Many Philadelphia neighborhoods are facing cuts in City services due to the policy decisions of Mayor Nutter. It is not the members of AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47 who decide to brown out firehouses, close libraries and recreation centers and diminish the quality of service delivery due to chronic understaffing.

These are the policies of an Administration whose guiding principle is making due with less while cutting the tax burden of the richest 1%. That policy direction results in a demoralized, overworked and underpaid workforce unable to deliver services ordinary taxpayers expect. We now have proof to support that assertion.

A recent study written by Michael Bognanno, PhD, an  associate professor of economics at Temple University, entitled “Poverty Thresholds and Rates of Poverty Within AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47”, contains valuable information that the citizens of Philadelphia need to know.

This study shows almost 42% of the employees represented by both District Councils 33 and 47 earn less than the US Dept. of Health & Human Services Poverty Guideline of $35,310.00 for a sole wage-earner in a family of four in Philadelphia.

Even more alarming, the study shows fully 58% of District Council 33 members are working below the poverty line.

In 2007, the last time members of District Councils 33 and 47 received a raise, the portion of DC 33 and 47 members beneath the poverty  guideline at that time was 21%, so that the number of members of both Councils living in poverty has doubled  over the last six years.

Under the scale used by the US Census Bureau, a more accurate barometer of the proportion of our population living in poverty, the portion of District Council 33 and 47 members  living in poverty is 54.2% for those who have no mortgage  and are the sole wage earner in a four-person household. This figure rises to 75.8% for renters and 76.7% for homeowners with a mortgage.

The Women, Infants & Children program insures proper nutrition for poor mothers and their children,  and 69% of city employees represented by District Councils 33 and 47 earn less than the Pennsylvania WIC cutoff  of $42,643.

These figures dramatically show the horrible effects the Mayor’s imposed contract would have on a large proportion of our members who are increasingly becoming poverty-stricken.

They prove that up to three-quarters of our members now live beneath the accepted definitions of the “poverty level” in Philadelphia – and Mayor Nutter has accelerated that trend.

If the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allows the  Mayor to impose his version of a contract, this will force all of our members to contribute much more of their falling income than they already do to obtain decent health-care insurance coverage, to be subject to an increased contribution rate for an inferior pensions, to earn salary increases that amount to about less than two-thirds of one percent per year (far below the rate of inflation) over the life of the proposed contract and, to top it off, to lose at least an additional 6% salary reduction when they are furloughed.

Mayor Nutter is again trying to balance the City’s budget on the backs of our members, who are falling farther and farther behind the cost of living even as more are becoming poverty-stricken.
To force this on a workforce that is predominantly poverty-stricken is inhumane. It is a badge of shame that a significant portion of city workers are forced to work under these conditions while withstanding the rigors of poverty that increasingly claim them and their families as victims.

To continue to deny these hardworking members of our city community a fair and reasonable contract is an embarrassment that can only result in the continued deterioration of city services.

CONGRESSMAN and Party Chairman Bob Brady announces slate of endorsed Democratic primary candidates from stage at Sheet Metal Union Hall.

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ The city’s voters will have their say as to whom they wish to represent them in the Philadelphia Traffic Court races Tuesday.

At the same time, the Republican-dominated House is rushing through its Judiciary Committee Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi’s (R-Delaware) two bills which will forever eliminate Traffic Court. The Pileggi bills, if approved by the full House this coming week, will eliminate Traffic Court and transfer its duties to Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Three big questions need to be asked. Since our Senate caucus didn’t put up a fight against the passage of Pileggi’s bills, will our 26 legislators be on the same page in opposition? Second, will one or more of them take the lead and muster a last-ditch defense? Third, do they have enough chits owed them over the years to gather support and block the passage of Pileggi’s bills?

CAN JUDGES VOTE JOBS FOR THEMSELVES?

The Supremes are hoping they have enough clout to get the General Assembly to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution before retiring for the summer to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges in the Commonwealth from 70 to 75. Some may have to retire, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Castille, if HB 79 introduced by State Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) passes both chambers. To become law, the amendment must receive a majority vote of two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and an affirmative vote by the electorate.

ARE STATE’S BIG DAILIES IN COLLUSION?

We believe Judge Joseph Waters should be the state’s next Superior Court Judge. That goes for now in this primary and in the general election in November. Besides his eminent qualifications, it is obvious he is our favorite son and needs to be supported, if only for that reason.

But again the Inkie has teamed up with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to support his opponent, whose name we can’t recall. We wonder why our Inkie doesn’t understand the need to support a local son who has been recommended by local and star bar associations. See our editorial.

PROGRESSIVE GROUP OPPOSES MANDEL

It’s a case where the Mandel for Controller campaign team may have done its candidate more harm than good.

Its recent television campaign was found misleading by almost everyone, including a group of progressives. The TV commercial attempted to place the blame for the School District’s financial problems on the City Controller and not Gov. Tom Corbett, whose cuts in the education budget have led to the school crisis.

An ad hoc group of Philadelphia progressives have issued a letter recommending that progressives reject the candidacy of Brett Mandel for City Controller. “We were moved to circulate this letter after we saw Mr. Mandel’s misleading TV commercial which attempts to place the blame for our School District’s financial problems on the City Controller, not Gov. Corbett, whose drastic cuts in state support for education are the reason we have a crisis today. Mr. Mandel knows better. To deserve the support of progressives, a candidate has to join us in demanding Gov. Corbett adequately fund our schools, not cynically jump on the crisis in the schools while deflecting attention from the Governor’s failures,” added Marc Stier, a signer of the letter.

The letter is being sent via email to over 10,000 Philadelphia residents and is posted at a Facebook page, “Progressives Against Mandel.” It calls attention to budget and tax issues on which Mandel sided with the interests of the corporate rich rather than with the working people and middle class of Philadelphia.

“Mr. Mandel has for years supported budget busting reductions in business taxes that can only be paid for by cuts in public services and increases in property taxes. The burdens of cuts in both tax and services will fall on working people and the middle class,” said Stan Shapiro, another signer of the letter.

The Mandel ad also cemented teachers’ support for Butkovitz. “Contrary to the recent distortions of his record as City Controller, Alan Butkovitz has an exemplary record of advocating for and protecting the interests of Philadelphia’s public schools,” said Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. “Alan has always been a champion for Philadelphia’s public schools, a strong supporter of public education and a sharp eye when it comes to the school budget. Alan long ago sounded the alarm on our system’s troubled budget and blew the whistle on ethics and accountability failures in charter schools. When it comes to our schools, we don’t need political attacks distortions. We need the kind of strong leadership Alan Butkovitz brings to the Controller’s office.”

PLACE YOUR BETS! NEILSON OR SABATINA

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.) didn’t appreciate the State Supreme Court’s 6-0 affirmation of the new redistricting changes. He saw it as “part of a steady movement to marginalize certain populations by lumping them together and diluting their power.”  His 8th Senatorial Dist. will lose suburban areas such as Ridley Park and Glenolden but gain additional divisions in South Philadelphia wards.

Not so fortunate are State Reps. Ed Neilson and John Sabatina, who saw their districts merged into the new 174th. Neilson’s 169th is now the property of York Co.

Who will Northeast Philly Democrats support in that flare-up? On paper, the district looks better for 43-year-old Sabatina, who won his special election in 2006. That’s because 53% of the registered Democrats in the newly drawn 174th live in Sabatina’s current district. Neilson, 50, won a special election for his seat just last year and now finds only 25% of the registered Democrats in the new district are his current constituents.

But Neilson, who is closely aligned to the IBEW Local 98 union, will no doubt have the full support of this union’s considerable political clout. Ask Marty Bednarek, who was a favorite going into the 6th Council Dist. race against Local 98’s candidate Bob Henon. When Dougherty unleashed his forces, the outcome was inevitable.

Look for several meetings to occur between the rival campaigns under the mediation of Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady, hoping to come to a peaceful settlement long before November. Both sides are revving up their campaigns, just in case a settlement isn’t reached.

COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell, left, treated W. Phila. committeepersons to lavish dinner and candidates’ night at 1st Dist. Plaza, where she welcomed companionship of her fellow Ward Leader Sonny Campbell, Common Pleas aspirant Timika Lane and State Sen. Anthony Williams.

BLACK CLERGY ANNOUNCES PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS

The Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, under the leadership of its President, Rev. Terrence Griffith, reports its Political Action Committee has endorsed for Common Pleas Court Derrick Coker, Sierra Street, Giovanni Campbell, Kenneth Powell, Dawn Tancredi, Timika Lane and Dan McCaffery. For Municipal Court, its endorsed candidates are Henry Lewandowski, Martin Coleman and Judge Fran Shields.

For Traffic Court, the endorsed candidates are Donna Laws, Omar Sabir and Donna DeRose. For Superior Court, the Black Clergy has endorsed Judge Waters.

The group has also endorsed Alan Butkovitz for City Controller and R. Seth Williams for District Attorney. Rev. Griffith, aware of the prospects of a low turnout, stated, “Black Churches over the years, from the earliest days of the Civil Rights Movement, have led the way in encouraging voter participation from church congregants and also from the community at large. We want to continue to carry the message voting is important and that all people need to go to the polls and cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice.”

Rev. Griffith is pastor of the oldest African American Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, the 203-year-old 1st African Baptist Church. He is a former Senator of the Grenada Parliament, the author of eight books and a member of the Governor’s Commission on African American Affairs.

Over 400 pastors are part of the BCPV. This year marks the organization’s 31st year.

SINGER CONTINUES VOTER-TURNOUT PUSH

The handwriting is on the wall: This primary could well set a record low for voter participation. It is possible the totals will fall below the average 18-20% primary turnouts for off-year elections.

One of the sure signs is the fact the Registration Commission reported only 960 absentee-ballot applications were made and as of two days before Tuesday’s deadline, only 291 were turned in. Commissioner Stephanie Singer has taken her staff with her on a tour of supermarkets to make voters aware of the need to participate in this primary.

JUDGE DEFENDS ORIE MELVIN HOUSE ARREST

Prison might be easier, states Allegheny Co. Judge Lester G. Nauhaus, who sentenced former State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin to house arrest and soup-kitchen service. He said she cannot leave her home without his permission, except to attend church or fulfill her public service working in a soup kitchen

If she steps out of line, Nauhaus said he’s prepared to impose harsher punishment. “I don’t fool around. She will do what I tell her to do, or she’ll come back and see me.”

RANIA MAJOR IS FRIEND OF MICHAEL JACKSON

How could one go to North Carolina University when basketball star Michael Jordan was a classmate and not have remembrances? One of those was judicial candidate Rania Major, whose story in the Public Record last week erroneously indicated she didn’t know him.

On the contrary, they were good friends, and he continually singles her out of the crowd for a hug and some catching up. She hopes Michael Jordan fans will vote her into Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

SUNDAY NIGHT, Lower Merion-Narberth Democratic Committee dinner hosted many candidates and officials. Seen here are, from left, Montgomery Co. Coroner Walter I. Hofman, MD; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, candidate for Governor; and Marjorie Margolies, who may be running for her former congressional seat again.

STACK TO ANNOUNCE FOR GUV JUN. 6

We could guess wrong when we predict State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) will announce his intention to run for Governor at a fundraiser Jun. 6 at La Veranda, on the Delaware at Penn’s Landing. But for sure he will be running.

Democratic City Committee’s Monday gala at Sheet Metal Hall included a banner which indicated Party Chairman and Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) had endorsed Stack for Governor. Kathy McGinty was in attendance, hoping to pick up support for her run for Governor. She has already hired the Garin Hart Yang Research group, who had worked for Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), as her political strategist and pollster. State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) was there shopping around, as was State Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Northeast), already blessed by Chairman Brady. Both will be seeking the 13th Dist. congressional seat.

LEADER LIVED UP TO HIS NAME

The 36th Governor of Pennsylvania, George Leader, who was only 37 when he took office over a half-century ago, has died at the age of 95. He held office for a term, from 1955 to 1959, limited to a one four-year term limit by the Constitution at that time. While in office, Leader overhauled the state’s mental-health system and increased funding to education. Leader was a fierce civil-rights supporter and became the first Governor to appoint a Black cabinet officer.

SESTAK MAKES IT OFFICIAL

Former three-star Adm. Joe Sestak is an experienced, independent leader who served in the Navy for 31 years and then as the highest-ranking military officer ever elected to Congress when he represented Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional Dist. 2007-2010. Now he has filed “Friends of Joe Sestak”, an exploratory committee for the US Senate.

G.O.P. CHARGES SESTAK WITH CASH VIOLATIONS

Taking aim at potential strong opponents to Gov. Tom Corbett, State Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Joe Sestak and his fundraising committees for violating provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and regulations administered by the FEC. It charges Joe Sestak has been illegally amassing a war chest without filing a Statement of Candidacy or Personal Financial Disclosure Report.

According to the complaint, “Joe Sestak was obligated under the law to file a Statement of Candidacy on or before Feb. 24, 2013 – fifteen days after triggering candidate status on Feb. 9, 2013.” Furthermore, it states, Joe Sestak was obligated to file a federal Candidate Personal Financial Disclosure Report on or before Mar. 9, 2013 – 30 days after triggering candidate status.

AFTER ALL THAT I.D. FUSS – NOT THIS ELECTION

Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele urged voters to cast ballots in next Tuesday’s primary election and reminded voters they will again be asked, but not required, to show photo ID at the polls.

“This will be the third straight election in which voters will be asked, but not required, to show photo ID at the polls, as part of our continuing education efforts about Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law,” said Aichele, whose department oversees elections. “Poll workers will give voters without acceptable photo ID information on what IDs are acceptable for voting and how to get a free ID for future elections.”

Aichele reminded first-time voters, and those casting ballots for the first time at a new polling place, they must show either a photo ID, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license, or a non-photo ID with the voter’s name and address, such as a utility bill.

TIME TO REVIEW THE I.R.S.?
The Internal Revenue Service is the most-feared instrument of the federal government. The revelation it had focused its attention with the intention to punish select tax-exempt groups because of their political opposition to the president’s agenda, demands heads roll … and only IRS heads, their apologies notwithstanding.

We need to know when congressional hearings will begin. To quote others as incensed as we are, “An independent prosecutor is necessary unless the Congress is willing to take the lead.” We have watched how the FBI has used the IRS to batter targets into submission time and again. Will this never end?

One solution could be a panel picked by a lottery of taxpayers from each income category to set policy and oversee why and how the IRS spins its webs against individuals and groups. The FBI investigating its partner, the IRS, is one big joke.

INQUIRER DOES IT AGAIN
When have the main daily newspapers in Western Pennsylvania, particularly those covering Allegheny and Westmoreland Cos., ever endorsed a Philadelphian for judicial office? Seldom, if ever. They represent their geographical readership….

A simple fact of political life the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board fails to understand.

How could they not endorse Judge Joe Waters for Superior Court? We have the feeling someone with a vested interest in Western Pennsylvania politics is steering the Inkie’s editorial policies.

Judge Waters needn’t worry, though; the Inkie endorsements seldom appear in the winners’ column.

For the residential sector as a whole, the added tax burden could be as much as $72 million annually, with another $11 million in taxes on the “stores with dwellings,” which dominate neighborhood commercial corridors. Meanwhile, the burden shouldered by the commercial and industrial sectors would fall by about $55 million and $20 million, respectively, each year. In all, Philadelphia collects about $1.2 billion per year in local property taxes for the School District and city government.

As explained in the report,  several proposals made by Mayor Michael Nutter and members of City Council, including a homestead exemption for all owner-occupied residences, would lessen the magnitude of the changes, perhaps significantly, but likely not eliminate it.

The shift would occur because residential properties as a group had been comparatively under assessed until now, while commercial and industrial properties were generally over assessed, according to data from the city’s Office of Property Assessment. Although AVI remains revenue-neutral overall, this helps explain why the overhaul is on track to produce tax increases for a substantial number of home owners. As part of AVI, all 579,000 parcels in Philadelphia were reassessed.

To a much-smaller degree, AVI also would reduce the tax burden on the nearly 15,000 residential properties that have 10-year abatements. Owners of these properties stand to pay about $3 million less in taxes in 2014 than in 2013. The abatements, which are granted for new construction or rehabilitation, reduce but do not eliminate a property owner’s tax liability, since they do not apply to the land itself or any part of the structure that is not new.

One, he’s probably not going to run for Mayor of Philadelphia unless the number of candidates is much smaller than the scuttlebutt on the street says it’s going to be.

“Unless the only candidate is Prince William J. Green the Third, I won’t be running….” he said.

(In case you don’t know who he’s referring to, Williams is directing his sarcasm at City Councilman Bill Green.)

And as the quote above would indicate, he’s also funny. When the District Attorney is using street names like Pookie and Man-Man to illustrate his points about the need for better relationships with between the DA’s office and the community, you can sense that.

Williams held court at the monthly meeting of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists on Tuesday night. During the hour-long session he held with journalists, he talked about his career, the challenges of his office, crime, punishment, the Death Penalty, Mumia (Abu Jamal, a former PABJ president) and Gosnell (as in Dr. Kermit, who was convicted on Monday of being possibly the worst women’s doctor ever).

He also talked about his relationship with the Philadelphia media … something that’s been rocky at times.

“I value having a good relationship with the media,” Williams said. “It helps us when it comes to getting information out. But getting the information out depends on who’s covering us.”

Since the Gosnell case was still under a court-imposed gag order Tuesday night, Williams wasn’t able to speak about the verdict. But he was able to talk about the case and how his office put it together.

“We took the emotion out of it and just stuck to the facts,” Williams said.

As mentioned above, Mumia Abu Jamal was a former PABJ president. So current PABJ President Johann Calhoun asked Williams about the case, which led to the DA’s doing a reenactment of the night Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was shot.

Williams talked about a lot of things, outlined a lot of his achievements, and shared a lot of insights.

But in the end, Williams said, his goal is to make the District Attorney’s office a place that makes the entire criminal justice system more trustworthy to everyone.

It has to be the same standard of justice for all,” Williams said. “If the system is going to be perceived as valid, we have to prosecute everyone; pedophile priests, Gosnell, everyone.”

Orr noted, “The path Detroit has followed for the past 40 years is not sustainable.” The City is Insolvent owing to spending more than it takes in. Failing schools, onerous taxes and other restrictive policies on the private sector have pushed business and the middle class to the suburbs, reducing the taxpaying community and thus city revenues. Detroit’s population now includes too many people reliant on tax revenues, namely the poor and municipal employees, and not enough private-sector taxpayers. Detroit’s population is now one-quarter of what it was 40 years ago.

City officials exacerbated their fiscal problems by continuing to enter into contracts with municipal workers that offered attractive benefits, including sizable retirement plans. The report highlights that retirees exceed current employees two to one. This would not be a problem if the pension plan was not grossly underfunded.

Sound familiar? Philadelphia has roughly 30% more former municipal employees collecting pensions than we have current city workers; not to mention an underfunded pension plan. We too are relying on future revenues to fund these obligations. While our city has not shrunk as significantly as Detroit, we lost one-quarter of our population between 1950 and 2000.

Despite the fact Detroit is waving at bankruptcy, the city’s unions and many local officials there are in denial – with the noted exception of Detroit MAYOR DAVE BING, businessman and former NBA star, who appears to fully grasp the problems. A local Michigan official of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employee said Orr’s report is part of “a cooked deal for them to take control of the City and take the assets.” I assume the “them” includes Republican GOV. RICK SNYDER. I doubt Snyder has any interest in assuming control and thus responsibility for the City’s infrastructure assets, which are a mess owing to poor maintenance.

Does this sound eerily familiar? The cries of our municipal unions and City Council members that do not want to see Philadelphia’s water and gas utilities (both needing upgrades) sold to private hands for fear that the AFSCME and patronage jobs may be lost.

We in Philadelphia should look carefully at the situation in Detroit. Fifteen years ago, I am sure that few expected Detroit to devolve into its current status. I believe if we do not deal with our onerous, underfunded pension obligations, we will be facing serious fiscal problems sooner than many anticipate.

Increasing tax rates is not the solution, as we saw in Detroit. Raising taxes in Detroit did not lead to higher revenues but rather it chased taxpayers out of the city.

Last Thursday the heavy-hitting Republican 21^st WARD LEADER WALT VOGLER held a fundraiser at Finnigan’s Wake for his ward. As in the past, his annual fundraiser was in the spring before the primary, but it used to be located within the 21^st Ward (Roxborough-Manayunk). The new, central location attracted a larger and more-diverse crowd (in the sense that more elephants from other parts of the city showed up). A number of other ward leaders came out to support Vogler, including his son CHRIS, JOE SAMUEL, CALVIN TUCKER and MATT WOLFE. Republican City Committee General COUNSEL MIKE MEEHAN was also there.

Tuesday night the Philadelphia Young Republicans held a fundraiser for Republican District Attorney candidate Danny Alvarez at Paddy Whacks. The event was well attended. STEVE BOC, the chairman of the Yrs, was the master of ceremonies. Alvarez, a former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney, will be facing incumbent DA SETH WILLIAMS in November.

CONGRESSMAN and Party Chairman Bob Brady discusses agenda with Ward Leader Sonny Campbell and Council President Darrell Clarke.

The Jefferson-Jackson City Committee Cocktail Party was once again a big success. CHAIRMAN BOB BRADY continues to have the loyalty of the party footsoldiers. He was joined onstage by Local 98 BUSINESS MGR. JOHN DOUGHERTY. Dougherty railed against BRETT MANDEL. Mandel is challenging City CONTROLLER ALAN BUTKOVITZ and has run a competitive campaign. Dougherty called Mandel a real one-percenter. This description was also used on presidential candidate MITT ROMNEY. Mandel is financially backed by the Post brothers, a conservative duo that usually helps pro-business Republicans. Regardless of Mandel’s funding, Butkovitz has to be considered the clear frontrunner and will likely be reelected.

MATT MYERS has been very popular with the judicial hopefuls. Myers always seems to deliver his ballot. His 39B Ward party was packed. Among those in the in attendance were JOE FERNANDES, JIM CRUMLISH and ANNE MARIE COYLE. The aforementioned Coyle has the number-one ballot position. She is not endorsed by Democratic City Committee but has been picking up ward support throughout the city. She is supported by a number of leaders, most prominently John Dougherty.

Former 64^th Ward Leader and Zoning Board member MARTY BEDNAREK is recovering well from a bout with kidney stones. Bednarek also served on the School Reform Commission. His lovely wife LORI has run the 64^th Ward effectively and has gained tons of respect in her own right.

The Philadelphia Board of City Trusts recently met to determine whether Girard College would be scaled-down. The residential school founded by Steven Girard currently includes grades 1 through 12. Because of a variety of financial reasons, it will likely be scaled down to a grammar school. The board contains a number of influential Philadelphia politicians. The Chairman is REGISTER OF WILLS RON DONATUCCI. The Executive Director is former Rendell Chief of Staff JOE MARTZ, Parking Authority Chair and General Counsel for the Republican Party MICHAEL MEEHAN, former COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA VERNA and power lobbyist STEVE WODJAK. Wojdak is recovering nicely from recent heart bypass surgery.

2015 Philadelphia Democratic mayoral candidate TOM KNOX has announced the appointment of noted Philadelphia attorney GEORGE BOCHETTO as Chairman of the Knox for Mayor campaign. Bochetto, a former mayoral candidate in 1997-1998 and a politically active fundraiser, is founder of Bochetto & Lentz, PC, a private law firm engaged in areas of complex civil trial and appellate litigation, white collar, defamation and RICO matters.

“George Bochetto is a trusted friend, an accomplished attorney, and a seasoned campaign strategist whose wise counsel will be invaluable to my campaign as we build momentum towards the 2015 mayoral Primary,” said Knox, the former Deputy Mayor for Management & Productivity under then-Philadelphia MAYOR ED RENDELL and the candidate who finished second to Michael Nutter in the hotly-contested 2007 Democratic mayoral primary. “I am honored that George has agreed to serve as my campaign chair.”

The selection of Bochetto as Democrat Tom Knox’s campaign chair will inevitably raise some eyebrows in political circles, given that Bochetto is most closely associated with the Republican Party. Despite perceived ideological differences, the decision to join the Knox team was easy, according to Bochetto.

“My own political leanings are moderate,” said Bochetto. “What attracted me to Tom’s candidacy was his somewhat-rare combination of being socially liberal, yet fiscally conservative. Those are the principles that Philadelphia needs in its next leader. As a product of the city’s housing projects, Tom has great empathy for the city’s poor and underprivileged. I was raised in an orphanage and had to pull myself up by my own bootstraps, just like Tom. I have deep admiration for his values, as he does for mine. As an accomplished businessman, Tom understands the importance of managing a budget and reducing waste and overhead. He would be a great Mayor for the City of Philadelphia and I am delighted to serve as his campaign chair.”

BY MICHAEL P. BOYLE, ESQ./ Congress is currently contemplating legislation to update immigration policies and procedures.

In response to an inquiry made by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, one of the Senate sponsors of immigration reform, the chief actuary for SSA, Stephen C. Gross, in a letter dated May 8, 2013, discussed the impact of reform on Social Security revenues.

According to Gross, SSA “estimate[s] a significant increase in both the population and the number of workers paying taxes in the United States as a result of … changes in legal immigration limits.”

Gross estimated there are about 11.5 million individuals currently in the United States who lack “current legal documentation”, of whom about 8 million will apply for and be granted Registered Provisional Immigrant status. According to Gross, “Many of these individuals already work in the country in the underground economy, not paying taxes, and will begin paying taxes upon application for RPI.”

Gross reported the immigration bill would boost SSA revenues by more than $242 billion net from 2014 to 2024 and add more than $64 billion in new tax revenues to Medicare. It also would increase the size of the economy by a full percentage point by 2017, and by 1.75% by 2024.

Gross wrote the overall effect of the bill on the long-range trust fund balance ‘‘will be positive.’’

Gross added SSA “estimate[s] that the measures in the bill for enforcement of border control and for employment verification will have significant effects on the future number of individuals entering the country without legal authorization … [and] will reduce the number entering the country without authorization by about half a million per year by the time the measures are fully implemented.”

Gross noted SSA is working on developing a 75-year estimate of the bill’s impact, and concluded, “additional births for the increased population under this bill will have substantial positive effects.”

CONGRESSMAN and Party Chairman Bob Brady discusses agenda with Ward Leader Sonny Campbell and Council President Darrell Clarke.

FOP’s Gene Blagmond, right, shares moment with Ward Leader John Sabatina, Sr.

COWBOYS Tom Johnson and Charles O’Connell III lassoed Congressman Brady for this photo.

DECLARED Democratic candidate for Governor, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, greets supporters at Jefferson-Jackson dinner in S. Phila. Another declared candidate, Kathleen McGinty, was also in attendance as were potential candidates Rob McCord and State Sen. Daylin Leach.
Photo by Rory McGlasson

SHARING moment with gubernatorial candidate Allyson Schwartz, 3rd from left, were judicial candidates Donna DeRose, Timika Lane, Marnie Aument Loughrey, Dawn Tancredi and Martin Coleman.
Photo by Robert Mendelsohn

JUDICIAL candidates Vincent Giusini and Sierra Street proved to be party favorites. Photo by Robert Mendelsohn

CHARLIE BRANCH, man about town, joins 1st Ward Leader John Dougherty at Jefferson-Jackson dinner in S. Phila. on Monday night. Photo by Rory McGlasson

TRIO with lotta political knowledge were Ken Adam, AFT Prexy Ted Kirsch and Alan Kurtz.

KATHY SCRIVNER, right, explains to Ed Blizzard, John Sabatina, Sr. and Wayne Johns why she opted out of this judicial primary.

STATE SEN. Daylin Leach was center of attention with this group and others.

REPORTING event were Joe Stivala, Richard Vinci and Joe Russo, seen here with Congressman Bob Brady’s Chief of Staff Shirley Gregory and her daughter Shanna.

KATHY McGinty made rounds with Tara Dougherty.

COUNCILMEN Kenyatta Johnson and Bob Henon share quip with Ward Leader John J. Dougherty, Jr.

CONGRESSMAN and Party Chairman Bob Brady announces slate of endorsed Democratic primary candidates from stage at Sheet Metal Union Hall.

TOM COSTELLO and brothers Shawn and Jim Stevens meet up with Councilman Mark Squilla.

WITH MAIN MAN Congressman Bob Brady, at annual Primary Jefferson Jackson Day celebration at Sheet Metal Hall, were candidates Timika Lane, Judge Joe Waters and Omar Sabir; veteran activist Michael Youngblood; and Judge Frederica Massiah-Jackson, seeking retention.
Photo by Robert Mendelsohn

DISTRICT ATTORNEY Seth Williams was escorted by his daughters Hope and Taylor.