Evidently transparency only goes so far in the Nutter administration.

It was widely reported that the budget plan adopted by Council retained the Cohen Wage Tax Rebate but delays implementation of the program for another year until 2014.

Now it is itself is a bit of a farce to delay the beginning of the program until after the next election for Mayor or Council. Michael Nutter wouldn’t claim to be serving the interests of the business community by promising a big BPT cut in 2014 but doing nothing now.

But now it seems that this farce is the least of our problems.

Stan Shapiro recently sent an email that said

It turns out that the Cohen rebate has actually been stunted, not just postponed. Under the law as it is now, the rate for low wage workers would go down to 1.5% no matter what, in yearly half percent increments starting in 2012.

Hello,

I am sorry to say, that society is falling apart. You may already know that and feel that now. I say society is falling apart due to purely economic reasons, because it is true. As you know, I am also becoming an economist. Simply put if the people have less economic means, then society will not be able to function normally, as it should. The private economies are doing well, but the overall society is not.

Let me give you some background. In 1971, America went off the gold standard. The Bretton Woods Agreement terms changed. In that US dollars would no longer be backed by gold or silver, for that matter. From that point, America and other nations, could “print” money at will. A reason why we had such high inflation, or “stagflation” in the 1970s. Again we are having high inflation now.

In yesterday's Daily News, the School Reform Commission reported that it would not approve new charter applications, but instead intended to ask charter applicants to take on the city's 70 failing schools listed as being in corrective action 2 status. These include most of the comprehensive high schools as well as dozens of schools throughout the city.

In addition, the School District has said it will open up all the 70 schools to Education Management Organizations (EMOs). Edison Schools Inc. has already said it intends to apply to all 70 schools.

What's wrong with this picture?

So President Bush, after 7.5 years in office, has recently decided that he's interested in Israel and serious about addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - enough to actually visit Israel personally for the second time in his presidency, the second time in a period of a few short months. Better late than never as they say.

Anyway, as part of a speech commemorating Israel's 60th anniversary, Bush decided to take a swing at Barrack Obama over his suggestion of direct diplomacy with Iran.

President Bush has said repeatedly that he would not insert himself into the presidential race, but that stance changed dramatically today during his trip to Israel. After likening Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Osama bin Laden, Bush compared Barack Obama to Nazi appeasers:

This is a good one from a local Philly writer----below is an excerpt.

Police declare 'open season' on Black community
By Betsey Piette
Philadelphia
Published May 14, 2008 11:55 PM

Since 2006, police have fatally shot 35 people in Philadelphia, more than in any similar period since 1980. Already in 2008 there have been three reported deadly shootings by police, including one of an unarmed bystander killed by a cop who fired 11 shots into a house where a number of people, including children, were celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Showing little concern for victims of police brutality, John McGrody, vice president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, said that “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” means nothing to him. (Philadelphia Daily News, May 8)

In the same issue of the Daily News, columnist Michael Smerconish, a former attorney for the FOP, openly advocated that police should shoot suspects to save the time and expense of jury trials!

On the west coast: Today, CA Supreme Court says that domestic partnerships laws for same-sex couple are not good enough. Ruling demands marriage laws be put in place which means Cali will become the second state in nation to offer same-sex marriage by year's end. More from LA Times here.

On the east coast: PA State Senate almost passes a same-sex marriage ban to state constitution. Only withdraws because of committee assignment in the house. Danger still lurks.

Even if the original Gay Liberation movement of the early 70's (which like its friends in Black Power and Feminist movements was trying to blow the lid off the white male patriarchy) would have thought this a hollow victory because of its assimilation-oriented tilt, I can't help but be happy for Cali LGBT folks.

Same-sex marriage won't solve all of my community's problems at all (universal or expanded access to healthcare for all--see below--would help just as many of us, if not more), but it's still a step in the right direction. And California's victory is definitely the cause of one of those "tell me why I live in Philadelphia again" moments.

I've noted before that lots of social-thinking types believe art is good for what ails society (namely: stasia), and I agree. When it's good (and by good, I usually mean transgressive), it gets us considering things from new perspectives. Sometimes it just makes us happy. I'm not opposed to either outcome.

Anyway, I especially love when art takes to the street and actually intermingles with people, and that's what's happening this Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 in lovable Kensington where three pillars of any community, creative design, bikes, and outlandish costumes will meet at the corner of Trenton and Norris Streets for the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. It is, as the official site says, "a design competition and parade celebrating art and human powered transit." It proceeds all the way down to Penn Treaty Park and back again, so you could pack a picnic if the weather's nice.

(While you're at the park, remind yourself why a casino belongs nowhere near there.)

Like the beloved Fringe Festival, it's an event that transforms the city, if only momentarily, into some scene from a sweet surrealist fantasy dreamed in the heads of local artists. Who could ask for anything more?

But wait, there is more! Hang around Trenton and Norris after the derby for the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival that locals Levanana Levandecker and Steve Hatch report will be better than ever this year. If you wander over to a Kenzo or Fishtown establishment to sip the new and wonderful Philadelphia Brewing Company's Kenzinger or Rowhouse Red, word has it that no one will stop you.

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and support the community.

In the present economic downturn, many states have decreased their spending, particularly in the area of public health. That's why it's gratifying to see City Council, the Department of Public Welfare and the General Assembly working together to bring more dollars into the state so we can actually improve care for the Uninsured and Medicaid eligible population in Philadelphia.

Quick Fact! Just because a person has Medical Assistance Health Coverage, that doesn't mean they can find a doctor! Most doctors around here refuse to accept Medical Assistance, that's why the Federally Qualified Health Centers and the City's Health Centers are so important.

Council took the first step yesterday to move a plan that will move millions more dollars into our hospitals and health centers. PUP is especially excited because the Department of Health believes that these new funds should enable them to bring wait times at City Health Centers down to less than 30 days and improve health care by implementing electronic records throughout all city facilities (including jails and youth centers).

More details in the jump!

Thanks for spearheading this Karen, and yea Joyce! -Ray

At our chapter meeting this Monday, Philadelphia NOW voted to send a letter to Governor Rendell urging him to appoint Joyce Eubanks to the Municipal Court vacancy which currently exists in Philadelphia.

We enthusiastically endorsed Joyce Eubanks when she ran for a judicial slot last year. Click "read more" below to see the letter written on behalf of the chapter. Joyce would also welcome additional letters from individual supporters.

In case you missed it, PA's senior Senator has, in this age of Constitution shredding, illegal wars, other such impeachable offenses, decided on the perfect target for an investigation: the NFL.

That's right, Sen. Specter wants to open a Congressional investigation, a la the Mitchell investigation into steroids in baseball (because, of course, we know that nobody in the NFL uses steroids), into the so-called 'spygate' controversy, in which the Patriots are accused of stealing other teams' defensive signals. Specter's ire is particularly provoked by the suggestion that the Patriots, in effect, cheated the Eagles out of a Super Bowl win.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3395829

What the hell is "half a delegate"?

And who is that half a delegate?

And how did they get carved up?

----

Hannah

Tomorrow a small bill, that slipped out of Council’s Streets and Services committee with barely any notice, will get its first reading. Titled “Towing And Immobilizing Of Parked Or Abandoned Vehicles,” few knew what Bill 080406 was about until the people benefiting showed up to testify on its behalf:

From KYW1060:

The Parking Authority is promising smoother rush hours in Center City, if it gets final City Council approval to expand its towing operation.

The Authority currently can tow and impound a car only in an area that is bounded by Vine Street on the north and Spruce Street on the south. A council committee has now given a preliminary okay to expanding that border north to Spring Garden, south to Bainbridge, and also on Broad Street itself all the way up to Hunting Park Avenue.

Parking Authority Executive Director Vince Fennerty says to goal is to get illegally parked cars out of the way in rush hour . . . .

Fennerty says this will particularly help around the I-95 Vine Street ramps.

The Parking Authority?

This is the first time (that I’m aware of) that Council has had a crack at the Parking Authority since parents launched a campaign against them last fall. Now is not the time to expand the Parking Authority’s powers. If anything, City Council should restrict the PPA’s activities until it first proves it is a more responsible steward of its money and activities. It’s also an important opportunity to squeeze that agency about why it isn’t giving more to the schools.

Fellow Liberal Drinkers-

I'm nothing short of thrilled to say that, with my work situation far more settled, I am able to announce the relaunch of Drinking Liberally: Mount Airy [insert sound effect of wild applause + cheering here].

I look forward to discussing some weighty issues, such as...

is HRC's remaining in the race when it's all but impossible for her to be the Democratic nominee a good thing, a bad thing, or a disastrously bad thing?

will the so-called 'liberal press' ever notice that John McCain has preacher buddies who make Jeremiah Wright look like a flag waving patriot?

who will Obama pick as his running mate? My money (metaphorically speaking, of course) is on Bill Richardson, but I'd like to see what others think.

So, please join us at the Mighty Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown Ave., at 7:00 PM this Thursday (5/15), as we once again...

Drink to Democracy!
-Z

Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Thugs
[col. writ. 5/8/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

The scene is as common as sunlight: cops beating Black men in the streets.

This time, captured on videotape from a hovering helicopter, a malevolent swarm of cops pull occupants from a car, and then proceed to beat the paste out of the men, kicking, punching, and slamming with a club. At least 15 cops are seen in the broadcast beatdown; an average of 5 to 1.

Within moments of its broadcast came the predictable defense: cops in Philly are "stressed."

One need not even await such defenses anymore: just put a tape on speed dial, and repeat.

If ever there was irony, the three car occupants were charged with aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy.