PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. II No. 56 (216) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia May 4, 2011

FORMER GOVERNOR and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, center, en-

dorsed attorney David Oh, right, Tuesday in his race for an at-large Council

nomination in the Republican primary. For his announcement at Union League

yesterday afternoon, Public Record cartoonist R. Penn Taylor gave Ridge aspecial gift.

Ridge: ‘Oh Yes!’

2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 4 MAY, 2011

OARC Breaks Ground On

$2.4 Million Office Complex

Ogontz Avenue RevitalizationCorp., Philadelphia’s leading com-munity-development corporation,along with State, City and Chel-tenham Township officials held agroundbreaking ceremony Tues-day at the future site of the Gate-way Office Complex. OARCPresident and CEO Jack Kitchenwas joined by Philadelphia CityCouncilwoman Marian Tasco (D),State Reps. Dwight Evans (D-N.Phila.) and Cherelle Parker (D-Northwest), Chief of Staff to MayorNutter Clay Armbrister, Philadel-phia Redevelopment Authority Ex-ecutive Director Ed Covington,Cheltenham Township Commis-sioner Art Haywood, SEPTA Gen-eral Mgr. Joseph Casey and

dozens of community leaders inNorthwest Philadelphia to cele-brate the $2.4 million project.

“For more than a quarter century,it has been OARC’s mission to de-velop and revitalize NorthwestPhiladelphia,” said Kitchen. “Thisnew office complex will further en-hance the West Oak Lane busi-ness district and allow foradditional growth and economicopportunities in our local commu-nity.”

Officials broke ground at the for-mer site of Club Jaguar and acheck-cashing store located at theintersection of Ogontz and Chel-tenham Avenues. The site will beredeveloped into a two-story,

9,000-square-foot office buildingthat will house retail space on thefirst floor and office space on thesecond floor.

The project is expected to gener-ate 58 temporary and 22 perma-nent jobs and is expected to becompleted in September 2011. Ar-chitecture firm JK Roller and Asso-ciates designed the renovations toan existing building in collabora-tion with civil engineers Bohler En-gineering. H.C. Pody, Inc. shallserve as General Contractor.

The renovation project is part of alarger $20 million revitalization ini-tiative to transform upper OgontzAvenue into Philadelphia’s “Gate-way to the Northwest.” The projectalso includes the Ogontz AvenueStreetscape project, expansion ofBrown’s Family Shop Rite and thenew SEPTA-depot bus loop.

Raining On

Their ParadeRain or no rain, eight Tibetansfrom the New York area, includinga Buddhist monk, are on a PeaceWalk to Washington, D.C. in orderto raise awareness about the de-teriorating human rights situationin Ngaba County, in Chinese-oc-cupied Tibet. The Peace Walk waslaunched in New York City onMonday, May 2. The marchersplan to arrive in Washington, D.C.on Sunday, May 8. The local Ti-betan community will host a wel-come reception and talk for themarchers at the Liberty Bell Cen-

BREAKING GROUND on Ogontz Avenue are, from left, Joe Casey,

SEPTA general manager; Art Haywood, Cheltenham Township

Commissioner; Ed Covington, executive director of Philadelphia

Redevelopment Authority; Jack Kitchen, president and CEO of

OARC; Anthony Braxton, senior leader of United Bank of Philadel-

phia; State Rep. Dwight Evans; and Clay Armbrister, chief of staff

to Mayor Michael Nutter.

4 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3

ter, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Since the self-immolation of a 20-year-old Buddhistmonk in Ngaba County, eastern Tibet (SichuanProvince) on Mar. 16, Chinese security forces havelaid siege on Kirti Monastery, one of the largest andmost respected monasteries in the region. On Apr.21, more than 300 monks were arbitrarily arrestedand removed from the monastery and two elderly Ti-

betans were beaten to death for trying to stop the ar-rests.

Tibetans and their supporters worldwide have en-gaged in protests, vigils, fasts, and government lob-bying activities to pressure the Chinese governmentto end its attack on Tibetans in Ngaba.

City Police’s Homeland Security

Conducted Rapid Deployment ExerciseThe Philadelphia Police Dept.’sHomeland Security Unit con-ducted a rapid-deployment exer-cise into Center City this morning.This exercise is a proactive ap-proach to emergency prepared-

ness throughout the city. Policevehicles assigned to the RapidResponse Teams deployed to astaging area at 22nd and JFK (nolights or sirens) for re-assignmentinto center city. Once reassigned,

the officers deployed into CenterCity at normal speed with all emer-gency equipment (lights andsirens) activated.

Tartaglione Urges Close

Scrutiny of Drilling TaxesState Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Kensington),

along with Democratic colleagues, urged the State

Dept. of Revenue yesterday to aggressively audit the

tax filings of Marcellus Shale drilling companies in

light of proliferation of Delaware subsidiaries.

“The boom in natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania has

been mirrored by a similar rise in the number

Delaware subsidiaries registered by Marcellus Shale

energy companies,” Tartaglione said. “All Pennsylva-

nia taxpayers should question the reason for these

numerous affiliates and seek assurance that energy

companies are paying their share of State taxes.”

Tartaglione is the prime sponsor of SB 679, which

would require “combined reporting” for businesses in

Pennsylvania and close the “Delaware Loophole.”

“Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania companies

pay no income tax and 80% pay less than the aver-

age family of four,” Tartaglione said. “At the same

time, the number of business entities registered in

Delaware over the past 20 years has jumped from

6,000 to more than 115,000. Pennsylvania’s revenue

department should closely monitor this activity.”

Tartaglione noted hundreds of Delaware business

entities have been registered in the names of Marcel-

lus Shale drilling companies in the past five years,

even though Delaware doesn’t have a single gas

well.

Several years ago, the revenue department esti-

mated that $400 million in corporate taxes could be

recouped by adopting a combined reporting stan-

dard, as 23 states have already done.

Facing drastic cuts in education outlined in Gov. Tom

Corbett’s budget address, proponents of

Tartaglione’s legislation said preserving tax loopholes

is unconscionable.

Tartaglione is asking the Revenue Dept. to issue a

new, good-faith estimate based on the proliferation of

Delaware business entities and the expansion of gas

exploration in Pennsylvania.

4 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 4 MAY, 2011

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T h e P h i l a d e l p h i a P u b l i c R e c o r d C a l e n d a r

May 4-

Labor Breakfast for judicial candi-

date Jim DiVergilis at DC 21,

2980 Southampton Rd., 8 a.m.

May 4-

Historical Marker Dedication for

Moyamensing Prison at 1400 S.

10th St., 12 m. For info Celeste

Morello (215) 334-6008.

May 4-

Phila. Jobs With Justice honors

AFL-CIO Political Dir. Liz McEl-

roy, SEIU organizer Cathy Brady,

union activist Jim Moran and ILA

Local 1291 at William Way Com-

munity Center, 1315 Spruce St.,

5:30 p.m.

May 4-

Fundraiser for Derrick Coker, can-

didate for MC Judge, at New Pal-

ladium, 22 W. Allegheny Ave.,

5:30-8:30 p.m.

May 4-

Fundraiser for Traffic Ct. candi-

date Harmonia Club, 2404 Ortho-

dox St., 5:30-8 p.m. Co-Host

$1,000, Supporter $500, $50

Friend. For info (215) 728-1484.

May 4-

Fundraiser for State Rep. Rosita

Youngblood at Finnigan’s Wake,

3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 7-9:30

p.m. Dinner and open bar $75. For

info (215) 745-4306.

May 4-

Programs Employing People

marks 41st year serving people

with intellectual disabilities is

holding 5th annual plant sale at

Broad & Federal Sts., 9 a.m.-6

p.m. This sale is a fund raiser for

PEP’s vital services.

May 5-

Fundraiser for Derrick Coker For

Municipal Court at New Palla-

dium, 229 W. Allegheny Ave.,

5:30-8:30 p.m. For info Iliana

Renoso (215) 740-5273.

May 5-

State Sen. Mike Stack’s Democrat

58th Ward Reception at Bliss

Restaurant, 224 S. Broad St.,

5:30-7 p.m. Tickets available.

Contact Rosemary (215) 964-

3140.

May 5-

Phila. Young Democrats host

BLUE: Pre-Primary Election

Soirée at Moshulu, 401 S. Colum-

bus Blvd., 5:30 p.m. Mayor, other

candidates well attend. Music,

hors d’oeuvres, raffle. Tickets

$20. For info

youngdems254@meetup.com.

Tickets in advance http://blue

55.eventbrite.com/.

May 5-

Democrat 43rd Ward Cinco de

Mayo Beef & Beer at Copas

Cubanas, 4637 N. 5th St., 6-9 p.m.

Donations $35.

May 5-

Fundraiser for judicial candidate

Angelo Foglietta at DePasquale

Law Offices, 2332-34 S. Broad

St., 1st fl., 6 p.m. Patron $250,

Friend $150, Supporter $100. For

info Thomas T. Muldoon, Jr. (215)

545-1776.

May 5-

Fundraiser Reception and Dinner

for Council candidate Verna Tyner

at Primo’s, 8460 Limekiln Pk.,

Wyncote, Pa., 7-11 p.m.

May 6-

22nd Ward Democrat Committee

Spring Fundraiser at Gathering

Place, 6755 Germantown Ave., 6-

8 p.m. Candidates $100, commu-

nity $50. Meet 8th Dist. City

Council, at-Large City Council

and judicial candidates. For info

Ward Leader Ron Couser (215)

817-6159.

4 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 5

L&I Launches Building Safety MonthThe Dept. of Licenses & Inspections has kicked offPhiladelphia’s Building Safety Month. This campaignis presented in coordination with the InternationalCode Council Foundation, a nonprofit organizationdedicated to alleviating the devastating effects of nat-ural disasters and other building tragedies throughconsumer education, professional development andcommunity service. Throughout May, L&I will collabo-rate with external organizations, such as the LibertyChapter of the ICC, and other City public safetyagencies to stage several fun and educationalevents.

“This is the Department’s second year of BuildingSafety Month and I would like to thank everyone forarranging another exciting schedule of events,” saidL&I Commissioner Fran Burns. “Last year’s eventswere a tremendous success and I encourage thepublic to take advantage of the many activities hap-pening this month. Together, we can build a saferPhiladelphia.”

Countless accidents unfortunately still occur in build-ings that are not constructed or maintained to code.

The May events will be held throughout the City,highlighting four important themes of building safety– Energy and Green Building, Disaster Safety andMitigation, Fire Safety and Awareness, and BackyardSafety. The Department will be working to becomemore accessible to the public, holding weekly ses-sions at a city Home Depot to issue permits and li-censes and answer questions regarding the codes.The East District will also be open in the eveningtwice during Backyard Safety Week to give residentsgreater opportunity to have building plans reviewed.

For more information, contact Deputy CommissionerMichael Fink at Michael.fink@phila.gov.

Today and tomorrow, the Home Depot outreach effortruns from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 2200 W. OregonAvenue.

Tomorrow, a Career Day presentation at EdmundsES will explain the duties and responsibilities in-volved in code enforcement. There will also be GreenAdvantage Training 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., ConcourseTraining Room, MSB.

Lowery Brown Collecting Dresses

For Teens To Attend PromState Rep. Vanessa Lowery

Brown will again be participating in

a prom-dress giveaway and is

asking for the public’s help in mak-

ing a teen’’ dream of attending her

junior or senior prom a reality.

“Once more, I am joining the New

Jersey Chapter of the National As-

sociation of Social Workers to col-

lect prom gowns and dresses for

teens,” said Brown. “Please reach

out to your friends and family to

help make their dreams a reality.”

Brown said donations of prom

dresses can be made by dropping

them off at her Philadelphia office

at 1435 N. 52nd Street, no later

than the close of business Thurs-

day, May 12.

Brown will give away the prom

dresses from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fri-

day, May 13 and from noon to 4

p.m. Saturday, May 14 at her

Philadelphia office. She said resi-

dents of the 190th Dist. will be

given first preference, but every-

one who attends will be accommo-

dated until the dresses are all

given away.

“In these tough economic times, a

prom dress may be a luxury that is

difficult to afford,” Lowery Brown

said. “I want to make sure young

ladies from the 190th Legislative

Dist. and surrounding areas have

wonderful dresses for the prom.”

For more information, residents

can call Brown’s office at (215)

879-6615.

6 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 4 MAY, 2011

Farnese Offers ALS Month ResolutionState Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S.Phila.) offered a resolution in Har-risburg Tuesday recognizing May2011 as Amyotrophic Lateral Scle-rosis Month in Pennsylvania.

“Commonly known as LouGehrig’s disease, ALS is a devas-tating neurodegenerative disease.Each year in the United States,more than 5,500 people are diag-nosed with ALS, with an estimated30,000 Americans suffering fromthe disease at any point in time.Here in Pennsylvania, it is esti-mated 1,200 people are currentlycombating the disease,” Farnese

said.

“ALS symptoms make living a“normal” life extremely difficult.Muscle weakness causes limbusage to be impaired and makesswallowing and breathing burden-some. A symptom known as “’thickspeech’ makes it difficult for suffer-ers to project their voices andcommunicate as you and I would.As the disease progresses, manylose their ability to walk, gesture,speak and breathe on their ownand ultimately, complete paralysissets in. The average life ex-pectancy of an ALS patient is be-

tween two and five years after di-agnosis.

“I’d like to formally thank the ALSAssociation, particularly the West-ern Pennsylvania Chapter andGreater Philadelphia Chapter, fortheir daily efforts in research, edu-cation, advocacy and support.They stand at the front lines of thisincurable disease, making stridesevery day to enhance the vitality ofALS patients who use their serv-ices to sustain longer and fullerlives.”

Cindy Bass, candidate for CityCouncil in the 8th Dist., announcedthe endorsement of former Con-gresswoman Marjorie Margolies ofMontgomery Co. This adds to along list of diverse endorsementsthe Bass campaign has gatheredin recent weeks.

“I am proud to endorse CindyBass for City Council,” said Mar-golies. “She shares my commit-ment to advancing women’sissues and understands the impor-

tance of increasing the represen-tation of women across all levelsof government.”

“Cindy’s work with NARAL, theNational Organization of Women,and the National Coalition of BlackWomen exhibits the leadershipand tenacity needed for a memberof City Council,” Margolies added.

Margolies is the founder and chairof Women’s Campaign Interna-tional, which provides advocacy

training throughout the world. Sheis also a professor at the Fels In-stitute of Government at the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania.

“I am honored to have the en-dorsement of CongresswomanMargolies,” said Bass. “Womenand children are the most at-riskpopulations for poverty andhunger. With the confidence ofoutstanding leaders like her, I planto go to City Hall to fight for equal-ity and justice.”

Bass Endorsed By Former

Congresswoman Margolies

Local 1199C, an affiliate of National Union of Hospital& Health Care Employees, AFSCME, endorsedMayor Michael A. Nutter in the May 17 primary elec-tion yesterdayat its headquarters at 1319 LocustStreet. 1199C represents more than 17,000 membersin Philadelphia, making it the second-largest union inthe city. Aside from workers in all fields in the major

health-care institutions in Philadelphia, 1199C repre-sents thousands of workers statewide in the areas ofchildcare and homecare.

1199C President Henry Nicholas called Mayor Nutter“the only (candidate) capable of moving the city for-ward.”

Hospital Workers Back Nutter

4 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 7

Cindy Bass, a Democratic Candi-date for the 8th Council District inPhiladelphia City Council in theMay 17th Primary, is a dedicatedpublic servant and currently a sen-ior policy advisor on urban and do-mestic policy to CongressmanChaka Fattah (D-Phila.). Bass alsoserved as special assistant tothen-State Sen. Allyson Schwartz.

Teachers

Give Their

Nod To

HenonThe Philadelphia Federation ofTeachers and its 16,000 membersoverwhelmingly endorsed Democ-rat Bobby Henon for the 6th Dist.Council seat in Northeast Philadel-phia, which is home to a large per-centage of Philadelphiapublic-school teachers. The an-nouncement was made last weekby PFT President Jerry Jordan.

“Our campaign is greatly apprecia-tive of the support of Philadel-phia’s public-school teachers, whoare among the hardest-workingprofessionals in our city and are

deserving of our respect,” saidHenon. “I expressed my sinceregratitude to PFT President JerryJordan and assured him that, asCouncilman, I will work hard toprotect our public school system,our children, and our teachers.

“Unfortunately, the reckless fiscalactions and questionable deci-sions made by the School ReformCommission during my opponent’stenure on the board have left ourschool system in a precarious po-sition at present. Once I am onCouncil, I will use my solid workingrelationships with Gov. Corbettand State legislators from bothparties to ensure Philadelphia re-ceives the level of education fund-ing we need to give our childrenthe best chance to succeed.”

Committee

Of 70 Needs

Election-Day

VolunteersHere’s your chance to help makesure everyone who wants to voteis able to vote. Philadelphianstrust the nonpartisan Committee of70 to fight for fair elections and asmooth voting experience. Voters

count on 70’s volunteers to helpresolve minor problems and majorheadaches at the polls.

Field volunteers work in teams oftwo to three, visiting polling placesto answer voters’ questions andsettle minor disputes.

Hotline volunteers answer our 1(866) OUR-VOTE hotline, helpingvoters find their polling places andunderstand basic election rules,while providing real-time solutionsto Election Day problems.

The polls are open 7 a.m. to 8p.m. You can volunteer before orafter work, or during the day.

Join them. It’s an important publicservice. Seventy will provide allthe training, materials and supportyou need. Contact Frankie Lancosat flancos@seventy.org or (215) 557-3600, ext. 110, or visit www.sev-enty.org/volunteer.