News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
David Lynch Art — Nicholas of Artsy.net has found our story concerning Loren Kantor’s woodcut work which includes noted director David Lynch as a subject. He points out that Artsy has actual paintings by the auteur himself.
We say any man whose artistic ethos was formed while living in Philadelphia deserves a link.
Here you go Nicholas.
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission voted, Feb. 18, to approved five of the 39 applications for new charter schools. 
Gov. Tom Wolf chimed in decrying the decision. Oh, the Philadelphia School District can’t possibly handle it he said. He cited the district’s $80 million budget deficit.
Charter schools, of course, are cheaper to run than traditional schools so one would wonder what exactly is Wolf thinking until one realizes that he, like the rest of the Democrat Party, is in the pocket of the teacher unions. These entities get the lion’s share of the blame for the inflated cost of public education.
Anyway, this creates a very nice opportunity for the GOP. Charter Schools are strongly supported by a significant section of the city and these supporters had in the past not been willing to look twice at a Republican candidate. If the party starts championing Philadelphia charters there is a pretty good chance this will change for many of them.
You would not need all of them or even most of them to start making a difference in elections.
The Democratic National Committee has picked Philadelphia to be the site of its 2016 national convention to pick a presidential candidate. 
It will be held the week of July 25.
Expect to see traffic snarled and homelessness to increase.
And a whole lot of free advertising from Comcast.
It will be held the week after the Republican Convention in Cleveland.
In the Independence Visitors Center before this afternoon’s (Jan 10) Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally are Montgomery County Sheriff Russell Bono, State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160), Chester County Sheriff Bunny Welsh, a woman whose name we missed, and Chester County Deputy Sheriff Harry McKinney. For a story about the event go here.
Teri Adams of the Independence Hall Foundation opens the rally with the Star Spangled Banner. The Foundation was the organizer of the event which ran from 1 to 2 p.m. on Independence Mall, Philadelphia.
Rev. Todd Johnson of First Emmanuel Baptist Church gives the invocation.
Flanking educator and activist Armond James are WPHT Talk Show Host Dom Giordano and Teri Adams of Independence Hall Foundation.
Dom Giordano and Rich Davis of West Chester-based American Sheepdogs.
At the podium is Matt Rooney of SaveJersey.com
At the podium is filmmaker Tigre Hill.
At the podium is State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150)
Speaking is State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160)
Speaking is Chester County Sheriff Bunny Welsh.
Speaking is Philadelphia County Sheriff Jewel Williams.
At the podium is former Philadelphia Eagle Garry Cobb.
Businesswoman/commentator Renee Amoore gives an upbeat pro-police talk.
Media Mayor Bob McMahon braving the cold before his talk.
Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) at the podium.
Sen. Pat Toomey announced at today’s Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally that he will be bringing back the Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act.
With the temperatures in the teens a crowd of almost 200 gathered at Independence Mall this afternoon, Jan. 10, to show unequivocally that blue lives mattered.
The event, the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally, was organized by Independence Hall Foundation and featured an all star lineup of local media and political figures.
“It’s a pretty brisk day in Philadelphia but it’s a good day to stand up for police officers,” said Headliner Sen. Pat Toomey.
Toomey noted that the site, 13th and Locust streets, where Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner was murdered by hipster celebrity Mumia Abu Jamal was not all that far from where the rally was taking place. He said he will be reintroducing the Danny Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, which will guarantee the maximum in federal Pell Grants to children of police and military personnel who died on duty. The bill had been introduced in 2010 but died in committee.
Toomey also remembered Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson, who was murdered in an ambush attack, Sept. 12, by whackjob Eric Frein in Blooming Grove, and State Trooper Alex Douglass, who was wounded in the attack.
He said that people like Frein were part of the madness police have to deal with every day.
“The protestors don’t speak for America,” he said.
Toomey was preceded by Congress Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) who noted that he awoke to read this morning that 2,000 men, women and children were murdered by Boko Haram Muslim extremists in Nigeria.
“I don’t know how many academic professors will be out in protest,” he said.
He noted that three of those killed in Paris terror rampage of the last 48 hours were police officers.
Speakers mercifully kept their remarks short due to the bitter cold.
Long-time Media, Pa. Mayor Bob McMahon read a message in support of police from fellow Democrat Congressman Bob Brady of the First District. Brady, who was scheduled to speak, could not attend due to a bout of the flu.
McMahon, speaking for himself, said with regard to his experiences in Vietnam and elected office is “What I’ve learned is that the most important issue in any city or borough is public safety.”
State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160) said “We must make sure there is never another rally in which people chant “What do we want? Dead cops!”
Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh noted that no matter what the badge says police work together. She told an anecdote about how a young man had entered a contest to go hunting with the Chester County sheriff not realizing that the Chester County referred to was in South Carolina. She worked with her Southern counterpart, whom she knew, to get the boy his hunting trip.
Philadelphia County Sheriff Jewell Williams said “People should come out to support the men and women in blue.”
WIP commentator and former Philadelphia Eagle Garry Cobb it was his father, who served in the Army, who taught him how to respect men and women in uniform. He noted he learned to play football in the Police Athletic League and a policeman was his first coach of whom he had fond memories.
Filmmaker Tigre Hill said his respect for police began at a young age. “My mother pointed at a policeman and said ‘he is your friend'”
State Rep. Mike Verb (R-150) expressed concern about some of the statements made by public officials regarding law enforcement officers.
“Demand leadership at all levels, not just in the Commonwealth but at the federal level.”
Educator and activist Armond James said many of his students see police as “the enemy.” He said honest conversation is needed. He said cops put their lives on the line everyday.
Rich Davis of West Chester-based American Sheepdogs said “Police officers have our backs and their families have our hearts.”
Homeless advocate and Philadelphia Police Advisory Board member Joe Eastman noted that he never saw an officer who was superman.
“But I have seen hundreds of dedicated men and women who have taken an oath to protect this city.”
He said that police were all that stood before utter chaos.
Businesswoman and commentator Renee Amoore and attorney Matt Rooney, who is founder of SaveJersey.com, gave rousing statements in appreciation of those in blue, as did Bob Ballentine, secretary for Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5.
Master of ceremonies duties were performed by Teri Adams and WPHT Talk Show Host Dom Giordano, who was instrumental in promoting the event. Ms. Adams also started things with a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
The invocation was given by Rev. Todd Johnson of First Emmanuel Baptist Church. The ceremony ended with taps by Kevin Gruenfeld.
Montgomery County Sheriff Russell Bono and a Philadelphia councilman whose name we missed attended and were recognized from the podium.
Those interested in making a contribution to the families of slain New York Police officers Wenjian Liue and Rafael Ramos can contribute via PayPal by sending payments to Daily News Charities, account number 9387-575-837, routing number 021-000-322 or sending a check payable to Daily News Charities Inc. to Daily News Charities, Ramos and Liu families, New York Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004.
Kudos to Don and Teri Adams and the rest of the Independence Hall Foundation.
For more photos of the event go here.
Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Be Introduced Again
Filmmaker Tigre Hill will be among the speakers at The Independence Hall Foundation’s Pro Blue Rally, Saturday.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) will be among the speakers at the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally, 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10 on Independence Mall, 5th and Market streets, Philadelphia, as will filmmaker Tigre Hill, who is best known for his documentaries The Shame of the City, which involved the 2003 Philadelphia mayoral race between John Street and Sam Katz; and The Barrel of a Gun, which concerned the 1981 murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner.
The event, which is being organized by The Independence Hall Foundation, is support of local police officers throughout the Delaware Valley and in remembrance of slain New York Police officers Ramos Rafael and Wenjian Liu, according to Teri Adams of the Foundation.
The theme is “All Lives Matter.”
Also on hand will be Media (Pa) Mayor Bob McMahon, State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160), Army veteran and homeless veteran advocate Joe Eastman, educator Armond James, Chester County Sheriff Bunny Welsh, businesswoman Renee Amoore, bugler Kevin Gruenfeld and Rev. Todd Johnson, pastor of the First Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Master of ceremony will be WPHT Talk Show host Dom Giordano.
Yes, the Philly Pro Blue Rally features Tigre Hill
Teri Adams of Independence Hall Foundation has announced that the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally will be held 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10 on Independence Mall, 5th and Market streets, Philadelphia.
“As you well know, the mostly unanswered nationwide protests attacking local police has indirectly led to the assassination of two NYPD Officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Lui, in Brooklyn, New York, this past Saturday,” Ms. Adams said.
She said the rally will show support for the men and women of the various police departments, throughout the Delaware Valley, who take monumental risks, everyday, to protect our lives and provide safety to our loved ones.
She said that several elected officials have already committed to speak at the rally.
She noted the event is strictly non-partisan and all individuals who sincerely support the efforts of local police and law enforcement officers are welcome.
She asked that any signage be positive and only reflect support for the men and women in blue.
Philadelphia seems to be hip now. Buzzfeed.com has an article 36 Reasons Philadelphia May Be The Weirdest City – which Buzzfeed means as a compliment — and Huff Post Travel has published 31 Reasons Philadelphia Is The Most Underrated City In America
One guesses that sort of thing is bound to happen when the world’s largest entertainment conglomerate makes a place its headquarters.
Huff Post mentions include BYOB restaurants, soft pretzels, cheap alcohol, Wawa and the Wing Bowl.
Buzzfeed mentions include Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets, several items concerning Philadelphia sports fans (with which we are in complete agreement regarding weirdness albeit not in a complimentary sense), Wawa and the Wing Bowl.
Of course, the truth is that Philadelphia was always hip.
One can strongly argue that the greatest contribution of our city and state officials is comic relief. And that’s exactly what we have in Harrisburg, as 114 representatives, 39 senators and one lame duck governor just passed the biggest joke legislation in recent memory – an increase in the tax on cigarettes bought in Philadelphia to $2 a pack. The tax revenue is intended to bail out the Philadelphia School District – a black hole that sucks endless amounts of taxpayer money into its coffers – despite its monumental failure to educate.
And the cycle continues: even though the district has more than enough money (over $20,000 per student, per year, yet somehow that’s not “fair”), it cried poor, and, like clockwork, got rewarded with more funding by gutless elected officials. The tragic punchline? The district will continue to score an “F” on the only test that matters: our children’s education.
Any seventh-grader could tell you that the cigarette tax will not only fail miserably in achieving its goal, but will, in fact, hurt Philadelphians. Consider:
1. The cigarette tax will supposedly raise $49 million, though, not surprisingly, projections continue to change. Since the district maintains that it has an $81 million deficit, a gap still remains. And given that Philadelphia taxes damn near everything already, making it one of the highest-taxed cities in the country, what’s next?
2. How exactly is $49 million – out of a $2.6 billion budget – going to help improve anything? Answer: it’s not.
3. It seems like all the justifications we have heard for more taxes and more funding are rooted in saving jobs. But let’s be honest: A) the district is massively inefficient and bureaucratically top-heavy; thousands of jobs can, and should be, eliminated, and B) the only thing that matters is the children, but like always, much of the money never finds its way to the classroom, where it’s needed most. More money doesn’t educate children; accountable educators do.
4. This column has discussed common sense, free-market reform measures ad nauseam. None have been implemented (one of Gov. Corbett’s many failures), nor will they be, because too many politicians fear the teachers’ unions. Until the status quo is turned upside down, nothing will change. All the money in the world won’t improve a thing, and once again, the only ones who really matter – the students – take the hit.
5. The results for standardized state exams are in, and are right where you’d expect – in the toilet. They’re worse than last year’s scores, with reading and math achievement dropping even further. Bottom line: After spending two-and-a-half billion dollars last year, fewer than half of all students met state standards. That’s insane.
6. Republicans who voted for the cigarette tax either A) know it won’t solve anything but knuckle under to pressure, or B) really think throwing more money into a bottomless pit will work. On either count, they deserve to be removed from office by the voters. Here’s hoping.
7. Now for the real world implications of the tax:
First, the anticipated revenue projections are a joke, and won’t come close to being met. Why? Because Philadelphia isn’t New York or L.A., where it would take an hour just to get outside the city limits to buy cheaper cigarettes. In Philly, it’s a quick drive to the surrounding counties where a pack of smokes is significantly cheaper.
And remember that Philadelphia already imposes an 8 percent sales tax (not 6, like the rest of the state), driving up the price that much more. Bottom line: smokers aren’t going to quit, but will simply buy their cigarettes elsewhere.
One wonders if the budget gurus factored in this “bootleg” factor of Philadelphians buying their cigarettes outside the city when they compiled their revenue projections.
Second, the tax will significantly hurt small business owners. Customers who normally bought their cigarettes (and numerous other things) at the corner store now will take their business elsewhere – a boon to convenience stores right over the border but a death knell to city shop keepers. And as they go by the wayside, so do jobs, as well as the income and property taxes they generate.
Nothing like putting more Pennsylvania small business owners out of business. One would think the job of the governor and the Legislature is to keep people employed and grow the economy, instead of forcing businesses to close, move out of state, and put people out of work. Guess not.
Rather than a “smoke” and mirrors approach, the governor and Legislature should have sent the message that enough was enough; instead of sending more blank checks to Philadelphia, it was time to finally overhaul a failed educational system. In doing so, they would have won the support not just of suburbanites sick of seeing their tax dollars wasted, but also the parents of those trapped in abysmal Philadelphia schools with no way out.
Instead, the promise of their new tax law will go up in smoke, and with it, another generation of lost children.
Many still remember the view of the Publicker Distillery while crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge and its billboards for Old Hickory Bourbon and other products.
Others remember how the 40-acre site on Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia became a polluted Superfund scandal after it closed in 1982.
In its heyday in the 1950s, it was one of the giants of the liquor industry with a plant in Scotland producing Inver House Scotch, named for owner Simon Neuman’s Radnor home, and was the world’s biggest buyer of Cuban molasses.
The company got into the booze business in 1933 with the end of Prohibition.
Fortune magazine ran a optimistic story at the time about how Harry Publicker — founder and Neuman’s father-in-law — was going to shake up the booze business by making drinkable whiskey without aging it. One supposes they were right. Here is the link.
