Daily Record

1ol. I No. 159

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

February 10, 2011

Philadelphia

Daily Record

They Love Me...

They Love Me Not...

A FRANKLIN & MARSHALL POLL released this morning reflects conflicting feelings about Phila.’s Mayor even as he cruises toward May primary with scant opposition. See page 2.

Poll: Mixed Results For Nutter, Philadelphia

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A Franklin and Marshall poll out this morning has Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter leading a hypothetical primary field, but 53% of voters believe it’s time for a change in the Mayor’s office.

The city of Philadelphia also got mixed reviews from its residents.

About half (47%) of city residents rate Philadelphia as an excellent or good place to live. Nearly two in three (63%) city residents believe Philadelphia is better or the same as a place to live compared to four years ago.

The poll, taken Jan. 31-Feb. 7, reflects the general sense among Philly politicos that Nutter is going to cruise to a relatively easy renomination. It measured Nutter against City Councilman Bill Green and State Sen. Anthony Williams (who recently ruled out a mayoral bid anyway). Nutter leads 39%-17%17% respectively. Nutter also leads businessman Tom Knox, who has recently been discussed as a possible independent candidate, 46%-28%.

Can A Street Crack Open The Primary?

Opinions of Nutter are net-favorable, 50%-32%.

Word is out this morning the veteran civic activist will seek to challenge incumbent Michael Nutter for the mayoralty in the May Primary.

Additionally, a majority of city residents (58%) believes that one casino license is enough for the city.

One of those who are eyeing the ambiguous fortunes of Philadelphia’s Mayor in the polls is former State Rep. Milton Street, Sr.

Perhaps the more troubling news for Nutter is only 37% of voters believe he deserves reelection, while 53% said it’s time for a change. 4% of Sen. Stack Introduces voters rate his job performance as Legislation To Save excellent, 30% say good, 42% say Adultbasic fair, and 24% believe he’s doing a State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northpoor job. More whites (50%) than east), other legislators and advocates Blacks (23%) rate the Mayor’s perheld a press conference in the capiformance excellent or good. tol’s main rotunda yesterday to unThese numbers seem to lend cre- veil legislation that will use the dence to the notion Nutter would be General Assembly’s emergency surmost vulnerable in a two-way race, plus to fund adultBasic until April particularly against a well-known 2012. Stack explained the adultBasic program was designed so that African American opponent. working people unable to purchase THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

9 JANUARY, 2011

other insurance had an alternative. He noted time is run- director. ning out on the program’s funding and that 40,000 Pennsylvanians will fall through the cracks in 20 days. This decision was the second ruling against Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania since 2007, when Commonwealth Court dismissed the organizations lawsuit on Libertarians Push Voters’ Choice Act procedural grounds.

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania has announced its support of the Voter’s Choice Act, which has been introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate as SB 21.

Roe noted that, in its latest ruling, Commonwealth Court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that Unified failed to present evidence to support its case. As part of State Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) is the prime spon- the ruling, the Court also cancelled the scheduled hearsor of the Act, which was originally authored by the ing that had been set for Feb. 28.

Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition in 2005. According to Folmer, “Both the federal and State Constitutions “This court ruling is a strong statement that the Game begin with the same three words: ‘We The People.’ In Commission’s deer-management program is being conorder to give the people a stronger voice in their State ducted in a sound and scientific manner,” Roe said. “In government, we need to eliminate barriers for candi- essence, Commonwealth Court’s latest ruling dismissed dates seeking office. No State makes it more difficult the challenge because it lacked merit. for third-party and independent candidates to run for of“Our hope is this second ruling will cease the unnecesfice than Pennsylvania. My ‘Voters’ Choice Act’ signifsary expenditure of sportsmen’s dollars and tax dollars icantly eases these restrictions.” fighting frivolous and baseless lawsuits.”

Under current law, the Republican and Democratic Party candidates are required to collect between 1,000 Roe noted, since 2000, the Game Commission has and 2,000 signatures to get their names on the statewide worked to implement a deer-management program that ballot, while all others have been required to collect as takes into account the concerns of all Pennsylvanians, many as 67,000 signatures in recent years. But under and the agency has been consistent and open in its apthe Voters’ Choice Act, independents and candidates of proach. political bodies would need to collect the same number of signatures as the candidates of the two old parties, and once a third party registers 0.05% of the electorate Waters Supports Efforts To Tax as members of that Party (approximately 4,200 voters), Marcellus Drilling their candidates may be nominated according to the State Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D-W. Phila.) has lent his Party’s rules, and at the party’s expense, without having support to a measure that would tax Marcellus Shale to collect signatures. natural-gas production in Pennsylvania.

Court Upholds State Culling Of Deer

Waters said the Marcellus Shale is one of the biggest natural gas fields in the US, and Pennsylvania is becoming a leader in natural-gas extraction.

A Commonwealth Court ruling has dismissed the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania’s legal challenge to the “Pennsylvania is one of the 32 states in the nation that Pennsylvania Game Commission’s deer management produce natural gas, and it ranks 15th in total producprogram, according to Carl G. Roe, agency executive 10 FEBRUARY, 2011

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tion,” Waters said. “The Marcellus Shale deposit alone reportedly holds 50 trillion cubic feet. There is almost an unlimited amount of wealth that can be derived from this natural resource by big oil and gas companies – Pennsylvania could practically be considered the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. However, Pennsylvania is the only state with significant extraction activity that does not impose a severance tax or conservation fee on the big companies drilling for natural gas.”

HB 33, which is sponsored by State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), would impose a severance tax slightly lower than that imposed by West Virginia. The tax would generate an estimated $245 million this year and as much as $570 million by 2015. The revenue would be shared equally by the State General Fund, local governments and environmental uses.

Waters said he hopes the legislature will pass the tax and think more about its citizens and less about protecting big business.

“Pennsylvania is sitting on a valuable natural resource, which could help to alleviate some painful state budget cuts that are looming,” Waters said. “Drilling promises jobs and economic growth, but it also could cause damage to our roads and environment. We have the opportunity right now in Pennsylvania to put a tax or fee on these drilling companies and to protect our envi4|

ronment now and for years to come.”

Sabatina Supports Megan’s Law Improvements State Rep. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) voted for two bills that passed the State House recently that would eliminate loopholes in Megan’s Law, the state’s sex-offender registration law.

“We are trying to adjust Megan’s Law to set penalties and close the loopholes regarding registration requirements so convicted sexual predators who move to Pennsylvania must register with the State Police, and convicted offenders who are homeless or without a permanent address must register, as well,” Sabatina said.

HB 68, introduced by State Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), amends Megan’s Law to require sex offenders without a residence to register every 30 days with the Pennsylvania State Police as transients and sets penalties for sexually violent predators who knowingly fail to comply with monthly counseling sessions. The bill passed unanimously.

HB 75, introduced by State Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), amends Megan’s Law to provide for specific criminal sentences for sex offenders who fail to comply with registration THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Feb. 10State Sen. Anthony Williams hosts free energy forum at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 50th & Woodland Ave., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10Phila. Unemployment Project Happy Hour at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom St., 5-8 p.m. $5 door donation includes beer, wine and appetizers. For info (215) 557-0822, ext. 102.

Feb. 10Germantown Republican Club hosts Lincoln Day Dinner at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., 6 p.m.

Honoree and speaker Lt. Gov. James Cawley. Tickets $65. For info Jack Morley (215) 389-1768.

Feb. 10Fundraiser for Judge Kenneth J. Powell, Jr., at Union League, Lincoln Memorial Rm., 6-8 p.m. Tickets $125. For info Nora (267) 251-2779.

Feb. 10Friends of Damon K. Roberts host wine tasting at Jet Wine Bar, 1525 South St. 6-7:30 Suggested donations $25 up. For info Lisa Robinson (267) 334-0244.

Feb. 10Phila. Young Democrats Meetup at R2L Restaurant & Lounge, 2 Liberty Pl., 37th fl., 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 108th Ward Leader Stephanie Frank Singer ward meeting at Warwick Hotel’s Walnut Rm., 7-8:30 p.m.

Closed meeting but candidates can drop off petitions.

Feb. 10Verna Tyner kicks off campaign for 8th Dist. Council at Venango House, 2104 W. Venango St., 7 p.m. For info Lauren Townsend (215) 939-7621.

10 FEBRUARY, 2011

requirements. The bill had one negative vote. These two strates PHA’s commitment to all employees who dilibills are now headed to the State Senate. gently serve its residents,” said PHA interim Executive Director Michael P. Kelly. “I want to commend everyThe two other bills have been sent to the House Approone involved with negotiating this responsible contract. priations Committee for review to determine the cost to This assures residents will continue to receive top-qualthe State. One bill would create an electronic notificaity services each of them deserves.” tion system for the public and the other bill would result in criminal penalties if convicted sex offenders who are As of Apr. 1, 2011, workers represented by DC 33 will required to register in their home state do not register in contribute 5.5% of their salary into a defined contribuPennsylvania after they move here. tion pension and PHA will match that contribution (PHA will match 3.5% in the first year and 4.5% in the Sabatina is a member of the House Judiciary Commitsecond year before matching the complete 5.5% in the tee. third year and onward). Workers may select how conservatively or aggressively they want those funds to be invested, just as with a 401(k).

PHA Announces Second Union Agreement

Current workers will maintain everything they have earned to date in their defined benefit plan, but as of Apr. 1 they will begin accruing their retirement money in their new defined-contribution account.

Employees will receive a 2.5% increase each year from 2009 until 2012 and receive 3% increase in 2013.

Not ‘Retarded’ Anymore MICHAEL KELLY, PHA’s Interim Executive Director, proudly displays a new five-year contract agreement signed by him and Linda Gibson, left, Local 934, District Council 33 AFSCME which represents a mix of white and blue-collar workers at the agency.

Union members had been working under terms of a contract that expired in 2009.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has reached its second union agreement in as many weeks, and this agreement like the first includes a major change in the way employees’ pensions are funded. This agreement is with the AFSCME District Council 33, Local 934, PHA’s second-largest union.

KATHY SYKES, left, director of Phila. Intellectual Disability Services, explains why her organization changed its name from Mental Retardation Services to Loraine Ballard Morrill, of Clear Channel Radio.

She also promoted My City, My Place Brighter Fu“The announcement of the second agreement demon- tures awards gala at Liacouras Center Mar. 15.

Photo by Bonnie Squires 10 FEBRUARY, 2011

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High-Brow Update: Mozart and Salieri; Schubert, Bernstein and Beethoven; Romeo and Juliet

ROLLICKING AND PASSIONATE tale of Mozart’s life is brought to life on Walnut Street Theatre.

610 WIP’s Wing Bowl, perhaps as a member of the entourage of “Kenso Kev,” walking alongside a float The predictable top-notch level of Walnut Street Theatre which paid bizarre tribute to the streetwalkers of Kensproductions is on display once again in its current proington. duction of Amadeus, which debuted on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and runs through Sunday, February 6.

The driving conflict of the play is based on something only Salieri seems to realize: While crass Mozart has Peter Shaffer’s play in essence tells the story of the life been divine gifts, he himself, despite his achievement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the eyes of jealof widespread fame and celebration, will ultimately be ous fellow Hapsburg Empire composer Antonio Salieri. forgotten. This is despite the fact that all his life he had To be somewhat timely, one could probably summarize done what society had deemed proper. (I couldn’t help the two main characters’ differing personal styles via but speculate how people around the year 2045 will reannual activities held last weekend. By Friday morning, gard U2 and their PR-savvy lead singer Bono … as if Salieri would have inevitably already arrived in North anyone under 30 at that time will have even heard of Texas, doing his best to interact at Super Bowl events them.)

by Adam Taxin

with whatever members of the upper crust could further The main advice I offer to potential audience members advance his already-about-as-advanced-as-possible cais to appreciate the stage aspects for what they are rather reer. Meanwhile, Mozart would have felt completely in than going in expecting the winners of the 1984 Best his element on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center at 6|

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Picture and Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham as Salieri) Oscars. It shouldn’t be a surprise that, unlike with the movie, there is no full orchestra available for relevant scenes. Regardless of comparisons with Abraham, Dan Olmstead’s Salieri is nuanced, troubling and memorable. (Just for the record, though, Rob McClure, while portraying the immature, selfish, uncompromising Mozart brilliantly, simply is incapable, as would be just about anyone, of performing the utterly distinctive braying laugh — probably one of the most famous in the history of cinema — of Tom Hulce’s Mozart.)

Tonight, tomorrow afternoon and Saturday night, the Philadelphia Orchestra welcomes as guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, music director of the San Francisco Symphony, artistic director of the New World Symphony (training-oriented orchestral academy in Miami Beach) and pioneer of new media efforts such as the recent YouTube Symphony.

years of college, a time when I had little appreciation of classical music).

Meanwhile, the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s production of Charles Gounod’s French-language version of Romeo and Juliet begins tomorrow night at the Academy of Music for five performances through Sunday the 20th. In the title roles, the opera features Ailyn Perez and Stephen Costello, alumni of Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts who in real life are in a relationship hopefully less precarious than the one they portray on stage (they are married).

In this particular production, Director Manfred Schweigkofler has painted the Capulets and Montagues as dueling fashion houses (apparently with the Romeo character possessing they-actually-still-exist-amongsome-males-in-that-industry heterosexual tendencies).

In fact, not only does the production include stylish scenery, but Costume Director Richard St. Clair has developed a fashion show which unfolds during the opera, with designs by students from Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Moore College of Art & Design, and Philadelphia University, as well as models from the John Robert Powers School.

The program consists of Franz Schubert’s Symphony in B Minor (“Unfinished”), the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Suite from A Quiet Place (his 1983 opera) and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Beethoven himself described the 7th as “one of my best works,” Richard Wagner described its rhythms as “the apotheosis of the dance,” and, on a Adam Taxin, a Center City attorney, can best be conmuch less distinguished level, it has long been one of tacted via Facebook or at adamtaxin@gmail.com. the very favorite works of mine. (I “discovered” it on an international flight between freshman and sophomore

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