PR-507-P

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Ron Panepinto Jewelers

Jim Stevenson

700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980

9371 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114 215-698-7000 JStevenson@ChapmanAutoGroup.com

Vol. XI. No. 42 (Issue 507)

www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds

Serving Citywide Political, Labor, Legal and School Communities of Philadelphia “The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”

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October 15, 2009

A State Budget Of Mixed Blessings Doctors Took Severe Hit Governor ‘Slept In Office’ Legislators Unhappy by Joe Shaheeli Lawmakers’ long, heavy-going struggle to enact Pennsylvania’s budget didn’t give State residents much to delight in, but it did help settle a timely debate: How much does the public pay for medical-liability costs? Tort-reform opponents insist that litigation against medical professionals bears minimally on the cost of medicine. They tell us patients end up covering no significant portion (Cont. Page 2)

by Nathaniel Lee Lots of people suffered during the budget crisis. It’s common knowledge that child-care providers, State workers and a host of others suffered because of the General Assembly’s inability to agree on a budget in a timely fashion. The budget passed, 101 days after deadline. Voters won’t believe it, but some of their suffering was shared by Gov. Ed Rendell. In an exclusive interview (Cont. Page 2)

Labor Rallies Against Non-Union Mall Builders

BUILDING TRADES, together with support of other unions, staged a mass protest rally picketing non-union builders at new Planet Fitness Gym, under construction at mall located at Red Lion Road & Roosevelt Boulevard. Marchers, numbering 1,500, spilled onto Boulevard, blocking that highway. In photo at right, Joe Dougherty, chief of Iron Workers Local 405, leads 1,500 union members outside gym, which is being built by non-union labor. Dougherty told the packed crowd, “brothers of labor need to stand together to keep our men working, especially in this economy.” In photo at left, marchers cross into Boulevard. Photos by Lee Buchanan

PPA Traffic Cameras At City Hall Drivers who continue to go through red lights around City Hall will find themselves paying a $100 fine after Dec. 8. The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) turned on new traffic-light cameras around City Hall last Friday.

The two intersections covered are located at Broad Street & S. Penn Square, and Broad Street & John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Drivers found in violation will receive warnings for the next 60 days. After the two-month grace period,

Don’t Forget Our Veterans Honor Then In Our Nov. 5th Issue Call John David: 215-755-2000

ending on Tuesday, Dec. 8, violators will face a $100 fine. Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney both advocated for the cameras to be installed around City Hall. “These intersections are dangerous,” Councilman DiCicco said. “I think having red-light cameras in place will cause drivers to think twice before running a red light, thus making it safer for pedestrians.” Other new red-light camera intersections in various areas of the City are in the planning stages. Construction is set to begin on these cameras (Cont. Page 2)

State Rep. Ronald Waters was smart. His first public statement after the State budget was passed, 101 days late, was to thank his constituents for their patience. “I would first like to thank my constituents for all of their emails and calls, and most importantly, their patience during the budget impasse. I'm pleased that we have finally reached a resolution. This is not a perfect budget, but I am satisfied that this final agreement is the most (Cont. Page 2)

Voters To Decide BRT’s Final Fate The Board of Revision of Taxes will die quietly, but it could leave a legacy worth keeping, provided the powers that be do not “reinvent the wheel” and discard its achievement of having reassessed this City’s taxable 570,000 properties at 100% of value. That effort began two years ago when the BRT was able to buy needed computer-ware to allow it to place that 100% value on all of the City’s 570,000 taxable properties. When that process began, it ended the era of hitand-miss assessments that have brought the BRT much criticism. Marking the beginning of the end for the BRT, its leadership and board was the introduction last week of legislation sponsored by Councilman Bill Green and cosponsored by the overwhelming majority of the Council’s membership. That legislation is ex-

pected to pass. It will place the changes on the ballot in the May primary asking for voter approval. “There is near universal agreement that we need significant reform at the (Cont. Page 19)

Controller Finds Fraud City Controller Alan Butkovitz has uncovered $217,794 in unpaid property taxes over the past 10 years that resulted from an incorrect property tax classification and assessment by the Bureau of Revision of Taxes. While the property located at 5901 Woodbine Avenue is leased to two nonprofit charter schools, Ad Prima Charter School and Laboratory Char(Cont. Page 2)

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