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).

Philadelphia Relocation for Ad Firm a Success

A year and a half ago, LevLane relocated from City Avenue in Lower Merion to the Wanamaker Building, across the street from Philadelphia City Hall. Since then, it has expanded and diversified its client base. "We never changed our philosophy, moving into the city…helps us effect change," said Bruce Lev, a founding partner of the firm. "Out on City Avenue, I don't think we could do that." Further, David Lane, president of LevLane, added, "When we did [move], we didn't lose a single staffer. We even had people who sold their houses and moved into the city. It's energizing." LevLane is the City's 12th-largest ad agency, with income of $3 million and 30 employees, see the Philadelphia Business Journal for more.

Rendell is Doing Well

The Republicans are going to have a difficult time convincing voters that their candidate can run the State’s bureaucracy more efficiently than Rendell. During the last three years, the Rendell Administration has implemented smart and efficient business practices - including a reduction in the state workforce of 4,000 employees - that, at the end of this year, will total $1 billion in savings for Pennsylvania taxpayers.

New Avenue of the Arts Venue Planned

The University of the Arts ("UArts") plans to construct a $7.5 million, 22,000 square-foot "Skyline Performing Arts Center" on the 16th and 17th floors of their building at the corner of South Broad and Walnut Streets. The facility will be Philadelphia's only performing and visual arts center with a skyline view. Also planned are two exhibition galleries and visual art display spaces, a cafe, and box office.

The Bush Propaganda Machine

According to Harper's Magazine, James E. Hansen - a director at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies - said that NASA had ordered its public-affairs staff to review and possibly censor his upcoming speeches and papers after he called for reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions.

Two Philadelphia Business Schools Do Well In Rankings

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Penn's Wharton School of Business topped the Financial Times' list of global full-time MBA programs. Wharton, which shared the top honors with some Ivy League School in the Boston area last year, pulled ahead this year because salaries reported by alumni were higher than the salaries reported by alumni of that other school.

Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management was the only other Philadelphia-area MBA program to make the list. It tied with Rice University's business school for No. 67, up from No. 74 a year ago. Fox wasn't ranked two years ago.

An Independent Ethics Board: Coming Soon?

Question that will be on the May 16 Primary Ballot:

"Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation, appointment, powers, duties and annual funding of an independent Board of Ethics which shall administer and enforce all ordinances pertaining to ethics?"

Quick Overview:

The current Ethics Board, created on August 12, 2004, operates within the office of the Mayor with all members appointed by the Mayor; not exactly an independent body. Constituting an independent Board would mean a more genuine independence from the executive and legislative branches. If passed in May, an independent and empowered Board of Ethics would help encourage and enforce higher ethical standards for all City officials.

Green Power!

According to PennFuture, the Air Force and Whole Foods Market are leaders on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's list of the leading purchasers of green power in 2005. The Air Force purchased 321 megawatts of power from renewable energy sources last year and made over 40% of all federal purchases of green energy in fiscal year 2004. Dyess Air Force Base in Texas is 100% powered by renewable energy. Whole Foods Market purchased over 20% of its national electricity needs from green energy sources and some of their stores are 100 percent green-powered. Five stores in California and New Jersey have solar panels to generate electricity on-site. The University of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also finished in the top 25 on this list.

PA's Agriculture Industry: There's a lot of it

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Commonwealth contains more than 58,000 farms covering 7.7 million acres, a quarter of the state's total acreage. These farms are diverse in size and output, averaging 133 acres, and producing everything from mushrooms to Christmas trees to milk.

Something for the Commonwealth to Consider?

In Maine, there's a new law requiring manufacturers of televisions, computers and appliances, to pay the cost of sorting and recycling the products they sell. The management of discarded electronic equipment ("e-waste") - which contain toxic materials and are costly to recycle - is a growing problem across the nation. This law, the first of its kind in the United States, is designed to encourage companies to build products that are easier to recycle.

New York Discounter Coming to Chestnut Street

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Loehmann’s, the popular discount designer clothing chain, has leased the vacant Today’s Man location on the 1500 block of Chestnut. The 10-year deal is worth $5 million. This is good, as the occupancy deal fills the last large retail vacancy on Chestnut west of Broad.

Ex-Mayor on Trial for Corruption

The former Mayor treated city contractors like "human ATMs," taking tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts in exchange for favors, prosecutors told jurors in opening statements at his federal corruption trial. The former Mayor’s attorneys countered that he would never have abused his elected position because of his lifelong dedication to civil rights and public service. The former Mayor is charged with racketeering, bribery and fraud. The indictments against the former Mayor were the result of a seven-year federal probe that led to the convictions of 10 city officials or contractors. Some are expected to testify against him. The prosecutors made the case that - while in office for two terms – the former Mayor and his associates made it clear to contractors that they had to "pay to play."

No, this isn’t a fictional piece, it’s a report about what’s happening to Atlanta’s former Mayor Bill Campbell (with a few details left out), now that he’s left office.

Lynn Swann will Revert Back to an Ugly Ducking on the Campaign Trail

One of the reasons why Lynn Swann’s candidacy for governor will ultimately implode (either during the primary or general) – aside from the fact that he’s got no government experience and doesn’t have the expertise to run the Commonwealth – is that things in Pennsylvania are going along quite nicely and the state government is being well run.

For instance, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate dipped last month and its non-farm job count rose for a 10th straight month, according to the state's Department of Labor & Industry. Seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs increased by 300 - the smallest month-to-month gain over 10 months - to push the state's job count to 5,730,300. Over the year, total non-farm jobs increased by 64,400, or 1.1 percent, just under the national growth rate of 1.5 percent. The state's unemployment rate dipped from 5.1 percent to 4.9 percent last month, matching the national rate. In December 2004, the state's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent. The number of people working or looking for work fell by 4,000 last month to 6,306,000, which is 20,000 below the December 2004 level.

Trump Coming to the Waterfront

According to the Inquirer, Donald Trump plans to build a 45-story luxury condominium building along the Delaware River, to be called “Trump Tower Philadelphia”. The $190 million project will consist of at least 250 units on Penn Street near the foot of Spring Garden Street, with construction to begin this summer and completion expected in mid-2008. This will be a "first-class" complex with landscaped gardens, spa, five-star restaurant, wine cellar, health/fitness club, recreation rooms, and an outdoor deck.

AHT staffers will likely not be able to afford a unit.

More Center City Condos

Hovnanian Homes plans to start construction and sales in March on a residential conversion to be called "The Residences at 1401 Walnut". The converion will produce 36 one and two-bedroom units, with prices somewhere in the low $500s.

Philadelphia Cruise Business Continues Growth

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, 36 cruise lines will depart from Philadelphia in 2006, with an economic impact of over $44 million, an increase from less than $2 million in 2002. The Delaware River Port Authority ("DRPA") has invested heavily in improvements to the cruise terminal at the Navy Yard and marketing for "CruisePhilly", which also includes hotel and restaurant packages.

A Right Winger for Gay Marriage

Because this was such an interesting perspective on gay marriage from an unlikely supporter, AHT decided to share the entire piece:

Pro-Bush, pro-equality Wisconsin resident and former Massachusetts lawmaker Bob Hall is a conservative Republican who wants everyone to know that the only people who threaten traditional marriage are straight couples.

By Bob Hall

An Advocate.com exclusive posted, January 17, 2006

I’m opposed to the state constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage now being considered by the Wisconsin legislature. Oh, I know I’m an unlikely champion of gay rights. I’m a Marine Corps Vietnam vet who has deep regrets about that war—mostly I regret that we didn’t kill twice as many of those murdering totalitarian bastards. I hope we do better in Iraq. I believe the “out now” crowd are racists who think the Iraqis are too inferior to deserve democracy. Or they don’t care, as long as America is defeated and George Bush embarrassed.

I worked hard to defeat John Kerry last November and will do so again if he runs. And I’m a death penalty advocate who thinks we should run it like a barbershop—two chairs, no waiting.

As a member of the Massachusetts state senate, I regularly voted against increasing the state budget—more than any other senator. And don’t get me started on guns. I’m not for mandatory concealed carry, but I do think fondly of how polite folks were in the days when gentlemen wore swords.

Living in Madison, Wis., I feel a certain kinship with the Israeli ambassador to Baghdad. While I think of myself as a centrist Republican with a libertarian bent, to the average Progressive Dane voter, I’m a fascist pig.

So how did I become a supporter of gay rights? In 1973 then–Massachusetts state representative Barney Frank had filed bills prohibiting employment and housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The bills came before a committee on which I served. There were a lot of jokes and nudging going on—this was the early ’70s. Appearing to testify was a bright and charming woman, Elaine Noble, who would later serve as a state representative herself. Elaine convinced me that supporting Barney’s bills was the right thing to do. I told the chair, Sen. Allen McKinnon, to record me in favor of them.

The bills received a favorable report—but no one in the committee’s Democratic majority was willing to carry (be floor manager) for them. So I volunteered.

The Republican floor leader had a minor stroke when he learned I was carrying gay rights bills. He had only seven Republicans out of 40 senators. I was 27, single, and holding a seat I’d won by nine votes out of 60,000 cast. The common wisdom was that I was a one-term wonder who caught the incumbent senator vulnerable but couldn’t be reelected.

I suspect that I may have been the first legislator in the country to speak for gay rights on the floor of a state legislature. McKinnon spoke for the bills after me. On the roll call, only six senators voted in favor—McKinnon, four other Democrats, and myself. And the bills were dead that year.

But I won the next election by 10,000 votes, carrying every city and town in my working-class Democratic district. More legislators decided that supporting antidiscrimination measures was a safe thing to do. Today, it’s the law in Massachusetts—which strangely doesn’t seem to have collapsed because of it or because of the gay marriage decision there last year.

Trust me, no true heterosexual wakes up and thinks, Hey, I’m really angry with my partner. I think I’ll try dating someone from my own gender from now on. So who has destroyed traditional marriage in America?

How about men—and increasingly women—abusing their spouses? How about the heterosexual trend toward infidelity, led by the example of our highest elected leaders? How about men fathering and then abandoning children to poverty and state support? How about a large number of straight people deciding serial marriage and divorce is a cool lifestyle?

Doing something about those trends would really protect marriage.

The anti–same-sex-marriage amendment isn’t going to help my marriage by so much as a red whisker. If you think it will protect your marriage or any marriage, that marriage is already shot.

SDP Building Receives Honors

The reburbishment of the Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News’ old plant in North Philadelphia as the new headquarters for the School District of Philadelphia ("SDP") at 440 N. Broad St. received a 2005 Award of Merit from Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine. Said the magazine, “[t]he transformation of the once-dreary eyesore is considered an important step in the ongoing revitalization of the entire area.” AHT has visited the new headquarters; it's beautiful inside, with professionally placed student art on nearly every wall.

I'm Worried About the Groundhog

If you haven't done so, check out the Commonwealth's promotional website for Groundhog day. Very entertaining.

November Good Month for Center City Hotels

According to Smith Travel Reserach, Center City hotels experienced a 7.7 percent occupancy increase to 76.7 percent in November 2005, compared to 2004. The average room rate was up 16.5 percent and RevPAR - room revenue per available room - was up 25.4 percent.

Pennsylvania's Alt. Fuel Industry Expands

According to PennFuture, Pennsylvania will soon host its sixth utility-scale wind farm. Community Energy, Inc. is developing a new 12-turbine wind farm currently under construction in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania, just 10 miles southeast of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County. After completion in the Spring of 2006, the Bear Creek project will include 12 Gamesa two MW wind turbines, each standing nearly 400 feet tall. The project will produce enough energy to power approximately 8,500 homes.

Brandywine Realty Trust

Brandywine Realty Trust has completed its acquisition of the Dallas-based Prentiss Properties Trust, making it one of the top five office landlords in the nation. With the acquisition - Brandywine - already the largest office landlord in the Philadelphia region, currently owns property in Texas, Washington, and California.

Boyd Theater Update

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Live Nation, a new company spun off from Clear Channel Communications' concert division and now the biggest concert promotion outfit on the planet, will renovate then begin operating the Boyd Theater sometime in 2007.

Montana Comes to Pennsylvania

"Ted's Montana Grill" - that's Ted Turner - has arrived in Philadelphia. The new restaurant on Broad Street is the first in the Commonwealth for Turner and his business partner who have opened over 40 chain locations in 15 states. The chain features American foods in a setting meant to remind you of turn-of-the-century Montana. In case you didn't know, Philadelphia City Council proclaimed Jan. 5th as "Ted's Montana Grill Day"in Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in North America. This year, the eight-day event will host around 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibitors. AHT will be going to Harrisburg this Saturday to check it out.

Recycling saves the Commonwealth Serious Money

Pennsylvania saved an estimated $372 million in 2004 through recycling. The economic benefits of recycling were estimated at over $113 million in materials collected and more than $259 million in avoided disposal costs according to Governor Ed Rendell. A record 4.8 million tons of waste was recycled in 2004, the last year for which data is available. Locally, the Philadelphia Streets Department continues to drag its feet on recycling, having not filled the Recycling Coordinator position for over four months and not committing to expansion of the immensely successful RecycleBank pilot project.

Mariano & Dougherty: Puppet and Master?

According to a December 25, 2005 Inquirer piece (authored by staff writers John Shiffman and Michael Currie Schaffer), recently indicted Councilman Rick Mariano and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) leader John Dougherty had an “interesting” relationship. A couple of the aspects of this relationship – according to FBI documents – are as follows:

• Councilman Mariano didn’t even hire his own chief-of-staff, a political operative for “Johnny Doc’s” electricians' union (Local 98) took care of it. Amazingly - according to FBI documents – the indicted Councilman met his new top aide when his chief-of-staff reported for his first day of work.
• Another Mariano aide told the FBI that he regularly briefed Johnny Doc "on all legislative, political and administrative activities that were going on within Mariano's office." "Whatever we know...is passed to Dougherty," the aide told agents.

According to campaign finance records, Local 98’s political action committee has been Mariano's largest contributor; Mariano's campaign has received $452,000 since 1998 - a third of all money raised and nine times the amount from the next largest contributor, Mayor Street's campaign fund.

Many speculate that Dougherty is interested in a run for Mayor in 2007, but – if the FBI’s characterization of this relationship with Mariano is accurate – he’ll be running, but only from his record. The drumbeat for a more ethical and effective government will only get louder as the Mayoral election approaches and it appears as though Mr. Dougherty is marching to a different beat.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from the staff at AHT. This photo was taken during the summer at Rickett's Glen State Park in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It's a reminder that some of the most beautiful things (and people) are very close by.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Industry: More Random Facts - Holiday Edition

As AHT readers already know, Pennsylvania leads the nation in terms of Christmas farms; here's some more interesting, related info. According to the Pennsylvania State Data Center, the Commonwealth ranked fourth in number of acres devoted to Christmas tree ("holiday tree" if you're waging a war on Christmas) production (44,905) and fourth (1,724,419) in the number of trees harvested in 2002. Berks County hosted the most Christmas tree farms in Pennsylvania (114), while Schuylkill County had the largest acreage (4,064) devoted to Christmas tree production. The Christmas tree's little sister - the poinsettia - is also a significant part of our agriculture economy. There were 140 poinsettia producers in Pennsylvania in 2004, many more than our closest competitor, New York (104). The Commonwealth ranked sixth in the nation in both production of potted poinsettias ($3.7 million) and value of sales ($13.5 million wholesale) in 2004.

Why People Choose to Live Where they Do

The Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project (MPIP") surveyed 1,000 residents from the Philadelphia region to ask them what factors they considered when deciding where to live. Results from the 2004 survey are presented in this chart. For individuals (as opposed to businesses), it’s apparent that taxes are not a primary factor driving relocation decisions. Rather, safety, value of the housing dollar, and school quality are factors given the greatest weight. But maybe that's too simplified. Maybe individuals articulate their primary motivations for living in one place or another differently than businesses, but are essentially expressing the same concerns; people - like businesses - place a great importance on getting value for their money or retaining wealth. For individuals, considerations are broader - they want schools, safety, quality of life, etc. Businesses, while their constituent workers may value the things that individuals do, are more narrowly focused on profits and the bottom line. So, I wouldn't conclude that taxes aren't important to individuals, the concern about value just manifests itself differently than in businesses. In the end, the concerns of businesses and individuals meld together; we as a City need to think about ways to create incentives for both to stay in Philadelphia, whether it be through targeted tax reductions/reform or enhanced services. The MPIP is administered by Temple University.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Industry Leadership: Philadelphia Grown

Candace Moore, a 2005 graduate of Saul High School, was elected president of Pa.FFA (formerly the Pennsylvania chapter of Future Farmers of America). She is the first African-American female to serve as president of the 8,000-member organization. Candace has deferred her college career for a year as she represents Pa.FFA as its leader. Saul is Philadelphia's unique and successful agricultural high school. The photo above is of Saul's expansive campus in the Upper Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

This is Just Cool

Thanks to Philadelphia Forward, anybody with Internet access can text message their Councilperson; talk about direct democracy.

More Random Facts About the Commonwealth's Agriculture Industry

According to the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is the number one state in the nation for Christmas tree farms, with 2,164. In 2003, approximately 723,000 trees were sold, generating $13.9 million in profit, ranking PA fourth in the country for revenue related to Christmas tree sales. Actually, Indiana County is often referred to as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World."

Giving the Gift of Mean this Holiday Season

Representative Scott Boyd (R – Lancaster) is drafting an amendment to the Pennsylvania State Constitution that would deny gay/lesbian families legal recognition. Four other representatives have already signed on to this proposal called the “Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment”. On December 6, the Pennsylvania Family Institute sent an email urging their members to contact state legislators to support this amendment. If you’re not a homophobe, please contact your state representative and ask them to actively oppose this mean-spirited legislative initiative. By the way, homophobes in the legislature have already established in Pennsylvania law a prohibition against gay/lesbian marriage; this amendment is not necessary, and is only designed to add insult to injury.

If you’re heterosexual, the “Marriage Protection Amendment” would affect your family as well – not just families with same-sex partners. For example:

• In Ohio, courts have ruled that unmarried people, including unmarried heterosexual couples, may not seek protection from abuse orders.
  
• In Michigan, groups are challenging domestic partner benefits for employees.
  
• Virginia’s recently enacted amendment is so broad that it may interfere with the rights of all Virginians to create wills, medical directives, powers of attorney, child custody and property arrangements, and even joint bank accounts.

Robert Reich: How Unequal Can America Get Before We Snap?

Robert Reich was the 22nd Secretary of Labor. During his tenure, he implemented the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), advocated against sweatshops in the U.S. and illegal child labor abroad, and spearheaded the Clinton administration’s successful effort to increase the minimum wage, among many successful initiatives. I’ve become a fan of his NPR spots and also just listened to a lecture he gave in Berkley entitled “How Unequal Can America Get Before We Snap”, which I recommend.

Pennslvania Agriculture Industry: Blue Chippers

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Commowealth chipmakers Utz Quality Foods and Herr Foods are leaders in the Baltimore/Washington and Philadelphia markets, respectively. According to recent analyses of supermarket sales, totals for both companies ranked #1 in each market over the national leader, Frito-Lay.

BPT and the Chamber: Let's Seek Quid Pro Quo

Why not ask the Chamber of Commerce - as the organization ostensibly representing Philadelphia-area businesses - to put their money where their mouth is in terms of the argument that Business Privilege Tax ("BPT") cuts translate into increased employment, business expansion, and economic opportunity. Let's ask them - in exchange for BPT reduction or elimination - to create a quantitative, measurable array of economic benefits (e.g., more jobs) for the City of Philadelphia. A continued program of tax reduction could be tied to the prior period's performance (three to five years?). If positive results were not achieved, there'd be no further tax cuts, if job creation goals were achieved, then the tax cutting program would continue. This concept would be an expansion of the more targeted job creation tax credit programs that Councilman Goode has championed. Could it work?

Thanks to A Smoke Filled Room for helping to refine this concept.

We Already Knew: Downtowns are Back

There’s a new report by the Brookings Institution that confirms what downtown boosters have known for years: downtowns are back – in a big way – as high-end residential and entertainment districts. The report also has some general advice for city leaders: it finds a “relationship between density and the ability to attract downtown residents.” The import of this finding is that cities should not build communities and housing that looks and feels suburban. That is, if people want suburban living, they’ll live there. Downtown residents are a different species; they want density, sidewalk dining, action, buses, culture, honking horns, and bikes on the sidewalk. In short, they want urban life.

Homegrown Energy Solutions from the Rendell Administration

Governor Rendell has been aggressive in developing homegrown energy solutions. His efforts include:

• The East Coast’s first commercially viable biofuels storage and blending system in Middletown, Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel and will keep about $6 million worth of energy dollars in the commonwealth by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.

• The nation’s first-ever waste-coal-to-diesel plant and creation of a fuel consortium that will purchase nearly all of the cheaper, cleaner, diesel fuel that will be produced at the Schuylkill County facility. The plant, which is being built by Waste Management and Processors Inc. of Gilberton, Schuylkill County, will use waste coal to produce as much as 40 million gallons of clean-burning diesel annually. Construction will create as many as 1,000 jobs. Operating the plant will produce another 600 permanent, high-paying, positions. The company expects to break ground and start construction as early as spring of 2006.

• The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program, which funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $10 million and leveraged another $26.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.

• The Renewable Agricultural Energy Council, which focuses on developing and expanding agricultural energy industries in Pennsylvania. Renewable agricultural energy has the potential to support and grow the agriculture industry by providing as many as 64,000 additional jobs. Renewable agricultural energy can help diversify agricultural activities and stimulate the growth of crops that strengthen the agriculture industry.

• Expansion of the state’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, which invests in enhancing the infrastructure necessary to expand the state’s capacity to produce alternative fuels. AFIG also helps residents purchase alternative-fuel vehicles and finances related fuel projects to create new markets that can have measurable impacts on pollution reduction, environmental protection and economic growth.