Philadelphia Daily Record

Vol. III No. 87 (452)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

May 16, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Guv-Bashing

PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN Chestnut Street yesterday at rush hour in front of Prince Music Theater, where Gov. Tom Corbett was meeting with Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce. They excoriated him for building more prisons while cutting General assistance along with school and health funding.

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The Philadelphia Public Record

May 17Robert Palaima hosts Fundraiser for State Sen. Mike Stack at Spasso Italian Grill, 34 S. Front St., 5:30-7 p.m. Donation: Gold $1,000, Silver $500, Bronze $250. For info Kevin (717) 213-4300.

May 19 Delaware River Day at Penn’s Landing, Market St. & Columbus Blvd, 12-6 p.m.

Ship inspections, boat shows, free rides. Complimentary admission for active-duty military and families with ID.

May 17Spring Social for Chapel of Four Chaplains, 1201 Constitution Ave., Bldg. 649 in Navy Yard, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $20 Early Bird, by May 16. At door, $25. For info (215) 218-1943 or Events@Fourchaplains.org.

May 19City Council sponsors 2nd annual Senior Citizen Prom at Penna. Convention Ctr., starting 6 p.m. Tickets available through local adult centers. Hosting are Council President Darrell L. Clarke, Majority Whip William K. Greenlee and 1st Dist. Councilman Mark Squilla. For info Verna Tyner (215) 686-3446.

May 17Celebrity Bartender Night with former Sheriff Barbara Deeley, at La Casa Di Lucia, 14425 Bustleton Ave., 710 p.m.

May 18Republican Women’s Club meets at Vesper Club, 223 S. Sydenham St., 12 m. Guest speaker: Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley. For reservations Karen Brown (267) 246-6437.

May 19Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and State Sen. LeAnna Washington on agenda at Women’s Christian Alliance 2012 gala at National Constitution Ctr., 7-11 p.m. For info Evelyn Jones Busby (267) 4712495.

May 19 Delaware River Day at Olde Ft. Mifflin, Ft. Mifflin & Hog Island Rds., 10 a.m.4 p.m. Complimentary admission for active duty military and families with ID.

May 19May Fair honoring fallen hero firefighter Joe Konrad at Ryan & Sackett, kicks off 7:30 p.m. Other activities around Cottman & Frankford.

Family fun.

May 19State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop hosts annual Spring Fling Kids Health Fair at Shepard Rec Ctr., 57th & Haverford Ave., 12-4 p.m. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

May 23Korean War Veterans salute police, firemen, and service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan at Korean War Memorial, Front & Spruce Sts., 2 p.m. Sgt. Richard Pinter speaks on meaning of Memorial Day.

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Casey Hails Renewal Of Ex-Im Bank In Senate US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) released the following statement after he voted for and the Senate passed the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which supports Pennsylvania companies and jobs by boosting exports: “The Export-Import Bank provides critical financing to help Pennsylvania businesses sell their products and provide well-paying jobs. We passed renewal of the Bank’s charter today in a bipartisan vote that will ensure our businesses can compete in a global economy. Over 200 businesses in Pennsylvania have received assistance from the bank to create and retain jobs since 2007, which is why I pushed the Senate to take this critical step forward to help the economy continue to recover.”

The Senator strongly supported the renewal of the Export-Import Bank’s charter, which was set to expire this month if Congress failed to act.

Since 2007, the Export-Import Bank has lent over $1.7 billion to over 200 Pennsylvania companies, helping them create and retain jobs and compete in the global economy. This financing has supported over $3 billion in export sales for Pennsylvania businesses in the past five years. The bank is a self-sustaining, independent federal agency that operates at no cost to taxpayers.

Export-Import Bank financing is critical to help level the playing field for Pennsylvania exporters who compete against foreign companies who receive more export financing from their own governments.

In 2011, the Export-Import Bank supported approximately 290,000 American jobs. Three Philadelphia companies have benefited from this support in the last five years: Bassetts Ice Cream Co., $958,249.38; Kingsbury Inc., $164,373.41; and Stretch Devices, Inc. $27,939.65.

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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) CALVIN THE CROW - He was crafty, wise and always had an angle and appeared on the Sunday in the Park Show.

game was in progress. It used seven decks of cards! Think it is easy? Read the instructions, and then try it for yourself.

CANASTA - is a card game that required dexterity and a strong grip to handle all the cards to be held while the

CANDY CARNIVAL - Hosted

by Gene Crane, was a circus and talent show. Since it was broadcast live, it was naturally

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full of unexpected happenings.

It had many sponsors, which included a candy manufacturer, therefore its name Candy Carnival.

CARBON PAPER - was used to make copies of typewritten documents. It was placed between sheets of typing paper before they were inserted into the typewriter. The impact of the typewriter on the first sheet of paper caused an impression to be transferred through the carbon onto the next and subsequent sheets of paper. This was done, since the copying machine was not fully developed. The mimeograph was the only practical method of making multiple copies of documents. The mimeograph process created an aroma that was very distinctive.

CHESTNUT-MAN sold freshly roasted chestnuts from his push cart. He roasted the chestnuts in a gas fired pan on the cart. They were soft, sweet and delicious. A real treat on an autumn evening or whenever he came around.

To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com

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Riled Over Budget, Guv’s Foes Slam Him

HUNDREDS of Philadelphians protested Gov. Tom Corbett’s visit to Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce at Prince Music Theater yesterday, blocking Chestnut Street.

Students, parents and community leaders – not armed with the $160 ticket required to enter the event – demonstrated how Gov. Tom Corbett and “the 1%” are walking over the city’s working and middle-class families as the Governor met with Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce members inside the Prince Music Theater yesterday afternoon.. Community members rolled out a human red carpet to welcome the Governor and his supporters, who they charged are standing beside the Governor’s budget that slashes funding for educa-

tion and other vital services.

“I’m fed up with Gov. Corbett walking all over us.

Corbett is giving special favors to CEOs and protecting tax loopholes for big corporations like Comcast, while cutting schools and healthcare and making it even harder for working and middle class families to stay afloat,” said Matt Wah, a Northeast Philly resident and part of the human red carpet. “The Governor must take responsibility for his choices. And he must take responsibility for changing the tax system in Pennsylvania to make it • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD fair for everyone, by making sure that Comcast, and all corporations making profits in Pennsylvania, pay their fair share in taxes.”

As the Governor addressed the Chamber inside the Prince Theater, protesters commenced a “People’s Conversation” outside, discussing a fair state budget that restores cuts to education, medical assistance and other essential services. These cuts would not be on the table if the state closed the more than $1 billion in corporate tax cuts and loopholes.

Drums rolled and people waved placards and banners in a well-organized demonstration that filled Chestnut Street, blocking traffic at rush hour.

Many of the Chamber of Commerce’s members

take advantage of these cuts and loopholes. For example, Comcast, a sponsor of the event, utilizes the Delaware Loophole which alone costs Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $500 million. Corporations in Philadelphia like Comcast are making millions off the 99% and profiting at our communities loss, and Gov. Corbett continuously chooses to protect tax loopholes and benefits that favor the 1%.

“I am tired of Gov. Corbett taking stipends from those in desperate situations and giving them to multinational corporations. There is something wrong with a Governor who takes from the poor and desperate to give to the wealthy and fortunate,” said Lance Haver, a member from PA Cares for All.

PLCB To Showcase Wines At Rittenhouse Row Fest Joining the annual celebration of food, fashion and culture at the 2012 Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will give wine connoisseurs, 21 and older, the opportunity to taste and purchase Chairman’s Selection wines.

“This festival is a great time to experience all that historic Rittenhouse Row has to offer,” said PLCB Chairman Joseph E. Brion. “People have a chance to sample food from some of the finest chefs in Philadelphia, so we’re delighted to give them the chance to sample the latest Chairman’s Selections as well.”

The festival will run from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The PLCB will again host a tasting area, where visitors age 21 and older can enjoy complimentary samples of 25 Chairman Selection wines, including five new selections being launched exclusively at the event.

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The Chairman’s Selection program offers select highly rated wines at often the best prices in the country. Renowned Chairman’s Selection buyer Steve Pollack will provide information and answer questions about each selection during the tasting.

Attendees are reminded to bring ID for age verification. Customers purchasing from the Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits on-site store will receive a complimentary wine tote, while supplies last.

More than 200 Center City businesses are members of Rittenhouse Row, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the area from Broad to 22nd Streets, between Market and Pine. Some 60 restaurants are part of this group, and many will offer their own menu items to sample during the festival. For the first time, the festival will feature a live culinary challenge featuring face-offs between Starr Restaurant Organization chefs from the eight Starr restaurants in Rittenhouse Square. There will also be live music and children’s activities.

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Controller: Technology Depts.’s Gear Gone AWOL? City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released the FY07-09 audit of the Division of Technology that found as part of its annual inventory the Department inspected only 10% of its $4.8 million information technology assets.

ing when it’s not properly accounted for,” said Butkovitz. “The Department needs to implement procedures to ensure that annual inspections of all items in its custody are performed in accordance with city regulations.”

DOT, which is now titled Office of Information Technology, informed auditors that they physically observed a random sample of items, approximately 10%, from their subsidiary records, leaving 90 percent of the property absent from a physical count.

Along with finding a lack of internal controls over property, the Controller’s audit also found Technology could not produce any evidence that franchise fees were properly documented in the city’s accounting system. The City’s cable service providers are required to remit five percent of their annual gross revenues as franchise fees.

“City regulations require all departments to perform annual physical inspections of all personal property,” said Butkovitz. “Failure to physically observe all personal property items increases the risk of undetected loss or theft.”

In reviewing Technology’s inventory, the Controller’s auditors selected 13 personal property items and could not locate five, or 38%, of the computer-related items valued at $11,000.

“This is clear evidence that property can go miss-

Technology officials informed the Controller’s auditors that they only perform a cursory review of the audited statements but maintained no documentation.

“The Department needs to reconcile the franchise fees deposited with the Revenue Department with the figures reported in the City’s primary accounting system ,” said Butkovitz. “This will ensure that the city is collecting every dollar it’s owed.”

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City Council Welcomes Summer Research Fellows Council President Darrell L. Clarke, Majority Leader Curtis Jones, Jr., and Minority Leader Brian J. O’Neill this week welcomed the inaugural class of City Council’s Legislative and Policy Research Bureau. The six Council Research Fellows hail from universities in Greater Philadelphia.

“I am pleased to announce the creation of the Research Bureau, which will conduct critical analysis of public policy for City Council,” Clarke said.

“We’ve got a crop of bright, energetic Fellows eager to help us improve Philadelphia government and tackle problems that plague major cities across the country.”

“This policy and research hub will establish permanent lines of communication between area universities and City Council, which will certainly help students, universities, and Council improve for the better,” said Jones (4th Dist.), author of the city’s Internship Tax Credit. “As an advocate for interns and Generation Next, I commend Council President Clarke for this innovation.”

“The Research Bureau is an innovative and costeffective addition to existing staff and should provide an important tool for Council members seeking best practices and proven solutions from other local governments,” said O’Neill (10th Dist.).

Council Research Fellows will produce reports for members on topics including comparisons and analyses of federal, state and local statutes and policies. Research Fellows will not draft legislation, produce economic forecasts, provide legal opinions, conduct empirical research, or perform constituent services. Council Research Fellow8|

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ships are unpaid.

The Philadelphia City Council Summer 2012 Research Fellows are: Javier Garcia, MA, Public History (20th Century American Urban History and Urban Planning), Temple University, May 2011; BA, Growth and Structure of Cities, Haverford College, May 2003 Frank Iannuzzi, JD candidate, Temple University Beasley School of Law, anticipated May 2015; BA, Political Science and History, Certificate in Political Economy, Temple University, May 2008 Steve Kucera, JD candidate, Temple University Beasley School of Law, anticipated May 2014; CPA Certification, May 2010; BS, Business and Economics with a Financial Accounting Focus, Lehigh University, May 2008 Theodore Patestos, MPA candidate, Political Science, Rutgers University-Camden, December 2012; B.A., Political Science, Rutgers UniversityCamden, December 2011 Alison Perelman, PhD candidate, Communications, University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication, anticipated September 2012; MA, Communications, University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication, May 2009; BA, Art History, Princeton University, May 2004 Michelle Yee, JD candidate, Widener University School of Law, anticipated May 2013; BA, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, May 2010.

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Drexel Will Screen Health AT Council Vets’ Fair Council President Darrell L. Clarke today announced the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University will offer comprehensive health screenings at the City Council Veterans Resource Fair on Monday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 400 North Broad Street.

Faculty and students will conduct a variety of screenings for veterans, including blood pressure, eye exams, and blood glucose; as well as behavioral health indicators such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, couples counseling, and addiction.

“I was very pleased to see the excitement generated by our students and faculty when they learned they would be participating in the Veterans Resource Fair,” said Dr. Leland “Rocky” Rockstraw, assistant dean in Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. “Annual screening promotes early intervention and a healthy lifestyle.”

veterans,” said Council President Clarke. “There is no excuse for those who served our country to have inadequate access to health care.”

More than 20 City and local agencies as well as nonprofits including the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center will be represented. Employment, education, and housing information also will be offered along with health screenings.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 25% of veterans report a disability — significantly higher than in the civilian population. A 34% plurality of veterans served in the Vietnam War, which ended 37 years ago. Surveys of veterans’ health have shown they report difficulty in functioning and rate their health status as fair or poor.

To RSVP or receive more information about the Veterans Resource Fair: Reinvesting in Your Potential, see City Council’s website or call (215) 686-3256.

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