WALKING THE BEAT: What’s Wrong With Union Deductions?

COMMON PLEAS COURT Judge Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde is hosted fundraiser at Joe Hand Gym. Among guests were Judge Joseph O’Neill, Charlie Bernard and host Mike Fera, manager of Joe Hand Gym. Photo by Rory McGlasson

WHAT ABOUT that recent article noting unions get taxpayer-subsidized help for politics? The help is just the 21st-century necessity used by most all Americans and known as PAYROLL DEDUCTION. The TV ads run by the Teachers Union against CORBETT must have been EFFECTIVE to cause this stir (?). The writer mentioned just two teachers and one newspaper which oppose this method. I did not see where teachers are “forced” to agree, as was claimed. It states “taxpayer resources” are used (employer is used to deduct funds from member paychecks) for politics. But payroll-deduction of this sort is agreed upon by management and labor for dues and union operations. And the rest of the world also deducts for their governments, to pay a bill: taxes. This article earned my CRYBABY Award.

HIZ HONOR the mayor goes off on another foreign trip. I cannot remember reading of any COMMERCE or JOBS created by the previous trips…. The demoted FIREMEN watch as fire personnel are advanced or hired by a new civil-service list. I can’t remember during the terms of the last six Mayors, when firefighters overall were so shabbily treated. City Personnel Chiefs should NOT have allowed this to happen! Local 22 should not DAWDLE – and fight them like a DOG on a BONE.

The NUTTER panel to probe the methods of L&I is another superpower panel. We need opinions of ordinary people as well…. The NUTTER plan to allow a hotel to divert taxes to pay financiers and other costs has upset other hotels. They are JUSTIFIED and not JEALOUS as some allege; they just ask for EQUITY.

When the NUTTER administration ends, we MUST keep watch to see who HIRES the Room 215 team…. The lawsuit on behalf of the three candidates who were NOMINATED FOR TRAFFIC COURT judgeships has FINALLY been filed. But why so late?? The candidates, along with contributors, must be compensated! And the people who voted in good faith, apologized to. Has anyone ever heard of a scenario where nominated candidates had the people’s mandate “rug” pulled out from under them? FOR SHAME. Will DISTRICT JUSTICES and Municipal Court Judges be next to go? Is this prospect greater if the county is a DEMOCRATIC one? Would hearing-officer replacements be Republican?

FOUR BIRTHDAYS are coming up: Tom METZGER, a top printer, who leads the local NAVY LEAGUE, is approaching 38. Tom is busy with the BIG commissioning ceremony on Mar. 1, 2014 of U.S.S. SOMERSET here. A great honor for our City!… John DAVID, advertising man extraordinaire for the Public Record approaching 39…. Sharmaine Matlock-TURNER, C.E.O. of the Urban Affairs Coalition, and Rebecca LaLa WATSON of Lawnside, N.J. celebrate this month! Best Wishes!

Thanks to John DOUGHERTY, Leader of Local 98, for keeping a tradition alive. His annual “Pepper & Eggs Brunch” is an old pre-election good-luck tradition. In earlier years, Congressman James “Digger” BYRNE used to serve Mrs. Byrne’s Potato Soup to election workers in Fishtown; after which you went off in good cheer to fight the good fight – in fairness. THANK YOU, election workers.

Gov. “Corporate” CORBETT is spending BIG TAXPAYER DOLLARS to implement the sale of the Lottery and Liquor Stores, fight for voter ID, against same-sex marriage, the NCAA, Chester-Upland Schools, and consulting. One article listed almost $8 MILLION spent with more authorized. Is Tom to be remembered as the LITIGATOR GOVERNOR (?) Does this leave any money for the FOOD-STAMP recipients who were cut? His RETHINK of the food-stamp asset test comes too late – people are hungry. Is he to be remembered as the “Let them EAT CAKE” GOVERNOR?)

One paper wrote a glowing piece on Chief Justice Ron Castille. Then an article saying he wants reelection to finish court reforms. WHOA, he should have finished them already. The effusive articles seemed a kiss-up (?). One voter told me he got a ROBOCALL from Ed Rendell asked for a “yes” vote for Castille. Not from me. NO. For Rendell, I remember the Ronald Reagan line to Jimmy Carter: “THERE YOU GO AGAIN….” Judge Pamela DEMBE appears poised to step down as President Judge in the 1st Judicial Dist. It is so sad she did not act on reducing the fee to appeal Parking Violations. What a legacy it might have been. We must hope for the incoming “PJ” to look at it.

I took a look at the parts of Intensive Probation – called “F.I.R.” Geez, it goes on and on. It feels like life in the GULAG…. Thanks for all candidates for participating in the ELECTORAL PROCESS. GOOD LUCK and BEST WISHES!

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