New Philadelphia Business

Philadelphia Distilling - the state's first distillery since Prohibition - just began bottling "Bluecoat Gin" in a plant off Roosevelt Boulevard in the far Northeast.

Alternative Fuel Industry Update

According to PennFuture, Gamesa this week announced a $300 million agreement to construct 132 wind turbines for Shell WindEnergy Inc. at Gamesa's new Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities. The turbines will be fabricated at the company's locations in Ebensburg, Cambria County and in Fairless Hills, Bucks County. Gamesa's - a Spanish company - North American headquarters is in Philadelphia.

Friday Agricultural Factoid: One Day Late

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in 2005, 1,300 acres of strawberries were planted and harvested in the Commonwealth. Production was 5,400 pounds per acre, totaling 7 million pounds overall. The average price paid was $1.83 per pound, making it a $13 million industry in Pennsylvania.

Eddie Loves Farms

According to the Governor's office, Ed Rendell committed a record-setting $150 million investment for farmland preservation this year. Pennsylvania took another step in its commitment to agriculture by investing $18 million to preserve an additional 49 farms and 4,989 acres at its State Farmland Preservation Board meeting this week. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of farms and acres preserved with 2,883 farms and 328,355 acres since the program began in 1988. The Governor committed $150 million for farmland preservation this year.

Historic SDP & Building-Trades Partnership to Benefit Philadelphia Public School Students

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, an historic agreement was signed this week that will provide building-trade apprenticeships for public school graduates in Philadelphia. "We are about to create a new middle class," said Philadelphia School Reform Commission chairman James Nevels. The agreement stipulates that the building-trades unions will accept at least 250 and up to 425 apprentices over the next four years. These apprenticeships offer the opportunity for public-school students who don't plan to go to college to eventually get union work as bricklayers, electricians, carpenters, plumbers and painters, positions that can pay between $20 and $40 per hour.

Councilman Michael Nutter

Councilman Nutter has a new website up; check it out and find out more about the man who could (and should, in my humble opinion) be our next Mayor.

Philadelphia High School Takes Top Honors

A few weeks back, 20 students from Father Judge – a Catholic boys' school in Northeast Philadelphia – beat out approximately 2,500 high school students from across the country and 190 other countries to win top honors at a competition at the United Nations in New York. Father Judge won the coveted “Secretary-General's Award” for amassing more points than any other school.

CHOP's to Build $400 Million Facility

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ("CHOP") plans to build a $400 million, eight-story facility on some of the former Civic Center site in University City. CHOP's 558,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to "translational research", encompassing "turning basic science research into real-life treatments and cures for a variety of diseases and disorders." CHOP's long-term plans call for building out the research facility to as many as 22 stories depending upon future need.

Wawa Lands at Northeast Philadelphia Airport

A new Wawa store opening on grounds of Northeast Philadelphia Airport, the first Wawa located on airport grounds. The store is new design prototype encompassing 5,700 sq-ft, approximately double the size of most stores. This Wawa will have a deli, bakery and gas, and will feature technology for “contactless” credit-card transactions. The store will employ around sixty. It will be Wawa's 41st store in Philadelphia. Wawa is a privately held company based in Wawa, Delaware County that has more than 500 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

Friday Agricultural Factoid

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, our state's dairy industry represents 42 percent of PA agriculture and has 8,900 dairy farm families who care for 561,000 cows that produce 10.5 billion pounds of moo juice. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks 4th in milk production, 3rd in butter production, 6th in cheese production and 8th in low-fat ice cream production.

Pennsylvania's Job Count Reaches New Record

Governor Rendell announced last week that Pennsylvania's non-farm job count rose by 6,100 in April to a record high of 5,747,200 jobs! This is the seventh gain in total jobs in the past eight months. The Commonwealth has generated over 120,000 new jobs during Governor Rendell's tenure.

Friday Agricultural Factoid

Next week is "Amusement Ride Safety Week". According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, The Commonwealth has almost 1,300 ride-safety inspectors covering more than 7,000 rides and attractions at more than 607 community fairs, carnivals and amusement parks - more than any other state or foreign country!

Rendell and Pennsylvania Grow Greener

Twenty-three Pennsylvania counties will benefit from a $17 million investment in land conservation projects that will preserve natural resources and open spaces across the Commonwealth. The money will fund 42 projects to help preserve more than 11,000 acres in Pennsylvania. According to Governor Rendell's office.

John Dougherty: He Said, He Said

John Dougherty having some trouble with the facts, from Gar Joseph's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer today:

"When anti-Frank DiCicco posters sprouted on utility poles last week, the city councilman quickly blamed Eddie Kirlin, whom he called "director of arts and crafts" for Local 98 of the Electricians Union.

Union leader John Dougherty told us last week that Kirlin hadn't worked for 98 in two years. But National Labor Relations Board documents show Kirlin was a consultant for the local, making $36,000 last year.

"He does information technology for us," Dougherty said. "He helps on our Web site and with marketing."

Pennsylvania's Official Bumper Sticker Contest Underway

HARRISBURG — Sixteen slogans, including “I break for Shoo Fly Pie,” “Pennsylvania is for Roadtrippers” and “Honk if you like Roadtrips” are battling for votes at www.visitPA.com as the PA Tourism Office opens its search for an official bumper sticker.

Other candidates are uniquely PA with messages like, “Don’t follow me. Pick your own road.” and “Proud parent of a PA roadtrip.” Aspiring bumper sticker authors can also submit their own slogan and artwork for consideration.

Voting ends at midnight on July 1 and the winning bumper sticker will be announced on visitPA.com on July 4. Voters will be invited to visit a PennDOT Welcome Center this summer to pick up a free Pennsylvania bumper sticker.

To weigh in on the debate or for help in planning a roadtrip across the State of Independence, go to visitPA.com. And before hitting the road, check out the Roadtrip Etiquette section for “rules of the road” for responsible and thrifty roadtrippers.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office recently launched the “Where You Want To Go” trip generator on visitPA.com, an online tool that not only provides directions but also allows visitors to pre-select from 10 travel activities, the results of which are plotted on interactive maps. Users can also pick lodging and dining options, along with attractions, shopping, nightlife, theatre and more, which are added to the map for a completely customized itinerary.

Travelers who might become lost along the way can also get directions – anytime – at any one of Pennsylvania’s Welcome Centers.

The Wild, Wild East

The National Geographic Adventure article, "The Wild, Wild East," highlights specific outdoor destinations within the Pennsylvania Wilds region including Cherry Springs State Park, Elk State Forest, Pine Creek and the Pine Creek Gorge, and Hyner View State Park. According to the article, "North-central Pennsylvania is a bona fide, 21st-century Eden. Or so says the Wildlife Conservation Society's Human Footprint report, which put the rugged woodlands on par with Brazil's Pantanal and China's Gobi as one of the last untarnished tracts on Earth. Only 1.3 percent of the lower 48 is as pure."

Judge Edward Becker Passes

Federal Judge Edward R. Becker climbed to within a step of the U.S. Supreme Court but never lost his touch for the regular guy. Becker, senior judge of the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, died after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 73 and lived with his wife, Flora, on Herbert Street in Frankford in the house where he lived as a child. He rode the Frankford El to work every day. "He probably just rode the El to heaven," said Third Circuit Judge Marjorie O. (Midge) Rendell. Becker was born in Philadelphia in 1933, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954 and three years later from Yale Law School. Senator Specter called him "one of the greatest Philadelphians in our city's history."

Environmental Issues are a Top Concern for Philadelphians

A new poll of Philadelphia residents and business leaders found overwhelming support for protecting the City's environment and investing in infrastructure improvements, with 85 percent of those surveyed saying they would be more likely to vote for a mayoral candidate who made the environment a primary policy focus.

Make Tax Competitiveness a Priority

The Philadelphia Inquirer today had an editorial encouraging continued efforts to enhance tax competitiveness. The City’s projected budget surplus is $168 million. The state fiscal oversight agency PICA doesn’t think that the City’s budget plan "meaningfully" addresses its "uncompetitive tax structure." Mayor Street's thinks an additional one-year reduction of the City's gross-receipts tax on business is fine, while Councilman Michael A. Nutter offers a more effective plan, with five years of programmed cuts in the gross-receipts tax. Guaranteed tax-cuts give businesses a level of comfort that this City is headed in the right direction and encourages them to make commitments to growing. An even better advancement would be Nutter's proposed net-profits business tax cuts. Unfortunately, even after 11 years of progress, Philadelphia ranks highly among American cities with the highest taxes. Nothing generates tax revenue like adding jobs, particularly Center City office jobs. Let’s keep moving forward towards tax competitiveness.

Tax Collection in Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania State Data Center, information obtained through the U.S. Census Bureau's 2005 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections showed that tax collections in Pennsylvania totaled $27.3 billion in 2005, an increase of $1.9 billion or 7.6 percent over 2004. Since 2000, tax revenue in Pennsylvania has risen $4.8 billion, or 21.3 percent. Pennsylvanians paid an average of $2,193 to the State in 2005, slightly above the national average ($2,192) and a per capita increase of $148 from the previous year. The Commonwealth ranks 17th nationally in per capita tax revenue growth since 2000 (up $363.92 per resident), but just 30th in per capita increase last year. Total tax revenue for all states grew 9.7 percent between 2004 and 2005, and since 2000, revenue has grown by 20.2 percent.

Vote for Ethics in Tomorrow's Election!

Thanks to legislation passed by Councilman Michael Nutter, Philadelphians will have the opportunity tomorrow to pass a referendum creating Philadelphia's first independent ethics board. The ballot question - if approved - would establish an ethics board with the authority to investigate complaints, administer hearings, issue subpoenas/fines, and conduct ethics training for all City employees. The independent board would have jurisdiction over all officials and branches of City government, in contrast to the current board that only has authority over the executive branch. Board members would be unpaid and would serve five-year terms, with a two-term limit. Elected or appointed City officials, City employees and political party employees would be ineligible for service. If voters approve the referendum, the Mayor would still pick the board members - as with the current group - but appointees would require City Council's approval.

Why do we need a new ethics board?

Philadelphia's first ethics board was created in 1962, but lacked enforcement powers and met infrequently. In August 2004, as the federal corruption probe of City Hall's pay-to-play culture exploded, Mayor Street created a new ethics board and appointed its five members. However, because the board was created by executive order, its jurisdiction is limited to the executive branch. Also, the board's not so independent, given that its members are picked by the Mayor, without input from anybody else. This kind of self-policing, "fox watching the hen house" kind of arrangement just isn't effective.

IssuesPA/Pew Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Dissatisfied with State Direction

May 10, 2006 (Harrisburg, PA) – A new IssuesPA/Pew poll shows that close to half (49 percent) of all Pennsylvanians are dissatisfied with the direction of the state, compared to just 43 percent who are satisfied with the state’s direction. These are the most negative ratings recorded in an IssuesPA/Pew poll since August 2004. These results also show the widespread nature of the dissatisfaction – reaching more than 50 percent in four of the six regions in the state; only one month ago, dissatisfaction was over 50% in only one region.

The poll also shows that rising gas prices are one factor behind Pennsylvanians’ growing dissatisfaction. Mentions of high gas/fuel prices as the most important problem facing the state have doubled in the past month (13 percent now versus six percent in March).

Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) conducted the poll for IssuesPA, the non-partisan statewide awareness project focused on raising the issues most critical to Pennsylvania’s economic future. Funding for the survey was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The margin of error is plus/minus three percentage points.

Views of the Legislature
When asked for a one-word description that best describes the legislature, the largest number of Pennsylvanians (69 respondents) said, “greedy.” Though the top ten list of responses includes some positive or neutral words like “good,” “okay,” and “fair,” most have a negative connotation such as “crook,” “poor,” and “corrupt.”

Only a quarter (26 percent) of Pennsylvania residents feel they can trust the legislature to do what is right just about always or most of the time. Nearly seven in ten (67 percent) feel they can be trusted only some of the time or never.

Pennsylvanians’ negative perception of the legislature might carry over into this year’s elections, as two-thirds (66 percent) of voters say that an incumbent state legislator’s vote on the pay raise should be a very important issue in this year’s legislative elections

“The well-reported furor over the Legislative pay raise appears to be having a lasting effect,” said Larry Hugick of PSRAI. “Pennsylvanians express low confidence in the state legislature as whole but have more positive opinions of their own state representatives.

Education
Education has emerged as a key issue in the 2006 elections. Most voters (85 percent) say that making sure high school graduates have the skills they need for college or a career will be very important in determining their vote in the gubernatorial and legislative races this year. Eighty-one percent say that making sure children have a similar opportunity for a quality education regardless of where they live will be very important. Voters were asked to rate the importance of 30 different issues this spring. Only one other issue – providing health care for uninsured children – was rated “very important” by 80 percent or more of the respondents.

Across Pennsylvania, most residents (56 percent) agree that financing education should be the responsibility of the state government. However, a similar majority (53 percent) want local school officials to be in charge of ensuring that public schools provide a quality education.

Gubernatorial Race Still Wide Open
The poll asked Pennsylvania voters about their chances of voting for Ed Rendell and Lynn Swann in the November gubernatorial election. Based on their responses to two questions, three in 10 (30%) voters are likely to support Rendell, another three in 10 (29%) are likely support Swann, and four in 10 (40%) are classified as swing voters, not strongly committed to either candidate. The new poll shows more voters on the fence than the March 2006 poll; the number of swing voters has increased by six percentage points.

Other Findings
The IssuesPA/Pew poll also generated these findings:
* Three in four (75 percent) voters statewide say the candidates’ positions on how to best control state spending will be very important to their vote.
* More than two-thirds (71 percent) of voters say the candidates’ positions on how to best provide a tax system that is fair, adequate and pro-growth will be very important to their voting decision.
* About half (52 percent) think the issue of helping cities and towns solve their financial problems should be very important.
* Most Pennsylvanians (63 percent) do not think local communities without their own police department should be charged a service fee for state police protection.
* Residents have many reasons for disliking local property taxes. Even numbers of Pennsylvanians (21 percent) say their main complaint about property taxes is that they make home ownership unaffordable and don’t specifically take household income into account.
* In terms of reducing the property tax rates, the two least acceptable alternatives are expanding the state sales tax base (27 percent) and increasing the local wage tax (25 percent).
* More than a third of Pennsylvanians (38 percent) think that conditions affecting their region’s economic performance have gotten worse in the past four years.

“There are a number of issues that matter to Pennsylvanians, and many of them may be important factors in the 2006 elections,” said Steven Wray, Project Director of IssuesPA and Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League’s office in Philadelphia. “The candidates’ positions on taxes, jobs and education may be key in deciding what could be a very close race.”

About the Poll
The April 2006 IssuesPA/Pew Poll, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Economy League and The Pew Charitable Trusts, was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Telephone interviews were conducted from April 17 – 26, 2006 with 1,503 Pennsylvania adults, age 18 and over, of which 1,191 identified themselves as registered voters. The results have been statistically weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The overall margin of sampling error for results is plus or minus three percentage points.

Friday Agriculture Factoid: Two for the Price of One

According to the Department of Agriculture, there are 4,000 alpaca farms in the U.S. and the Commonwealth is home to 188 farms with 3,396 registered alpacas.

Also, Pennsylvania is home to 24 sod farms, totaling more than 2,100 acres grown.

Not so Much Turnover in the PA Leg

Here's a startling statistic, courtesty of Terry Madonna and Michael Young, of Franklin & Marshall College:

"The number one reason leaders in the Pennsylvania legislature leave office is retirement. This fact is unremarkable enough, but becomes more interesting if one looks at the number two, three and four reasons: number two is death; number three is resignation after legal problems; and number four -- and last -- is defeat at the polls."

Yikes!

Rendell Leads Swann in Latest Poll

Governor Ed Rendell has opened up a 55 – 33 percent lead over Republican "challenger" Lynn Swann, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 47 – 37 percent Rendell lead in an April 5th survey by the same polling organization. Let's hope those numbers will give Democratic challengers some help in the November general elections in legislative races.

Voters Split on East Falls And River Slot Parlor Sites

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Two telephone public opinion polls conducted by Global Strategy Group, LLC on the attitudes of voters in the areas of Philadelphia being considered for casinos, commissioned by Trump Entertainment Resorts, were released today. One of the polls surveyed 600 voters in the neighborhoods surrounding the former Budd Plant site where Keystone Redevelopment Partners and majority partner Trump Entertainment Resorts (“Trump”) (NASDAQ NMS: TRMP) have an application pending. The second poll surveyed voters of the Delaware River area where there are four additional applicants vying for gaming licenses.

The results of the surveys showed that community support and opposition to be consistent surrounding the Budd Plant site and along the Delaware River, as less than half of the residents surrounding the former Budd Co. plant are opposed to the TrumpStreet Casino and Entertainment Complex (“TrumpStreet”) proposal. Additionally, the research found that a majority of residents who live in proximity to the Delaware River sites stand opposed to having two venues built in their area.

The research was conducted following the request of the Multi-Community Alliance, who asked representatives of TrumpStreet to conduct a poll to accurately gauge community sentiment towards the casino. The poll determined that 43% of those surveyed opposed building a casino, 44% favored and 13% were neutral or had no opinion. The Delaware River sites had approximately the same levels of opposition and support: 42% opposed, 45% favored and 13% were neutral or had no opinion.

Jefrey Pollock, President of Global Strategy Group, LLC said, "The data is very clear that support and opposition for the TrumpStreet Casino is virtually evenly split. There is no empirical evidence supporting the claims of the individuals opposing TrumpStreet that residents are overwhelmingly opposed."

Data from the TrumpStreet poll also revealed that African-Americans support the Trump casino application: 47% support, 40% oppose, with 13% having no opinion.

White voters, however, oppose the casino with 51% opposition, 38% support and 10% having no opinion. When asked what should be done at the Budd Company site, 21% of respondents stated a casino and entertainment complex, 13% wanted a shopping center and 12% preferred a park and recreation area.

When the 600 voters surveyed on the Delaware River areas were asked "Would you prefer that one casino be built along the Delaware River and one somewhere else in the City, or should both be built along the Delaware River, or should both be built somewhere else in the City?" Only 36% of those residents wanted to see both on the Delaware River. The remaining respondents wanted to see both casinos located elsewhere or preferred only one be built along the river.

Donald Trump, Chairman of Trump Entertainment Resorts, met with elected officials and neighborhood leaders to discuss the findings of the poll last week.

Mr. Trump said, "We are gaining momentum in educating the residents of the neighborhoods surrounding TrumpStreet as to the real story behind our application. We understand the challenges that will face our neighbors should we be successful and it is important that they know how hard we are working to address their concerns. This poll is proof our message is beginning to resonate and that residents are now beginning to separate myth from fact. ”

The Global Strategy Group poll was conducted between March 29 and April 5, 2006. The Trump Site survey was taken from a one and one-half mile radius of the location of the casino. The Delaware Avenue survey was taken in the First Councilmanic District

The overall margin of error is +/- 4% at the 95% confidence level for each survey.

May is Beef and Egg Month in Pennsylvania

Gov. Rendell has proclaimed May as Beef and Egg Month. There are 28,000 beef producers in our state, raising more than 1.6 million cattle and calves that contribute $1.76 billion dollars to the economy. More than 7,000 poultry producers raise 23 million hens that produce 6.5 billion eggs annually - adding $340 million to the economy.

Friday Agriculture Factoid

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, trout season kicked off in April and lasts through September. The Commonwealth is home to 42 commercial trout growers, ranking us fourth in the nation. 1.52 million pounds of trout valued at $4.81 million were sold last year.

PhillyCarShare and City of Philadelphia Named Finalists for Harvard “Oscar”

PhillyCarShare’s groundbreaking car-reduction initiative with the City of Philadelphia is among 18 pioneering finalists for Harvard’s prestigious Innovations in American Government Award, the “Oscar” of American government.More than 1,000 forward-thinking programs from across the country submitted applications to compete for the seven final $100,000 prizes.

PhillyCarShare’s project is among “the best and brightest, and represents government’s great capacity for creating positive change and achieving results,” says Gowher Rizvi, Director of Harvard’s Ash Institute. The project “takes a creative approach to a significant problem and demonstrates that [the] solution works.”

PhillyCarShare and the City of Philadelphia teamed in 2004 to create the first system worldwide in which government employees and local residents would share vehicles by the hour in a major car-reduction effort. Advanced technology facilitates easy independent access to vehicles 24/7, automated cost allocation, and unprecedented superb accountability.

The pioneering project has leveraged the City’s elimination of 330 vehicles, saving taxpayers nearly $2 million annually. Philadelphia residents have sold or avoided purchasing another 1,500 vehicles through the program. They drive 9.9 million fewer miles per year; walk, bike, and take transit 37% more; and save about $6 million annually versus owning cars, according to detailed participant surveys. All participants pollute 90% less while driving PhillyCarShare’s hybrid gas-electric vehicles.

The prize money is awarded specifically to support winning programs in the teaching of their model to other jurisdictions. “By celebrating and disseminating this kind of creative thinking at all levels of government, the awards program helps turn innovative ideas into commonly accepted practices,” said Patricia McGinnis, President of the Council for Excellence in Government.

Stephen Goldsmith, Director of the Innovations in American Government Awards at the Ash Institute says, “When you learn about the variety of programs, the range of problems they tackle, and the creative ways they do it, it gives you a renewed confidence in the quality and commitment of our public servants. By shining a bright light on these innovators, we hope to encourage others in government to follow their amazing lead.”

Winners will be selected later this month following presentations they will make to the National Selection Committee at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government on May 25, 2006. The seven final winners will be announced on July 10 at a dinner ceremony in Washington, D.C., during the 2006 Excellence in Government Conference.

PhillyCarShare is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 by five local Philadelphians, operates a rapidly growing fleet of hybrids, wagons, and fun vehicle models from 40+ locations in central Philadelphia and Mt. Airy. Each member receives a personal key and 24-hour access to the entire fleet. Then driving is easy: reserve online, hop in, and go! Affordable hourly and mileage rates cover gas, premium insurance, and reserved parking. Members enjoy the convenience of driving, without the hassles of ownership.

The Innovations in American Government Awards, founded in 1986, is a program of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. The award is administered in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government in Washington.

The Autobiography Project

The Autobiography Project is a public program that encourages Philadelphians to submit their own memoirs using no more than 300 words. At the close of the project, selected entries will be published in bus shelters throughout the City. The goal is the get Philadelphians writing and to have these stories be visible in public areas. The project launched on April 5th and ends on May 17, but the posters will be displayed throughout the summer.

For more info, check out their website. The Autobiography Project is being presented by 2 non-profit groups - the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary and One Book, One Philadelphia.

Philadelphia International Airport Shows Strong Growth

Philadelphia International Airport led North America in 2005 in passenger-traffic growth, with a record 31.5 million passengers getting on or off flights. That’s 10.5 percent more than in 2004, according to statistics released by the Airports Council International - North America.

Friday Agriculture Factoid

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Spring is the peak season for foaling. This year, the PA thoroughbred horse racing industry is anticipating the birth of 1,200 to 1,400 foals and the harness racing industry expects 1,000 standardbred foals. PA is home to more than 600 farms breeding racehorses, including the world’s largest standardbred farm, Hanover Shoe Farms in York Co.

Chestnut Hill College buying Sugar Loaf

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Chestnut Hill College plans to buy Sugar Loaf and expand its campus and student body; Sugar Loaf is an estate across the street from their campus in the “far northwest” section of Philadelphia. The College’s plans for growth began in 2003 when it went co-ed. Since then, enrollment almost doubled to 625 full-time undergraduates from 312. The school is projecting 700 full-time undergraduates for next year and has a goal of growing to 1,500 undergrads by 2012. The school's plans for the estate include using the existing mansion for conference/classroom space and the small hotel’s 32 overnight rooms for student accommodations. It would also look to construct additional student housing. It already has plans for a new residence hall that would cost up to $12 million to build and house up to 200 students. That building is expected to open in 2008.

PHA Receives Honor

The National Association of Homebuilders has recognized the Philadelphia Housing Authority's Martin Luther King development in South Philadelphia as this year's "Best Affordable Apartment Community."

More Condos: Near Chinatown this Time

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, The Pearl Condominiums will be constructed on what is now a surface parking lot on the fringes of Chinatown at 9th and Arch streets. The six-story facility will include 90 units, 10 retail spaces and a 120-space parking lot. Project completion expected by July 2007.

Thornburgh Leaving Economy League to Head National Group

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, David Thornburgh - executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League's Southeast office since 1994 – is moving on to become president and chief executive officer of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship, which will be relocated to Philadelphia. The mission of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship is to foster collaborative multi-sector (government, business, & non-profit) regional stewardship as a means for advancing economic, social, and environmental progress, while maintaining a sense of place, in America’s metropolitan regions.

Funny Bumper Sticker

Seen on a Prius driving towards the City on Kelly Drive:

"Never Thought I'd Miss Nixon"

Friday Agricultural Factoid: Eggselent

According to the Department of Agriculture, our state produces more than 6.5 billion eggs annually, ranking us third in the nation. An average of 23 million hens produce approximately 300 eggs each year, for a total value of almost $340 million annually, and that's no yoke.

Mayoral Campaign Contribution Limits

Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial

April 14, 2006

Don't evade; reform

The city's would-be mayoral candidates should stop thumbing their noses at Philadelphia's new limits on campaign contributions. If it takes a court battle to make them mind their manners, so be it.

Thanks to a government watchdog group, the Committee of Seventy, that court fight has been joined.

On Tuesday, a member of that group filed suit against six men regarded as likely contenders for Mayor Street's job next year. A second lawsuit, filed Wednesday by Councilman Michael A. Nutter - the only candidate fully abiding by the donor limits - turns up the heat [emphasis added].

According to Nutter, nearly $1 million in combined over-the-limit donations have been raised by the targets of his lawsuit: U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.), former City Controller Jonathan A. Saidel, and electricians union chief John Dougherty. In its lawsuit, Seventy named those four, as well as Nutter and self-financed millionaire candidate Tom Knox.

The best outcome of the suits would be for the courts to clarify when the city's limits kick in. Is it only upon a candidate's formal declaration, or when any exploratory committee begins raising funds?

But the suits could backfire. There's the risk a court could find fatal flaws in the city's 2003 law, which capped annual giving by individuals at $2,500 per candidate and $10,000 for political committees. When the law was enacted, critics contended it was preempted by the state election code, which sets no donation limits.

It would better to get voluntary compliance with the limits, avoiding a court fight. The likely candidates who are evading the limits contend the delay of their formal announcements gives them leeway.

This may be technically accurate. From the standpoint of good government and citizen confidence, though, it stinks. Philadelphia needs politicians who aspire to uphold higher standards, not to finagle technicalities.

Remember the backdrop to this campaign reform: the city's pay-to-play political culture, where big donors often are rewarded with city business. A federal probe of City Hall has tripped up two dozen people - including Councilman Rick Mariano, convicted in March.

Whatever loopholes are in the campaign law, its spirit is crystal clear: Candidates should not take large sums from contributors, because that piles up the political debts that spawn pay-to-play and erode confidence in government. That's why city business leaders and the Philadelphia Bar Association urged their colleagues not to give more than the limits.

How can candidates claim to be all about cleaning up City Hall when their campaigns are perpetuating a key flaw of pay-to-play politics?

How Refreshing

"I’m just not qualified. You’re mistaking celebrity for credibility.”

A quote from Martin Sheen, explaining why he turned down an offer to run for the U.S. Senate from his native Ohio after the show ends, from the New York Times on 4/10/06.

Philadelphia: We'll Be OK When the Oil Crisis Hits

Philadelphia ranks fifth among the 50 largest U.S. cities in terms of our preparedness to cope in the event of an oil crisis, according to SustainLane - a website focused on sustainable living. Cities were ranked by commuting patterns, availability of public transportation, sprawl, congestion, local food and wireless network access. Also, Philadelphia was the #1 city for the highest combined per capita rate of farmers markets and community gardens.

Register to Vote!!

Monday, April 17 is the last day to register to vote in the May 16 primary. Go to the Commwealth's website for more information.

Governor Rendell Likes PhillyCarShare

Philadelphia’s favorite and only vehicle sharing provider - PhillyCarShare - has won the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, which honors Pennsylvania businesses and organizations for implementing programs that address environmental problems in ways that stimulate the economy, enhance revenues and engage citizens in a renewed commitment to community investment.

Meet Councilman Michael Nutter

Michael A. Nutter was elected to City Council in 1991, and is now serving his fourth term. He represents the 4th District which includes the neighborhoods of Wynnefield, Overbrook, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and parts of North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia and West Mount Airy. And, he has served as the 52nd Ward Democratic Leader since 1990.

In 2001, Michael Nutter was appointed to the Board of City Trusts. The Board of City Trusts manages all money or other property left to the City of Philadelphia. The Board administers over 110 separate trusts for a wide variety of charitable purposes, the most significant being Girard College and the Wills Eye Hospital.

Michael Nutter also serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Board. He was appointed to this position in February 2003. As chairman, he crafted a pivotal labor- management agreement which was signed July 2003; and, he is now spearheading a $630 million expansion project for the Center. Under his leadership, the Convention Center has recruited professional, experienced management staff; increased bookings; and, created a business-like environment for convention customers and attendees.

Prior to his public service, Michael Nutter worked as an investment manager at Pryor, Counts & Co., Inc., specializing in municipal finance.

Michael Nutter was born and raised in West Philadelphia. He graduated from Saint Joseph's Preparatory High School in 1975, and from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in 1979. He resides in Wynnefield with his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Olivia, who attends a Philadelphia public school. His son, Christian, lives and works in New Jersey. Michael Nutter is a member of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

The following is an abbreviated list of affiliations:

• Black Elected Officials of Philadelphia, Vice-Chair
• African-American Democratic Ward Leaders of Philadelphia, Vice-Chair
• Leadership, Inc., Graduate 1988
• Urban League Leadership Institute, Graduate 1989
• Southern Africa - United States Center for Leadership and Public Values (operated by University of Cape Town and
Duke University), Fellow of the Emerging Leaders Program, 2004-2005
• Philadelphia Outward Bound Center, Founding member
• City Year Philadelphia, Boardmember
• Gesu School, Boardmember
• Governor's Commission on College & Career Success, Commissioner

Penn Breaks Wind...Purchasing Record, that is

According to KYW, Penn - currently the largest university buyer of wind energy in the nation - will be tripling its purchasing volume. In the future, Penn will buy 112,000 mega-watt hours annually from state wind farms

Commonwealth Posts Record Breaking Tourism Year

Pennsylvania’s travel industry sold a record 26.2 million hotel rooms in 2005, according to Smith Travel Research. The number was 2% more than 2004 and five percent more than in 2000, the industry’s benchmark year.

Good Government Forum

There's going to be a "Good Government" panel discussion on April 11th. This forum will be held between 6:30 and 8:00 pm at Huntsman Hall (main auditorium) 38th and Walnut, UPenn campus, Philadelphia.

The panelists are:

• State Representative Greg Vitali who will speak on "campaigning with integrity."

• Marian Schneider, a CPL fellow, attorney and cofounder of the Chester County chapter of the Coalition for Voting Integrity, will focus on the problems with electronic voting machines.

• Councilman Michael Nutter who will speak about ethics reform and integrity of elected officials once in office.

• Zack Stalberg, CEO of the Committee of Seventy, will moderate the panel discussion.

The Center for Progressive Leadership - a co-sponsor of this forum - believes that government should be a powerful force for creating justice and equity in our society. Your participation in this forum will ensure that the emerging political leaders in Pennsylvania will have the necessary tools and knowledge of this topic to further the cause of good government.

The event is co-sponsored by the Fels Institute. (See http://www.fels.upenn.edu/

Friday Agriculture Factoid

Over 2 million acres of crops will be planted this Spring across the Commonwealth's 7.7 million acres of farmland. This includes wheat, corn, oats, barley, sorghum and soybeans. Farmers are predicted to plant 450,000 acres of soybeans, which will be the highest soybean planting in state history. This is good news, as I'm a vegetarian and depend on soy products for sustenance.

But of Course: Rendell Leads

According to a Quinnipiac University poll, Governor Rendell has a ten percentage point lead over Republican challenger Lynn Swann - 47% to 37%. Relatedly, Pennsylvania created 60,000 new jobs last year - the highest annual increase in five years - according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Philadelphia added nearly 21,000 net new jobs, a five-year high. Here's the thing...Eddie's doing a great job; the State's economy and employment is healthier than it's been in years, tourism is up, and government efficiency is peaking. His opponent has no experience, no vision, and no plan. In the end, we'll have four more years of the most effective governor Pennsylvania has seen in decades.

Toyota to Introduce Hybrid Technology to Entire Lineup

According to the Associated Press, Toyota plans to introduce hybrid technology across its entire lineup. The manufacturer has a goal of 1 million hybrids sold globally by 2012. In order to use the technology in less-expensive models, Toyota is concentrating on lowering production costs and will strive to keep the price differential between hybrid and conventional cars to less than $2,550.

Regional Choice Policy Article from the Public School Notebook

Families in Center City Region gain priority in applying to schools within region next year.

Transfers within regions get preference, new policy says

By Paul Socolar

A controversial new policy on student transfers adopted by the School Reform Commission may make it easier next year for families in the District’s Center City Region to gain admission to any of the elementary schools in the region. A 3-2 SRC vote in February gave priority to pupil transfer requests that are within a region over transfers from outside. The vote left advocates for educational equity troubled that the District has not adequately addressed questions about who might lose access to Center City schools and whether the policy is fair to all regions. Center City has been the focus of discussion about the new transfer policy. The regional preference policy, as written, applies districtwide, but District officials say it will be implemented first in the Center City Region. It was strongly advocated by the Center City District, a community development corporation that was also influential in the District’s decision to create a Center City Region. In Philadelphia, students within a neighborhood school’s immediate catchment area are always guaranteed a seat. Under the old admissions policies, transfer applicants from the rest of the city competed on an equal footing for any remaining seats – normally through a lottery – no matter how far away they might live. The new policy states that the remaining seats at a school will go first to student transfers under the No Child Left Behind law’s school choice provisions. NCLB allows students to transfer out of certain schools that have been identified as needing improvement or persistently dangerous. Next in line for transfer slots are students transferring from other schools within the same region. Any remaining slots at schools will be open to students transferring from outside the region. Under School District desegregation guidelines, transfers are limited when they harm a school’s racial balance. In voting against the regional choice resolution, Commissioner Sandra Dungee Glenn argued that the District should first address the factors that are causing families from some regions to flock to other regions like Center City. Dungee Glenn said that until there is greater equity in educational quality among regions, it is unfair to narrow the options of families that feel they cannot find a good school option close to home. “We have some real disparities. There are many more of what I as a parent would consider good choices in some of our regions than in others,” Dungee Glenn explained. Len Rieser, co-director of the Education Law Center, who testified on the policy to the School Reform Commission, commented, “If we’re going to move to a system of regional choice, we need to look closely at the extent to which the regions offer equitable opportunities across the city, and that has not been done.” “No data was shared publicly until two days before the policy was adopted, and the data that was shared didn’t begin to address the issues this policy poses,” Rieser added. Defending the new transfer policy, CEO Paul Vallas pointed out that the Center City Region’s boundaries are broad and the population reflects that of the District as a whole. He cited a number of steps the District has taken to equalize resources between regions, including mandating extended day, accelerated and gifted programs in every school. He pointed to his administration’s commitment to providing quality options in every neighborhood by “mandating that each region have anywhere from three to six accelerated academies.” But a District chart on its “accelerated academies” – new magnet programs for K-8 students that are now being planned in over 40 schools – provided support for Dungee Glenn’s argument. While still more accelerated academies are to be identified, only one school has been identified for an academy in the Central Region in North Philadelphia, whereas the Center City Region has eight schools already named as accelerated academy sites. Dungee Glenn is pushing to amend the new transfer policy to couple it with a new commitment to equalization among the regions. The new transfer policy does not affect any students who are already enrolled, and sibling preference will continue to be offered in the transfer process. But some predict a significant change in enrollment at a few Center City elementary schools that now attract large numbers of transfer applications from across the city. At Greenfield School on 22nd and Chestnut, two-thirds of the students transfer in from other regions. At Meredith on 5th and Fitzwater, 47% of students are from outside the region. The Center City Region is the region with the highest overall percentage of K-8 students coming from outside it. District data show that 1,621 students in the Center City Region – more than one-third of its K-8 students – have transferred in from other regions. The data indicate that many of these students are transferring in from schools that have been chronically low-performing. Less than a tenth of the K-8 students in the region are transfers from elsewhere within the region. At the February 8 SRC meeting, proponents offered a variety of arguments for giving families within a region preference in transfers over those coming from outside:

• The president of the Center City District, Paul Levy, stressed the importance to Philadelphia’s viability of keeping the booming population of young professionals in Center City. He pointed to research projecting a 43 percent increase in the number of school-age children in Center City and predicted that with this new transfer policy providing a greater array of public school choices within Center City, “we’ll have a dramatic increase in parents who are choosing public schools.”

• Jeff Friedman, co-chair of the East Falls Schools Committee, suggested that the regional choice approach could provide a basis for building stronger school-community partnerships in every region. “Proximity between families, students and their schools fosters a sense of community and mutual accountability that is diminished if not eviscerated if students travel long distances to schools that their families never get to,” he noted. Friedman said that a model of structured partnerships involving businesses, communities and schools was emerging in Center City that should be replicated as part of a regional choice program in each region.

• Three McCall parents said that Center City preference would boost parental involvement at their Society Hill school. “We need parents that will show up to plant flowers, to control the chaotic playground and the newly erected jungle gym, to discuss how McCall will make AYP this year and every year after,” said parent Mary Jo Cannon. “We are convinced that if more local parents had a better chance of sending their children to McCall, the numbers of involved families would increase.” The neighborhood choice policy applies only to grades K-8, but CEO Vallas says he would support 25 percent regional set-asides at some of the District’s new high schools, though not at established special admissions schools such as Central and Masterman. “The regions want local set-asides, even for some of their new high schools,” Vallas stated. The Center City Region will see three new high schools with high-profile partners opening in the fall: one in partnership with the Franklin Institute, one with the National Constitution Center, and one (the Academy at Palumbo) with Central High School.

Contact editor Paul Socolar at 215-951-0330 x107 or pauls@thenotebook.org

www.thenotebook.org/editions/2006/spring/transfers04.htm

Representative Cohen: Poster Boy for Term-Limits

I don’t usually go in for populist policy initiatives, but I’ve become a big fan of term-limits for elected officials, both legislators and executives. Twelve years seems about right to me; you shouldn’t need any more than that. If you’re good, you’ll run for something else and win. To me, Representative Cohen is a poster child for why we need term-limits. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “over the last two years, the state has reimbursed the veteran legislator $28,200 on bookstore spending sprees.” Cohen has been in office an astounding 28 years, and doesn’t have a primary challenger this year…the Democratic machine made sure of that. Further, “Cohen's book bill for 2004 and 2005 is more than what the Philadelphia School District spent to stock library shelves at the two high schools and two middle schools in his legislative district. The four schools, which have a combined enrollment of 5,000 students, spent $21,600 on books and periodicals in that two-year period, officials said.” Wow…you’ve got to give the man credit for having chutzpa. Why the heck the state even has a reimbursement program for these kinds of purchases is another issue. I feel sorry for the people of Logan and Olney who have to suffer through this kind of representation; a legislator so aloof and arrogant that he thinks this kind of profligate spending on reading materials is acceptable.

Friday Agricultural Factoid: Baseball Edition

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Commonwealth produces 75% of the American White Ash wood in Louisville Sluggers, which are used by most major league players. Further - BWP Bats - in Brookville, makes approximately 3,000 bats per week, including the one used by Johnny Damon of the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series.

Another Philadelphia Organization You Might Not Have Heard About

The Philadelphia-based OMG Center for Collaborative Learning is an independent nonprofit research and consulting outfit. They work with philanthropic, nonprofit and governmental organizations across the country. Founded in 1988, the Center has maintained a focus on public and urban policy issues, emphasizing organizational capacity building, program assessment and evaluation, data and trend analysis, and grants management and intermediary support.

John Dougherty's Stool is Falling Down

Dan at Young Philly Politics has a great post today on the rise and fall of John Dougherty.

Rendell Gives $25 Million Boost to the Barnes

According to the Inquirer, Governor Rendell announced yesterday that the Commonwealth would contribute $25 million toward construction of a new home for the Barnes on the site of the Youth Study Center, between 20th and 21st Streets. Rendell said the Barnes move would move Philadelphia "to the ranks of the great cities of the world." Among art lovers and tourists, Rendell said, Philadelphia will become "a must-see" city. The Barnes’ collection consists of 181 Renoirs, 61 Cézannes, 60 Matisses and a multitude of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, African and African American art and artifacts.

State of Center City Report: Good News

The annual report issued by the Center City District about the state of Center City presents a number of interesting findings, such as:

• The City lost only 217 jobs from 2004 to 2005, compared to a 9,100 reduction from 2000 to 2004. The year 2000 was the last time the City achieved employment growth.

• The City's business privilege tax adds a cost of $4.76 per sq. ft. to businesses located in the City compared to businesses in a suburb. A 100,000 square foot tenant with 400 employees would save $476,000 per year by moving to the suburbs. We'll need to work on this.

• The City's residential boom continues to have a powerful effect on the City, as 1,966 housing units were added in 2005. Since a 10-year tax abatement (thanks Councilman DiCicco) was implemented in 1997, 8,356 new units have been constructed. Wow.

• Center City, with 3 percent of the City's land, provides 47 percent of private sector wages. When University City is factored in, that number comes to 57 percent of all wages earned in the City. So much for the "Center City vs. the Neighborhoods" formulation. Center City is the economic engine that drives Philadelphia.

CHOP Expands at Wanamaker Building

According to the Center City District, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia ("CHOP") will occupy more than 175,000 sq. ft. of office space in the Wanamaker Building. This move is noteworthy in that a hospital - to free up space for medical use in University City - has concentrated its major administrative and business functions in Center City.

More Center City Residential: Not Condos this Time

Seven floors of Class C office space at 1530 Chestnut Street - above clothing retailer H&M - will be converted into 40 “middle-market” apartment units, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Mugshots and Mural Arts

Come to Mugshots in Fairmount to hear from Mural Arts Program Director Jane Golden and see a brief screening of a documentary-in-progress about the Mural Arts Program's work with incarcerated men at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford and a silent auction of mural photographs. The special guest - Bernard Hopkins, former USBA Middleweight Title Champ - will discuss his own incarceration at Graterford prior to his hugely successful boxing career and talk about rehabilitation and redemption.

Host: Mugshots Coffee House & The Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates
Location: Mugshots Coffee House - 21st & Fairmount Streets, Philadelphia
When: Wednesday, March 29, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Phone: To purchase tickets, please call Jenn McCreary, Mural Arts Program Special Event Coordinator at 215-888-9116
Cost: $25 per person

Friday Agriculture Factoid

Domestic honey bees help farmers pollinate crops. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, pollination from Pennsylvania honey bees can be directly attributed to the production of over $50 million dollars of fruits and vegetables in the Commonwealth annually. PA is home to 1,870 registered beekeepers. Thank you beekeepers and bees!

Meeting Planners Like Philadelphia

Attendees at the Professional Convention Management Association’s 50th annual meeting - held last January in Philadelphia - had positive impressions of our City, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). The next issue of Convene magazine will reveal that 77% of attendees said they would consider hosting a meeting in Philadelphia. Ninety-three percent would recommend Philadelphia as a meeting location and 99% said their Philadelphia experience was enjoyable.

Councilman Nutter Meet & Greet

There's a free meet & greet at Ten Stone, Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 to 8:30. Come out and say hello to Councilman Nutter, meet his friends and supporters, and have a good time. Ten Stone is located on the corner of 21st and South Street.

Contact eryn@nutter2007.com to RSVP.

Philadelphia is a Bubble Blower

Philadelphia is the only northeastern city among 10 “bubble blowers” or cities where housing appreciation is expected to grow, according to Bankrate.com. A recent survey by Bankrate.com indentifies a 12% increase in real estate appreciation in Philadelphia between 2004 and 2005, which they characterize as “high enough to encourage people to buy homes, but not at such a dizzying rate as to spark panic purchases.” Further, “The housing-cost-to-income ratio at 31% is quite favorable compared to other large northeastern cities (53% in Washington, D.C. and Newark, N.J. and 72% in New York City) and while job growth is small, it’s moving in the right direction,” Banknote reported.

Actor Charlie Sheen Questions Official 9/11 Story

Here's the text...wow!

Smoking Ban Bill: Another Try

From my friends at the Nutter campaign:

The Smoking-Ban Bill will be discussed in a public hearing on Monday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall's Room 400. If you would like to testify or attend, please contact eryn@nutter2007.com for more information.

Philadelphia: International Travelers Like Us

Philadelphia hosted 430,000 international visitors in 2005 - an increase from 2004 - according to speakers at a recent forum on international travel hosted by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

More Condos: This Time in Spring Garden

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 500-foot condominium tower on the site of the Best Western Motel at 22d and Spring Garden Streets is in the works. The tower would be 47 stories tall and include 274 units.

Random Agriculatural Factoid

Yesterday was National Agriculture Day, did you hug a farmer? Each U.S. farmer produces food and fiber for 146 people around the globe and Pennsylvania farmers generate $4.9 billion in cash receipts and $44 billion in total economic impact.

I'm Pissed about this Waterless Urinals Issue

Dan at Young Philly Politics and ACM at A Smoke Filled Room have both posted about Inga Saffron’s article in the Inquirer this weekend about the Plumbers' Union and their opposition to “waterless urinals” being installed at the Comcast Center being built at 17th and JFK. Waterless urinals - as the name suggests - use a lot less H2O than the standard type. They're also less labor intensive to install (less labor = fewer plumbers). The short-term implication of this obdurate behavior – if effective - is that the building couldn’t apply for tallest “green building” in America status; the long-term impact could be the thwarting of a broad range of water conservation efforts and millions (maybe billions?) in extra costs for the City’s water utility and customers.

What can we do? I’m not sure. It seems like this is one of those defining policy crossroads that we in Philadelphia so often find ourselves at; are we going to move forward, or are we going to stagnate and let the dinosaurs drag us back? I’d prefer progress and I suspect many others would as well. Maybe if enough of us contact the Department of Licenses and Inspection’s Commissioner – Robert Solvibile at robert.solvibile@phila.gov we can get the City to move this in the right direction. I sympathize with the Plumbers' Union. I know they want to maintain as many jobs as they can; however, the cooper and farrier had to deal with technological progress at some point (not as many barrels to be made or horses to shoe as there used to be) and so will the plumber.

More Condos

When construction was completed in September 2000 on Dockside - a $75 million high-end apartment complex on Pier 30 in Philadelphia - the project was the first residential development of its type along the Delaware River. Six years later, with waterfront living in demand and low interest rates, 242 apartments at Dockside are being converted into condos ranging from the low $300,000s for a studio to $1.3 million for the larger, 1,800-square-foot units.

McClure to Run for 4th District Council Seat?

Matt McClure - an attorney for Ballard Spahr – is apparently exploring the possibility of running for the Fourth District Council seat should Councilman Nutter step down to run for Mayor. Prior to working at Ballard, McClure handled media relations for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and worked in the office of then Mayor Rendell. Matt is a fourth generation Philadelphian who has been very active in his community. He’s a committeeperson in the Thirty-Eighth Ward, on the East Falls Development Corporation Board of Directors, and serves on the East Falls School Committee. Reliable sources from tell AHT that Matt’s been meeting with a variety of political types (including former executives from Rendell’s mayoral administration) and community leaders, talking about his potential candidacy, learning what the Fourth District wants/needs, and building support. McClure was recently named one of the "40 under 40" young business leaders by the Philadelphia Business Journal for 2006.

Shame Of The City: The 2003 Mayoral Election

On Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 at the Pen & Pencil Club, Producer/Director Tigre Hill will give folks a sneak peek of his film "The Shame of a City", a documentary about the 2003 Philadelphia Mayor's race. Mr. Hill will present a 15-minute sneak preview of the film and answer questions about its making. The film will make its debut at The Philadelphia Film Festival on March 31.

AHT Vocab Builder: Panamax

According to Wikipedia, "Ships classified as Panamax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the locks of the Panama Canal. This size is determined by the dimensions of the lock chambers, and the depth of the water in the canal. Panamax is a significant factor in the design of cargo ships, with many ships being built to exactly the maximum allowable size."

Friday Agriculture Factoid

According to the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture, almost 60% of the Commonwealth is forested. We lead the nation in hardwood lumber with over $5 billion in sales and exported more than $910 million in hardwood logs, lumber, furniture and paper in 2005.

Temple Law's Student Public Interest Network (“SPIN”)

This is an organization at Temple Law that supports students who volunteer for summer public interest jobs. SPIN was formed in 1992 after a second-year Temple Law student had to turn down a summer public interest job because they were unable to pay him. Ever since, SPIN has worked to ensure that students would not have to pass up an opportunity to do valuable work and to gain the rich experience it offers. Since inception, SPIN has raised almost $200,000, which has been directed to grants for students working for non-profit legal organizations during the summer. The funds are raised through the efforts of Temple Law students in a series of events that culminate with the annual auction. For more information, please contact spin@temple.edu or see their website.

Strong 2006 Start for Center City Hotels

According to Smith Travel Research, Center City hotels achieved 61.4% occupancy in January, up 5.1% from 2005. Center City did better than the rest of the region's hospitality industry, which recorded an overall 5.1% drop in occupancy, driven mostly by a 22.5% drop for airport-area hotels. RevPAR (e.g., revenue-per-available-room) was up 14.6% for Center City hotels.

Alternative Energy Industry Expands in the Commonwealth

Spanish company Gamesa has announced that it will construct three new factories in Bucks County, costing $34 million. Gamesa makes wind turbines that generate electricity. The Bucks County plants – situated on 20 acres of former U.S. Steel Corp property – will open by mid-2006 and employ 300. Gamesa has already invested $40 million to open its North American headquarters in Philadelphia and construct a facility in Cambria County. The Bucks County plants will make blades and towers for wind turbines.

Major Latino Conference Coming

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will hold its 27th annual convention in Philadelphia this September. It is likely to be the “the biggest Hispanic business event in the history of this country" according to the Chamber with up to 5,000 attendees expected.

The Mariano Trial

If you want to follow the blow-by-blow, check out this blog.

Rohm & Haas will Remain on Independence Mall

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rohm & Haas - after considering office space west of City Hall - has decided to remain in its world headquarters on Independence Mall and renovate the building's interior, which will cost $20 to $25 million. It's the first major renovation for the nine-story building since construction in the mid-1960s. Rohm & Haas, a specialty chemicals company, has 1,000 employees working in the building. Overall, Rohm and Haas does $8 billion in annual sales and has 17,000 employees and facilities in 27 countries.

PhillyCarShare Expands Its Offerings

Reduce auto-dependency, congestion, and pollution, and look chic and stylish while doing so.

PhillyCarShare is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization dedicated to reducing automobile dependency in the Philadelphia region through community-based car sharing – improving neighborhood livability; increasing transit ridership, walking, and biking; improving air quality; promoting economic development; mitigating development; mitigating parking demand; and increasing accessibility while alleviating the burdens of auto ownership.

Philadelphia International Airport Sets Records

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia International Airport (“PIA”) set "personal" records in 2005 for passengers and takeoffs & landings. PIA handled 535,666 takeoffs and landings in 2005, making it the world's ninth-busiest, compared with 486,164, or 13th busiest in 2004. With 31.5 million passengers getting on or off planes, PIA ranked 21st busiest on the planet in 2005, compared with a 25th-place in 2004. The surge in traffic is attributable to the continuing growth of two low-cost carriers, Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways and a big increase in flights and passengers for US Airways Express, the commuter service of PIA’s largest airline.

Some of the Best Coffee? It’s Here

Food & Wine Magazine - in its March issue – identifies La Colombe (130 S. 19th St.) as one of the top five coffee shops in the nation. The coffee is now served and sold at more than 1,200 restaurants and markets in 25 states.

Sweet!

According to the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture, our state is fifth in the nation for maple syrup production. Producers tapped 428,000 trees and extracted 61,000 gallons of syrup in 2005. Also, it requires approximately 40 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup and the collection season lasts approximately 24 - 30 days.

Councilman Nutter Meet & Greet Tomorrow (FREE EVENT)

Come meet and talk with Councilman Michael Nutter tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 21st, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at the new Barristers Bar & Grille, at 1823 Sansom Street. Complimentary snacks and drink specials will be available.

SRC Approves New Regional Policy

The School Reform Commission ("SRC") has approved a significant change to school entrance policy. Traditionally, children within the immediate catchment area of a school have received priority and thereafter, any available openings allocated on a Citywide basis. The new policy reaffirms the right of parents to send their children to their neighborhood school if they live within the catchment area, but now gives second priority to families living within a newly created "Center City Academic Region". The new Center City academic region includes all downtown neighborhoods, plus several adjacent communities in North and South Philadelphia. The new policy, promoted by the Center City District as part of the Center City Schools Initiative, will take effect immediately and will be implemented in all other academic regions in the City. The goal of this new policy is to strengthen neighborhood schools by enhancing the bonds between community and school, to improve educational choices for all families, and to encourage more middle-class families to use and support Philadelphia’s public schools.

Friday Pennsylvania Agriculture Factoid

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Commonwealth leads the nation in food manufacturing, Pennsylvania's number one export. The state's processing industry exports more than $1 billion annually and is home to approximately 2,300 food processors, including brands like Heinz, Hershey's and Welch's.

The Ten-Year Tax Abatement: Another Perspective

A recent article in the Daily News asks Philadelphia to “[c]onsider the ten-year tax abatement as a long-term investment in the city's future that already is turning a profit.” As an example, the article presents the 940-unit Waterfront Square development on Columbus Boulevard at Penn Street as exhibit “A”. The complex will fill 10 acres that lay vacant for many years before a group of developers put a plan into action. Based on a projection of $600 million in construction costs, the developer approximates that the five-tower development will generate around $12 million in wage taxes and $12 million in real-estate transfer tax on the sales. There's also the additional wage and sales taxes that will be paid by the estimated 60 percent of the buyers moving to Philadelphia from outside the City. The developer projects another $10 million a year in transfer tax on future sales within the development. Finally, 11 years from now – after the 10-year abatement has ended – as the first of these condos become subject to the full property tax, their value will be substantially higher than it is today.

Now, multiply that by the 7,000 to 9,000 new units planned for in greater Center City and elsewhere in the City. Quite an impact. This is not to say the tax abatement shouldn't be adjusted down the road; however, we shouldn’t move too hastily to eliminate a mechanism that has promoted explosive new home construction and generated significant amounts of revenue, notwithstanding temporarily forgone property tax revenue.

Convention Center Lands Big Conference for 2013

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Narcotics Anonymous World Services (“NAWS”) today announced its biennial conference would be coming to Philadelphia in 2013. This makes NAWS the first group to sign a contract with the Convention Center subsequent to a big sales push the City advanced during last month's Professional Convention Management Association meeting.

The organization – an association for recovering drug addicts - expects to draw about 30,000 people over the Labor Day weekend, a time when the Convention Center is typically empty. The group is expected to use more than 14,000 hotel room nights (a room night is one room occupied for one night) over four days. Important factors in their decision were the improved management of the Convention Center – under the strong leadership of Councilman Michael Nutter – and the plans for expansion.

Rendell Leads Swann in Quinnipiac University Poll

Democratic incumbent Governor Ed Rendell begins his 2006 reelection campaign with a 48 - 36 percent lead over inexperienced, unqualified Lynn Swann, the leading Republican challenger in Pennsylvania, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Corruption Costs us All

According to KYW, The Street Administration's legal bills stemming from the federal investigation of City Hall have cost taxpayers $4 million. The City Solicitor says that spending should be tapering off, but that seems like an overly optimistic prediction given the US Attorney's statements about the potential length and breadth of the investigation.

Philadelphia to Purchase More Hybrids and Alt. Fuel Vehicles?

Thanks Councilman Kenney!

In compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, Act 93, 1998, the Committee on Appropriations of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

051139 - An Ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by providing for a price preference for hybrid-electric or alternative fuel vehicles when the City purchases vehicles, and by making technical amendments; all under certain terms and conditions.

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Appropriations, open to the public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed item.

Copies of the foregoing item are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.

Good News for Detroit!

It's not Philadelphia, but I was happy to see this piece of good news for one of America's most beleaguered cities: for the first time in more than two decades, Detroit recorded more new residential units than any other community in the seven-county Detroit metro area. Yea Detroit!!

University City Economic News: Science Center to Grow

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Science Center in University City is advancing a major $600 million development plan that would add 1.85 million sq. ft. of space and more than double the amount of space it currently maintains. The plan aims to establish the Science Center as a premier urban, East Coast research park that can accommodate and cater to start-up bio-tech, high-tech and other nascent companies and provide an environment conducive to growth and sustainability. The Center currently maintains 1.7 million sq. ft. of space in 13 buildings near Market Street in University City. In all, the master plan proposes six new buildings, with retail, parking, and residential components in addition to lab and office facilities. Roughly 80 percent of the six proposed buildings will be finished by 2010.

Friday Agriculture Factoid

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, there are more than 152 confectionaries in PA - including Hershey's - the world's largest chocolate company. There are more than 25 chocolate and candy manufacturers in the PA Preferred Program.

Don't Sweat It, Ok Sweat It

Coming from a rare, "heard on the street" tip to AHT, we've learned that the former YMCA on the 1400 block of Arch Street will become another outpost of the burgeoning SWEAT gym empire. Thanks to MB for the heads up.

Help Needed for Olympic Survey

The Philadelphia Business Journal (“PBJ”) is conducting a survey to see if "Philadelphia should try to get the Olympics." Please confirm your support of the effort by completing the survey and saying, "YES!" Their hope is that the PBJ survey provides results at least as positive as the Liberty Poll survey, which showed that 83% of regional citizens support the effort. Please, encourage anybody you know to take the survey.

2005 Good Year for Center City Hotels

Center City hotels reported a 2005 occupancy rate of 73.1%, up 3.2% from last year, according to Smith Travel Research. The average room rate was up 9% to $143.59 and RevPAR (room revenue per available room) was up 12.5%. These excellent results are fueling approximately $50 million in renovations and improvements to Center City hotels, such as: a new 19th-floor restaurant at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue and high-speed Internet/wireless service and redecorated rooms at the Four Seasons Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Convention Business Doing Well

According to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau , the two hundred seventy-four meetings and conventions scheduled for 2006 are expected to generate approximately $700 million in economic impact.

Some of the major conventions this year include the Buyers Market of American Craft (Feb. 16-20); American College of Physicians (April 6-8); AIIM On Demand (May 15-18); Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (July 28-Aug. 4); Ace Hardware Company (Oct. 5-8); American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology (Nov. 5-8) and the Modern Language Association (Dec. 27-30).