FUMO. Law Enforcement Takes to the Sky. State Senator VINCE INSIDE: The Philadelphia Police. Department has some modern. new weapons in its fight

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State Senator VINCE FUMO Update to the Neighbors of the First Senatorial District Spring 1999 Law Enforcement Takes to the Sky The Philadelphia Police

The department has acquired two new helicopters, which it placed into operation last summer. They are equipped with the latest in crime-fighting technology.

1 State Senator VINCE FUMO Update to the Neighbors of the First Senatorial District Spring 1999 Law Enforcement Takes to the Sky The Philadelphia Police Department has some modern new weapons in its fight against crime. The department has acquired two new helicopters, which it placed into operation last summer. They are equipped with the latest in crime-fighting technology. See story inside. City councilmen Frank DiCicco (left) and Jim Kenney (center) and Sen. Fumo look over police data on the use of helicopters in law enforcement. INSIDE: A Battle for Better Phone Service New Law Provides Help for Diabetics May I Help?

ON THE COVER Law Enforcement Takes to the Sky OFFICES TO SERVE YOU 1208 Tasker Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 468-3866 2637 E. Clearfield St.

com INTERNET WEBSITE www.fumo.com The Philadelphia Police Department has some modern new weapons in its fight against crime.

I proposed the helicopters several years ago when I learned that we were one of the few police forces in a major American city that did not have air capability.

2 ON THE COVER Law Enforcement Takes to the Sky OFFICES TO SERVE YOU 1208 Tasker Street Philadelphia, PA (215) E. Clearfield St. Philadelphia, PA (215) HARRISBURG OFFICE Senate Box Harrisburg, PA (717) SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA (TTY) INTERNET WEBSITE The Philadelphia Police Department has some modern new weapons in its fight against crime. The department has acquired two new helicopters, which it placed into operation last summer. They are equipped with the latest in crimefighting technology. I proposed the helicopters several years ago when I learned that we were one of the few police forces in a major American city that did not have air capability. I then arranged state funding to assist the city with their purchase. According to Capt. Robert Tucker of the Philadelphia Police Aviation Unit, the choppers have proven to be a valuable law enforcement and safety tool. In the first four months of operation, he said, the helicopters were used to respond to 847 radio calls of crimes in progress. They were used to recover over $1.1 million in stolen cars and car parts, and controlled 15 pursuits from the skies. In those pursuits, there were no civilian injuries. Helicopter officers have assisted in the arrest of 28 offenders for felony-level crimes. The helicopters have also provided air support for special events and public gatherings, and are often used to support officers on the ground who are engaged in high-risk warrant service. They have also worked with the fire department at large fires. Mayor Rendell and I officially christened the choppers in October at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Tax Cuts will be Discussed in Harrisburg With the state running a large budget surplus, the subject of tax cuts is sure to be discussed in Harrisburg when the General Assembly meets to approve a

I and many of my Democratic Senate colleagues believe neither of those two cuts are the best way to help the people of Pennsylvania.

3 Tax Cuts will be Discussed in Harrisburg With the state running a large budget surplus, the subject of tax cuts is sure to be discussed in Harrisburg when the General Assembly meets to approve a state budget this spring. Governor Ridge has proposed several tax cuts that will help big business, plus one that would eliminate the gross receipts tax that consumers pay on natural gas bills. I and many of my Democratic Senate colleagues believe neither of those two cuts are the best way to help the people of Pennsylvania. Big business has already received more than its fair share of tax cuts under this administration. As for the tax on natural gas, it would benefit only those who use Convincing college students to live and work in the Philadelphia area after they graduate is the goal of a group that I recently helped form, along with Mayor Ed Rendell and others. The College Student Retention Committee is working to attract and retain students from 50 colleges and universities in the region. There are about 220,000 students in those schools, but many of them leave the area after graduation. We are trying to provide incentives for them to remain in the area, make them aware of good job opportunities, and provide them with information about why this is a great place to live. The future of the city is in its young people. If we re going to improve our quality of life and even if the city is going to survive, we have to keep people with energy and new ideas. So we have to provide incentives for college graduates to stay here. natural gas in their homes or business, but no one from Philadelphia. That is because municipally owned systems such as Philadelphia Gas Works are not subject to the tax. We would rather see either a cut or a rebate in the personal income tax, or see the state do a better job funding education so that school districts would reduce their property tax or other school taxes. Although we face an uphill fight against the Republican majorities in the House and Group Aims to Keep Graduates in Town There are two distinct efforts underway. First, for students to remain in the city, they have to experience and enjoy the things we offer. The future of the city is in its young people. The committee is trying to increase student awareness of the city through events and promotions, including the Philly College Town Web Site that will highlight various aspects of Philadelphia. In addition, the committee has solicited help from students themselves in planning events and Senate, we will be making those arguments in the State Capital. gathering input through what we call the Student Congress. The second area is financial incentives. The committee is developing a student loan forgiveness program that would help students pay off their college loans if they make a commitment to work in the region. We are also coordinating several jobs fairs and checking into the possibility of tax incentives. Other members of the group are City Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco, U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, and several city organizations.

A New McDonald s to Have Old-Time Look new McDonald s restaurant, designed to fit in with the architecture and landscape of the area, will soon grace the Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Carpenter.

The restaurant chain intended to vacate the property, but my staff and I worked with Avenue of the Arts Inc. to negotiate a plan for McDonald s to open a new store there.

4 A New McDonald s to Have Old-Time Look new McDonald s restaurant, designed to fit in with the architecture and landscape of the area, will soon grace the Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Carpenter. The new eatery will replace a McDonald s that was demolished last year. The lot is now vacant. The restaurant chain intended to vacate the property, but my staff and I worked with Avenue of the Arts Inc. to negotiate a plan for McDonald s to open a new store there. This is one of several efforts we have made lately to improve that area of Broad Street. We are working with several other businesses to revamp the appearance of their buildings. The new restaurant will have the old-fashioned look of an early McDonald s, but will have modern equipment and facilities. The design fits in with the Avenue of the Arts but allows McDonald s to retain its identity. McDonald s is paying for some street work and repaving that will allow easier access to the restaurant and ease traffic. Plans call for groundbreaking this spring. McDonald s currently intends to retain ownership of the store rather than sell to a franchisee. The corporation also announced recently that it will open a new regional headquarters in Philadelphia, moving some of its employees here from Chicago. The new McDonald s at Broad and Carpenter will look exactly like this restaurant in Denver. May I Help? My district offices are available to help you cut through the maze of bureaucratic red tape on any state-related issue. STATE APPLICATIONS Motor vehicle registrations/renewals Driver s licenses Titles Higher education financial assistance (PHEAA) Car plates and placards for the physically challenged SENIOR CITIZEN APPLICATIONS PACE Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program PUBLICATIONS Various publications from state agencies which explain programs, promote tourism and announce events in Pennsylvania

A Battle for Better Phone Service Along with two Republican state senators from rural sections of Pennsylvania, I recently announced a renewed legislative effort to increase local telephone

5 A Battle for Better Phone Service Along with two Republican state senators from rural sections of Pennsylvania, I recently announced a renewed legislative effort to increase local telephone competition. Bell Atlantic has long maintained a monopoly in most of Pennsylvania. It controls service to 79 percent of the state, and within its service territory, it has 98 percent of the local 98% 96% of Business Market residential market and 96 percent of the local business market. In 1993, the Legislature passed a law that changed the way the Public Utility Commission regulates telephone service BELL OF PENNSYLVANIA S Share of Local Phone Service Market 1998 IntraLATA Market Data 2% The Competition of Residential Market 4% The Competition SOURCE: RECOMMENDED DECISION OF ALJ SCHNIERLE, (JULY 1998) PUC DKT. NO. P ; 1998 BELL ATLANTIC ANNUAL INVESTOR & PUC REPORTS. and sets rates. The change permitted Bell Atlantic to increase its profits in Pennsylvania, but the intent of the law wasn t to make Bell Atlantic richer, it was to improve telecommunications throughout the state. Bell was supposed to invest its extra profits into a broad band network that would prepare Pennsylvanians to take advantage of better telecommunications technology. Bell hasn t lived up to its part of the bargain. Six years after passage of the law, Bell has made no substantial progress toward creating a broad band network. Bell has also stifled local competition by charging high rates for access to its network the wires that go into your homes and offices. The costs of establishing that network were part of the rates that you and other customers paid for phone service. Bell now wants to move into the long distance market, but under federal standards, it cannot do so until it proves to the PUC that it does not have a local monopoly. Senators Roger Madigan of Bradford County, Mary Jo White of Venango County and I believe Bell is still a local phone service monopoly. If it is allowed to enter into the long distance market, it will have an unfair competitive advantage and will not have the incentive to lower rates or to create a broad band network that will benefit consumers and boost the state s economy. The three of us are sponsoring legislation that will force Bell to separate its wholesale and retail companies and to create a code of conduct. We also have introduced bills that would prevent Bell s proposed merger with GTE and that would require Bell to invest its higher profits in a broad band network.

6 New Law Provides Help for Diabetics Health insurance companies are now required to cover the cost of diabetic supplies and self management training under legislation that the state Senate unanimously passed last fall. Enactment of the bill ended a long battle by Senate Democrats to give Pennsylvania s 1.1 million diabetics more help in managing their illness. The legislation should save lives and reduce health care costs in the long run by allowing diabetics to receive better training and to obtain supplies such as blood glucose monitors, test strips, syringes and insulin. One in 11 Pennsylvanians are afflicted with diabetes. That is much higher than the national average of one in 17. Printed on recycled paper. STATE SENATOR VINCENT J. FUMO Senate Box Harrisburg, PA BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, PA PERMIT NO. 603

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