Daily Record

Vol. II No. 50 (210)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

April 25, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Protests

CENTER CITY WAS ALIVE with political marchers Saturday. Here, Protect Our Waters led to City Hall a protest against Marcellus Shale drilling, which it charges is polluting Penna. waterways. More pictures page 2-3; stories page 5.

Armenians Remembered Their Genocide

GENERATIONS of Armenians born in Diaspora still solemnly recall horrors inflicted on their ancestors during World War I.

ARMENIAN SCOUTS led walk along Ben Franklin Parkway.

STEVE ODABASHIAN, an attorney who is running for City Council at Large, joined in march.

2011 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WALK executive committee consists, from left, of Arese Soghomonian, Kim Yacoubian, Nadia Silk, Krikor Yeremian, Gina Ekmejian, Masis Komrokian and Antranig Garibian.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

25 APRIL, 2011

Environmentalists Decried Fracking

AD AND CHILD march in Phila. on Saturday for clean water and air, calling for a halt to hydrofracking statewide.

PHILA. WOMAN expresses her feelings about fracking at Saturday’s rally

“DON’T FRACK WITH OUR WATER” proclaims banner at Love Park.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

WARNING SIGN links BP oil spill to blowouts in Penna., especially last week’s blowout in Bradford Co.

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Apr. 25Cocktail reception with open bar for judicial candidate Edward Wright at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Donation $100. For info (215) 5694770 or ewlaw@att.net.

Apr. 25Fundraiser for City Commissioner Anthony Clark at Vesper Club, 233 S. Sydenham St., 5:307:30 p.m. Donation $100, Table $250, Sponsor $500. Checks payable to Committee to Elect Anthony Clark, 1500 Walnut St., 21st fl., Phila., PA 19102.

Apr. 25El Amor Mapenzi Brawne Ali’s Democrat 37th Ward Candidates Night at St. Mark’s Church, Germantown & Cambria Aves., 67:30 pm. All candidates invited.

Apr. 27Cocktail reception fundraiser for Bill Rubin, 10th Dist. Council, 5-8 p.m. at DC 33 Banquet Hall, 3001 Walnut St., 6th fl. $250 per person.

Sponsorships sought. Mail checks to Friends of Bill Rubin, PO Box 52146, Phila., PA 19115 or via Pay Pal at billrubinforcouncilman.com.

Apr. 27Concerned Philadelphians on Violence & Crime host Candidates Night at the View, 800 N. Broad St., 5:30-8 p.m. Light refreshments. For info Pete Lyde (267) 303-3203 or Theresa Brunson (267) 251-0828.

Apr. 27Fundraiser for State Rep. Cherelle Parker at Comcast Corp., 1710 JFK Blvd. 45th fl., 5:30-7 p.m.

Sponsor $1,000, Supporter $500, Friend $250. Checks payable to Friends of Cherelle Parker. For info (215) 215) 437-3294 ext. 202 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

or parker4staterep@gmail.com.

Apr. 27Fundraiser for 1st Dist. Council Democrat candidate Mark Squilla at Cuba Libre, 10 S. 2nd St., 6-8 p.m. Tickets $100. For info (267) 290-8836.

Apr. 27Fundraiser for Marie Delany for City Commissioner at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 6-8 p.m. Food & drink. Tickets $35. Send checks or MOs to.Marie Delany’s Campaign Office, P.O. Box 4817, Phila., PA 19124. For info 215-MARIE-11 (215-627-4311).

Apr. 27Chew & Belfield Neighbors and Clivenden Hills Group host judicial candidates at Coleman Library, 68 W. Chelten Ave., 6:30 p.m. Candidates can contact Rev. C. H.Williams at Jesus46200032004@yahoo.com.

Apr. 28Congressman Bob Brady and Sam Staten, Sr., host cocktail fundraiser for State Rep. Jewell Williams for Sheriff at Vesper Club, 233 Sydenham St., 5:308:30 p.m. Suggested donation $250.

Apr. 28Robert Archie hosts Fundraiser for Councilman Darrell Clarke at Duane Morris, LLP, 30 S. 17th St., 5:30-7 p.m. Contributions $100/$$250/$500. Checks payable to Friends of Darrell Clarke. RSVP swilliams98@hotmail.com or (215) 631-4939 Apr. 28State Rep. John Taylor hosts Historical Site Cigar & Wine Tasting at Colonial Dames of Phila., 1630 Latimer St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info (215) 545-2244.

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demand. Starting at the Schuylkill River and marching to the Delaware River at Penn Treaty Park, concerned residents called for an end to high-volume horizontal hyHundreds of members of the local Armenian community drofracking, the controversial gas extraction method marched Saturday in the annual Armenian Genocide Walk commonly called fracking. Protecting Our Waters Direcfor Justice on Saturday. They took a two-mile course, start- tor Iris Marie Bloom said fracking “damages air, water, ing at the Art Museum and ending at the Independence earth, climate, and human health.”

Center Lawn of the National Constitution Center.

At Love Park, Cheri Honkala of Kensington Welfare The rally consisted of a cultural performance and remarks Rights Union gave a fiery speech about “corporate from civic leaders, including University of Pennsylvania greed,” saying that for low-income people water is a history Prof. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, PhD and renowned bottom line issue even more important than housing. attorney Mark Geragos. Von Joeden-Forgey teaches, lec- “What good is an apartment if you can’t drink the tures and writes published work on genocide. Geragos was water?” she asked. State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson (D-S. the lead litigator in the landmark case brought against New Phila.) brought the crowd alive with chants of “no frackYork Life Insurance Co., to seek retribution for the life- ing way” and “protect our waters” in call and response. insurance policies of Armenian families that were victim- Reverend Jesse Brown called for green jobs and renewable energy. Artist Peter Handler pointed out that in the ized during the first genocide of the 20th century. big picture, “natural gas extraction is worse than coal The Armenian Genocide of 1915 remains a topic of political for climate.” Dr. Poune Saberi said human health is at controversy today. After 1.5 million people were brutally risk, since over 596 chemicals are used in fracking, inmurdered and forced out of their native country, the survivors cluding carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. fled to distant lands for refuge. Ultimately, Armenians all over the world are seeking recognition from the United Marching drummers wore Tyvek suits; while some States, as well as other governments, to acknowledge action marchers wore large fish puppets one woman carried a by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The current government of 13-foot-tall drilling rig for the entire march route, over four miles. Colorful flags, signs, and banners reinforced Turkey still does not admit this genocide took place. both the local message, specific to the Delaware River …While Anti-Frackers Stormed Basin – “Don’t Frack with Our Water!” and the City Hall statewide message, “Don’t Frack Up PA!” Marchers blasted the gas industry for failing to protect families from blowouts and contamination; urged Gov. Corina Delman, an organizer and artist with “River to Tom Corbett to deny permits for unconventional gas River,” summed it all up, “We want to protect our water drilling (fracking) statewide; and pressed for complete and air from fracking – not just the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, but Pennsylvania and our region.” moratorium in the Delaware River Basin.

Armenians Marched To Independence Hall…

Just after a three-day blowout contaminated Towanda Creek in Bradford Co., Pa., and angry families there demanded the Governor stop allowing fracking, community groups in Philadelphia marched 300 strong with the same 25 APRIL, 2011

The protest was organized by River to River and Protecting Our Waters. Co-sponsors were Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Food & Water Watch, Drexel Student Sierra Club, PennEnvironment and Temple Students for Environmental Action.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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in the SEPTA concourse underneath 1600 JFK Boulevard where taxpayers can meet with representatives and no appointment is necessary. The office is open Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP announced Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today it is stepping up its collection efforts on property and is designed to make it easier and more convenient owners in Philadelphia. The law firm is preparing writs for taxpayers to get individual service. of execution to set for Sheriff’s sale over 2,400 tax-delinquent properties that secure $27 million in real-estate Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP in Philadeltaxes due to the City and School District of Philadelphia. phia handles real-estate tax collections, foreclosures and related issues. It is the largest law firm in the Linebarger is in the process of collecting delinquent United States that dedicates its practice to collecting property taxes on 29,664 total properties for the City government receivables. of Philadelphia that represents $132.6 million. Of the properties being scheduled for enforced collections via Honkala Will Field A Campaign Sheriff’s sale, the average amount due is $10,390 for an Office – With A Song average of nine years of delinquency.

The Cheri Honkala for Sheriff of Philadelphia campaign “We are serious about collecting these delinquent real has found a home. The office for the Green Party candiestate taxes that will benefit the City and School Dis- date officially opens May 19 and is located at 718 Marth trict of Philadelphia,” said Drew Aldinger, partner at ket Street. A reception will be held on the 19 at 4 p.m.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, who manages and the entire city of Philadelphia is welcome to attend.

Linebarger Goggan Vows Take From Sheriff’s Sale Will Rise

the day-to-day operations of the firm.

“We have payment plans available and hardship guidelines are in place, so everyone is expected to pay. Sheriff’s sales await those who don’t. If necessary, opening bids will be reduced to lower amounts to ensure the properties will sell and get back on the City’s ‘revenueproducing’ tax rolls.”

In celebration of the office opening, the campaign has released the first in a series of tracks contributed by artists from all over the country inspired by Cheri Honkala’s bid for Sheriff of Philadelphia and her promise of “Keeping Families In Their Homes” by halting all evictions based in foreclosure. The song entitled “My Name is Cheri Honkala” can be found at the campaign’s BandCamp page (http://cheri4sheriff.bandcamp.com/) and can be downloaded for a $1 donation.

If taxpayers do not pay their delinquent accounts or enter into payment arrangements, Linebarger will seek a court order authorizing the sheriff to sell the property A slideshow to accompany the song featuring photographs to pay the taxes. In an effort to collect the delinquent from famous documentary photographer Harvey Finkle taxes, Linebarger plans to double Sheriff’s sales in the can be found at the campaign’s YouTube channel located next 90 days. at YouTube.com/Cheri4Sheriff Taxpayers who receive notices from Linebarger can (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbbFJdZSQc8). Supcall toll-free (866) 209-2747 or locally (215) 790-1117 porters of the campaign can receive a print of one of the and speak with a taxpayer assistant. Payment arrange- celebrated photog’s images that have documented Philadelphia’s activist community for decades with a $50 ments are still available, but tax amnesty is not. donation. Harvey Finkle was honored by the Bread and In addition to its main office at 4 Penn Center, Roses Community Fund in 2009 and is actively documentLinebarger has an Express Taxpayer Assistance Office ing the Cheri Honkala for Philadelphia Sheriff Campaign.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

25 APRIL, 2011

“My Name Is Cheri Honkala” was produced by multitalented underground artist Sir Ben Marx, who was born and raised in North Carolina. The artist, also known as SBX, took the audio recording of Cheri’s announcement to run for Sheriff and edited it to accompany his original beats, “It gives me great honor to contribute towards this movement. Growing up in a large family of seven and having a single parent, I know the severity of the struggle of keeping your family together. When I first discovered Cheri I was deeply inspired and felt a connection to what she stands for,” said SBX.

GPSEG, will feature state and local executives to focus on the impact the so-called “jobless recovery” is likely to have on the business community – locally, nationally and worldwide.

GPSEG’s semi-annual Regional Business Outlook brings the tri-state area’s executive community forward-looking opinions by the area’s top business and government leaders on current, insightful topics. Titled “Where Are the Jobs Now?”, the forum will discuss how the workforce will respond to increased demand for employment and whether we have already lost some Honkala is calling for a protection of the people versus of our best workers to early retirement, changed occuthe banks and challenges the current assumption that pations and relocations. It will also address the business evicting people from their homes during an economic outlook and where new jobs are being created. crisis saves the City of Philadelphia money. It costs tax- More than 150 business executives and GPSEG mempayers an estimated $20 million a year for maintenance bers are expected to attend the discussion, which will be of the 40,000 vacant parcels occupying the city. Filling moderated by KYW Newsradio 1060 special contributhose vacant properties with people who could at least tor Larry Kane. afford to pay the utilities would save Philadelphia taxThe panelists also will respond to questions from the payers millions. audience. They are Kane; Sue Mukherjee, director, Job Forum At Four Seasons Hotel Center for Workforce Information & Analysis at the A prominent group of business leaders from Pennsylva- Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor & Industry; Tracey Mcnia, New Jersey and Delaware will gather tomorrow, Daniel, president and CEO, Choose New Jersey; and Apr 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 7-10 a.m., to hold a Judy Boreham, managing director, Diversified Search regional business outlook. The event, sponsored by Odgers Berndtson.

Multiculturally Healthy STATE SEN. SHIRLEY M. KITCHEN presents a proclamation to William S. George, President and CEO of Health Partners, congratulating Health Partners on its recognition as first health plan in the nation to receive new “Multicultural Health Care Distinction” from National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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