PhilaNet.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA —

According to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate in Philadelphia declined to 6.5% for April 2015, down from 7.1% in March 2015 and 7.5% for April 2014.  In addition, the number of jobs in Philadelphia increased by 4,300 from March to April to 687,100, the highest number for April since 2001 and 10,900 more jobs than April 2014.  By comparison the number of jobs in Philadelphia in January 2008 was 652,100, 35,000 fewer jobs than today.

“Philadelphia is on the rise and our Administration is focused on ensuring that all Philadelphians share in this prosperity,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  “There are more Philadelphians working today than at any point for almost 25 years, and Philadelphia has recovered from the recession faster than the country as a whole.  We are strengthening our efforts to support business growth and attract new companies to a city that is gaining an unprecedented level of attention.”

Other highlights from the recent BLS data include:

• The number of Philadelphians employed increased by 6,795 to 643,557.  Highest number since December 1990.
• The number of Philadelphians unemployed decreased by 3,841 to 44,690 and the size of the labor force grew by 2,954.
• State and National unemployment rates continue to hover 20% above their 2007 levels, while Philadelphia’s unemployment rate in April is lower than it was in January 2007.  Philadelphia has returned to its pre-recession level of unemployment faster than the state or the nation as a whole.

“The latest employment data is very encouraging and is a reflection of a city that is growing and thriving,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.  “By supporting the growth of existing businesses through programs such as 10,000 Small Businesses and Kiva City Philadelphia, attracting new companies, and undertaking major new developments such as the $350 million renovation of the Gallery, we are working every day to create new jobs and economic opportunities for all Philadelphians.”

Glen Foerd on the Delaware will be hosting its first family overnight on Friday, June 19th. Registration is open now! Attached you will find a press release about the event. Please do not hesitate to contact us about additional information.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
www.glenfoerd.org
215 632 5330

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Security wearing shirts that said “Alcohol Enforcement” became overly aggressive at a Radio 104.5 concert held at Festival Pier along Penn’s Landing. It was not evident who employed the men. They wore no form of identification; however, Live Nation employs NES (National Event Services) for most of their staffing needs. A non-drinking middle aged man was threatening when he filmed the Alcohol Enforcement’s aggressive behavior.

Overly Aggressive Security Festival Pier Video.mp4

Philadelphia Art Galleries

A new art gallery in South Philadelphia:
Da Vinci Art Alliance
704 Catharine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Songwriting and recording at Penn’s Landing and South Street, Philadelphia, PA over top of Interstate 95, as well as, the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Philadelphia Water Works:

Pulling Through from the album Speechless

Some pictures from the Philadelphia music scene:

The Rock n’ Roll Romper Room

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Fairmount Park Conservancy will devote an entire week to celebrating parks in Philadelphia during the 4th Annual LOVE Your Park Week from May 9 – 16, 2015. LOVE Your Park Week is a celebration of Philadelphia’s diverse parks featuring eight days of service projects, fun events, educational programs, family activities, and more.

LOVE Your Park Week kicks off on Saturday, May 9, when PP&R, the Conservancy, LOVE Your Park sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers from dozens of neighborhood park stewardship groups host the LOVE Your Park Service Day at more than 80 neighborhood parks from 9am-12pm.

PHILADELPHIA — United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and City of Philadelphia Chief Inspector Amy Kurland announced that Derek Willis, 50, and his wife, Danita Willis, 36, owners of Laser Cartridge Plus Inc. (LCP), were sentenced to prison time and were ordered to pay full restitution to the City for their participation in a scheme that defrauded the City of more than $1.3 million.

Derek Willis, 49, and Danita Willis, 35, of Russellville, Ark., pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice and perjury for knowingly making false statements to a federal grand jury on April 29, 2014.

Beginning June 4, 2016, Danita Willis will serve 12 months and one day in prison, which will be followed by 36 months of supervised release. She is required to pay a $700 special assessment. After her release, Derek Willis will serve 36 months in prison, which will be followed by 36 months supervised release. He is required to pay a $900 special assessment. Both will pay full restitution of $1,368,091.19 to the City.

“This case highlights the City’s need for more effective oversight and the importance of the public’s participation in rooting out corruption, fraud and abuse. Like this one, most of our cases originate from tips and complaints from the general public,” said Inspector General Kurland. “This sentence serves as a powerful reminder that the OIG will not tolerate the theft of City dollars that are sorely needed for City services. We will do whatever we can to prevent similar wrongdoing in the future.”

The investigation began in September 2011 when a City employee reported patterns of suspicious purchases to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

The Willises owned Laser Cartridge Plus, Inc. (LCP), a business located in Russellville, Arkansas. They were contacted by Calvin Duncan who, at the time, worked as a mailroom clerk in the Philadelphia Water Department. As part of his responsibilities, Duncan was responsible for mail deliveries and purchasing supplies, including printer ink and toner cartridges, for the PWD’s administrative offices.

Duncan submitted requests for approval to purchase printer ink and toner cartridges, falsely claiming that the cartridges were for PWD employees. After receiving the cartridges from vendors – at the City’s expense – Duncan sold them to LCP at prices significantly lower than those usually charged by ink and toner cartridge vendors. The Willises knew that the cartridges were stolen.

The scam resulted in the City paying about $1,368,000 on purchase orders and shipping costs for ink and toner cartridges that were never used by the City. The Willises paid Duncan, who pleaded guilty in 2013, about $545,400, which was not due him.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tomika N. Stevens.

Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that Lux Products Corporation, an innovative HVAC controls company formerly based in New Jersey, has relocated its headquarters to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The company’s employees settled into their new Philadelphia location as of April 1st.

“Lux Products joins the increasing number of companies choosing to start, stay and grow in Philadelphia and we could not be more excited to welcome their team to our city,” said Mayor Nutter. “With our unemployment rate back to pre-recession levels and more jobs created in the city last year than any time since 2000, Philadelphia’s economy is on the rise.”

Lux is a privately held company based in the U.S. with a sales, marketing, logistics, customer service and technical support center in Philadelphia, PA and distribution center in Laredo, Texas. Lux is the second largest retail brand of thermostats, having sold more than 10 million thermostats, and regularly winning a “Best Buy” rating from well-regarded consumer magazines.

“The Navy Yard is an exciting blend of past, present and future,” notes Rob Munin, newly appointed President of Lux Products. “For Lux it is the perfect location for us to plant our flag and look forward; the Navy Yard campus mirrors our own commitment to smart energy innovation and sustainability, we’re very excited for what this means for our brands and our customers.”

The Philadelphia Navy Yard is home to a growing number of companies with approximately 11,000 people now working at the former military base. The Navy Yard offers a unique urban location mixed with historic buildings and modern architecture, renovated and built for today’s high performance technologies and LEED® certifications all along Philadelphia’s waterfront.

“The Navy Yard is the perfect place for Lux Products’ new headquarters,” said John Grady, President of PIDC, which manages the Navy Yard. “We are delighted to welcome them to Philadelphia. By relocating to The Navy Yard, Lux Products joins the many sustainability focused companies on the campus and gains the space to continue to innovate and grow.”

According to the latest preliminary employment information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for February 2015, there are more jobs in Philadelphia than for any February since 2001. In addition, Philadelphia added more jobs last year than any year since 2000.

“In the last few months we have welcomed HOK, Hill International, Integrichain, American Bible Society, and now Lux Products to Philadelphia,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. “These decisions and investments are a vote of confidence in our city and a signal to the marketplace that Philadelphia is a great choice for companies looking to grow, attract talent, and be part of a dynamic, innovative economy. I want to thank all of our partners for their continued efforts to create jobs and bring new companies to Philadelphia.”

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, the 18-acre historic estate located in Northeast Philadelphia is a public park that has long been a destination for local birders. Situated on the bank of the Delaware River, the site attracts a variety of bird from bald eagles to blue herons. Right off of the estate’s shores is a nest that is home to ospreys, a bird listed on the threatened species list by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Glen Foerd will be celebrating their winged friends with a Feathered Fun Day in coordination with Elmwood Park Zoo and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. The Elmwood Park Zoo, located in Norristown is an accredited zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They maintain a collection of over 100 species with the mission of inspiring active participation in conservation. Elmwood Park Zoo will be bring their live raptors for guests to view. John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will be bringing objects from their touch collection. Guests will be able to learn what makes each bird different and how the various types of birds have adapted to their habitats. Children’s crafts will also be available for families to enjoy.

Pricing for the event which will run from 11:00-1:00 PM is $5 per person, children under 5 are free. The day will kick off with a 9:00 am Bird Walk lead by the Delaware Ornithological Club around the grounds of Glen Foerd. Ticket pricing for the Bird Walk $5. Special joint ticket pricing of $8 will be available if you would like to attend both events.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware is the last of the grand Philadelphia riverfront estates open to the public. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Glen Foerd connects visitors to the legacy of the estate through programs in the arts, nature and history and preserves and protects the landscape, buildings and collections for the enjoyment and enrichment of the community and future generations. Glen Foerd is a Fairmount Park property operated by the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp. in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and supported in part by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.