WALKING THE BEAT: Butkovitz Calls It Right On AVI

DC33 Leader Herman “Pete” Matthews introduced City Controller Alan Butkovitz at rally, who told city workers Mayor Michael Nutter is going against law by not honoring union contracts.

The reelection of Alan BUTKOVITZ as City Controller is a clear signal that his accomplishments have been duly noted by the electorate. I often tell his challengers a race against Butkovitz is a case of the TORTOISE vs. the HARE. Butkovitz is often underestimated; but when the smoke clears, he is at the FINISH LINE. It helps that he is a very decent and intelligent man who cares for our citizens. For that reason and others, A.V.I. BACKERS marshaled forces to defeat him. One editorial attempted to get off the AVI issue by asserting that BUTKOVITZ is a ward leader. WHO CARES? They ended up in “short pants” after the election, ignominiously taking the train home to the Main Line. (Please do not make it round-trip back to Philly!)…. The light voter turnout partly reflects disgust with City Government and AVI. The news that an ordinance was introduced in CITY COUNCIL to hire an independent auditor to investigate the OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENT is welcome. Let’s hope ALL of Council shows COURAGE and backs it (?). The probe has to look the “FORMULA” used to develop AVI values. This mystical plan seems like BRIGADOON – which appears only occasionally through the mist. The SAD NEWS is the probe may not get voted on or started until after the SUMMER break. So it may help only AFTER taxpayers have to pay HEFTY INCREASES.

ELECTION games that are less amusing are VOTE Suppression, a variation of the “cut”. It can involve rewards for pushing an opponent’s vote down. Supporters would be persuaded to withdraw support. It is a “me” tactic and mean-spirited…. An unintentional action is UNION vs. union, where one union endorses a candidate and another, favoring another candidate, fights for their election. IT should NEVER HAPPEN.

BIRTHDAY: JOE TARONE, noted Schuylkill Co. writer of growing up in the coal country during union-organizing days, has his birthday on the 5^th of June. Bravo Joe!… State Rep. MARK COHEN has his day on 6/4. One of THE most-valuable lawmakers in the Commonwealth! And also underestimated. My old bud Mike Battaglia, enjoying California life, has his day on the 4^th as well.

SPECIAL GET-WELL WISHES to the overworked Dianne BRIDGES, Ward Chair of the 37^th WARD. Dianne is a caring soul who loves guiding and teaching grandchildren…. WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: Bravo to SARINA and Ed HARKINS, Boilermakers Union Political Czar. Ed is also Chair of the 55^th Ward. Sarina was first attracted by Ed’s “Command” voice. PR Giant FRANK KEEL and lovely wife had a fine anniversary dinner to mark a “UNION” of unions!

….A SALUTE to SHANE GEE of downtown who was promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class aboard the USS WINSTON S CHURCHILL.

U.S. Navy regulations require that one British officer be assigned to this ship.
HUGE LOSS is that of Jack CUMMINGS of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Association. … State Rep. John SABATINA honored Alex HORANZY, one of the few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors!

HEARTWARMING is the involvement of LOCAL 401 BRIDGEMEN in wreath-laying on Memorial Day. Union leader JOE DOUGHERTY’s men were doing just that at the VIETNAM Memorial service. Thanks to them – and thanks for making the WALT WHITMAN Bridge safe for us to drive across…. How about those opinion writers who tell us the US is not doing enough to oust SYRIA’S President? Tough. Should we send our young men and women in from our WAR-WEARY land to fight for the rebels, MANY, MANY of whom are TALIBAN? Should we send in air strikes against a capital with one of the best air defenses outside of Pyongyang, North Korea? Send the writers over to fight INSTEAD. US and Russia AGREE: We do not want Al-Qaeda takeover of Syria!!

In the NOVEMBER Election, we will vote to RETAIN JUDGES to keep them on the bench for another term of six or 10 years. Here are some I remember: SUPREME COURT: Justice Ron CASTILLE (Vote “No”). Justice Max BAER (Vote “YES”). SUPERIOR COURT: Vote “YES” for two judges from eastern Pennsylvania: Judges Susan Gantman and Jack Panella. COMMON PLEAS Court in Philly: Please vote “YES” for Joseph O’Keefe, Frederica Massiah-Jackson, Allan Tereshko, W. Webster Keogh, Rayford Means, Holly Ford, Lori Dumas, Ramy Djerassi, Doris Pechkurow, Joel Johnson, Paula Patrick and Jeff Minehart! In MUNICIPAL COURT: Theresa Carr Deni, Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, Joseph O’Neill, Wendy Pew – VOTE “YES” for them! Thanks! (I will remind you later.

AND THAT Editorial zap at State Attorney general KATHLEEN KANE over her settlement of the HERSHEY Case – the reason the many fat-cat CEOs, whose zeal contributed to our economic downturn (some say it was greed), did not go to jail; is because you cannot convict someone for BAD JUDGEMENT. The Hershey case is the same. KANE can’t get blood from a stone to satisfy the writers…. It’s that TIME again. After a quarter-century, the BRADY BUNCH BEACH BLAST parties will again be held in Anglesea, N.J. on Jul. 20 at 4 p.m. This year it will be held in WESTY’S on Olde New Jersey Avenue. Be there!

WELL DONE to Capt. Jim ROCHE, outgoing president of the Delaware River & Bay PILOTS Association. He worked hard to make dredging a reality. CAPT. Ward GUILDAY takes the helm of the group, and will oversee the post-Panama Canal upgrade effect on river traffic. Welcome aboard!… AND from JOE DOC, JR.’s PHILLY LABOR page: State Rep. John TAYLOR holds little hope for NUTTER’S tax-enabling legislation to provide money for the schools. MAYOR, do not be averse to trimming the FAT at the top of the School District ladder. Go to big 1%-type salaries.

Protest at the National Conference of Mayors – that warmed “Mi” heart!… The Governor saying he had not been able to find Latinos to work for him. But there are MANY qualified Latinos. Maybe they do NOT want to work for the Corbett Administration (?).

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