PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. I No. 79 Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia October 14, 2010

Bipartisan Support

TOP: From left, Leslie Anne Miller, executive VP, Penna.Breast Cancer Coalition; Pat Halpin-Murphy, presidentand founder, PBCC; and Shelly Onorato, wife of Demo-cratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato, at annualstatewide conference in Harrisburg yesterday. One thou-sand people attended day-long series of workshops.BOTTOM: Pat Halpin-Murphy also welcomed Sue Corbett,wife of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett,to PBCC conference. Both potential First Ladies wereintroduced at huge Pink Ribbon Award luncheon.

Photo by Bonnie Squires.

State Rep. John Perzel (R-North-

east) has introduced HB 2774

which would direct a portion of

the revenue generated by slot ma-

chines in Philadelphia to help the City

cover shortfalls in its police and fire

budgets.

“Like the rest of the nation, Philadel-

phia is facing a very difficult budget

crisis,” Perzel said. “To deal with the

crisis, the city’s police and fire budg-

ets are being cut. The threat to public

safety as a result of those cuts is to-

tally unacceptable.”

Under current law, counties hosting

casinos receive 4% of the gross termi-

nal revenues generated by slot ma-

chines. Perzel’s bill would direct that

the local share from Philadelphia’s

casinos be used to make up the short-

fall in Philadelphia’s police and fire

budgets. Any remaining funds would

be placed in the city’s general fund.

“When both casinos are up and run-

ning in Philadelphia, it is estimated

the local share of the slots revenue

will be about $14 million,” Perzel

said. “Rather than giving the city a

free hand to spend those funds any

way they want, my bill will ensure

public safety by directing the funds be

used to cover the shortfalls in the po-

lice and fire budgets.”

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2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 14 OCTOBER, 2010

Perzel Bill Shoots For Slot Revenue To CoverPhila. Police, Fire Budget Shortfalls

Mayor Michael A. Nutter

and Councilman Darrell

Clarke cut a ceremonial

ribbon to celebrate the completion

of the final 33 homes in the Cecil

B. Moore Homeownership Zone, a

cornerstone in the revitalization of

North Central Philadelphia. The

Homeownership Zone develop-

ment has brought nearly 300 af-

fordable new homes to the

formerly blighted area.

“Today marks a significant mile-

stone for this neighborhood. Over

the past 15 years, it has been trans-

formed into a sustainable, safe and

vibrant community. The partner-

ship between the city, state and

federal governments, the private

and nonprofit sectors, and commu-

nity advocates has ushered in a

new era in this North Philadelphia

neighborhood,” said the Mayor.

The Cecil B. Moore Homeowner-

ship Zone was created to provide

affordable homeownership oppor-

tunities and to redevelop North

Central Philadelphia. In 1990, the

area bounded by 17th and 20th

Streets and Master Street to Mont-

gomery Avenue was 60% vacant

buildings and lots with one of the

highest rates of poverty in the city

of Philadelphia. The neighborhood

has been revitalized through over

$80 million in public and private

investments, transforming 16 acres

of formerly blighted land into a vi-

able community.

Twins at Oxford Commons, the

third and final phase of the Home-

ownership Zone, totaled 151 new

homes and was built in three

stages. Stage 1 consisted of 64

homes; Stage 2 consisted of 54

homes; and the just-completed

Stage 3 consisted of 33 homes.

Twins was developed by the Hous-

ing Enrichment Renaissance Board

and OKKS-Michael’s Develop-

ment Corporation Joint Venture,

LLC.

“This development sought to pro-

mote and strengthen the quality of

life for neighborhood residents. We

were able to include our neighbors

in the planning and gain their feed-

back along the way. This was a real

community effort and the payoff is

huge,” said Ken Scott, president

and CEO of HERB.

The new homes are two-story

twins with front lawns and large

rear yards. 10% of homes in the

Twins are accessible to people with

disabilities and all units are “vis-

itable.” They feature energy-effi-

cient HVAC units, modern

kitchens and private driveways

with garages. Trees and walkways

are located throughout the devel-

opment for a sense of walkability

and a clean, green environment.

All the homes are located within a

one mile radius of a recreation cen-

ter, schools, police and fire station,

library, grocery store, retail shops

and entertainment centers.

Councilman Darrell Clarke said,

“This development has created af-

fordable and accessible housing

options for hardworking families. I

applaud the partners involved in

the hard work over the past two

decades that made this a reality.”

Units are priced at $110,000.At

least 51% of the units will be sold

to households with incomes at or

below 80% of area median income.

Remaining units are available to

households up to 115% of AMI. A

family of four at 80% of AMI

earns $62,650 per year; at 115% of

(Cont. Page 6 )

14 OCTOBER, 2010 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3

ATTENTION

PUBLIC NOTICES

ADVERTISERSWe publish various types of Legal

Notices including: Estate Notices,

Name Changes, Fictitious Name,

Articles of Incorporation and

more, Call

John David for more

215-755-2000Fax: 215-689-4099

REMAKING NORTH PHILLY:Cecil B. Moore Homeownership Zone Is Finished

4 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 14 OCTOBER, 2010

US Sen. Bob Casey today

sent a letter to the

Delaware River Basin

Commission as it considers regula-

tion of natural-gas wells in the

Delaware River Basin. The Senator

expressed concern for water quality

and the need to have public input

and review of any new regulations.

“Natural gas has played, and will

continue to play, an important role

in our energy portfolio as we tran-

sition to a new energy future, and

we are fortunate to have domestic

resources to help meet our growing

needs,” wrote the Senator. “How-

ever, we must develop the Marcel-

lus Shale using the best practices to

protect our communities, our peo-

ple and our environment.”

Casey also called on the DRBC to

implement some of the measures

he has proposed at the Federal

level including public disclosure of

chemicals used in hydraulic frac-

turing and enhanced emergency re-

sponse measures to protect workers

and the community in the event of

a well blowout or other emergency.

Casey also wrote: “I urge the Com-

mission to institute strong meas-

ures to continue to protect water

quality and quantity in the basin. I

further encourage the Commission

to move deliberately and to provide

ample time and opportunity for

public input and review.”

Casey introduced the Fracturing

Responsibility and Awareness of

Chemicals Act (S.1215) to repeal

an exemption provided for the oil

and gas industry and would require

the disclosure of the chemicals

used in their hydraulic fracturing

processes.

Casey has introduced legislation to

help prepare Pennsylvania workers

for jobs in the natural gas indus-

try. The Marcellus Shale On-the-

Job Training Act of 2010 (S.3720)

will authorize grants to strengthen

On-the-Job Training programs to

help ensure natural gas drilling

jobs go to Pennsylvanians and not

workers from out-of-state.

Casey also plans to introduce legis-

lation to improve emergency re-

sponse at oil and gas wells. The

Faster Action Safety Team Emer-

gency Response (FASTER) Act of

2010 provides the Occupational

Safety & Health Administration

with the ability to draft regulations

that will enhance emergency re-

sponse procedures at oil and gas

wells.

Casey:Delaware RiverWater NeedsStrong Protec-tions AgainstFracking

14 OCTOBER, 2010 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 5

Calling Auditor General Jack

Wagner’s report, which urges

a moratorium on charter

schools, a threat to the right to public

school choice, Pennsylvania State Sens.

Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.)

and Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester),

Democratic Chairman of the Senate

Education Committee, expressed con-

cern about the impact of a moratorium

on the ability of Pennsylvania students

to receive a quality education.

“The Auditor General’s report is flawed

at best and if implemented will prove

devastating to the prospects for many

children to receive a quality education

in the Commonwealth,” said Williams.

“The basis of his call for a moratorium,

which is a funding discrepancy, is erro-

neous, incomplete and flies in the face

of the facts.”

State Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin),)

Republican Chairman of the Senate Ed-

ucation Committee, released the fol-

lowing statement. “I do not support

Wagner’s call for a moratorium on new

charters and cyber charters. I recognize

that some in the public-education es-

tablishment believe the charter school

funding formula is flawed, but we

should not punish kids, families and

communities from starting new charter

schools over these grievances. I have

introduced comprehensive legislation

to overhaul our charter-school law. An

important component of that legislation

would create a balanced State commis-

sion, putting all parties in the same

room to try to hammer out a more equi-

table funding formula.

“One of the fundamental problems with

this dialogue is the continued hostility

from the public-education establish-

ment toward charter schools. Charter

schools are an important segment of

our public-education offerings for fam-

ilies and students, and they deserve fair

funding.”

According to the Executive Director of

the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public

Charter Schools, Guy Ciarrocchi, the

Auditor General’s report is deeply

flawed. “Auditor General Wagner fails

to point out charter schools receive

only between 70-80% per pupil fund-

ing than do school districts – and still

outperform district schools 2 to 1 in

AYP scores, including cyber charter

schools, which met 86% of bench-

marks this year, states Ciarrocchi. “In

addition, districts are reimbursed ap-

proximately 60% for each student that

leaves for a charter school—taxpayer

money for students those districts no

longer educate. Charter schools provide

more for less, educating students with

70-80 cents on the dollar. We respect-

fully submit that the AG may wish to

look at ensuring that Pennsylvania tax-

payers availing themselves to their

right to school choice are not penalized

by receiving a lesser degree of funding

for CHOOSING to enroll in one of the

commonwealth’s PUBLIC charter

schools.”

“The right of parents to choose and

have access to as many quality educa-

tion options as possible for their chil-

dren is a civil rights issue,” said

Williams. “We will continue to fight

vigorously to expand and defend that

right.”

Senators Decry AG’s Call For A Charter-School Moratorium

6 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 14 OCTOBER, 2010

Oct. 13-

21st Ward GOP Holds Reception

at Keenan’s Valley View Inn,

468 Domino La., 6:30-9 p.m.

Beer, wine, food, friends. Dona-

tion $40. For info (215) 482-

2834.

Oct. 14-

State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson

Hearing on Blight and Aban-

doned Property, at Church of the

Redeemer, 1440 S. 24th St., 10

a.m.-2 p.m. Attendance free. Info

(215) 952-3378.

Oct. 14-

Fundraiser for Cindy Bass for

City Council 5 to 7 p.m. at Pub-

lic House, 18th and Cherry. Tick-

ets $50-100. For info call Rosa

Woods at 215-844-5443.

Oct. 14-

Matt Myers hosts 39B Fall

Fundraiser at EOM Club, Front

& Moore Streets, 6 p.m. Tickets

$50. For info Matt Myers at

(215) 467-4643.

Oct. 15-

State Rep. John Taylor’s Golf

Outing at Torresdale Frankford

C.C., 3801 Grant Ave., shotgun

start 12:30 p.m. For info (215)

545-1013.

Oct. 15-

26th Ward Republicans host Fall

Festival at Swan Caterers Water-

fall Rm., 2015 S. Water St., 6:30

p.m. For info (215) 468-2300.

(Cont. From Page 3)

AMI, a family of four would earn

$90,045.

Twin at Oxford Commons was

made possible by strong support

from the City of Philadelphia.

The City supported the final stage

with $260,000 in city capital

funds, and by directing $1 million

in Dept. of Community & Eco-

nomic Development and

$533,000 in HOME funds to the

development. Pennsylvania Hous-

ing Finance Agency is financing

$1 million and $3.6 million is

being financed through sales pro-

ceeds. The City’s total investment

for the Homeownership Zone has

been approximately $34 million.

The Cecil B. Moore Homeowner-

ship Zone’s first two phases re-

ceived a $23 million award from

the US Dept. of Housing & Urban

Development. The funds were

awarded as part of HUD’s pilot

Homeownership Zone program,

which was created in 1997 to help

turn blighted inner-city areas into

thriving neighborhoods.

“This is a significant development

that has made a huge impact in

North Central Philadelphia,” said

Deborah McColloch, director of

the Office of Housing & Commu-

nity Development.

Rmaking North Philly

PECO has come up with a smart

ideas team to help convince its cus-

tomers, its higher new rates due

Jan. 1 are a necessity. It has part-

nered with Legacy Pathways to

spread its price-hike message.

From left are PECO’s Doyle

Beneby, Liz Finocchio, Pathways’

Joi Spraggins, Gov. Ed Rendell’s

rep Peter Speaks, Thom Webster,

Thomas Brubaker, Mike O’Leary

and Frank Jiruska. Photo by MartinRegusters, Leaping Lion

14 OCTOBER, 2010 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 7

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