philadelphia daily record

STATE SEN. DAYLIN LEACH (here shown leading workshop at Temple

Teach-In earlier this month) is slamming notion of a double primary this year,

one for state and another for federal offices. See article Page 3

PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. III No. 27 (397) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia February 15, 2012

One’sEnough

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

C a l e n d a rFeb. 17- Retirement Recep-

tion for Judge Thomas

Dempsey at City Hall,

Conversation Ha., Rm.

200, 4:30 p.m. Contribu-

tion $10. RSVP Rosemary

Donnelly rosemary.don-

[email protected].

Feb. 20- Fundraiser for

State Rep candidate Malik

Boyd at Dockside, 717 S.

Columbus Blvd., 6-9 p.m.

Music, desserts. Donation

levels $50-$500. RSVP

Jane Green (215) 300-

1996 or janeagreen@com-

cast.net. Checks payable to

Friends of Malik Boyd.

Feb. 20- Congressman

Chaka Fattah hosts free

workshop at Community

College Center for Busi-

ness & Industry, 1751 Cal-

lowhill St., Rm. CB1

C2-28. Learn how to re-

ceive up to $2,500 in tax

credits. To register (215)

848-9386.

Feb. 21- State Rep. John

Sabatina holds Mardi Gras

Cocktail Reception at Lad-

der 15, 1528 Sansom St.,

5:30-8:30 p.m. Event

Chairs Bob Brady and

John Dougherty. Contribu-

tions: $100 (ticket), $250

(friend), $500 (patron).

For info John (215) 742-

8600).

Feb. 21- Alliance Française

de Philadelphie Mardi

Gras celebration at Restau-

rant School, 4207 Walnut

St., 6:30 p.m. Roaring ’20s

theme, prize for best cos-

tume. Tickets $60. For

info (215) 735-5283.

Feb. 22- Penna. Common-

wealth Club House Party

with guest Penna. Republi-

can State Chairman Rob

Gleason at home of Mike

Cibik, 334 S. Front St.,

5:30-7:30 p.m. By invita-

tion only. Contact (717)

234-4901 or RSVP

@pagop.org.

Feb. 23- State Rep. James

Roebuck celebrates Birth-

day Party at Warmdaddy’s,

1400 S. Columbus Blvd.,

5:30-8 p.m. Jazz, food.

Friend: $125. Sponsor

$250. Benefactor: $500.

RSVP (215) 382-1268.

Feb. 25- Mothers in Charge

holds Flapjack Fundraiser

at Applebee’s, 9141 Roo-

sevelt Blvd., 8-10 a.m.

Donation $10, $5 for kids

under 11. For info (215)

228-1718.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

2 | PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •

• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM | 3


by State Sen. Daylin Leach

17th Senatorial Dist.

Montgomery Co.

Bifurcating the Pennsylvania pri-

mary is a waste of taxpayer dol-

lars.

There is nothing more corrosive to

our political system than the elec-

tion-rigging practice known as ger-

rymandering. Every 10 years,

politicians draw legislative dis-

tricts to ensure their party wins a

majority of seats and their candi-

dates do not have to worry about

competitive elections.

During this year’s redistricting

process, the tie-breaking chair of

the five-member redistricting com-

mission made it clear throughout

the process he was willing to side

with the Republicans on all dis-

puted matters. This gave the Re-

publicans complete control. With

no restraints, they crafted such an

over-the-top gerrymandered map

that the State Supreme Court, on a

bipartisan basis, said it went too

far and struck it down.

The court ordered the old, 2001

lines would remain in effect for the

2012 election while the Commis-

sion drew a new map. A federal

court subsequently affirmed that

decision. The Republicans, de-

prived of the ability to gerryman-

der and now facing actual

competitive elections, are not

happy.

Gov. Tom Corbett has floated a

plan that would keep the scheduled

Apr. 24 date for the presidential

primary, but then create an entirely

separate, second primary election

for state legislative seats, to be

held sometime in August or Sep-

tember. This is to give them time

to draft a brand-new gerryman-

dered plan to ensure they can pick

who shall sit in the State House

and Senate for the next 10 years.

Moving the primary is an outra-

geous idea. First, in reliance on the

Supreme Court’s order of Jan. 25,

2012, and a subsequent federal

order, candidates across the state,

House and Senate, Democrats and

Republicans, have circulated and

filed petitions in their current dis-

tricts and successfully earned a

spot on the ballot.

To tell these hundreds of candi-

dates that despite the court orders,

none of that counted and they

would have to circulate new peti-

tions in new districts they may or

may not live in, is unfair and

wrong. It ignores the express will

of the voters who signed the peti-

tions, and it is an invitation to

massive chaos and litigation.

More importantly, it is undisputed

that a second primary would cost

Pennsylvania taxpayers approxi-

mately $25 million. At a time

when we are cutting basic human

services and a number of our

school districts are literally on the

verge of closing their doors, this is

unconscionable. Gov. Corbett re-

cently said in his budget address

we are facing “tough times” and

“difficult realities.” He said,

“Every dollar spent by government

is one dollar less in the sector that

creates real prosperity.”

In recent hearings and meetings on

school funding in which I partici-

pated, the administration was very

clear there simply was no more

money to give to poor schools, and

that things were so bad we had to

cut college funding by 30%. The

Governor also said we have to

eliminate the last pennies from

cash assistance for the poorest

Pennsylvanians.

The Republican legislative leaders

have been saying the same things.

Yet if their own, personal, political

fortunes are at stake, is taxpayer

money suddenly no object? If it

takes 25 million dollars to facili-

tate a Republican gerrymander for

2012, does that money suddenly

appear? Where does that money

come from?

Rather than kicking 500-600 can-

didates of both parties who fol-

lowed the rules off the ballot, or

spending tens of millions of dol-

Don’t BifurcatePrimary Election



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lars to change our time-tested single

primary process, it is far better to

take our time, understand the

Supreme Court’s new guidelines

and create non-gerrymandered, hon-

est districts that serve all of the peo-

ple of Pennsylvania rather than the

politicians of one party.

These new districts could take effect

for the 2014 election. There is

precedent for this in other states that

had unresolved redistricting disputes

in the past.

I would note that if we ran the 2012

elections using the 2001 lines, we

would hardly be using a Democratic

plan or being unfair to the Republi-

cans. Keep in mind: Those 2001

lines were themselves the product of

the previous GOP gerrymander, as

the majority of the 2001 commis-

sion was also Republican.

There is no doubt that Republicans

would like to update the map to

their advantage. But is this really

what we should be spending 25 mil-

lion tax dollars on?



Casey, Meehan LeadRefinery Workers’ Mtg.US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and

Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-

Delaware Co.) today led a biparti-

san meeting with about 150

steelworkers from refineries in the

Philadelphia region and members

of the Pennsylvania and Delaware

congressional delegations.

Sen. Casey has called for a Senate

hearing on the potentially damag-

ing effect the planned closure of

refineries in Philadelphia, Trainer

and Marcus Hook would have on

fuel prices in the region.

Today, the Senator released a letter

to incoming Sunoco CEO Brian

MacDonald pressing the company

to redouble efforts to find a buyer

for its facilities.

“With so many jobs on the line

and the risk of higher fuel prices

for consumers across the north-

east, Sunoco and ConocoPhillips

must be held accountable for the

impact refinery closures would

have on the region,” said Casey.

“We need these companies to be

more transparent with workers and

the public as they contemplate de-

cisions that could have very dam-

aging impacts not only on the

local communities but on the en-

tire Northeast.”

Casey and Meehan were joined by

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Con-

gress Members Chaka Fattah (D-

Phila.), Allyson Schwartz (D-

Phila.) and John Carney (D-Del.).

The full text of Casey’s letter to

incoming Sunoco CEO Brian

MacDonald is below:

Dear Mr. MacDonald:

As you transition into your newleadership role at Sunoco, I wouldlike to underscore my request thatthe company redouble its efforts tofind a buyer for its refineries inMarcus Hook and Philadelphia.

I am very concerned by Sunoco’srecent announcement that it hasnot received a single proposal forthe purchase of Marcus Hook asan operating refinery, and is in-stead pursuing alternatives for thefacility. Workers at the MarcusHook refinery have already beenput under tremendous stress by theuncertain future of this facility,and this announcement only servesto exacerbate this anxiety.Delaware Co. continues to havean unemployment rate of close to8%, with more than 21,000 countyresidents currently unable to findwork. I have serious concernsabout the impact shuttering thisrefinery will have on the commu-nity and on the economic recoveryin the region.

I have similar concerns about thefuture of Sunoco’s Philadelphia re-

finery. Philadelphia’s unemploy-ment rate currently stands at10.6%, which translates to morethan 68,000 city residents beingunable to find work. The closing ofthis refinery would be a difficultsetback in the recovery effort andadd to an already unacceptableemployment situation in Philadel-phia. While I understand the com-pany has received varying degreesof interest in its Philadelphia re-finery, I strongly urge you to putforth a good faith effort to ensurethat both this facility and the facil-ity in Marcus Hook, and the jobsassociated with both sites, aremaintained.

The shuttering of these two re-fineries will undoubtedly hurt thelocal economy, but the loss of ourrefining capacity on the east coastcould have a ripple effect acrossour nation’s economy. The US En-ergy Information Administrationreports the reduction in refiningcaused by the potential closure ofthese facilities is likely to impactsupplies of petroleum products andcreate price volatility. This willhave a far-reaching, negative im-pact on the price and quality oftransportation fuels and homeheating oil. I am particularly con-cerned the loss of refining capac-ity associated with these facilitieswill hit the Northeast very hardbecause this part of the country isso heavily reliant upon home heat-



ing oil. It will also increase our de-pendence on foreign oil at a timeour nation is striving for greaterenergy independence. This allcomes at a time when some recentreports have shown improved mar-gins on refined oil.

While I understand confidentialityagreements may restrict your abil-ity to comment publicly onprospective buyers, I strongly rec-ommend you share as much infor-mation on prospective buyers withyour workforce and the public aspossible. I have heard concernsthat parameters and restrictionshave been placed on the sale ofthese facilities. Such boundarieswill only serve to limit the futureuse of these facilities and hurt the

region’s economy. I encourage youto do all that is within your powerto ensure that there are no such im-pediments to their sale.

As the workers and their familiescontinue to face an uncertain fu-ture, it is imperative Sunoco takeconcrete action to sell these re-fineries and maintain the jobs as-sociated with them. As I have saidrepeatedly, I stand ready to assistyou in encouraging a buyer to pur-chase these facilities. Thank youfor your continued attentions to myconcerns about this matter.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.United States Senator

Republican Sigs Hit25 Thousand StatewideRepublican Party of Pennsylvania Chair-

man Rob Gleason released the following

statement congratulating our endorsed

statewide Republican candidates for fil-

ing thousands and thousands of signa-

tures.

“In a tremendous show of grassroots and

volunteer support, Steve Welch for US

Senate, David Freed for Attorney Gen-

eral, John Maher for Auditor General and

Diana Irey Vaughan for Treasurer suc-

cessfully filed thousands and thousands

of petition signatures this afternoon, the

first step towards the long road to victory

in November. By shattering the signature

requirements, it’s clear our endorsed team

heads into the Primary and General elec-

tion with a strong base of support

throughout Pennsylvania.

“This accomplishment belongs to our

volunteers – our State Party members,

county chairmen, committee members

and activists who make up the foundation

of our rock-solid grassroots network upon

which we build our successful cam-

paigns. I think each and every one who

helped in this process for their tremen-

dous efforts.”



Council CommitteeBoosts Job CreationCity Councilman at Large W. Wil-

son Goode, Jr.’s “New Job Cre-

ation Tax Credit Bill” has been

approved by City Council’s Com-

mittee on Commerce & Economic

Development. The legislation en-

hances an employment-stimulus

program under which a credit

against the City’s business taxes is

given to businesses that create new

jobs within the City of Philadel-

phia. The businesses would re-

ceive a $5000 credit for each new

job created for tax years 2012 and

2013.

The Job Creation Tax Credit Pro-

gram was established in May 2002

to encourage businesses to expand

employment within the City of

Philadelphia. It is based on the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s

Job Creation Tax Credit program

and offers a credit against the

firm’s business tax liability for

each new job created. The program

can be utilized by companies of

any type or size located anywhere

in the city.

Through 2010, 66 firms have par-

ticipated in the program, promis-

ing the creation of 4,581 jobs. To

date, 1,032 jobs have been certi-

fied as created, resulting in the is-

suance of $1,636,297 in tax

certificates, of which $1,510,322

has been claimed.

Butkovitz, NutterSpar Over School $$City Controller Alan Butkovitz

yesterday provided the School Dis-

trict of Philadelphia with his Of-

fice’s Independent Auditor’s

Report of the School District’s

basic financial statements for the

fiscal year that ended Jun. 30,

2011.

While the audit concludes, “the

School District’s 2011 basic finan-

cial statements are presented fairly,

in all material respects, in con-

formity with accounting principles

generally accepted in the United

States of America,” it also includes

“an explanatory paragraph regard-

ing the School District’s ability to

continue as a going concern.”

The explanatory paragraph states,

“The School District has experi-

enced continued operating funds

losses, is projecting significant

budget shortfalls for fiscal years

2012 and 2013, and is uncertain

about its ability to achieve cost

savings and obtain additional fund-

ing to overcome these budget

shortfalls. These conditions raise

substantial doubt about its ability

to continue as a going concern.

The financial statements do not in-

clude any adjustments that might

result from the outcome of this un-

certainty.”

Shortly thereafter, Mayor Michael

A. Nutter issued a statement re-

garding Butkovitz’s report which

approached the School District’s

financial woes with a gentler

touch.

“It has been evident for some time

to everyone that the School Dis-

trict has been experiencing finan-

cial challenges since at least last


THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORDyear and through the current fiscal

year and into the next,” the Mayor

commented. “We now have a

much better picture of what the

District’s challenges are.

“The key here is that the SRC and

Chief Recovery Officer Tom

Knudsen are keenly focused on

those financial challenges and are

working with me and my Adminis-

tration on a daily basis to address

those challenges. We will ensure

financial stability, fiscal discipline

and continued operations of the

School District of Philadelphia on

behalf of our children, their par-

ents, teachers and the City of

Philadelphia.”

Natural Hazard PlanIs Ready For RolloutThe Managing Director’s Office of

Emergency Management invites the

public to learn about the Natural Haz-

ards Mitigation Plan being developed

for Philadelphia. The plan will be

rolled out on tomorrow, Feb. 16,

2012, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the

Salvation Army Tabernacle Corps,

3150 N. Mascher Street in North

Philadelphia during the final public

meeting that will be held.

Residents will have the opportunity to

view a series of poster displays featur-

ing the natural hazards and provide

their feedback and concerns about

natural hazards in their community.

The Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan

will address a comprehensive list of

natural hazards – droughts, floods, ex-

treme temperatures, earthquakes,

wind storms and tornadoes, hurri-

canes and tropical storms, Nor’east-

ers, and severe winter storms – that

may impact Philadelphia. In addition,

OEM will provide a risk assessment,

which includes prioritizing the natural

hazards that have the potential of im-

pacting Philadelphia. The purpose of

the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan

is to reduce or eliminate long-term

risks to human life or property from

natural disasters through cost-effec-

tive and sustained mitigation actions.

Deputy Managing Director for Emer-

gency Management Liam O’Keefe

encourages the public to the attend

meetings. “This is the final public

meeting for this round of the plan so

we strongly encourage Philadelphians

to attend and provide us with their

concerns about natural hazards that

can impact Philadelphia.”

The public is encouraged to visit

www.phila.gov/ready to:

• Find more information about natural

hazards that can affect Philadelphia;

• Get a copy of the Natural Hazards

Plan Questionnaire;

• Obtain a listing of future public

meetings about the plan;

• Learn how to prepare for natural

hazards; and

• Sign up for emergency text alerts

from ReadyNotifyPA.



Taxi Drivers Are AllAboard On WheelchairsIn preparation for public hearings

tomorrow on a draft proposed reg-

ulation that would mandate con-

version of 300 of the City’s 1,600

medallion taxis to Wheelchair Ac-

cessible Vehicles by the end of

2012, and full conversion of the

entire fleet by 2016, the Greater

Philadelphia Taxi Association an-

nounced today that it intends to

work with the Philadelphia Park-

ing Authority and other stakehold-

ers to come up with a mutually

acceptable proposal that serves the

public interest.

In recent years, relations between

taxi-industry stakeholders and PPA

have often been strained, often re-

sulting in litigation. Most recently,

a group of industry stakeholders

won a case in the Pennsylvania

Supreme Court that clarified the

PPA’s status as a state agency sub-

ject to the rule-making regulatory

guidelines established by the Com-

monwealth’s Independent Regula-

tory Review Committee.

GPhlTA was formed earlier this

year by several leading members

of the industry in order to change

the nature of the relationship be-

tween the industry, its regulatory

agency, and the public. As such, it

intends to privilege negotiation

and dialogue as a route to resolv-

ing differences, and will eschew

litigation except in the most ex-

treme of situations.

In comments in response to the

PPA’s draft proposed WAV regula-

tion, GPhlTA took issue with the

mandatory lottery, called into

question the market demand for

300 or more WAV taxis, and raised

issues around program cost and

implementation. Nevertheless,

GPhlTA members such as Free-

dom Taxi have not only been the

strongest advocates for WAV taxis,

but have actually begun WAV taxi

service.

“GPhlTA believes that it is time

for a ‘new day’ in Philadelphia’s

taxi industry,” said executive di-

rector Jeff Hornstein. “We will

reach out to the PPA, to elected of-

ficials, and to the disability rights

community to design a robust

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

(WAV) program.”

GPhlTA’s plan will put at least 100

WAV taxis on the street by the end

of 2012, and calls for a robust pro-

gram of training for owners and

drivers, public education, a coordi-

nated dispatch system, and con-

sumer-driven quality control to

ensure the program’s successful

implementation.

GPhlTA will announce further de-

tails of its proposal in the very

near future.

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