Daily record

Vol. III No. 49 (417)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

March 15, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Nurse! I Need A Vote, Quick!

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S reelection campaign is starting to gear up in Penna., with special attention to Democratic strongholds like Phila. Tonight, a neighborhood office will open in Germantown. Yesterday, an economic interest group “Nurses for Obama” launched its state effort here. Story Page 3.

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Mar. 15Commissioner Al Schmidt hosts fundraiser at Tír na nÓg, 1600 Arch St. Donations $100.

Mar. 15Councilman Jim Kenney’s St. Patrick’s Day Party at Galdo’s, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 6-8 p.m. Tickets at door, $35 each.

Mar. 16State Sen. Michael Stack hosts St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Brookside Manor, 50 Bustleton Pike, Somerton Springs, Feasterville, Pa., 8 p.m-12 a.m. Tickets $40.

For info Rosemary Rubino (215) 964-3140.

Mar. 16-17- Programs for Teaching Educational Conference sponsored by Phila.

Federation of Teachers Health & Welfare Fund at Sheraton, 17th & Race. 50 topics. State Rep. James Roebuck, special guest speaker. For info (215) 5612722.

Mar. 17State Sen. Shirley Kitchen cohosts Women with Disabilities Expo at Resources for Human Development, 4700 Wissahickon Ave., 10 a.m.1 p.m. For info Zarifa Roberson (215) 200-8387.

Mar. 17Pentecostal Clergy holds 12th Anniver-

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sary Breakfast at View, 800 N. Broad St., 7th fl., 7:30 a.m. Tickets $25. Full tables $250. Call Dorothy Sturgis (215) 991-9830.

Mar. 17Judge Jimmy Lynn hosts St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at Plough & Stars Restaurant, 2nd St. south of Chestnut, 7:30-11 a.m. Kids eat free. Traditional Irish breakfast and entertainment. Tickets $25 made out to Plough & Stars. For info (215) 6868330.

Mar. 17State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas hosts 52 women over 90 and 114year-old Genoveva Rodriguez for breakfast at William H. Gray III Youth Ctr., 1601 N. 12th St., 10 a.m.

Mar.17Wreath Laying Ceremony at Irish Memorial, Front & Chestnut Sts. 11:00 a.m. For info John Donovan (215) 605-8845 jdonovan@compasinc.com.

Mar. 17State Rep. Mark Cohen, NAACP and AARP host Health Fair at Zion Baptist Ch., 3600 N. Broad St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Screenings, workshops, pharmacist’s advice and more. For info Lenise Miller (267) 582-9489.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Obama Launches Penna.

Nurses’ Campaign Here Philadelphia Councilwoman Cindy Bass and two Pennsylvania nurses announced the launch of Nurses for Obama for Pennsylvania yesterday. This is part of a national program that will mobilize nurses across the country and provide resources and effective ways they can be advocates for health care reform in their communities.

Nurses are on the frontlines of our health care system, they are involved in every step of the way from prevention to patient care and have seen firsthand how health-care reform has already benefited their patients.

so desperately needed health-care reform. With the reforms that have been made, my patients can make their health decisions based on what their doctors and nurses are advising them, not what their insurance company says it will pay for. I have seen the ins and outs of America’s healthcare system for over 30 years, and I am a proud Nurse for Obama.”

Obama for America Pennsylvania also released a new report detailing how Pennsylvanians have already benefitted from the President’s landmark health reforms.

This report is part of Obama for America’s ongoing effort to make Starr Romano, a nurse from Al- sure Americans know how, in the toona, Pa. said, “My fellow nurses two years since President Obama and I see firsthand why America signed health reform into law, it’s

already helping them save money and live healthier lives.

“In two short years millions of people right here in Pennsylvania have already experienced firsthand the important benefits and the economic security the President’s new healthcare law provides,” said Bass. “Over 3.4 million Pennsylvanians now have access to free preventative care and 7.7 million are now protected against the worst insurance abuses, like denying health care to the sick, gender discrimination and excessive premium increases.

And that’s just the beginning; as the law continues to phase in, so will more of its benefits.”

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Schwartz Belabors Romney For His Vow To Kill Planned Parenthood Congressman Allyson Schwartz (D-Phila.) released the following statement decrying Mitt Romney’s comments that he would “get rid of” Planned Par-

enthood, a vital health-care control, and other preventative provider for millions of American care. women in need of affordable “For American women across health care and life-saving services such cancer screenings, birth the political spectrum, it is ab-

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD solutely unacceptable that Republican candidates for President keep focusing on their plans to deny tens of millions of women access to quality, affordable health care instead of their economic plans and ideas,” the Con-

gresswoman said.

American women depend on these health centers for vital serv“When Mitt Romney says he ices, such as breast cancer screenwould, ‘get rid of’ Planned Par- ing, prenatal care, and overall enthood, it demonstrates how wellness.” completely out of touch he is with that the reality that millions of

Senate Dems Clobber Corbett Over Jobs Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is also being targeted by Democrat foes across the state. In his case, jobs – or lack of them – are fueling the war cries.

Pennsylvania’s “stunning” loss of 9,000 jobs in January is astounding considering there was robust national employment growth of over 730,000 new jobs during the past three months, Senate Democratic leaders said yesterday.

The Democrats said these new numbers illustrate the lack of leadership by Gov. Tom Corbett and his administration on jobs, the most important issue facing Pennsylvania.

“There are still nearly a half million people in Pennsylvania that don’t have a job because the governor is not doing his,” said State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Kensington), Democratic chair

of the Labor & Industry Committee and Caucus secretary. “The administration’s economic policy of blind-faith budget cuts has failed working families.”

According the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pennsylvania ranked 44th among all states in net job creation last month, far below our neighboring states.

“Gov. Corbett has failed to engage on job creation and refused to invest in key Pennsylvania resources such as our workforce and infrastructure,” said State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.), Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that we are treading water while employment in other states and across the nation is improving dramatically.”

(D-Allegheny) said that Corbett’s frustrating lack of focus on job creation has resulted in employment stagnation.

“The latest employment numbers provide clear evidence Pennsylvania is on the wrong track,” said Costa. “Years of investment and attention to education and job creation are being undermined.

We are starting to see some real damage being done to our economy in Pennsylvania. We must focus on jobs and growth and put a stop to this downward slide.”

In addition to his lack of leadership on pushing a jobs plan similar to the comprehensive PA Works plan sought by Senate Democrats, the leaders say Corbett’s deep and unreasonable budget cuts have crippled employment growth in Pennsylvania, and allowed the state’s working families to fall beDemocratic Leader Jay Costa hind the national recovery.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, since January 2011, a total of 37,000 jobs have been generated here in Pennsylvania, but job growth slowed dramatically after the current-year budget was adopted in June. Since September there has been no growth at all.

Just one year ago, Pennsylvania ranked 7th among all states with total job growth of more than 107,000 new jobs over the prior year. It is disturbing to see us losing jobs at a time when the national economic recovery is gaining such momentum.

“These dismal employment numbers clearly indicate it is time to refocus our budget priorities and begin investing directly in job-creation strategies,” Hughes said.

“Hopefully these numbers will grab the Governor’s attention.”

Waters Kicks Off Forums At Sayre Tonight State Rep. Ron Waters (D-W. quirements, school violence and Philadelphia) will host the first in other hot-button topics will be a series of community forums this featured in the discussion. evening at Sayre HS Auditorium, Other forums are scheduled for 5800 Walnut Street. Voter ID re-

Mar. 22, Mar. 29 and Apr. 10. All will run from 6 to 8 p.m. For further information, call Waters’ district office at (215) 748-6712.

Butkovitz Uncovers $70M In Unpaid City Fines Following up on an earlier report on the Office of Administrative Review’s enforcement and collection efforts, City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released a report that found as of the end of FY2010, the City was owed more than $70 million for unpaid fines that included trash, sanitation, and false burglar alarms violations.

million. The total number of unpaid violations also increased from 330,760 for FY08 to 412,837 for FY10.

While the City increased the amounts of the fine for some of these violations during this period, it collected $1.5 million more in revenues from FY09 to FY10, but issued almost 40,000 fewer tickets.

City is going to have to get serious about collecting the millions of dollars in unpaid fines and should start by improving its collection efforts.”

The Controller’s follow-up review also found that at the end of FY10, there were 55,811 violations totaling $5.1 million eligible for court referral. As noted in the From FY08 to FY10, unpaid Controller’s 2008 report, OAR is fines for these type of violations limited to referring only 160 cases According to Butkovitz, “This per week, resulting in a signifiincreased by 38 percent, or $19.4 is an ongoing problem and the 6|

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD cant backlog of violations waiting as deem null any current licenses establishing an incentive program for OAR to review. until the fine has been paid in full. that would slightly reduce the fine amount owed for individuals who To improve the collection rates • Coordinate efforts with the Mu- pay the fine within 10 days and and compliancy, Controller nicipal Court to increase the num- plead no contest to the violation.

Butkovitz made the following ber of referrals to clear the backlog recommendations for the City: of pending cases and improve the To view the OAR Follow-Up administrative due process delays. Review of Enforcement & Col• Deny issuing licenses and perlections report, please the Conmits to any person/business who • Explore the opportunity to al- troller’s website at owes for unpaid violations, as well leviate backlog of appeal cases by www.philadelphiacontroller.org.

Wilson To Direct School Partnership The Philadelphia School Partnership has hired Miles Wilson, Mid-Atlantic Southeast director at the Nonprofit Finance Fund and former school principal at Community Education Partners, to serve the educational nonprofit as Director - Great Schools Compact. Miles will coordinate and advance the Great Schools Compact, a joint commitment of numerous school providers to work collaboratively to share best practices and improve school performance, and to pursue the common goal of providing a highperforming school option for every child.

but they are too often competing instead of collaborating,” said Wilson. “This is a critical time for us all to work together, not against one another, to increase the number of great school options available for every child. I am excited to lead PSP’s work as facilitator and project manager of the Great Schools Compact Committee, and to act as a liaison to the wider community as we grow and implement this collective effort.”

PSP is a nonprofit organization founded in October 2010 to provide growth capital for the creation, expansion, and sustainability of great schools in “Philadelphia’s complex edu- Philadelphia. PSP has worked cational system is comprised of closely with Mayor Michael Nutmany different types of schools, ter, State Secretary of Education

Ronald Tomalis, the School Reform Commission, charter-school leadership and other educational leaders to forge and now implement the Great School Compact.

The Compact represents a collective commitment to transform or replace the worst-performing schools in the city, representing nearly 50,000 students, by 201617.

At the same time, PSP is raising a $100 million “Great Schools Fund” in support of education reform in Philadelphia and investing those funds as growth capital to support the transformation, expansion and startup of high-performing schools across all sectors, including charter, District and private schools. To date, PSP has in-

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD vested $3 million to support operators of seven turnaround schools in the City, with combined enrollment of more than 5,000 students.

and build consensus. He also has a demonstrated commitment to creating quality educational opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth, and the determination to “Miles fills a crucial role in our create solutions that work for all strategy to improve Philadelphia’s stakeholders.” schools through collaboration and action,” said Mark Gleason, execPrior to NFF, Wilson managed utive director of PSP. “As a operations at the People’s EmerPhiladelphia native with a career gency Center, where he mainof dedicated service to the city, tained all external relationships Miles brings a wealth of experi- for the Philadelphia nonprofit. He ence working with diverse con- has also worked as a principal and stituents to create partnerships regional VP at Community Edu-

cation Partners. Wilson has a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University and a master’s in education leadership from Arcadia University.

About the Philadelphia School Partnership.

PSP is a nonprofit organization founded in October 2010 that invests in the creation, expansion and maintenance of great schools in the City.

Willig Att’y Assumes Twp. Council Post MARGARET J. AMOROSO of the Pennsylvania laborunion and employment law firm Willig, Williams & Davidson has been appointed as an interim Member of the Township Council of Middletown Township in Delaware Co., Pa. Recently sworn in, Amoroso is filling a vacancy in the Township’s 2nd District. She will run for the permanent seat in the Apr. 24, 2012 special election. As a Council Member, Amoroso will assist in setting policy for the township and will aid in the oversight of public service programs.

Amoroso also serves as an Assistant County Solicitor for Delaware Co., a post she has held since 1991. The managing attorney of Willig, Williams & Davidson’s Media, Pa., office, Amoroso has been practicing law for more than 25 years. She counsels and represents clients in real estate, domestic relations, consumer law and criminal defense matters. As Assistant County Solicitor, she handles dependency matters for County’s Children & Youth Services, as well as appeals for the Dept. of Public Welfare.

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