I want to congratulate the Philadelphia Phillies on a tremendous season! Once again, this team made Philadelphia proud. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the World Series, the Phillies deserve our congratulations on yet another thrilling post-season run.

I also want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday season. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of the holidays, but this is also a wonderful time to pause and be thankful for all our blessings as we gather together. I hope you all enjoy the holidays.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. You can find my contact information online at my new and improved Web site,  www.senatoranthonyhwilliams.com, which recently relaunched to provide you with all the latest information in a user-friendly format.

Sincerely, ANTHONY H. WILLIAMS PA SENATE - 8TH DISTRICT

Budget Finally Passes, Increases
Education Funds

Pennsylvania finally has a 2009-10 budget. We dealt with a historic $3.2 billion deficit and faced difficult decisions on cuts to important programs and services. However, that is no excuse for being the last state in the union to adopt a budget. It’s shameful that we went 101 days past deadline, and I share in your anger and frustration. I know many services felt the pain of this impasse.

Despite the lengthy legislative inaction, the final plan was fiscally responsible, for the most part. There are no new broad-based tax increases or a personal tax increase, and the state will spend $300 million less than last year’s budget. In addition, we cut $2 billion in government spending and used the state’s “Rainy Day” funds to reduce the deficit. The Senate alone cut 10 percent of our spending.

The proposed arts tax, which would have negatively impacted local arts organizations, was thrown out. I joined the public in decrying this outrageous tax plan, and I’m happy that lawmakers heard the opposition from across the state and abandoned this plan.

Even with significant cuts, the budget still increases basic education by $300 million, which is good news for our schools.

As part of the budget agreement, Pennsylvania will soon have table games at its casinos across the state. While the bill language is still being worked out, this will bring in approximately $200 million this fiscal year, which will be used to replenish our General Fund for now.
 

Take a Taste of the 8th!

The first two Taste of the 8th events at the Gold Standard Café in October in Philadelphia and Keya Graves Restaurant in November in Darby were great successes. Everyone enjoyed a night out, sampling these local restaurants.

In the coming months, I will continue to travel around the 8th Senate District to taste the wonderful flavors and cuisines found in our community, and I invite the community to join me.

You’ll be able to support a local business, sample free food, meet neighbors and have dinner. Contact the district office at 215-492-2980 to sign up.

If you’re a restaurant owner and would like me to visit your establishment, or if you want to suggest your favorite restaurant, please contact our office. Restaurants selected will be highlighted in future newsletters.
 

Don’t Be Left in the Cold This Winter

The weather is already getting cooler, but it’s not too late to take simple steps to protect your home or apartment from the oncoming winter chill and the subsequent rising utility bills.

The community is invited to attend “Be Utility Wise & Prepare Now for the Winter Months,” a free energy forum designed to give tips on how to save money on winter heating and water bills.

The forum will take place Thursday, Dec. 3 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Cobbs Creek Environmental Education Center, 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway at 63rd and Catherine streets in Philadelphia. The event is free and open to the public.

Attendees will receive information on available programs and services to help keep winter utility bills low, as well as tips on how to be more energy efficient during the winter months and year round. Participants will also learn about Act 129, Pennsylvania’s mandatory energy use reduction initiative, and how they can help do their part to lower their own energy consumption.

For more information about the forum, contact Marci Mayfield at 215-685-1900.
 

New Booklet Offers Store Owners Tips on Merchant Safety

Local businesses are thriving in our communities. In fact, there are more than 18,000 small businesses in the city, according to the Philadelphia Commerce Department. Many provide goods and services in neighborhoods that have little access to large retailers.

With community support, these businesses can continue to thrive. On Dec. 4, Sen. Williams and the nonprofit Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians will release a new, free guide for the city’s small business owners.

The Merchant Safety Guide features practical information about how storeowners can both protect themselves and improve customer relations.

There will be a launching event that day at 10:30 a.m., starting at the 12th Police District, located at 65th Street and Woodland Ave., and continuing as a neighborhood walk-through to share the informative booklet with business owners in the area.

Copies will be distributed through local business associations, and will be available by calling the Welcoming Center at 215-557-2626.
 

Turkeys Donated to Local Fire Houses

Sen. Williams recently traveled to five local fire stations in South and Southwest Philadelphia to deliver two turkeys to each station.

The turkeys were donated to the fire stations to ensure that the firefighters who were working on Thanksgiving received a traditional holiday meal.

Everyone deserves to have a Happy Thanksgiving, but especially our first responders, who know that emergencies don’t take holidays.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers joined the senator to hand out turkeys to Foam 60, Ladder 19, located at 2301 S. 24th St.; Squad 47, located at 3023-45 Grays Ferry Ave.; Engine 40, Ladder 4, located at 6438 Woodland Ave.; Engine 68, Ladder 13, located at 801 S. 52nd St.; and Squirt 57, located a 5559 Chestnut St.

The visit to the fire stations was part of Williams’ annual turkey drive, in which he distributed 150 donated turkeys to local organizations throughout the 8th Senate District, which covers portions of South, West and Southwest Philadelphia, as well as parts of Delaware County.

The turkeys were donated by the senator, ShopRite and Fresh Grocer.

LIHEAP Accepting Applications

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications for its cash grant program.

LIHEAP provides cash grants to help low-income households pay for home heating fuel and crisis grants to address heating emergencies.

During the 2008-09 LIHEAP season, approximately 547,000 families were helped through cash grants and more than 202,000 families received crisis assistance.

Homeowners and renters are eligible for help through LIHEAP. This year, a family of four with an annual income of up to $33,075 can qualify for assistance. Cash grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Crisis grants are provided to resolve heating emergencies, such as furnace failures or unexpected fuel shortages.