POLS ON THE STREET: For Traffic Cases – Same Building, Different Name

JOINING to bring peace to S.W. Philly streets at Myers Rec Center were, from left, US Sen. Pat Toomey, State Sen. Anthony Williams, Congressman Bob Brady and State Rep. Jordan Harris. Last Saturday’s “Family Fun Day” was one piece of Williams’ coordinated, long-range “Violence Reduction Initiative for urban neighborhoods he represents.

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ Traffic Court is now the Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division.

Name change is as a result of state legislation signed by Gov. Tom Corbett last week transferring the authority of the Philadelphia Traffic Court to the Philadelphia Municipal Court.

If you have a moving violation to contest, you need to know little else has changed. The courthouse remains located at 800 Spring Garden Street, where defendants may still respond to their citations, pay their fines, contest their motor-vehicle violations or resolve their issues regarding impounded vehicles.

Defendants may still contact the court at (215) 686-1675 or general information. Hearings will be conducted by Municipal Court judges or employees.

US District Judge Robert Kelly was expected to rule shortly on an appeal from Traffic Court Judge Michael Sullivan to dismiss charges against him. Sullivan’s attorney, Henry Hockeimer, Jr., said the federal case is speculative. None of the defendant judges have been accused of taking “any bribes or kickbacks,” he said.

CORBETT’S REELECTION RACE NOW LEANS TO DEMS

Right now, some of the national pollsters rating gubernatorial races have termed Gov. Tom Corbett’s chances at reelection have gone from even to leaning Democratic.

That’s why his campaign team is grabbing at straws. The straw this week is the fact employment is up in Pennsylvania while unemployment rate is down. Critics have been blasting him for presiding over above-average unemployment despite running on a jobs platform.

The numbers also show the workforce increased by 24,000 in April — the largest jump since August 1983. On the year, the unemployment rate is down 0.4%.

Another straw expected shortly will be the Governor’s galloping to the rescue of cash-starved, underfunded public schools, especially here in Philadelphia. This will be driven by fact new polling shows education and funding for public schools is a top concern among voters in this state. Voters ranked education and funding for public schools (28%), along with economic development and jobs (27%), as top priorities for Gov. Corbett and the state legislature to address.

Among other issues, 15% identified health care as a top priority, 13% taxes, and 6% funding for roads and bridges. If his campaign team spins it wisely, he’ll look like a saint.

His budgets have taken Pennsylvania from deep-down depth to a flush surplus. When Corbett took office, Pennsylvania faced a $4.2 billion deficit.

The big job facing his campaign team is how to translate that into something meaningful to an average voter. An effective campaign message, doing just that, could make him a winner again.

He may win a version of his liquor-privatization plan this week or next. But that will cost him votes without necessarily winning him any. While many people like the idea of private liquor sales, few base their votes on a lifestyle issue like this.

13TH CONGRESSIONAL IS LABOR’S BIG TEST

Organized labor is stepping up big time for State Rep. Brendan Boyle’s (D-Northeast) campaign to win the Democratic nomination for the 13^th Congressional Dist. soon to be vacated by aspiring gubernatorial candidate Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-Northeast).

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers’ Local 13 Branch in Philadelphia has endorsed Brendan, making it the 16^th labor organization – all representing working people of Pennsylvania – to throw its support to Boyle.

Local 13 VP Martin Williams said Boyle “has been fighting for Philadelphia working families since being elected to the state legislature. We are very excited about him continuing this fight in Congress.”

On paper, the stats, as we have recorded earlier, favor Boyle, with most of the 13^th in Philadelphia, the rest in Montgomery Co. Much of the membership of many locals in the building trades live within the district’s boundaries. But will labor fully realize how much effort it will take to get out their manpower to vote, as well as man, election polling sites?

What can be seen is a blitz by liberal Democrats to reinstate Marjorie Margolies back into the 13^th Dist. seat she lost by breaking her promise to not vote for federal tax increases. President Bill Clinton levied a hefty burden on taxpayers by a one-vote margin: hers. That district’s voters promptly decided she couldn’t serve another term.

However, President Clinton owes her big time. No matter what you hear, he’ll make more than one appearance on her behalf She still has a Montgomery base that would prefer her, unless Boyle’s campaign convinces them otherwise, to a Philadelphian in that seat.

Proof this has become an intercounty fight is the fact last week State Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery), who represents Abington and parts of Upper Dublin, endorsed Marjorie Margolies for Congress.

Dean said, “My endorsement of Marjorie Margolies does not come just from me as a legislator; it also comes from me as a teacher, a parent, a concerned citizen, and lifelong resident of the 13^th  Congressional Dist. I have followed Marjorie’s career for many years and I am inspired by her.”

Dean continued, “I’m a student of government and public service at the Fels School of Government where Marjorie teaches, so I know she values education — and the support of education — as much as I do. I also know the good work she does for women and families here and around the world as president of the Women’s Campaign International. And I recall her courageous and correct vote supporting the Clinton budget, which made me proud that she represented me.”

Joining her list of endorsees this week was Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) of the US House leadership. He remembers back when she was a colleague. That endorsement won’t be worth much in this campaign unless it comes with a major $$$$ contribution, though.

What can help Boyle’s campaign is for State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), also announced as a 13^th Dist. Democratic candidate, to gain more traction in his Montgomery Co. base than in Philadelphia.

He’s picked up the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals, a union with a large concentration in Montgomery Co. and Philadelphia. That follows an endorsement for him by the UAW.

Leach is also looking to add to his liberal base as he presses for legalization of marijuana. That campaign has garnered the support of the NAACP for his legislation, SB 528, which would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana in Pennsylvania. Citing a report recently conducted by the ACLU, the NAACP noted the war on drugs operates under a staggering racial bias, is ineffective and subject to over-policing, and wastes resources.

However, the bill has as much of a chance in passage as selling a snowball to an Eskimo in Alaska. But it is a good campaign vehicle to attract supporters who might translate into voters.

HANGER CONCEDES NOTHING TO FOE SCHWARTZ

John Hanger, Democratic candidate for Governor, has been taking advantage of the Philadelphia school crisis to build up recognition and support. He is the only candidate among those seeking Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, to lend support to Philadelphia parents and school workers who began a “Fast for Safe Schools” outside the Governor’s Philadelphia office.

“I stand in solidarity with the parents and school workers who have made this commitment to safe schools in Philadelphia,” said Hanger. “We need to save our schools. The situation in Philadelphia is a true emergency with the layoff of 3,800 teachers and support staff. But schools all over Pennsylvania are cutting staff and programs because they are forced to send precious dollars to failing charter schools and cyber-charter schools and because of Corbett’s budget cuts.

If he stays the course, he could easily pick up the AFT and PFT endorsements.

He said, “Taxpayers cannot afford three separate school systems – the local public schools, bricks-and-mortar charter schools and cyber-charter schools. We must stop funding failing charter schools and cyber-charters and redirect that funding to public schools and charter schools that are providing their students with a good education and meeting AYP.”

“I will make funding for public education the top priority in the state budget,” concluded Hanger. “I will increase the state share of public school funding to 50% by bringing in new revenues and defunding failing charter schools.”

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, is leading in the polls among announced candidates with 18%. Corbett is reported as trailing Schwartz.

Hanger is beginning a multi-day schoolbus tour of the state, and said he needs to reach 15% in the polls by December to be competitive in the primary election.

LOWERY BROWN PUMPS FOR VOTER-I.D. RALLY

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-W. Phila.), chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, has announced a rally scheduled for Jul. 11 regarding the upcoming voter-ID court case. The PLBC rally will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda to generate awareness for the trial, which begins Jul. 15 in Harrisburg.

Judge Robert Simpson will preside over the trial, in which he will either rule to make his injunction against the requirement to show ID permanent or to lift it.

The PLBC has been a strong and solid voice opposing the state’s voter-ID law, which directly affects minority, low-income, senior and urban residents.

BEER DISTRIBUTORS SAY ‘NO’ TO L.C.B. CHANGES

Mark Tanczos, president of the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, said his group is against any modification in how the state controls its distribution of liquor.

He said, “We have been unable to make clear the economic fact our distributors cannot compete and survive if the number of stores that can sell case quantities is increased to 14,000, including grocery, big-box and maybe even convenience stores. The proposed addition of other alcoholic beverages into the product mix does not change this equation, which is based on hard economics. This would be greater than a ten-fold increase in the number of alcohol outlets. The 1,200 families and our employees that serve as private-enterprise beer distributors could not survive in this market.”

He noted, “The plan would create a ratio greater than one package store for every 900 Pennsylvanians, a system that is subsidized in Ohio with legally-imposed minimum prices. It would put all forms of alcohol into stores that are strong destination retailers for virtually all Pennsylvania residents. We believe this is neither in the best interest of society, our families and our 10,000 employees. Nor would it benefit our customers, the segment of the public that purchases and consumes malt and brewed beverages. For them, it would increase the number of outlets but devastate selection and ultimately increase prices.”

FATTAH: DO CONSUMPTION TAX, NOT INCOME TAX

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.) has introduced legislation which directs the Treasury Dept. to issue a legislative proposal to Congress concerning the viability of replacing the current income tax with a consumption tax.

In comparison to the income tax, a consumption tax would place a levy on money spent on goods and services. It would expand the tax base by capturing money spent by all segments of society – individuals, corporations, the rich and the poor. A consumption tax will do what the current tax code can’t: reduce the number of tax evaders by placing a tax on transactions as opposed to income.

SHOPRITE TO COLLECT GUNS FOR FOOD

Council Members Curtis Jones (4^th Dist.) and Cindy Bass (8^th Dist.) will join others and Brown ShopRite president Jeff Brown this Saturday at Deliverance Church, 21^st & Lehigh, starting at 10 a.m., swapping $100 shopping coupons for guns.  Since program was started by Congressman Chaka Fattah and State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) in 2008, over 6,000 have been taken off the streets.

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