Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. II No. 144 (304)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

September 21, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

GUV SAYS: Dredge We Must

COMPLETING channel-deepening for Port of Phila. is an absolute must for all Commonwealth, said Gov. Tom Corbett, who this morning announced at Packer Marine Terminal he will fund State portion of project’s costs. Story page 3.

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Sep. 20Republican S. Jersey Coalition hosts candidates forum Sep. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at N.E. Sheraton, 9461 Roosevelt Blvd. Confirmed candidates include Karen Brown for Mayor, Al Schmidt for City Commissioner and David Oh for Council at Large. Free for members and $20 for “e-team and nonmembers”.

For info (610) 667-1263.

Sep. 22-24 Ch. of Epiphany of Our Lord annual Italian Festival 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday. Pasta Dinner reservations needed for Thursday Night pasta dinner. Call Mina (267) 240-1992.

Sep. 22Fundraiser for Council candidate Al Taubenberger at SmokeEaters Pub, Frankford & Sheffield Aves., 7-10 p.m. Live music with the Scattered Marbles, dinner buffet, beer and wine. $40/person, $75/couple. For info Lou (267) 505-2182 or feinberg08@aol.com.

Sep. 25Vendemmia Wine & Food Festival, Girard Park, 21st & Porter Sts., 2-7 p.m. supporting Students of Italian heritage in S. Phila. For info www.vendemmifoundation.org.

Sep. 26Spirit of Life Award Reception hosted by Tri State Labor & Mgmt.

Council honor AFL-CIO President Richard W. Bloomingdale and Edward J. Radetich, Jr., CPA and Kyler Award honoree Penna. AFT President Ted Kirsch at Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. & Dock St., 6-9 p.m.

Sep. 27Score Philadelphia, Counselors to Small Business, host free technology seminar to help small business THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

grow at Penna. Convention Ctr., 13th & Arch. Seating limited, complimentary lunch. 8:00 a.m.-4:15 pm. For details and to register www.scorephila.org.

Sep. 28Democratic Ward 39B Fundraiser at EOM Club, Front & Moore Sts., 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets $50. For info Matt Myers (215) 467-4643.

Sep. 30Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco hosts “Party for the People” at H&H Banquet Hall, 2036 E. Haines St., (Haines & Limekiln Pk.), 8 a.m.-12 p.m. $35 in advance. Seating limited. BYOB cabaret style. For tickets (215) 4373294, ext. 209.

Oct. 1 Fishtown Neighbors Association hosts RiverCity Festival at Penn Treaty Pk., Delaware & Columbia Aves., 12-5 p.m. Family fun.

Oct. 2St. Nicholas Ch. Italian Festival on 1700 block S. 9th St., 12-5 p.m., with Procession of Saints from St. Nicholas Tolentine Ch. at 12:30 p.m. Family event. Admission free.

Italian food, entertainment, games.

Oct. 7Mayfair Civic Ass’n hosts Autistic Endeavors Beef & Beer at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd, 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Tickets $30. For info Barbara (215) 360-1569.

Oct. 9World Premier of modern opera “Adea” by Pennsylvania composer Cynthia Cozette at Lutheran Ch. of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St., 3 p.m., followed by reception. Free-will offering will be collected. For info (215) 567-3668.

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Governor Releases Dredging Dollars Gov. Tom Corbett announced the release of $15 million in State funding this morning to continue the Delaware River Main ChannelDeepening project, saying its completion is critical to economic development and job-creation efforts.

“With ports up and down the East Coast deepening their navigation channels, Pennsylvania’s international seaport in Philadelphia must keep pace to remain competitive in the growing international market,” Governor Corbett told a large crowd gathered at the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal.

The project will eventually deepen the Delaware River’s entire 103mile main shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet. This long-planned work will ensure the Port of

Philadelphia can accommodate larger ships and compete with other ports, and particularly those serving New York/New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland.

“A deeper river opens the way for world trade – an economic high tide of sorts. One estimate says the deepening of the river channel will create more than 8,000 to 12,000 direct jobs, and indirectly contribute to another 38,000,” Corbett added, noting spin-off jobs could be created across Pennsylvania.

The project began last year with the deepening of an 11-mile stretch of the channel bordering the State of Delaware. The entire project is expected to take about five years to complete.

This funding will allow the lower portion of “Reach B,” a section of

the Delaware River shipping channel located off the coast of Delaware, to be deepened to 45 feet. As with work done thus far on the project, a private dredging company chosen through a public bid process will perform the deepening, under the guidance and supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Delaware River Main Channel-Deepening Project is a federal public works project, with 65 percent of the project’s estimated $305 million total cost to be funded by the federal government and 35 percent of the project funded by a local match, in this case the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through its independent state agency, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

Casey: Senate Obstruction To Autism Bill Is Misguided And Harmful US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) yesterday called for an end to the obstruction in the Senate that is holding up consideration of bipartisan legislation to support autism research. A Senate procedure known as a “hold” has been utilized to prevent passage of the

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act that unanimously passed out of committee earlier this month.

“Washington gridlock apparently has no boundaries,” said the Senator. “We are unfortunately used to

obstruction in the Senate, but now a few Senators are putting themselves ahead of the thousands of Pennsylvania families impacted by autism. The Senate should pass this bipartisan legislation.”

Toomey Intros Bill To Bag Unfunded Mailings Today, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has introduced the End Unnecessary Mailers Act, which will eliminate unnecessary government 25 AUGUST, 2011

regulations and save communities money.

Since 1996, the Environmental THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Protection Agency has required water authorities yearly to mail detailed consumer confidence reports (CCRs) on water quality. These |

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highly technical reports are quickly disregarded by most households and are mailed at great expense each year. Toomey’s legislation introduced Tuesday, S 1578, will allow water authorities to fulfill their reporting requirements by posting them online and relieve small communities from the burden of complying with federal unfunded mandates.

“The End Unnecessary Mailers Act removes excessive paperwork burdens from Pennsylvania’s local communities and will save water authorities tens of thousands of dollars a year. By allowing water authorities to post their reports online instead of paying for mailers few will read, these utilities will be able to pass on the savings to consumers or improve their services by investing in infrastructure,”

Toomey said.

Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are co-sponsors of the bill. Congressman Bill Young (R-Fla.) has introduced a companion bill, HR 1340, in the House.

Water authorities across Pennsylvania thanked the Senator for introducing this money-saving legislation.

“Not having to send out CCRs would save the PWSA several thousand dollars each year, money that could be better spent on improving our infrastructure. We send out nearly 100,000 CCRs a year and only receive a few complaints and/or comments. The CCR is always posted on the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority’s

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website and could be mailed to PWSA customers on request,” said Thomas Gigliotti, director of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.

“It is important for consumers to have access to information about their water quality, but the federal mandate to mail a printed copy to every household is restrictive and expensive. Each year, the Lehigh County Authority spends almost $10,000 to fulfill the mail-delivery requirement. This cost to our customers could be avoided if electronic communications were allowable, as Sen. Toomey is suggesting. In addition, allowing electronic communication of these important water quality messages would allow utilities to communicate with consumers more often and more effectively, thereby better achieving the original goal of building consumer confidence in public drinking water,” said Aurel Arndt, general manager of the Lehigh Co. Authority.

“Allowing consumer confidence reports that show compliance with all drinking water standards to be posted online and mailed only to customers who request a printed copy would save tens of thousands of dollars in printing and postage costs for our company alone.

Those savings would accrue to the benefit of customers, many of whom have expressed a preference for the efficiency and timeliness of online communications. This change also reflects our commitment to sustainable operations and conservation of natural resources,” said Thomas O’Connor, senior manager of customer operations at Aqua America in Montgomery Co.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Josephs’ Marriage Equality Act Would Open Door To Gay Couples State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) has introduced a bill that would put same-sex relationships on par with heterosexual couples in Pennsylvania by allowing them to marry here, as well as recognize their marriages performed in other states.

“The time has come for Pennsylvania to shed itself of the backward and bigoted view that marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples. Loving individuals desiring to marry their life’s partner, regardless of their gender, should be celebrated and encouraged, rather than discriminated against,” Josephs said.

In July, New York became the sixth state to extend marriage equality to all of its citizens. With that inclusion, Josephs said, that state will see a boost to their economy, from increased state and local sales tax collections and marriage license fees, to additional hotel occupancy tax revenue in the city.

According to the Independent Democratic Conference of the New York State Senate, the state expects to see as much as $391 million in increased economic activity in the first three years of the law.

“I think that’s a pretty enticing figure for any entrepreneur looking to start a business to choose New

York over Pennsylvania, especially when Pennsylvania also continues its antiquated approach to social issues,” she said.

“When a stagnant economy and the Commonwealth’s lack of willingness to protect and support all of our citizens are combined with this year’s devastating cuts to Pennsylvania’s most basic needs, including education, health care and human services, our reputation only worsens. We need to reverse this sad decline and work to restore Pennsylvania’s rightful place as a state that is both in time with the modern world and the current century.”

Boyle Is Chosen For Young Leaders Program At Aspen Institute State Rep. Brendan Boyle (DNortheast) is one of 24 public officials from across the country to be selected to participate in the Aspen Institute’s bipartisan AspenRodel Fellowship program.

The fellowship program, now in its seventh year, is focused on transcending political partisanship and focusing attention on overarching questions of leadership and governance.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen for the Aspen-Rodel Fellowship program,” said Boyle. “I look forward to working with a di21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

verse group of elected officials to discuss and explore some of our nation’s most pressing issues.”

“Fellows are selected based on their reputations for intelligence, thoughtfulness, and a willingness to work across party lines to seek solutions to public problems. We are pleased to welcome this year’s class of Fellows as they continue to make a difference in our public lives across the country,” said former Congressman Mickey Edwards, the director of the program.

The Rodel Fellowship program is open by invitation only to men and THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

women who are in publicly elected office and who are typically between the ages of 25 and 50. Selected on an annual basis, each class consists of 24 Fellows, identified by the program’s leadership as America’s emerging political leaders with reputations for intellect, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to civil dialogue. For more information on the Rodel Fellowship Program, visit http://as.pn/rodel.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and |

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ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fel-

lowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, D.C.; Aspen, Col.; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has

offices in New York City and an international network of partners.

For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Hero Thrill Show’s Tickets Benefit Families Of Fallen This Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Philadelphia Hero Thrill Show will ignite and excite thousands outside the Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street, in the parking lot just south of the former Spectrum.

Hero Thrill Show is a day of fun and fundraising to benefit the education of families of deceased police and fire heroes.

Dignitaries scheduled to appear are Hero Thrill Show President/CEO James “Jimmy” Binns; Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety; Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey; Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers; John McNesby, president, Lodge 5/Fraternal Order of Police; Bill Gault, president of Local 22/ Fire Fighters Union; Thrill Show scholarship recipients/family members of deceased police officers and firefighters; WOGL radio personality Bob Pantano; youth organizer

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and WIP radio host Sonny Hill; ring announcer Nino DelBuono; Philadelphia Police Patrol Motorcycle Drill Team; Homeland Security; Police Mounted Unit; Fraternal Order of Police; patrons of the City’s Police and Fire Depts.; youth basketball organizer and radio host Sonny Hill; and pro athletes from local sports teams.

Thrill Show highlights will include the show’s Grand Marshal Burt Young, of Rocky fame, spectacular motorcycle demonstrations and performances by the Philadelphia Police and Fire departments. In addition, this fall fund-raiser will present displays of crime-fighting equipment by the Aviation Unit, Bomb Squad, the Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Explorers, the Marine Unit, Firearms Instructors, Police Academy, SWAT and US Home Security. The Fire Dept. will display fire equipment and perform safety demonstrations.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Families can enjoy activities such as Mixed Martial Arts (Jiu-Jitsu) and Sambo demonstrations courtesy of Matrix Fights, an old-fashioned carnival with amusements, games, face-painting for the kids and sports team mascots including the Phillie Phanatic and Hip Hop as well as the Sixers’ Dancers, the Soulmates and Eagles Cheerleaders. Local pro athletes will appear and e announced onsite. The Hero Thrill Show is designed to raise money for the education of survivors of deceased police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty in Philadelphia. The event is the only Hero Thrill Show in Philadelphia and is NOT affiliated with the Hero Scholarship Fund.

Tickets are $10 for single purchase, $25 for families. They are available at local police or fire stations, or online at www.herothrillshow.org.

21 SEPTEMBER, 2011