Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 17 (177)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

March 8, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

If You Build It...

YEARS IN THE MAKING, expansion of Penna. Convention Center to worldclass size was inaugurated last weekend by a host of city bigwigs. See page 2.

Photo by Bonnie Squires

…Business Will Come! Convention Center Dedicated In Style

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by Bonnie Squires “If you build it, they will come,” must have been the motto of the visionaries who pushed for the gigantic and beautiful expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. And they must have been right – because at the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the fantastic new facility. whose main entrance on N. Broad Street faces the ornamental Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, already $2.9 billion worth of business has been booked for the newly expanded center.

The new main entrance is the anchor for economic development and investment on N. Broad. The members of the board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority beamed from the stage in front of about 1,000 guests at the THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

dedication, with authority chairman Buck Riley, Esq., chairman, announcing that the $786 million investment came in on time and on budget.

The expanded center is the largest project in the history of Pennsylvania, and Riley praised the locally based firm Keating, as well as Vitetta architects, for their leadership. Union construction, from carpenters, to electricians, to Teamsters, to stage hands, to riggers, etc., was cited for efficiency and quality of the workmanship, which had 2500 workers on the project. Riley noted some of the unions had also added a hospitality section, because the Convention Center now represents the hospitality business, not just renting space.

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The back story to the funding was also revealed by Riley. At the time the State legislature had appropriated $700 million for construction, the plans, as it turned out, had never been completed. An additional $86 million was needed in order to complete the project.

Riley praised the hoteliers for allowing themselves to be taxed in order to raise the additional funds, after thanking members of the General Assembly who were present for their initial confidence and courage in voting the funding.

State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) received special praise from

all the speakers for his vision and, as Carl Singley, Esq., vice chairman of the authority, pointed out, for requiring a diversity plan which guaranteed minority and women participation in the contracts.

Joe Resta was singled out for special thanks, as he served on a daily basis during the process as the owners’ representative, overseeing the entire project.

Mayor Michael Nutter proclaimed Philadelphia as “the hospitality center of the US.” Evans called Convention Center CEO Ahmeena

Young to the stage, calling her “the queen mother” and attesting to her diligence and success in guiding the center through all its phases, including implementing the diversity legislation. As Singley recounted, 148 businesses did $528 million worth of work on the project, including 51 minority firms with $93 million, and 31 womenowned firms with $60 million.

Evans called the new entrance and the new addition “the gateway of the world,” quoting President Barack Obama: “win the future.”

Farnese Tapped Give Senate Democratic Budget Response State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S. Phila.) delivered the Senate Democratic Caucus’ response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address today.

“I am honored to be chosen by my Senate Democratic colleagues to respond to Governor Corbett’s budget proposal,” Farnese said. “I believe it is important everybody’s attention be focused on this very important budget address and what it could mean to your average, hard-working Pennsylvanian. I think our perspective on what is sure to be a very austere spending plan will generate healthy and necessary dialogue.”

Farnese is expected to discuss the Senate Democrats’ solutions to improve Pennsylva8 MARCH, 2011

nia’s economy, including their PA Works plan, which has potential to spur the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania and reduce State spending by $150 million.

providing a better, brighter future for Pennsylvania,” said Costa.

In choosing Farnese to provide the Democrats’ response, Floor Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) stated Farnese is a strong voice for Democratic ideals and will provide an effective critique of Corbett’s spending plan.

“Pennsylvania is facing some very tough economic challenges. We need strong decisive action to pull the state back from the brink. I believe Sen. Farnese will effectively express the common-sense solutions we have for boosting Pennsylvania’s economy and THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Senator Farnese |

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Fattah Endorses CommonCurriculum Movement Mar. 10St. Patrick’s Day Parade Luncheon & Sashing of Grand Marshal at Doubletree Hotel, Broad & Locust Sts., 12 m. Tickets $50.

RSVP Kathy McGee Burns (215) 872-1305.

Mar. 10Cocktail Party for Traffic Ct. candidate Fred Mari at American Pub, 1500 Market St., in Center Sq. Bldg., 5-7:30 p.m. Donation $50. For info Mark (215) 9909352.

Mar. 10Fundraiser for Controller Alan Butkovitz at Vesper Club, 226 S. Sydenham St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Donation $500. For info (412) 721-9489.

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 Jackson. For info (215) 336-1108.

Mar. 10State Sen. Anthony Williams hosts foreclosure-prevention workshop at Ezekiel Baptist Ch., 5701 Grays Ave., 6-8 p.m.

Mar. 11Sen. Bob Casey, John Dougherty and others host St. Patrick’s Day Toast at Finnigan’s Wake, 4rd & Spring Garden Sts., 6 p.m. Contributions $35/person, $60/couple, $250/sponsor. RSVOP recommended. For info rsvp@bobcasey.com.

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Congressman Chaka Fattah (DPhila.), a leader in educational reform and competitiveness, has become the first Member of Congress to endorse the new bipartisan campaign for a common core curriculum for public schools nationwide.

by the Albert Shanker Institute.

Educators, business and labor leaders issued the call in a statement advocating “a clear road map in the form of rich, common curriculum content.” It would extend beyond basic English and math while staying compatible with local control of schools.

“Make no mistake, we are in a global competition for economic growth and innovation and it is our young people who will lead us into the fray. As we ask our teachers to prepare the next generation to compete globally, it is only fair we give them the tools they need,” said Fattah, author of groundbreaking education legislation during his nine terms in Congress.

“The magnitude of the achievement gap in America’s schools has been characterized by economists as ‘the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession’ – one substantially larger than the deep recession the country is currently experiencing,” Fattah said.

“Simply raising the cognitive skills of the lowest-performing American students on PISA, the international standardized test used to determine countries’ global rankings, would add $72 trillion to GDP over the lifetime of a child born in 2010.”

“Algebra in Philadelphia, Miss., is no different than algebra in Philadelphia, Pa.,” he said. “We must equip all students with the tools to compete and achieve.

Today I join an impressive list of individuals from across the ideological spectrum who have come together in support of a high-quality public education for all students, the key to the nation’s economic future.”

The “Call for Common Content” was issued this morning (Mar. 7)

Fattah is architect of GEAR UP – Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs – the most-successful national initiative to prepare and equip low-income students beginning in sixth grade for college admission and the rigors of undergraduate studies.

He has led the fight in Congress

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

8 MARCH, 2011

for a holistic approach to education for underserved students

through a variety of programs, from preschool to graduate school.

Senator In The Hat Reads Seuss

STATE SEN. MIKE STACK celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Federation Early Learning Services’ 100th anniversary on Mar. 2 by participating in Paley Early Learning Center’s Read Across America day.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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Williams: Bartram Village Residents Complete 5 Weeks Of Healthy Eating Bartram Village residents were recognized on Mar. 3 for their completion of a five-week healthyeating program, in which they attended workshops every Thursday to learn how to prepare healthy meals for their families and how to shop for healthy food and snacks.

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-W. Phila.), Philadelphia Housing Authority Interim Director Michael Kelly and area McDonald’s owner Chris Chong co-sponsored this program and participated in the final session.

“There’s a stigma that healthy eating is unattainable in urban neighborhoods,” Williams said. “While it’s true many communities suffer from a lack of supermarkets, families can still make better choices.

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We designed this program to show Bartram Village residents how they can shop smarter and give their families a variety of good choices that they can make for themselves and their children.”

During those sessions, the residents received valuable information from health experts, including nutritionist Ayana Powell of Progressive Nutrition and chef Cynthia Cave-McFadden, owner of Symphony’s Inc. catering.

At the final session, McDonald’s Mgr. Ronald Uy discussed choosing health food on the go and healthy food options at his fastfood restaurant. The participants received certificates and cooking utensils from Williams, gift cards donated by Fresh Grocer and farm-

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

ers’ market coupons donated by the Food Trust.

“The goal of this healthy eating program was to show people that there are ways to pick nutritious food in their own neighborhood,” Williams said. “Healthy eating is within everyone’s reach, whether at the corner store or in restaurants.”

This healthy-eating program is a pilot program the Senator hopes to use as a model to expand to other communities by partnering with local organizations and universities. If a community group, organization or university is interested in co-hosting a healthy eating program with the Senator, contact his office at (215) 492-2980.

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