Harris delivers $25K for Wharton Square Park
Majority House Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris surprised Wharton Square Park with a grant for $25,000.
Wharton Square Park was the only park in Philadelphia to receive the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, which recognizes Pennsylvania citizens, government agencies, businesses, organizations and educational institutions for outstanding achievements that positively impact Pennsylvania’s environment.
“I have a fundamental belief that regardless of a person’s ZIP code, regardless of their family’s income, that all people, all children, all families deserve high-quality green space,” Harris said. “I fundamentally believe that parks are nice to have, but they are must-have in our community.”
Marconi Center, St. Edmond receive grant money
Two South Philly community centers were awarded grant money by the state Department of Aging.
State Rep. Regina Young announced that a combined $53,551 will go to the Marconi Older Adults Center at 2433 S. 15th St. and the St. Edmond Senior Community Center at 2130 S. 21st St.
The Marconi Center will receive $51,000 in a competitive grant for programs and services, such as improved nutrition services and entertainment programs. The competitive grant program allocates a total of $2 million to Senior Community Centers across the state for large-scale projects to help ensure older adults are supported in familiar, local places with services to stay healthy and connected to their communities.
St. Edmond Senior Community Center will receive $2,551 in a non-competitive grant, allowing smaller projects to be addressed. The non-competitive grants are a new track of distributions spearheaded by Gov. Josh Shapiro in the 2023-24 state budget for the first time. A $1 million allotment provided in the state budget was distributed in $2,551 portions to 392 SCCs across the state for small projects.
“Our Senior Community Centers are really a home away from home for our experienced neighbors,” said Young. “I’m so glad to know that these two important centers will be able to continue and improve their programming, services and facilities to help our seniors stay connected to the community and feel at home.”
The two grants to the 185th District are part of nearly $350,000 awarded to over 20 SCCs in Philadelphia. The grant funding is appropriated by the General Assembly with proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Low-income tax freeze being considered
City Council’s Committee on Finance approved a bill that entitles homeowners within the eligible income range to a refund or forgiveness on property tax increases that result from a tax rate increase or their home’s assessment increasing.
The bill will now be considered by the entire City Council and is eligible for passage on May 23.
During the hearing, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Chair of City Council’s Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, said, “The communities that endured redlining, endured deindustrialization and endured disinvestment are now enduring gentrification fueled by biased property assessment practices that make them more vulnerable to speculative development. We know another reassessment is coming. If we don’t protect seniors and other low-income homeowners now, we put multi-generational wealth and family stability at risk.”
Gauthier’s bill freezes property taxes at their current level for homeowners within the eligible income range. Per state law, this bill sets “low-income” eligibility at the maximum allowable income for the state PACENET pharmaceutical assistance program, which is about $33K per year for a single-person household and $41,500 for married taxpayers.
The city anticipates new real estate assessment values for 2025. During the last property assessment, over 107,000 residential properties saw increases of at least 50%; the 3rd Council District saw the highest number of such increases citywide. Almost 31,000 assessments increased by at least 100%; over 6,000 assessments increased by at least 200%; 3,500 assessments increased by at least 300%.
Two-thirds of Philadelphia’s lowest-income homeowners are black and Hispanic, meaning the current taxation and assessment system has a disproportionate impact on “people of color.”
The state constitution’s “uniformity clause” mandates that all local and state taxes be flat, with the same percentage applied to all taxpayers or properties. This means the city cannot tax people or entities in different ways unless the state enables it to.
In the summer of 2022, Gov. Wolf signed Act 58 of 2022 into law, introduced by Rep. Jared Solomon as HB 581, which permits local tax authorities to provide refunds or forgiveness of real estate taxes to low-income taxpayers. Gauthier’s bill is the local legislation necessary to activate Act 58’s tax freeze in Philadelphia. Act 58 requires the city to benchmark income eligibility to PACENET.
Philly Latino Arts & Film Festival
The Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival kicks off Memorial Day weekend for its 13th edition with a six-week program that will run from May 26 to July 7 and feature over 140 “Latine/x/a/o” films alongside an array of Latine cultural experiences and activations at venues around the city.
The festival will host a 72-hour filmmaking competition in partnership with ReelTalk. Following PHLAFF’s First Friday event at the Barnes Foundation on May 31, teams of filmmakers who sign up online or at the event will have three days to concept, create and complete a short film using a genre and line of dialogue. The resulting films will be screened and judged on June 7.
The LOLA Awards, which present and recognize Latine films on a specific genre or topic, will focus on essence — the nature or quality that defines a filmmaker’s true intention.
The 9th annual Youth Salon will feature workshops and a showcase celebrating the work of young “Latine/x/a/o” filmmakers under 22 years of age during the festival. The festival lineup and full calendar of events will be announced in the coming weeks at www.phlaff.org.
Waxman wants unit at correctional institution a permanent fixture statewide
State Rep. Ben Waxman is calling for the “Scandinavian Unit” at SCI Chester to be used permanently at correctional institutions across Pennsylvania.
The Scandinavian Unit is modeled after prisons in Scandinavia, where the core values are safety, transparency and innovation, with a focus on normality and reintegration into the community upon release.
“It’s time for a shift in how we handle corrections in PA. The Scandinavian Unit at SCI Chester isn’t just a program, it’s a new horizon in rehabilitation and human rights,” Waxman said. “This model focuses on transformative care, not just incarceration. In the next state budget, I will strongly advocate for us to include funding that would make the Scandinavian Unit a permanent fixture in our state’s corrections system.”
This unit is the result of a multiyear partnership with the Norwegian Correctional Service, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, and the Danish Prison and Probation Service. In 2019, state Department of Corrections employees traveled to Norway, Sweden and Denmark to see for themselves how Scandinavian countries approach incarceration.
The unit provides a quiet environment where residents live in single-person cells with a shared kitchen surrounded by outdoor green space and plants.
Waxman has written a letter to the Department of Corrections calling for funding that would make this unit a permanent fixture within Pennsylvania’s correctional system.
Troopers Association condemns firing
Pennsylvania State Troopers Association President Stephen Polishan condemned the decision by the Pennsylvania State Police to fire a trooper who conducted a March 2 Philadelphia traffic stop along Interstate 76.
Polishan said:
“This decision is reprehensible. This young trooper, on the job for only six months, deserved better from our department. The department’s leadership should have fought against the attacks made about this young man’s character. Instead, they abandoned him. We can only conclude this decision is a response to a politically charged atmosphere in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania, which is making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to carry out even their most basic duties.
“Like countless other traffic stops, this incident should’ve ended with a traffic ticket or warning and the driver being sent on their way. But a driver in a second car pulled up directly behind the trooper’s cruiser with dark, blacked-out windows, in violation of stopping on a limited access highway. Blacked-out windows also are illegal in Pennsylvania because they’re considered potentially dangerous to law enforcement officers, who cannot see if a threat exists in an automobile.
“The trooper, in the field on his own, now has his attention divided. He approached the second car with blacked-out windows, and the driver ignored orders to leave the scene. Following his training, the trooper arrested both individuals when they refused to cooperate and follow his orders.
“The growing lack of respect for law enforcement and the rule of law and the failure to understand when one’s actions may lead to a member of law enforcement feeling threatened are becoming an epidemic that must end. All this is being done at the expense of those who are putting it on the line every day.
“Every member of the Pennsylvania State Police is required to recite our Call of Honor, which includes a line we all take very seriously: ‘It is my duty to obey the law and to enforce it without any consideration of class, color, creed or condition.’ Those are words we live by. Today, our department sent a terrible message to all troopers that politics matter more than doing the right thing.” ••
Democrats celebrate trooper firing
While the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association condemned the firing of a trooper, members of the Philadelphia House Delegation said they were grateful to the Pennsylvania State Police for conducting a thorough investigation into the traffic stop and arrest of Celena Morrison and Darius McLean on I-76 in March.
“As chair of the delegation, I’m glad that the State Police have heard our concerns and took the time to hold a fair and impartial internal investigation into this matter, which has led to the officer involved no longer being employed by them,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas.
“I also commend the State Police for speeding up their commitment to make sure all officers working in Philadelphia have active body cameras. This will go a long way in protecting the citizens of Philadelphia as well as the hardworking members of the Pennsylvania State Police who serve and protect us day in and day out. This kind of transparency is critical when incidents like the one in March occur.”
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and Democratic nominee for auditor general, said he was thankful PSP officials took the investigation seriously, though he said the traffic stop and what he claimed was an escalation of force by the trooper remain deeply troubling to him. Morrison and her husband are members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The Pennsylvania State Police made good on its promise to us by conducting a fair and thorough investigation into the incident and by making sure the trooper involved did not interact with the public, especially after video of the escalation surfaced,” Kenyatta said. “This is why body-worn cameras are key. Historically marginalized and discriminated against people and communities should not have to get out their phones to record their interactions with police just to ensure accountability. It is incumbent on government to ensure that the law enforcement officers who are sworn to protect the public should bear that responsibility and accountability. I am heartened to see Pennsylvania moving in the right direction here.” ••
House GOP addresses illegals
State House Republicans have introduced legislation to combat illegal immigration in Pennsylvania in response to the Biden administration’s continued failure to secure the southern border. The legislation includes bills urging Congress and the federal government to ban flights carrying illegals into the country; requiring local cooperation with ICE when an illegal squatter is identified; and banning sanctuary municipalities. Rep. Martina White has introduced legislation to require $1 million minimum bail for assaulting a law enforcement officer, which was proposed in response to the attack on New York Police Department officers by a gang of illegal immigrants earlier this year.
“My legislation to set a minimum $1 million bail for assaulting a police officer sends a clear message: Pennsylvania stands firmly against violence toward those who protect and serve our communities,” she said. “We are committed to making sure those who would harm our officers, including illegal immigrants, will face serious consequences for their actions.” ••
Seeking participants for mobile preschool
Xiente, a nonprofit organization committed to fostering economic mobility within communities, announced the launch of its initiative, the Busesito Mobile Preschool. Serving as Philadelphia’s first mobile preschool, Busesito aims to revolutionize early childhood education by providing free, high-quality preschool readiness education to children aged 3 to 5. It also seeks to address the gap between the demand for childcare and available slots in Philadelphia, particularly affecting “communities of color” and low-income families.
Funded by The William Penn Foundation and Vanguard, and designed to address needs in early childhood education, Busesito offers a multifaceted approach to improving outcomes in these three pillars for children in the care of family, friends and neighbors who often do not possess formal teaching credentials:
• Enhancing Quality of Education: Offering technical assistance to FFNs empowers them to adopt a more structured and educational approach to childcare. By providing resources, training, and support, Xiente aims to empower FFNs to see themselves as educators, thus improving the quality of early childhood education provided in informal settings.
• Increasing Kindergarten Readiness: High-quality early education equips children with the academic, social and emotional skills needed for a successful transition to kindergarten. By focusing on preschool readiness skills such as letters, numbers, shapes, colors, comparisons and phonics, Busesito ensures that children are better prepared academically, socially and emotionally for their next educational journey. Closing the achievement gap at this stage sets a foundation for future academic success.
• Promoting Economic Mobility: Economic stability and access to resources are fundamental aspects of a child’s academic success. By working with families as a whole and addressing economic needs, Xiente aims to support the well-being of the family and create conditions conducive to children’s learning and development. Research consistently shows that children whose families have their basic needs met and are economically stable tend to perform better academically.
Rashanda Perryman, Head of Philanthropy at Vanguard’s Community Stewardship group, praised the initiative, stating, “With its innovative approach to supporting preschool students and their caregivers, Xiente’s mobile preschool is taking a meaningful step towards broadening access to early childhood education in Philadelphia.”
Jennifer Stavrakos, interim director of the Great Learning Program at the William Penn Foundation, expressed excitement about supporting Xiente’s efforts to provide high-quality early education opportunities, stating, “We’re excited to support Xiente’s new effort, as part of our goal to ensure all Philadelphia children have access to high-quality early childhood education programs that prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond.”
Busesito also collaborates with various organizations within Philadelphia’s early learning ecosystem to offer complementary programming. Partnerships include initiatives like ParentChild+ in collaboration with the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, with outcomes assessed by partner Mathematica.
Additionally, Valley Settlement in Roaring Forks, Colorado, serves as a model for Xiente’s mobile preschool program, providing technical assistance for the pilot. This initiative builds on Xiente’s more than 20 years of experience in delivering quality, bilingual early childhood education and support services, reaching nearly 3,000 families in 2022 alone.
Busesito seeks participants for its fall 2024 cohort across Philadelphia, but especially in North, Northeast and South Philadelphia.For caretakers interested in participating in the program, email Sarah Clemency at sarah.clemency@xiente.org. ••
Entertainment at Parx
Parx Casino is offering the following upcoming entertainment:
May 31: Reik
June 1: Joss Stone
June 14: Almost Queen, a tribute to Queen
June 21: Corinne Bailey Rae
June 28: It’s Happening w/Snooki & Joey
July 13: Clay Walker
July 19: Debbie Gibson
July 26: Kameron Marlowe
Aug. 3: Tyler Henry, The Hollywood Medium
Aug. 23: The Marshall Tucker Band
Sept. 7: Australian Pink Floyd
Sept. 21: Dustin Lynch
Oct. 4: Heather McDonald
Oct. 18: Straight No Chaser
Oct. 19: Giggly Squad Live
Oct. 25: Michael Blaustein
Nov. 9: Air Supply
Nov. 21: Aaron Lewis
Nov. 23: Steve Trevino
Dec. 7: Kathleen Madigan ••
Summer, after-school programs
Applications are open for The College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s George and Judy Wohlreich Junior Fellows Program, a summer and after-school program for high school students interested in healthcare and medicine. The program is open to students who are currently freshmen who will be the first in their family to graduate from college, qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch and have no disciplinary problems on their school record.
Apply at Wohlreich Junior Fellows Program | The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
The year-long STEM Internship Program is aimed at Philadelphia high school students directly affected by violence who want to make a difference in their communities. The students explore the impact violence has on them and their communities, while improving their understanding of science, technology and medicine. There is a four-week summer internship in July and an after-school program once a week throughout the school year. The program is open to current sophomores and juniors (entering 11th or 12th grade in fall 2024) enrolled in a Philadelphia public or charter school.
Apply at STEM Internship | The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
There is no cost to apply or participate in the programs.
Learn more at https://collegeofphysicians.org/programs. ••
See performance of Anything Goes
The Star Players, of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, will present Cole Porter’s Anything Goes on May 31 and June 1-2 at 7 p.m. at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, at 7 Lock St. in Manayunk. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Group rates are available. Tickets are available on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at the Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, call director Bill Arthur at 215-685-8714, like the group’s Facebook page, follow the group on Twitter @starplayersPPR or email Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
Bus trip to Lancaster County
St. William Travel is planning a trip to Lancaster County on June 20. There will be a Magic & Wonder Theater show, buffet lunch at Shady Maple, round trip by motorcoach, with all taxes and gratuities included. The costs $120. Bus departs from Gloria Dei Estates, 1304 Rhawn St., at 9:15 a.m. and returns 6:15 p.m. Check or money order payable to St. William Travel can be sent c/o 206 Benner St., Philadelphia, PA 19111. Call 215-745-7199. ••
VFW looking for members
Bustleton-Somerton/CTR1 Michael J. Strange VFW Post 6617 meets on the third Wednesday of every month at American Legion Post 810, 9151 Old Newtown Road.
Meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
If you are a military veteran who served in a designated combat zone, you are eligible to join the VFW.
Call Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Trip to Northern Europe
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is presenting a Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium and London cruise, July 25 to Aug. 4, aboard the new “Norwegian Prima.”
Rates per person are $6,261 and $6,495, which include roundtrip airfare from Philadelphia.
Deposit of $350 per person double occupancy is required when booking.
Call 215-788-9408. ••
Ukrainian Folk Festival in August
The Ukrainian Folk Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 25, from noon to 8 p.m., at the Ukrainian American Sport Center — Tryzub, County Line and Lower State roads, Horsham.
There will be Ukrainian folk art, music, dance, crafts and historical reenactments, a variety of food and refreshments and a vendors grove. Admission is $15, and a portion will be donated to relief of war victims in Ukraine. Kids under 15 will be admitted free. Parking is free. Call 267-664-3857, email info@tryzub.org or visit www.tryzub.org. ••
Searching for America’s funniest women
Comedy producers are searching for America’s funniest women in stand-up comedy to award more than $10,000 in national comedy bookings and the 2024 Ladies of Laughter titles this coming July and August in the New York metropolitan area.
Ladies of Laughter has separate categories for “Professionals” and “Newcomers.” Those chosen to compete will be judged on audience response, originality, material and delivery by a panel of producers, press and industry judges at four preliminary events taking place in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and Westchester.
The winners from each event advance to the Grand Finale on Aug. 14 at Rodney’s Comedy Club in New York in front of a blue-ribbon panel of judges.
Those interested in entering the Ladies of Laughter “Her Time” competition should go to https://www.ladiesoflaughter.org. Contestants must be 18 years or older and must enter before June 15.
Tickets for all events can be purchased at https://www.ladiesoflaughter.org/2024-contest ••
