Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 74 (234)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

June 2, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Cut Me Not SCHOOL BUDGETS are under pressure at national, State and City levels. See stories beginning page 3.

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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar June 2Paul “Earthquake” Moore hosts young people and all concerned residents at a vigil for peace, at 4 p.m. today at the Woodland Village Plaza, 61st Street and Woodland Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

Jun. 3Fundraising Banquet to purchase Asian Service Bldg. at Ocean City Restaurant, 234 N. 9th St., 6:30 p.m. For info Chairman Mohan Parmer (215) 317-8262.

Jun. 3Southwest Coalition hosts Jazz Concert featuring Stickman Tony Trio at Kingsessing Rec. Center, 50th & Kingsessing Ave., 6-8:30 p.m. Cost $10 including light refreshments. For info Tom Henry (215) 901-5639.

Jun. 4Badges of Honor 5 K Run in Fairmount Park at 9 a.m. kicked off

by Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, Prison Commissioner Louis Giorla and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Jun. 4— Green Night Out for Cheri Honkala at Singapaore Chinese Restaurant.For info call 215-2437103.

Jun. 5thRep. Curtis Thomas at Stop Violence Rally and Show at 10 a.m. at intersetion of 12th Street and Cecil B. Moore Av. Police motorcade. Followed by Fashion show and other events from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Community Center, 1018 Wallace St.

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Fattah’s Student Bill of Rights Picks Up Major Endorsements The Student Bill of Rights (HR 1295), reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.), has received the endorsement of 28 educational, parental, religious and civil-rights organizations. The letter of support came from organizations that have long reinforced Fattah’s efforts to ensure all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a

high-quality education.

of all school resource allocation.

The Student Bill of Rights ensures all students have access to the educational resources needed to be successful: highly effective teachers, rigorous curricula, early-childhood education, and instructional materials including educational technology. If students are to excel, Fattah concludes these fundamentals must be the centerpiece

“Our students are some of the brightest in the world and we must invest in their future,” said Fattah.

“The Student Bill of Rights will equip them with the educational keys to unlock their full potential and help them realize anything is possible.”

Students: Earmark Funds For Nonviolent Schools In light of the gaping holes in the School District’s budget and looming uncertainties about program cuts, students are continuing to fight for the programs they know work.

Yesterday, student leaders from the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools packed a room holding a studentled press conference to send a message to City Council: earmark funds to save and implement programs that improve school climate and increase graduation rates. Recent news articles have highlighted the violence public-school students face. Despite obstacles, students are taking a leadership role in improving the safety of Philadelphia public schools.

“We are doing what we can, as students, to change the culture in our schools” says Jaileah Gibson, a senior at Sayre HS, “but we need City Council to step in and save the programs that really work.”

Specifically, students from the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools are asking City Council to earmark funds to retain Student Success Centers, Bilingual Counseling Assistants, and Accelerated Schools. Additionally, 2 JUNE, 2011

CNS members are calling for the use of Restorative Practices, something that, last week at the City Council budget hearing, Superintendent Ackerman testified that she supports. These programs will provide students with the tools they need to graduate and the nonviolent environment they need to learn.

“If it wasn’t for my Student Success Center, I wouldn’t be graduating right now”, remarked Kairi Mace, senior at Ben Franklin HS. “As students, we need the supports including extra counseling, social workers, and technology that Student Success Centers provide.

It just doesn’t make sense to take away our chance at success,” he added.

The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools is a growing, youth-led, citywide campaign organizing high-school and middle-school students from 10 youth-leadership organizations in Philadelphia. In March, CNS launched its student-created platform that focuses on addressing all forms of school violence without pushing students into the criminal justice system.

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Conservatives Slam Teachers Union Contract For Wrecking School Budget If Philadelphia reporters want to get to the bottom of the city’s school-funding crisis, they should check out the collective bargaining agreement between the School District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. So says a national conservative think tank.

“A quick scan of that document reveals a simple fact – the School District spends millions of dollars per year on unnecessary labor costs. If those costs were suspended, or at least trimmed across the board, it’s doubtful that the district would have to follow through on its reported plan to gut student programs and eliminate more than 1,100 classroom teachers,” charged Kyle Olson, CEO of Michigan-based Education Action Group.

“Unfortunately the teachers union refuses to renegotiate its expensive contract. Union leaders and veteran teachers would rather see younger teachers get the ax than sacrifice a penny’s worth of perks and benefits,” continued Olson.

Olson attacked the labor costs included in the schools’ current labor agreement. According to the agreement, all employees received a 3% raise in 2010 and will receive another 3% raise in 2012. On top of that, all teachers are granted automatic, annual “step” salary increases, based on their level of college education. Teachers with simple bachelor’s degrees make between $42,000 and $65,000 in their first 11 years of service. Teachers with a Masters degree plus 30 credits earn $80,000 per year.

All employees receive free or low-cost health insurance funded largely by the District. Teachers making less than $50,000 4|

qualify for overtime pay. Employees who also work for their union are given time off with full benefits. Teachers who attain national board certification are granted $7,500 annual bonuses. When leaving the district, teachers are allowed to cash in all of their unused sick days and 25% of their unused personal days for a termination bonus.

The School District is required to maintain a $400,000 annual fund to cover college-tuition costs for teachers. The District is required to pay $4,000 per employee per month into the union’s “welfare fund.” The District is required to play $165 per employee per month into the union’s legal fund.

“These are just a few of the expensive labor costs that suck millions of dollars out of the District budget,” said Olson. “It’s painfully clear that the District can no longer afford those types of costs.

“If the union refuses to make contract concessions, the losers will be the students.

Teachers will continue to collect their raises and full benefits while classroom sizes swell and student programs are canceled.

That should not be allowed to happen. Public schools exist, first and foremost, for the students, not the adults who staff them.

“The Philadelphia school district should be using every available penny to maintain teaching positions and student services, instead of continuing to fund wasteful extras for employees,” said Olson. He called for the School Reform Commission to void the District’s labor contract if the unions refuse to make concessions.

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EPA Unveils Next Generation Of Fuel-Economy Labels New fuel-economy labels unveiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday at the MidAtlantic AAA Office in Wilmington, Del. will provide shoppers of model year 2013 cars and trucks with comprehensive fuel efficiency information.

“The new labels will help consumers be smart buyers who know which cars will save them money and leave the smallest footprint on the environment,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.

that use electricity and conventional cars that are gasoline-powered, including estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years.

The labels will also contain easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all other models for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change. For electric-powered cars, the labels will indicate how much electricity it takes to drive 100 miles, as well as information on the driving range and recharging time frame.

The new window stickers will have information about Also new, a QR code will be on the label to allow a vehicle’s estimated fuel costs, savings, and impact smartphone users to scan the label and get even more on the environment. information with model comparison and vehicle-speAll model-year 2013 passenger cars and trucks will cific energy use. feature the improved fuel-economy labels. The reConsumers can get more information on the new quirement applies to all conventional gasoline-powlabel at: http://fueleconomy.gov/label, ered and “next-generation” cars, such as plug-in http://www.epa.gov/carlabel and hybrids and electric vehicles. http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

For the first time, fuel-economy labels will compare energy use and cost between new-technology cars

Casey: Protect Small Businesses In Federal Contract Competition US Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) called on the Senate Armed Services Committee to protect small businesses. In a letter to Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-Ariz.), Casey pushed for the inclusion of language in the National Defense Authorization Act that would ensure fair practices in the competition for federal contracts.

Prime contractors frequently list small businesses, particularly minority business enterprises or women business enterprises as subcontractors on their bids in order to strengthen their applications, at times without 2 JUNE, 2011

the knowledge of the MBE or WBE. When this occurs, the subcontractor often does not receive the business because it was unaware of its inclusion on a federal bid.

In February, Casey introduced the Subcontractor Notification Act (S 370), which would require contractors to notify small businesses of their inclusion in bids for work from federal agencies. In March, Casey secured the passage of an amendment similar to the Subcontractor Notification Act to the Small Business Innovation Research bill. The amendment passed by a 99-0 vote, but the bill failed to pass the Senate.

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Casey is now pushing the Armed Services Committee to include in the National Defense Authorization Act to require subcontractors identified on a solicitation for a competitive proposal made by an executive

agency be notified by the prime contractor before the application is submitted. He also wants a reporting mechanism that allows a subcontractor to report fraudulent activity by a contractor.

House Dem Leader Says New Budget Surplus Demands Rethinking House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) said the State saw even stronger revenue collections in May, further discrediting the Republican budget strategy of saving unanticipated revenue for a “rainy day” while cutting education and health care by more than $1.7 billion.

“With only one month to go in the fiscal year, the Governor and many House Republicans would rather stick their heads in the sand than acknowledge the fiscal reality that’s as clear as the nose on my face,” Dermody said.

“This revenue surplus is not just a one-month blip or a result of corporate accounting practices. It is the cumulative figure for more than 90% of the current fiscal year and it reflects the growing strength of Pennsylvania’s economy. But the recovery is not reaching everybody yet.”

State revenue collections for May were $33.8 million more than estimated, bringing the working budget surplus for 2010-11 to almost $540 million. This continues a trend begun in the summer of 2010, with

State revenue consistently being higher than expected.

“Even before he became Governor, Tom Corbett made a beginner’s mistake and put himself into a box by committing for political reasons to an artificially low spending number for the General Fund budget,” Dermody said.

According to Dermody, not only is the $540 million surplus available for use in the 2011-12 budget that is now being prepared, but the increase in revenue collection this year establishes a higher base to use in figuring State revenue for next year. In effect, the “unexpected” revenue that came in this year becomes “expected” revenue for next year, funds for which the House-passed budget bill did not account.

Therefore, even before June revenues are collected to finish out the current fiscal year, Pennsylvania can conservatively count on almost $1.1 billion in unplanned additional revenue for the current year and next year combined.

Local Government Committee Discusses Health Enforcement After Gosnell Scandal The Senate Local Government Committee held a public hearing today to consider administration and enforcement of local health laws and the respective roles and responsibilities of local and state agencies.

The hearing took place at Drexel University’s Paul Peck Alumni Center.

A grand-jury investigation into the criminal wrongdo6|

ing at Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society revealed gruesome details and clear oversights at both the State and local level. In light of this horrifying case, the Committee discussed how to improve relations between State and local authorities when it comes to local health laws.

State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) chaired the hear-

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ing. Representatives from the People’s Emergency Center, Deputy Mayor Don Schwarz and City Solicitor Shelley Smith were among those testifying.

Earned Sick Day Bill Embraces Business-Friendly Changes The 99-member-strong Coalition for Healthy Families & Workplaces is making strides toward bringing the “Promoting Healthy Families & Workplaces” (Bill 08074) to a vote in Philadelphia City Council.

The Act would allow Philadelphia workers the opportunity to earn up to seven days of sick time per year.

The bill could affect up to 200,000 workers in Philadelphia who do not have access to paid sick days.

After robust discussions throughout the spring with City Council Members and small and large businesses, the Coalition and the bill’s sponsors – Councilmen Bill Greenlee and Darrell Clarke – have

agreed to offer amendments that: Lower the number of days a worker can accrue to seven days for large businesses and four days for small businesses Add a number of exemptions for pool workers, seasonal workers, interns, and workers covered by collective bargaining agreements Move the timetable for implementation to 90 days Add employer protections for employee misuse Clarify various concerns about coverage and paperwork.

Regional Gov’ts Sign A Protection For Delaware R. Flow New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the City of New York have signed a oneyear agreement for a new interim flow program intended to protect fisheries habitat downstream of the New York City-Delaware Basin reservoirs, enhance flood mitigation and repel the upstream movement of salt water in the Delaware Estuary. The Philadelphia Water Dept. continues to protect the future of Philadelphia’s water supply through active involvement in the flow negotiations.

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“PWD actively participates in the management of the City’s water resources everyday from its headwaters in NYC to the bay and works at all levels to protect this important resource for the citizens of Philadelphia,” remarked Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug.

“We look to continue to work with our partners on long-term solutions for protecting our water resources against threats from climate change and sea-level rise, the introduction of new pollutants to our rivers and streams and prevention of unmanaged development THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

growth and subsequent deforestation of our watershed protected areas of the river basin.”

Diversions and releases of water from the three N.Y.C. reservoirs (Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink) are jointly managed by the four states and N.Y.C. under the terms of a 1954 US Supreme Court Decree. This new agreement, which will be in effect Jun. 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012, will make better use of the shared water in the three City reservoirs, located in the headwaters of the Delaware |

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River through the use of New York City’s new Operations Support Tool. This sophisticated monitoring and modeling system developed in 2010 will enable the Decree Parties (four basin states and N.Y.C.) to better manage the movement of water throughout the reservoir system and the Delaware River Basin.

In addition, reservoir releases under the new agree-

ment will be adjusted to repel the upstream migration of salty water from the Atlantic Ocean that moves up the tidal Delaware River during low-flow conditions.

As salt-laced water moves upriver, the City of Philadelphia and other public water suppliers can be affected along with industrial surface water users.

SEPTA Launches Online Tool For RealTime Bus, Trolley Updates TransitView – an online tool for realtime bus and trolley updates – and two new electronic schedule resources are ready for SEPTA customers.

These initiatives were unveiled during a media briefing and demonstration at SEPTA Headquarters this morning by Joseph M. Casey, SEPTA general

manager.

SEPTA’s efforts to provide convenient, easily accessible travel information will take a major step forward with the launch of a trio of new Webbased tools for bus and trolley customers. TransitView will provide real-time travel updates and informa-

tion. These initiatives were created with SEPTA’s in-house talent and resources, and compliment similar customer-friendly travel tools the Authority has developed in recent years.

Philadelphia Physician Wins Pa. Medical Society’s Highest Honor A Philadelphia doctor, who is hailed as one of the world’s foremost oncologists, has been named the 2011 recipient of the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Distinguished Service Award.

Professor of Clinical Oncology and Professor in the Dept. of Radiation Oncology and Distinguished University Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Luther W. Brady, MD, who joined the Pennsylvania Medical Society in 1956, received a unanimous vote of the Medical Society’s Board of Trustees in winning the award. To qualify for the award, a physician must demonstrate a lifetime of significant achievement, as judged by peers.

His lengthy career is filled with many contributions to the practice of medicine as well as contributions to his community. He has authored books and research papers. He has raised funds for art museums and operas. Politicians have turned to him to lead committees. And international societies have honored him.

Dr. Brady becomes only the 25th Pennsylvania physician to win this highly prestigious award since it was first introduced in 1956. He joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including Jonas E. Salk, MD, and C. Everett Koop, MD.

During his career, he has served as president of every major professional society related to his field including the American College of Radiation Oncology, American Board of Radiology, and Radiological Society of North America to name a few.

Nominated for the award by John D. Cacciamani, MD, MBA, president of the Philadelphia Co. Medical Society, on behalf of the county medical society, Dr. Brady is the Hylda Cohn/American Cancer Society

Dr. Brady will receive the award at the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s annual House of Delegates meeting in Hershey on Oct. 15.

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Kids Run For The George Fund Again

THE 2ND ANNUAL Kids Run for The George Fund at Keystone Hospice will take place on Sunday, Jun. 5 at Springfield HS Stadium, 1801 E. Paper Mill Road, in Erdenheim, Pa. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and the program and races begin at 10:00 a.m. Kids Run for the George Fund is open to boys and girls, age 1 to 14. The goal is not to win, but to promote the importance of exercise through running while having fun. Races will be held according to age-level, with the longest course for older children.

First 250 participants will receive a commemorative Kids Run for The George Fund t-shirt, medal, and a goody bag. Fun activities include a moon bounce, clowns, games, and various arts and crafts. Registration fee is $25. All proceeds benefit Keystone Hospice George Fund. To register, go to www.keystonecare.com and click on Kids Run for The George Fund under “Upcoming Events�. The George Fund, named in memory of George Hedges Pappert, was established by his parents Jerry & Ellen Pappert at Keystone Hospice in 2008. George died in 2008, just eight days before his fifth birthday, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Pediatric hospice care is often three times more expensive than adult hospice care and urgently needed services are sometimes out of reach for many families. Fund is designed to help families of terminally ill children with their needs for quality hospice care.

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La Fille Mal Gardée Closes 2010-11 Pa. Ballet Season With Dancing Hens

BARNYARD FROLIC makes for a light touch at Penna. Ballet’s closing show.

by Adam Taxin The Pennsylvania Ballet Co. closes its 2010-11 season with a six-performance production at the Academy of Music, starting tonight and going through the night of Saturday, June 11, of the romantic comedy La Fille mal gardée (loosely translated as “The Wayward Daughter”) by Sir Frederick Ashton, founding choreogra10 |

pher of the Royal Ballet in London. The music with which the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra accompanies the dancers with is by Ferdinand Hérold, as adapted and arranged by John Lanchbery.

The ballet’s principal characters are two determined lovers, Lise, the young daughter of a wealthy farmer, and Colas, a young and handsome farm worker. UnfortuTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

nately for the two, Lise’s mother, Mother Simone (played, according to tradition, by a male) disapproves and instead arranges for Lise to marry Alain, the eccentric, simpleton son of a wealthy vintner.

(Audiences can pick up the plot for themselves from there.)

The ballet’s rural setting provides a vehicle for, among other humorous characters and antics, dancing 2 JUNE, 2011

hens, who set a tone for the performance at the very opening. According to Pennsylvania Ballet Artistic Director Roy Kaiser, “I’m really happy we’re finishing the season with La Fille mal gardée, because it’s not only fun for the audience, it’s fun for the dancers and the company to perform.” He adds that the ballet “has a fairly simple plot, but it really lends itself to comedy. So it’s very easily understood by people that might not have a lot of experience with the ballet. All of the principal characters are interesting, some lovable, some comical, but wonderful characters. And [there is] wonderful interaction between the characters.”

Kaiser mentions that, nevertheless, the production is “very demanding

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for many of the dancers technically,” containing “a lot of different types of dancing. There is certainly classical ballet, and there are a lot of duets between the two main characters.” He adds that “there is a clog dance, which is just charming and the only one that I’m aware of [in a ballet].”

The Pennsylvania Ballet’s artistic director suggests potential audience members not be put off by the foreign title: “If we called it Swan Lake, people would come out in droves. People shy away from the title a little bit, but I know from my first experience when we performed this, five or six years ago, the people who came and saw the ballet just adored it, just loved it.”

considering attending, “I think it’s a very easy and entertaining introduction to the ballet. It’s not just pure dance. It showcases the acting abilities of the dancers of the company because there are just rich characters throughout, strong characters throughout. It’s just very, very accessible, and you really don’t need to know anything about ballet to be able to come in and enjoy this.”

Note: a slightly different version of this article also appears in this writer’s “Philadelphia Jewish Culture Examiner” column on examiner.com.

As Kaiser emphasizes to those

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