CLOSE UP by Brian Rudnick

Judicial candidate collects signatures to appear on ballot

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON MERIT SELECTION FOR JUDGES? “One of the great things, I think, about the election of judges, is that it really forces the candidates for judges to go out into the different neighborhoods and learn things by going on the ground that they wouldn’t have to learn otherwise through the merit selection of judges." WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING ABOUT CHESTNUT HILL? "Well, Chestnut Hill happens to be the community in which I reside so I’m not really learning anything by coming out into these streets so much as what I know from living here. But I was born and raised in the city of Philadelphia. I went to magnet school for middle school. I went to Masterman for high school. I went from Saul and one of the great things about going to a public school, a magnet school specifically is that it gave me an opportunity to learn about folks from all different neighborhoods all throughout the city of Philadelphia.” Drew Aldinger, Democratic candidate for judge with daughter Hannah.

Watch video interview here.

Signature collectors know little about their candidate

A young woman, wearing a large white button reading "Official Democratic  Petitioner" was one of three individuals collecting signatures just inside the Chestnut Hill Pathmark on a petition for Donna Gentile O'Donnell who is running in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia's 8th District City Council Seat. [Yours truly ran and lost as a Green in the general election for this post in the 2007 general election] The young woman solicited a signature from a shopper whom she had just misinformed that O'Donnell is running for Commissioner. Her two companions appeared equally unacquainted and uninformed about O'Donnell or her platform. Nor was there any campaign literature in sight.

Watch video here.

 

THIS IS FOR WHO?

{Signature Collector 1]Donna O’Donnell. Donna O’Donnell

AND WHAT IS SHE RUNNING FOR?

Eighth councilmanic district.

IT’S A PRETTY GOOD SPOT YOU GOT HERE RIGHT INSIDE THE STORE.

Well, we’re just trying to be creative, that’s all

AND WHAT’S HER POSITION ON THE ISSUES?

You have to speak to her about that. I won’t speak for her.

WELL WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING HER?

I think she’s a good candidate.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN HER?

Let me finish my job.

[Signature Collector 2]…. She’s going to be one of the electors for City Commissioner….

CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT HER?

[Signature Collector Jay Scott] Well, from what I’ve been told by my office, she’s been a city official for about 20 years and she seems like a fair person. And we feel as though the Democratic Party couldn’t be represented any better.

IS SHE OUT HERE TODAY?

No we came up here on our own because we’re trying to solicit and we don’t know the area good but we figure because the supermarket is where people shop on Saturdays and department stores, we’d try to affiliate that with that information.

DOES SHE  PAY WELL FOR COLLECTING SIGNATURES?

I couldn’t go in for  answers because I’m not getting paid but so much but it’s OK.

Valentines Day roses - does love hurt?

[Alexandra Serfass, Robertson's Flowers greenhouse employee]

In the 2004 movie, “Maria Full of Grace,” a pregnant young woman trades the harsh conditions of a flower packing operation in Colombia to come to the United States with a friend as a “drug mule.” It doesn't turn out well.

The flower export business is big business. Large, drab greenhouses, like those in Ecuador where “Maria” was filmed, can stretch for miles. From my bus window, I knew the eerily transformed landscape would not be on any picture postcard I would be sending home to the U.S.

Beauty has its cost to both the environment and people, however, according to “The Secrets Behind Your Flowers,” a February 2011 Smithsonian Magazine report. Because it may take three gallons of water to grow just one rose bloom, groundwater supplies become depleted.  The low-paying work is tedious and straining. In traditional growing operations, workers are exposed to the dangerous pesticides and fungicides that keep insects from taking the slightest nibble from an otherwise picture-perfect flower.

Public outcry in recent years has led to the introduction of fair trade practices.  Nicole Serfass, flower buyer at Robertson’s Flowers greenhouses in Wyndmoor, showed off the Veriflora label on the roses they import from South America.  Veriflora is one of a handful of certifying organizations that try to ensure that their growers are using sustainable agricultural methods and providing equitable, healthy conditions for their workers.

At Robertson’s showcase Chestnut Hill store, Sandy Robertson says they source their flowers locally  from New Jersey,  domestically from Florida when they can and even sees growing customer interest in organically or sustainably grown flowers. Serfass has been asking their growers about organic but believes it’s not yet economically worth it for them to invest the years required for organic certification.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Donna Beardell of  Chestnut Hill asks,  exiting Robertson’s with a brilliant bunch of pink tinged roses, destined for her nieces competing in a gymnastics meet. On Valentines Day, she’s hoping she’ll be the recipient.

watch video here

[Sandy Robertson]

 

[Donna Beardell of Chestnut Hill]

[Nicole Serfass Robertson's Flowers greenhouse, Buyer]

Israeli traded sand for snow, hopeful for democracy in Egypt

Along the cleared paths of the Morris Arboretum, visitors enjoy a snowy winter wonderland. Jacob and Sarah Pinto come frequently to the arboretum with their sons Shachar (right) and Yishai, to  experience the trees or an outdoor concert.

Jacob, a native Israeli, says of his family's relocation here two years ago that they’ve traded sand for snow. He says it does snow in Israel but only in the Golan Heights and only for a couple of weeks each year.

When asked about the situation in Egypt, he expressed hope that the country, Israel's neighbor and enemy-turned friend, will have a real democracy.

Watch video here.

Eating to Fight Hunger : Northwest's Empty Bowl Dinner

Featuring Mike McGrath, celebrity host, Thomas Uhas, Wharton Freshman interning with NWIHN and Frank Green.

From NWIHN literature "In every state in America, housing costs outpace wages. Approximately 2.3 to 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness at least once a year. 1 in34 children in Pennsylvania do not know where they will get their next meal. It is estimated that on any given night in Philadelphia as many as 1300 children stay in a shelter.... Please take a moment to sign the postcards at your table in support of stronger nutrition legislation."

From NPR site "Mike ..once again hosts [ Northwest Interfaith Hospitality Network's Empty Bowl Dinner at Chestnut Hill College] whose proceeds go to fund one of the best programs for homeless families in our area. For a small donation ($15 for adults; $5 for kids and students), you get to choose a bowl from a room full of wonderful ones (all handmade by local school children and artisans) and then fill it (or a disposable bowl if the 'real one' you picked is too cool to use) with all kinds of wonderful soups donated by area restaurants; as many different soups and as much of each as you want. (All you can eat bread and cookies too.) At the end of the evening you take home the bowl you picked out as a reminder of the empty bowls your donation helped fill"

From NWIHN's website:"Since our founding in 1991, Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN) has moved 275 families—745 individuals— from homelessness to stability. We look forward to growing our network further as we expand to Northeast Philadelphia in 2011. The NPIHN program provides assessment and referrals, emergency housing, supportive service and transitional housing. Equipped with new skills and relationships, 92% of our families do not return to shelter programs after their NPIHN experience. We offer a safe and child-friendly alternative to more chaotic public shelter settings, allowing families to remain in tact. Because we are small, we accommodate in-tact couples, single father households, adolescent boys, as well as single women with children. We strongly emphasize taking a holistic approach to rebuilding from homelessness. We are proud that our guests call us "the shelter that's more like a home." Our hospitality network is comprised of 1,200 caring volunteers, 30 congregations, concerned citizens of the community, community businesses, and institutions, and we are growing! There is space in our network for you and your congregation or organization, in this richly rewarding service to your neighbors."

Marie Colette, Paintre on the protests in France over retirement age

WHAT’S GOING ON IN FRANCE? “In France, the people, I think have been too spoiled because before Mitterand, the retirement was at 65. But to be voted for, [they] reduced it to 60 years old. And that was when- 1982?...Of course with all this booming of the new generation, there is not enough money to pay for social security and retirement for everybody so we have to extend again, from 60 to 62. The problem comes from that- only the two years. And I think the French are really spoiled. Students of 15 from the school, who don’t even care so much just do that manifestation. And Sarkozy said, ‘That’s enough, I’m going to pass the law anyway.’ ” Marie Collette of Glenside, a native of Champagne, Reims,  walking her dog Maya in Chestnut Hill, where she has had a shop for many years showcasing her painted furniture and murals. Watch video here.

 

Four guys launch "Five Guys" PAC

WHO ARE THE FIVE GUYS AND WHO ARE YOU? “I’m Mumin Islam, one of the five guys, it’s actually not five, it’s only four. The other member is Rahim Islam. We also have Charles Duncan and Joseph Meade. The Five Guys is basically a political action committee and what we’re trying to do is motivate younger people, young professionals to be involved in the political arena.” AND HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? “We’re doing it in several ways. We’ve thrown several fundraisers for politicians that we agree with. One was state representative Tony Payton, one was [state senator Leanna Washington], this event that we’re putting together. We’re having a fundraiser tomorrow night including Josh Cohen who’s running for state representative and we’re also planning a barbecue, community picnic in the summer. We’re trying to get younger people involved and let them know about the events that are going on.” Mu’min Islam, one of the “Five Guys”, producers of the gubernatorial candidate forum, Lutheran Theological Seminary with daughter Jannah. Watch video interview here.

From left to right, Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates Anthony Hardy Williams, Joe Hoeffel and Dan Onorato 

PA Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate protests Marcellus shale drilling

“I’m running for U.S. Senate on the Green Party ticket.” CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN? “I just started to campaign now. Our new brochure is out. We’re the only party and I’m the only senatorial candidate in this state who’s standing against the corporations - against Marcellus Shale drilling and for fair play for all people. Our economy right now has been completely taken over by the banksters and there’s no redress for the average people. We have five million homes being foreclosed, we have 30 million people unemployed with no help in sight and we don’t see an end to this economic crisis.” WHAT ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES YOU’RE TAKING ON LIKE THE MARCELLUS SHALE ISSUE? “The ones we just talked about which is the unemployed issue; we need to end all the wars now. These endless wars have got to stop, it’s just taxing us incredibly. We need to start bringing all the troops home and start using that money to create public sector jobs” AND HOW’S THE CAMPAIGN GOING? “It’s going fine. You have to understand we just started the campaign. A lot of people just now are involved in the primaries” YOU CAME IN FROM PITTSBURGH TODAY? “I came in from Pittsburgh to join this protest against Marcellus shale drilling and I will also stop down to Temple University Hospital picket line today; the strike needs a great deal of support and from there I’ll be going to speak at Cheyney University. There is a political candidate debate tonight.” Mel Packer, Pennsylvania Green Party Candidate for U.S. Senate, outside Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regional office, Norristown. Watch video interview here.

Girl can't take girl to prom, ACLU raises funds to fight back

“I assume you know what the ACLU is, American Civil Liberties Union, and as of now we’re fighting battles in seventeen different states. One of the more well-known you probably heard about was that girl in Mississippi, Constance McMillan, teenage senior, wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom, school said ‘no,’ court case ensues and we back up. The school board learns that they legally cannot do that, they cancel the prom outright. Sadly enough what’s not being talked about at all is that in Pennsylvania, not in Philly but in 80% of the state, it’s actually legal to fire someone for being gay so we’re trying to pursue House Bill 300 to change that.“ Matt Burkitt, ACLU fundraiser. Watch video interview here.

Little Time for Citizen Voices at Pennsylvania State Rep's Town Hall Meeting

I often listen to BBC radio on WHYY in the wee hours of the morning and one of my favorite programs is “From our own correspondent,” reports from foreign correspondents but with a personal perspective.

In a similar vein, this is my subjective account of Pennsylvania State Representative Cherelle Parker’s 9th Ward Town Hall meeting at the Jenks public K-8 School last Thursday. It was the first in a series of five such meetings to be held in Parker’s 200th legislative district between now and March 25th.