CITY HALL SAM: New Map Is A Game-Changer For Some

The years-long battle is over! The State Supreme Court has just okayed the General Assembly’s redistricting plan, which will take effect in the 2014 election. Breathing sighs of relief in Philadelphia are STATE REPS. MARK COHEN (Democrat) and JOHN TAYLOR (Republican), who will run in the districts they wanted. The featured bout will be between incumbent STATE REPS. JOHN SABATINA and ED NEILSON, who have been thrown together into a single district. We analysts will all have much more to say about the new map in weeks to come.

Once again our heroes gathered in Harrisburg to salute the fallen police officers from the past year. Philadelphia FOP PRESIDENT JOHN McNESBY was one of the leaders of the event. But most the important participants were surviving family members. Among them were LINDA LORENZO, the wife of fallen Philadelphia Police OFFICER BRIAN LORENZO, and the family of Fallen Philadelphia Police OFFICER MOSES WALKER, JR. The other officers who gave their lives to help keep us safe were OFFICER BRADLEY FOX of Plymouth Township, TROOPER 1ST-CLASS BLAKE T. COBLE and OFFICER AVERY FREEMAN from the city of Chester.

The memorial service is always one of the most somber in the state and draws the leading political figures. Those onstage were GOV. TOM CORBETT, ATTORNEY GEN. KATHLEEN KANE, TREASURER ROB MCCORD, LT. GOV. JIM CAWLEY, MAJORITY LEADER DOMINIC PILEGGI, DEMOCRATIC LEADER JAY COSTA and House SPEAKER SAM SMITH. LES NERI, president of the State FOP, gave very-touching remarks. Also participating was State FOP VP ROOSEVELT POPLAR, who is a resident of Philadelphia.

Democratic COMMITTEEMAN NICK FORGIONE celebrated 30 years cancer-free at the US One Diner. Forgione was surrounded by family members and supporters. Among them were 66B WARD LEADER MIKE McALEER and Municipal Court JUDGE FAYE STACK. Forgione is a former Philadelphia police officer who is now a competitive bicycle rider. He helps raise money for charitable causes and appears to be in his early 70s even though he’s 90.

Parkwood Riding Club celebrated another successful year. Its founder and president is SARAH DelRICCI. The club helps children with developmental disabilities to develop through horse riding. Sarah is the lovely wife of well-respected Democratic 66B WARD CHAIRMAN JOHN DELRICCI. Also in attendance was Mike McAleer.

Speaking of McAleer, he was elected the new chairman of the Northeast Democratic Ward Leaders. There are 18 Northeast ward leaders; their organization was previously chaired by well-liked COUNCILWOMAN JOAN KRAJEWSKI. Joan recently announced her retirement from her duties as chair. McAleer called for a new election and schedule it for Randi’s Restaurant in Grant Plaza. Among the ward leaders in attendance were MARGE TARTAGLIONE and her daughter RENÉE, BOB DELLAVELLA, PAT PARKINSON, JOHN SABATINA, BILL DOLBOW, ANGEL CRUZ, EMILIO VAZQUEZ, JANICE SULMAN and TONYA STACK.

Some of the Ward Leaders were opposed to McAleer’s receiving a full four-year term. They argued he should fill the vacancy left by Krajewski of one and a half years. But the great majority supported McAleer for a full four-year term.

Now the Northeast Ward Leaders have the challenge of actually being unified. Over the years, they have threatened to become successful by staying together. Inevitably, though, the group splinters off and supports different candidates. However, the hope has always been, and it remains a possibility, that they will unify in a disciplined way and be much more significant in city and state elections.

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