to the blatherers who say voters know nothing of judicial candidates.

The media are part of the

complainers, but offer scant education to the reader on the candidates.

Today is the birthday of Dawn TANCREDI, Esq. A class person destined to be a jurist one day! It is also the birthday of Micah MAHJOUBIAN, consultant and aide to state Sen. Sharif STREET! Former Secretary-Treasurer of Local 830 Teamsters John MULLER passed.

Perfect peace to him.

A CNN analyst wrote a piece declaring that Vice President PENCE is the unofficial leader of the GOP! All I could shout was, “Oh, no!” God help our Republic.

A Superior Court judge reviewing the GERRYMANDERING CASE says that the current congressional districts SHOULD BE UPHELD. The child-scribbleshaped districts cover VAST AREAS that easily elect Republicans. The State Senate lawyer, a Republican, stated that he was pleased with (Cont. Page 11)

a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed. Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.

“I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: ‘Honey, I love burned biscuits.

“Later that night, I went to kiss daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

“He wrapped me in his arms and said, ‘Your momma put in a long, hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides – a burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!’ I was really impressed by his attitude and remember that conversation to this

day.

“You know, life is full of imperfect things ... and imperfect people. I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

“So, please: pass me a biscuit. And yes, the burned one will do just fine!

“And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life.”

Remember, life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don’t. Enjoy life now – it has an expiration date!

1/3/2018 11:37:06 AM

WALKING the BEAT

(Cont. From Page 10) the judge’s findings. OF COURSE he would be.

Did not the GOP endorse Judge P. Kevin BROBSON when he ran for the high court?

The OLD REFRAIN was heard in a Philly editorial to CUT THE SIZE of the PA House. Of course: fewer legislative districts over VAST AREAS (again) to maintain GOP control and lose the local perspective of constituents.

With Willie SINGLETARY considering a run for Congress, the talk has

understanding BANKRUPTCY

BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED

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been if you can run for Congress with a conviction on your record. LEFT OUT is that Congress can refuse to seat a winner.

The MARSHALL Newsletter reminds us that there are 200,000 WOMEN in jail in the USA. There was a piece that noted that the national FOP is controlled by seven WHITE MEN as well.

A married couple who moved from Philly years ago wrote a piece thinking about returning to our city. Why not? The best medical care is here, and real-estate taxes are HALF what you pay. You would think Philly is a rotting wasteland when

you read posts of NEG-ADELPHIANS on Disqus.

Many of these nameless, faceless trolls really live in the BURBS. I drove into all sorts of Philly neighborhoods recently.

I felt a sense of growing vibrancy! NO MATTER what the neighborhood, new construction is ongoing.

We are a City that has POOR residents, but we are ranked fifth, NOT FIRST, as noted by the “NATTERING NABOBS OF NEGATIVISM.” Philly grows gradually, not at bubble-bursting, fiscal-loss, market-crash speed. This gives us TIME to adjust to growth.

Q

cluding advising debtors whether to file or what chapter to file; or Advise debtors about what exemptions to claim (state, federal, or what state’s exemptions apply).

They’re also subject to state unauthorized practice of law statutes. As the U.S. Trustee’s office states, “bankruptcy petition preparers can only type documents and must charge a reasonable fee.” And you’re supposed to tell them what to type!

It’s not a cost-effective use of your hard-earned money.

UESTION: Bankruptcy petition preparers: a really bad idea?

Answer: Folks with financial problems aren’t exactly flush with cash. So it’s tempting to cut corners in purchasing legal advice and to opt for the services of a bankruptcy petition preparer. But as with most things, you get what you pay for.

Preparers really can’t – at least, if they follow the law – do much of anything except serve as data-entry clerks.

Most notably, they can’t: Give legal advice-in-

since the beginning of the year. I have a car, so I buy soda in the suburbs, and, by the way, I also do my other grocery shopping while I am there.

Proceeds from the tax were to benefit poor children by funding pre-K education. Earlier in 2017, it was announced that some of the funds were going to parks, recreation centers and other similar entities.

Now rumor has it that

some of the money may go to plugging a deficit in the overall City budget. The winners are the limousine liberals who want to police what you consume, and the losers are the children. #3: Election of LARRY KRASNER as district attorney. The Philadelphia voters passed over Beth Grossman and her 20 years of experience as a prosecutor, for a man who never prosecuted a case in

11 his life.

I lost track of the number of Democrats who told me they supported her. I guess they did not show up on Election Day, because they could not vote for Krasner and could not pull that R lever. I hope these voters are not counting on the police risking their pensions to protect them in the light of having a DA who does not have their backs.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

the general election in November, all eyes are going to be on Rebecca Rhynhart and Larry Krasner, the City’s new controller and district attorney respectively.

Rhynhart shocked everyone by taking out a politico that many had aimed at over the years, incumbent Controller Allen Butkovitz, in the May primary. Backed by former Gov. Ed Rendell (and his prodigious war chest), Rhynhart has promised to audit a whole bunch of agencies, including the Parking Authority.

Krasner, however, is under even tougher scrutiny.

Running on a criminal-justice reform platform, Krasner took out his Democratic challengers easily to win the nomination and bested Republican Beth Grossman in the general election. His supporters are counting on him to get rid of the city’s stop-and-frisk program and, possibly, to get rapper Meek Mill out of prison for his various probation violations.

I’m only kidding about that last one. At least, I think I am.

The Sweetened Beverage Tax was in the news in 2017 because it’s still making its way through the courts.

Meanwhile, Community Schools, expanded Pre-K and the City’s Rebuild Program hang in the balance.

Another bill that will probably join it soon is Councilwoman Cindy Bass’s recently passed stop-

and-go bill, which requires these businesses, many of which have restaurant licenses, to conduct themselves like, well, restaurants.

The year began with former Congressman Chaka Fattah beginning his 10year sentence on corruption charges.

But there were some things to celebrate this year.

For example, the monument to activist/educator/ baseball player Octavius V. Catto went up on the City Hall apron. Hundreds came out to see the monument, one of Mayor Kenney’s pet projects, come to life.

We lost some of the Philadelphia area’s most prominent folks this year.

The Man Who Broke up the Big Five (Rollie Massamino, 82), left us this year, as did the woman who brought African culture to South Philadelphia (Lois Fernandez, 81). We lost Joni Sledge of Sister Sledge fame this year. She was 60. We also lost a man who joined his wife in making jazz accessible to all (William “Mr. C” Carney, 92).

Our Public Record family suffered a major loss this year. Founder and publisher James “Jimmy” Tayoun left us this year. He was 87.

Next week, we’ll look at what happened nationally in 2017, the #metoo movement, and salute many of the other characters that left our world less interesting because they’re no longer in it.

(Cont. From Page 10) administrators of the nursing home that Imelda Williams, the former DA’s mother, was almost kicked out of for non-payment, the picture of Williams as a rising star in Philadelphia politics was replaced with one of a man whose Champagne tastes had gotten him in trouble.

Williams decided to plead guilty and take a five-year sentence. He’s been in jail since his plea and is currently in a prison somewhere in the Midwest.

With the help of Mayor Jim Kenney, Gov. Tom Wolf got to make good on the campaign promise he made four years ago to give the School District of Philadelphia back to its citizens.

By a 3-1-1 vote, the School Reform Commission disbanded itself, beginning the end of what can only be described as a tumultuous situation. Former SRC chair Bill Green surprised no one by voting no (he had written an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer predicting all manner of calamity if the board disbanded) and SRC member Farah Jiménez decided to abstain.

Under the City Charter, control of the district returns to Mayor Kenney, who will select a new board with Council oversight.

Thanks to their victories in the May primary and in

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not moving. What they will do is purchase firearms. I think that is a worse situation than what we have today.” #2: The Soda Tax. While the law was passed in 2016, it went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Reports indicate that soda-tax revenues are lower than expected, suggesting that sales and/or consumption are down. Do we consume less – or just not buy it in Philadelphia?

Anecdotally, I can assure you my household’s consumption of soda has not decreased

JA N UA RY 4 , 2018

(Cont. From Page 10) Now for the bad news. #1: Plexiglas. Philadelphia City Council voted 14-3 to approve legislation that will force business owners who sell food and alcohol to remove the protective Plexiglas by 2021. Some believe these stores foster loitering, public urination and other crimes. The bill’s sponsor, COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS (8th Dist.), said many of these establish-

ments are “masquerading as restaurants.… In more than 90% of cases they are breaking the law in terms of operating outside the requirement of their license.” Bass apparently seems to know the bad actors are already in violation of current laws. So why are we not enforcing current laws before making new ones?

COUNCILMAN DAVID OH (at Large) wisely pointed out, “If we take down the safety glass, they’re not changing their business model. They’re

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Party Committee Elections Can Transform Philly

BY TONY WEST H I L A D E L P H I A’ S tiniest political contests are on the line this spring.

Thousands of them; in fact, no one can tell at this time precisely how many will wind up happening.

Collectively, though, they are vital to the workings of partisan democracy and offer key entries to power in government.

These are the elections for committee person. Each electoral division in Philadelphia – 1,684 in all, according to City Commissioner Al Schmidt – is asked to elect two committee persons for the Democratic Party and two more for the Republican Party. There could theoretically be 6,736 winning neighbors in the May 15 primary.

But there won’t be.

That’s because most divisions will not be able to rustle up a full roster of four committee people; many, in fact, won’t field any candidates at all. These divisions, on average representing 900 people in a handful of blocks, will have no advocate in the councils of either party; and all our governments – city, state and federal – are run by partisan officials. So voters who have no stake in a party have less say in politics.

This is particularly true in Pennsylvania, where primary elections are “closed,” meaning only voters registered in a party can cast votes in its primary.

Running for committee person is as grassroots as you can get. To get on the ballot, you need only 10 signatures of registered voters in your party in your division. Even if you’re not on the ballot, a vigorous write-in campaign can beat a lackadaisical ballot candidate. And for the thousands of divisions that don’t

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have a full ballot for committee persons, a write-in of one can win you a seat at your neighborhood political team.

If you want to change the political world, but haven’t done so yet, serving as committee person makes an excellent starting point.

A quick check on basics: The city is divided into 66 wards, which in turn are divided into divisions.

Each division is organized separately by City Commission’s Board of Elections, even when they take place in the same building. A division is the smallest unit of democracy. The core mission of a division is to collect the votes of the citizens who dwell within it.

Each major party has a ward committee that consists of every elected committee person from all its divisions. The average ward having 26 divisions, a strong ward committee may push 50 people, but a weak Democratic committee may have only 10; and some Republican “ward committees” are operated by only a body or two (on which more later).

Each ward committee elects its ward leader. And the ward leaders of each party organize the vote for their party in their ward.

They endorse candidates and coordinate get-out-thevote efforts.

There is no official pay for either committee persons or ward leaders in either party. But good work in a party organization can open doors to career advancement in many ways.

That’s one reason why so many people do this volunteer work.

But the most-common reason is simple patriotism: Committee people believe in grassroots America and want to play a role in it.

COMMITTEE PERSONS HAVE REAL POWER Strong wards have strong voices in party councils. Likewise, strong ward leaders cock an ear to strong committee persons who delivered GOTV. Entry-level people who wish to shape their party’s course may begin by seeking division leadership.

You are unlikely to sway 9 million people if you cannot sway 900 people first.

This means reaching out to your neighbors. Social media will not save the day if you can’t go door to door aggressively. A good committee person knows how to walk a block and look people in the eye.

Knowing your neighbors’ political views can be fun – and helpful as well.

“Many committee people master local issues and concerns,” noted City Commission Chairwoman Lisa Deeley. “They are experts on their communities. So they’re listened to.” The best committee people help solve problems for their neighbors outside election time, she said.

Committee elections are held every four years. The people who are elected in 2018 will steer both parties in this city until 2022.

2018 will see some “ward fights.” In these scenarios, rival power brokers attempt to take over a ward by planting a new majority on its committee. Traditional factions within both parties generally kick in a few such struggles.

This year, burgeoning educated progressives seem geared up to put their own spin on ward control in some areas. But they will only succeed if they can teach their minions what wards are, what divisions are and how voting booths work.

Ward fights don’t have

to occur in primary years.

Democratic 42nd Ward Leader Elaine Tomlin, in Olney, was ousted last year

by Sharon Vaughn. But inevitably they pick up in election years.

Many committee people who were elected in 2014 are either disinterested, retired or deceased in 2018. Committee membership is tilted toward the elders, since it doesn’t pay and people with young children often don’t have the time to spare. But this guarantees hundreds of vacancies all across Philadelphia from simple attrition.

Joining a Democratic ward committee makes sense in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1. People who want to swing municipal policy one way or another will find an advantage in becoming Democratic committee people.

But there are good reasons for becoming a Republican committee person as well. The state and federal governments are controlled

by Republicans. Important business is handled by this party. People in highly Democratic wards who want to cultivate relationships with “higher powers” may find value in becoming the “house Republican” of their division.

Republican committee candidates in heavily Democratic candidates may have to scuffle if they want to get on the ballot. Their challenge is catching signatures from 10 registered Republicans in their division. This makes their work harder than that of their Democratic peer.

But in divisions with few Republicans, it’s almost effortless to win a write-in campaign for that division.

You just have to register as a Republican for that election. As long as you are a registered Republican, you

cannot vote for a Democrat in the primary, but you can do so in the general election.

TEAMWORK IS KEY TO GOOD POLITICS Most committee people have little interest in the larger factions that work within their parties and few of their duties are affected by them. But intraparty politicking does begin at the division level.

If you aim to oppose your ward leader or challenge their allegiances, you should do so on the QT at first. Study your voter list and step around their likely supporters.

If you aim to uphold your ward leader and their allegiances, keep an ear open for rumors of dissent. If you hear of any in your ward, hit the campaign trail hard.

Committee persons who have a strong interest in promoting a particular cause should strive to steer clear of unnecessary quarrels.

In the first month after the primary, all ward committees must meet to elect their leader. Only committee persons with a certification from the Board of Elections can participate.

Going forward, the ward leader they choose can appoint anyone to vacant slots on the committee.

Activists should begin by studying the grassroots experts – the wards that deliver a solid ballot of committee persons. Their committees are the mavens of Philadelphia street politics.

In the Democratic Party, only 14 of 66 wards were able to come up with a full complement of elected committee persons in 2014.

That’s a sorry number for a party that claims six out of seven registered Philadel-

phia voters. They vote – but they literally don’t vote for themselves, to do any work for their party.

Democratic wards that elected full committee slates in 2014 were the 1st, 9th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 28th, 30th, 33rd, 34th, 36th, 42nd, 55th and 64th. A shout-out is in special order for 64th Ward Democratic Leader Lorraine Bednarek and Republican Leader Bob Cummings in the Northeast; theirs was the only ward with a full complement of committee people in both parties in 2014. It will be good if it continues to set an example in 2018.

South Philadelphia wards tend to lead in signing up committee persons. West and Northwest Philadelphia wards tend to lag in this area.

But across all wards, committee people will be ageing out and signing off in droves. Now is the time for newcomers to enlist in their party process.

Full ward-committee staffing is an equal-opportunity opportunity.

Rich neighborhoods do not do well at this. Some poor neighborhoods fail while others excel.

Credit goes to the ward leaders who see to it that all their divisions are covered.

But credit also goes to the activists who sign up to tackle this essential mission, and who seek to do it better.

Interested in becoming a committee person?

The time to get cracking is now, if you want to go against an incumbent. But if you’re going after an open slot, you just need to get 10 signatures in by March 7. If that doesn’t work, try a write-in campaign!

You should begin by checking City Commission’s website, www.philadelphiavotes.com/.

1/3/2018 12:08:49 PM

(Cont. From page 5) as well as poor Asian immigrants. It’s no longer clear who has the pulse on this neighborhood.

Working such a community calls for shoe leather. At 67, Keller has reached retirement age. So, although he’s still vigorous, it’s normal that younger politicos are circling around his office.

Already in the Democratic primary are Nick DiDona-

to, a former police detective, Elizabeth Fiedler, a former WHYY reporter; Billy Ciancaglini, a criminal-defense attorney; and Tom Wyatt, who is affiliated with Columbus Square and the Andrew Jackson School. Wyatt ran for City Council at Large in 2015, raising $200,000 in the process.

In Lower North Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce po-

litical expert Malcolm Kenyatta is going after the seat now held by State Rep. Curtis Thomas (N. Phila.). A state rep since 1988, Thomas has reached an honorable retirement age. Kenyatta is young.

That doesn’t mean Thomas aims to retire. But Kenyatta, a millennial, would have been ill-advised to formally launch his campaign if he thought it would be offensive to Thomas and his staff.

In West Philly, State Rep. Jim Roebuck will be

challenged by attorney Jeff Curry in the 188th District.

It’s a University City area (Cont. Page 14)

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

An application for registration of a fictitious name was filed under the Fictitious Names Act. Name of Business: Gen4 Cakes Business Address: 1511 Carpenter St., PHL, PA, 19146 Party to Registration: Tracey Jones, 1511 Carpenter St., PHL, PA, 19146

AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 168.5’ & 174.5’) on the building at 1818-20 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA (20171224).

Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 89’) on the building at 255 South 36th St, Philadelphia, PA (20171172).

Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

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North, South and West, State Rep. Races

13

ATTORNEY Jeff Camp drew 150 supporters to his kickoff rally at the University City Arts League. He is challenging State Rep. Jim Roebuck.

IN RE: Adoption of Baby Girl Gerwig (aka Angelina Nicole Gerwig), minor female child (DOB: 4-27-2017), No. 2017-A0164, Orphans Court, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, PA. TO: Unknown Birthfather/ “Juan Ortiz”: A Petition has been filed asking the Court to put an end to all rights you have to minor female child born 4-27-2017 in Philadelphia, PA. The Court has set a hearing to consider ending parental rights, if any, to the child. That hearing will be held in Ctrm 15 at the Montgomery County Courthouse, One Montgomery Plaza, 4th Floor, Norristown, PA on January 18, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Your presence is required at the hearing. You are warned if you fail to appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing will go on without you and your rights to the child, if any, may be ended by the Court without your being present. You have a right to be represented at the hearing by a lawyer. 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 to find out where you can get legal help.

Montgomery County Lawyer Referral Service, 100 West Airy St., PO Box 268, Norristown, PA 19404 (610-279-9660). Law Offices of Deborah E. Spivack, Atty for Bethany Christian Services, PO Box 56182, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215-763-5550). BY THE COURT - THE HON. CHERYL L. AUSTIN

JA N UA RY 4 , 2018

LEGAL NOTICE

City of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3290

The Economic Opportunity Review Committee, established and constituted pursuant to Phila. Code § 17-1607 and Resolution No. 120184, will meet in City Council Chambers (Room 400, City Hall) on the following dates and times: Monday, March 5th, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 18th, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 10th, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 10th, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. IOLA HARPER, CHAIRPERSON Economic Opportunity Review Committee

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2018 NOTICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS

1/3/2018 10:53:30 AM

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14

DC 33’s National Head a Drum Major

(Cont. From page 13) 72-year-old Roebuck has served faithfully for decades. But Curry springs from the community of educated young parents who cluster around the Parent Infant Center and the Penn Alexander School. It’s a natural network that fits the size of a state rep race.

Roebuck has faced challenges before. In 2012, he survived

a charge by Fatimah Muhammad, a self-professed bisexual Muslim. Muhammad garnered 44% of the vote – a close call for a Philadelphia state rep.

Muhammad was backed by State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-W. Phjla.), with whom Roebuck was on the outs at that time. They have since repaired their relationship.

In 2014, Roebuck was op-

posed in the Democratic primary by real-estate pro Algernong Allen. A darling of the Cedar Park progressive community, Allen got 31% of the vote.

But the fact remains that Roebuck – the Democratic chair of the Education Committee, with deep experience in fighting for public education in Philadelphia – is under siege again in his own

educated neighborhood. Life isn’t fair, and politics is even less fair.

DC 33 National Leader To Be Honored On Jan. 15, the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc., will honor the National President of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Em-

ployees, Lee Saunders, at the 36th annual Awards & Benefit Luncheon and 50th year Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s anniversary of his assassination.

Saunders, the AFSCME District Council 33 leader, will receive the association’s “Drum Major” award.

This award allows AFSCME District Council 33 and

its many friends an opportunity to recognize Saunders for his many outstanding contributions and accomplishments that are exemplary of those fostered by Dr. King.

Expect a strong turnout for this event, which is the capstone of the Martin Luther King Day of Service’s many activities.

City of Philadelphia

City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3290

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3290

2018 NOTICE OF VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETINGS

2018 NOTICE OF LIVING WAGE AND BENEFITS REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The Veterans Advisory Commission, established pursuant to Resolution No. 060059 (Adopted February 2, 2006), will meet in City Council Chambers (Room 400, City Hall) on the following dates and times.

The Living Wage and Benefits Review Committee, established and constituted pursuant to Phila. Code § 17-1311 and Resolution No. 110807, will meet in City Council Council Chambers (Room 400, City Hall) on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, March 7th, 2018, at 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, March 6th, 2018, at 11:00 A.M.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018, at 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, June 19th, 2018, at 11:00 A.M.

Wednesday, September 12th, 2018, at 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, September 11th, 2018, at 11:00 A.M.

Wednesday, December 12th, 2018, at 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, December 11th, 2018, at 11:00 A.M.

GEORGE GINDER, CHAIRMAN Veterans Advisory Commission

RICHARD LAZER, CHAIRPERSON

Living Wage and Benefits Review Committee

City of Philadelphia

City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3290

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3290

2018 NOTICE OF STATED MEETINGS

2018 NOTICE OF VACANT PROPERTY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The Philadelphia City Council will have its Regular Stated Meetings on the dates listed below. All meetings will be held at 10:00 A.M. in Room 400 City Hall, except as noted below.

Thursday, January 25, 2018 Thursday, May 24, 2018 Thursday, February 1, 2018 Thursday, June 7, 2018 Thursday, February 8, 2018 Thursday, June 14, 2018 Thursday, June 21, 2018 Thursday, February 15, 2018 Thursday, February 22, 2018 Thursday, September 13, 2018 Thursday, March 1, 2018 Thursday, September 20, 2018 Thursday, March 8, 2018 Thursday, September 27, 2018 Thursday, March 15, 2018 Thursday, October 4, 2018 Thursday, March 22, 2018 Thursday, October 11, 2018 Thursday, April 5, 2018 Thursday, October 18, 2018 Thursday, October 25, 2018 Thursday, April 12, 2018 Thursday, April 19, 2018 Thursday, November 1, 2018 Thursday, April 26, 2018 Thursday, November 15, 2018 Thursday, November 29, 2018 Thursday, May 3, 2018 Thursday, May 10, 2018 Thursday, December 6, 2018 Thursday, December 13, 2018 Thursday, May 17, 2018

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The Vacant Property Review Committee will meet in the Caucus Room, (Room 401, City Hall) from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on the following dates: Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

SUSIE D. JARMON, CHAIRWOMAN Vacant Property Review Committee

1/3/2018 10:55:23 AM

Jones Salutes the Season with Style COUNCILMAN Jones, C, enjoyed the company of Marjorie Ogilvie and Miller Parker.

L-R AGAINST the black screen were Jen Crawford, Dawn Holden-Woods, Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Ebony Edwards and Major James.

BROTHER and sister team Jay and Tiffany Ogilvie lent distinction to the evening.

A DASHING threesome were, L-R, Rhona Austin, Councilman Jones’ wife Jazelle Jones and consultant Teresa Lundy.

AL SPIVEY, Councilman Jones’ fabulous factotum, took a pose with Lisette Gonzalez, L, and Christine Mondeaux.

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

KNOWN for his fashion sense, Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. celebrates the dark of each year with a “Black Out Party.” This elegant affair was held at the Science & Technology Center in Parkside.

Photos by Wendell Douglas

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JA N UA RY 4 , 2018

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

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1/3/2018 11:29:47 AM

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

JA N UA RY 4 , 2018

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

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