Philadelphia Public Record

Vol. XIV No. 35

Issue 970

August 30, 2018

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

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LABOR ON THE MARCH

LABOR DAY is a time for America’s organized-labor families to celebrate the good life they have built together – not just for themselves but for all Americans. But it has a double meaning: After summer’s end, much serious work lies ahead to save labor’s hard-won gains. Art by Erika Takakjy, The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush

BRADY BACKS UNIONS P. 9

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Construction Tax a Poor Bet, Domb Argues

BY DENISE FUREY T-LARGE CITY Councilman Allan Domb discussed his opposition to a new 1% tax on construction (the Construction Tax) in the City of Philadelphia designed to fund approximately $20 million annually to the Housing Trust Fund.

Domb is opposed to the tax because in his opinion, supported by research performed by the City’s Office of the Director of Finance, the administration of the tax and lost revenues related to it would cost the City more than the estimated proceeds from the tax.

Domb proffered instead an alternative way to raise these funds, through a reduction of the 10-year tax abatement currently applied to certain construction. Domb stated that his colleague Bobby Henon (6th District) agrees with him.

The Construction Tax was approved by City Council just before its summer recess, by a narrow 9-to-8

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vote. Mayor Jim Kenney voiced concern about the tax and has stated he may veto the bill.

Unless some Council members who voted against the Construction Tax change their minds, there may not the three additional votes to override a mayoral veto (a super-majority of 12 are needed to override).

Domb referred to the Construction Tax as a “tax on the abatement.” The City offers 10-year tax abatements through three ordinances: Rehab Construction for Residential Properties (Ordinance 961), Rehab & New Construction for Commercial & Industrial Properties (Ordinance 1130) and New Construction for Residential Properties (Ordinance 1456-A).

Domb mentioned a study commissioned by the Office of the Director of Finance and performed by Jones Lang LaSalle earlier this year. In response to pressure to eliminate the abatement, the study looked at 10 scenarios to re-

duce or eliminate the abatement. One of the scenarios saw the abatement cut to 75% in year 8, 50% in year (X??), 25% in year (Y??) and zero thereafter (as consistent with current abatement ordinances. The study concludes that the present value (PV) of this scenario is $60-70 million.

Domb pointed out that the PV of reducing the tax abatement in later years brings in more revenues than the Construction Tax, which is estimated by proponents at $20 million per annum.

This economic-impact study indicates that cumulative tax revenues for FY19-FY23 would be $40.3 million, significantly lower than its proponents’ estimate.

The study states: “The Administration of the tax relies on experience that L&I, Revenue and OPA do not have.” The creation of the bureaucracy to deal with the new tax, Domb argued, is expected over five years to cost, on a cumulative basis,

$15.2 million.

Domb maintained that this, combined with lost revenue owing to reduction in construction and thus related taxes, would cost the City $31.9 million cumulatively over the next five years. Domb said that the Construction Tax would also reduce real-estate development and would have a negative impact on City revenues to the tune of $56.4 million cumulative over five years.

Asked how he would respond to people who believe that permanent public housing is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, he responded that the Trust is designed in large part to give grants and loans to property owners who need to repair their otherwise potentially blighted property. Domb said it was better to repair these owner-occupied properties as it was cheaper than letting the property disintegrate further, impairing the

quality of the home and the neighborhood.

The Trust gives money grants/loans typically in the range of $10,00015,000. Domb noted that the last HUD-developed affordable-housing units in Strawberry Mansion cost $418,000 per unit.

“How can the government ask its police and firefighters to pay taxes for subsidized houses worth over $400,000 per unit when they live in homes assessed

by OPA at less than half that?” Domb asked. The average OPA assessment of homes in the city is $141,000.

Domb, a former real-estate developer (he left that business when coming on City Council as it was a conflict of interest), is concerned that our classic row homes, sometimes with stone and woodwork not seen today, are left to deteriorate into rot and ruin. He said it is important to preserve our existing housing stock: “This is our heritage.”

Treviño-Martínez Eyes Council Seat

BY RYAN BRIGGS political consultant who has worked for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and former Philadelphia District Attorney candidate Richard Negrín is reportedly gearing up for a Philadelphia City Council run.

Fernando Treviño-Martinez previously worked as a regional organizer for UnidosUS, a Latino nonprofit advocacy organization. He served in the administration of then-Mayor Michael Nutter as deputy executive director for the Office of Immigrant & Multicultural Affairs, leaving to work on attorney Ken Trujillo’s brief campaign for mayor of Philadelphia.

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Later, he founded his own political advising firm, Treviño Strategic Consulting, whose clients have included figures like Negrín and Shapiro, as well as political campaigns across Latin America.

The South Philadelphia resident acknowledged he was considering a run for one of five at-large seats on Council reserved for Democrats, elected through a citywide vote.

“I’m considering running for City Council next year,” Treviño-Martinez said in an email. “I’m in the process of exploring the possibility and I’m expecting to make a final decision later in the year.

“The city needs to do a bet-

ter job including all Philadelphians in the conversation, particularly immigrant communities and middle-class families,” Treviño-Martinez said. “As someone who was born in Mexico, I live the same reality as thousands of Philadelphians, but I don’t see this perspective brought to the table.”

Pressed on policy, Treviño-Martinez outlined a plan to find solutions to municipal woes by adapting other cities’ initiatives from across the globe. He pointed to the city’s poor track record on trash collection, school safety environment, potholes and recycling.

“Philadelphia is paying almost $40 to process recyclables and more than $60

to dispose of waste. Some of our international partner-cities are actually making money by selling their trash to waste-to-energy plants,” he said.

“Serious consideration” is a key phrase being uttered by a string of other likely candidates waiting to see how the Council field evolves. Several are watching to see if incumbents like Bill Greenlee or Blondell Reynolds Brown stick it out for another term or retire, leaving an open seat.

Treviño-Martinez’s campaign may be less speculative than he is letting on – sources said that he had already reached out to several prospective campaign staffers.

But while a vacant at-

large seat would present a tantalizing political prize, consultant Mustafa Rashed said it could also turn the 2019 primary into a freefor-all. The field of declared and likely Council candidates has been growing rapidly, fueled in part by Democratic activism in the wake of the Trump presidency.

“I’m not sure what’s harder: for a former political operator to become a candidate or running for an at-large seat in general,” Rashed said. “There’s no secret it’s going to be an incredibly crowded field. Running for City Council at large is one of the hardest jobs. You’re running as a mini-mayor with no media and no builtin constituency.”

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State Representative

Rosita Youngblood 198th District

Working families are the true engine of our economy. This Labor Day, and each day forward, let’s continue to fight for polices that help our brothers and sisters in Labor, and all working people, throughout our city and across our Commonwealth!

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HAPPY LABOR DAY, PHILADELPHIA! This holiday is brought to you by the

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American Labor movement.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 salutes our union brothers and sisters and wishes everyone

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a safe and happy Labor Day!

BUILD UNION. BUY AMERICAN.

BY CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY s we march in Labor Day parades and take part in end of summer barbecues, in the era of Trump, there is little for the American labor movement to celebrate because the whole labor movement is under attack.

President Trump initially promised union officials that he planned major national infrastructure projects: highways, bridges, and, yes, a wall to keep immigrants out. In response, union leaders said they had a common bond with the president.

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With the UNIONS Court Stiffs Trump Attack on Fed Staff AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement regarding the ruling to overturn Trump executive orders attacking federal employees’ collective bargaining rights: “Today’s court ruling is an important victory for federal workers – for their col-

lective bargaining rights, for their ability to have a powerful voice on the job and provide important services to the American people. It turns back a ruthless attack by the Administration on the integrity of the career civil service – and therefore on democracy itself.

“AFSCME was proud to be a plaintiff in this case and to successfully defend the rights of members who work at the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture and other agencies. These patriotic sisters and brothers dedicate their careers to making our nation safe and strong.

Today’s decision empowers them to continue doing their work in the public interest, free of cronyism and partisanship, faithful to facts and the rule of law.”

Home Care Workers Get a Union SEIU and AFSCME have won the right to organize 20,000 home care workers across Pennsylvania, as a result of a major initiative of Gov. Tom Wolf.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in the governor’s favor in Smith v. Wolf and Markham v. Wolf, enabling the unionization of a major sector within Pennsylvania’s home-care industry.

The ruling overturns an earlier Commonwealth Court decision which invalidated Wolf’s executive order, allowing a union to exercise exclusive representation over certain home-care workers.

But the Supreme Court vacated the Commonwealth Court’s opinion and took a different view. In a 5-2 (Cont. Page 26)

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DEMAND RESPECT. That was the message Congressman Bob Brady held high at a rally for the National Treasury Employees Union at 30th Street earlier this month.

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(D-MD) Federal Labor-Management Act of 2018. The bill would override Trump’s Executive Orders and would reinstate formal advisory panels to ensure that labor has a seat at the bargaining table. I am also a co-sponsor of Congressman Anthony Brown’s (D-MD) Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017. The bill, HR 3269, would repeal sections of the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and the Budget Act of 2013 that labor uses dollars earned by federal workers to balance the budget.

So as we celebrate Labor Day 2018, and pay tribute to the American labor movement and the contributions workers have made to make this country great, we have to accept that the union movement is in a hell of a fight. But I believe in our workers! We’re not going to quit, we’re not going to back down, we’re going to keep fighting until we run these union-busters into the ground.

LOCAL 13000 COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA AFL-CIO Salutes Labor Day 2018 & Honors Pennsylvania’s Workers and Unions Executive Board James J. Gardler, President Jeff C. Reamer, Executive Vice President Marisa MacCrory, Secretary-Treasurer Richard R Dezzi, Eastern Region Vice President Thomas Crawford, Western Region Vice President

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Well as the saying goes, “How do you like me now?”

Just days after meeting with union leadership, Trump refused to commit himself to support the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 that requires public works projects to pay prevailing wages.

Gradually, union leadership and workers have been forced to accept that Trump has no intention of following through on his commitments to working men and women. One of the additional examples of his war against union workers is the Trump executive order freezing hiring for the executive branch affecting 1.2 million employees.

Just a few days ago, here in Philly, I was a speaker at a pro-worker rally organized by the National Treasury Employees Union in protest of President Trump’s May 25 executive orders that would effectively rip up collective bargaining in federal workplaces.

Proudly, I am a co-sponsor of Elijah Cummings’

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Labor Faces a Fight to Counter Trump’s Threat

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KEVIN BOYLE, business manager of Local 401, 2nd from R, thanked volunteers who organized the annual Members Summer Gala in North Wildwood. The Local is pushing an effort for a new trial for former leader Joseph Dougherty. Local 401 has won praise for fine work on the Walt Whitman and other bridges.

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State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione Proudly Supports The 31st Annual Labor Day Parade & A Special Congratulations To The Recognized Men & Women of the Labor Movement Senator Christine M. Tartaglione proudly serves the 2nd Senatorial District 1061 Bridge Street Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 533-0440

400 West Allegheny Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19133 (215 ) 291-4653

Paid for by Friends to Elect Christine M. Tartaglione

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KEVIN BOYLE, R, business manager of Local 401 Bridgemen (Ironworkers), hosted the annual Summer Gala for members at Flip Flopz in North Wildwood. Congressman Robert Brady attended the sold-out event to congratulate Keith Myers, L, on his appointment as Local 401 political director. Judicial candidate Carmella Jacquinto, Esq. also joined in the best wishes to Myers, who also serves as 21st Ward sergeant at arms.

Photos by Joe Stivala

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Bridgemen Wrap up Summer in Wildwood

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‘Philadelphia? That’s a good union town’

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BY PAT EIDING GREW UP IN Kensington, and have been a union member all of my adult life (with a few years serving Uncle Sam the only exception).

As a member of Insulators Local 14, I worked

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on construction sites as far away as Atlantic City, Pittsburgh, and upstate New York. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to travel all over this country, and all over the world. And nearly everywhere I go, when the subject of Philadelphia

comes up, someone will say: “Philadelphia? That’s a good union town.”

Sometimes it sounds a bit like a slogan – “The City of Brotherly Love,” “The City that Loves You Back,” “A Good Union Town” – that

kind of thing. But I think it’s more than a slogan.

What does it mean to say that Philadelphia is a good union town?

Part of the meaning relates to our history. In 1794, shoemakers in Philadelphia formed the Federal Society of Journeyman Cordwainers – the first formal union in our new nation’s history.

In 1806, the union’s leaders were put on trial for “conspiracy” – that is, forming a union and going on strike for higher wages – and, despite a vigorous defense, they were convicted and ordered to pay a fine.

But Philadelphia’s workers continued to stand together to better their lives.

In June 1835, dockworkers went on strike for a 10-hour day. Other unions downed tools and joined the strike, demanding the same 10hour day at their workplaces. When workers for the City of Philadelphia joined them on the picket line, the dockworkers’ strike had become the Philadelphia General Strike of 1835 – and City Council promptly passed a law establishing a 10-hour workday for the City government’s employees. That 10-hour day became the standard for all workers in the city.

Because of this legacy, unions are woven into the fabric of our city. Philadelphia’s unions have raised over $3 million for to fight cerebral palsy in the 30 years of the All-Star Labor Classic basketball festival.

Union members lead nonprofits, advocacy organizations, church boards and youth sports leagues.

As a young man, our mayor, Jim Kenney, was a member of two unions. And as our city’s top elected official, he’s personally stood with workers demanding fairness from our city’s major employers. He’s used his authority to help Phil-

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adelphians by demanding fairness from construction companies, from employers at the airport, from the largest hotels in our city – and leading by example in bargaining fairly with the City’s employees.

The involvement of unions in every part of our community is another reason that Philadelphia a good union town.

As Philadelphians, union solidarity is in our blood.

I’m proud of our union heritage. But what makes me even prouder is the fact that working people in Philadelphia continue to build on this foundation. Just in the last five years – which is a blip in the long history of the Philadelphia labor movement – thousands of workers in Philadelphia, from leading teaching hospitals to the Philadelphia International Airport to our major universities, have joined unions and won groundbreaking first union contracts.

Just as important, unions have joined forces with community organizations and our elected leaders in City Hall to pass landmark laws granting all workers in Philadelphia the right to paid sick leave, and protecting every worker in Philadelphia from having their wages stolen by dishonest employers.

When someone tells me that Philadelphia is “a good union town”, I think of those workers and those victories, too.

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TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE PRIDE AND SPIRIT OF THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF NOT ONLY THEIR FAMILIES BUT THIS COUNTRY. HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY LABOR DAY!!

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SHEET METAL WORKERS’ INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION LOCAL UNION NO.19 1301 SOUTH COLUMBUS BOULEVARD, PHILADELPHIA PA 19147 215.952.1999 GARY J. MASINO PRESIDENT/BUSINESS MANAGER

GERARD E. GONTZ ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER TODD P. FARALLY RECORDING SECRETARY

BUSINESS AGENTS

THOMAS BUSH LOUIS J. COPPOLINO, SR. WALTER FRIEDRICH MICHAEL P. GUINAN ANTHONY IANNUCCI, III KENNETH R. WOODS

BRYON A. BLUM ROBERT GADSBY JAMES KEENAN, III

EXECUTIVE BOARD BRIAN CUMMISKEY JADE FLADGER JEREMY HUNSICKER ERIK KOSZALINSKI KEITH MEYER WILLIAM J. PFEIFFER JAMES SEXTON, JR JOHN SILCOX, III MICHAEL SULLIVAN JOSHUA TURNER GERALD ZIMMERMAN JAMES MCGROARTY ROBERT DAVIES

ORGANIZERS

WILLIAM C. DORWARD MICHAEL J. FORD HOWARD VANBUREN, III

TRUSTEES

JEFFREY P. BLOCK NIKOLAS LANKELIS ROBERT KLINGENBERG

DISPATCHER JOSEPH D. RISPO

WARDEN

MICHAEL CRIM

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FRED N. BRAKER PATRICK F. DOYLE LUKE GORDON

JAMES HARDING, JR. VICE PRESIDENT

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BRYAN J. BUSH ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER/FINANCIAL SECRETARY

Birth of a New Era of Activism

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BY RICK BLOOMINGDALE ABOR DAY HAS marked the victories of unions and America’s working people for the last 136 years. It’s a day of remembrance for the fight for workers’ rights, the very

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concept of the 8-hour work day, the weekend, the elimination of child labor in favor of universal education, and the injustice of unsafe, lethal working conditions.

It is time for us to return to the same principles of economic justice and work-

ing-class solidarity that delivered those victories. Our history shows that when workers come together in a union and exercise their collective voice on the job, we transform the economy and the daily lives of all our brothers and sisters. ¬

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RICK BLOOMINGDALE

America’s working people and their unions have faced many challenges over the last few years, but with adversity comes opportunity. Today, corporations and monied special interests try to pit us against each other as they rig the economy to work for the wealthy few at the expense of the working class.

In the last year, we have seen incredible grassroots action in response to threats to our freedoms and our rights. Hundreds of thousands of newly organized union members are reclaiming their power in the workplace – and three-quarters of them are younger than 35.

From the teachers striking and winning in West Virginia, to the brothers and sisters in Missouri who repealed “right to work” legislation at the ballot box for the first time in history, to right here in Pennsylvania when we proved this spring that our economic values are more unifying and energizing than the divisive rhetoric of politicians, we are proving them wrong, because we are still fighting; we are marching, striking and organizing.

As the Labor Movement, we fight for equality and economic dignity for all workers regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion or who they love.

Everyone has the right to respectful treatment and the opportunity to make a

living for themselves and their families. Right now, our country is divided along many lines, emotions are raw, and many of us feel like we are not being heard.

This is a pivotal moment, not just for the Labor Movement, the Civil and Equal Rights Movements; it is a moment for all of us to refocus on the issues that bring us together in solidarity.

This moment could not be more significant in its magnitude. We are at a point in history where we are seeing yet another opportunity to create change in the workplace, through organizing in a union, by standing up against sexual harassment and gender discrimination, or ending the prejudice that exists based on race and sexual orientation or protesting the consistent failure to care for workers’ safety and rights.

It is all too easy to point fingers and accuse, judge and sow the seeds of division, but shame does not lead to changed minds or a community of dignity. Only when we come together and demand that each of us is treated with respect on the job, in our communities and in our government, will we become the change we seek. What we need now to mark 2018’s Labor Day is a profound and rigorous rededication to the fight for economic justice.

Rick Bloomingdale is president of Pennsylvania AFLCIO.

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History of Labor Day

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ABOR DAY, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed in 1885 and 1886.

From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon in 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York – created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment.

By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1884, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

More than a century after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, first suggested a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in

New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.

The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on Sept. 5, 1883.

In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday – a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.

Courtesy of the US Department of Labor.

Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters

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The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters (KML) represents approximately 45,000 members in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and 1 O North Carolina counties. Our members come from many different trade groups, including: commercial/residential carpenters; heavy highway; piledrivers; floorlayers; mill cabinet; and tradeshow. For more information on KML, please visit our website: kmlcarpenters.org; and follow us on social media: Facebook: @kmlcarpenters; Twitter: @kmlcarpenters; Linkedln; lnstagram: @kmlcouncilcarpenters; or Snapchat: @kmlcarpenters

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The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters wishes everyone a happy Labor Day. On this day, we should reflect on the importance of organized Labor and our founder, Peter J. McGuire's contributions to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

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Executive Secretary-Treasurer: William Waterkotte Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer: William Sproule Senior Area Manager: Michael Hand 1803 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215) 569-1634 kmlcarpenters.org

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BY CONGRESSMAN BRENDAN F. BOYLE S WE CELEBRATE Labor Day, we reflect upon the state of the American worker and the progress we’ve made over the past century. We are reminded that the rise of labor unions is responsible for the rise of the American middle class. Minimum wage?

The weekend? Child labor laws? Worker health and safety standards? Thank the unions.

Today, it’s no secret that across the country unions are under attack.

States are adopting socalled “right to work” legislation, creating a race to the bottom for wages and workers’ rights. The recent Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court ruling weakened the bargaining power of public sector workers. Union membership is hitting a century-long low and all workers, unionized or not, are suffering for it.

Real wages have fallen over the past decade while CEOs have seen a windfall, averaging a 17% raise this year, with rising corporate profits to match. Experts say declining union power is to blame. The Republicans’ tax handout for the top 1% only exacerbated this pattern.

It hasn’t always been this

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way. Unions have a long, storied history in this country, and especially in the City of Philadelphia. Our own Carpenters’ Hall hosted the country’s first trade guild. Philadelphia’s Journeymen Cordwainers held one of the earliest strikes, fighting for $6 a week in Colonial times.

But workers today need protection like no other time in our recent history, and the benefits of strong unions are not limited to union members – they strengthen the entire middle class. The decline of unions is directly related to an increase in wage inequality that affects all employees. One study found that the decline of unions since 1979 has caused nonunion member wages to fall by 5 percent – that’s $109 billion in lost wages nationwide.

As the proud son of two union members, I won’t stand by and let unions get steamrolled by corporate interests and ideological attacks from the right that further stack the deck against the middle class.

In the wake of the 2016 election, I founded the Congressional Blue Collar Caucus to reconnect the Democratic Party – the true champion of the American worker and the middle class – with its labor roots.

Our caucus of 50 House Democrats is leading the charge to fight for policies that lift up the American worker. We’re working to reconnect with workers, truly hear their concerns, and fight for a better deal for the men and women who make America work.

With the help of organized labor, we’re leading the fight to rebuild the American Dream.

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NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE - Parcel#: 152N06-510; 102496700 - WHEREAS, on August 05, 2010, a certain mortgage was executed by Dolly Rolle, as mortgagor in favor of Genworth Financial Home Equity Access, Inc. as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County in Mortgage Document Number 52270412. (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 7608 Thouron Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19150, parcel number 152N06-510; 102496700 (“Property”); and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by Dolly Rolle by virtue of deed dated April 5, 2010 and recorded October 14, 2010 in Instrument #:52270411; and WHEREAS, Dolly Rolle died on December 19, 2016 intestate and is survived by her heir-at-law, Shana Howard; and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on January 19, 2017 in Document Number 53164611, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as Dolly Rolle died on December 19, 2016, and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of May 16, 2018 is $141,587.88 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on September 29, 2011 in Misc. Instrument #: 52395684, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that at September 12, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 all real property and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises will be sold at public action to the highest bidder: ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, described according to a Survey and Plan thereof made by Joseph F, Delany, Esq. Surveyor and Regulator of the Fifth Survey District of the City of Philadelphia on the Twenty fourth day of August A.D. 1948 as follows, to wit: SITUATE on the Southwest side of Thouron Avenue (seventy feet wide) at the distance of eighty-two feet five inches measured North fifty-one degrees, twenty-three minutes forty-eight seconds West along the said Southwest side of Thouron Avenue from its intersection with the Northwest side of Cliveden Avenue (sixty —six feet wide), in the 10th Ward of the City of Philadelphia. CONTAINING in front or breadth on the said Thouron Avenue eighteen feet and extending of that width in length or depth Southwestward between parallel lines at right angles to the said Thouron Avenue, the Northwest and Southeast lines thereof passing through the middle of the party walls between these premises and the premises adjoining on the Northwest and Southeast, respectively, eighty feet to the middle line of a certain fifteen feet wide driveway which extends Northwestward and Southeastward from Upsal Street (eighty feet wide) to the said Cliveden Avenue.

TOGETHER with the free and common use, right, liberty and privilege of the aforesaid driveway as and for a driveway and passageway at all times hereafter, forever in common with the owners, tenants and occupiers of the other lots of ground bounding thereon and entitled to the use thereof. SUBJECT, however, to a proportionate part of the expense of keeping the said driveway in good order and repair. BEING NO. 7608 Thouron Avenue. BEING parcel number 152N06-510; 102496700.

The sale will be held on September 12, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $141,587.88 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale. The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $141,587.88 as of May 16, 2018, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement. There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale. When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them. The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due. If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder. There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.

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Campaign Kickoff

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OPINION

BY BRETT MANDEL s Philadelphians eagerly await the beginning of the first-ever Eagles season as Super Bowl Champions, the city’s pols and players are quietly talking behind closed doors about the 2019 mayoral campaign.

The mayoral election is often described as the Super Bowl of Philadelphia politics, but, let me be the first to declare that much like the pre-season football we are enduring, none of the candidates and candidacies that have emerged so far offer our city anything more interesting than undrafted talent and uninspired play.

Philadelphia needs a big-play offense of radical change and a full-on frontal assault on the unsatisfying state of our city. Only a candidate who offers an uncompromising, unrelenting and unflinching action plan deserves attention. Only a candidacy that presents such a plan deserves support. None will do so.

For too long, Philadelphians have endured as a city where the little fix helps the connected while so many big problems are ignored and unfixed. A better Philadelphia would focus on establishing a city that actually works for all of its citizens. A radical plan for a better Philadelphia does not need to be

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complicated, but it must abandon an acceptance of incremental improvement in favor of actually solving our city’s problems.

We need to end the casual corruption that raises costs and complications for everything that occurs in Philadelphia. We need to end the assault on the lives of Philadelphians of color that shuts them out of economic opportunities and forces too many of our neighbors to live in fear.

We need to make Philadelphia a city of opportunity for citizens in every community.

The poetry of a Super-Bowl-worthy mayoral campaign – the scheming and scripting of game plays – must concern these deep and intractable Philadelphia problems. It must address expanding systems of governmental transparency and accountability, ending “stop-and-frisk” policing, and establishing a tax structure that helps attract and retain firms and families.

But, the prose of the campaign – the blocking and tackling at the line of scrimmage – must speak to tangible issues that affect everyday Philadelphia.

Litter blows through Philadelphia neighborhoods and chokes sewer inlets. Debris collects in public parks and on athletic fields. We need regular and effective cleaning of every single neighborhood of Philadelphia. We need to consistently maintain our parks and recreation facilities and public spaces.

We do not need a miracle to make it happen. We just need to invest in the staffing and systems to make a cleaner Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s streets are not just dirty, they are

often perilous. Streets are pockmarked and potholed.

Pedestrians and bikers too often navigate through the city in peril. We need to invest in more regular resurfacing, better-coordinated street openings, and improved maintenance of our water and sewer conduits. We need to calm our traffic, enhance mass transit options, and protect the walkers and cyclists who move through the city. We do not need magic to make it happen. We just need to invest in the infrastructure to make a Philadelphia a city with the capacity embrace all modes of transportation.

As to any question about how to fund the investments our city needs, I refuse to entertain the idea that we cannot budget for what we need. Today, we prioritize wasting scarce city funds on a boondoggle of a new police headquarters. Tomorrow, we could prioritize cleaning our neighborhoods and paving our thoroughfares.

Today, we prioritize paying out sexual-harassment settlements and awards in wrongful-death lawsuits.

Tomorrow, we could prioritize investments in public safety and public services.

Any budget protector who would tell us otherwise is playing politics and not working for a better Philadelphia.

It is time for real Eagles football and it is way past time to have a championship-level mayoral campaign that puts forth a vision to achieve a better Philadelphia. Given what I have seen and heard about the campaigns shaping up for 2019, I’m afraid our chances for the city’s future will have to rest on the former and not the latter.

The News in Black & White

FOR MOST Philadelphia families, the most-important public news this week was the opening of the public-school year. Across the city, as at Gideon School here, civic leaders staged back-to-school programs to equip youth with the gear to make their first academic steps confident and successful ones.

Two young scholars show off their new backpacks to each other. Photo by Leona Dixon

MARK your CALENDAR Aug. 31- Councilwoman Cherelle Parker hosts Fun & Film Night at Emanuel Rec Ctr., 8500 Pickering St., 6:30 p.m. “Black Panther.” For info: (215) 6863454.

Sep. 3- Labor Day Parade & Penn’s Landing Festival, forms at Sheet Metal Workers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 9 a.m.

Sep. 7- Councilwoman Cherelle Parker hosts Fun & Film Night at Olney Rec Ctr., 6001 A St., 6:30 p.m.

“The Incredibles.” For info:

(215) 686-3454.

Sep. 7- Councilwoman Cherelle Parker hosts Virgo Birthday & Dance Party at H&H Banquet Hall, 2036 Haines St., 8 p.m.1 a.m. Intergenerational old-school party featuring Patty Jackson & DJ Gary O. Dance contests ($100 1st Place prizes). Free light buffet, BYOB. Tickets $30, 10 seats/table. Sponsorships available. For info: (215) 500-1679 or people4parker@gmail.com.

Sep. 8- Sheriff Jewell Williams hosts Campaign Kickoff at The Wilarie, 3227 Stockley St., 8 p.m.12 a.m. Free parking, food, music & fun. Donations $100, pay at the door, payable to “Citizens for Jewell Williams.” For info: Harriet Lessy (215) 816-6093.

Sep. 13- State rep candidate Patty-Pat Kozlowski is hosted “Distilling Tasting & Pub Food Reception” at New Liberty Distillery, 1431 N. Cadwallader St.,

6-8 p.m. Host: State Rep. John Taylor. Tickets $250, Patrons $1,000, Benefactors $2,500. Payable to “Friends of Patty-Pat,” c/o Pat Tsucalas, 1600 Walnut St., Ste. 305, Phila., PA 19103.For info: jct@uta@att.net.

Sep. 15- The Green Party of Philadelphia hosts Welcome Party for gubernatorial candidate Paul Glover. William Way LGBT Community Ctr., 1315 Spruce St, 2 p.m. Free. For info: (215) 843-4256 or gpop@gpop.org.

Sep. 21- CeasefirePA hosts “Global Citizen March For Lives”, international day of peace, at City Hall Courtyard, 11 a.m.1 p.m. For info: Michael Cogbill (215) 435-6496.

Sep. 21- Councilwoman Cherelle Parker hosts Fun & Film Night at Houseman Rec Ctr., 5091 Summerdale Ave., 6:30 p.m.

“The Incredibles.” For info: (Cont. Page 32)

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With the UNIONS (Cont. From Page 9) opinion written by Justice Debra Todd, the Court held that the executive order, while completely unenforceable, nevertheless was “nevertheless a permissible exercise of gubernatorial power.”

Its impact will mean that

family caregivers will have an advocate to see to it that they are properly reimbursed by insurers for the skilled, technical care they provide their friends and loved ones.

The Supreme Court’s ruling will require all 20,000 Pennsylvania home-care workers providing direct care to the elderly and disabled to abide by work rules and restrictions mutually

agreed to by the governor and a union backed by the Service Employees’ International Union and American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees.

The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Commonwealth Court, which will address a related claim that Governor Wolf’s executive order violated homecare workers’ privacy rights.

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‘Philadelphia? That’s a good union town.’

(Cont. From Page 12) Monday, Sept. 3 is Labor Day – a day that for more than a century, has been set aside by politicians, labor leaders and people from all walks of American life to celebrate organized labor and the courage and solidarity of generations of American working people who’ve built our nation’s labor movement. As I have done for the past 15 years, I’ll be proud to

lead the Tri-State Labor Day Parade up Columbus Boulevard from the Sheet Metal Local 19 Union Hall to Penn’s Landing. Tens of thousands of union members of every kind of background and description, members of over 60 unions in every industry and workplace you can imagine, will march in that parade.

For centuries, Philadelphia has been a city where

working people stand together for justice and equality and fairness – to me, that’s the essence of what makes Philadelphia a good, union town. I’m proud to be part of that heritage, and proud to celebrate that heritage, and renew our commitment to being a good union town, on Labor Day. Pat Eiding is president of Philadelphia Council AFLCIO.

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Can Schools Sue Their Way to Funding?

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POLS on the STREET

BY JOE SHAHEELI LECTIONS HAVE consequences.

And few elections in recent Pennsylvania history have proved to be more consequential than the 2016 Democratic takeover of the State Supreme Court.

That swiftly led to the historic gerrymandering decision that threw most state

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Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown AU G US T 3 0, 2018

190th Legislative District

congressional seats up for grabs this fall.

Now comes a new lawsuit, argued in part by the Public Interest Law Center, which won the redistricting case. Its target? The “hold harmless” provision of the Pennsylvania Fair Funding Formula, which, while ostensibly mandating that the state allocate adequate monies to poor school districts, says (a) that no overpaid school districts can face cuts in allocation and (b) the state cannot be forced to spend more money overall to level the playing field for poor districts. So Fair Funding is only the law; it simply is not the practice.

Republicans in the General Assembly have argued that the law by itself is good enough and that no action can be taken to put it into practice.

The landmark Pennsylvania education funding State Rep.

Councilwoman

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

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

215-271-9190

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.

Jannie L. Blackwell

184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

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lawsuit can proceed, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Tuesday, rejecting the argument made by Republican legislative leaders that it has been rendered moot and should be dismissed.

Previous appellate decisions have supported them.

But in PILC’s current lawsuit, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson ruled that the Fair Funding Formula does allow courts to investigate the petitioners’ contention that the current system violates the state constitutional guarantee of a “thorough and efficient” education.

The case, William Penn School District et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Education et al., was brought in 2014 by the notoriously underfunded Delaware County school district.

In 2016, the Commonwealth Court threw it out,

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”

Pa. Dems Open City HQ

THE PENNSYLVANIA Democratic Party opened a campaign headquarters in Progress Plaza on Tuesday. Gov. Tom Wolf, C, was surrounded by a host of the grassroots activists that the Democrats hope to enlist to drive up turnout in the city in November. Congressman Dwight Evans, State Sen. Sharif Street and other local leaders also came out for the affair. Photo by Wendell Douglas

but the Supreme Court overruled that decision last fall, sending it back to Commonwealth Court for further review and argument.

Education Law Center Legal Director Maura McInerney stated, “As the court recognized, our challenge to the inadequacy and inequity of Pennsylvania’s broken school-funding system will persist.”

The petitioners noted that that the spending gap between wealthy and poor districts in the state has widened

State Rep. Jason

State Rep.

Dawkins District Office:

Lisa M.

172nd Dist.

7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

Room 130 City Hall

215-331-2600

State Rep.

State Senator

McClinton

Street 1621 W. Jefferson Street

Joanna E.

Sharif

191st Leg. Dist.

6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139

Philadelphia, PA 19121

215-227-6161

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

Paid for with PA Tax Dollars

Rep.Maria P.

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

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

Squilla

198th District

310 W. Chelten Ave. Phila PA 19148

1st District City Hall Room 332

P: 215-849-6426

215-686-3458/59

215-744-2600

215-686-3460

Councilman Wm.

Mark

Youngblood

(R) 177th Dist.

4725 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

Philadelphia PA 19107

plying the Fair Funding Formula as soon as possible.

Wagner’s case assumes that total education spending will not increase. In that case, the Fair Funding Formula would indeed take a static pie of dollars and take them from Midstate school districts.

That’s because rural Pennsylvania counties are steadily losing population – and students – so their share of the pie would indeed decline.

All this math is a bit beyond the average voter or (Cont. Page 30)

Councilman

Rep. Rosita

Taylor

City Commission Chairwoman

Kevin J.

Boyle Deeley

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.

John

since the adoption of the new formula, which only applies to about 7% of all the state aid – and an even tinier fraction of total K-12 education spending, which consists mostly of local tax dollars.

Which brings us to the November gubernatorial election. Education funding has become a lead issue in this race. Specifically, Republican challenger State Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) has seized on a comment by incumbent Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf that he is for ap-

State Rep.

Donna

Bullock 195th Leg. Dist.

2835 W. Girard Ave Phila, PA 19130

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

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

BY DENISE CLAY HEN WE TALK about the Philly Sound, most of the time that discussion centers on the city’s rhythm and blues traditions, (Gamble and Huff, Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott), hip-hop (The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff and, unfortunately, Meek Mill and Will Smith), some rock and roll (The Hooters), or the blues (Sister Rosetta Tharp).

But for the last 90 years, Philadelphia has been home to one of the most prolific gospel groups in

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Lyndon Baines.

In addition to a bunch of praise being heaped on the group from those who will be attending the group’s show, which was also streamed at www.vuehaus. com, Stevie Wonder, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and longtime fan of the group, called in to offer his congratulations.

Philadelphia has its own Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Its honorees include Tamika Ferbee, Lance Holloman, Sherwood Parker, Lucretia Campbell, Thomas T.C. Clay, Eric Everett Ellis Acklin, Pastor Tunya Slydell. Tracey Shy, Minister June Riley, Serena Blanco, Stevelyn Jessie, Rodney Harris, Bishop Freddie Washington, Ministers James Scott and Steven Ford, Jimmie Batts, Curtis Johnson, Jr., Wayne Harris, Tameka Johnson, Carlton Robinson, Cora Henley-Bantum, Elder Goldwire McClendon and Pastor Albert “Mailman” Morgan.

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ROPERTY ASSESSMENTS were once a low-key affair. Since the City took over assessing from the Board of Revision of Taxes, they now create public ire. AVI (Actual Value Initiative) was implemented a few years ago.

This means that your home has to be assessed for taxes at 100% of market value.

That 100% was achieved in recent years. To reach 100%, you have to use AVERAGE sales to COMPARABLE homes or commercial, industrial, apartments, condo buildings. Since we

CITY HALL SAM

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HE COUNTRY LOST a true independent voice for all Americans in U.S. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN. There’s no arguing that McCain wasn’t a rock-ribbed Republican, but armed with the common sense and understanding that there had to be bipartisanship for America to work.

McCain was a true war hero who had the guts to call out the military on Iraq and Afghanistan failures.

And President Donald Trump had the audacity to insult all veterans when he

ence. The easy way brings 29 brownie points and bragging rights, though.

Meek MILL seemed LIONIZED in a recent fullpage interview. He also admitted to MILLIONAIRE status. I am still waiting for a BAIL FUND for those in jail because they cannot afford bail in minor cases.

Meek should announce a $100,000 bail fund (his money) at the Made in America concert.

The City paid out $132,000 in a harassment suit. That is $132k that we do not have for needed municipal services.

At the Local 401 Great Summer Break holiday at the shore, a push was seen for a NEW TRIAL for Joe DOUGHERTY, its recent leader, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison at age 74. I was at the trial. To me, Joe was railroaded. His biggest wrong was relying on his officers, and not going out into the field to observe (Cont. Page 39)

proclaimed, “I like my war heroes when they don’t get captured.” McCain was a prisoner at the notorious North Vietnam prison known as the “Hanoi Hilton” and was beaten and tortured regularly for years.

He made frequent visits to Philadelphia to speak at the Union League. Most recently, Sam was in the audience to hear McCain promote his book, 13 Soldiers. The book captures the stories of 13 different eras of American fighting personnel. One of the most interesting chapters is about the African American navy man who helped win the War of 1812 for America.

McCain’s view and his research shows that naval fighting vessels were the great equalizer. It was in this environment where African Americans were truly equal.

Every navy man was rated by their ability on the ship and not the color of their skin.

81 years of age is too young to pass into history. But Mc-

Cain left such a strong legacy.

All politicians and Americans should follow his example in many ways. He wasn’t perfect; he made mistakes.

He was tainted by the Keating Five federal investigation scandal but came back from it even stronger to run for president twice.

There is no doubt the Arizona governor will appoint a much more conservative Republican than McCain. This will help Trump. Sam believes that most Americans are moderate. If Democrats are to capture the White House, they must move toward the center to capture those independents that have gone to the Donald Trump camp.

Sadly, Sam predicts the Democrats will not go close at all to the center. They will battle each other in the primary to see who can be far more radically left. This will leave the door wide open for another four years of Donald Trump.

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recording history, the Dixie Hummingbirds. The group, which was formed in 1928 in Greensville, South Carolina, began calling North Philadelphia home when James B. Davis, the group’s founder, bought a house at 22nd & Girard in 1942.

On Monday, members of the group and their supporters gathered to announce a year-long tribute to the Dixie Hummingbirds entitled “The Magnificent Flight of the Dixie Hummingbirds.” It began with a sold-out show at World Café Live last night and continues throughout the year with events like a Dixie Hummingbirds mural dedication and several concerts.

Ira Tucker, Jr.’s father, Ira Tucker, Sr., was one of the longest-standing Hummingbirds. He created some of the signature moves for the group, which includes Tucker Jr, lead singer Carlton Lewis III, and Torrey Nettles, Troy Smith, Roy Smith and

WALKING the BEAT

reached 100% earlier, is the City using HIGH SALES in the new increases that have gone out? Should the City not be careful and precise, the bubble could BURST if values decline too much (there might be a downward trend developing)…. So will the City muster COURAGE to lower market values if values decline – and it faces a loss of revenue? HMM. President TRUMP is in a feud with Attorney General Jeff SESSIONS. Good; let them fight!... TRUMP may have a point when he feels that FLIPPING for the prosecution should be illegal.

He says that the flippers lie.

Well, maybe they EMBELLISH. When prosecutors indicate that they will bring charges on a loved one, family member or someone in your heart to get you to testify for them; that seems like LAZY prosecution to me. You are trained to try a case, and PROVE a defendant guilty with your lawschool training and experi-

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ANSTATTER Volksfest Verein was the site of the 34th Billy Meehan Clam Bake on Sunday. Attendance was solid, but appeared a little lighter than last year. Attendees were offered pulled pork (from a whole pig), clams (cooked and raw), German treats and an open bar. This event has been considered the premier Republican City Committee event of the year. The Blue Dogz rock band entertained the crowd. The leader of the band is 35TH WARD LEADER GARY GRISAFI. Typically, most statewide

STATE REP. JOHN TAYLOR (R-Northeast). The district has the most Democrats of any State House seat held by a Republican.

Patty-Pat is new to the Republican Party. She is well known in the district, as she was a communication representative of former District COUNCILWOMAN JOAN KRAJEWSKI. Krajewski was popular with Democrats and Republicans like Taylor.

All of the candidates were welcome on the stage by master of ceremonies, RCC SECRETARY JIM PIO, along with our current Republican officials, CITY COMMISSIONER AL SCHMIDT as well as COUNCILMEN BRIAN O’NEILL (10th District), AL TAUBENBERGER (at Large) and DAVID OH (at Large). Many spoke, but the crowd loved Martina, Patty-Pat and Scott Wagner.

A few partiers found their 2008 John McCain (Cont. Page 39)

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and Philadelphia candidates for office, as well as Philadelphia-area aspirants for political office worked the crowd. This was true this year.

Gubernatorial candidate SCOTT WAGNER and his running mate JEFF BARTOS for lieutenant governor were there and addressed the crowd. CONGRESSMAN and candidate for U.S. Senate LOU BARLETTA made some new friends.

Congressional candidates from the Philadelphia area, including incumbent CONGRESSMAN BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-Bucks) as well as contenders PEARL KIM (PA 5), DAVID TORRES (PA 2) and BRIAN LEIB (PA 3), were also on hand.

Local candidates included incumbent State Rep. Martina White (R-Northeast) as well as new candidates SEAN STEVENS (PA, 194) and PATTY-PAT KOZLOWSKI (PA 177).

Patty-Pat is running to replace 32-year veteran

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POLS on the STREET (Cont. From Page 28) parent. But if PILC’s lawsuit progresses to the Supreme Court, it could force a sudden upheaval in school funding that the General Assembly would be unable to prevent.

And the current Supreme Court has shown it is willing to upset time-honored Republican applecarts when these are blatantly unfair – especially to the voters that elected the justices.

Maybe a governor could slow down their reform, though. So the position of the man who wins the governor’s race this year could become of huge consequence next year.

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Wolf to Wagner: One-and-Done Debate Wagner proposed that Gov. Wolf and he debate 67 times, one in each of Pennsylvania’s counties.

That will be an appealing

campaign line, particularly in Pennsylvania’s smallest counties, where Wagner hopes to rack up votes.

Whether it’s fair is another question. For instance, Cameron County has 5,000 residents.

Philadelphia County has 1,570,000. So if Cameron County gets one debate, shouldn’t Philadelphia get 314 debates? That’d keep the boys off the streets, if nothing else.

But it’s all moot. Wolf consented to one debate, at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce in Harrisburg. He is following a time-tested campaign formula: When you believe you are ahead of your opponent, give him as little shared face time as possible.

Toomey: Tariffs Not Good for Pa. Since U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will not be up for re-election for another four years, he is free to disagree with President Donald Trump without drawing

Trump’s ire in a way that might hurt Toomey with the Democratic base.

Testing these waters, perhaps, Toomey sent a letter opposing the president’s policy on imposing tariffs as part of a widespread series of trade wars with other nations.

His letter reads: “This week, I sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, reiterating my concerns about the economic harms caused by the Administration’s choice to impose tariffs under the false pretext of national security.

“The decision to impose these taxes has significantly diminished the ability of domestic manufacturers to provide affordable finished products to American consumers. Combined with the impact of retaliatory tariffs on unrelated industries, imposing such massive costs on U.S. consumers and manufacturers threatens job losses in downstream industries.

“In addition, I remain (Cont. Page 31)

BY RYAN BRIGGS AUREN VIDAS, a lawyer and lobbyist who once worked as an assistant finance director under then-Mayor Michael Nutter, has launched a long-rumored bid against Philadelphia 2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

“I’ve always been passionate about public service.

No one who knows me is surprised I’m running,” she told City & State PA, of her bid for the 2019 Democratic Primary nomination.

The district covers Southwest Philadelphia and many gentrifying neighborhoods in the western portion of South Philly. Vidas, who

filed campaign paperwork last week, said she would run on a platform aimed at staunching growing economic inequality in the district.

“You hear about this redhot economy but people are wondering why their wages are so low and their housing is getting more expensive.

There doesn’t seem to be a plan to address that,” she said.

Vidas has a long history in the chamber – she served as a legislative aide to former Council member Bill Green, helping to successfully file suit against her future boss after Nutter sought the closure of

(Cont. From Page 30) concerned that the exclusion process developed by the Commerce Department is inefficient and unnecessarily burdensome, resulting in the delay of timely determinations for Pennsylvania companies seeking relief.

“As the Administration continues to focus on deregulation and other progrowth policies, it is vital that it remove counterproductive taxes on imported steel and aluminum so that U.S. manufacturers and producers can compete with foreign companies and provide well-paying jobs for American families.”

Tough talk for a Republican in Congress. But there are signs Toomey may have a Keystone State wind at his back. Polls have shown higher tariffs are unpopular in Pennsylvania, even in the manufacturing communities Trump is seeking to court with them.

47th Ward Dems At Odds over Money

home address on it. Bundy was also listed as the treasurer for that CDC. Bundy saw a check drawn on that account, with his name cosigned under Brooks’; however, Bundy’s signature was forged, he said.

To add further spice to the stew, earlier this year, as reported by the Public Record, Brooks was fined $12,000 by the City Board of Ethics for improper expenditures from an entity called “47th Ward PAC,” which no committee members say they were aware existed. Committee members argue that if such an entity exists in the name of their ward, they should have a say-so in how it operates.

Moore has shared the committee members’ more-recent discoveries with the Board of Ethics.

Moore said that Brooks has not followed through on his promise to hold a regular committee meeting in the ward. Instead, Brooks has been inviting members to meet with him individually in his Center City office.

Attempts by the Public Record to reach out to Brooks for comment have gone unanswered.

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The 47th Ward Democratic Committee is bub-

bling over with acrimonious questions about how its money is being handled.

This process began with a bitter ward fight earlier in 2018. Dissidents to the rule of longstanding Ward Leader George Brooks complained that he had never held a single ward committee meeting and had never disclosed any financial information – not even to its elected Treasurer, Reginald Bundy, who stated that he never saw any of the ward’s money or processed its checks. Dissidents narrowly lost the ward reorganization meeting vote in June to replace Brooks, but they did receive, they say, an assurance that the committee’s finances would become more transparent.

Since the June election, committee members – including supporters of Brooks – have met at the home of Committeeman Donnie Moore to reaffirm their demands.

Brooks and Bundy went to United Bank, where the ward’s money is held. They found there was no account for “47th Ward Democratic Committee.” Instead, there was an account for “Columbia CDC,” with Brooks’

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numerous libraries as a cost-cutting mechanism.

She said the suit “put her on the mayor’s radar” and she would later take a job under Nutter’s finance chief, Rob Dubow.

After leaving the Nutter administration, she worked for years as a lobbyist alongside her father, Ed Hazzouri, at the eponymous firm they co-founded in 2013, and later served on Mayor Jim Kenney’s transition team. Until leaving the position last week to campaign full-time, she managed East Coast client relationships for the government advising firm PFM. (Cont. Page 35)

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MARK your CALENDAR

Walk, start at Belmont Ave. & Please Touch Museum, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. For info: (215) 471-8686.

Sep. 27- Green Party of Philadelphia hosts Membership Mtg. at Shissler Rec Ctr., 1800 Blair St., 7 p.m. Pollwork assignments for general election.

Free. For info: (215) 8434256.

Sep. 28- Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 hosts Golf Outing at Pennsauken C.C., 3700 Haddonfield Rd,., Pennsauken, N.J., Registration 11:30 p.m., Shotgun 1 p.m. Lunch, dinner, prizes. Golfers $100, Hole Sponsors $300, Lunch Sponsor $1,500 with foursome, Dinner Sponsor $3,000 with foursome; other sponsorships available. Payable to “Local 19 Scholarship Fund,” Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., Phila., PA 19147.

~~~ Amputee Coalition ~~~ warns LAWNMOWERS hurt CHILDREN LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL HEALTH & SAFETY FUND 665 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19123

More than 600 Children had a lawn mower related Amputation more than 9,400 Children have lawnmower injuries a year

(215) 236-6700

Learn more from 13 Families who will never forget the day

Alan Parham, Adminstrator

www.LimbsMatter.com

www.ldc-phila-vic.org

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(Cont. From Page 22) (215) 686-3454.

Sep. 22- AFSCME DC 33 holds Sickle Cell 5K Run/

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

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

their child was hurt by a lawnmower.

Amputee Coalition of America ~~> Webinar on

Sepsis ~ Limb Loss ~ Prevention

Learn common Signs & Symptoms of Sepsis Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, FACP ~ Sepsis Alliance (handouts available ~ discussion will follow) Oak Lane Library 6614 N. 12th St. (19126) Friday, September 7, 2018 2:00pm -- 4:00pm questions: ampnetphl@gmail.com

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Hughes Introduces Bill to Control 3D-Printed Guns

PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

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OOKING TO stop the spread of undetectable and untraceable 3D-printed guns, State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) plans to introduce a bill to ensure Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act applies to 3D-printed guns. Hughes is working with State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) on this initiative.

The senators’ proposal would amend the definition of a “firearm” in Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act to include 3D-printed guns.

The legislation would also prohibit anyone from printing a 3D firearm unless they have a firearm manufacturing license from the federal government.

“These guns are working weapons that do not have serial number, may be undetectable to school, airport and other security systems, and are created by a 3D printer, which would allow individuals to circumvent federal and state background checks and other gun sale regulations,” Hughes said. “Pennsylvania does not benefit from people having access to these kinds of weapons without any regulation. We can’t talk about keeping our schools and communities safe and then allow a company to create a back door to obtain guns by skirting federal background checks and other common-sense laws and regulation. I applaud everyone who

is working to address this issue and protect our commonwealth.”

Gov. Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania State Police successfully blocked access to 3D gun files made available

by Defense Distributed, following an emergency hearing Sunday in federal court.

At that time, more than 1,000 people across the U.S. had already downloaded 3D plans for AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, according to the attorney general’s office.

“To say this situation is troubling is an understatement. The door is being opened to having anyone, anywhere at any time to build a gun on demand with no background check or without going through a licensed gun dealer,” said Fontana. “Because 3D printed firearms cannot be traced back to their producer or owner, it will make it possible for these ‘ghost guns’ to get into the wrong hands without fear of consequence if used in a crime. This will make the job of law enforcement extremely difficult.

And the fact that they are plastic means that conventional security methods will be essentially ineffective.”

According to the lawsuit state officials filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, anyone can become a member of Defense Distributed for a nominal fee.

Once signed up, members pick a username, password and supply an email. At no time do users provide proof of age, a valid gun license or a permit-to-carry number.

Eight other states and the District of Columbia sued to block access to 3D printed guns and a federal court judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday preventing online publication of blueprints for the 3D guns. In 2015, a writer for Wired created an

untraceable AR-15, dubbed a “ghost gun,” for less than $2,300 using a blueprint from Defense Distributed and a mill the company created, which sold for $1,500.

Murt Hosts Toomey Staffers Tomorrow To help his constituents receive assistance with federal issues, State Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Northeast) will host staff members from the office of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) for a constituent service day.

The event will take place on tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Murt’s district office, 19 S. York Road in Hatboro.

“While we handle many state issues, we also get requests from constituents regarding federal issues such as military benefits, Social Security and passports,” Murt said. “By hosting Sen. Toomey’s staff in my district office, constituents will be able to seek assistance from their federal representative without having to travel far.”

During this casework event, Toomey’s staff will be available to assist constituents who are having problems with federal agencies and programs. Constituents are encouraged to bring with them copies of any documents they have received from the federal agencies related to their issues.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Murt’s district office at (215) 674-3755.

Thomas Rallies To Stop Violence State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (D-N. Phila.) joined with victims’ families, community organizations and activists at a rally to call attention to the senseless violence tormenting Philadelphia.

Already this year, more than 770 shooting victims have been reported in Philadelphia (a 10% increase

from 2017); including 130 fatalities. Tragically, those fatal shootings include 10 children aged 5 to 17 since April alone.

“This has to stop,” Thomas said. “We cannot let Philadelphia or any other community in Pennsylvania become another Chicago.”

The rally included a remembrance for the children killed in recent violence and recognition of the tragic consequences violence has on their families as well as a call to action for the mayor, police commissioner, state attorney general, state police, elected officials, the City’s Department of Behavioral Health and other organizations in the city’s social-work network to address the issues plaguing Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Those at the rally, including Thomas, also asked for the declaration of a public-health crisis in Philadelphia.

“We need our civic leaders to be engaged in addressing this issue in a sustainable way,” Thomas said, calling for a coordinated and collaborative effort to tackle the issue. “The violence has reached a point where it is destroying families and communities. Stopping the senseless violence in our neighborhoods needs to be a priority.”

Organizations that attended the rally included Cease Fire PA; Black Lives Matter; March For Our Lives; the Father’s Day Rally Committee; Empower; the Communities that Care Coalition; and Forget Me Knot Youth Services.

Farnese Backs Report On Abuse by Clergy State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S. Phila.) issued the following statement concerning the investigative Grand Jury report detailing sexual abuse of children in six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.

“The Grand Jury report includes details of horrendous acts perpetrated by members of the clergy from six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.

Members of the church and the public deserve a full accounting of the abuses, unqualified transparency and accountability.

“The report is graphic, appalling and chilling. It was clear from the report that not only were child abusers permitted to continue preying on victims, but church officials were complicit in covering up abuses and hiding abusers. Incredibly, even when priests wanted to confess, they were not permitted to come forward. This is egregious. The actions of church officials in covering up the alleged abuses were outrageous and contemptable.

“Importantly, the Grand Jury report gives victims and families a voice about the abuses, and they deserve to be heard. My thoughts go out to the victims, their families and all who have had to deal with the abuse over years. It is now up to law enforcement and the General Assembly to carefully review the report, address the institutional elements that enabled the abuses to be hidden, and develop even more protections for children.”

Vázquez: Court Reopens General Assistance State Rep. Emilio Vázquez, D-Phila., is pleased to announce that poor or disabled residents can once again apply for the state’s General Assistance program.

“I am pleased that the court has moved to make these benefits available to Pennsylvanians who desperately need them,” Vázquez said. “For many families this could be the difference between making ends meet and falling behind.”

Previously, the program provided $205 monthly to more than 60,000 Pennsylvanians, many of whom had a temporary or permanent disability and were awaiting Social Security benefit approval. Along with people with disabilities, the program also offered cash assistance to people who were unable to work due to enrollment in a drug or alcohol treatment program, victims of domestic violence, children under 18 being cared for by an unrelated adult as well as adults caring for a sick or disabled adult or child.

In July, the State Supreme Court struck down a 2012 law signed by thenGov. Tom Corbett that had ended the program.

“This decision reverses a wrong that was done to our most vulnerable neighbors,” Vázquez said. “When we help the less fortunate among us, the entire community benefits.”

Applications can be filed either online or at a local county assistance office.

Information will be posted online at www.dhs.pa.gov.

There is also a toll-free helpline available at 1 (800) 692-7462.

For more information, constituents can contact Vázquez’s office at (215) 425-5708.

Sabatina: Bridge Work To End Soon State Sen. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) provided an update on the rehabilitation of the historic stone-arch Frankford Avenue Bridge.

Sabatina said that according to transportation officials, the project is expected to be completed in early September.

“The Frankford Avenue Bridge that crosses Pennypack Creek is the oldest of stone-arch bridge of its kind in the nation,” Sabatina said. “Once completed the (Cont. Page 35)

(Cont. From Page 31) Hazzouri had long handled lobbying efforts for the politically influential law firm Cozen O’Connor. Vidas said her father would play a minimal role in her campaign.

“I made this decision independently to run. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years. I do not anticipate nor is there a plan for him to play more than the normal role that any supportive parent would play when their child sought public office,” she said. “I’m not doing this at his urging, but because I want to serve the 2nd District.”

Were she to be elected, she emphasized, she would work with the city’s ethics board to ensure that her family ties would not create a conflict – Hazzouri & Associates still lobbies City Council on behalf of clients like the American Beverage Association. City ethics guidelines would likely require her recusal from legislative matters linked to those entities.

On policy, Vidas described herself ideologically as a “pragmatic progressive” and said she planned to campaign by emphasizing affordable housing issues and education. She said the city should

experiment with community land trusts – city-affiliated nonprofit organizations that affordably lease housing to low-income buyers, sharing in equity along the way – and what she terms “strategic upzoning” to add more housing to the burgeoning district.

“The idea that we’re building half-million dollar, single-family housing on Broad Street” – a major city thoroughfare with a subway line running directly underneath – “is just one example where development is happening in a way that’s going to drive up costs for everyone else rather than putting more units on the market,” she explained.

On education, Vidas said she wanted to see more community partnerships designed to send money and other resources to local public schools.

She had served on the board of Stanton Community Partners, a consortium of parents and neighbors designed to enhance operations at E.M. Stanton Elementary.

As an openly gay candidate who has worked with the Liberty City Democratic Club, a progressive LGBT political advocacy group, Vidas also said she would pitch a raft of broad progressive

policies as gay-rights issues.

“It’s important to recognize that public education could be an LGBT issue if a gay couple wants to send their kid to a neighborhood school.

If they’re struggling to make ends meet, the economy is an LGBT issue,” she said.

Vidas is only the second candidate to declare in a City Council district to date – public schools advocate Tonya Bah launched a bid against 8th District Council member Cindy Bass earlier this year. She said this was in part due to advantages enjoyed by district incumbents – more time to fundraise, established neighborhood connections, better name recognition – but that this trend deprived voters of serious discussion about local policy issues.

“There’s a real sense of the power of incumbency. It’s not easy to put yourself out on a limb and run against an incumbent,” she said. “But, regardless of who wins, the district will be better off by having a choice and having conversations that don’t happen unless incumbents get challenged.”

Johnson, first elected in 2011 after the retirement of longtime Council member Anna Verna, was last challenged by

local developer Ori Feibush in 2015. Their costly and acrimonious battle divided many in the neighborhood over issues linked to rapid development and gentrification. Johnson won handily, but Feibush would later sue the councilman, whom he has long accused of meddling with development projects.

Vidas appeared to strike a decidedly different tone as Johnson, an ally of state Sen. Tony Williams and a former state rep himself, runs for a third term in office.

“I’m not running against Kenyatta personally; I’m running for the 2nd District,” she said.

Mark Nevins, a campaign advisor to Johnson, said the councilman “looked forward to having a positive conversation with voters” over the coming year.

“Councilman Johnson is going to continue working on important issues like taking on gun violence, expanding access to pre-K for Philadelphia kids, and making sure we create good jobs with good wages and provide affordable housing to every family in the 2nd District, regardless of the neighborhood in which they live.”

understanding BANKRUPTCY

Q

Vidas vs. Johnson in 2nd

Bridge was built in 1697 35 and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. While the bridge underwent reconstruction in 1893, the approximately 15,000 vehicles that cross the 73-foot-long structure have taken their toll.

The bridge was deemed structurally deficient by PennDOT earlier this year.

Work on the bridge started in March 2018.

Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 180400243 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Sharon R. Lawson, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s) To: The Unknown Heirs of Sharon R. Lawson, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owners, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 700 West Bristol Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140. 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, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, 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. 180400243, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 700 West Bristol Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, 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, 215.238.1701. 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.

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

(Cont. From Page 34) rehabilitation project will ensure that the span will remain a fully-functioning historical landmark in our region.”

Sabatina said a variety of operations have been underway regarding the rehabilitation project. These include roadway restoration, installation and remounting of utility poles, laying of new concrete sidewalks, and installation of pedestrian railings.

“The historical importance and structural complexity of the Frankford Avenue Bridge makes it a difficult project to com-

plete, but the team working on the structure has been excellent,” Sabatina said.

“From the installation of modern improvements to using stone masonry to maintain the bridge’s original appearance, it is amazing to watch how the historically significant bridge is resurrected and improved so it can be used for generations to come.”

The Frankford Avenue

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BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED uestion: Should you prepare to pay if you forget to take the financial-management course?

Recently I received a notice from the bankruptcy court that my client’s Chapter 7 case has been closed without the

see in my practice that few clients often forget about the financial-management course requirement, despite a notice of this requirement in the filing confirmation notice they receive from the Clerk of Court and reminders from me.

I also advise my clients to send me a copy of their course completion certificates directly.

In theory, most financial management course vendors will email me the certificate, but that assumes that the vendor copies down my email correctly and sends the form. One of the messages of the post-filing course is to take control of your financial future and taking control of important decisions like this is a good start.

Next Week’s Question: How do bankruptcy exemptions make the system work?

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PUBLIC SERVANTS at WORK

issuance of a discharge order because my client never completed their mandatory financial-management course. This means that in order to get a discharge of all debts, my client will have to pay a filing fee of $260 plus attorney’s fees to get his case reopened so that we can file his financial-management certificate and he can receive his discharge.

While reasonable people can debate the merits of requiring bankruptcy debtors to spend the time and money to take two financial counseling courses – one must be completed prior to filing and the second after filing – it is clearly a waste of money to spend additional money because you did not get around to taking a $50 course that may take an hour or two of your time.

I can tell you from what I

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Citibank. Send them their blank application back!

Just make sure your name isn’t on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them postage.

Let’s let them know what it’s like to get lots of junk mail; and best of

all, they’re paying for it – 37 twice!

You can do your friends and family members a great favor by sending this information to them.

You will be providing a service to your friends.

And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!

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

lopes, right? It costs them nothing if you throw them away! Get rid of some of your other junk mail; put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.

Here is one of Andy Rooney’s “60 Minutes” ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to a credit-card company.

Send a pizza coupon to

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Y

O! HERE WE GO again with some repeat advice from snopes.com.

When you get emails that demand you send the email on if you’re not ashamed of God/Jesus – that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don’t care how they get your email addresses, just as long as they get them.

Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease (“how would you feel if that was your child”) – email tracking. Ignore them and don’t participate!

Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward onto others are ways to get names and “cookie” tracking information for telemarketers and spammers – to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes. Do yourself a favor and stop adding your name(s) to those types of listing, regardless how inviting they might sound!

You may think you are supporting a great cause, but

return these ads with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those “pre-approved” letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to second mortgages and similar junk, do not throw away the return envelope.

Most of these come with postage-paid return enve-

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the WAFFLE MAN

you are not! Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Email petitions are not acceptable to Congress or any other organization Tips for handling telemarketers: three little words that work!

The three little words are: “Hold On, Please...’”

Saying this, put down your phone and walk away; don’t hang up. Then when you eventually hear the phone company’s “beep-beepbeep’ tone”, you know it’s time to go back and hang up your phone.

Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?

This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a real salesperson to call back and get someone at home.

What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, six or seven times as quickly as possible.

This confuses the machine that dialed the call, and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!

Junk Mail Help: When you get ads enclosed with your phone or utility bill,

Backpack to School

City Hall Community Mourns Rios

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Mayor Jim Kenney and rapper Meek Mill thrilled the students at Blaine Elementary School, where Mill went to school, yesterday morning. Mill surprised the students by gifting them thousands of Puma backpacks.

Photo from the mayor’s Facebook page.

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Tina Fills Playground

CITY HALL Courtyard filled with colleagues who shared their grief at the loss of beloved staffer Linda Rios, who was slain in an act of domestic violence. Below, Council President Darrell Clarke took the lead for many other speakers in commemorating Rios’ selflessness and warmth.

Lower right, Council Sgt. At Arms Keith Harris handed out memorial candles. Photos by Wendell Douglas

Community Day was held at the Fox Chase Rec Center, sponsored by State Sen. Tina Tartaglione, here with her staff. There was a bookbag giveaway filled with school supplies and a full picnic with activities, games, face painting, vendors and Mounted Police Squad with horses.

Photo by Leona Dixon

City Republicans Pop Clams at Cannstatter

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REPUBLICAN City Committee hosted its historic Billy Meehan Clam Bake on the lovely grounds of Cannstatter Volksfest Verein in Holmesburg. L-R were James Williams, former DA candidate Beth Grossman, Cornel Holly, U.S. senatorial hopeful Lou Barletta, Ward Leader Linwood Holland and State Rep. Martina White. Photos by Wendell Douglas NORTHEAST party stalwar ts were, L-R, W a r d Leader Bill Ivers, RCC Cha i r ma n Mike Meehan, Frank Cris tingio and Tim Costello.

L-R, WARD LEADERS D e n i s e Furey and Matt Wolfe enjoyed a chance to meet gubernatorial c a ndidat e State Sen. Scott Wagner.

I R I N A Golds tein, who is pondering a run for City Council at Large hung out with activist Brian McCann.

C I T Y COMMIS SIONER Al Schmidt was flanked by Frank Cooper and IBEW political m a v e n M a r i t a Crawford.

HARD-WORKING activists were, L-R, LeNard Shotwell, Brittany Baxter, Daphne Jenkins and Carl Johnson.

WALKING the BEAT

(Cont, From Page 29) operations. I thought that I heard the songs of CANARIES at the trial – or was it a headline-seeking political agenda (?).

Shakespeare may be appropriate to describe the accusers and singers with the words from Henry V: “Hold their manhood CHEAP.” To help Joe, call (215) 301-2633. On Facebook, see “Justice for Joe Doc.” Go to www.justiceforjoedoc.com. Thanks.

Do you hate those END-OF-SUMMER announcements in stores selling school supplies

and clothes? Summer is NOT OVER! We are soon entering the best part, once called “Indian Summer,” with beautiful days and cool nights. I declare summer to be over on Oct. 15!

I read a gasoline credit-card application. I had questions, but could find no phone number – not even in the fine print.

Have you noticed how companies now go out of their way to ENCOURAGE ONLINE contact and AVOID HUMAN CONTACT? And how home-repair companies avoid use of their street address?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

down further medical treatment for an aggressive version of brain cancer. McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017.

McCain was born in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was stationed in the Navy. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1958, McCain went to Vietnam.

In 1967, his A4 Skyhawk was hit by a surface-to-air missile over Hanoi. McCain was captured by the North

to Rep. Ed NEILSON. Ed brings LIGHT to any issue that he is engaged in.

SAD LOSS on the passing of Wilma OLIVER, wife of the late (great) Rep. Frank Oliver. Years ago, Wilma was a court worker in a 7thfloor City Hall office. If you needed a date, location of a trial or court worker, Wilma had it in her brain. A hundred computers could not match her.

I have not checked it yet, but I hear that BIGTRIAL.NET has articles on the current state prosecutor ethics hearing... I read where a prosecutor knew a witness lied. Keep up news reporting on this. It will help REDUCE

Vietnamese, who tortured him for more than five years He was in solitary confinement for several of those years.

His captors offered him early release after learning his father was a notable naval officer. McCain refused to leave before the other prisoners. He was released in 1973. McCain’s injuries from the brutal treatment of his captors were apparent the rest of his life.

McCain got a heavy ex-

it... And how the DA was an unusual ally for the defense. Ho-hum....

Michelle Malkin reported that New York State became the first state to form a Commission on PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT! Did you read where there is a bill in the legislature to stop communities from zoning control over TELECOM TOWERS? Is this what a columnist wrote asking if the legislature will work for MONIED INTERESTS? Labor Day is ahead. Remember what it is about, and the horrors, even hangings, that organizers endured to get America to

posure to politics in 1976, when the Navy assigned him to be its liaison to the Senate.

McCain moved around as a child, but settled into Arizona a few years after marrying CINDY HENSLEY. Hensley is an independently wealthy woman who inherited the largest Anheuser Busch bottling and distribution company in the U.S. In 1982, McCain was elected to the House of Rep-

a level of worker safety and reasonable lifestyle. It is UNDER THREAT today in a big way.

Workers of old would not have

resentatives from Arizona. 39 In 1986, he won the race to replace Arizona’s senator and former presidential candidate BARRY GOLDWATER. His disputes with PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP are well known. According to the New York Times, McCain made it clear to the White House that he did not want Trump to attend his funeral. He asked that VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE represent the presidency.

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

(Cont, From Page 29) campaign buttons and wore them in honor of the recently deceased U.S. Senator from Arizona. The Arizona governor will shortly name the interim replacement for McCain. By law in Arizona, the governor must name someone from the same party as the person prematurely leaving office. Unlike other states, the appoint-

ment is for the duration of the current term, which, in this case, will be through 2020.

U.S. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, a war hero who survived five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, served three decades in Congress and went on to become the Republican Party’s nominee for president in 2008, died Saturday. He was 81 years old.

In his last hours, the Arizona Republican turned

time off to BARBECUE. Enjoy the blessings of the holiday; be alert; and, above all, remember what we honor.

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