daily record

Vol. II No. 11 (171)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

February 28, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Barbershop Chat

TALKING WITH THE GUYS is State Sen. Anthony Williams as he gets a trim from Chino at Playaz in S. W. Phila.

Committee Of 70 Calls For Bold Budget Measures

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This morning, President Zack Stalberg of the Committee Of 70 released a statement recommending several strong steps to get City costs and revenue back into line for the long term.

“Philadelphia is out of lifelines,” he said. “The financial crisis that is strangling every state in the nation will mean far less support from Harrisburg for Philadelphia. Within days, when the Governor delivers his budget address, we will know just how badly this City’s funding will suffer. Concern over the ballooning national debt almost certainly means less money will be coming from Washington.”

Seventy urged the City adjust its underfunded pension plans by following the model of labor agreements recently concluded between the Philadelphia Housing Authority and its unions. Their new contracts begin to move from a fixed-benefit pension plan to a 401(k) plan.

Confront the Pension Beast: Philadelphia is due to pay $602 million into the public employees’ pension fund in the final year of the city’s current five-year plan. This is $58 million more than it will take that year to operate the entire Philadelphia Police Department.

do with even some of those dollars.

The city’s fiscal overseer, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, calls the city’s growing debt to the pension fund – according to the latest figures, 55% or about $4.9 billion short of its obligations – the city’s “greatest longterm fiscal challenge.”

Seventy recommends ending the controversial DROP program.

“Though the cost is in dispute, DROP clearly has been misused. At any price, it places further pressure on the ailing pension fund and it has seriously eroded public confidence in government,” Stalberg stated.

Seventy is backing Mayor Michael Nutter’s plan to sell off City assets, in particular its large real-estate holdings. “A better system of disposing of these properties could generate $35 million in tax revenues and save $20 million now spent to maintain them,” the report concluded.

The Committee said the City’s 22,000-person workforce should be cut even further, on top of the almost-1,600 job slots the Mayor has already eliminated.

For more information, call William Hanna

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Imagine what Philadelphia could THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Government departments can be 28 JANUARY, 2011

consolidated, the report asserted: “Does it make sense to have a Water Dept. and a Water Revenue Dept. – one reporting to the Managing Director and the other to the Finance Director?”

the report noted. In 20089, the City gleaned just $687,000 in PILOT payments. Boston, by contrast, which is much smaller, collected $34 million in PILOTs last year.

It urged the City aggressively pursue new technology that can result in cost savings.

PILOT payments (Payments In Lieu Of taxes) from major nonprofits are gravely low compared to other cities, 70 said.

Seventy called for “meaningful tax changes.” It pushed for large-scale programs to reduce incarceration of nonviolent offenders. City vendors can be squeezed to reduce their invoices and outsourcing of legal services to private law firms can be cut as well, it said.

“The property owned by its big universities, hospitals and religious institutions – property which is, by law, exempt from the real estate tax – represents more than 10% of the city’s total property value. That percentage is larger, by far, than other big cities in the country,”

And it is time to consider repatriating the School District from Harrisburg and restoring the Philadelphia Board of education. With the decline in State spending for Philadelphia schools, there is no longer a quid pro quo for State control, 70 said.

City Named Leader In Transportation Innovation On Friday, the National Resources Defense Council released a study that recognizes Philadelphia as a “Smarter City” for its implementation of innovative transportation policies and practices. The NRDC study, conducted in collaboration with the Center for Neighborhood Technology, recognized Philadelphia for implementing efficient and sustainable initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life, boosting the local economy, improving health and reducing pollution.

The study recognized Philadelphia for taking a complete streets approach to transportation, increasing walking and bicycling amenities for residents and working to improve transit service. It references the new South Street Bridge’s wider side28 FEBRUARY, 2011

walks, separate pedestrian entrances and bicycle lanes that allow vehicles to safely and efficiently travel across the Schuylkill River. The US Dept. of Transportation selected the City for a $17.5 million grant through the highly competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant Program to fund a variety of projects that will close critical gaps in walking and bicycle trails across Philadelphia.

Philadelphia plan aims to bring local food within a 10 minute walk for 75% of residents.

The study also recognizes the City’s partnership with SEPTA, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Food Trust to identify transit locations throughout the City that would provide citizens with access to fresh food markets.

Target 10 of the Greenworks

Deputy Mayor for Transportation & Utilities Rina Cutler said, “I am proud to have Philadelphia recognized for the work we are doing to give every resident and visitor real choices in how the travel around our city.”

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

“The City is committed to identifying and implementing initiatives that improve the quality of life for our residents,” said the Mayor.

“We’re building a more livable City increasing fresh food and recreational opportunities and creating new opportunities for our citizens to live healthier and happier lives.”

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‘Brighter Futures’ Shine On Intellectual Disability 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., 5:30-7:30. For info (610) 271-5365.

Mar. 4Happy Hour with State Rep. John Taylor at Head House Craft Beer Café, 122 Lombard St., 5:30-8 p.m. $75/person, $125/couple. For info (215) 545-2244.

Mar. 6St. Patrick’s Day Parade Fundraiser at Springfield C. C., 400 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield, Pa., 3-7 p.m. Adults $25, Children $10. Live music and stepdancing. For info Linda Bradley (610) 449-4320.

Mar. 7Fundraiser for Councilman Bill Greenlee at Cobre Restaurant, 812 N. Broad St., 5-7 p.m. Donation $100.

Mar. 10St. Patrick’s Day Parade Luncheon & Sashing of Grand Marshal at Doubletree Hotel, Broad & Locust Sts., 12 m. Tickets $50. RSVP Kathy McGee ZBurns (215) 8721305.

Mar. 10South Philadelphia Business Association annual Scholarship gala at Galdo’s catering, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 6-10 p.m. Honoring DA Seth Williams, and Row Home magazine’s Dawn Rhoades and Dorette Rota Joackson. For info (215) 336-1108.

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In observance of Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, the 19th annual MyCity, MyPlace and Brighter Futures Awards celebration, sponsored by the Philadelphia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (formerly MRS), will be held on Mar. 15 at The Liacouras Center at Temple University’s main campus.

Kathy Sykes, director of IDS, said the theme of the day’s pleSTATE REP. TOM MURT will receive nary session and awards lunchthe Legislative Advocate Award from eon is “Reflections on our Philadelphia Intellectual Disability Journey.”

Services at the Brighter Futures Awards luncheon on Mar. 15 at LiaThe panel discussion at 9:30 couras Center. Photo by Bonnie Squires a.m. in the Fox-Gittis Room will feature Eleanor Elkin, a pioneer and founder of the Arc, and Dr. Graynell Edwards, another parent of a child who receives services. They will reflect on the history of how more person-oriented services evolved throughout the years, and how people with intellectual disabilities have been encouraged to become full participants in the community.

Resource tables from dozens of different provider agencies will be open all morning along the concourse. Loraine Ballard Morrill, of ClearChannel radio, will serve as Mistress of ceremonies at the awards luncheon, starting at 12:15 PM. Six hundred people are expected to attend the day-long event.

Brighter Futures Awardees are from all walks of life. Among the awardwinners for 2011 is State Rep. Tom Murt (R-Northeast), for his legislative advocacy; Glendale Pharmacy and Mayfair Diner, as “Good Neighbors”; Kardon Chorale and its Director Christine Wineberg as “Community Partners.

Tickets for the luncheon are $25 each and can be reserved by calling (215) 685-5914.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

28 JANUARY, 2011

Philly Schools Host Dr. Seuss Reading Events Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education Association, is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on Mar. 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Theodor Geisel, aka “Dr. Seuss”.

Dr. Arlene Ackerman’s Contract Extension On Friday afternoon, the School Reform Commission announced a one-year extension of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s contract in the following statement.

“In 2009, the School Reform Commission adopted a five-year strategic plan entitled Imagine 2014 that set a course for comprehensive academic reform and operating improvements for the School District. The plan was developed under the leadership of Dr Ackerman and she is the driving force for its implementation. We are currently in the second year of implementation of the Plan and have seen significant gains. This year, more than half of the city schools students scored proficient or better on state-given standardized tests for the first time, and there has been a 29% drop in violent incidents over the past two years. However, there is much work to be done.

District schools will celebrate Read Across America all week long. Specific events include the Richard R. Wright ES, 2700 W. Dauphin Street, where The Eagles Book Mobile visited this morning to read to students and have students select books to take home. This activity will take place in two first grade classes and will involve approximately 50 students.

At Blankenburg ES, 4600 W. Girard Avenue, Mayor Michael Nutter will be reading tomorrow to children in grades K-4 in the auditorium a work by Dr. Seuss called Gertrude McFuzz.

At Ethel Allen ES, 3200 W. Lehigh Avenue, on Friday, State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W.Phila.) will be reading to students.

“The one-year extension of Dr. Ackerman’s contract (through Jun. 30, 2014) permits her to continue to lead the District through the full implementation of Imagine 2014. The SRC believes stability in the leadership of the District during the full implementation of the Plan is highly desirable. The SRC looks forward to the opportunity to continue working with Dr. Arlene Ackerman as the Superintendent as we pursue the goals of Imagine 2014.”

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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‘Silk Road’ Curator Brings Chinese Mummies, Other Treasures To Town In A Coup

DR. VICTOR MAIR, curator of University Museum exhibition “Secrets of the Silk Road,” is seen at second opening, after Chinese officials had decided to allow highlights of exhibit, ancient mummies and 4000-year-old artifacts ,to go on display. Mair worked quietly behind the scenes in Washington, D.C., at Chinese Embassy, while Penn alumnus Jon Huntsman, who also happens to be US Ambassador to China, flew back to China to negotiate on that end. Result is a spectacular display of well-preserved Chinese silks, mysterious and beautiful mummy of a woman, gold jewelry, a gold mask that rivals King Tut’s, and a sweeping view of history most of us never get to see. Newly displayed treasures can be seen through Mar. 15, while rest of exhibit and interactive displays will be available through Jun. 5. Photo by Bonnie Squires

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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