The Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 10 (170)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

February 25, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Unbeatable

LATEST POLL indicates Sen. Bob Casey is in good shape for reelection next year. See page 2.

More Good News for Casey in Latest Poll

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Bob Casey continues to enjoy relatively strong favorability, according to a poll obtained by PoliticsPA from the firm Municipoll. Forty-six percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Casey, compared with only 30% of voters with an unfavorable opinion.

The survey of 670 likely voters was conducted via IVR Feb. 21-23.

These results closely resemble those in last week’s Quinnipiac poll, which showed Casey with a net favorable job approval rating of 44% to 24%.

“Maybe Bob Casey isn’t unbeatable, but he’s looking pretty darn good for a Democrat in a swing state that Senate Republicans are supposedly talking about targeting next year,” said Ed Haggerty, President of Municipoll.

There is no front runner for the GOP nomination to challenge Casey, but the Senator performs well against several of the names that have been mentioned so far. Former US Senator Rick Santorum presents the stiffest challenge but Casey bests him 50 to 38 percent. Casey also beats Congressman Charlie Dent, 51%-32% and Congressman Jim Gerlach, 48%34%.

The down side for Casey? After four years in office, 24% of likely voters still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.

The poll also found President Obama’s favorability at 51% in the state (versus 44% unfavorable), again echoing last week’s Quinnipiac poll.

Newly elected Republicans Gov. Tom Corbett and Sen. Pat Toomey enjoy net favorable ratings, with Corbett at 48% to 31%, and Toomey at 42% to 35%. However, by a 50%-31% margin, voter expect Corbett to break his no taxes, no fees pledge.

Voters favor a tax on Marcellus shale gas-drilling companies and the sale of the State liquor stores, “to help close the budget deficit,” (57%-28% for the gas tax, 57%-30% for selling State liquor stores).

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And finally, former Sen. Rick Santorum suffers a net unfavorable rating in Pennsylvania, with 39% favorable and 44% unfavorable.

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Philly Labor Backs Wisconsin Brothers THESE AFSCME DC 33 members were part of large crowd of union workers and retirees who turned out in front of City Hall yesterday to protest effort in Wisconsin to strip public employees of their right to collective bargaining. Photo by Adam Taxin

Democratic Committee Studies Privatizing State Stores, With A Sour Eye A MASSIVE TURNOUT of 20 Democrat legislators for a hearing on selling off liquor stores showed this Party is prepared to work as a bloc to oppose it.

IN HIS TESTIMONY, UFCW leader Wendell Young IV lambasted research presented by Commonwealth Foundation, a corporate lobbying group: “Every time we have this debate in Pennsylvania, the privateers cook the books and bake up phony numbers. Any independent, rational look at the numbers shows a sale of the system makes zero financial sense.�

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The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing yesterday at the Pennsylvanian Convention Center to study privatization of State liquor stores, chaired by State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).

House Liquor Control Committee Democratic Chairman Dante Santoni (D-Berks) also was in attendance.

Feb. 25- State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts free blood-pressure screenings at her District office, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 2-4 p.m.

Feb. 25-26- Free clothing and other items giveaway at Mt. Hebron Baptist Ch., 1415 Wharton St. For info Pastor Richard J. Walter, Jr. (215) 336-8163.

Feb. 25- Donna Aument’s 33rd Ward Fundraiser Beef & Beer at Juniata G.C. For info Donna (215) 427-1645.

Feb. 28- Tea Party PatriotsSouth Meeting at Champs, 2100 S. Columbus Blvd. (near IKEA), 7 p.m. All welcome. Joe McColgan speaker.

Mar. 2Petition party for Mayor Michael Nutter at W. Phila. YMCA, 5120 Chestnut St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Mar. 3Reception for Council candidate Verna Tyner and Councilman Bill Greenlee at Ceisler Media, 1525 Locust St., 6th fl., 5:307:30. For info (610) 271-5365.

“In our tough economic situation, the State liquor stores are an important asset for Pennsylvania,” Sturla said. “It would be fiscally irresponsible to sell off these stores without a true assessment of the devastating impact this would have on our Commonwealth revenues and the increased price of wine and spirits for our constituents. Our hearing today was informative and I look forward to holding more hearings across the state on this issue.”

Santoni said, “Today’s hearing was productive. No specific plan on privatization has been proposed but it is helpful to talk about all the possibilities – how broad a change are Pennsylvanians willing to accept, how enforcement should be handled, how much or how little revenue can be realized, and how the distribution of wine, spirits and beer is determined.”

Those testifying included Joe Conti, chief executive officer, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; Wendell Young, president, United Food & Commercial Workers 1776; Nathan Benefield, director of policy research, Commonwealth Foundation; Stephen Herzenberg, executive director, Keystone Research Center; and a panel from Independent State Store Union: Neil Cashman, Jr., government affairs coordinator; Penny Dessus, executive board member; and Walter Mason, executive board member.

Auditor General Jack Wagner, Sen. Greenleaf Advocate Prison Reforms STATE SEN. STEWART GREENLEAF, right, said he would reintroduce a package of legislative reforms to reverse Penna.’s ballooning prison population. Auditor General Jack Wagner, left, demonstrated prison costs are catastrophically out of control and a major source of Commonwealth’s budget deficit.

Mar. 10South Philadelphia Business Association annual Scholarship gala, Galdo’s, from 6 to 10 a.m.

Honoring DA Seth Williams, and Row Home Magazine’s Dawn Rhoades and Dorette Rota Joackson. For info and tickets call 215-336-1108.

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At a news conference yesterday at Philadelphia City Hall, Auditor General Jack Wagner (D) and State Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) called for action to adopt prison reforms in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s prison population is five times higher now than it was 30 years ago, rising from 8,243 in 1980 to 51,487 in 2010. If nothing is done, the Dept. of Corrections projects the prison population will swell to 61,146 by 2014 if existing trends continue.

Wagner said Pennsylvania could save $50 million in fiscal year 2011-12 and $350 million over four years if the General Assembly better utilize existing alternative-sentencing programs and implement other reforms as a way to curb Pennsylvania’s unsustainable increases in prison costs.

“Pennsylvania’s State budget has grown at twice the inflation rate over the past 10 years, from $19 billion to $28 billion, an increase of 47%,” said Wagner.

“Corrections spending helped fuel the increase, with the Dept. of Corrections’ General Fund budget over the last 10 years increasing by $430 million.”

The Commonwealth currently plans to spend $862 million in taxpayer money to construct four new correctional institutions and four housing units – but the 9,000 additional beds are expected to be occupied as soon as construction is completed.

Increased utilization of alternative-sentencing programs would provide more opportunities for rehabilitation of non-violent inmates and reduce the cost of housing prisoners, a cost that has tripled over the past 30 years. Over 19,000, or 39%, of the inmates in Pennsylvania’s state prison population are non-violent offenders.

“Our failed corrections policies relating to non-violent drug offenses have set an unsustainable course,” said Greenleaf. “We now know that rehabilitative programs and alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders have an enormous impact on reducing recidivism, but they are underutilized. Incarceration without rehabili25 FEBRUARY, 2011

tation is a failure.”

Greenleaf has introduced the Criminal Justice Reform Act that would allow the Dept. of Corrections to quickly move offenders with short minimum sentences to community corrections centers for treatment. Community based treatment for less serious offenders is more cost-effective and more successful than incarceration.

The bill also would make more non-violent offenders eligible for Pennsylvania’s already existing alternative sentencing programs. It also establishes county probation programs that provide for swift and predictable sanctions on offenders who violate their probation.

Josephs Would Punish Violators Of Sunshine Law State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) has introduced legislation that would strengthen the State’s Sunshine Law. The bill would increase the penalties for violations and also would prohibit agencies from paying the fines on behalf of an individual who violates the law.

“This is one way we, as State legislators, can help keep government accessible, open and accountable to the public,” Josephs said. “The increased penalties would put more teeth into the law and discourage its violation.”

Josephs’ bill (HB 827) would increase the penalty on a first offense for intentional violations from $100 to $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution. A second or subsequent offense would incur a fine of up to $2,000 plus the cost of prosecution. Since agencies would be prohibited from paying the fine on behalf of or reimbursing a member of their agency, the violators would be held financially responsible rather than the taxpayers, Josephs noted.

The bill also would permit an agency to hold executive sessions for the review and discussion of informa-

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tion related to safety and security, which if disclosed, would jeopardize the agency’s security.

notice of and the right to attend all meetings of agencies where public policy is formed and decisions are made.

The Sunshine Law was created to ensure citizens have

‘Happy Birthday, Jim’ From Sheet Metal Workers FROM LEFT, Pat Keenan, representing Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, was among crowd at State Rep. Jim Roebuck’s Birthday Bash at Warmdaddy’s last night. Mayor Dolores Jones Butler, of Yeadon, who is a longtime legislative assistant to Roebuck, was proud her son Lawrence Jones, the internationally known jazz flutist and saxophonist, had flown in from his home base of Brighton, England, in order to perform at the event. Jones had just released his latest CD, “All Too Soon”.

Photo by Bonnie Squires

Johnson Digs Into Bullying Before Council STATE REP. BABETTE JOSEPHS endorsed her colleague Kenyatta Johnson and helped him reach out to voters in his campaign for City Council.

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State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson (D-S. Phila.) testified in front of City Council during a hearing on bullying prevention. The hearing, which took place Tuesday, discussed Resolution 100797, calling on the City Council Committee on Education to “hold hearings on bullying and violence in the city’s schools targeting immigrant students from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.”

During his testimony, Johnson discussed the social and emotional causes of bullying and the need to view all aspects when considering resolutions. “Merely punishing individuals without examining the root cause is never an effective method,” Johnson stated. “The throw-away-the-key mentality only breeds young offenders into adult offenders and, today, we all witness the devastation this has on our communities.” Johnson also discussed the importance of acting swiftly and proactively when dealing with the issue of bullying.

Youth violence prevention continues to be one of Johnson’s priorities. As he begins his new term, Johnson intends to aggressively create legislation in Harrisburg that protects the safety and security of youth and address the bullying epidemic taking place in schools and beyond. In addition, Johnson plans to implement proactive grassroots initiatives in the community. This includes designating Mar. 21-25 as Youth Violence Prevention Week, and an anti-bullying tour to local elementary schools to discuss the negative effects bullying can have on all individuals involved.

Johnson is best known for creating Peace Not Guns, Inc., which has helped over 1,500 youth find effective ways to combat youth violence through conflict resolution, anger management and anti-gun education.

AFSCME Presses Hard For Sick-Day Bill

by Kathy Black, Health & Safety Director, DC 47 With support from a wide range of legislators, businesses, labor groups, nonprofit organizations, and workers, a bill to provide earned sick days for Philadelphia workers is set to move forward in City Council. A hearing on the earned sick-days bill (Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces, Bill No. 080474) has been scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 1, in the Public Health & Human Services Committee in City Council at 10:00 a.m.

The legislation would grant workers the modest protection of earning up to 72 hours of sick time at medium and large businesses, and 25 FEBRUARY, 2011

40 hours to employees of small businesses with 10 or fewer workers. Companies with existing paid time-off and vacation-time policies in the same amounts and conditions of use will already satisfy the legislation.

In an already tough economy, workers without earned sick days face even tougher choices Currently in Philadelphia, 2 in 5 workers have no earned sick days, and a majority of employees without this benefit work in food-service and care-giving positions.

When workers without earned sick time (or their families) become ill, they must make a choice between the jobs they need and the families they love. Workers who choose to THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

stay home often lose their pay, and are at risk of losing their jobs.

Earned sick days allow workers to stay economically secure while they keep their families healthy.

The fear of job loss when workers have no access to sick time is very real. According to a recent poll1, nearly one in four workers without paid sick days (23%) has lost a job or been told they would lose it for taking time to care for a sick family member or a personal illness.

There are benefits for both businesses and workers Providing earned sick time has proven to be smart for businesses as well as for workers. Research shows that the costs of replacing workers, including advertising, in|

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terviewing and training new employees, far outweighs the cost of retaining employees, which is helped by offering earned sick time. Additionally, “presenteeism” – when workers come to work sick – costs the national economy about $180 billion a year more in lost productivity than absenteeism.

A recent independent study found significant benefits for workers and minimal impact on businesses from the nation’s first paid sick days law, enacted in 2007 in San Francisco.

Despite opposition to the law before it was enacted, two-thirds of employers surveyed there now sup-

port the law and six in seven employers say paid sick days have had no negative effect on profitability.

norovirus (a type of gastroenteritis or “stomach flu”) are often spread by sick food handlers.

People who go to work sick out of fear of losing a job or a paycheck remain sick longer, potentially infecting co-workers or customers.

For instance, in the 2009-2010 H1N1 outbreak, about eight million workers nationally took no time off despite being infected with H1N1.

As a result, these workers spread their illness to as many as seven million of their colleagues. Other studies, such as those conducted by the Center for Disease Control, show illnesses such as the

There is increasing national recognition of the value of paid sick days and other flexible workplace policies.

Momentum is building nationally for this kind of work and family policy. San Francisco, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. passed paid sick days laws in recent years, and at least 15 other States have been actively debating proposals.

Teamsters Pick Oh DAVID OH, candidate for City Council at Large, receives Teamsters’ endorsement from Bill Hamilton, VP of Eastern Region and president of Penna. Conference, Joint Council 53 and Local 107.

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Cindy Bass Opens Campaign Office

CINDY BASS was joined by her strong campaign team as she opened her office in Germantown.

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Cindy Bass, candidate for 8 Dist. City Council race, opened her new office on Germantown Avenue on Feb. 19. Friends and volunteers came out to show support for Cindy, pick up petitions and grab a bite to eat.

In her comments to those in attendance, Bass commended Mayor Michael Nutter for preserving basic services over past two budget cycles.

“I don’t think it’s a secret our city and other cities and states across the nation are experiencing budget downfalls in these hard economic times,” stated Bass.

“Some have cut services dramatically. Our neighbor, Camden, recently laid off half of its police and fire departments. The Mayor has done an excellent job at maintaining basic services these past few years. We will be seeing yet another tough budget ahead of us, but we must fight to make sure our streets are safe and clean and our children are taken care of. Over the next 25 FEBRUARY, 2011

few weeks, I will lay out my plan to get new revenue into our city, to put people back to work and ways we can cut our budget while maintaining the quality of life that all Philadelphians want and deserve.”

On the coming election, Bass had this to say: “This is an exciting time for our city. We will be electing more new members of City Council than in many decades.

New voices will be heard, with fresh ideas regarding how we can continue to make Philadelphia a great place to live and work. I am excited and I know the voices of the voters will be heard on May 17th.”

Bass lives with her husband Scott Bass and their daughter in the Northwest section of the city. She is a senior policy advisor for Congressman Chaka Fattah and a graduate of Philadelphia public schools and Temple University.

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Berean Hails Inner-City Pastor

BOARD OF TRUSTEES of historic Berean Institute recently honored Pastor Geoff Bradford, of liberti Fairmount Church, for his selfless commitment to Berean. Pictured from left are board members Savonne Douk, Board President Rev. Marie DeLaney, Bradford, Greg Paulmier, Berean President Dr. Loraine Poole-Naranjo and Rev. Karen Dixson. One of two founding pastors of liberti movement, Bradford has served in Philadelphia for the last eight years. It is a group of Presbyterian churches that seek to live lives of service and love in cities where they are located by pitching in to help with volunteer organizations and mercy ministries. Photo by Jay Barbieri.

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