Adam Lang Is To Face Chaka Fattah

Republican City Committee announced today that Adam Lang has been selected to fill the Republican vacancy in the race for the 2nd Congressional District and will face Chaka Fattah this November. “The problems facing safety, education, and the economy in the Philadelphia area need new solutions because the old ways haven’t been working,” said the candidate. “I am looking forward to delivering on those new ideas.”

Adam is a network engineer by trade and a community activist by choice. For the last several years he has been active in his neighborhood, in North Philadelphia, working to increase quality-of-life conditions, such as working with the West Girard Supermarket Coalition to bring a grocery store to the area. Adam is also on the Board of Directors for the Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association as well as Chairman for the 29th Ward.

“Our local party is fortunate to have Adam as a candidate this November,” according to Al Schmidt, Executive Director of Republican City Committee. “He represents the best of a new generation of Republican candidates stepping forward to challenge the unacceptable status quo.”

Waterfront Corp. Seeking Directors

One of Mayor Michael Nutter’s first major initiatives was to resuscitate the Penns Landing Corp., rename it and issue it with sweeping new powers. Now the hunt has begun for directors to lead this body, which will impact billions of dollars of investment along the Delaware River.

Nutter announced that, as he evaluates the structure for a newly-formed Delaware Waterfront Corp., he invites citizens interested in serving on the organization’s Board of Directors to submit a cover letter and resume for consideration.

Last month, at the Jun. 26 PennPraxis meeting, Nutter embraced the Action Plan for the Central Delaware and indicated his support for many of its recommendations. That night, he also pledged to revitalize the Penn’s Landing Corporation by establishing the Delaware Waterfront Corporation.

“It is my intention to transform the Penn’s Landing Corporation into the Delaware Waterfront Corporation, an organization dedicated to the design, development and management of the central Delaware riverfront in Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter.
Stretching between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues, the central Delaware River will become a vibrant destination location for the recreational, cultural, and commercial activities of Philadelphia’s residents and visitors. By creating a master plan for development, the Delaware Waterfront Corp. will serve as a catalyst for high quality investment in public parks, trails, maritime, residential, retail, hotel and other improvements that create a vibrant amenity, extending Philadelphia to the river’s edge.

Mayor Nutter stated the Delaware Waterfront Corp. will be an open, transparent and accountable waterfront manager. Through the judicious use of financing, land acquisition and development capabilities, the Delaware Waterfront Corporation will work cooperatively with city, state and federal agencies to ensure the realization the City’s vision for the central Delaware. The Board of Directors will be charged with working with citizens to create new public spaces that will serve as our framework for change and our foundation for new investment.

Submissions should be sent to the Mayor’s Office by Wednesday, Aug. 13 via email to DelawareWaterfront@phila.gov or by mail to the Mayor’s Office, care of Katherine Gajewski, City Hall - Room 204, Philadelphia PA 19107.

Rendell: Obama Campaign Is Geared To Go

The Obama for President campaign is prepared to go all out in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell said on Monday.

“This is an important battleground state we can’t take for granted,” Rendell noted. “It has 21 electoral votes in play.” That is 10 times the number of regional offices the Republican candidate John McCain has.

The Obama campaign has already hired a large staff in the Keystone State, Rendell continued, with 18 regional offices already opened, a move he called “unprecedented.” The offices are scattered all across the state. “The visibility on the ground is incredible,” he said.

Craig Schirmer, who heads the Pennsylvania campaign, promised he would “change the way things are done.” He vowed a massive voter-registration and turn-out drive. Schirmer anticipated a mix of high-tech and low-tech outreach efforts, “from text messaging to shoe leather.”

Key to the structure of Obama’s volunteer effort will be 700 teams, each headed by a “captain” who promises to put in 10-20 hours a week.

Obama would have his work cut out for him in Pennsylvania, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. insisted.

“The Obama Campaign’s announcement they are opening 24 regional offices speaks well to the fact that he has a lot of work to do in the Keystone State. Obama toured our state for well over a month, said Pennsylvanians ‘cling’ to their guns and religion because they are ‘bitter’, spent more money in our Primary than any other Presidential candidate in our state’s history and still lost by 10 points. He has major problems that start with his continued failure to articulate concrete plans for how to address our country’s most pressing issues, like putting an end to our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. I was surprised to see Gov. Ed Rendell has decided to stump for Barack Obama, particularly when he spoke out so fervently against his candidacy earlier this year. Rendell essentially referred to Obama as a glorified cheerleader and questioned his ability to bring about change. I guess this is further proof that flip-flopping is welcome in the Obama campaign; after all, Obama has changed his position on the public finance system, his strategy going forward in Iraq, the D.C. handgun ban, renegotiating NAFTA, FISA and countless other issues.

“Our Party is confident we will have plenty of resources to win this year’s election in the Commonwealth. We will employ a strong grassroots campaign where local volunteers will organize and reach out to their friends and neighbors reminding them why John McCain should be our next President. John McCain is a unique candidate and we are confident his candidacy is a tailor-made fit for us here in Pennsylvania. I am positive coupling his message with our strong grassroots efforts will deliver John McCain our state’s 21 electoral votes this November.”

Judge Anders: I Can Too!

Stung by charges he had violated judicial codes of conduct by making campaign contributions, Common Pleas Court Judge Dan Anders insisted his behavior was entirely legitimate.

Campaign contributions are permitted in his case, he insisted, because although he is currently a sitting judge, he is also running for office. Anders was appointed to fill a vacancy by Gov. Ed Rendell last year but he must now seek election to a full term.

He had checked out the ethics of his contributions before making them, and was told they were acceptable, Anders said.