Philadelphia Daily Record

PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. I No. 119 Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia December 15, 2010

“PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN pressed to complete the Transcontinental Railway,” said Amtrak

High Speed VP Al Engel, speaking in Union League’s Lincoln Hall yesterday

evening. “I find it odd that some members of the ‘Party of Lincoln’ cannot see

completing a high-speed rail system for the Northeast Corridor is best for the

business community and our nation today.” Story page 2.

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2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 16 DECEMBER, 2010

AMTRAK’S envisioned Next Generation trains, traveling up to 220

mph, are a 30-year dream for United States – but a reality in all

other developed and developing countries.

PANELISTS at top-level business forum on high-speed rail were,

from left, Center City District President Paul Levy, Brickstone Re-

alty Managing Partner John Connors, Amtrak’s Al Engel, PenJerDel

Chairman James Carll and New York City’s Regional plan Associa-

tion head Robert Yaro.

High-Speed Rail NetworkCan Take City’s EconomyTo A Higher Level

16 DECEMBER, 2010 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3

by Tony West

Every other major nation in

the world has a high-speed

rail system. To get back in

the game, the best place for the

United States to start is in the

Northeast Corridor. Philadelphia

would be a hub for that system, and

the project could propel the re-

gion’s economy – and Center

City’s in particular – to astonishing

new heights.

That was the message of a forum at

the Union League last evening

staged by the Central Philadelphia

Development Corp. and the Pen-

JerDel Council. Called High-SpeedRail in the Northeast Corridor,Game Changer for Philadelphia?,it featured a presentation by Am-

trak’s deeply informed VP for

high-speed rail Al Engel.

Amtrak’s long-range plan for next-

generation, high-speed rail along

the Northeast Corridor will reduce

travel times from Philadelphia to

Manhattan to 38 minutes and to

just 60 minutes to Washington,

D.C., running up to four times an

hour. Preliminary plans provide for

a stop at the Philadelphia Interna-

tional Airport and in Center City at

the Market East Station.

Engel was the man who launched

the Acela service, which has

boosted ridership and revenues.

Still, it is a far cry from true high-

speed service. China, for instance,

already has 1,340 miles of train

lines that can cruise at 218 mph.

The rest of the world has decided

that for densely settled metropoli-

tan regions 500 miles across, high-

speed trains are superior to either

airplane or automobile systems for

passenger transportation.

Enter Amtrak’s “Next Generation”

program. It foresees investing $117

billion to build a network of dedi-

cated track in the Northeast – a re-

gion of 50 million people who

generate 20% of the nation’s GDP

– over the next 30 years.

That sounds like a lot. But it re-

quires only $4.7 billion a year, said

Engel. High-speed lines can gener-

ate a smart operating surplus to

help pay for construction. And the

other returns are enormous. He said

the cost-benefit estimate for the

project ratio is 2.27:1 – a payback

of $149 billion cascading onto a re-

gion at whose heart lies Philadel-

phia.

In other countries, high-speed

trains have transformed regional

economies. People travel more eas-

ily – and more. When the Madrid-

Seville line was built in Spain, for

example, 34% of the ridership was

“induced” – trips that never would

have been made by other means.

An explosion of travel would pump

up the city’s economy, argued Cen-

ter City District President Paul

Levy. “Think what that would

mean for our tourist industry,” he

pointed out. “Furthermore, with

those new travel times, the Philly-

to-Washington, Philly-to-New York

runs become like the Paoli Local.

We’d be within commuting range

of all these job markets.”

John Connors of Brickstone Realty

further noted wherever high-speed

lines are built, real-estate values

soar next to their stations. This vast

increase in wealth can be used to

pay in part for the costs of this

project.

The private sector must play a role

in developing high-speed rail, said

James Carll, president of Pen-

JerDel. “We have to stop seeing

rail service as a concern of envi-

ronmentalists. It has to be a central

concern of the business commu-

nity.” Carll called for inventive pri-

vate partnerships to help fund Next

Generation.

Still, he insisted, a large public

commitment, planning and invest-

ment will be essential. Carll urged

the region’s business leaders to

pressure State and federal govern-

ments to tackle the first great trans-

portation infrastructure adventure

since the Interstate highway system

was launched in the 1950s.

And it can be done politically, he

argued, even in an age when politi-

cians are leery of government

spending. “We have a dozen states

in the Northeast,” he noted. “That’s

a lot of Senators.”


Mayor Michael A. Nut-

ter and City Council

have reached an

agreement to work together to

improve the city’s business-tax

structure. Potential new legisla-

tion would address the ongoing

goals of improving Philadel-

phia’s economy, helping small

businesses and removing disin-

centives for locating businesses

in the city.

“We are marking a collaborative

effort with City Council. We

will create new legislation that

attracts new businesses and en-

trepreneurs to Philadelphia

while maintaining the tax rev-

enue the City needs to provide

services to our citizens,” said

the Mayor. “I would also like to

thank Councilwoman Quiñones

Sánchez and Councilman Bill

Green for their continued lead-

ership on this issue.”

Council President Anna C.

Verna said, “We have formed a

partnership with the Administra-

tion to work together and ad-

dress this very important issue.”

The Administration and Council

will work together to address

four major concerns identified

during the ongoing Council

hearings: helping small busi-

nesses; removing the disincen-

tive for businesses to locate

inside the city; advocating for

changes to State law to stream-

line the process of claiming de-

ductions from income earned

within Philadelphia; and identi-

fying the appropriate balance

between net income and gross

receipts reductions in any future

tax reduction proposal. The Ad-

ministration and Council will

maintain an ongoing dialogue as

potential new legislation is

drafted.

“We are excited about the op-

portunity to work collabora-

tively with the Administration

to reform Philadelphia’s current

business tax structure, which

puts our small and local busi-

nesses at a competitive disad-

vantage,” Quiñones Sánchez

remarked. “We are hopeful this

process will result in the change

the city so desperately needs,

and set us on a course toward

economic growth and job cre-

ation.”

“Let’s make it clear Philadel-

phia is open for business,” said

Green. He described five key

policy goals on which the

process will focus: “First, help

small businesses, which are the

engines of job growth in our

neighborhoods and 50,000 of

which would have no business

taxes under our proposal. Sec-

ond, achieve tax equity and fair-

ness, including by leveling the

playing field for local busi-

nesses and closing down tax-

avoidance loopholes. Third,

stop penalizing profitability, so

businesses will come to and stay

Mayor, Council Agree To WorkTogether On Business Taxes

in the city. Fourth, help our

lowest-margin businesses –

such as manufacturing – suc-

ceed and create family-sustain-

ing jobs. And fifth, shift the tax

burden off of city-based busi-

nesses by ensuring that all busi-

nesses accessing the city’s

market are required to pay their

fair share.”

The BPT currently consists of

two components: a 6.45% net

income tax and a 0.1415% gross

receipts tax. The net-income tax

is paid primarily by Philadel-

phia-based businesses, whereas

the gross-receipts tax is paid by

all businesses that make sales in

Philadelphia, whether or not

they are based in the city.

The Council Members’ current

proposal is for a revenue-neu-

tral elimination of the net-in-

come tax, an increase in the

gross-receipts tax to 0.53%, and

exemption from taxation on a

business’ first $100K in re-

ceipts, which would result in up

to 50,000 current business-tax

payers having $0 business tax

liability. The reform would be

phased in over five years to

allow both businesses and the

City to plan and make any nec-

essary adjustments.

City Controller Alan Butkovitz

applauded Mayor Nutter and

City Council for “taking a tar-

geted approach to very specific

inefficiencies and unfairness in

the current business tax struc-

ture. As we go forward, it’s im-

portant we be mindful of

avoiding radical steps that could

undermine employment in

Philadelphia. I look forward to

a very careful and deliberative

approach as these issues are de-

veloped.”

City Councilman W. Wilson

Goode, Jr. said he and then-

Councilman Michael Nutter

began working on business-tax

reform issues in 2004. “When

Mayor Nutter assumed his du-

ties in 2008, I introduced a

business-tax reform proposal, as

did the Nutter administration.

We later agreed to combine our

efforts. Clearly, it took compro-

mise and consensus to enact

comprehensive business-tax re-

form. Today, I believe Mayor

Nutter is committed to enacting

the best proposal we can

achieve and will work with City

Council as he’s done in the

past.”

Dec. 17-

Laborers’ Local 331 hosts annual

Richard Legree Toys for Tots at

Union Hall, 1310 Wallace St., 3

p.m. Toys will be given to children

from Prodigy Day Care Ctr., Cun-

ningham Ctr., Woodstock

Women’s Shelter and Big Broth-

ers/Big Sisters.

Dec. 17-

Friends of Chris Vogler Winter

Warmup gala at SmokeEaters Pub,

7681 Frankford Ave., 7 to 10 p.m.

Tickets $40. For info call Bob

Cummings at 267-471-9607.

Dec. 18-

Caribbean Night Happy Hour

fundraiser for Lawrence Clark for

City Council at Banana’s 876

Lounge, 5500 Rising Sun Ave., 6-9

p.m. Donation $10 includes food.;

donate blanket for homeless and

it’s $8. Make checks to

Clark4Change, P.O. Box 27154,

Phila., PA 19118.

Dec. 30- Friends of Council-

man Curtis Jones, Jrt., host year-

end fundraiser “Curt Ain’t Crying

the BLues” at Le Cochon NOIR,

5070 Parkside Av., Susite, 5100E.

7 p.m. to midnight.

Jan. 27-

Edward J. Lowry, founder of Phila.

Veterans MultiService & Educa-

tion Ctr., will be honored on retire-

ment at Waterfall Rm. in Plumbers

Local 690 Union Hall, 2791

Southampton Rd., Cocktails 6-8

p.m., followed by Tribute Pro-

gram. Tickets $65. Order by phone

(215) 238-8050. Event Chair Ed

Keenan, Board Chair Jim Mc-

Nesby and Exec. Dir. Marsha Four.

ATTENTION

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Congressman Fattah spon-

sored legislation passed by

Congress to instruct the

National Park Service to “appropri-

ately commemorate” the Presi-

dent’s House and the nine enslaved

workers who labored there. Fattah,

supported by Congressman Bob

Brady (D-Phila.), secured $3.6 mil-

lion in federal funds for construc-

tion of what is believed to be the

first federal monument dedicated to

America’s enslaved.

For inauguration of the new his-

toric site yesterday, Fattah said,

“The opening of the President’sHouse: Freedom and Slavery in theMaking of a New Nation is more

than the celebration of another

monument at the place where

America was born. This site recog-

nizes enslaved Africans were at the

center of American history per-

forming an uncommon, unrecog-

nized and indispensible role in the

creation of this great nation.

“The President’s House focuses on

the lives of Presidents George

Washington and John Adams who

made their home here in the na-

tion’s first executive mansion.

Equally important, it brings into

focus to life and names, chiseled in

granite, of nine men, women and

teenagers enslaved to George

Washington: Austin, Christopher,

Giles, Hercules, Joe, Moll, Oney

Judge, Paris and Richmond, who

lived and worked here as well.

They are the bridge from the Presi-

dent who owned humans of

African descent to our President

today, a man of African descent.

“We are a diverse nation, drawn

from many races, ethnicities and

faiths. The site … is a visual his-

tory lesson designed to inspire ex-

amination of a dark period in our

nation’s history, as well as inspir-

ing our hope and vision for true

freedom. I am proud to have been a

part in the creation and construc-

tion of this important memorial.”

Fattah Salutes New President’sHouse Monument

Casino Foes Hit The ‘Burg To Yank Foxwoods’ License

Members of Casino-Free Philadelphia will

present comments from over 50 Philadel-

phians today to the Pennsylvania Gaming

Control Board hearing in Harrisburg.

After twice deferring a decision on revocation of Fox-

woods’ license, the Board will again take up the mo-

tion for revocation at today’s hearing. The casino

opponents will speak during the public-comments por-

tion of the hearing.

“The people of Philadelphia will tell the Board preda-

tory gambling doesn’t belong in our city,” said Lily

Cavanagh, organizational director for Casino-Free

Philadelphia.

In April of this year, the Board’s Office of Enforce-

ment & Compliance recommended Foxwoods’ license

be revoked for failure to comply with Board orders,

failure to comply with its statement of conditions, fail-

ure to maintain suitability for licensure, and inability


to be operational by the Board-imposed deadline of

May 29, 2011.

“Philadelphians are speaking for their city against the

crime, addiction, and poverty created by casinos,” said

Dan Hajdo, a member of CFP’s Board of Directors.

“So far, the Board has shown it only listens to the

Governor and his friends. If they listened to the people

of Philadelphia, they would revoke the license and not

rebid.”

Lomaxes Assemble Justice Panel900AM-WURD assembled two of the

legal world’s most powerful thinkers

to dissect race and the criminal-justice

system at “And Justice for All?”, its

last community-engagement sympo-

sium of year. From here Harvard

Univ. Professor Charles Ogletree;

WURD Radio President Sara Lomax-

Reese; Mrs. Beverly & Dr. Walter P.

Lomax, owners of WURD Radio;

Ohio State Univ. legal scholar Michelle

Alexander, WURD host; criminal de-

fense attorney and program modera-

tor Michael Coard; and poet-activist

Sonia Sanchez. Photo by Martin Re-gusters, Leaping Lion Photography

SHERRIE COHEN, center an

attorney and progressive activist,

announced her second run for

City Council at large last

evening at a crowded reception

at William Way Center in Center

City. With her was her mother,

former Councilman Florence

Cohen, seated, who held her hus-

band David Cohen’s seat after

his death. If Sherrie wins, she

will be first Council Member

both of whose parents preceded

her in that chamber.

Sherrie Cohen Goes For City Council


The holidays can often be

challenging for individuals

in recovery from addiction

to alcohol or other drugs. The

Philadelphia Recovery Community

Center, at 1701 W. Lehigh Avenue,

Suite 6, is offering a full schedule

of free activities throughout the

holiday season for individuals in

recovery.

“We’re offering people a place to

come and relax, where they can

enjoy some fellowship, have fun

and share ideas for staying clean

and sober this time of year,” says

Fred Martin, project coordinator

for Pennsylvania Recovery Organi-

zation–Achieving Community To-

gether), which operates the center.

On Dec. 23 and Dec. 30-31, from

noon until 8 p.m., visitors to the

center can watch movies or play

any of a number of games, such as

Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud or

bingo. On those days, the center

will also offer a holiday-themed

discussion from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

On Tues., Dec. 21, the Women’s

Support Group, which meets from

2 p.m. until 4 p.m., will discuss “A

Woman and the Holidays: Emo-

tions and Responsibilities.” On

Dec. 28, the group will discuss

“Preparing for the New Year,”

which will also be the topic of a

Recovery Discussion on Wed.,

Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. until noon.

For information, call (215) 223-

7700. To view the schedule online,

visit www.proact.org and click the

Philadelphia Recovery Community

Center link. PRO-ACT is a grass-

roots organization with initiatives

in public education, policy advo-

cacy and recovery support.

Community Center Offers HolidayFun Without Drugs Or Alcohol

Opening Tomorrow, The FighterRaises Thoughts Of Lee And Vick

CHRISTIAN

BALE plays

Dicky Eklund,

Melissa Leo

plays Alice

Ward and

Mark

Wahlberg plays

Micky Ward in

The Fighter.Photo by JoJo

Whilden.

by Adam Taxin

The Fighter chronicles the rise of

(actual) journeyman welterweight

boxer Micky Ward. Played by

Mark Wahlberg, quite familiar in

particular to Philadelphia sports

fans for his portrayal of improbable

former Eagle Vince Papale in In-vincible. Ward goes through a sort

of catharsis in confronting family

members whose influence has pre-

vented him from reaching his full

potential.

The screenplay by Scott Silver,

Paul Tamsay and Eric Johnson is

tight and exciting, and director

David O. Russell (Three Kings)

makes just about everything occur-

ring on-screen compelling, even to

those who are not fans of the sport

of boxing.

The role of family members in an

athlete’s life certainly has been

highlighted this week in Philadel-

phia. The uneasiness of Kristen

(Mrs. Cliff) Lee toward New York

was rumored, even though publi-

cally denied, to be a driving force

in her husband’s decision to for-

sake significantly more money of-

fered from the Yankees to return

instead to pitch for the Phillies.

Perhaps it’s a stretch, but I couldn’t

help but compare the smooth func-

tioning of Lee family decisions to

the way in which Ward’s quest for

greatness is held back by Ward’s

crack-addicted former-boxing-star-

himself half-Dicky Eklund (played

by Christian Bale) and Ward’s

overbearing mother Alice (Melissa

Leo in a Best Supporting Actress

Oscar-worthy performance).

The recent rise of Eagles quarter-

back Michael Vick parallels the

movie more obviously. Early on in

the film, Eklund goes to prison (not

for dogfighting), then subsequently

strives to redeem himself by pour-

ing his remaining life energy to-

ward training his younger

half-brother in his shot for great-

ness.

Beyond the fact the central charac-

ter of The Fighter is a white under-

dog boxer, comparisons to Rockyare inapt. The Fighter’s primary

plot driver is Ward’s issues with his

family; in contrast, would-be par-

ents or siblings of Rocky Balboa

do not play a role in any of six

movies. In addition, Amy Adams

(playing Ward’s girlfriend Char-

lene) is a much more-interesting

character, not to mention consider-

ably easier on the eyes, than Talia

Shire’s introvert-turned-Stepford-

wife Adrian.

The Fighter opens for wide release

tomorrow at the the UA Riverview

Plaza Stadium 17 (South Philadel-

phia), the UA Main Street 6 (Man-

ayunk) and AMC Frankllin Mills

(Northeast Philadelphia).


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