Schwartz, Casey stand
behind Nutter for mayor

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz are promising mayoral candidate Michael Nutter that he’ll have a couple of friends in Washington, D.C., if he needs help addressing Philadelphia’s crime problem.
The Democratic trio held a news conference last week at the intersection of Frankford and Cottman avenues to pledge that they’ll work together to support anti-crime initiatives.
An animated Casey had little trouble speaking over the sounds of loud automobile motors as he pledged full support for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and Byrne Grant programs, both under the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The president of the United States wants to cut those two programs by ninety-seven percent," said Casey, arguing that President George W. Bush wants to use the money to give tax breaks to the wealthy.
COPS funding is generally used to hire police officers, while the Byrne grants are directed toward fighting violent crime.
Schwartz (D-13th dist.) called Bush "irresponsible" for not fully funding the policing programs. She voted on May 15 in favor of a COPS bill that would provide for up to 50,000 police officers across the country in the next six years. The vote was 381-34. The bill sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The congresswoman thinks the federal government needs to do more for local law enforcement agencies.
"We’re looking to work with this White House," she said. "This is a shared responsibility."
Nutter said crime went down in the late 1990s throughout the nation as police officers were hired by the initial COPS bill.
"Cities benefited from it, and Philadelphia was certainly one of them," he said.
Nutter said the city needs help because, on average, one person is murdered and five people are shot every day. He indicated he backs a measure sponsored by state Rep. John Perzel (R-172nd dist.) that would result in the hiring of 10,000 police officers across Pennsylvania through a city-state funding partnership. Philadelphia would receive about 1,300 new officers.
Al Taubenberger, Nutter’s Republican opponent, wholeheartedly supports the legislation.

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Bill Green, a Democratic nominee for an at-large City Council seat, wants to reform the way Philadelphia crafts its budget to reduce wasteful spending.
Green, son of the former mayor of the same name, wants to adopt a zero-based budgeting model, which would require departments to justify all expenditures.
Currently, the city uses an incremental budgeting model. Departments generally receive at least the same amount of funds as the previous year, regardless if all the money was spent and what the results were.
"Frankly, the lack of justification provided for requested funds and how they are spent would never be acceptable in the private sector," he said. "The city’s tax revenue is limited, and many programs and departments are under-funded. We cannot continue to follow a budget paradigm that easily allows and helps hide wasteful spending."
Green, a lawyer from Chestnut Hill, wants departments to specify the goals of each program and expenditure when presenting budget requests. He also calls for the establishment of a "rainy day," or reserve, fund.

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Sean McAleer, the Democratic candidate in the 10th Councilmanic District, has filed a joint property-tax appeal for 116 homeowners.
McAleer, an administrator at Franklin Towne Charter School and a former aide to Councilman Jim Kenney, will present the case to the Board of Revision of Taxes.
"Strength is, and always has been, in numbers, and I am confident that the BRT will recognize this joint appeal and do what is right by reducing the property tax assessment rates to amounts that the homeowners agree with," he said.
McAleer, who is challenging longtime Republican Councilman Brian O’Neill, said Northeast residents are being penalized for paying their taxes and bills. He wants more resources for the Northeast.
"It is time for change," he said. "Northeast Philadelphia needs a strong, aggressive leader that will be a full-time, visible councilman who puts the community’s interest first with a better perspective and a strategy that is current with today’s issues."

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The Men’s Club of the Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will host a Meet the Candidates Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m. at the synagogue, at 9768 Verree Road.
Candidates for city and state offices will address the crowd and be available for questions.
The public is invited free of charge, but reservations are required. Call Harris Popolow at 215-676-7486 or Barry Leiber at 215-673-4624 for more information.

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Bell’s Corner resident Marvin Barrish will interview candidates on WNJC (1360 AM) every Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. until the election.
Upcoming guests include Joyce Eubanks, a Republican candidate for Common Pleas Court, and Thomasine Tynes, a Traffic Court judge running for retention.
To call in to the show, dial 1-856-227-1360 or 1-856-232-7077. The show is also available online by visiting www.wnjc1360.com and clicking "listen now."

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The Next Mayor project, a collaboration of WHYY, the Daily News and the Committee of Seventy, will hold an online mayoral candidates forum on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m.
Nutter and Taubenberger will be in the WHYY studios for a discussion of the issues. The event will be broadcast live at www.thenextmayor.com and on Comcast and Verizon digital cable channels.
Visitors to the Web site will be able to chat about the forum and submit questions. In addition, they will be able to submit short YouTube video questions. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com