Category: PHILLY & PA. NEWS

\’I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper\’

By

Steven B. Brooks

FEB  2020

Topsham, Maine–

There have been times when those participating in Corey E. Garver American Legion Post 202’s Winter Classic in Topsham, Maine, have slid on ice trying to run to first base, broken through a crusty layer of snow running down a fly ball, or even disappeared into a fluffy, four-foot pile of the white stuff attempting to dive for a ball in foul territory.

Not ideal conditions for softball, but that doesn’t matter at all to those who have been taking part in the annual fundraiser – some for all six years of its existence. From sub-zero temperatures to snow drifts lining the field adjacent to Post 202, the conditions don’t matter as much as the event’s cause: raising money to help end the veteran homelessness issue in Maine.

The motto for the event, which took place on Feb. 22 this year, is concise and to the point: “We play in the cold so that veterans don’t have to live in the cold.”

“That’s all this is about,” Post 202 Commander Nancy Laffin-Gillespie said. “Yes, we’re having fun. It’s a unique thing playing in the snow. But the reality is people live in the cold. Everybody here knows the reason why they’re here is to keep people out from the cold.”

The idea for the Winter Classic came from former Post 202 Commander Nik Hamlin, who helped save a nearly defunct Post 202 in 2013 and now is a member of American Legion Post 158 in Lisbon to be closer to home. But Hamlin doesn’t like to take credit for a vision that has grown bigger every year.

“I can’t take credit for this event because it’s a community event,” Hamlin said. “I can’t do this without everybody. When it comes to tackling any kind of issues that affect society, it’s going to take the community to do it.”

Laffin-Gillespie said the post is in the right community to make something like the Winter Classic a success. “We are very lucky here in the state of Maine. Our veteran community is amazing,” she said. “We all come out together and try to help in any way we can for any veteran problems.”

Each year the money raised has gone to a local or state program that includes among its mission eradicating veteran homelessness. This year’s funds went to Maine Veterans In Need, a non-profit that consist of members of the Maine American Legion, the Bureau of Maine Veteran Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other service organizations.

Teams were asked to donate $200, but many upped that donation. Additional funds raised and donated, along with a raffle and 50-50 drawing, brought this year’s total raised to more than $4,500 – triple what the event raised in 2019.

While Hamlin was pleasantly surprised by the donation total, “I feel if I wasn’t able to (donate that amount) this whole thing would feel hollow,” he said. “To be able to do that … I can see the fruits of my labor. I can see where the money goes. I can see those affected by it. I owe it to the people that come here to donate it to a place that’s a good place to accomplish the mission.”

Post 202 has thrived in part because while embracing traditional American Legion programs, it also takes a unique approach to carrying out its other missions – such as the Winter Classic.

“What we found with this is you can do it in a fun way,” said Department of Maine Commander Matthew Jabaut, a member of Post 202. “Too many times our events are maybe a little too solemn or a little too formal. If you can do a lot of cool, good, serious work in a fun way, it’s able to reach people, and then people really want to get active and engaged and be part of that. And then there’s that good feeling when you leave … and you’re not just having fun to have fun. You’re also doing it for a good cause.”

Laffin-Gillespie transferred to Post 202 around two years ago because of what the post has been able to accomplish over the past six-plus years. “I really like this post has a good grasp on the mission of The American Legion,” she said. \”It has a good grasp on veteran issues that need raised (and) that people need to be educated on. And we make progress in trying to help these problems.”

One of those problems is veteran homelessness, which has dropped considerably in part due to the efforts of Maine Veterans In Need, but still remains an issue in a state with a long, brutal winter season. “Veterans, especially when they’re transitioning, can fall into a lot of holes. I, myself, was a couch surfer for a while when I got out,” Laffin-Gillespie said. “Having a place that’s your home – your own home – means a lot. That’s why it’s important to me that I can help any veteran that I can. If this helps them to get a hotel room for five days just to get them off the street … that’s great.”

Those who participate in the Winter Classic share the same sentiment. Russ Taylor, a longtime member of the Sons of The American Legion and the current SAL Squadron 86 commander, has been a part of four of the six years of the Winter Classic, playing on a team consisting of American Legion Family members from Post 86 in Gray, Maine. Every year Post 86 has fielded a team for the event.

“We’ve never done very well, but we have fun and it’s for a good cause,” Taylor said. “We can go play in the snow for one day (and) a homeless veteran doesn’t have to live in the cold – that’s why we do it.\”

Team Grateful, which plays out of Lovell, Maine, has won the past two Winter Classics. But while the squad celebrated after its most recent championship, that’s not what motivated the squad to drive 90 minutes each way to play at Post 202.

Rich Massey, a member of Team Grateful, has participated in five Winter Classics with his team. “I think the biggest reason I do this is I didn’t serve,” he said. “This is how I try to pay it back: doing stuff like this and contributing any way I can. We love this, and we’ll be back every year.”

The double-elimination tournament started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at around 5:30 that evening. Music played throughout the day, while those attending could get assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mobile Vet Center, which was set up outside the post.

Also in Post 202’s parking lot was a trailer converted over to

temporary homeless veteran housing

by Charles E. Sherman Jr. Post 36 Legionnaires Ed Harmon and Arthur Richardson. The Winter Classic gave participants and spectators a chance to check out the trailer, which is intended to be a prototype for a larger future fleet of similar trailers.

Harmon said it’s important to work together to end veteran homelessness. “It’s going to take a team to solve this issue,” he said. “It won’t just be one individual.”

But the Winter Classic started with one person: Hamlin. And it’s a cause that gets him emotional at times. Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, he shared with the participants the story of Navy veteran Russell Wilson, who died this winter in his sleeping bag near railroad tracks in Brunswick.

“We’re here to stop that. We’re here to make that (stuff) never happens again,” Hamlin said, his voice breaking a bit. “Help me make sure that never happens again. It takes a community to save a community.

\”I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper.”

SOURCE THE AMERICAN LEGION

If You Want to Succeed on Instagram, Listen Up

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 1, 2020)–Here\’s the problem when it comes to social media marketing. A lot of people are under the impression that they have to just post the right content and everything will be fine.

Well, on an absolute level, this is 100% correct. There is nothing to debate. There is nothing to discuss. This is absolutely spot on.

But there are a lot of details to explore. There are a lot of gaps there.

What content? When do you post these materials? Who do you address this to? How do you position this content? I can go on and on. The list is actually quite long.

While we can talk about basic truisms, like you have to buy Instagram likes or social proof so you can get an organic critical mass going, you have to read between the lines. You have to dig deeper. This requires an overall day to day strategy. Simply buying social proof from places like

buzzvoice.com

isn’t going to be enough.

Now, please understand that this is very different from an overall holistic strategy. I\’m not talking about that. I\’m not talking about your big picture strategy or 30,000 bird\’s eye view perspective.

There\’s a place for that. It\’s absolutely important, but we\’re talking about day to day practical tasks that you need to do every single day for your Instagram marketing account to be successful.

So, what are these daily activities that you need to take care of? Well, first of all, you need to make sure that you use the right hashtags.

Now, how do you know which hashtags to use? Well, it\’s very simple. You mix and match.

You experiment with different hashtags that you lifted from other places. You can reverse engineer your competitors\’ hashtags. Wherever they come from, make sure you experiment and see which hashtags are actually delivering solid value.

How do you know? Well, you can call people to action. You can run little contests. Whatever the case may be, get your followers themselves to supply the hashtags through some sort of feedback so you can see if you are on the right path.

The second thing that you need to do is call people to action in terms of your content. Ask them, \”Is this the kind of content that you want?\” If not, please suggest the right content.

Offer them some sort of incentive. Here\’s the secret: it doesn\’t have to be money.

You have to understand that on the internet, especially on social media, symbolic or purely non-monetary incentives work as well, if not better, than monetary incentives.

You don\’t have to spend one red cent. Just get people to believe that they are getting value. Oftentimes, the perception of value is more important than the actual value. When your fans believe they are getting value, they spread the word about you. This is one of the cheapest and most sustainable ways to

grow your Instagram following

.

The third thing that you need to do is to constantly pay attention to your competition. This is the great thing about Instagram. Everything is transparent.

So, if you see that your competitors are up to something and they\’re experimenting with different types of postings as well as different types of media and hashtags and descriptions, sit up and pay attention. See if you can copy some of that and improve what you\’re doing.

By sticking to these three daily, highly practical tasks, you will be able to take your account to the next level in terms of reach and effectiveness.

Public Support for Program to Cut Pollution/Modernize Transportation in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

“It’s a Big Hit!”: More Than 9 Out of 10 Back Transportation & Climate Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC – February 28, 2019 – The message from residents of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to lawmakers couldn’t be clearer: The proposed Transportation & Climate Initiative cap-and-invest program to modernize transportation in the region is a winner.

A strong 91 percent of public comments from 12 states and the District of Columbia support the Transportation & Climate Initiative’s policy, according to a review by the Our Transportation Future (OTF) coalition of the 8,308 public comments filed

in the public portal

since mid-December.

An improved regional transportation system would mean more electric cars and trucks and charging infrastructure, reliable mass transit, walkable and bikeable communities, less congestion and pollution, and increased investments in projects that connect everyone, including those in underserved and rural areas.

Speaking on behalf of OTF, Jordan Stutt, carbon program director, Acadia Center said: “For elected officials who have been waiting on the close of the comment period to gauge public sentiment, the outcome could not be clearer:  Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Americans want to fix our dirty and broken transportation system.  No amount of oil industry-funded propaganda will change the fact that there is overwhelming public support for the important goals of the Transportation & Climate Initiative. It’s a big hit.”

OTF reviewed the comments submitted through an online portal between December 17, 2019 (when the states released a

draft memorandum of understanding

) and 9 a.m. ET today (which had previously been announced as the target deadline date for comment submissions). The 12 states are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

A sampling of comments from the public includes:

“…People in northern New England would be willing to utilize affordable public transportation if it was an option. Connecting the mid-Atlantic would also increase people\’s ability to travel and spend money in other states, which would ultimately boost the economy. Lastly, it would allow people with medical conditions, disabilities or other impairments to access more services in a greater area because there would be accessible and affordable public transportation. Please consider funding this project and allowing residents in even some of the most rural areas to be able to access public transportation …”

Alexandra Sturtevant, Portland, ME

“We need to focus on reducing pollution from transportation for climate sake, as well as to ensure our communities are livable.  Maryland should formally join the plan to reduce emissions and should take important actions to ensure the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Any transportation policy should prioritize clean investments and should assist those areas that don\’t have access to clean investments.  I appreciate the bipartisan creation of this policy and stress the need for regions to move forward, especially at a time when our federal government seems to be reversing course.”

Ed Trever, Silver Spring, MD

“As a member of the Republican party, I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. I have grandchildren, and I want them to live long, happy lives, where they don\’t have to worry about the status of our planet. I want them to have clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. Even though this program may raise gas prices, I think what we have to gain from doing so is more important than a few extra dollars spent. I think this is a relatively conservative approach to climate change, and is a market-based solution, which I appreciate as a conservative. I think that New York should join TCI, and that other states should consider joining as well.”

Paulette Arena, Rochester, NY

“I strongly support the TCI and hope that it is implemented. Not only will it help to address emissions from the transportation sector (the largest source of emissions in Massachusetts and across the region), but it will also raise funds that are desperately [sic] needed to upgrade public transportation as well as to transition to being powered by 100% clean renewable energy…”

Logan Malik, Great Barrington, MA

“TCI is a once in a generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and re-invest funds to much needed transit improvements, including safe and reliable public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and ‘Complete Streets’ for bikers and pedestrians. Unreliable transit is taking time residents should be spending at work or with their families. Those without choices have to drive and the resulting traffic congestion is further damaging our environment, public health, and quality of life. Please choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions cap. Please make sure the [sic] TCI policy has equity and investment in overburdened and under-served communities as a first and foremost priority.”

– Sara Holmes, Chester, CT

Members of the public were asked to weigh in with their support or opposition to the draft policy via a comment portal organized by the

Georgetown Climate Center by February 28th

.

Our Transportation Future

is a coalition of 74 local, regional, and national organizations committed to modernizing transportation across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. OTF is focused on improving our transportation system — the ways we move people and goods in the region – to spur economic growth, make us healthier and safer, clean up the environment, and improve our quality of life.

Harrisburg Businessman Sentenced To Prison For Defrauding College Faculty Union

HARRISBURG Pa– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the former owner/operator of a Harrisburg based dental and vision claims processing business, Michael Timothy Buchanan, age 69, currently a resident of Fishers, Indiana, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on February 26, 2020, by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, for defrauding a trust fund established by the

Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) out of $1,493,629.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Buchanan pleaded guilty in May 2019 to a criminal information charging him with one count of health care fraud.  Buchanan executed a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Faculty Health and Welfare Fund (The Fund) between 2007 and 2017 by his submission of false, inflated invoices for the services his company, Actuaries, Consultants and Administrators, Inc. (ACA), provided The Fund in connection with the processing of dental and vision claims submitted by members of the APSCUF Union.

The Fund paid ACA $5.20 for each vision claim it processed and $8.10 for each dental claim it processed. Buchanan routinely and artificially inflated the number of claims it allegedly processed for The Fund between 2007 and 2017 that resulted in a $1,493,629 overpayment to ACA.

“Citizens have a right to expect that the hard-earned dollars they contribute towards ever increasing health care costs will be protected by the stewards of those funds,” said U.S. Attorney Freed.  “When such funds are misappropriated via fraud, we in federal law enforcement will step in to hold the fraudsters accountable.  We are pleased that Judge Rambo’s sentence recognized the serious nature of the defendant’s conduct, and that he has been ordered to pay back what he stole.”

“For a decade, Buchanan orchestrated the overbilling of the faculty union,” said Tara A. McMahon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.” “His company deliberately and repeatedly submitted one false claim after the next, resulting in the theft of nearly $1.5 million. With this sentence, he’ll begin to answer for such brazen fraud.”

“In an effort to personally enrich himself, Michael Buchanan stole more than $500,000 from union members’ health benefits through his scheme of submitting inflated invoices to the union trust fund,” said Derek Pickle, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the financial integrity of labor organizations,”

Judge Rambo ordered Buchanan to pay $1,493,629 in restitution to the Fund, to forfeit his interest in $1,493,629 in U.S. currency, and six Fidelity Brokerage Services retirement accounts.  Judge Rambo also ordered Buchanan to commence service of his sentence on April 20, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel prosecuted the case.

Four Top Strategies for Achieving Excellent Events in Philadelphia

By:

Alison Rooney

There are many essential elements to the art of managing successful events in a large city like Philadelphia. What do the local experts think you should make your focus? Here we draw upon recent reflections of t

Three of the city’s top event management leaders, shared during a recent Executive in Residence panel at the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM).

From infrastructure and risk management to partnerships and staying true to the mission of each panelist’s organization—these experts offered insight on how to leverage your resources to make the most of each event.

Recent Executives in Residence were:

Michael DelBene

, president and CEO of Welcome America, Inc.

Jazelle Jones

, deputy managing director of the City of Philadelphia Office of Special Events

Kelvin Moore

, general manager of the Pennsylvania Convention Center

WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR EVENT LEADERSHIP, ACCORDING TO PHILADELPHIA’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST?

1. KEEP ALL SEGMENTS OF YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND

Craft a marketing strategy that reaches all of your target audiences. Since last January, DelBene has run the nonprofit organization Welcome America, Inc., which produces dozens of entertaining and educational events over the week of July 4—and lots of these are free. “Many of our attendees are Philadelphians with families and limited disposable income,” he says. “Your audience may not even have internet access, let alone cell phones, so save room in the budget for traditional outreach.” Welcome America, for example, prints 250,000 brochures annually.

2. TRAIN AND PLAN FOR THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO

With large-scale events, risk management is key, so planning is everything. Continually learn and re-assess, and create detailed action and incident plans as well as a crowd management plan. To ensure that visitors will be safe and are inconvenienced as little as possible, surround yourself with subject matter experts like Jones has. A 14-year City leader and veteran administrator, she oversees more than 1,500 events annually. Her team learns from the best practices of organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its resources: a comprehensive publication that outlines specific strategies, a Toolkit on Community Lifelines, and a podcast on dozens of topics. At every stage, get your team together and ask, “What did we learn today that we can apply tomorrow?”

3. BUILD AND LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO SCALE UP YOUR EVENT

Success for event hosting in a large-scale market looks like this: “Philadelphia went from 600 events a year in the wake of the 2007–09 recession to hosting 1,600 over the past decade,” says Jones. She knows first-hand, not only from 2015 when Philadelphia hosted the DNC but also the NFL Draft in 2017. “We leveraged partnerships with these national organizations,” she says, “and it has contributed to the fact that people who used to go to New York City now see Philadelphia as an even more desirable destination.”

4. DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR MISSION AMIDST ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

Moore draws upon 27 years of industry experience at seven convention centers nationally and plans more than 200 events a year in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Still, he never loses sight of his primary objectives: “First and foremost is a seamless and inspiring visitor experience,” he says. “Nonprofits like ours certainly deliver events that have an economic impact on their city, but our main job is ensuring that our attendees have a fantastic time.” How? Improve daily working procedures with client-focused strategies as a means to realign sales and services. And this is a day-in, day-out responsibility.

Real Estate Ponzi Scheme

Rhode Island Woman’s Fraud Preyed on Friends and Neighbors

Monique Brady\’s house in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Prosecutors said fraud proceeds paid for the home\’s $9,400 per month mortgage, with a total of $342,243 in mortgage payments made during the scheme.

A Rhode Island woman who preyed on the trust of friends, family, and neighbors in a dubious investment scheme—one that gilded her reputation and lifestyle while fleecing her victims of $4.8 million—was sentenced this month to eight years in prison. She was also ordered to pay back her victims.

Monique Brady pleaded guilty last July in federal court to running a fraud scheme prosecutors have described as “reprehensible,” “insidious,” and “depraved.” Brady, 45, of East Greenwich, claimed her property preservation company, MNB, had contracts to rehabilitate New England properties. She said she needed investments of $20,000 to $80,000 to pay subcontractors to perform the work. In return, investors were promised a 50-percent yield once the rehabilitation work was complete.

In the end, investigators determined it was all a $10 million charade. There were no large-scale property rehabs and only a few legitimate low-dollar contracts—almost all the money was used to prop up Brady’s Ponzi scheme and support a lavish lifestyle on the backs of friends who thought they knew her.

“She had lifelong friends who were just totally and completely betrayed by her,” said Pepper Daigler, a special agent in the FBI’s Boston Field Office who worked with Internal Revenue Service special agents on the case.

Brady’s victims—among them, multi-millionaires, firefighters, young, and elderly—represented a cross-section of the tony community 30 minutes south of Providence. Most had a very close connection to Brady. Investigators identified 23 individuals who lost their investments in the scheme, which encouraged investors to roll over purported gains to increase their stakes and potential windfalls. Some lost everything in the scam, which went on for at least four years before Brady was arrested on April 25, 2019, as she prepared to flee the country.

“She had life-long friends who were just totally and completely betrayed by her.”

Pepper Daigler, special agent, FBI Boston

“The burden of this loss is nearly impossible to put into words,” said one victim, identified as J.L., a week before Brady’s February 11 sentencing. “The stress my family has endured is beyond measure. Even my children’s futures are altered forever.”

The scam came to light after the IRS criminal investigators discovered inconsistencies between Brady’s spending and her business. That led to closer forensic analysis and then a deeper dive into financial records that showed repeated deposits of large checks, including some for $50,000 or $60,000. The high-dollar figures are not that unusual in real estate, where flipping houses and extensive remodels can reach into six figures. But the sham fell apart quickly when federal agents began interviewing Brady’s “investors.”

“That’s essentially where the wheels came off for her,” said Special Agent Mark Homsi of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. “We were presenting them with records from these vendors where she did little or no actual work and they are providing us with these promissory notes for $50,000 or $60,000 investments. That was really the turning point—the interviews with these people.”

A 67-year-old victim with a quadriplegic husband and elderly parents with Alzheimer’s and dementia said in a statement to the court that she lost both her life savings and her parents’ savings to Brady’s ploy.

“I cannot articulate the guilt that haunts me for having made such an irresponsible decision that was grounded in emotion instead of common sense,” L.R. said in a victim impact statement. “Monique was fully aware of who I was as a caregiver, and she exploited that knowledge for her own selfish and criminal gain.”

In all, the self-styled preservation expert solicited investments for projects on 171 properties; no work was ever performed on 98 of those. Prosecutors said Brady’s conduct was as bad as they have ever seen in a Rhode Island fraud case. Brady even continued her scheming while incarcerated and awaiting sentencing, according to a February 6 sentencing memorandum. Her misconduct included making more than 200 unauthorized phone calls from prison using other inmates’ personal identification numbers.

Investigators said Brady’s case is a cautionary tale for anyone considering a get-rich-quick scheme. Her victims thought she was their friend and that she was doing them a favor—letting them in on something too good to pass up. But in this case, it was all too good to be true.

IRS Agent Homsi said Brady’s affluent friends were just as taken in as those who could least afford it: “Oftentimes, these are people who are very successful in the business world. And they would say, ‘If it wasn’t Monique, I would have done much more due diligence.’ But they just had that implicit trust in her.”

Meanwhile, the investments were paying for Brady’s extravagances, including a $9,400 monthly mortgage; trips to the tropics, Europe, multiple Super Bowls; a luxury shoe collection; and elective plastic surgery that she paid for in cash.

It wasn’t until the scheme fell apart that its breadth became apparent. Evidently, Brady encouraged secrecy among her investors—another common ploy of scam artists and Ponzi schemes. She eschewed talking business in social settings, said FBI Special Agent Daigler. Potential investors might have seen that as a sign of class, while others might see a potential red flag.

“I guess if somebody tells you to keep a secret, always be weary of why you have to keep it a secret,” Daigler said.

“Oftentimes, these are people who are very successful in the business world. But they just had that implicit trust in her.”

Mark Homsi, special agent, IRS Criminal Investigation

Resources

Rhode Island Businesswoman Sentenced in $10M Ponzi Scheme That Defrauded 23 Individuals

2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show February 29 – March 8 (Video)

Escape to a Riviera Holiday at the 2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

From February 29 through March 8, plant lovers everywhere will celebrate the breathtaking vistas and gardens of these sun-soaked regions at the 2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, \”Riviera Holiday.\”

No other parts of the world evoke such powerful and seductive images of paradise than the Mediterranean, where jaw-dropping coastlines, azure skies, groves of citrus, and exotic blooms await in the everlasting sunshine!

America’s largest flower show invites guests to explore more gardens than ever before! Dig-in at daily Planting Parties and indulge in NEW behind-the-scenes tours and dining experiences.

Check this one off your bucket list. Book your Riviera Holiday today!

Buy now and save!

Discounted Show Tickets

Philadelphia Bar Association Calls for an End to Unwarranted Attacks on the U.S. Judiciary

Encourages All Americans to Speak Up in Defense of the Constitution and Our Country’s Democratic Principles

PHILADELPHIA, PA –

In response to recent, unwarranted attacks on the U.S. Judiciary, Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (ret.) of the

Philadelphia Bar Association

, the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, issued the following statement:

“As the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association has always considered certain principles to be imperatives of this Association and of the legal profession. We believe that the rule of law and an independent judiciary are cornerstones of a democracy and of a civilized society.

“Unless these structures and principles are vibrant, and unless we vigorously defend their existence, the dream of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people begins to crumble.

“The rule of law demands that each individual, whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, understands that the law is applied equally to them. We cannot have two systems of justice, one for the rich and connected and one for everyone else.

“Our Constitution provides for a separation of powers through a system of checks and balances which ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

“An independent judiciary is a necessity if we are to function as a democracy and not as an authoritarian society. Judges need to know that their lawful judgments will be upheld, and that their very legitimacy may not be questioned. Under the rule of law, the way to question or challenge a judicial determination or Order is through an appellate review process.

“Recently, we have seen a course of conduct, including communications meant to exert undue influence on the judiciary, that seems intent on undermining the rule of law and disrupting the system of checks and balances. Such attacks are dangerous in the extreme. We cannot allow them to continue.

“We call for an end to these unwarranted attacks on the judiciary and for all Americans to speak up in defense of the Constitution and our democratic principles.

“A society without laws is not a society; it is chaos. A society without an

i

ndependent judiciary is not the society that we should value.”

# # #

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is the preeminent metropolitan association of lawyers in the United States. It is a keystone in the ongoing developments of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania legal systems.

With more than 200 years of dedicated service to stand on, the Philadelphia Bar Association is firmly rooted in the Philadelphia community as a steady and reliable bellwether. To learn more about the association,

visit here

.

The Center for American Women and Politics Provides Unparalleled Resources for 2020 Elections

With the first congressional and state primaries only a week away, the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University is breaking down the performance of women candidates across the country through our

Election Watch

project. As in years

past, CAWP will provide results data about women candidates after primary contests, marrying historical data and context with present-day analysis to provide real-time updates on the 2020 election cycle. Before primary day, check out the myriad resources already on the

CAWP website

, and stay tuned for more updates.

REVAMPED

Candidate Summary

: See full numbers of women candidates for Senate, House, governor, lieutenant governor, and other statewide elected executive offices, now accompanied by interactive graphics that compare current numbers to historical records, display state-by-state information, track candidate filings, sort candidates by whether they\’re running for open seats or as challengers, and more. This candidate summary currently includes both likely and filed candidates and will update throughout the year with confirmed, filed candidates and general election nominees as filing deadlines and primary elections pass. The candidate summary will also include general election candidates for state legislatures following primary election results. [

CANDIDATE SUMMARY

]

2020 Candidate List

: This page contains a list of all filed and likely candidates for congressional, gubernatorial, and other statewide elected executive offices, along with links to candidate websites. As with the candidate summary, when filing deadlines pass, this list will update with all confirmed, filed candidates. Filed candidates are marked \”filed\” while likely candidates are marked with their state\’s filing deadline. This list also includes candidates in special elections. [

CANDIDATE LIST

]

Election Analysis

: Throughout the 2020 election, CAWP\’s Election Analysis blog will provide research and analysis from both CAWP\’s team of scholars and researchers as well as guest contributions from academics and expert practitioners. Some recent analyses include:

A woman can win the presidency. Here are the receipts.

;

After Iowa: Is sexism weighing Warren down?

; and

What does Buttigieg\’s success mean for gender progress in American politics?

. Our Election Analysis blog will also include expanded primary results with more detail than our press releases. [

ELECTION ANALYSIS

]

Rebound candidates:

Record numbers of women ran at all levels of office in 2018, and record numbers were successful, but many women fell short of victory. In 2020, CAWP is tracking those unsuccessful 2018 candidates that are getting back in the race for 2020. [

REBOUND CANDIDATES

]

Woman vs. Woman Races

: As primary elections are decided, CAWP will track congressional and gubernatorial races that feature two women nominees. The record for such races was also set in 2018. [

WOMAN vs. WOMAN RACES

]

As always, our

Election Watch

site includes historical data for previous elections. To stay in the know about women in 2020 during election nights, debates, and throughout the cycle, follow

CAWP on Twitter

and our election hashtag

#GenderLens2020

. To arrange an interview with one of CAWP\’s experts, contact

Daniel De Simone

.

About CAWP

The

Center for American Women and Politics

(CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers-New Brunswick, is nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about American women\’s political participation. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women\’s participation in politics and government and to enhance women\’s influence and leadership in public life. CAWP\’s education and outreach programs translate research findings into action, addressing women\’s under-representation in political leadership with effective, intersectional, and imaginative programs serving a variety of audiences. As the world has watched Americans considering female candidates for the nation\’s highest offices, CAWP\’s nearly five decades of analyzing and interpreting women\’s participation in American politics have provided the foundation and context for the discussion.

Most Common Cable Connection Problems and Easy Ways to Fix Them

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 28, 2020)–Our lives are dependent on the internet and disconnection means a total blackout. Be it an office, a home or a public place, the internet is everywhere. Admit it or not, we are all trapped and chained to the charismatic world of internet.

No matter what, every one of us has faced cable connection issues leading to internet disconnection, and without having any clue, we are in a state of confusion – what to do next. Imagine yourself watching a thriller movie on

Spectrum TV

and suddenly the movie stops in the middle – what is your first reaction?

You would definitely question yourself how do I fix it. Should I call the customer support or try to figure out the problem myself. If I call the customer support, I would have to wait for some time and in the meanwhile, my interest in the movie would diminish. It is better to sort out the problem myself.

We are going to reveal some of the common cable connection issues how you can fix them without banging your head. Let’s get started.

Loose Connections and Power Cable

Generally, the problem arises when the terminal connection at outlets and wall switches become loose. Make sure to check these fixtures and if any of the connections are loose, try to fix them. You can identify loose connections through signals such as crackling sound, or buzzing.

Moreover, sometimes we bang, nudge or poke wires without knowing it and wonder why it is not working without checking. If your internet is not connecting, then check that your router is not unplugged or the plug is halfway in and halfway out. If you see any of the two issues, just make sure to take out the plug and insert it tightly.

Moreover, the router’s LED lights can also indicate whether the connection is loose or unplugged. If there is no light, the router is not getting any power. To fix this, simply first disconnect the power cable and reconnect it.

In case your router is still not working, make sure to check the outlet and power supply to see if it is getting power. Just take the tester, put it in the socket and see if the light turns on. If not, there is a problem with the power strip and not the router or lose connection.

Joining Wires with Electrical Tape

Wire connections when joined together with tape can result in an error. Rather than connecting the wires with tape, it is better to use a nut or a sanctioned connector. To fix this issue, you must first turn off the power and remove the electrical tape from the wire. Clean the wire and make sure that the insulation on the wire should be removed in such a way that it is showing the proper amount of exposed wire. After ripping off the insulation, connect the wire properly with nut or any other approved connector.

Two Wires under Single Screw Terminal

Common cable connection issues also arise when two or more wires are connected under the same screw terminal on an outlet or a switch. It can be quite hazardous due to the possibility of a fire eruption. For safety reasons, it is not allowed to have two wires squeezed under one screw.

To resolve this issue, you need to cut off the power before you start repairing it. After turning off the power supply, remove the two wires wedged under one screw. Take a pigtail wire of the same color and remove ¾ inch of insulation from both ends of the pigtail. Now connect one end to the two wires you just removed previously.

Join the free end of the wire to the screw terminal that was holding two wires previously. You can also create a pathway or bridge that joins both wires to the preferred screw terminal on the switch or outlet.

Call Your ISP if Everything Fails

After you have done all the aforementioned steps and the problem persists, make sure to call your Internet Service Provider. The customer support will try to resolve the problem over the phone by checking your system on their end. If the problem can’t be solved over the phone, your Internet Service Provider will surely send a technical person to your home.

image courtesy of unsplash.com