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SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

Vol. XIV No. 22

Issue 558

May 31, 2018

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

NO WORSE FOR VARE

PhiladelphiaPublicRecord

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MAYOR JIM KENNEY announced that Vare Recreation Center will be the first Rebuild site. He was joined by, L-R, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis.

Restoring the popular but dangerously dilapidated community icon will not come cheaply. Story P. 2. Photo by Eldon Graham

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Tall Ships Cruise the Delaware

A STATELY parade of elegant sailing ships gathered in the Delaware River last Thursday for a spectacle of living history. The North Wind is Gloucester City, N.J.’s flagship It is used to train youth for a marine life.

L-R FROM the Portuguese naval training ship Sagres were MCPO Francisco Silva, LCDR Sergio Lopes, Capt. José Galrito and his wife. Mary Lou Denesowicz presented the captain with flowers in honor of the anniversary of the death of one of his sailors. Photo by Wendell Douglas

A FINE detail on the stern of the Kalmar Nyckel shows a row of lively faces.

Photo by Wendell Douglas

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LEFT: the Kalmar Nyckel, from Delaware, is a replica of the 17th-century vessel that brought the first settlers to New Sweden. Below: On dock, pirates Cabby Altobelli and Kimberlie Cruse, along with hoop-spinner Rebel Rabbitt, entertained the crowd.

Photos by Bill Myers

Vare Recreation Center Gains New Life

BY ELDON GRAHAM EBUILD PHILADELPHIA has officially announced its first project and it’s one South Philadelphians will love: Vare Recreation Center.

Mayor Jim Kenney was joined by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) to announce VRC as the first Rebuild project. More projects are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The announcement comes following a request from the mayor to City Council to fund Rebuild through the City’s capital budget in an effort to streamline the program and get projects started.

Vare serves the Grays Ferry

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and Point Breeze neighborhoods in South Philadelphia and offers community activities such as gymnastics, after school and anti-violence programs. The facility is viewed by many as a safe place for youth in the community where gun violence continues to be a challenge.

“Recreation centers like Vare are the reason we proposed Rebuild and passed the beverage tax in the first place,” said the mayor. “We know that every day we’re not investing to improve facilities like this, we’re putting our communities at risk. With two unprecedented commitments from the building trades to build diversity in their ranks

through Rebuild, it’s time start investing the money that’s been sitting unspent while parks, recreation centers, and libraries are in dire need of investment, and in cases like Vare are on the brink of closure.”

The mayor's announcement comes after Vare was forced to close last fall when engineers found that the building was falling apart and unsafe for use. Temporary fixes allowed the first floor of Vare to safely be reopened in December 2017, but the building will probably need to be shut down again if no more fixes are made.

Ironically, Vare was the site of a PHLRebuild infor-

mation session last October at which Johnson spoke and gave testimony as to why this initiative was a good idea. One week later, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation announced the closure of the center “due to serious concerns about the structural integrity of the 100-yearold facility.”

“I cannot stress enough that Vare Recreation Center is an extremely important community hub in South Philadelphia, a safe haven from gun violence for our youth, and essential for the programming it provides to keep our kids engaged in positive activity. When we had to shut down Vare last fall, the community was

devastated. The reality is without Rebuild, Vare Rec Center would likely close again within the year, with no answers for the neighborhood about how to pay for the center’s rehabilitation,” said Johnson. “Vare Recreation Center needs significant investment; we would not be able to fund these renovations without Rebuild money.”

The next steps for Vare will include creating a new master plan for the site.

Planning and design will start later this year and will include a robust community-engagement process so neighbors can help shape what the new recreation center will look like.

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Both City Parties Reborn Next Week

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POLS on the STREET

BY JOE SHAHEELI HIS COMING Monday, June 4, the people who will actually decide the grassroots presence of the Philadelphia Democratic and Republican Parties will meet and be elected.

Parties, by definition, are not clusters of ideas or policies; they are not their candidates – not their voters. Parties are organiza-

T

Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown 190th Legislative District

tions – and organizations that grow from the ground up. By state law, the local units of party structure are wards.

Within each ward, up to two committee people can be elected to its party committee from each division.

Some divisions may have as many as five candidates vying for these two jobs but many more have only one, or none at all.

Most of the time, vacancies don’t matter; the ward leader can appoint people to fill them or simply ignore them. But every four years, committeeperson elections matter. Only elected committee people can vote for the next ward leader.

Being a good ward leader entails a lot of work for an unpaid job. In most of the city’s Democratic wards and virtually all its Republican

They Offer a New Path for Youth

About 50 community volunteers gathered at the District Attorney’s Office to be sworn into their neighborhood’s Youth Aid Panel. YAP is a Juvenile Diversion Program that gives first time juvenile criminal offenders the option of appearing before a panel of community volunteers, rather than entering the juvenile-court system. These new graduates will help juveniles complete their contractual obligations to avoid the adverse effects of a criminal record.

wards, the new ward leader will be the same as the old ward leader, by acclamation.

But pitched battles are underway in several wards where challengers are working to unseat incumbent leaders. If they succeed, the membership State Representative

M AY 31, 2018

State Rep.

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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.

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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”

State Rep. Jason

State Senator

Dawkins District Office:

Sharif

Street

4667 Paul St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 744-7901 M.–Th.:8:30a.m.–5:00p.m.

F.: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

1621 W. Jefferson Street Philadelphia, PA 19121

215-227-6161 Paid for with PA Tax Dollars

State Rep.

City Commission Chairwoman

Lisa M.

Deeley Room 130 City Hall

Philadelphia PA 19107

215-686-3460 Rep.Maria P.

Joanna E.

Donatucci

McClinton

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

191st Leg. Dist.

6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139

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

are contesting closely.

In the Far Northeast, the 58th Ward, centered on Somerton, a traditional bastion of the family of Lt. Gov. Mike Stack (his brother-inlaw Jim Donnelly currently (Cont. Next Page) State Rep.

Kevin J.

Boyle 172nd Dist.

7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

215-331-2600 Councilman Wm.

Greenlee 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

Councilman

Rep. Rosita

Mark

Youngblood

Squilla

198th District

310 W. Chelten Ave. Phila PA 19148

1st District City Hall Room 332

P: 215-849-6426

215-686-3458/59 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

District 3 City Hall, Room 408 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 686-3418, (215) 686-3419 FAX: (215) 686-1933

www.facebook.com/RepCephas www.pahouse.com/Cephas

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

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

Taylor

Jannie L. Blackwell

5921 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19151 (215) 879 6625

215-425-5708

STATE REP.

Councilwoman

192ndLegislative LegislativeDistrict District 192nd

2733 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

215-271-9190

Always Hard At Work for You!

Morgan Morgan Cephas Cephas

197th Legislative District Office

184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

single vote, may be unknown to all other activists, so who can predict for whom they will vote at the June 4 meeting – or if they will show up at all.

But observers have their eyes on some Democratic wards where known forces

StateRepresentative Representative State

Emilio Vazquez

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

of the city committees will change – and with it, the policy-making and leadership of those bodies will evolve.

Ward fights are hard to report on, even by their generals. That’s because write-in winners, who often win with a

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

City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker 9th District

District Office 1538 E. Wadsworth Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19150 Phone: 215-686-3454 Fax: 215-685-9271. www.phlcouncil.com/CherelleParker

Facebook: CouncilwomanCherelleLParker Twitter: @CherelleParker9

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EDISON High School in Kensington lost 64 warriors in the grueling Vietnam War – more than any other school in the nation. Photos by Wendell Douglas

THEIR memory was cherished on Memorial Day at Edison’s new facility by veterans of that conflict and Gold Star fam- FRANKFORD and Edison Junior ROTC corps joined in tribute at a monument outside the school. ilies.

Germantown Vets Fêted

Soldier’s Homecoming

POST 405 American Legion of the Union League members Albert El and Kerry Bryan join with the Frankford High School Junior ROTC Color Guard for services in Christ Church Burial Ground – home of Ben Franklin’s grave, as well as seven signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Photo by Joe Stivala

ACES Museum honored veterans in Germantown at Vernon Park. L-R, USMC Herb Smith, State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown and noted reenactor Albert El. Photos by Leona Dixon

THE CHAPEL of Four Chaplains held a Memorial Day service on the stern of the USS Olympia at Penn’s Landing.

Capt. Francis Spencer, 3rd from R, commander of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in the Navy Yard, was keynote speaker. Chapel President Capt. Louis Cavaliere, 2nd from R, was principal speaker at the Vietnam Memorial. The Olympia brought the body of the unknown soldier home from France at the end of World War I. Photo by Joe Stivala

Christ Church Service

Lebanon Losses Noted

LONG FORGOTTEN by many is the Lebanon Memorial remembering the 12 Marines from Philadelphia killed in Beirut by a terrorist bomb. When families stopped showing up on Memorial Day, the Philadelphia Police decided to honor the brave. They present a wreath and fire a three-round salute. Many thanks to them! Photo by Joe Stivala

Each Veteran received a Medal with their Branch of Service on it.

It was live entertainment, food, and resource tables. Everyone was fed ... even the homeless.

From L, State Rep. Stephen Kinsey and Dr. Hankins offered their thanks to two World War II Veterans.

82nd Airborne Remembers ’Nam

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THE 82ND Airborne Association supported the Vietnam Memorial annual service. With the help of the Philadelphia Police Highway Patrol, seen above, they rendered all honors for the some 50,000 soldiers killed in Vietnam. Photo by Joe Stivala

Crowds Gather for the Annual Celebration of Memorial Day in Bridesburg

Congratulations, Bill Keller!

Biggest winner of all this election cycle was State Rep. Bill Keller (D-S. Phila.). He survived major heart surgery and is still walking this earth.

All Philadelphians, not just his constituents, owe this modest man a huge debt of gratitude for his tireless defense of the Port of Philadelphia over decades. His work is about to bear amazing fruit.

M AY 31, 2018

(From Prev. Page) leads it), is being vigorously contested by allies of Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Phila.). Write-ins won’t be the deciding factor here; rather, old-school streetwork will call the shots. It’s anybody’s guess who wins.

In the same neck of the woods, the 66th Ward, dominated by Parkwood, is split into two Democratic organizations, A and B. Both are beset with simmering rivalries, which Ward Leaders Shawn Dillon and Mike McAleer are familiar with. Over the years, these gentlemen have nimbly navigated the waters of Northeast politics, but ward elections are like rapids: No one is ever sure if they’ll make it through unscathed.

In Lower North’s 47th Ward, west of Temple University, backers of aspiring leader Louise Bundy assert they have the votes to knock off incumbent George Brooks. In Brewerytown-Sharswood’s neighboring 29th Ward, insurgents are making a hard push as well but are not yet ready to claim victory.

In South Philadelphia, the 2nd Ward, which covers Queen Village and Bella Vista, is barely manageable by any leader, since its educated incomers vote at high rates – but tend not to learn local institutions.

There are signs Ward Leader Ed Nesmith is vulnerable this year: His brother, along with his de facto prime minister Kevin Price, were both turfed out of their committee posts.

Edison 64 Honored by Survivors, Students

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STATE REP. John Taylor speaks eloquently and movingly of the sacrifices made by our troops through the centuries so that American citizens can live unparalleled lives of freedom. Photos by Bill Myers

The youngest celebrants of this most important of holidays wear their patriotism on their sleeves, on their heads, and proudly wave the red, white and blue.

CITY COUNCILMEN Al Taubenberger, left, and Bobby Henon, are proud to join in the commemoration ceremonies by striding in solidarity with our armed forces.

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Citizens Could Ask That Guns Be Seized

C PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

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OUNCILMAN Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District), along with Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), introduced legislation to reduce gun violence.

“If a person publicly threatens to be violent, we should believe them,” Jones

said.

This legislation establishes a new section of the Philadelphia Code, to create a Philadelphia Gun Violence Protection Procedure.

Following it, someone with knowledge and facts that an individual is exhibiting signs that they pose an

imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, and are in possession of a firearm, can file an emergency petition for the temporary removal of those firearms.

The procedure would allow for a petition for a gun violence protection order to be filed by a school official,

family member, household member, police officer or assistant district attorney, and for a hearing on the matter to be scheduled in the Court of Common Pleas.

Clarke Targets Housing Costs Council President Darrell L.

Clarke (5th District) put forth a package of three bills to reform construction regulations to encourage responsible development and reduce costs associated with housing.

The construction regulatory reform legislation was crafted in collaboration with (Cont. Page 8)

Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 180400340 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Hattie Lewis, Deceased, Melvin Lewis, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Hattie Lewis, Deceased, Roosevelt Lewis, Jr., Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Hattie Lewis, Deceased & Roosevelt Lewis, Sr., Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Hattie Lewis, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendants To: The Unknown Heirs of Hattie Lewis, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 3625 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. 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 Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Phila. County, PA, docketed to No. 180400340, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 3625 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 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. ASOCIACION DE LICENCIADOS DE FILADELFIA, Servicio De Referencia E Informacion Legal, One Reading Center, Filadelfia, PA 19107, 215.238.1701. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106, 215.627.1322.

5/30/2018 11:33:49 AM

By State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams AM A CHILD OF the 1960s and ’70s. Growing up, I watched as our nation transformed itself from one consumed by polarization and hatred into one that recognized the dignity of each and every human being. Thousands upon thousands of people boycotted and marched their way all over this country, often at great personal risk, to ensure that laws would be passed and policies enacted to transform our society from exclusive to inclusive.

These changes were welcome and much-needed, but did not cure all of our nation’s ills. Racial bias is still alive in our society; legislation alone will not get rid of it. Our democracy is an experiment, one that is ever-changing and ongoing, one that sometimes reaches uncomfortable crossroads.

We reached one of those crossroads on the afternoon of April 12.

For me, the images of those two men being unnecessarily handcuffed in a Philadelphia Starbucks brought back memories of those times in my childhood, when simply advocating for God-given human rights was an offense worthy of arrest. This cannot become commonplace again. Every event like this one is a pebble in the stream, creating a ripple effect that grows larger and erodes the common decency of our democratic

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GONE but not forgotten … the names of Philadelphia’s military heroes fallen in the Vietnam War still stand tall in Spruce Street Harbor Park. Photo by Leona Dixon

MARK your CALENDAR May 31- Councilman Mark Squilla is hosted Cocktail Reception at 500 Walnut Condo, 5th & St. James Sts., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Host: Tom Scannapieco. RSVP: Paula (215) 574-0500 or paulacb@500walnut.net.

May 31- State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown hosts Senior Fair at W. Phila. Sr. Community Ctr., 1016 N. 41st St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Entertainment, food & fun.

For info: (215) 879-6615.

Jun. 2- State Rep. Joanna

McClinton hosts S.W. Philly Community Day at McCreesh Plg., 6744 Regent St., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Health screenings, children’s activities, entertainment, free food, state-program information.

For info: (215) 748-6712.

Jun. 7- Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell hosts W. Phila. Thursday Night Jazz Series at Malcolm X Park, 52nd & Pine Sts., 7 p.m.

Glenn Bryant, keyboardist, & friends.

Jun. 8- OIC of America celebrates Reentry Month & SOAR Anniversary at Sullivan Human Services Ctr., 1415 N. Broad St., 12-3 p.m. Job & resource fair. Guests include Rev. Dr. Wilson Goode, Council President Darrell Clarke & State Rep. Curtis Thomas, Jr. For info: Naja Killebrew (215) 236-4500.

Jun. 9- Congressman

Dwight Evans hosts Federal Services fair at Carousel Ho., 4300 Ave. of the Republic, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. RSVP: (215) 276-0340 or EvansEvents@mail.house.gov.

Jun. 9Councilman Derek Green hosts Jazz Night at Craig & Jennifer Alleyne, 806 Westview St., 5-7 p.m. Tickets $50, Friends $100, Supporters $250, Sponsors $1,000.

Payable to “The Green Fund,” P.O. Box 4984, Phila., PA 19119 or www. dereksgreen.com/contribute. RSVP: Kelly Bauer kbauer1122@gmail.com.

Jun. 12- S. Phila. Business Ass’n hosts Pig Roast outside Galdo’s Entertainment Complex, 20th St. & Moyamensing Ave., 6:30 p.m. Tickets $60. For info: (215) 852-4822. Or lougaldo@galdoscaters.com.

For Further Listings, See “Calendar” Online at www.phillyrecord.com

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I have seen the impact of fear due to racial violence and prejudice in communities. I have seen it drive people from their homes, seen it diminish opportunities, and watched as vibrant communities have fallen victim to the hopelessness and fear that bigotry causes. Starbucks’ implicit bias training addresses many important topics that we should be talking about on a regular basis in our communities, including racial anxiety and the longstanding quiet fear that African-American citizens endure every day.

It is not nearly enough, however, if Starbucks is the only company taking these steps on the path towards equality. Philadelphia is a majority minority city - and one that is seeing increases in population. It is time for more of the companies that do business here to ask some honest, tough questions. “How do we look, diversity-wise?” “Do we represent the demographics of the city?” “Do we provide our employees with bias training? If so, how often does it happen?”

I think many companies might find that they are overdue for training employees to handle difficult situations, especially in our city. We, as citizens, have a commitment to the folks in our communities to make life livable – and more importantly, enjoyable – for everyone.

From this point forward, there are many responsibilities to be met, on all sides. It is up to corporations – local, national, and international – to evaluate their policies and study those of Starbucks and others for best practices.

But, it is also up to us to follow this example and create a world that is safe, inclusive, and positive for everyone.

M AY 31, 2018

OPINION

society.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Starbucks again for addressing an issue that is long overdue as a talking point in the public space. Today will not only serve as a racial bias training for Starbucks employees, but as a demonstration to the rest of the nation and organizations everywhere about what needs to be done regarding the issue of racial bias. We cannot continue to wait for unfortunate circumstances to arise before properly addressing the racial conflict in our neighborhoods and in our country as a whole.

In a well-crafted video, Starbucks previewed how their training would be conducted, and what the curriculum will entail. It includes tools like “You’re Welcome,” a documentary

by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, which explores the reality of racial discrimination in public accommodations, including personal testimony from citizens. Common, the American hip-hop artist and activist, also makes an appearance to speak on exploring identities, and how we can help see each other respectfully. The goal is to lift each other up, never to put each other down.

Starbucks has taken a necessary first step towards addressing racial bias and discrimination in their stores, and they are conducting it in the best way possible. I am thoroughly impressed with the way they have chosen to handle this situation.

They did not waste time on blame or empty apologies; they owned the situation, and they are taking the appropriate steps to make it right. Starbucks has shown initiative and taken prompt action regarding this and other cases of bias, and that, above all else, is commendable.

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PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

(Cont. From Page 6) the Building Industry Association and major project developers, with the goal of boosting responsible and affordable housing construction to ensure equitable growth in the city.

“As we continue to press members of the housing and construction industry to work as partners with City Council on a fair and equitable development strategy, it is only right that we do all we can to address unfair or unnecessary obstacles to growth and progress,” Clarke said. “I want to thank the BIA and our partners in this effort for helping us to identify outdated and onerous regulations in the Philadelphia Code that impede economic growth and development.”

BIA President Jim Maransky added, “This package of bills will help alleviate bureaucratic hurdles that have at times made building in the city difficult, while still ensuring that safety and neighbor concerns are addressed.”

An ordinance introduced by Streets & Services Committee Chair Mark Squilla (1st District) clarifies language in the Code to eliminate conflict between PECO sidewalk vault dimensions and those allowable by the Streets Department.

Another Squilla ordinance would require developers to repave certain portions of roads and sidewalks following completion of certain private development projects.

An ordinance introduced by Transportation & Public Utili-

ties Committee Chair Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) would allow private water and sewer infrastructure for condominiums, to be maintained at no cost to the City.

Council is currently weighing a construction impact tax to raise approximately $25 million annually for affordable housing. The tax has the support of the BIA and community development leaders.

Hughes Pushes Aid To Cheyney, Lincoln State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-W. Phila.), working with two state representatives, introduced legislation aimed at supporting Cheyney and Lincoln universities, two of the nation’s oldest Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

The legislators’ proposals (SB 1180 and HB 2421) would create an Office of HBCU Excellence within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The office would be responsible for assisting Cheyney and Lincoln in working with Commonwealth and federal departments and agencies, the private sector, educational associations and philanthropic organizations and others to: strengthen and improve Cheyney and Lincoln’s participation in state and federal programs, maximize funding opportunities, foster public-private partnerships to promote research and programmatic excellence at each university, and improve availability of information for HBCUs. “Cheyney and Lincoln are historic institutions that have provided countless individuals, especially individuals of color, with a quality education

upon which to build a future.

Despite some challenges, they have withstood the test of time.

We must ensure these institutions that have provided affordable opportunities to students, regardless of race, to further their education and develop their skills and talents, not only survive but thrive in the future,” Hughes said.

The legislation is patterned after a bipartisan effort in Tennessee that created a liaison position between lawmakers and the leadership of the state’s seven HBCUs. The Office of HBCU Excellence would create a written summary of goals and could establish a board of up to 25 advisers, who would be unpaid. The expected outcomes from the new position include improving the capabilities and competitiveness of the universities, building new partnerships with public and private entities, while increasing financial stability and helping the Commonwealth reach its education goals.

Cruz Honors Slain P.R. Service Members The House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution (HR 938) sponsored by State Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Kensington) which pays tribute to nine Puerto Rican service members who were killed in a noncombat-related military plane crash in Georgia.

The service members were flying to Arizona to decommission the plane, a WC-130 attached to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard 156th Airlift Wing, when it crashed shortly after takeoff.

The plane was used in relief efforts for several hurricanes in the Caribbean, including both Irma and Maria during the 2017 hurricane season.

“These nine service members truly represent the commitment that Puerto Ricans living on the island and also here on the mainland have with our nation,” Cruz said. “We honor them for their service and (Cont. Page 9)

5/30/2018 11:34:30 AM

City Councilman Allan Domb (at Large) introduced a bill calling for the City’s Finance Department to provide monthly reports to City Council detailing the activity and balances of city bank accounts to ensure the money is being properly reconciled.

The bill would amend Title 19 of the Philadelphia Code entitled “Finance, Taxes and Collection” by adding Chapter 19-4300 entitled “Monthly Reconciliation Reporting.”

Domb’s legislation strengthens his pursuit for answers and understanding from the Finance Department about how $27 million in City taxpayer money remains unaccounted for. Domb’s research uncovered that more bank accounts than previously reported had not been properly reconciled since, in some cases, as far back as 2010.

“As have been discovered during the ongoing budget process, it is crucial that the City establish and put systems in place to significantly improve its accounting practices, more specifically its cash reconciliation process,” said Domb. “That is the impetus for the legislation introduced today. We owe it to the taxpayers to demonstrate we can responsibly manage their money.”

In addition to this bill, Domb also introduced a resolution to authorize City Council’s Committee on Finance to conduct a full and comprehensive, investigatory public hearing to review the corrective audit of the consolidated cash account as well as the accompanying corrective action plan upon completion of the audit performed by the firm Horsey, Buckner & Heffler, LLP. The City has retained the

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On May 10, City Council unanimously approved legislation introduced by Domb to require an independent appraisal before Council approves the acquisition or sale of real estate with a value of over $200,000, as assigned by the Office of Property Assessment.

The new rules would not apply in the cases of Sheriff Sales or to the City’s acquisition of property through eminent-domain purchases.

The bill, co-sponsored

by Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District), holds the Commissioner of Public Property responsible for providing these appraisals.

At present time, the City regularly obtains appraisals as part of its policy and best practices, but is not required to do so.

Williams Notes Parole Groundswell Forty-five prosecutor leaders connected to Fair & Just Prosecution from around the nation, including over 30 current elected DAs and AGs, signed on to Columbia University’s Justice Lab Statement on the Future of Community Corrections, pledging their support for significant reduction of citizens on probation and parole in America. State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-W. Phila.) said reform can’t come too soon.

“Pennsylvania finds itself in the unenviable position of leading the nation in both the number and rate of adults under parole supervision. In fact, a recent report

by Columbia University researcher Vincent Schiraldi noted that Pennsylvanians are three times more likely than citizens of other states to be under supervision,” Williams noted.

“Recent events in Phila-

Fitz Rocks the Avenue

STATE REP. Isabella Fitzgerald hosted her Ogontz Spring Fest on five blocks of Ogontz Avenue. Great sponsors and food, live entertainment, community leaders, vendors and resources lined the avenue. Church choirs, dancers, rappers, poets and singers performed.

At left, Fitzgerald is center stage in hat with her incredible staff. Photos

by Leona Dixon

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

Domb Bill Seeks Steady Money Info…

…And Independent R.E. Appraisals

delphia have highlighted the broken state of probation in Pennsylvania, revealing a system in desperate need of reform. That’s why I introduced SB 1067, developed in cooperation with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, to address the largest issues facing community corrections in the Commonwealth.

“My bill would limit sentences of probation to evidence-based maximum effective terms, create graduated responses to technical violations, and incentivize good behavior through sentence reduction. America’s terrible experiment of over-criminalization and over-incarceration must come to an end; instead of seeking to punish, we should instead help to rehabilitate offenders into valuable members our community.”

DeLissio Hails Canal, City Ave. $$ State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio (D-Northwest) secured two State infrastructure grants for her district.

The Manayunk Canal was awarded a $1 million grant that will help to restore the lower locks of the canal located near Lock Street.

The funds, controlled by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, would rehabilitate a severely deteriorated portion of the Manayunk Canal in Philadelphia to preserve the historic transportation structure and ensure pedestrian safety.

The City Avenue Special Services District was awarded a $986,715 PennDOT grant to help fund Phase III of the City Avenue Project.

“This funding success would not be possible without our partnership with St. Joseph’s and other State legislative partners that represent both the Philadelphia and Lower Merion areas around the university,” DeLissio said.

The money will provide new pedestrian lighting from 52nd Street to Lapsley Lane in Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township.

(Cont. Page 11)

CHILD performer Madi J. shared a moment with his state Rep.

DAVE STEVENS Band

M AY 31, 2018

(Cont. From page 8) dedication and hope not to repeat this tragedy ever again.”

aforementioned accounting firm to locate the missing revenue. Domb wants this process to be transparent and accountable to City Council.

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PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

5/30/2018 11:35:06 AM

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

10

ELEPHANT CORNER

T

M AY 31, 2018

HE MAY 15 election is over. The City Commissioners supplied a list of the elected committee people to anyone interested on Tuesday.

Each Republican ward is to have its ward reorganization meeting on Monday, June 4.

The ward leaders elected on the 4th will vote in the reorganization of Republican City Committee on June 6 at the United Republican Club.

There will be a contested election for Chairman of City Committee. Current CHAIRMAN MIKE MEEHAN is expected to run again, as well

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

BY DENISE CLAY OR WANT of a better way to put it, Tuesday was Unconscious Bias Day here in Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, thanks to the arrest of two businessmen waiting for a colleague at the Starbucks at 18th & Spruce, the entire chain was shut down so that the employees could undergo unconscious bias training.

Or, put another way, training designed to keep antsy managers from calling the cops on people of

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as his opponent in the last election for this post 18 months ago, 5TH WARD LEADER MIKE CIBIK. Last week, former Common Pleas Court JUDGE PAUL PANEPINTO tossed his hat in the ring for chairman. Panepinto may well be the compromise candidate.

Meehan and Cibik were in opposite camps during the roughly four-year civil war in the party. Panepinto was not involved in the war, as he was a sitting judge at the time and prohibited from being involved in politics.

A rumor is afoot that CITY COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN LISA DEELEY says write-ins for committee people with fewer than 10 votes are not elected, supposedly citing State Election Code rules that in a primary election, one needs the same number of votes required to file petitions to get on the ballot in order to be elected through write-in.

COMMISSIONER AL SCHMIDT noted that while committee people are elected

on primary day, this rule does not apply. In a final election for a post and to be on the ballot for the general election, the person with the most votes (on the ballot or through write-in) wins.

In fact, Deeley and Schmidt are on the same page. A single vote, write-in or otherwise, is sufficient to win a committee person seat in either party, Deeley stated.

RCC has no intention of denying committee write-ins with fewer than 10 votes from participating in ward reorganization. In many city divisions, there are not enough Republicans to get the 10 signatures needed to get on the ballot as committee person. So these write-ins are a blessing. There were over 700 Republican committee person write-ins this year, in comparison to the roughly 500 Republican committee people on the ballot.

The Democrats, as of the writing of this column, were considering not honoring write-ins with fewer than 10 (Cont. Page 14)

color for no reason, because doing so can be a death sentence for us.

There was also a townhall discussion featuring our friends at MSNBC on Tuesday at the Prince Theater and an event, #CoffeeWhileBlack, that brought Philly’s Black coffee-shop owners together at one of my favorite coffee shops in the city, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse.

If you were looking for a chance to talk about racism or unconscious bias, Philly was the place to be on Tuesday.

But what was the point?

If I had a nickel for every time the subject of racism, the ways it manifests itself, and what we should be doing about it has come up in the 54 years I’ve been walking the earth, I’d have retired in my 20s. This is something that we’ve talked about so much as a nation that it’s ridiculous.

I’m tired of talking about it. And I’m really tired of seeing nothing come of these myriad discussions.

Racism, at least as I see it, is something you learn.

You’re not racist by nature; it’s something that your parents, your friends, or the knuckleheads that surround you teach to you.

Unlearning it is the key to success.

But it doesn’t seem like constant chat sessions are getting us any closer to that unlearning.

I went to all that stuff because I had to cover it. But I’m hoping that it doesn’t become a yearly thing.

If racism ever evaporates from the culture of the United States, it will happen as a result of doing – or refraining from doing.

Let us save our breath for talking about matters in which new information has arrived and needs to be shared. There’s nothing new about racism.

WALKING the BEAT

BY JOE SHAY STIVALA 330,000 notices sent to outof-state violators? Did they really think the out-of-staters would pay up? COLOSSAL WASTE of $138,000 for postage. All hail Councilwoman Jannie BLACKWELL for her advocacy for the POOR trapped BY THE YOKE of old tickets. The amnesty should have been more generous. And finding more tickets associated with a family – why were they NOT KNOWN EARLIER? Hmm. Councilwoman Cindy BASS is spot on when she wonders if some groups were targeted.

If you want to talk FAILURE,

CITY HALL SAM

T

HE PHILADELPHIA soda tax is being battled on two fronts.

The first battle is the legal front. On primary election day, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments over the legalities of the Philadelphia soda tax.

Lawyers for the City of Philadelphia argued that this is a new tax that the state does not already levy on beverages because it is a transaction between the manufacturers and the retail facilities. The beverage industry argued

look at 330,000 notices and OVERTIME COSTS. The City should WORRY about the missing $27 MILLION instead. The schools can use it! The silence of any public discussion of this is DEAFENING. Mayor KENNEY was reported to have said that it is up to City Council to fix the toxicity in schools. NOPE. It is a joint mayoral-councilmanic task.

How about the study of the TAX ABATEMENT? The bills introduced by Councilwoman Helen GYM should NOT PASS. Eliminating the portion of abatement for schools seems just SOAP-BOXING. Gym once called for the elimination of Board of Revision of Taxes clerks on the School District payroll. Their salaries totaled $8m a year, earning about $23k a year each. The clerks converted to Civil Service … with more-expensive health benefits. The City poured $20m to upgrade the computer program, and $100k-a-year jobs appeared.

No more reform, please,

Councilwoman GYM. John KANE, Leader of Plumbers’ Local 690, may run for chairman of the Delaware County Democrats!

He would oppose Martin Landau, who is with a major law firm. Kane, a cancer survivor, is now very FIT. It is time for NEW BLOOD in advance of midterms.

An editorial said that Pennsylvania’s “broken” election system MUST BE FIXED. Balderdash!

With Ed RENDELL’S candidate winning the primary in the 5th District – will Ed strut like a rooster in the hen house?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to congressional candidate LINDY LI’s mom in Delaware County! Happy MAY Birthdays to ageless Nelson DIAZ, Tom MARTIN, Esq. and Donna Gentile O’DONNELL! In the race for U.S. Senate, Bob CASEY has a reported $7m to Lou BARLETTA’s $1m. CASEY got 743k primary votes, and won last time with 3m votes.

that the state already taxes soda through the sales tax.

The second battle is legislative. House Republican leaders in Harrisburg have introduced a bill to prohibit municipalities from enacting a beverage tax. This bill is scheduled for a vote in the State House of Representatives at the beginning of June. It is likely that it will pass the House, setting it up as either a bargaining chip for budget negotiations, or as a bill that gets passed by the Senate and sent to GOV. TOM WOLF. Harrisburg Republicans may try to squeeze the governor on this issue for either political or policy gains – or perhaps to help their candidate for governor, STATE SEN. SCOTT WAGNER. One of Wolf’s close allies is MAYOR JIM KENNEY. Kenney’s signature policy accomplishment was passing the soda tax to help fund pre-K education for young Philadelphians and

to fund library and rec-center upgrades. But like many issues in Philadelphia, the beverage tax has become a statewide political issue. Republican gubernatorial candidate Wagner opposes the Philadelphia beverage tax.

So the soda tax is on a collision course to become a hot issue for the fall election.

Another interesting fact about the Harrisburg Republicans’ soda-tax preemption bill is that it applies to all beverages. So, as COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL CLARKE and his fellow City Council leaders pointed out in an Inquirer op ed, the current preemption bill would also end Philadelphia’s and Allegheny County‘s liquorby-the-drink tax. Not only does the bill handle the soda tax, it gets at the larger issue of municipalities enacting their own taxes. It will be interesting to see if Harrisburg Republicans amend the bill to surgically target (Cont. Page 14)

5/30/2018 10:39:21 AM

(Cont. From Page 9) “I am excited the Commonwealth has made this important investment of improving pedestrian safety and further enhancing the City Avenue corridor,” DeLissio said.

Bass Moves to Calm Traffic The joint Committees on Streets & Services and Public Safety held a hearing on Councilwoman Cindy Bass’ (8th District) resolution examining traffic-calming issues and solutions around Philadelphia’s schools and child-care centers.

“In my district, there

are 33 public and charter schools with a total enrollment of nearly 22,000 students,” Bass said. “In addition, we have more than 300 child-care facilities.

Many of these – especially day-care centers – are located on busy streets and intersections. I see all the time where you have kids darting into traffic, crossing in

front of or behind buses or other vehicles, cars double parked, drivers on their cell phones.”

Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of pedestrian traffic fatalities of its peer cities in the nation. Between 2009 and 2013, children under 18 years old comprised 12.7% of all traffic pedestrian deaths in the city.

Harris Recruits Local Ambassadors State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-S. Phila.) is creating an ambassador program in his legislative district to help identify issues that have great impact on the community.

The first meeting regarding Harris’ Ambassador Program was held May 24 at Wharton Square Recreation

11 Center.

Harris wants his District Ambassadors to help identify issues and advise him on subjects that impact the local community, including education, economic issues, criminal-justice reform and senior-citizens’ issues.

For more information or to apply, contact Nakia Carr at (215) 952-3378.

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

PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

The Committee on Finance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items: 171009

171010

180077

180347

180351

180458

180497

180500

An Ordinance amending Section 19-1303 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Discounts and Additions to Tax,” by tolling additions, interest and penalties on real estate tax when the assessed value of property is under appeal and limiting tax payments due based on certain assessments under appeal; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Section 19-1806 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Authorization of Realty Use and Occupancy Tax,” by tolling additions, interest and penalties when the assessed value of property is under appeal and limiting tax payments due based on certain assessments under appeal; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled ‘Business Privilege Taxes,’ by eliminating for new businesses the requirement to make an estimated payment when filing a return for their first tax year of business operations and allowing the estimated payment in succeeding years to be made in quarterly installments, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Chapter 21-1600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Housing Trust Fund,” to authorize the establishment of separate sub-funds to receive, respectively, revenues attributable to recording fees and revenues attributable to certain payments required upon construction of certain real estate; to provide for and authorize the manner in which such revenues may be appropriated and spent; and to designate the agency within City government responsible for administering the Housing Trust Fund; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance providing for a payment to the City upon the construction of certain real estate, and directing Council to appropriate revenues from such payments to the Department of Planning and Development - Division of Housing and Community Development, in order to support equitable neighborhood development by constructing affordable housing, including units for sale or rent, and by providing assistance to Philadelphians who desire to become homeowners, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance approving the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints and conditions, and acknowledging receipt of the Revised Forecast of Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2020 through 2024.

An Ordinance authorizing the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into an amendment agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania for provision of payroll banking services to the City, under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance authorizing the Director of Planning and Development, on behalf of the City, to file applications with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Community Development Block Grant; to file applications to participate in the HOME Investment Partnership

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180520

180522

180524

180552

180563 180564

program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program; and to apply for a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant; and to file applications with the Commonwealth to obtain grants under the Act of April 12, 1956, P.L. 1449, Section 4, as amended, to prevent and eliminate blight; authorizing the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Commerce to file applications to obtain other grants from the Commonwealth; authorizing the Director of Commerce to use the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program; and authorizing the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Commerce to enter into all understandings and assurances contained in such applications and take all necessary action to accept the grants; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation on behalf of the Philadelphia Gas Works of two amended and restated Service Agreements (the “Restated Service Agreements”) for Gas Transportation Service under Rate Schedule FT with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation.

An Ordinance amending Section 9-631 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Tobacco Retailer Permit,” by limiting the power of the Board of Health to regulate the transferability of current permits and the locations of current Tobacco Retailers, and by removing the transfer restrictions of Section 9-631(2)(d), under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance approving a Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement between Philadelphia Gas Works by Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation, solely in its capacity as operator and manager of the City-owned Philadelphia Gas Works, and 1101 Chestnut Street LP for certain premises located at 1137 Chestnut Street.

An Ordinance authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions; providing for obtaining the consent of the electors to increasing the indebtedness of the City; and fixing a day and providing for arrangements for holding the election for obtaining such consent.

An Ordinance amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Finance, Taxes and Collections,” by adding a new Chapter 19-4300, entitled “Monthly Reconciliation Reporting,” all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Real Estate Taxes,” by limiting the exemption of certain real estate taxes for improvements to, or construction of, certain real properties; all under certain terms and conditions.

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

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

Michael Decker Chief Clerk

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Public Hearing Notice

M AY 31, 2018

City of Philadelphia

5/30/2018 11:56:02 AM

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

12

the WAFFLE MAN

Y

O! HERE WE go again. The Pirahã tribe is a group living in the jungles of South America. They are well known because they do not

have a way to count past two. Studies have shown that tribe members cannot tell the difference between a pile of eight rocks and 12 rocks. They have no number words to distinguish between these two numbers.

Anything more than two is a “big” number.

Most of us are similar to the Pirahãs. Sure, we may be able to count past 12, but there comes a point where we lose our grasp of numbers. When the numbers get big enough, intuition is gone and all we can say is that a number is “really big.” The words “million”

and “billion” differ by only one letter; yet that letter means one of the words signifies something that is a thousand times larger than the other.

Do we really know how big these numbers are? The trick to thinking about large numbers is to relate them to something that is meaningful. How big is a trillion?

Unless we’ve thought of some concrete ways to picture this number in relation to a billion, all that we can say is, “A billion is big and a trillion is even bigger.”

First, consider a million: One million is a thousand thousands. One million is a 1 with six zeros after it, denoted by 1,000,000. One million seconds is about 11 1/2 days. One million pennies stacked on top of each other would make a tower (Cont. Next Page)

M AY 31, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE

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

(215) 236-6700

www.ldc-phila-vic.org

AT&T proposes to replace a wood utility pole with a new wood utility pole with a top-mounted antenna (tip height 47’) at 2400 York Street, Philadelphia, PA (2018XXXX). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

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Alan Parham, Adminstrator

Local 57 - Esteban Vera, Jr., Business Manager Local 135 - Daniel 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

PPR_p012.indd 4

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

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

5/30/2018 10:27:51 AM

(Cont. From Prev. Page) nearly a mile high. If you earn $45,000 a year, it would take 22 years to amass a fortune of one million dollars. One million ants would weigh a little over six pounds. One million dollars divided evenly among the U.S .population

would mean everyone in the United States would receive about one third of one cent.

Next up is one billion: One billion is a thousand millions. One billion is a 1 with nine zeros after it, denoted by 1,000,000,000. One billion seconds is about 31½ years. One billion pennies stacked on top of each other would make a tower almost

870 miles high. If you earn $45,000 a year, it would take 22,000 years to amass a fortune of one billion dollars. One billion ants would weight over 3 tons – a little less than the weight of an elephant. One billion dollars divided equally among the US population would mean everyone in the United States would receive about $3.33.

After this is a trillion: One trillion is a thousand billions, or equivalently a million millions. It is a 1 with twelve zeros after it, denoted by 1,000,000,000,000.

One trillion seconds is over 31,000 years. One trillion pennies stacked on top of each other would make a tower about 870,000 miles high - the same distance ob-

tained by going to the moon, back to earth, then to the moon again. One trillion ants would weigh over 3,000 tons.

One trillion dollars divided evenly among the US population would mean everyone in the United States would receive a little over $3,000.

What’s next? Numbers higher than a trillion are not talked about as frequent-

ly, but there are names for 13 these numbers.

More important than the names is knowing how to think about large numbers. To be a well-informed member of society, we really should be able to know how big numbers like a billion and trillion really are – and hope the politicians do not start using them.

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

the WAFFLE MAN

City of Philadelphia Public Hearing Notice

Street, Revere Street, Tremont Street, Leonard Street, and Welsh Road.

An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising Section 14-303(11A), entitled “Registered Community Organizations,” by providing funding for limited insurance coverage for Registered Community Organizations; all under certain terms and conditions.

180505 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Haverford Avenue, Felton Street, Arch Street, and Gross Street.

180506 An Ordinance to amend the Master Plan for the River Road Residential MixedUse Area, bounded by the Montgomery County Line, a Railroad Right-of-Way, Shawmont Avenue, and the Schuylkill River, to approve a subdivision and the construction of a utility project.

180507 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Conrad Street, Indian Queen Lane, Scotts Lane, and Crawford Street.

180509 An Ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by creating a new Wissahickon /NCO, Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District for the area generally bounded by Henry Avenue, Hermit Street, Ridge Avenue, and the Wissahickon Creek.

180510 An Ordinance amending Section 14-500 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by amending the subsection entitled “/NCA, Ridge Avenue Neighborhood Commercial Area Overlay” and making related changes, all under certain terms and conditions.

180511 An Ordinance amending Section 14-503 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/ NCA, Neighborhood Commercial Area Overlay,” by adding a new subsection entitled “South Broad Street Gateway,” and making related changes, all under certain terms and conditions.

180515 An Ordinance amending Section 14-303 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Common Procedures and Requirements,” to amend requirements regarding Neighborhood Notice and Meetings, all under certain terms and conditions.

180517 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Leiper Street, Oxford Avenue, Harrison Street, Oakland Street and Foulkrod Street.

180518 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Roosevelt Boulevard, Godfrey Avenue, Castor Avenue, and Fillmore Street.

180519 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Allegheny Avenue, Kensington Avenue, Lehigh Avenue, and 2nd Street.

180295

180346 180423

180424 180426 180427

180451 180454 180463 180496

180498 180501

180503

An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by amending the One Year Rule; modifying certain public notice requirements and making related changes; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance to amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by the Delaware River, Pennypack Street (extended), State Road, Rhawn Street, Frankford Avenue, Academy Road, and Linden Avenue (extended).

An Ordinance amending Section 14-603 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Use Specific Standards,” by amending the number of curb cuts permitted for certain zoning districts, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Packer Avenue, 10th Street, Citizens Bank Way, Pattison Avenue, and Broad Street.

An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Dunks Ferry Road, the Poquessing Creek, Knights Road, Mechanicsville Road, Medford Road, and Lester Road.

An Ordinance to amend the Master Plan for the University of Pennsylvania, and to approve the proposed addition to 3900 Walnut Street.

An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Grant Avenue, Academy Road, Convent Avenue, Willits Road, and Ashton Road.

An Ordinance amending Section 14-604 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Accessory Uses and Structures” by making technical changes to the size and siting of Roof Deck Access Structures, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” to revise certain provisions of Chapter 14-600, entitled “Use Regulations,” by amending exceptions to use tables for green roofs and making related changes, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” to provide for the procedures for the Administrative Review process; all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance amending Chapter 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by creating a new overlay entitled /FAO, Frankford Academy Overlay District, and making related changes, all under certain terms and conditions.

An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Blue Grass Road, Grant Avenue, Ashton Road, Willits Road, Welsh Road, Dewees

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

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

Michael Decker Chief Clerk

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The Committee on Rules of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:

M AY 31, 2018

180504

5/30/2018 10:28:19 AM

Leaders with Ducky

A

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

M AY 31, 2018

KEYSTONE FIRST’S Maritza Padua joined Lt. Gov. Mike Stack at the Ducky Birts Foundation Awards ceremony last month.

Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 180301033 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Gloria L. Lowe, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s) To: The Unknown Heirs of Gloria L. Lowe Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 2928 North Judson Street a/k/a 2928 Judson Street ,Philadelphia, PA 19132. 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, Bank of America, N.A., has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, PA, docketed to No. 180301033 wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 2928 North Judson Street a/k/a 2928 Judson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132, 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, 215.627.1322.

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Casey Slashes at Gas Price

S MILLIONS OF Americans began Memorial Day travel, they continued to face ever-higher gas prices at the pump. The growing gas squeeze on consumers comes even as large oil companies are reaping the benefit of billions of dollars of tax cuts due to the corporate tax bill passed by Republicans late last year, charged U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

Casey released a report from the Senate Finance Committee stating four of the largest oil companies are poised to get nearly $15 billion in benefits from Trump’s corporate tax cuts.

Since December, seven of the largest oil companies have announced $13 billion in stock buybacks, which artificially drive up stock prices. One-third of all U.S. corporate stocks

Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 180400907 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of James Stewart, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s) To: The Unknown Heirs of James Stewart, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 5740 Osage Avenue, 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 Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Phila. County, PA, docketed to No. 180400907, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 5740 Osage Avenue, 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, 215.627.1322.

are owned by foreign investors.

Casey said, “The middle class is getting the short

end of the stick while the super-rich and big corporations continue to get a windfall.”

ELEPHANT CORNER

Ellis announced his withdrawal, he gave his support to political operative LAUREN KASPER. Ellis supporters blamed Havey for the resurrection of harassment issues.

Whether or not she or her supporters brought the issues to the fore, the domestic violence and harassment allegations were destined to come up as they have in every other of Ellis’ races, dating back a decade or more.

I find it hard to believe that there is anyone in Montco active in Republican politics who does not know of the issue.

On Memorial Day, former Pennsylvania Supreme Court JUSTICE SANDRA NEWMAN announced that she would join the race for Montco GOP Chair. Havey may drop out and support Newman, who is well known and may help unify the Montco party.

Political divisiveness has negatively affected the Montco party for the last decade. The fight began under former CHAIRMAN BOB KERN. Committee people were either aligned with Kern or with REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN BOB ASHER. The current CHAIRMAN BILL DONNELLY was elected in the hopes that he would unify the party. He was not as successful as hoped. Donnelly has declined to run for chair again.

CITY HALL SAM

own taxes. That would cut against their longtime mantra of local rule. Additionally, it would put them in the position of approving future municipality tax policies and increases.

In the end, maybe the State Supreme Court will shorten the legislative battle by issuing an opinion on the soda-tax lawsuit.

(Cont. From Page 10) committee people on the ballot.

While Democrats have five times the number of committee people, they also have many open slots. It is my understanding that being a Democrat committee person is a coveted position rewarded to longtime loyalists.

I understand many of the old guard are not happy that some write-ins have bypassed the unwritten rite of passage. In wards where the committee people have patronage jobs, this is particularly important. However, in the 46th Ward in University City, where many committee people are not employed in patronage jobs, there were (on the ballot and by write-in) contests for committee people in 12 of the ward’s 23 divisions.

Montgomery County Republican Party is expected to have a contested election for County Chairman. Initially, the race was between former Montco COMMISSIONER TOM ELLIS and CHAIRWOMAN of Lower Merion and Narberth Republican Party LIZ PREATE HAVEY. But Ellis just exited the race owing to bad publicity concerning past allegations of harassment and domestic violence. When

(Cont. From Page 10) the soda tax, or if they continue a larger campaign against all beverage taxes.

CHS doubts that Harrisburg Republicans want a larger battle against municipalities enacting their

5/30/2018 11:36:17 AM

BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED uestion: What do you mean, you included my home/car in the bankruptcy?

Q

cy,” we will always say, “You need to. But it doesn’t mean that you’ll lose it.”

Including your home and your mortgage or your car and your car loan in your bankruptcy does not mean that you’ll always lose it. The vast majority of my clients keep everything they own in a bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7, as long as your home has no (or minimal) equity or you can exempt any equity, and your payments are kept current on your mortgage, you keep your home.

Your car is a bit more complex, due to “reaffirmation agreements” and “retain and pay.”

In a Chapter 13 case, so

First Memorial Day THE LAUREL HILL Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony is always held a day early, since it was the site of the city’s first Decoration Day, held on the 27th of each May. Dr. Andy Waskie, 2nd from L, is always emcee. He listens as speaker Seamus McCaffery, former Supreme Court justice and Marine/Air Force officer, praised the Vietnam heroics of Albert El, C. They are flanked by Dr. Theodore Whitney and Kathy Berna.

Photo by Joe Stivala

long as your post-petition payments are kept current, you keep your home and

car. So including your home and your car isn’t a horrible thing. It’s a necessary thing.

Next Week’s Question: How long can I stay in my house if I filed a Chapter 7?

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

understanding BANKRUPTCY

Good bankruptcy attorneys spend a lot of time talking with their clients.

They give them an awful lot of information. Sometimes clients forget.

One of the things clients sometimes forget is the requirement in the Bankruptcy Code that all of their assets and all of their debt must be included in the bankruptcy filing. This includes things that they may want to keep, such as their home or their car. It includes debts that are current and will stay current, such as a mortgage or car loan. It means that if the client says, “I don’t want to include my home/car in the bankrupt-

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