WALKING THE BEAT: Keep An Eye On The BAA

BY JOE SHAY STIVALA/ ALL HAIL JUDGE LEON TUCKER! His four-part ruling gives citizens hope on ending the long night of parking-ticket HEARINGS at the City-run BAA at 9th & Filbert. I wonder what the chief there, Jeremiah CONNER, thinks. Let’s hope for cooperation but KEEP WATCH there. And you can now cross-examine at your hearing. The order is FORTHWITH – it starts right away. Let’s hope the Law Dept. does not try to appeal. That would be spending our tax money against taxpayers who pay you to defend them. Maybe more and better supervision is needed over BAA (?). There is a large GAP between CONNER and his supervisor Deputy Finance Director Catherine PASTER. There are still improvements to be made: PPA should NOT hear its own appeals. It is not an American way. But the appeal fee of $189 is too high for ordinary citizens and discourages due process (Traffic Court appeals are $35). Judge HERRON and Courts Chief JOE EVERS will benefit citizens by administratively reducing the appeal cost to a fair and reasonable one. BAA is a department so the Agency FILING Fee can end. When BAA was created, the legislature gave appeals to Common Pleas Court, since no other counties had a Municipal Court. BAA appeals can be sent to that lower court if HERRON gives the order (in lieu of legislative action). Or City Council can create an appeal board EXTERNAL of the City Administration. (They already run an external veterans office). THANKS to a lot of citizens and journalists who fought the good fight. It is not over. And there is a price: ETERNAL VIGILANCE over BAA.

HAPPY NEWS: Bill RUBIN, Northeast Philly son, and Deputy Finance Director for Controller Alan BUTKOVITZ, has a birthday this week! Bill uses his body to carry his brain around… JOHN O’CONNELL, Realtor and popular Chestnut Hill Ward Leader, reached a magic age this week!! And Downtown civic leader Antoinette LaFAUCI’S birthday is a gift to all who value good cheer.

SAD LOSS: The political community on “2” Street and in the city suffered a second loss on the heels of John KEENAN’S passing. ANTHONY GORMAN, part of a triad of three divisions which shape elections, passed after an illness. Anthony was not boastful. He was kind, gentle, wise, caring, happy and helpful. A SAINT on Earth. His church service was overflowing with people who celebrated his life. Committeeman on High Anthony is wished Perfect Peace…. IS LOU FARINELLA celebrating his 47 YEARS as a Northeast Democrat Committeeman? Right now, he is concerned about being a good grandpop.

CONGRATS to State Rep. Cherelle PARKER on the birth of a SON!!… SAFETY of citizens in court on domestic matters and in Family Court has always been a concern. (The streets outside a courthouse can also be a post-hearing battleground). To this end, SHERIFF Jewell WILLIAMS is offering tips on what to do if this scenario arises.

YOUR A.V.I. REAL-ESTATE TAX INCREASE: The Mayor’s office will soon get the requested early market-value figures from the Office of Property Assessment to study. City COUNCIL might get them. But they are preliminary, and may not include Commercial and Industrial figures. It is TOO SOON to work up a tax rate, Mayor…. THE GOP IN CONGRESS persists in calling for a vote against Obamacare. Yet a vote against it is a vote against Romneycare – who started the very same health -care program while he was a Governor. The GOP scores no points with voters who have moved past this issue. ROMNEY, whose campaign touts his management ability, yet falls far short in explaining complaints by Democrats over his BAIN Co. and his non-release of tax returns. Democracy for America workers tried to deliver 245,000 signatures to a Boston Romney Headquarters asking him to come clean on the tax returns.

CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY voted “NO” to fast-tracking mining permits. …. BRADY will be at the PENROSE DINER on the 30th for a WURD RADIO TALK SHOW 7-10 AM. Stop in to see the live show and breakfast.

VETERANS: The new address for the National Personnel Records center is: One Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002….. Read in the daily media an article on CITY HALL Information Technology in city government, which does not say that the City has made great strides. Managing Director RICHARD NEGRIN is a powerful force for seamless service and does what he can with funds available. Yet no mention of Negrin (?). CORBETT made big cuts in state Medicaid recipients. It is cold NEWS. It’s almost Ebenezer Scrooge-like: “Are there no poorhouses or workhouses?” The US is investigating.

Ever notice how Gov. Corbett got thin-skinned when his Penn State investigation is questioned? He calls for more PENN STATE scrutiny, but questions linger on his probe when he served as State Attorney General. Given his strong support for one group (Oil), coupled with cuts in health care, and slow payment of unemployment checks (resulting in a lawsuit), Corbett should STEP DOWN at the end of his term…. You are cordially invited to attend the dedication ceremony of a Hero Plaque in memory of Police Officer Philadelphia Police Officer Frank Magro who died in the line of duty. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Jul. 25 at 11 a.m., N. 31st Street. This is the 106th Hero Cop Plaque dedicated in the City of Philadelphia and the 255th plaque dedicated as a part of the Hero Plaque Program. For more information please call (215) 275-3000 or email james@jamesbinns.net.

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