Vol. I No. 124
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
December 24, 2010
Philadelphia
Daily Record
Peace On Earth
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Mayor Michael Nutter signed a new bill which increases the penalty for merchants who illegally sell tobacco to youth from $100 to $250. The new bill also provides Municipal Courts discretion to assess a minimum fine of $300 to a maximum of $2,000 for merchants who default on the original $250 fine. The Mayor also detailed the City’s new campaign to encourage smokers to kick the habit. Bill 100634, which was sponsored by Councilwoman Marian Tasco and approved by a 15-0 City Council vote, requires merchants who violate the new City Ordinance to attend one-on-one information sessions that will provide tips on checking identification and how to refuse sales to minors. The Ordinance will also provide the City authority to close a business for 48 hours if that merchant sells tobacco to a minor three times in two years. The City may assess on-the-spot penalties to violating merchants and will post the names of businesses that are cited for illegal tobacco sales to minors on the Department of Public Health’s website. “This bill will expand the City’s work of helping Philadelphians improve their health and well-being,” said Nutter. “More than 300,000 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
adults smoke in Philadelphia and their habits influence many of our youth to adopt similar unhealthy habits. I hope Philadelphians will utilize the available resources so they can quit smoking and live a better quality of life. “Kids who smoke become adults who smoke,” said Health Commissioner and Deputy Mayor Donald F. Schwarz. “The City will remain vigilant in preventing illegal sales of tobacco to youth who should have access to healthier consumption habits and opportunities.” “This legislation will protect and prevent our city’s young people from starting a destructive habit early in life,” said Councilwoman Marian Tasco. “Retailers must act responsibly and this bill encourages them to do so.” On Dec. 20, the City launched the “Last Pack” campaign on 17 local radio channels to provide information on support, counseling and other services that are available to help residents quit smoking. The City’s smoking cessation initiatives are part of the Get Healthy Philly campaign that encourages residents to stop using tobacco and adopt healthy eating habits. The Get Healthy Philly campaign is being funded with $25 million in federal Recovery money, including $10.4 million for smoking cessation work. On Nov. 15, the Dept. of Public Health launched its first ever nico22 DECEMBER, 2010
tine patch giveaway via the PA Free Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW). Over 3,300 Philadelphians have called for free counseling and a free one-month supply of nicotine patches. On Jan. 1, 2011, the City will provide insurance coverage for smoking-cessation medications to approximately 7,000 employees. After a Dept. of Public Health outreach effort, three out of five largescale Medicaid Managed Care Organizations in Philadelphia have agreed to provide coverage for most of these medications. Smoking causes 2,500 deaths in Philadelphia each year and results in more than $800 million in productivity losses. It’s estimated that one in three minors illegally purchase cigarettes in Philadelphia.
Those who witness illegal tobacco sales to youth are asked to report it by calling 1 (888) 99-SMOKE or by logging on to www.smokefreephilly.org.
At Last! Snow Disaster Money Relieves Philadelphia US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) applauded the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to release federal funding to help Philadelphia recover from winter storms in February. Philadelphia will receive $1,775,008.25 in federal grants for reimbursement for snow-removal efforts. “I wish to thank the Obama Administration for providing this as-
sistance to help Philadelphia with the great costs that were incurred from the February storms,” said Casey. “This funding will provide much-needed relief to the communities that were affected.” The City of Philadelphia will receive reimbursement for Feb. 6-7 snow removal efforts on airport facilities, grounds and roadways. Force-account resources as well as contractor services and materials were used to provide these emergency measures. There were additional costs associated with vehicle and equipment repairs. For more information on FEMA’s Public Assistance program, please visit http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.
Christmas At Pacifico Ford KERRY PACIFICO, SR. not only annually gives scholarship grants to scores of high-school seniors on their way to college, he annually holds a Christmas Eve party for youngsters from PAL and other groups. Santa Claus finds himself surrounded by some of them. Over 100 youngsters got presents. 22 DECEMBER, 2010
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REGINA, left, and one of her aides gave Santa an opportunity to do a lot of squeezing as other elves set up tables for arriving youngsters in what normally would be a car- and truckcrowded showroom at Pacifico Ford at Automall in South Phila. Photos by Kurt Shadduck
Firefighters Get A Roast From Sen. Williams
ZZZZZ MEMBERS of Darby Township Fire Dept. were all smiles yesterday as they received a turkey from Marlene Henkin, 4th from left, and Ronda Liggins, foreground from office of State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila./Delaware. This Holiday season, Senator’s office presented turkeys to several fire departments in eastern Delaware Co. including Ridley Park, Yeadon, Folcroft, Norwood, Sharon Hill and Collingdale in appreciation of their bravery and service. 4|
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24 DECEMBER, 2010
Washington To Introduce Legislation Limiting ‘Re-Stocking’ Fees State Sen. LeAnna M. Washington (D-Northwest/Montgomery) announced yesterday she will introduce legislation limiting the amount of “re-stocking fees” that retail stores may charge on returned items. “It is unfair consumers should be punished for returning unwanted items,” Washington said. “I plan to limit this practice in Pennsylvania.” Certain retailers are now charging their customers a 10% or 15% restocking fee when merchandise is returned in an opened box. Other retailers are charging a re-stocking fee even when the item is returned unopened or unused. Washington said her legislation would limit the amount stores can charge for re-stocking fees to 5%, up to $50 maximum. Re-stocking fees are imposed uniformly as a 24 DECEMBER, 2010
percentage of the purchase price and without regard to the actual costs of re-stocking the merchandise.
Jan. 27Edward J. Lowry, founder of Phila. Veterans MultiService & Education Ctr., will be honored on retirement at Waterfall Rm. in Plumbers Local 690 Union Hall, 2791 Southampton Rd., Cocktails 6-8 p.m., followed by Tribute Program. Tickets $65. Order by phone (215) 238-8050. Event Chair Ed Keenan, Board Chair Jim McNesby and Exec. Dir. Marsha Four.
“I will introduce my legislation to curb this questionable and punitive business practice when the Senate reconvenes in January,” Washington said. “It is important that consumers are given the opportunity to make informed purchasing decisions.” Washington added that re-stocking fees are costing consumers tens of millions of dollars each year. “Retailers are well aware that with the retail business comes the possibility that items will be returned for various reasons,” Washington said. “Imposing these high restocking fees is simply unfair to consumers.”
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Autobiographical and Often Musical, A Jew Grows In Brooklyn Comes To Kimmel Ctr. by Adam Taxin A Jew Grows in Brooklyn, a one-man show featuring writer/actor/musician Jake Ehrenreich, opened last night at the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center for a six-performance run through Tuesday, December 28. The production is described as a “heartwarming true story, Holocaust family, rock n’ roll comedy musical.” Ehrenreich sings and tell stories, with the assistance of live musicians and multimedia, in recounting his attempts, while growing up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to fit in as a “real American,” despite having thickly-accented Poland-born parents. Ehrenreich has appeared on Broadway in Dancin’, Barnum, and They’re Playing Our Song, and toured internationally as Ringo in Beatlemania. He has performed with such musical luminaries as Greg Allman, Richie Havens, Whitney Houston, Tito Puente and many more. What inspired Ehrenreich to make the show in the first place was his wife’s suggestion that he share his story about “how
JAKE EHRENREICH draws joy out of tragic history, giving a Jewish twist to Christmas in his show and “how I learned to focus on the more positive things.” at Kimmel Center this weekend. I learned to live, given the family circumstances that I had” Ehrenreich’s parents survived the Holocaust only by means of years in a work camp in Siberia. Numerous relatives of
but, as a kid, I wanted to be like everyone else. The kids I
his were murdered in Nazi extermination camps. Growing
grew up with in Brooklyn were not like us.”
up, Ehrenreich’s peers were for the most part not going through similar immigrant/survivor experiences, and, later
What occurs on stage is wide-ranging. In a way that the New
on, his mother and two sisters all were stricken with
York Times compared to Billy Crystal’s Broadway hit 700
Alzheimer’s Disease at early ages.
Sundays, the show moves from performance of rock-and-roll classics (e.g., “California Dreaming”) to reenactment of the
According to Ehrenreich, whose father grew up as Chassidic
Borscht Belt comedy tradition to, appropriately enough giv-
but who himself has never been religiously observant: “My
ing the timing, a medley of Christmas songs, which Ehren-
journey was growing up in the States as an American kid and
reich cites as “more American music than religious music.”
really wanting to be a regular kid, yet having sort of a shadow
He adds, “When I got older, I realized 85% of those songs
over my family, who had heavy accents, their own history
were written by Jews anyhow.”
and no extended family. As an adult, you think ‘big deal’, 6|
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24 DECEMBER, 2010
In fact, Ehrenreich emphasizes the show’s potential appeal
the challenges that they or their family has, and the journey
to non-Jews (although he certainly expects Jews to comprise
that we share together is that we all have the same decisions
the majority of the audience for his performances tonight and
about what we focus on in life. And I hope that’s what people
tomorrow!): “First of all it is the American story, generally
take away from the show.”
speaking. Also, there’s a lot of humor in the show which transcends the Jewish story. And most importantly, the overall
Adam Taxin can be contacted via Facebook or at
message of the show that I try to get out without saying so is
adamtaxin@gmail.com.
that we all have challenges. Everyone can tell a story about
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