Vol. II No. 157 (317)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
October 10, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
Parade’s Back
REVIVED FROM YEARS PAST, Columbus Day Parade and festivities livelier than ever on S. Broad Street Sunday. Italian American leaders and organizations walked the street in full force and Marconi Plaza was packed.
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Oct. 10Fundraiser for Council candidate Bill Rubin at Del Frisco’s Restaurant, 1426 Chestnut St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsors $1,000, Supporters $500. Oct. 11Lunch with Karen Brown For Mayor at Vesper Club, 1 p.m. Guest of Honor Eagles’ Curtis March. $250-$500. RSVP by Oct. 7 (215) 279-7210. Oct. 11Prevent A Child From Abuse fundraiser art at Tavern On Broad at Bellevue, Broad & Walnut Sts., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sponsored by Joseph Pultrone. Tickets $50. For info, tickets, and other details Joe (267) 977-3776. Oct. 12Reception for Chairman House Dem. Campaign Committee State Rep. Brendan F. Boyle and special guest Minority Leader State Rep. Frank Dermody at PFCU, 1600 Locust St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Gold $5,000, Silver $2500 and Bronze $1,000. Checks payable to Friends of Brendan Boyle. RSVP Nicole Simmons, (717) 238-1998, nsimmons@pahdccc.com. Oct. 13Youth United for Change Reception honors Mayor Michael Nutter and Laura Shubilla at Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut St., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14State Rep. John Sabatina Golf Outing at John F. Byrne G.C., 9550 Leon St., 4-Man Scramble, registration, registration 12 m., shotgun 1 p.m. $125 includes entry to all events, 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner, awards and after-party at 3 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Monkeys Café, 9645 James St. For info Steve Campanile (215) 4604697 or Sabatina Assoc. (215) 7428600. Oct. 15W. Poplar NASC hosts Fall Fashion Show & Luncheon at Zoar United Methodist Ch., 1204 Melon St., 2 p.m. Donation $20. For info (215) 765-0960. Oct. 15“Deep Roots – John Myers and Germantown” celebration honoring State Rep. John Myers’ birthday at 5547 Germantown, 6-9 p.m. Tickets $50. For info Cornelia Swinson (215) 740-8493. Oct. 16Sheriff Barbara Deeley and Team Jewell Williams, Democrat candidate for Sheriff host Eagles vs. Redskins Fundraiser for Sheriff candidate Jewell Williams at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 1 p.m. Beer, wine, hot and cold foods. Tickets $50. Make personal checks only out to Citizens for Jewell Williams, 2343 Smedley St., Phila. PA.19132. For info (215) 919-1120. Oct. 16State Rep. John Myers celebrates his Birthday at 5547 Germantown Ave., 6-9 p.m. Appetizers, drinks, music and dancing. Tickets $50. For info Cornelia Swinson (215) 740-8493. Oct. 16-22 Mt. Zion Baptist Ch. hosts 97th annual Church Anniversary kickoff Concert at 50th & Woodland Ave., 3 p.m. Revival will be held Oct. 19-21, 7 p.m. All events free and open to public. For info (215) 7240619. 10 OCTOBER, 2011
Overhaul Of Taxi, Limo Regs Goes Through of pages of comments from cab drivers and other industry representatives, as well as State legislators and members of the general public. With IRRC approval, the regulations will be effective once they are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
VINCENT FENERTY In a unanimous 5 to 0 vote, the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved taxicab and limousine regulations proposed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority to assure stability in the industry and support the development of clean, safe, reliable and well-regulated taxis and limousines in Philadelphia. The PPA was required to propose regulations and elicit public comment, which ended on Feb. 14, 2011. PPA board members and staff spent countless hours painstakingly reviewing thousands
City Beats 25% Minority-Business Rate For Its Contractors The City of Philadelphia exceeded its goal and reached 25.6% minority, women and disabled-owned business enterprise participation 10 OCTOBER, 2011
Commenting on IRRC’s approval of the regulations, PPA Executive Director Vince Fenerty said, “these regulations are aimed at ensuring public safety and maintaining stability in the industry.” PPA initiated regulatory oversight of taxicab and limousine service providers in Philadelphia in April 2005. “Rules and regulations are needed to provide certainty to the general public and the taxi and limo industry. A lack of regulations would create uncertainty as to what rules, rates and procedures apply to taxicab and limousine service in Philadelphia,” Fenerty said. Because there were pending court appeals of existing regulations, several taxicab and limousine companies have refused to submit rate for fiscal year 2011. The City achieved this rate and awarded a total of $228.6 million to M/W/DSBEs throughout FY2011. This rate is improved from last year’s 23.7% participation in FY2010 and from 17.8% participation at the end of FY2008.
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their vehicles for inspection, are providing service with drivers that have not been certified, and have refused to pay annual fees. “With today’s IRRC decision, there is no gray area and any taxicab or limousine company who refuses to submit their vehicles for inspection, or allow uncertified drivers to drive their vehicles, will be fined and prohibited from operating in the city of Philadelphia,” said Fenerty.
“The public’s health, safety and welfare are endangered through the use of uninspected vehicles and uncertified drivers,” Fenerty said. “The regulations are aimed at maintaining the practices and procedures applicable to the taxicab and limousine industry in Philadelphia since 2005. They are intended to support the development of clean, safe, reliable and well-regulated taxicabs and limousines. They are also intended to be clear, feasible and reasonable,” Fenerty said. “I am excited that we have exceeded our goal of at least 25 percent participation for minority, women and disabled-owned businesses,” said the Mayor. “The Office of Economic Opportunity has done a tremendous job of encouraging businesses to join the City’s Registry, and I would like to thank |
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all of our City’s departments for working hard to meet this goal. We are helping to put our city’s businesses to work.” In February 2010, Mayor Nutter launched Inclusion Works: Economic Opportunity Strategic Plan, which outlines the City’s plan to increase M/W/DSBEs participation and outreach to strategic partners. The Office of Economic Opportunity has been hosting monthly outreach meetings with businesses to summarize contracting opportunities and processes. Additionally, the OEO Registry has increased by over 42% to 1,890 companies. The Registry identifies M/W/DSBE businesses and facilitates higher participation rates. “OEO and the City departments have been working diligently to
open the doors for M/W/DSBEs,” said Angela Dowd Burton, Executive Director of the OEO. “On Sept. 1, OEO launched a six-month capacity-building program for minority contracts with the plan to track their progress and offer firsthand experience, market information, productive business relationships, and an opportunity to expand and enhance their business capacity.” Of the $228.6 million awarded to M/W/DSBEs, $152 million was for minority-owned businesses and $76 million to women-owned businesses. To view the Fourth Quarter Report, please visit www.phila.gov/oeo. For additional information on monthly meetings to educate vendors and contractors about opportunities to do business with the City, please visit the OEO website or call (215) 683-2057.
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10 OCTOBER, 2011
Wistar Inst. Kicks Off Announces $35 Million Capital Campaign
GLENN BRYAN, Penn VP, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and State Rep. Jim Roebuck were among dignitaries who participated in groundbreaking for the The Wistar Institute’s new research tower. A hurricane moved the ceremony indoors. Photos by Bonnie Squires
WISTAR PRESIDENT and CEO Russel Kaufman, MD, presided over groundbreaking ceremony at 36th & Spruce Streets. He is seen here with supporter Paula Dresnin and Board Member Albert Ominsky, Esq. 10 OCTOBER, 2011
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by Staci Goldberg The Wistar Institute, an international leader in basic biomedical research, has announced a fiveyear, $35 million capital campaign, Building Wistar, Changing the World. The campaign, which to date has raised over $18.5 million in a “quiet” phase, will support Wistar’s first major building expansion in 35 years, and ensure the Institute’s future at the forefront of cancer research and vaccine development. “The way biomedical research is conducted is evolving, and we must follow suit. A laboratory is no longer simply a room where individual researchers toil at their benches. It’s a multidisciplinary space, where collaboration is key and open communication is paramount. This is the vision driving our campaign.” Concurrent with the campaign launch, the Institute announced plans to build a new, seven-story, 89,700-square-foot research tower, which will rise above its current historic facility at 36th & Spruce Streets in University City. The project will enable Wistar to expand its research operations, recruit new scientific faculty and pursue collaborative biomedical research in emerging areas of science. “I believe passionately in the importance of expanding The Wistar Institute at this critical moment in time,” said Wistar trustee Robert A. Fox, chair of the Building Wistar, Changing the World capital campaign. “The way biomedical research is conducted is evolving, and we must follow suit. A labora6|
tory is no longer simply a room where individual researchers toil at their benches. It’s a multidisciplinary space, where collaboration is key and open communication is paramount. This is the vision driving our campaign.” Five of the floors in Wistar’s new research tower will house laboratories designed to support team science, an approach that reflects the future of biomedical research. With flexible, open floor plans and next-generation equipment and facilities, each laboratory floor will accommodate up to four principal investigators and their laboratory staffs. The scientists, with different yet complementary areas of expertise, will literally come together to collaborate around shared research interests. These “laboratories of the future”, along with an aggressive plan to complement Wistar’s existing faculty strengths by recruiting up to 10 new faculty members with expertise in promising new areas of biomedical research, will enable the Institute to increase the capacity of every team working on genetics, vaccines and cancer research. “Science today requires space and infrastructure to foster work that is both multidisciplinary and collaborative,” said Wistar President and CEO Russel E. Kaufman, MD. “The new research tower will enable us to assemble larger teams of researchers who can do more. This is a building designed for the scientific talent that will drive the next generation of Wistar breakthroughs.” In addition to driving Wistar’s reTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
search engine, the expansion project will enhance Wistar’s public outreach. Welcomed through a new public entrance to the Institute on Spruce Street, visitors will travel through a soaring glass atrium to attend scientific symposia and public events in a new, 200-seat auditorium. These inspiring and user-friendly public spaces will host Wistar’s education programs and connect more people, school-age through senior citizens, to the language of science. While the campaign, which will help ensure the future financial stability of the Institute, is off to a strong start, the most challenging part is still to come: raising another $16.5 million. By entering the public phase of the capital campaign, Wistar will ask for support from the community at large to help ensure the Institute achieves its mission of advancing basic biomedical research. Building Wistar, Changing the World is guided by the leadership and vision of a capital campaign steering committee. In addition to Kaufman and Fox, committee members include Ira Brind, Wistar Board of Trustees; President, Brind Investments, Inc.; Ronald L. Caplan, Wistar Board of Trustees; Founder & President, Philadelphia Management Brian H. Dovey, Chair, Wistar Board of Trustees; General Partner, Domain Associates Richard M. Horowitz, CoVice-Chair, Wistar Board of Trustees; President, R.A.F. Industries, Inc.; Susan S. McDonald, PhD, Wistar Board of Trustees; President & CEO, National Analysts Worldwide Helen P. Pudlin, Co-Vice-Chair, Wistar Board of Trustees; Executive VP & General 10 OCTOBER, 2011
Counsel, PNC Bank, N.A. Adele K. Schaeffer, Wistar Board of Trustees; and Community Volunteer Milton S. Schneider, Wistar Board of Trustees.
The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit bio-
medical research institute in the country, Wistar has long held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute.
Lawyers Bike To Shore For MS
FELDMAN SHEPHERD team leader Evan Liu, MD, JD, right, joins fellow rider Gilbert Marquez, left, on City to Shore Ride. 10 OCTOBER, 2011
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Feldman Shepherd personal-injury attorneys took to the pavement to help fight multiple sclerosis by participating in the 31st annual Bike MS: City to Shore Ride. Team leader Evan Liu, MD, JD, right, organized a nine-person cycling team that consisted of coworkers Thomas Martin, Patricia Giordano and Gilbert Marquez, left, along with family and friends. Team Feldman Shepherd raised $3,250 to benefit National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “The attorneys and staff of Feldman Shepherd are very proud of the firm’s dedication to philanthropic endeavors,” stated Dr. Liu. “We enjoyed participating in last year’s Bike MS event and were
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pleased to do so again in 2011.” City to Shore Ride, which took place in Southern New Jersey, saw an estimated 7,000 cyclists join fight against MS. Feldman Shepherd formed a diverse team to ride 75 miles in the event, beginning in Cherry Hill, N.J. and ending in Ocean City, N.J. All proceeds raised support research for a cure and provide programs to address the needs of people living with MS. Feldman Shepherd and its trial attorneys are committed to providing legal and other support to the community. Lawyers and staff members alike lend their time and talents to philanthropic organizations. Feldman Shepherd also donates $1,000 per year per attorney to legal services such as Philadel-
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phia VIP, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Senior Law Center, Support Center for Child Advocates and others. The staff raises money and gift donations each year for less fortunate members of the community. In addition, the firm contributes 1% of all cerebral palsy case settlements and verdicts to a fund that sends families of children with cerebral palsy to Disney World. The firm has sent six families to Disney to date and anticipates sending many more. Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig LLP has handled cases producing some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania. The firm represents plaintiffs in significant personal injury, class action, and other complex civil litigation.
10 OCTOBER, 2011
Special-Ed Law Firm Backs Autism Cause
MONTGOMERY CO. special-education law firm of Frankel & Kershenbaum sponsored and participated in Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Philadelphia. Frankel & Kershenbaum founding member, Dave Frankel, served as the firm’s team leader and gathered a 15-person team including coworkers, Josh Kershenbaum and Maria Vetter, clients, family, and friends. Overall event raised more than $535,000 in support of the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. Frankel said, “Autism is a complex and challenging condition. Our special education attorneys are passionate about serving children with special needs and their families. We feel it is our duty to support these families with the right resources and legal counsel pertaining to their children’s rights.” Frankel & Kershenbaum provides skilled, compassionate legal counseling and representation in a wide range of matters affecting the rights of children and adults. The firm’s capabilities include, but are not limited to, special-education law, special-needs advocacy, special-needs estate planning, personal injury, children’s constitutional rights, higher-education student rights and LGBT youth and adult rights.
10 OCTOBER, 2011
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