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Have a nice thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     In the past year, Greenworks Philadelphia has traveled leaps and bounds towards its 2015 goal. Originally funded solely by Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability, Greenworks has developed into a collaborative effort between dozens of benefactors, ranging from federal and local government entities to various private non-profit organizations. As Katherine Gajewski, Philadelphia's Director of Sustainability, stated in the 2010 Greenworks Philadelphia progress report, "In an impressive display of coordination, leaders from numerous City agencies as varied as the Streets Department, the Zoning Code Commission, and the Department of Health, came together in our Sustainability Working Group and committed to bring champions of sustainability across city government."

    What seems to be stopping Greenworks Philadelphia from making a true impact on the public is its lack of media attention. Thus far, Greenworks' online presence is limited to a couple of blog posts, several press releases, and a smattering of miscellaneous posts on "green" websites.

     People see and use Greenworks' products, sure-- over 500 solar-powered trash and recycling bins scattered throughout center city, energy efficient building materials and methods used to make government buildings, 14,000 residents employed as"green" workers, with plans to add 15,000 more. But this isn't enough. The citizens of Philadelphia need to know more than the what-- they must know why it is important. In order for the project to continue to develop and receive further funding, Greenworks must be publicized on a larger scale.

     This is where I come in.

     Over the next few months, I'm going to be exploring several options for my lobbying campaign. Here are some of my ideas.

     - Publicizing Greenworks Philadelphia on the internet. I would raise awareness of the project via various social networking and link-sharing sites.

     - Contacting Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability. I would reach out to the local government in hopes of helping to organize a media outreach program for Greenworks.

     - Start a public campaign by means of paper fliers. I would create and distribute throughout philadelphia appealing paper "advertisements" in order to put Greenworks into the public eye.

     At this rate, there is little question in my mind that Greenworks will have achieved its goals by 2015. But we must think ahead-- when there are thousands more trees, environmentally friendly building materials available, cleaner energy resources-- who will be relied upon to maintain the green-ness that has been created? The answer is clear-- it will be up to the public to preserve what Greenworks has created.

     The only way that they will be equipped to do so, however, is if they are taught how.

      Only through education on the issues being addressed by Greenworks Philadelphia will the public come to fully understand the severity of our current environmental situation and the importance that we all work to change it. My next blog post will focus on how I plan to contribute to this education.

Phillip, Jose. "Philadelphia Sports Solar-powered Trash Bins." GreenPacks. Greenpacks.org, 1 July 2009. Web. 23 Nov 2010. <http://www.greenpacks.org/2009/06/01/philadelphia-sports-solar-powered-trash-bins/>.

Gates, Kelly Patrick. "It's a green scene for the city." PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future. PlanPhilly, 29 April 2009. Web. 23 Nov 2010. <http://planphilly.com/node/8791>.

My issue, despite its obvious presence in this fair city, is not often addressed. Building restoration is too often neglected especially in this city, a living monument to the past. However, on November 9, 2010 headway has been made in the campaign for one of the other shriveling structures: the Divine Lorraine. Now, I feel it necessary to elucidate the manner in which I have chosen to organize this particular blog post. Due to the scarcity of direct building restoration legislation and the difficult financial climate preventing the existing legislation to be enacted, I am solely going to address the Divine Lorraine as my example of neglected buildings. It is my hope that should we manage to save the dear Divine, it will act as an example and inspiration for countless other buildings.

http://www.andipantz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/divinelorraine2.jpg

In November, the current owners of the Divine Lorraine recently applied for the state low income housing tax credit in hopes of turning this abandoned hotel into low-income housing. They are well aware that it will be some time before this lovely structure “shines” once more, but it is a step in the right direction. It is an wonderful example of owners deciding to maintain this historic site, not tearing it down. To read more of this request by the Divine Lorraine, click here.

In order to hurry this renovation along, it is necessary for me to get a great deal more familiar with the Office of Housing and Community. The director of this office is Deborah McColloch and it is this department that can grant the necessary tax credits and finances to allow the restoration of the Divine Lorraine.

The restoration can also be facilitated by my increased communication with the various other legislators mentioned in earlier blog entries. Time for me to make a few new friends!

http://philly.brownstoner.com/2010/09/the_divine_lorraine_revisited.php?gallery3874Pic=2#gallery-3874

On the subject of acquaintance making, I am hardly the first to fall in love with the glorious Divine Lorraine and those who discovered this structure before myself have devoted a great deal more time and effort to seeing its continued existence. Below I have attached links to various organizations that have taken an interest in the former hotel in hopes of joining forcing to create a super group of Divine Lorraine protectors!

A fun resource that is invested in seeing this little love live!

An interesting development idea that may be in the works….

A group that lists several buildings in need of saving. (The Lorraine is not alone!)

A slide show made by another admirer of the building. (In case you needed evidence of it disrepair.)

http://philly.brownstoner.com/images/divine%20lorraine%202.jpg

Sadly, when asked to discuss the time frame this restoration will supposedly take place within, I can offer no specific dates. Despite the wonderful step the application for tax credits signifies, it is hardly the first time such revitalization has been promised. This building has been abandoned since the 1990s. It is necessary to first garner the necessary support to ensure there is a time frame.

http://johnnygoodtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/dlorraine.jpg

The Combating Online Infringement and counterfeiting act (COICA) has been heated up in these recent weeks with the bill being reported by committee as of November 18, and also being put under calender by General orders. No. 648.

So far, this year has been bad to stop COICA. It seems by the growing days more politicians and big companies are supporting this bill and are pushing for it to be passed. Support still grows strong for the citizens, there are multiple websites that urge users of the free internet to contact their senator, and request them to vote against the bill.

However, with the little support we do have, it seems the oppositions are double in numbers and power. with the RIAA and Chambers of commerce giving their full support to this bill, It doesn't help that other businesses like Nike and Disney are throwing support to the bill's way. Other then these industries, politicians are also pushing forward to advance this bill into law. Such as Senior Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT] and the 18 cosponsors who are for this bill.

What needs to be done is that people, citizens, anyone who uses the internet or who believes in the freedom of speech and press need to contact their state senator's convince the senators that this bill is not wanted and the people do not agree with this bill. In order to stop this bill, we absolutely need senators on our side, we need them so they can vote down on this bill and prevent it from becoming a law.

We, as a people, as well as myself cannot singularly stop this bill, we need to put all our efforts together, and direct the message to our senators that this is not the right thing to do. If we do not stand up, our freedom is at jeopardy.

The next step of this bill is unknown, once again we are at a pause and will have to wait until congress goes through the calender and picks up this bill to discuss.

No Animal should be treated like this.  

   Harry Reid

   The DREAM Act has been an incredibly huge topic discussed through the news for the past 3 years but has recently risen to its strongest and yet weakest year. Many people are starting to become aware of the DREAM Act because it helps many students to receive a higher education and also due to the fact that many students are getting involved with helping to get this legislation passed in order to become law!

    This has been a good and bad year for this legislation, though many universities and people are supporting this legislation, it was shut down in the Senate on September 21, 2010. The bill was attached to a defense bill making it harder for Republicans to shut it, but a filibuster held by the Republicans senators and one Democrat shut it down. When reintroduced in March 26, 2009 it had 134 official cosponsors but after the filibuster in September it was left with 2 cosponsors, we need to convince the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and House that this legislation is extremely important.

   Many universities that have supported the DREAM Act such as University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkley, University of Florida, Harvard University and many others. Universities help give this legislation good media and image because these are some of the top Universities that support a cause which helps students who they know deserve the right to learn the same as everyone else. Supporting the DREAM Act shows that they care about and spend an extreme amount of time with these children.

   Public supports that give this bad media attention are groups who want to stop immigration and enforce security on our borders such as the ALIPAC group and Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). These groups do not support legislation similar to the DREAM Act or any legislation that help immigrations because they believe that illegal immigrants are law breakers and that the law should be followed and they should be punished.

     Republicans are the major opponents of this legislation they have as much power as the people who support this bill which are the Democrats. Republicans. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) said that they would cosponsor the bill as well as Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), hinting that he is most likely going to vote for the DREAM Act when it is presented as a standalone bill. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) Florida GOP Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Diaz-Balart, all said that they would vote for the DREAM Act during its presentation during the lame duck session.

    All of the Democrats are essential to the outcome of the bill because if they are all on board with the act they will be then be able to convince the Republicans to get on board as well. Democrats have to support a bill started by their own and so do the Republicans in order for them to succeed.  If Republicans such as John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) won’t vote for the bill we need as many Democrats as possible.

    Groups that are good to communicate with in order to help us are lobbyist groups such as Peaceful Tomorrows who have already lobbied for the DREAM Act the day it was not passed in the Senate.Contacting many students from different universities who are lobbying for it is another great way to get out that this bill becoming a law is very important.

The embed box is inconveniently small, but there are formatting issues either way.  Here is a link to the doc.  

Attempts have been made to revise DADT, the homophobic law enacted under Bill Clinton to keep gays out of the military.  In May 2010, an amendment was passed in the House of Representatives, however it lacked the necessary 60 votes to get the bill passed in the senate.

Also, attempts to pass DADT are becoming increasingly more difficult. Prior to the recent election 90% of democrats were in favor of the repeal, versus 97% of republicans, and since the election has drastically shifted the power to republicans, it can only damage the odds of getting it approved. Therefore it is a fair assumption that the window of opportunity is quickly closing.

Despite the general public being largely in favor of an amendment to the bill, Republicans have decided to vote along party lines.

The pentagon has recently issued a study regarding the current amendment. It has concluded that lifting a ban that prevents gays from serving in the military would result in “minimal and isolated incidents to the risk to the current war efforts.” The pentagon requested that the survey, which was given to more than 400,000 active troupes, address the issue of a repeal potentially hindering the military’s ability to fight. More than 70% of the respondents to the survey suggested the results to the move would be either positive or nonexistent – thus eliminating the only legitimate argument of withholding the ban.

Gay rights activists have begun a campaign around ten different states to aid the process of the DADT amendment. The Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Joe Solmonese, President of HRC, recently said in a statement: “As we approach the waning days of this congressional session, we must continue to demand immediate action on critical legislation.”

From my previous blog post, I mentioned that the S.167 - COPS Improvements Act of 2009 bill is related to my lobbying topic. Senator Herbert Kohl is the sponsor of the bill. He is a Democrat from Wisconsin serving his 4th term. Kohl is one of the United States’ wealthiest politicians, owning his own family business.

Someone in my city that represent me is Mayor Michael Nutter. He is Philadelphia's third black mayor. Nutter was a councilman of the city's 4th Council District, that included the neighborhoods of Wynnefield, Overbrook, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and parts of North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and my area, West Mount Airy.

Mayor Nutter shares the same interest as I do. I want to have the city of Philadelphia safe place. He supports having Philadelphia declare a "Crime Emergency" in certain areas of Philadelphia. This involved stationing more officers in needed areas of Philadelphia, limit the ability to gather on public sidewalks, impose a curfew for all residents, and limit the ability to travel in certain areas.

I am lobbying for more police officers to be dispatched around public transportation, schools and around urban areas. On my way to and from school I travel a good distance and I really don’t see police officers in the area. My motivation for investigating and influencing public policy is to see crime decreased and safety increase. I’m sure that victims of crime, parents that want safety for their children, supervisors of recreation centers and teachers at school who care about their students would support my lobbying idea. An opponent to my lobbying idea would be who ever is in charge of the city finances. I don’t think the city would support me.

The S.167 - COPS Improvements Act of 2009 is a bill related to my lobbying topic. Its a “bill to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, and for other purposes.” This law does support my lobbying topic. I want to have more police patrolling the city, especially around public transportation. The law that mentions, "to increase the number of officers deployed in community-oriented policing" is perfect.

 What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year?

Who is essential to the outcome?

Who else is working on this? Can you coordinate?

Who can you influence?

I can influence the people who aren't aware of the name changing issue. Since their aren't many people aware of this issue, it would be easy to inform and influence them to help, or consider helping.

What is the time frame?

Since there is no one local working on this topic, there wouldn't be a time frame on it, so my time for this could be long.

GOOD YEAR:

October 11, 2010: James S. LiebmanAccording to this Columbia Law School professor, New York City has come up with a new idea on how to evaluate schools based on their student’s knowledge at the end of the year. Instead of focusing on “a single, arbitrary line” it looks at the process of each student across the whole scale.October 12, 2010: Monty NeillAccording to the interim executive director of FairTest, “Parents, children and taxpayers would be far better served if politicians understood the well-documented limitations of standardized exams rather than continuing to pursue misguided high-stakes testing policies that undermine real learning.”

FairTest

- The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) is working to end the “misuses and flaws of standardized testing” and to make sure that the assessment of students, teachers, and schools is fair and benefits the education.

• The Assessment Reform Network, aims to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among teachers, parents, education reform and civil rights organizations seeking to improve student assessment practices in their communities.
• Creating a new framework for assessment through dissemination of Principles and Indicators for Student Assessment Systems
• Uncovering the bias, misuses and coach ability of the SAT, ACT and similar college entrance exams
• Stopping the misuses of SAT/ACT scores to determine eligibility for college financial aid such as National Collegiate Athletic Association's initial eligibility rules (Propositions 48 and 16) and the National Merit Scholarship Competition
• Promoting test score-optional policies for college admissions
• Attacking the false notions that test scores equal merit

2010 College Bound Seniors Average SAT Scores

The Higher Ups:

"A child is more then a test score. So how can you expect our students to build a new economy if all they are doing is filling out bubbles? How can you expect them to think critically if all we are doing is testing their ability to memorize things?"

- Joe Biden

According to Joe Biden,

“We know what we need to do, and its not No Child Left Behind. We have to stop focusing on test scores, a child is more than a test score.”

At the NEA (National Education Association) Convention, Biden spoke on Standardized Testing and Education in general. He believes that many things should be changed, such as:

• Class sizes
• Teacher Salary
• No Child Left Behind
• Focus on Test Scores
• Availability to an Education

“Creativity has been drained from classrooms, as too many teachers are forced to teach to fill-in-the-bubble tests...It just can’t dominate the curriculum to an extent where we are pushing aside those things that will actually allow children to improve and accurately assess the quality of the teaching that is taking place in the classroom.”

-Barack Obama

Obama doesn’t support the No Child Left Behind Law because he believes that it’s all talk but no action. The No Child Left Behind Law “leaves the money behind”. It takes away the creativity and the individuality of students and their teachers.

Obama states that teachers should be able to teach instead of spending majority of the year preparing students to fill out bubbles on a test. Instead of just standard testing on Math, Reading, and Writing he will fund states to apply a broader variety of assessments such as:

• using technology
• conducting research
• engaging in scientific investigations
• solving problems
• presenting
• defending their ideas.

Who Does This Problem Most Relate To?

The link above is a video of four high school students performing poetry about standardized testing. In it they state how standardized testing has conformed the minds of students and that it doesn’t educate you on “the things we need to know to live.”

I believe that students feel more singled out by standardized test than anyone else because they are the ones who are taking them and these tests “determine” their future. However, some colleges and universities are becoming test optional.

Upcoming Meetings on Education:

The Compact meets on the first Thursday of every month to share perspectives on reform initiatives in the Philadelphia schools, and to support policies and strategies that hold the best promise for improving the culture and outcomes of local schools.

Friday, December 3, 2010; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, January 6, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, February 3, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, March 3, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, April 7, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, May 5, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Thursday, June 2, 2011; 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/opinion/l18schools.html

http://www.fairtest.org/

http://www.fairtest.org/2010-collegebound-seniors-average-sat-scores

http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/joe-biden/2/education/14/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4PbJs6N3k&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Barack_Obama/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktC_C7Z-wWE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9EkX_gX6R8&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4A6e8Rk8Oo

http://www.thedailyriff.com/2010/10/saying-no-to-standardized-testing-for-college-entry.php

http://philaedfund.org/programs/engaging-citizens/education-first-compact/upcoming-meetings

- Joe Biden

According to Joe Biden,

“We know what we need to do, and its not No Child Left Behind. We have to stop focusing on test scores, a child is more than a test score.”

At the NEA (National Education Association) Convention, Biden spoke on Standardized Testing and Education in general. He believes that many things should be changed, such as:

• Class sizes
• Teacher Salary
• No Child Left Behind
• Focus on Test Scores
• Availability to an Education

-Barack Obama

• using technology
• conducting research
• engaging in scientific investigations
• solving problems
• presenting
• defending their ideas.

According to Chaka Fattah, the No Child Left Behind Law is, “intellectually dishonest because it holds children accountable for test scores when their schools lack resources.”

My Views:

If we don’t change today, than what will we learn tomorrow?

Sources:

http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/joe-biden/2/education/14/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4PbJs6N3k&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Barack_Obama/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktC_C7Z-wWE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9EkX_gX6R8&feature=player_embedded

http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=21850#Result

http://www.ucc.org/justice/public-education/transforming-no-child-left.html

Kimberly Bush
October 6, 2010
Science Leadership Academy

I’m lobbying against any federal financial aid giving college that’s using Standardized Testing as criteria for admissions.

All throughout my childhood I’ve been told that I am a smart young woman who is capable of many things. However, it was brought to my attention that when taking tests, my intelligence wouldn’t really reveal itself on this piece of paper. Looking into it, I realized that in reality tests can’t be accountable for every young adults smartness because there are those who aren’t good at test taking, one of them being me. This is the main reason on why I wanted to go to Science Leadership Academy. After hearing about this project based school, I felt as though they understood that there are those who are very intellectual and therefore found a way to surface their creativity. As a Senior, I’m looking back at all the projects I did and wondering if I could have shown this type of creativity and individual uniqueness through tests. The answer would be no. However, now I’m trying to get prepared for college which involves finding the colleges, visiting them, and determining if my SAT scores are high enough for any of them. Not only are the SATs one of the things that can determine if you get the education you want but it also causes a lot of unnecessary stress that builds up until you’re done the whole college application process. This whole process made me wonder what SATs are really about and whether they determined how bright a person is based on the answers to a multiple choice question and their view on a topic. To me, a person can be very insightful and wise even if a test says otherwise because they may have different views and different knowledge that we have never been introduced to.

This article states many key factors and details on why Standardized Testing isn’t an effective way on judging the smartness of a student. The writer gives his opinion and backs up his statements with evidence from the actual test itself and those who judge the tests as well.

• “Rather than learning anything of consequence, students are taught how to beat the test.”
• “The essays written on these tests are frequently not scored by educators, but by temp workers, who are paid minimum wage, and who generally spend no more than two minutes on each exam.  According to one former scorer, "There were times I'd be reading a paper every ten seconds.  I know this sounds very bizarre, but you could put a number on these things without actually reading the paper." Furthermore, the scorer added that he and his coworkers were offered a "two hundred dollar bonus that kicked in after eight thousand papers."’
• “Quoting Roger Farr, a professor of education at Indiana University, "I don't think there's any way to build a multiple-choice question that allows students to show what they can do with what they know."’

Sources:

http://www.standardizedtesting.net/worst.htm

Sunday, October 24, 2010

        So, part two of the lobbying project has come up. This time, I researched about specific legislators and/or bills that are involved with my topic. I spent a lot of time searching for bills that had been passed or are in the works, and came up empty. Well, except for the National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery month. So I decided to direct my research towards specific places that have holistic recovery programs and the people who run them.

        The first organization that I found is called the Public Health Management Corporation, or PHMC and, mainly through their affiliate organization, The Bridge, runs many recovery centers in the philadelphia area. The people who run these centers would be good contact points for me to find out what the needs of these programs are, and what the government can do to help promote the growth of these centers and the creation of new ones.

        Another organization I can contact is the Whosoever Gospel Mission in Philadelphia. This is a religious organization, so they don’t recieve federal or state funding, but it would be interesting to think about what the government can do to help out all recovery centers, for example, tax breaks. It’s something to think about.