Pr 889 s

Vol. XVIII No. 6

Issue 493

February 9, 2017

“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”

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@phillyrecord

PhillyRecord

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South Philly Music Makers Turn to P. 2

AN ODE TO SOUTH PHILLY’S BLACK MUSIC HISTORY

T HE S O U T H PHIL A D EL PHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

BY ELDON GRAHAM

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F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

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LACK HISTORY Month in South Philadelphia is a special time and place to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. Many amazing people and things have emerged from here to deliver music – and much more – to the world. Some have carved out a niche in political as well as musical history. Some are truly living history today.

From the likes of contralto Marian Anderson, songwriter Kenneth Gamble and singer Chubby Checker to today’s stars, these musical talents have kept the world humming and grooving for a very long time.

Anderson, known and appreciated worldwide for her contributions to classical music, grew up in South Philadelphia and graduated from South Philadelphia High School. Anderson started singing at the age of 6, in the choir of the Union Baptist Church, where she earned the nickname “Baby Contralto” and found out she had talent.

To begin her career, Anderson trained under Giuseppe Boghetti, a respected voice teacher, with the help of funds raised by her choir. She found success in New York City and gained the attention of some influential people, including the president of the United States.

By the late 1930s, Anderson’s voice was so renowned that it had made her famous on both sides of the Atlantic. She was invited by President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, to perform at the White House – the first African American ever to receive this honor.

Anderson continued to break down barriers for African American performers. In 1955, she became the first African American

to perform as a member of the New York Metropolitan Opera.

She left a legacy like no other. The Marian Anderson Award was originally established in 1943 by Anderson herself after she was awarded the $10,000 Bok Prize that year by the City of Philadelphia. Anderson used the award money to establish a singing competition to help support young singers, something she didn’t have as a youngster.

Unfortunately, the prize fund ran out of money and was disbanded after 1976.

In 1990, the award was re-established and has dispensed $25,000 annually. The Marian Anderson House, in Southwest Center City, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Several other musicians can trace their roots back to South Philadelphia, each coming from a different era that they have defined.

Checker had multiple hits, including, of course, “The Twist.” “The Twist” is the only song of the rock era to reach No. 1 twice in two different years, in 1960 and when it was re-released in 1962. Checker had other hit singles, including “Pony Time” and “Limbo Rock.”

Many will know Gamble from the hit classics that he penned with his partner, Leon A. Huff. Songs such as “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays, The Jacksons album by The Jacksons and TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia), performed by the MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) featuring vocals by The Three Degrees – all these captured national and even worldwide fame at one time or another.

Gamble and Huff also had a fantastic career as producers. They recorded and produced The Jacksons in Philadelphia under their

Marian Anderson own label, Philadelphia International Records, as well as Epic Records at Sigma Sound Studios. It would take about a week to name all the collaborations between Gamble and Huff, but Gamble was not averse to working with his Philadelphia brothers and sisters.

Gamble has remained a prominent influence in his old neighborhood, with wide-ranging ventures in real-estate development and education.

Teddy Pendergrass comes to mind as one Philadelphian Gamble had strong ties with but another artist with South Philadelphia roots made magic with him also. Patti LaBelle, originally from the Eastwick community in Southwest Philadelphia, began her career with The BlueBelles. Later, she went on to propel her solo career with hits like “On My Own,” sung with Michael MacDonald; 1984’s “New Attitude” and “Stir It Up.” Throughout her career, LaBelle has been known as the “Godmother of Soul” or the “Queen of Rock & Soul Music.”

With over 20 albums to her name, Labelle’s career could be described as a sensation on an astronomical level. She is still regarded in the eyes of current generation as an inspirational model and a jewel of the stage.

Another siren of South Philadelphia, Billie “Lady

Day” Holiday, was a Philadelphian by happenstance.

Her mother moved to Philadelphia at age 19, after she was evicted from her parents’ home in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore, for becoming pregnant by her teenage boyfriend.

Holiday would become famous for her bluesy interpretations of slow, sad songs. One was “Gloomy Sunday,” a 1941 song about suicide. Another was “Strange Fruit,” about the hundreds of African Americans who had been lynched and murdered in the United States, whom the song described as “strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.” She lived through her songs and her songs lived through her.

It is unfortunate to know that Holiday’s life was just as sad as her music. From a young age, she dealt with feelings of abandonment due to her mother’s absence through her early childhood and an attempted rape. The rest of her life would be described as “tortured” as she sang her way through abusive marriages, drug addiction, racism, sexism and depression. After years of drinking and heroin addiction, she died in 1959 at the age of 44.

Taking South Philadelphia by surprise was the group known as The Orlons. The Orlons began their career in the early 1960s on South Street.

The original group consisted of three girls and one guy. They formed as a response to a rival band called “The Cashmeres.”

Before they became The Orlons, they were an allgirl quintet called “Audrey and the Teenettes.” Later they formed the Orlons with Rosetta Hightower, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis and Stephen Caldwell, the only male mem-

ber of the group, who still sings with a version of the group today.

A number of hits were produced from the group early on in their career, but they rose to national fame with their 1962 single, “The Wah-Watusi.” The Orlons regarded South Street with so much love that they named their 1963 album after the famed street along with the lead single, which made its way to the number three spot on charts.

Currently, South Philadelphia doesn’t have as much musical vibrancy as it once did but it is still going strong thanks to the musical stylings of Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter. As a member of The Roots, the world-renowned group and official band for Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show,” The Roots may be the most-heard band on television. Coming out of Philadelphia, the group has made several songs that appeal to the heart, mind, soul and ears.

The Roots themselves are a personal favorite of former President Barack Obama, as stated by Trotter in late December. Their music is a window into urban life, rich with politically aware lyrical content. As leading MC of the group, Trotter has gone on to found and chair the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, a public-health and social-action organization.

Trotter still has “roots” in the Philadelphia area and comes to the city regularly for various events.

All these artists had their own unique backgrounds and worked in different genres, but all were molded in the area below South Street. South Philadelphia has been graced with a musical legacy that will no doubt continue to stand the test of time.

Copyright @2017 City & State PA LLC

Union Made

KEYNOTER was House Speaker Mike Turzai from Pittsburgh, who had the attention of RCC Chair Joe DeFelice, L, and General Counsel Mike Meehan.

TEAMSTERS leader Danny Grace shared a proud moment with State Rep. Martina White.

L-R WERE seasoned attorney Larry Tabas, who was running for State Committee chair; Ward Leader Calvin Tucker; and Renee & Joe Zuritsky.

WARD LEADER Walt Vogler, L, and former RCC Chair Vito Canuso flanked Superior Court hopeful Judge Paula Patrick of Phila.

ENJOYING a convivial evening were, L-R, Elvin Ross, Dean Cafiero and City Commissioner Al Schmidt.

HOST at the Pyramid Club was Young Park, L, joined here by his friend, Bishop Peter Hwang of Upper Darby.

GOP Events Coordinator Bill Pettigrew chats with Commissioner Al Schmidt about party’s success.

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

HIGH UP in the Pyramid Club, city Republican activists celebrated their strong statewide showing at a fundraiser. Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano introduced his candidacy for Superior Court as DA candidate Beth Grossman and Ward Leader Mike Cibik listen.

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PHILLY GOP PARTIES AT THE TOP

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STATE GOP FEELS THE TRUMP CARD

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POLS on the STREET

BY JOE SHAHEELI VEN THOUGH Philly’s Democratic Party, under the leadership of DCC Chairman Congressman Bob Brady, delivered a record-setting vote of over a half million to Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, State Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) believes there are still rich pickings in the Common-

E

Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

190th Legislative District

wealth’s other counties that delivered record turnouts and majorities to win Pennsylvania for Donald Trump.

That’s why Wagner has set himself up to be the leading contender for the GOP nomination for governor.

He’s been doing enough of the right things to protect him from primary opposition in his effort. Going for him is the fact many credit him for winning the GOP a veto-proof Senate majority, as he led the party’s 2016 campaign for that body.

And fortunately for him, Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf has been busy helping him.

Wagner was among the Republicans criticizing Gov. Wolf’s budget speech this week. The senator didn’t wait until that speech, instead making it obvious his only target is a Wolf on the move. He leveled sharp criticism at the governor’s deState Rep.

William Keller 184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

1435 N. 52nd St. Phila. PA 19131 (215) 879-6615

215-271-9190

Always Hard At Work for You!

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State Senator

Anthony Hardy Williams 8th Senatorial District

2901 ISLAND AVE. STE 100 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 FAX: (215) 492-2990 ---419 CHURCH LANE YEADON, PA 19050 (610) 284-7335 FAX: (610) 284-5955 6630 LINDBERGH BLVD.

2103 SNYDER AVENUE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19145 (215) 755-9185 FAX: (215) 952-3375 ---SENATE BOX 203008 HARRISBURG, PA 17120 ROOM: 11 EAST WING (717) 787-5970 FAX: (717) 772-0574

KRISTIANSSON RUNS

A CROWD of 50 supporters packed McGillin’s Olde Ale House to support attorney Vikki Kristiansson’s launch of her campaign for a judgeship. Among them were, L-R, Angela Curry, Will Sylianteng, Otis Bullock, Dewitt Brown, Kristiansson, Huda Brooks and Sula Kritikos.

cision to spend $1.8 million in tax money for a private firm to figure out how to close the commonwealth’s $700 million deficit.

Wagner said, “After holding the taxpayers hostage for several months last year so he could get a budget that raised taxes while being nowhere near balanced, Tom Wolf now blows $1.8 million on a no-bid contract with an outside firm to tell him how to do his job. In 2014, Tom Wolf sold himself to the voters as a savvy businessman with state State Rep. Jason

government experience.

However, what we see in the commonwealth’s CEO is the total failure of someone who is unsuited for the position, and it costs the taxpayers dearly every day he’s in office.”

The global consulting firm McKinsey & Co. was awarded a no-bid contract for $300,000 a week, over a six-week period, to make suggestions to the Wolf Administration for ways to reduce the cost of state government, as well as provide (Cont. Page 5)

TEAM SULMAN PRESSES

PAGANO’S in Center City hosted the campaign kickoff party for Judge Dan Sulman L-R, Ward Leader Pat Parkinson, City Commissioner Lisa Deeley, Sulman and Councilman Bill Greenlee.

Photo by Wendell Douglas

PATTERSON LAUNCHES

DANYL PATTERSON, a full-service practitioner with a W. and S. Phila. clientele, launched her campaign for a Common Pleas Court judgeship in her native Cobbs Creek neighborhood.

City Commissioner

Dawkins

Lisa M.

District Office: 4915 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 744-7901 M. – Th.: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

F.: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Room 132 City Hall

Deeley Philadelphia PA 19107

215-686-3460

State Rep.

Councilman

Mark

Joanna E.

Squilla

McClinton 191st Leg. Dist.

6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139

1st District City Hall Room 332

T: (215) 748-6712 F: (215) 748-1687

215-686-3458/59

Represintative

Angel Cruz

District Office 3503 ‘B’ St. 215-291-5643 Ready to Serve you

Boyle

198th District

310 W. Chelten Ave.

172nd Dist.

7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

Phila PA 19148

P: 215-849-6426

215-331-2600 State Rep.

John

Donna

(R) 177th Dist.

4725 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

195th Leg. Dist.

2835 W. Girard Ave Phila, PA 19130

215-744-2600

D-185th District 2901 S. 19th St. Phila PA 19145 P: 215-468-1515 F: 215-952-1164

Room 506 City Hall P. 215-686-3446/7 F. 215-686-1927

Kevin J.

Youngblood

Taylor

Donatucci

Greenlee

State Rep.

Rep. Rosita

State Rep.

Rep.Maria P.

Councilman Wm.

Bullock T: (215) 684-3738 F: (215) 235-4629

City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker 9th District City Hall, Room 577, Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-686-3454 or 3455

www.phlcouncil.com/CherelleParker

Facebook: CouncilwomanCherelleLParker Twitter: @CherelleParker9

POLS on the STREET (Cont. From Page 4) ideas for which state taxes and fees to raise. This firm brags on its web page, its ability to make automation and human interaction a time and money saver. Maybe Wolf sees automation as a fund saving way.

Wagner, like Wolf a successful York County businessman, is the only person in Pennsylvania’s history to win a seat in the General Assembly with a write-in primary campaign, which he waged in 2014 after Harrisburg powerbrokers tried to install their chosen candidate

Born and bred South Philadelphian Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Chester County Republican Party, was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania last Saturday and lost no time in making waves, guesting on one of Philly’s popular early-morning drive-time radio shows.

Expect to see him make more media appearances.

His Philly ties helped him gain a two-vote margin over local attorney Lawrence Tabas, with nearly 350 State Committee members voting in Harrisburg.

DiGiorgio was quick to announce his fellow party officers: Bernadette “Bernie” Comfort, vice chair, Lehigh County; D. Raja, treasurer, Allegheny County; Andy Reilly, secretary, Delaware County (re-elected); and Peg Ferraro, assistant secretary, Northamp-

CRUZ RECRUITS COPS

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JUNIOR policeman Kieran Young is just one of thousands of kids Judge Vincent Melchiorre finds time to mentor. Photo

by Joe Shay Stivala

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

GOP CHAIR’S S. PHILLY ROOTS

ton County (re-elected).

The state GOP judicial slate was voted in unanimously, saving the GOP money in the primary. Some opposition in the lower courts may surface anyway.

Named were: for Supreme Court, Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, Tioga County; for Superior Court: Judge Emil A. Giordano, Northampton County; (Cont. Page 6)

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

through political machinations.

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State Rep. Angel Cruz, C, was aided by Police Officers Diane Cortez and Samuel Cruz (no relation) in his drive to recruit new police officers at his Kensington office. Photo by Wendell Douglas

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

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DIGIORGIO NEW GOP STATE CHAIR

PA BLUE AGAIN?

CONGRATULATING newly elected state Republican chairman Valentino DiGiorgio, center, at annual GOP State Committee meeting were Linwood Holland, Billy Lanzilotti, Jr., Vince Minniti and Tom Rossomando.

27TH WARD Democratic Leader Carol Jenkins convened a discussion in University City on the long-range gameplan Democrats must develop to advance their cause in Penna. Forty progressive activists listened as State Rep. James Roebuck, R, and other campaign veterans laid out strategies for 2018 – beginning today.

THE BEST and most-improved schools in the city were honored at Olney Elementary School last week. Attending were, L-R, Superintendent Dr. William Hite; Dr. Ayesha Imani, principal of Sankofa Freedom Academy; Mayor Jim Kenney; and Joyce Wilkerson, School Reform Commission chair. Photo by Wendell Douglas

victories for all seven of our endorsed candidates.”

Local GOP ward leaders have expressed hope in DiGiorgio’s taking over the reins from longtime chair Rob Gleason. They trust he will be more hands-on than was his predecessor.

al Eugene DePasquale and popular former City Controller Jonathan Saidel.

Since both she and Judge Paula Patrick are well-respected Philly jurists, we may see some ticket-splitting in the Philly general election to boost their chances.

With the announcement by local Democrat Common Pleas Judge Maria McLaughlin at a Harrisburg press conference of her intention to seek a seat on the state Superior Court, odds increase this city could have a representative on that court. Supporting her at the conference were Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, Auditor Gener-

Attorney Larry Krasner may feel the anti-Trump fervor running through the city’s protest groups will generate support for him should he follow through on his thoughts to enter the Democratic primary May 16 and challenge incumbent DA Seth Williams. He’s defended most of them when they’ve had run-ins with the law.

State Supreme Court, pending appeals filed by some losers in the awards competition and, of course, SugarHouse, busy making sure the South Philadelphia casino stays entombed for as long as possible.

The second casino would be a boost to Kenney with added revenues and to the state as well, since several hundred will be employed and dutifully taxed, as would be casino revenue and imagine the numbers of union workers who can benefit from the construction.

So why no uproar? Our call to the SC’s communications division has not produced a response as to why it is long overdue in handing down a decision. Meanwhile, Sugar-

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F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

POLS on the STREET (Cont. From Page 5) Judge Wade A. Kagarise, Blair County; Judge Paula A. Patrick, Philadelphia County; and Craig W. Stedman, Lancaster County; for Commonwealth Court: Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon, Delaware County, and Paul N. Lalley, Allegheny County.

Chairman DiGiorgio turned his focus to the 2017 elections. “A united Republican Party is unstoppable.

This year we will double down on our success from last year and bring home

LOCAL JUDGES TO RUN

ANOTHERLAWYER RUNS FOR DA

SCHOOLS IMPROVING

His entry would make him the sixth candidate to challenge Williams.

This will fracture even more what vote Williams will not get this primary, increasing his chances for victory.

The deadline to file nominating petitions ahead of a run for office is March 7. The primaries are May 16.

2ND CASINO A HOSTAGE?

Since the city needs money and the state finds itself in an economic bind as Gov. Wolf tries to close budget holes without raising taxes, we ask what happened to the second casino license awarded by the State Gaming Commission in November 2014.

Well, it is still tied up in the

House continues to appear regularly among the casinos fined for infractions of the law.

WHITE BECOMES GOP HEADLINER

State Rep. Martina White (R-Northeast) is beginning to draw attention among more statewide GOP organizations. Soliciting her appearance as a guest speaker at their annual brunch is the Cheltenham Township Republican Organization.

The event will be held Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Flourtown Country Club.

She is also the youngest female state representative.

She is the first new Republican elected in Philadelphia in 25 years, and easily won her second term.

MR. MAYOR, LISTEN TO CLARKE

MARK your CALENDAR Feb. 10- Ward Leader Bobby Henon hosts 65th Ward Party at Maggie’s Waterfront Café, 9247 N. Delaware Ave., 6-9 p.m.

Tickets $40. Checks payable to “Friends of the 65th Ward,” 9209 Torresdale Ave., Phila., PA 19114. For info: John Donohoe (267) 334-3775.

Feb. 10- S.W. Phila. Dist.

Services & Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell present African American History Month at Kingsessing Rec Ctr., 50th & Chester Ave., 6-8:30 p.m. Free

Feb. 15- 5th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Dinner Fundraiser for candidates at Meatballs & More, 214 South St., 7 p.m. Candidates’ admission $100. Checks payable to “5th Ward Democratic Executive Committee.”

Feb. 16- Sherman Toppin is hosted Kickoff & Petition-Signing Party at Philly Platinum Grill in Market Sq. Mall, 7719 Crittenden St., 6-8 p.m. Contribution levels $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000.

Payable to “Committee to Elect Sherman Toppin for Judge,” 1800 JFK Blvd., Su. 300, Phila., PA 19103 or at door. For info: (215) 564-3600 or vote@ToppinForJudge.com.

Feb. 16- Phila. Democratic Progressive Committee hosts “How to Run for Local Office & Win, N. Philly Edition” at Dobbins HS, 2150 W. Lehigh Ave., 6 p.m.

Feb. 16- 8th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Mtg. at 1247 Southamp-

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

dinner and admission. For info: Marcus Sharp, coordinator (267) 237-4283; Mike Ross, president (484) 250-9055.

Feb. 13- Union League hosts Lincoln Day at 140 S. Broad St., Lincoln reads Gettysburg Address outside 12 m., Lunch 12:30 p.m., Parade to Independence Hall ceremony follows.

Feb. 13- Lt. Gov. Mike Stack & State Sen. Sharif Street attend Pathways to Pardons Opportunity Fair at Dobbins HS, 2150 W. Lehigh Ave., starting 5 p.m.

Feb. 13- Phila. Democratic Progressive Coalition hosts “How to Run for Local Office” at Mt. Carmel Baptist Ch., 5732 Race St., 7-8:30 p.m. Free Feb. 14- 53rd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Petition Party at Nick’s Roast Beef, 2212 Cottman Ave., Banquet Rm., rear, 7 p.m. Light refreshments. Donations $100.

For info: Janice Sulman (215) 470-7542.

serves our ability to protect residents, including undocumented immigrants, and preserves critical funding for local policing and programs that help low-income people, then that to me is worth exploring.”

In Harrisburg, State Rep. Martina White is on the same page as President Clarke. She had legislation passed in the last term to allow those injured by illegal immigrants to sue sanctuary cities and

municipalities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. The session ended before the bill could reach the governor’s desk. White will reintroduce her legislation this year.

ton Rd., 7 p.m. Candidates invited to bring petitions.

For info: Skip Montell (267) 444-7945 or Jim Donnelly (610) 360-5682.

Feb. 17- 44th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Evening of Jazz & Petition Party at Danny Banquet Ha., 50th & Market Sts. Featuring Napoleon Black Redeemed & 61st St. Band. Tickets $150.

Checks payable to “Ward 44” RSVP: (215) 4294819 by Feb. 13.

Feb. 17- 33rd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Sweetheart Dance Fundraiser at Juniata G.C., 1391 E. Cayuga St., 7-12 p.m. Parking, dancing, beer, wine, soda. Tickets $35, 2 for $60. For info: (215) 370-3689.

Feb. 18- State Rep. Angel Cruz and 7th Ward Democratic Committee host Candidates Fundraiser/Petition Party at Salsa, 2126 E. Lehigh Ave., 7-10 p.m. Friends $50, Candidates $100.

Checks payable to “7th Ward.” For info: José Giral (267) 228-7231 or elections215@gmail.com.

Feb. 18- 42nd Ward Democratic Committee hosts Candidates Morning Out at Aspira Olney HS, 100 W. Duncannon Ave., enter at Mascher & Duncannon, 9:30

a.m.-12 m. Meet & greet community members, voter petition-signing. Refreshments. Candidates’ donation $50, checks payable to “42nd Democratic Ward,” P.O. Box 24419, Phila., PA 19120.

Send checks + info by Feb. 4. RSVP: Elaine Tomlin (Cont. Page 8)

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

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LL THE ENERGY wasted on those anti-Trump marches and other protests in this city and around the nation won’t change our president’s mind. He’s doing what he promised his supporters he would.

Among those promises to his voters were the elimination of “sanctuary cities.”

He will impose “sanctions” on them, meaning the goose that kept many municipal programs fed with golden eggs would no longer be delivering those eggs to cities wishing to continue

He reminded Mayor Jim Kenney to adopt an Obama administration suggestion on a shift in “policy that would have allowed our city to preserve sanctuary city status. Former Mayor Michael Nutter agreed to that compromise, while his successor did not. Last May, when Mayor Kenney denied the Obama administration’s request that Philadelphia join the Priority Enforcement Program targeting violent criminals, Council again was not in the room.

“President Obama, Mayor Nutter, and Gov. and Mayor Ed Rendell have supported cooperation with PEP. None can fairly be described as hostile to immigrants of any status. If there is still room for reasonable compromise with the federal government that pre-

For Further Listing See “Calendar” Online At www.phillyrecord.com

March 3, 2017 Jim Donnelly hosts the

58th Ward Democratic 45th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Bash at Knowlton Mansion, 931 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111, from 7 PM to 11 PM. Special guest Lieutenant

Governor Mike Stack.

Tickets $50.00pp, food, drink, live music.

Candidates $100.00pp R.S.V.P. Jim Donnelly 610-360-5682 or Skip Montell 267-444-7945

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OPINION

the practice.

City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who also represents the 5th Dist., which desperately needs the benefit of those funds, has publicly stated he believes “We must take seriously President Trump’s threat to withhold funding from the City of Philadelphia because of our policies.”

While supporting the ideas behind sanctuary cities, and stating he believes the president’s order is unconstitutional, Clarke said, “We must also work to prevent millions of dollars in funds that support our most vulnerable residents from being stripped away by the Trump administration.

This discussion must now include City Council and other offices with fiduciary obligations to the City.”

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T HE S O U T H PHIL A D EL PHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

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ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY MARKS 90TH

THE 1926 FOUNDATION Inc. hosted and celebrated the 90th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter at the Hilton Hotel. Celebrating and holding high the torch of service, scholarship and sisterhood were, rear, L-R, Theresa Massey, Samaiya Minor, Charlene Collins, Aaliyah Johnson, Karen Hayes; front, Raquel Easeley, Paula Rainey, Carol Rice, Sherilynn Johnson Kimble, Lorina Marshall Blake and Patricia Massey. Photo by Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography

CALANDAR

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F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

(Cont. From Page 7) Elaine.Tomlin@verizon. net or (267) 496-5662.

Feb.18- 9th Ward Democratic Committee hosts Fundraiser/Petition-Signing Party at 7165 Bar & Lounge, 7165 Germantown Ave., 7-10 p.m. Tickets $60, Host level $100, Sponsor level $250. For

info: (215) 917-4410.

Feb. 21- Phila. Democratic Progressive Committee hosts Candidate Petition Party at Field Ho., 1150 Filbert St., 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 22- Public Record hosts Who’s Who Night honoring Councilman James Tayoun at Sheet Metal Workers Ha., 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30 p.m.

Congressman Bob Brady,

others speak. Buffet, premium bar, hors d’oeuvres. Tickets $40, 4 for $140. For tickets: (215) 755-2000, ext. 7 or events@cityandstatepa.com.

Feb. 22- Green Party elects New City Committee at Shissler Rec Ctr., 1800 Blair St. (near Girard Ave.) 7 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. The meeting open to the public with no

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

BY DENISE CLAY HE CITY of Philadelphia has been collecting the Sweetened Beverage Tax for exactly one month.

Designed to pay for a variety of things ranging from pre-kindergarten classes to revamping the city’s recreation centers, the Sweetened Beverage Tax has caused folks whose bloodstreams course with Coca-Cola, and the people who profit from that, consternation.

Beverage distributors, the

T

budget because of lost soda sales-tax revenue.

You do know this tax has only been with us for only a month, right?

I really don’t think a month-old tax is the cause of the Commonwealth’s $3 billion deficit. That would be the combination of a lack of a natural-gas drilling impact fee and a Legislature that never met a tax cut it didn’t want to give away.

The suit this “friend of the court” brief is connected to is the same one that was thrown out of Common Pleas Court.

The losers in that action took their case to Commonwealth Court on appeal.

It bugs me on a couple of levels.

First of all, it is yet another example of the state Legislature deciding it knows what’s best for the City of Philadelphia, otherwise known as Pennsylvania’s ATM. I often joke that if I were (Cont. Page 15)

BY JOE SHAY STIVALA PLETHORA of judicial candidates are lining up at the starting gate, and I estimate that 60-PLUS worthy lawyers may be the final tally. Judges may now sit until age 75, and nearly 30 were required to retire under the former age-70 rule. So this race is a LAST HURRAH of sorts for newcomers for almost five years!

(Ignore the call for “MERIT judges” which will soon be heard from.)

CITY COUNCIL: The malarkey in the press that City Councilpersons should

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CITY HALL SAM

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N A STRANGE turn of events, GOV. TOM WOLF has become a combination fiscal conservative and Educational visionary.

Wolf smartly assessed that Republicans in Harrisburg will not accept any kind of tax increase. Even though in his first budget he proposed substantial tax increases, he asked for none in his current budget. But because of his cost-saving measures, including consolidating several departments and closing a prison, he’s in

ness of CONSTITUENT 9 SERVICE. Farnese should WATCH HIS SIX – a military-aviation term for the area directly in back of an aircraft.

Remember, Michael SULLIVAN was not guilty – maybe that burned the Feds (?). The Farnese case ended with an “I wish you the best and hope you can put this experience behind you” comment from Judge Cynthia M. RUFE. That is a HEARTWARMING HOPE from the US bench.

At our Police Chiefs’ lunch last spring, the former FBI Special Agent in Charge said there would be a BUSY SUMMER. It was; and it was a summer just ending.

To the FEDS, I say: Enough IS ENOUGH! Get going on FIGHTING THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC FOR US! Thanking you in advance!

COURTS: It was good to learn of the dismissal of charges by Judge Glynnis HILL for a worthy defendant. Judge Hill possesses an ultra-high legal ACUMEN (Cont. Page 19) (Cont. From Page 9)

a position to offer a budget with no tax increases.

During the governor’s joint-session remarks, several prominent Republicans were seen applauding. This may sound like just perfunctory politeness, but in recent years, the opposition has often sat motionless and offered no applause or support whatsoever to the governor.

The governor faces a very challenging path to re-election over the next two years.

He has one Republican challenger so far in millionaire STATE SEN. SCOTT WAGNER. Although former party chair JIM BURN has said he’s running against Wolf in the Democratic primary, that move seems unlikely. Even if Burn does challenge Wolf, he will not have the resources to be competitive. So Wolf needs to shore up his Democratic base to be ready for his re-election bid.

It helps that he has Philadelphia and MIKE STACK as his lieutenant governor to help round up the biggest patch of Democrats in Pennsylvania.

Newly sworn-in STATE SEN. SHARIF STREET is hosting a Pathway to Pardons seminar in his North Philadelphia district. Pathway to Pardons is Stack’s program to give those convicted of crimes a true second chance. The workshop in Street’s district is likely to consist of over 500 people.

Philadelphia MAYOR JIM KENNEY was seen watching Villanova defeat St. John’s at the Wells Fargo Center.

Kenney had floor seats right behind the basket on the Villanova side. Also on hand was a victorious STATE SEN. LARRY FARNESE, who successfully emerged from a federal criminal trial. Now Farnese has four whole years to continue (Cont. Page 15)

T HE S O U T H PHIL A D EL PHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

folks who are actually supposed to be paying the tax, have been passing that cost on to consumers in a way that has led to such things as Wawa’s three-for-$5 juices and teas special in the rest of the state becoming a threefor-$8 special in Philly.

But don’t worry, soft-drink distributors! State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams is coming to your rescue!

According to a story in Tuesday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, Williams has gotten together with a group of his friends from the Republican “T” (and State Rep. Martina White from the Northeast) to file a “friend of the court” brief in Commonwealth Court to get the Sweetened Beverage Tax repealed.

The argument that this group is making is (and I really wish that I were kidding, because it’s an argument that assumes we’re stupid and can’t count) that the tax will impact the commonwealth’s

WALKING the BEAT

attend ETHICS CLASSES is just BUNK. Ethics classes arose out of a need for them some years back, and that need is far lessened today. If members of Council decide to attend – then they should take an Editorial Board with them. Councilman Curtis JONES used SNEAKER logic to explain the Mayor’s desire to control projects for parks, rec centers and libraries in the REBUILD PROJECT. I will go with the LOCAL-PERSPECTIVE LOGIC of Councilwoman Cindy BASS, instead. We elect Council Members to have just that.

Of the FARNESE ACQUITTAL, I say, “REJOICE GREATLY!” The FEDS hit an ABSOLUTE NADIR in what has been called a class war on pols and union officials. A DISGRACE case which cost YOU taxpayers money (how much, please?), not to mention what it cost FARNESE. He comes from a family of educators, and will now move onward in a fine career. The outcome affirms the right-

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

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AST WEEKEND, the State Committee of the Pennsylvania Republican Party held its Winter Meeting at the Hershey Lodge. It selected a slate of judicial candidates for the Pennsylvania appellate court openings and elected a new PAGOP Chairman.

The annual PAGOP Lincoln Dinner was held Friday night. The keynote speaker was STATE SEN. SCOTT WAGNER. Wagner intends to run for governor in 2018.

The highlight of the night, however, was commentary from Allegheny County

for DiGiorgio. Seven of the 12 Philadelphia members who had supported Tabas were a little insulted, as they were in the majority in their county. Most of the five Montgomery County committee people who voted for Tabas stayed away from the breakfast. Philadelphia Republican City Committee CHAIRMAN JOE DeFELICE did not attempt to sway votes, but asked that everyone work together irrespective of the winner.

The first item on the agenda the next morning was the vote for chairman.

Outgoing CHAIRMAN ROB GLEASON hired an outside firm to conduct the meeting and tally the votes, because he knew the vote would be close among a roll call of all 284 members present and those holding 61 proxies. This was a record turnout for a State Committee meeting. There are 349 members of the committee.

As per PAGOP procedures, the names needed

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businessman and Republican icon JIM RODDEY. Roddey is a former county executive of Allegheny County. It was a feat for a Republican to be elected to that position.

The real entertainment started after the dinner at two post-dinner receptions held for the PAGOP chairman candidates LAWRENCE TABAS, Philadelphia attorney, and PAGOP general counsel; and VAL DiGIORGIO, attorney and Chester County GOP chairman. Some of the more ardent supporters of both men made the parties somewhat awkward, but not as uncomfortable as it was for those not supporting DiGiorgio at the Southeast Caucus breakfast the next morning.

The Southeast Caucus of State Committee includes Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

State Committee members at the breakfast were pretty much barraged by requests bordering on demands to vote as a bloc – aka vote

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many years on radio, television and in the movies.

But did you know that in the “Lone Ranger” television shows made in 1952 and 1953, John Hart played the

part of the ranger? This was 13 due to a contract dispute.

Who knew? Who cares? To me, The Lone Ranger is, was and will always be Clayton Moore.

T HE S O U T H PHIL A D EL PHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

Along with his faithful Indian companion Tonto, his two six-guns loaded with silver bullets and his beautiful white horse Silver, he rode in the fictional west for

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

Y

O! HERE WE GO again with some radio memories from the Waffleman.

THE SHADOW – “Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of man? The Shadow knows.” The Shadow was on the radio from 1931 to 1954. It was one of the longest-running shows on the radio on record. Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane had to deal with zombies and the likes that caused many nightmares among us kids and sometimes the adults.

For instance, there was the tale of the death of a beautiful Creole heiress.

A vengeful ancestor who attracted her into a Louisiana swamp by speaking to her in a ghostly manner of course caused it.

wood rushing out the door in a hurry to get to work, usually leveling the poor postman who remained in a thunderstruck heap with the mail floating down around him. This was a running bit and was always funny.

Another of Dagwood’s traits was his midnight trip to the kitchen to quell his hunger pangs. He would create a gigantic sandwich composed of a wide variety of leftovers and other items from the fridge.

The Blondie and Dagwood characters were aired on the radio from 1939 through 1950. At the beginning of each radio show, the announcer had this warning for the listeners, ”Uhh-uhh-uhh, don’t touch that dial; listen to Blondie.” Between 1938 and 1950, 28 successful movie comedy features were made based on the comic strip. A TV series, a comic book and a novel make Blondie and Dagwood very popular and they continue to entertain millions of newspaper readers.

CLAYTON MOORE – Who was that masked man?

He was “The Lone Ranger!”

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The evil toymaker hated big people and slipped a Mickey Finn to a 6-foot, 7-inch police commissioner. While he was knocked out, the toymaker injected him with a potion used by the Amazon Indian headhunters to shrink heads.

The big policeman ended up as a 6-inch doll on display in the toy-shop window. Wow, and all this was “viewed” in your imagination from the radio. Talk about special effects….

BLONDIE and DAGWOOD – Chick Young created these lovable characters that first appeared in print on Sept. 15, 1930.

At that time, Blondie was a “gold-digger” who chased and eventually caught the capricious playboy Dagwood Bumstead. The comic strip was later transformed into a family-oriented feature. Blondie became a loving, responsible wife and mother.

Their children were Alexander and Cookie. Herb Woolly was their neighbor.

The Bumsteads had a dog named Daisy and her pups.

Dagwood worked for J.C. Dithers. Mr. Dithers was married to Cora Dithers.

The comic strip had Dag-

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BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK, ESQ. AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED UESTION: Alternatives to Bankruptcy: Debt settlement – is it feasible?

Answer: Another way you can deal with your debts is to attempt to settle your debts with your creditors. You can do this yourself or through

Q understanding BANKRUPTCY

any of numerous “debt-settlement” agencies that typically populate television and the internet.

Typically, a “debt-settlement” agency will promise to settle your debts for much less than what you owe. So how do they do this?

Generally, the debt settlement agency will total all of your unsecured debts, like

credit cards. They will then require that you pay money into their office every month and hold that money until enough is paid in so that the agency can start negotiating with creditors.

In the meantime, the debt-settlement agency will deduct their fees each month out of your monthly payments. Typically, the fee

charged is 15% of the outstanding debt. Often, the debt-settlement agency will withhold their fees before engaging any negotiations with any creditors.

Assuming you have paid into the debt-settlement agency enough money, the agency will then attempt to negotiate with your creditors to settle the debt for less than what is owed in one lump sum. A typical settlement with any one creditor is to pay approximately 50-75% of the debt outstanding. So if on one credit card you owed $10,000, the debt-settlement agency would negotiate paying $6,500 and the debt will be satisfied.

Of course, you will have also paid the debt settlement agency 15% of the outstanding debt which is $1,500.00.

Total payment on this one debt is $9,000.

Additionally, while you are paying enough money into the debt-settlement agency to be able to settle with your creditors, your creditors are not getting paid. When they are not getting paid, they start reporting to the credit bureaus that you are behind on your payments. Once you are late on your payments, your credit score starts to tank.

There is another nasty, potential surprise, as well.

If you settle a debt for less than what is owed, the creditor will most likely submit a Form 1099-C to the IRS on the amount of debt that was canceled or forgiven. Based on this 1099, the IRS may wish to treat the amount of debt cancelled as “income to you” for tax purposes!

Granted, if you file a Form 982 and can demonstrate you were insolvent at the time the debt was forgiven or canceled, then the debt may not count as income; but it is your responsibility to file the form. This can be a hassle – particularly if you are unaware of this requirement.

And it should be remembered that a debt-settlement agency is trying to settle with all of your creditors. If one creditor chooses not to “play ball” and settle, then you are still stuck with paying the debt in full or taking the consequences of not paying, such as a lawsuit by that creditor. If a lawsuit is initiated and judgment obtained, then you may still be subject to all after-judgment procedures such as wage garnishment (if applicable) that a creditor can exert.

EVERYDAY (Cont. From Page 9) to ever become Mayor of Philadelphia, my first official act would be to turn off the tap. The commonwealth wouldn’t get another dime of our tourism, convention or sports-team tax revenue until it learned to respect the fact that we deliver a nice chunk of its budget and to stop treating us like a city of homeless people.

The fact that we have any of the city’s legislators willing to be a part of this is a sin and a shame.

But the only thing worse than the paternalism is the

hypocrisy. Let’s face it, were it not for former State Reps.

Dwight Evans and John Perzel and, yes, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Perzel and Evans handed the School District of Philadelphia (and the Philadelphia Parking Authority in the name of funding it) to the recalcitrant group of 4-year-olds that make up the General Assembly; and Williams has made sure charter-school operators that have been bankrolling his campaigns of late get their share of funding …

and some of yours too.

So that doesn’t leave a whole lot for stuff like, well, pre-kindergarten seats. So you have to go in another direction.

But since it’s a direction Williams and company seem to have a problem with, please allow me to make a suggestion.

If you’re so concerned about losing the revenue that comes from more people drinking Mountain Dew, how about getting the commonwealth to kick in the pre-kindergarten money?

I expect to hear crickets.

15 T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

not having a lightweight Congressman run against Casey.

It all depends on who you talk to. A more-fearful proposition would be a wealthy businessman like Wolf or Wagner can find their own campaign. Money doesn’t grow on trees and it is also the mother’s milk of elected officials.

Casey is a pretty decent fundraiser, but the amount of money being spent on these national races is obscene.

Most insiders think Casey would’ve felt better against a middle-class congressman then some fat cat to whom money is no object.

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

(Cont. From Page 9) the upward path of his career.

STATE SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS is rattling cages by taking a firm anti-sugar-tax position. The Sweetened Drinks Tax is Jim Kenney’s master plan to fund pre-K, rec centers and libraries at a higher level.

The popularity of the sugar tax has recently gone down as reality has hit. The sticker shock of the higher cost of soda is hurting sales in the city and driving up sales in

the suburbs. One state representative mentioned that the Wawa just outside Philadelphia in Bucks County had sold out of most sodas.

Since that’s not Philadelphia, the money will not go to fund Philly schools.

Well-liked Delaware County Republican CONGRESSMAN PATRICK MEEHAN decided not to challenge Democratic US SEN. BOB CASEY. There are two reactions to this news. The first is relief that Casey will not have a formidable challenger who knows how to raise money and has won elections. The other reaction is sadness at

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NEGRÍN: I HAVE THE SKILLS TO RUN A CLEAN OFFICE

BY GREG SALISBURY VERYTHING YOU need to know about why Rich Negrín is so driven to return to the political whirlwind after resigning his post as Philadelphia’s managing director to

E

join the politically connected law firm of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel in 2015, can be found on your phone.

Or, more specifically, it can be found by his reaction to finding that a visi-

In The Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 161201210 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Verdenia Finger a/k/a Verdinia Finger, Deceased, Jamie Y. Finger, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Verdenia Finger a/k/a Verdinia Finger, Deceased, Tanya G. Finger, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Verdenia Finger a/k/a Verdinia Finger, Deceased & Yolanda T. Finger, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Verdenia Finger a/k/a Verdinia Finger, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendants To: The Unknown Heirs of Verdenia Finger a/k/a Verdinia Finger, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 8626 Fayette Street, Philadelphia, PA 19150. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 161201210, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 8626 Fayette Street, Philadelphia, PA 19150, whereupon your property will be sold by the Sheriff of Phila. County. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila.

Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-2386333. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

tor doesn’t have the city’s Philly311 mobile app on his phone. “Oh, you’ve got to install it – it’s free!” he exclaims. “Someone can see graffiti on a wall, report it and it’s gone in 48 hours.”

This palpable pride of ownership, of creating something that can tangibly improve Negrín’s adopted hometown, is still evident a year after he left city government, where he oversaw multiple infrastructure improvements and new programs like PhillyRising and the Innovation Lab. During his time in the Nutter administration and as an executive in the pri-

vate sector, including stints at the law firm of Morgan Lewis and at Aramark, Negrín developed a reputation and a skill set for turnarounds and crisis management – both of which would come in handy were he to become the next district attorney of Philadelphia.

During a wide-ranging interview, Negrín, the son of Cuban immigrants, an All-American football player at Wagner College and a former assistant district attorney under Lynne Abraham, held forth on everything from how he is the only one of the candidates who can walk the eth-

United States District Court For The Eastern District of Pennsylvania Civil Action - Law No. 16-05813 Notice of Action in Enforced Collections United States of America, Plaintiff vs. Philip G. Clark, Defendant To: Philip G. Clark, Defendant whose last known address is 5900 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, United States of America, has filed a Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 16-05813. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila. Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215238-6333. Rebecca A. Solarz, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

Rich Negrín ics walk to the reason behind his unblinking willingness to talk about how, as a teen, he held his father as he lay dying from a gunshot wound in New Jersey.

This interview has been condensed for clarity and content.

How do you pronounce your last name?

It depends on whether you can roll your tongue or not. The right way is with the accent on the “I.” I’m not uptight about it, though – I grew up with a long list of people who couldn’t say it – it doesn’t matter to me.

Why are you getting back into politics?

I think I have an important message, some good ideas on how we’re trying to change neighborhoods and revitalize communities and really connect. That’s the thing I miss the most. My folks knew that we have lots of meetings.

They knew if I wasn’t in the community and in front of young people at least once a week, preferably more than that, I would start to get cranky. It would start to wear on me, that I couldn’t do the stuff that energizes me.

It’s like when I stopped playing football. You don’t miss the practices or the crowds – you miss the people.

What separates you from the other candidates in the race?

I don’t think there is anyone in the race that has the skill sets I do. Managing an organization is not something you should guess at.

I’ve proven over time I can do that – I’ve had 70,000 employees as the executive leadership counsel at Aramark; as managing director of Philadelphia, I was responsible for 30,000 employees, and I did a great job running a thoughtful, modern shop.

The integrity piece really matters – people throw that word around, especially in this election. Everyone is painting themselves as the integrity candidate: “Here is what I’m doing; here is what I have done.” I’m the only one in the race with a proven record of driving ethics, of driving integrity, whether it’s my service on the ethics board or my service on the board of the Committee of Seventy or as the city’s managing director, where for six years, there wasn’t a whiff of a subpoena, a whiff of an investigation, because we did things the right way as a senior leadership team.

When you talk about those things, when you reward those things at the Managing Director’s Awards ceremony, you’re pushing ethics and integrity through the culture. It’s a lot more important than just saying, “Hey, I’m an ethical guy, I’m going to bring back integrity,” when you really haven’t done it.

Finally, I think I’m the only candidate who has spent hundreds if not thousands of hours working side by side with our residents across the neighborhoods.

My 11-year-old has spent more time in our neighborhoods than many of the candidates running for office, not just the DA candidates.

Some folks think community engagement means pulling up in your SUV, giving a speech, taking a picture, tweeting it out, getting back in your SUV and getting out of there. I tried to set an example when I was (Cont. Page 19)

For a Salute to Philly Icon

Jim Tayoun

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

Tickets on Sale Now!

17

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 5:30 p.m.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 1301 Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19148

Master of Cermonies: Mr. Jonathan Saidel Featured Speakers: Congressman Bob Brady, L.T. Governor Mike Stack & Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding Presenting Sponsors:

Sheet Metal Workers Local 19

L.E.C.E.T

F E B RUA RY 9, 2017

Premium Open Bar, Hors d’Oeuvres and Buffet by Penn’s Landing Caterers

Contributing Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors:

Delaware Valley Stevedores

Philadelphia AFL_CIO

Local 57

City Commissioner Lisa Deeley and Sheriff (Ret.) Barbara Deeley

Tickets can be purchased by contacting events@cityandstatepa.com or call 215-755-2000 Ext. 7

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ELEPHANT

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(Cont. From page 9) to be put into nomination.

STATE REP. JUDY WARD nominated Tabas. Philadelphia’s CALVIN TUCKER seconded the nomination (with the best speech of the day).

DiGiorgio was nominated by Bucks County GOP

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CHAIRWOMAN PAT POPRICK. Longtime Pittsburgh political activist MARY ANN MOLOY seconded.

DiGiorgio won by 2 votes (173 to 171 with 1 abstention).

From what I saw, DiGiorgio received many votes from people whose professions were partially or entirely related to politics, with the notable exceptions

In The Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 161103310 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Milagro Ramas, Deceased, Adalberto Rodriguez, Individually, and in His Capacity as Heir of Milagro Ramas, Deceased & David Ramas, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Milagro Ramas, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendants To: The Unknown Heirs of Milagro Ramas, Deceased, Adalberto Rodriguez, Individually, and in His Capacity as Heir of Milagro Ramas, Deceased and David Ramas, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Milagro Ramas, Deceased, Mortgagors and Real Owners, Defendants, whose last known address is 3448 North Water Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 161103310, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 3448 North Water Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134 whereupon your property will be sold by the Sheriff of Phila. County. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila.

Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-2386333. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

of two female state Reps., a well-known political strategist from Harrisburg and the president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women, who is a paid campaign manager.

Tabas did well with women despite the fact he was not endorsed by Pennsylvania Republican National COMMITTEEWOMAN

CHRISTINE TORETTI. Adding to the discomfort of many of Tabas’ female supporters was the understanding that BERNIE COMFORT was DiGiorgio’s choice for vice chairperson.

Comfort runs the Anne Anstine Series for Excellence in Public Service, a program that many female State Committee members completed.

In The Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 161101728 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Sylvia Wesley, Deceased & Kevin Wesley, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Sylvia Wesley, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner Defendant(s) To: The Unknown Heirs of Sylvia Wesley Deceased & Kevin Wesley Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Sylvia Wesley, Deceased, Mortgagors and Real Owners, Defendant(s), whose last known address is 1735 North Robinson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19151. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 161101728, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 1735 North Robinson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19151, whereupon your property will be sold by the Sheriff of Phila. County. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila.

Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-2386333. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

Tabas also did well in some of the smaller rural counties. Because Tabas was the party’s general counsel for years, he worked on election-law issues for these smaller counties which lacked the resources to have their own experts.

After the long election process for chairman, State Committee voted to endorse for the open judicial appellate positions. As candidates who feared they would not be endorsed dropped out, there were no contests for the one Supreme Court, four Superior Court and two Commonwealth seats up for election in November.

The GOP nominee for

Supreme is SALLIE MUNDY, who is currently on the Court, temporarily replacing retired JUSTICE MICHAEL EAKIN. The nominees for Superior Court are Northampton County Common Pleas Court JUDGE EMIL GIORDANO, Blair County Common Pleas Court JUDGE WADE KAGARISE, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court JUDGE PAULA PATRICK and Lancaster County DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRAIG STEDMAN. The nominees for Commonwealth Court are Delaware County Common Pleas Court JUDGE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON and Pittsburgh attorney PAUL LALLEY.

In The United States District Court For The Eastern District of Pennsylvania Civil Action - Law No. 16-05163 Notice of Action in Enforced Collections United States of America, Plaintiff vs. Marlow Johnson a/k/a Marlow M. Johnson a/k/a Marlow N. Johnson, Defendant To: Marlow Johnson a/k/a Marlow M. Johnson a/k/a Marlow N. Johnson, Defendant, whose last known address is 2108 West Tioga Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, United States of America, has filed a Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, docketed to No. 16-05163, wherein Plaintiff seeks to enforce collections. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila. Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-238-6333. Thomas I. Puleo, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 191061532, 215.627.1322.

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WALKING (Cont. From Page 9) to those observing in his courtroom (including me). I was not in the courtroom of Judge Cunningham for the COPTEEN matter, and was surprised at the outcome.

The judge knows the people of the City. When he ran for judge, I heard him tell the 49th Ward that.

PINELANDS: Approval of a Pinelands Pipeline is a for-profit idea in a region (Cont. From Page 16) there so employees could see that management was working on weekends, not for 10 minutes, but working for three hours, bringing family, painting that mural, cleaning that lot. I wasn’t doing that because I was running for office, but because that’s what a leader does. Not just to build trust and relationships with our neighbors, but also to show city employees that this is what service is about.

What about your belief the DA’s office needs to be more innovative?

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that has adequate supplies of energy generation. It would DESTROY the mission of the Pinelands Commission for a special place that is also a United States National Reserve, and a United Nations Biosphere.

Gov. CHRISTIE has been on the WRONG SIDE of the issue as an advocate for it, which included replacing voting members of the Commission.

DA’S RACE: There are a lot of guys in the race for DA. Too many. They

split the remaining vote that Seth Williams does not have. WHY are they in the race? They have raised good amounts of money.

But I am not interested in a DA candidate with BIG MONEY. The candidate with the least money might be best for the people – TERESA CARR DENI. What would please RUSSIA most during the Trump presidency? DISCORD in the nation. We have that now. A divided nation does not pose a threat to them.

Their diplomacy has always been based on a fear of Western machinations.

The Marshall Project revealed that the Intercept got an FBI training manual explaining how to work with illegal immigrants to act as confidential informants or be deported.

State Sen. Art HAYWOOD celebrated his birthday, and was shocked to get a SENIOR DISCOUNT in CVS of .88 cents. It is only a NUMERICAL AGE, Senator.

called Open File – it actually helps capture the discovery process in a way that minimizes the ability for officers and prosecutors to hide evidence that’s not good for them. The whole state of Texas has Open File. It’s crazy that we’re not leading the way.

I want Philadelphia to be the national model for reform and technology. We aren’t today. When I got to Philadelphia, we couldn’t run our email. When I left, our CIO was named national public servant of the year and we were named the No. 1 digital city in the country

by Government Technology magazine. That happened in five years. I can do the same thing in the DA’s office.

What would DA Negrín focus on once in office?

I’d like to be smarter on crime, where we’re not criminalizing addiction, not criminalizing poverty. That means everything from bail reform to giving folks opportunities for things beyond mass incarceration.

We have to be thoughtful – that gives us the credibility over time to be tougher on violent crime, so when you do bail reform for the non-

violent offenders and the folks who need help, you also need to be able to say, “You know what, we are going to jack up your bail, be aggressive and not plea-bargain you when it’s a violent crime.” I believe that of the 70,000 to 80,000 cases the DA’s office handles every year, a large percentage of them are conducted by a small group of violent people.

If we’re smarter on the entire group, and tougher on that small, violent group, I think we’ll be a safer city. There’s a balance to be struck there.

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