CITY HALL SAM: New Senior Housing Is Open To LGBT

Many stars were on hand for LGBT senior-citizens housing groundbreaking in Center City.

The biggest star was MARK SEGAL, the unquestioned leader of gay community in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He was able to secure federal, state, and local money for a project many thought would never get done. There is a saying victory has 1,000 mothers and defeat is an orphan. This project appears to have at least 1,000 mothers.

Former GOV. ED RENDELL praised Segal in his unique style, calling him “amazingly obnoxious.” Others, including MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, called him a relentless advocate for equality. Nutter was in outstanding form and had the audience of several hundred laughing and applauding alternately. He appeared to be working harder than ever as Mayor. The recent news he will not go to Washington to join the Obama administration may be a reason.

CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY talked about the LGBT community being another of Philadelphia’s ethnic groups fighting for, and now achieving, equal rights. Segal called on a delegation of state legislators who had secured $1.4 million in funding for the project. STATE SENS. LARRY FARNESE, ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS and MIKE STACK, along with STATE REP. MIKE O’BRIEN, presented a check in the amount of $1.4 million. CITY COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA, who represents the area, also praised the work of Segal and the different politicians who were able to secure funding. MAYOR JOHN STREET made a rare appearance. And more than one speaker referred to the late COUNCILMAN JOHN ANDERSON as a groundbreaking voice for LGBT equality. Supreme Court JUSTICE SEAMUS McCAFFERY was joined by his brother DAN McCAFFERY at the groundbreaking. COUNCILMAN AT LARGE JIM KENNEY also attended the event.

The Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee shocked the world by capturing three seats in the recent election. The new Democratic members are MATT SMITH from Allegheny Co., SEAN WILEY from Erie Co. and ROB TEPLITZ from Dauphin Co. The Republicans now control the Senate by only three seats. This promises to make the State Senate a more-moderate chamber. Look for Democrats to try and capture even more seats in Southeastern Pennsylvania in the years to come. One Southeastern Republican Senator who had trouble with the Obama wave was Senate MAJORITY LEADER DOMINIC PILEGGI, who found himself in a race with underfunded candidate PATRICIA WORRELL. Nevertheless, Pileggi won the race by fewer than 3,000 votes

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