Vol. II No. 177 (337)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
November 7, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
REBORN
“Transforming Dilworth Plaza” provides insight into vision and process behind re-designing Dilworth Plaza, directly west of City Hall. Exhibit includes early drafts by KieranTimberlake and OLIN landscape architects, structural-engineering challenges, and video footage of Janet Echelman’s “Pulse”, an art installation of atomized water vapors and colored lights designed to move across plaza in real-time as sensors capture the movements of Orange and Blue trains and Green trolley lines directly below. Model of the new plaza is also on display in Art Gallery at City Hall, Room 116, near E. Portal Market Street entrance. Ends Nov. 18.
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Nov. 4State Rep. Jewell Williams’ 16th Ward Fish Fry at Lou & Choo’s, 21st & Hunting Pk. Ave., 5-9 p.m. Donation $10. For info Andrew Smith (215) 609-5876. Nov. 5St. Edmond Parish holds Back in the Day Celebration in honor of its centennial at church hall, 21st St. & Snyder Ave., 7-11 p.m. Buffet dinner, beverages, and sweet table. Dancing, a live DJ, door prizes, and lots more. Tickets $25. Open to all. For info (215) 334-3755. Nov. 5Party with a Purpose Cabaret for Quibila Divine at Dowling’s Palace, 1310 N. Broad St., 9 p.m.2 a.m. BYO food & drinks. Tickets $15. For info (267) 2940-6968. Nov. 6St. Malachy Parish Benefit Concert featuring Mick Moloney on mandolin and banjo and his friends in honor of Robert F. McGovern, at Church, 1429 N. 11th St., 2 p.m. Free parking in schoolyard. Reception follows. Free-will offering. For info Mary Courtney (215) 7631305. Nov. 10Community Conversation with State Rep. Rosita Youngblood at Germantown YMCA, 5722 Greene St., 6-8 p.m. Nov. 10State Rep. Cherellew Parker hosts Veterans Workshop Nov. 10 at Finley Recreation Cenrter, 7701 Mansfield Ave.from 10 to noon. For info call 215-242-7300. Nov. 12Unions Fight For Life hosts Fight Night for Phila. Veterans Multi Service & EducaTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
tion Ctr. at Armory starting at 7 p.m. at Penna. Armory, Southampton Rd. & Roosevelt Blvd. Tickets $20. For info Doug Baron (267) 718-2472, Rich Mancini (610) 505-0842, Eric Howarth (215) 290-1370, Tom Dooley (267) 2465512 or Ed Shaw (267) 992-2600. Nov. 14Mayor Michael Nutter, State Reps. Louise Bishop & Vanessa Lowery Brown host Economic Recovery Services & Job Fair at Hilton Phila. City Ave., 4200 City Line Ave., 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nov. 17FOP Auxiliary presents Ladies Night, holiday-shopping demos at 1336 Spring Garden St., 6-9 p.m. Many vendors. Snacks, beer, wine & soda. Free. For info Donna Giulian (215) 820-0865. Nov. 17Community Conversation with State Rep. Rosita Youngblood at Indochinese American Council, 4934 Old York Rd., 6-8 p.m. Nov. 18Bobbie Carter Foundation celebrates 10 years of service with Jazzin’ 4 Diabetes at Park Avenue Banquet Hall, 4942 Parkside Ave., 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Festivities include butler hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, dinner, saxophonist John Williams & band and a special awards ceremony. Tickets $20. For info Yanina (856) 2285040, Crystal (215) 375-6267 or Norm (215) 588-7838. Nov. 21Phila. Tea Party Patriots invite all to meeting at Prudential Bank, 1834 W. Oregon Ave., 7 p.m. Entrance and parking in rear. 7 NOVEMBER, 2011
Birds Of A Feather Flock Together To Urge Ticket-Splitting Republican, Democrat, Independent, and Write-In Candidates for Mayor and other offices are gathering at 3 p.m. today to urge voters to vote the individual and not the party ticket. At the press conference at 3
p.m. at 718 Market Street, Mayoral Candidates Karen Brown, Green Sheriff Candidate Cheri Honkala, Write-in Sheriff candidate Meighan Dorr; Traffic Court Judge Lewis Harris, Jr., and other 2011 candidates will encourage registered voters to vote
the person and not just the party. Candidates will be discussing concerns they have regarding straight-ticket voting and the misunderstandings that many Philadelphia voters have surrounding the voting process and their rights.
Senate Candidate Says Jobs Report Shows ‘Tax & Spend’ Has Failed Tom Smith, Republican primary candidate for United States Senate, issued a statement in response to another disappointing report on job creation.
are failing the American people.
“House Republicans have continued to pass meaningful reforms that would lead to immediate job creation, and Senate Democrats like Bob “Today’s report is continued evidence that the tax, spend Casey have time and time and regulate policies of Presi- again halted the progress that dent Obama and Sen. Casey Pennsylvanian’s so desper-
Parole Board Vacancies May Increase Prison Population 7 NOVEMBER, 2011
According to an article in the Harrisburg Patriot News, Pennsylvania’s prison population and costs might soon resume their dizzying climb. The prison population is level for the moment, enough so that inmates housed out of state have begun to return, but Corrections Secretary John THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
ately need. For three years, our country has tried to tax and spend our way to prosperity, and 14 million unemployed Americans have paid the price. The time for action is now, the federal government needs to get out of the way and allow the private sector to grow and create jobs.”
Wetzel says a cloud is on the horizon that might change everything. The thunderhead is a product of the State Senate. Parole interviews have slowed because the Board of Parole is short two members. The terms of Benjamin Martinez and former Chairman Catherine McVey expired Jun. 30. |
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House Democratic Policy Committee Examines Campaign Finance Reform hearing Friday at City Hall to look how the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Citizens United vs. FEC has impacted campaign financing in the Commonwealth, said Chairman Mike Sturla (DLancaster).
Josephs has been on the forefront of examining the consequences of policies like these as well as educating Pennsylvanians about them.”
“Voter participation is at an all-time low because citizens MINORITY CHAIR of feel their votes cannot comHouse State Government The hearing was requested pete with unlimited amounts Committee Babette Josephs and co-chaired by State Rep. of campaign contributions. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.), Campaign Finance Reform is who is also the ranking Dethe answer,” Josephs said. mocrat on the House State Government Committee. Those testifying included Judy Wicks, founder of Sus“The US Supreme Court’s tainable Business Network of landmark decision in CitiGreater Philadelphia and cozens’ United versus the FEC founder of Business Alliance allowing corporations to for Local Living Economies; VETERAN ACTIVIST and spend an unlimited amount of Jeff Clements, co-founder and business leader Judy Wicks money on elections is having general counsel, Free Speech an unprecedented influence for People; and Alana Miller, The House Democratic Policy on our nation’s political land- program associate, PenCommittee held a public scape,” Sturla said. “Rep. nPIRG.
DA Will Monitor Fair Practices In Tuesday’s Election District Attorney Seth Williams, along with the Committee of 70, will be watching Tuesday’s election closely. Members of the District Attorney’s Office will monitor action at the polls 4|
and enforce fair practices to ensure a fair election is held on Tuesday. “We encourage all registered voters in the city to get out and exercise the privilege of THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
casting their votes,” said Williams. “That being said, we want to stress we will go after any criminal activity and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.” 7 NOVEMBER, 2011
Voters’ complaints can be registered by calling the District Attorney’s Office at (215) 6869641, 9643, 9644 or 9884. The Committee of 70 will also be available to answer any electionrelated questions at 1 (866) OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). Mobile units, each with an Assistant DA and a DA’s Detective, will be dispatched to problem polling places to investigate any person who attempts to violate a citizen’s right to vote. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Charges can include assault, vote fraud, harassment, terroristic threats and voter intimidation.
ELECTION DAY TELEPHONE NUMBERS CITY COMMISSIONERS Chairperson, Commissioner Margaret Tartaglione (215) 686-3461 Acting Commissioner, Honorable Leon W. Tucker Acting Commissioner, Honorable Charles J. Cunningham III Commissioners’ Office — Room 132 (215) 686-3462 COMMITTEE OF 70 1 (866) 687-8683 Report Problems at Polling Place/Any Election-Related Questions (215) 557-3600 VOTER REGISTRATION/ELIGIBILITY (215) 686-1590 VOTING MACHINE MALFUNCTION (215) 686-7800 ELECTION BOARD (215) 686-3469 Absentee Ballots and Poll Workers (215) 686-3943 MISSING ELECTION MATERIALS (215) 686-1530, 686-1531, 686-1532 WATCHER CERTIFICATES (215) 686-1530 PHILADELPHIA CITY SERVICES INFO 3-1-1 CITY HALL OPERATOR (215) 686-1776 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Foreign-Language Interpreters 1 (866) 874-3972, 686-1560 DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S COMPLAINT INTAKE UNIT (215) 686-9641, 686-9643, 686-9644, 686-9884 DEMOCRATIC CITY COMMITTEE (215) 241-7800 REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE (215) 561-0650 CENTRAL ELECTION COURT (City Hall Room 676) (215) 686-4278 REGULATIONS AT POLLING PLACES The following regulations apply to all polling places: 7 NOVEMBER, 2011
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No partisan political activity may take place within 10 feet from the entrance to the polling room. No electioneering is permitted within the polling place. Police and peace officers (e.g., Sheriff’s deputies) must remain 100 feet distance from the polls unless they are in the process of voting or have been summoned by the Judge of Elections to restore order within the polls. Campaign buttons may not be worn by Election Board members or Watchers while they are inside the polling room. Printed or written campaign leaflets, sample party ballots or other partisan materials may not be distributed inside the polls, or left or stored there during the course of the election. Suggestions of any kind as to which party or candidate to vote for are not permitted inside the polling room. Voters may wear buttons or T-shirts in support of any candidate. Voters are permitted to bring sample ballots or any written material into the polling place. QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED ON ELECTION DAY What can watchers do inside the polling place? Candidates are entitled to two watchers for each polling place where their names are on the ballot. All watchers must have been selected before Election Day. When the polls are being set up in the morning and when the count is computed at the end of the night, all watchers are allowed inside the polling place. During the time for voting, however, only one of each candidate’s watchers is permitted inside the polling place. When the election officials are preparing the polling place, all watchers must be permitted to examine the vote-tallying counters and the public counter on the machines to see that they are set at 000; the watcher must be permitted to stand somewhere in the room that permits them to exercise this right. When the room is open for voting, watchers inside the room must stand “outside the enclosed space,” which the Election Code describes as the “inner portion” of the room. The voting machines are supposed to be inside that enclosed space, and poll watchers may not enter that portion of the polling place where voting is actually taking place. During the day, watchers usually try to keep track of who comes to vote. They are permitted to keep a list of voters and may challenge any would-be voter. In carrying out these duties, what if the watcher doesn’t recognize a voter and wants to find out who he or she is? Although 6|
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7 NOVEMBER, 2011
the Election Code is silent as to the procedure to be followed, generally, the election official will allow the watcher to look at the sign-in form which the voter signed and to compare the name with the voter’s name in the binder. May one of the election officials announce the name of the voter? Yes. When the polls are closed and the count is being computed, all watchers are allowed inside the polling place, but they are not permitted to touch the machine. I mailed in my absentee ballot, or I received one but didn’t use it. May I vote in person now that I have discovered I can make it to the polls? Yes. In fact, the law says that you must. When you go to vote in person, the Judge of Elections should set aside your unopened absentee ballot and it will not be counted. However, polling place officials may not know this rule; therefore, if they give you an argument, have them call the Committee of Seventy. Absentee ballots which were not received by the County Board of Elections by Friday, November 4, 2011 at 5 p.m. will not be counted. May I have assistance voting? Yes. If the registration affidavit has the appropriate boxes marked, indicating need for assistance, the voter is entitled to assistance. (The caller should have checked those boxes when he or she registered, or should have had the information added after registering.) If the affidavit is not marked, the voter completes a Declaration of the need for Assistance form at your polling place. The voter may be given assistance by any person of the voter’s choice, except by the voter’s employer or agent of that employer, by an officer or agent of the voter’s union, or the Judge of Elections (unless the Judge of Elections is the only person who speaks the same language as the voter and the voter chooses the Judge for assistance). My name wasn’t in the poll book, so the Judge of Elections wouldn’t let me vote. Was that right? Is there anything I can do to vote? That was right: The Judge of Elections may not let someone vote whose name isn’t in the poll book, even if the Judge knows the individual has been voting there for decades. However, there is a remedy: You can also request a provisional ballot and vote on that at the polling place. A vote cast by provisional ballot will only be counted if it turns out that the voter was indeed registered in Philadelphia Co. (After the Election, you can check online www.hava.state.pa.us to see if your provisional ballot was counted.) Make sure you re-register shortly after the election. How much time may I take to vote once I’ve closed the curtain to the voting machine? The Election Code sets a maximum of 3 minutes, but if others are not waiting to vote, the election officers may allow you a longer time. (Voters may familiarize themselves with the ballot by examining the pink sample ballot posted at the polling place before they enter the voting machine.) 7 NOVEMBER, 2011
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If I’m in line at the polling place by 8:00PM, but haven’t yet reached the voting machine, may I vote? Yes. If you are in the line by 8:00 p.m., you may vote, whether you are in line outside or inside the polling place. (This assumes you are qualified to vote and that your name is in the poll book.) If the line is very long, it may take several hours before all those in line by 8:00 p.m. have voted. This is entirely legal; however, no one who enters the line after 8:00 p.m. is permitted to vote. INFORMATION FOR NEWLY REGISTERED 1ST-TIME VOTERS Voters arriving before 8:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote, but voters are urged to arrive early in order to avoid crowds and longer lines. Judges of elections will require newly-registered first-time voters to provide identification. The following items are acceptable forms of identification: Valid Photo Identification Pennsylvania driver’s license or Pennsylvania ID card Identification issued by federal or state agency Student identification with photo United States Military ID United States passport Employee ID Valid Non-Photo Identification (including voter’s name and address) Voter Registration Card issued by county Board of Elections Non-photo ID issued by Pennsylvania Non-photo ID issued by US Government Gun permit with name and address Government check with name and address Current utility bill with name and address Current bank statement with name and address Paycheck with name and address
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7 NOVEMBER, 2011