POLS ON THE STREET: Bernie Should Feel At Home In Platform Committee

THE KENNEY administration’s Community Schools Dir. Susan Gobreski presented to a packed crowd at Nicetown CDC on the Mayor’s chief initiative. She was joined by State Rep. Stephen Kinsey and Councilwoman Cindy Bass. Photos by Wendell Douglas

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Platform Drafting Committee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have announced a series of Democratic Platform hearings across the country designed to welcome every voice in the Party. The drafting committee is now soliciting input from policy experts as well as Democrats from all walks of life.

To be sure, US Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters have made his wishes known. This year, in an effort to welcome every voice, the DNC Chair elected to allocate 75% of the committee’s seats to the presidential campaigns, appointing the slots proportionally according to the current vote tally. This year’s platform process will be the most representative and inclusive in history.

Democrats will be able to go online at demconvention.com/platform to either submit written or video testimony or request to testify in person. In addition, there will be four regional events that will be open to the public.

“I want all Democrats to have their voices heard in this process,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We are the party of substance, ideas and diversity. We expanded the platform process to provide greater opportunity for Democrats to express their views and we look forward to hearing different perspectives from across the nation.”

“We are broadening the process to welcome and include input from across the nation,” added Cummings. “I want to ensure we take up the issues at the center of people’s lives, so I hope Democrats will make time to share their perspectives.”
The 2016 Democratic National Convention will be held at the Wells Fargo Center from July 25 to 28. It hopes to leverage technology to take the convention experience well beyond the hall in an effort to engage more Americans than ever before in the event.

COUNCILWOMAN Maria Quiñones Sánchez joined with Police Commander Mike Crim; American Legion District Commander Andre Nears, George Perez of Congressman Brady’s office, and the Latin American Legion Post 840 to hear speakers, and award presentations followed by a rifle salute for the 64 Edison HS students who died in the Vietnam War. Photo by Joe Stivala

GOP Feels Trump Can Turn Out Its City Vote

Republican Party Chairman Joseph DeFelice, Esq. is soliciting door-knockers now, rather than after Labor Day.

“We are getting an early jump on the election season and have begun our door-knocking program,” said DeFelice. “This effort will be vital to making sure our voters have all the information they need and will help us ID who to bring out to the polls in November. This will help not only at the top of the ticket, but also at the bottom, where we have State Rep. candidates running. If you can lend a hand, please let me know personally and I will get you set up with the app or, if you are not technologically advanced, with paper walk books.”

He expects a turnout large enough to cut into the Philadelphia Democratic majority vote to help bring Pennsylvania into the Trump column.

CITY HALL courtyard was filled with Asian Americans last Friday learning how to vote at an event organized by Phil. Chinatown Development Corp. and supported by City Commissioner Al Schmidt.

Gov. Rendell Blasts Toomey Ad As Misleading

Former Gov. Ed Rendell is doing a good job at shortstop for the state’s Democratic candidates. He has decried US Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) latest television ad, in which he is portrayed, as saying that “he is a man of uncommon decency.”

“While it is true that I did say those words a while ago, I am deeply disappointed in the campaign Pat Toomey has waged against Katie McGinty,” Rendell insisted. “His ads have deliberately misled voters about Katie and her service in my administration. They are not the ads that would be authorized by a person of uncommon decency, so I now have serious doubts about my earlier characterization of him. Pat Toomey should do the decent thing and pull the ad down!”

SCOOP Warns Political Leadership To Listen

Malcolm X, celebrated Black leader who made it his business to keep an open mind – and who changed his own views before being assassinated – is quoted on the front page of the popular Scoop newspaper in its May 19 edition:

“When we control the politics and the politicians in our own community, we can then make them produce what is good for the community.

“We should be taught just the basic fundamentals: That whenever you take money out of the neighborhood, the neighborhood in which you spend it gets richer and richer, and the neighborhood from which you take it gets poorer and poorer.”

From there, he illustrates the importance of establishing and owning businesses and creating employment within the Black community, instead of ultimately boycotting for recognition. Giving him a strong second is Jim Foster, editor of the Independent Voice, a recipient of the 2006 Malcolm X Award.

We add our “second,” too.

Gov. Wolf’s Polls Climb As He Pushes Six-Packs

While Gov. Wolf enjoyed some good press following his last-minute effort to pressure the Liquor Control Board to approve nine applications from gas stations to sell six-packs, one House Republican wants more.

State Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) is asking Wolf to support his legislation that would allow all gas stations and convenience stores to apply for a permit to start selling six-packs of beer. Saylor said Wolf “demonstrated real leadership on behalf of consumers seeking greater choice in the labyrinth of Pennsylvania’s archaic liquor-control laws.” But, he added, “Change is needed, but in law, not through a questionable administrative action.”

In times of political stress, maybe the governor might administratively pick up the pothead vote if he feels he needs it by legalizing the sale of marijuana under “conditions.”

Look Down-Da-Shore For Political Happenings

Don’t look around town for political happenings of any consequence. The action is downashore, culminating with the annual Brady Bunch Beach Party in Wildwood. Date and time can be seen in our Calendar column.

After Memorial Day, the action is in Wildwood, where most of this era’s movers and shakers, and political and labor leaders pass away the summer.

Old-timers will reminisce about the time when all the action took place at the Longport Inn, located in the shore colony of that name. Then-Mayor Jim Tate held sway and his summer home was nearby. So was the home of Party Chairman Congressman Bill Green, Sr. You had to go there, be seen, and then maybe be considered for any of the goodies the party could offer back then.

Butko Report Cheers Up Summer Doldrums

City Controller Alan Butkovitz’ latest monthly economic report indicates Philadelphia consumer prices increased by 0.65% over last year, much slower than the US average and other major metropolitan markets. But that could change with an impending sugary-drinks tax imposition.

The controller’s analysis determined the growth rate by analyzing the latest data from the Consumer Price Index, which measures what Americans pay for goods and services and reflects the spending patterns of all residents living in urban markets. The US CPI jumped 1.1% since April 2015, which was about .4% more than the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

In reviewing specific expenditures in Philadelphia, several categories jumped considerably over the last year, including apparel and medical care, at 5% and 3.9%, respectively. Specific Philadelphia prices that decreased were household energy (-4.7%), recreation (-2.1%) and transportation (-0.97%).

Along with reviewing the latest prices paid, the Controller’s economic report showed monthly tax revenues for the City General Fund and PICA portion totaled $475 million, an almost 10% decrease compared to last April. The combined amount for Wage, Earnings and Net Profit Taxes totaled $170 million, a 12% decrease over the same month last year. Monthly sales-tax revenues totaled almost $11 million, a 32% increase over last April.

In addition, monthly home sales were up 16% over last April, with the majority of sales throughout all neighborhoods of South Philadelphia.

Tom McCarey Seeks Anti-Camera Support

Tom McCarey, the advocate who has been waging a battle to end red-light camera programs, warns it will continue through 2020.

Making that happen is a rider to SB 1267, now under consideration. Philadelphia does get short-changed on the revenue collected, a sore point for its legislative representatives. But they are outvoted on any effort to change the way that pie is cut up.

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