Healthy Discussion: The ladies of Zoombalicious offer Harrisburg a fitness lesson and a civics lesson.

March 31, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

You see a lot through five-plus years of covering Harrisburg City Council meetings.

Fights and arguments. Council members muttering and swearing. Power plays and shifting alliances. People getting ejected bodily by police.

I’ve been through one bankruptcy filing, two receivers, three mayors and four or five different PennLive reporters.

But something happened recently that I’d never seen before.

Last November, a group of women (mostly women anyway) began attending council meetings to make a plea for a shared cause. At that meeting, they cautiously stepped before the public microphone to urge council to help save a program that they said had changed their lives.

Then they came back in December, a little bolder, even enduring a four-hour budget hearing to get a turn to speak, and twice again in January. By the time late February rolled around, City Council chambers was packed with the ladies of Zoombalicious.

Back at the first meeting in November, few people in the room had any idea what Zoombalicious was or why it mattered. The assembled officials, reporters and citizens were there mainly to hear Mayor Eric Papenfuse deliver his budget address, which now was going to be delayed by a queue of women talking up a Zumba fitness program. They even had handouts!

But then the ladies spoke, and the importance of the program began to sink in.

Zumba had helped them lose weight, had improved their health, had boosted their energy and confidence and self-esteem, they said.

And, now, it was under threat.

At year-end, a wellness grant from Highmark would expire, potentially dooming the free program. That’s why the ladies were there. They wanted to know if the city could find the money to continue it.

“Basically, we’re here to try to convince you to keep the program going,” said one speaker. “There have been amazing results with a lot of the people there.”

The Zumba class regularly attracted 70 or 80 women each session, she said, and it was held four times a week. It had become an important part of their lives, promoting not just good health, but purpose, support and friendship.

Council President Wanda Williams said it was the first she had heard that the program would end and recommended that the group meet with Jackie Parker, the city’s director of Community and Economic Development.

So the city of Harrisburg—struggling with serious budget, crime, parking and personnel problems—tried to find an answer to Zoombalicious.

Over the coming months, several solutions were suggested. The mayor said he would try to secure a new grant, but, when that failed, proposed allocating some $5,000 from the city’s general fund. That idea, though, caused its own set of problems. The city would have to put the contract out for general bid, which meant that the program’s beloved instructor, Sandy Johnson, probably wouldn’t end up teaching the class.

That’s what brought out the biggest crowd yet. In late February, 50 or 60 women (and a few men) crowded into City Council chambers to make personal pleas for their program and their teacher. This time, they didn’t submit testimonials in writing, as most had before, but went face-to-face with the mayor and council.

One woman said she had lost 54 pounds in six months.

Another said the class helped her believe in herself again.

A young man said that Zumba had helped ease his bipolar disorder.

All credited Johnson, as much as exercise, saying they couldn’t imagine Zoombalicious without her.

“Without these ladies, I wouldn’t be able to stand before you and say that I’m happy to be healthy,” said one speaker.

Johnson, in fact, had been teaching the class four times a week for free since funding expired in December.

“They want me, they need me,” she told council members amidst loud applause.

Johnson also announced some good news. A day before the meeting, she had met with city spokeswoman Joyce Davis, who proposed another solution. The program would be put under a sports-related nonprofit, M.O.S.E.L.F. RBI, which would allow the group to accept grants and outside funds, while retaining control.

“We had a lot of obstacles to overcome to keep this Zumba class,” Johnson said, thanking both Davis and Williams.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people speak before City Council.

Many have brought up personal problems that are beyond council’s purview (the school system, parking). Others have asked council to address serious societal issues that members, unfortunately, can do little about (racism, homelessness).

The (mostly) ladies of Zoombalicious took another approach.

They brought to council a problem that might be solvable. They were gracious and friendly, committed and passionate. They were organized, prepared and persistent. They showed an understanding of the city’s constraints. They were realistic and flexible.

Yes, they proved how important an exercise program—and instructor—is to their lives. But they also gave a lesson in civic engagement, in how to take an issue, advocate for a solution and see it through to resolution.

Would you like to help the (mostly) ladies of Zoombalicious? You can mail donations to support the Zumba program to: M.O.S.E.L.F. RBI, P.O. Box 1541, Harrisburg, Pa., 17105. For more information on the free classes, which take place at Foose School in Harrisburg, visit the Facebook page: Zoombalicious.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Beauty All Around Us: The natural, the manmade become one as Art in the Wild returns.

March 31, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Debbi Cowl remembers the first time she walked the trails of Wildwood Park in Dauphin County and stumbled upon the whimsical creatures and colorful creations left behind by artists.

As the director of Tender Years Child Development Center and an artist herself, Cowl desperately wanted to introduce her students to Wildwood Park’s annual Art in the Wild program.

“We really wanted to be committed to participating this year,” Cowl said.

Beginning its third year this month, “Art in the Wild” will turn Wildwood Park into an al fresco gallery for 17 artists who will display their work along the 3.1-mile trail loop.

Good to her word, Cowl and her students will be part of it. Along with kindergarten teacher Carol Lauver, Cowl will fill a tree with birdhouses created by about 20 students as a way to contribute to the park’s evolving program.

The theme for this year’s exhibit is “Reflections,” said Chris Rebert, manager at Wildwood Park and Olewine Nature Center. Artists can interpret that however they like, but all of the projects must be made from mostly natural materials, he said.

Winners for first through third place will be announced on opening day, April 11. Three top winners also will be selected for a people’s choice award, where visitors can vote on their favorite exhibits throughout the summer. Those winners will be announced Sept. 27 at Celebrate Wildwood.

The year’s late snow proved a challenge for artists who needed to start setting up as early as mid-March. By early April, depending on how warm it is, the poison ivy could be an issue for those who have to work in the brush. Despite these concerns, things were shaping up well for this year’s exhibit, Rebert said.

All from PA

Art in the Wild allows artists to bring in their own items, as long as they aren’t invasive plants, and create pieces using whatever inspiration nature might provide.

Sometimes, Rebert said, artists will even use dead materials or invasive vines already in the park, such as the oriental bittersweet vine, helping to benefit both the park and the artist.

While previous years have hosted artists from throughout the region, including three from out of state and one from Canada, each of the 17 artists represented this year are from Pennsylvania. When they submit applications to be considered for the exhibit, a panel of five jurors chooses from the ideas without knowing the names of the applicants, Rebert said.

This process allows everyone from professional artists to hobbyists and even school students to be included.

With more than 85,000 park visitors a year, mostly for walking, running or to participate in a park program, Art in the Wild gives Wildwood Park the chance to reach a larger group of people, Rebert said.

“We feel like Dauphin County Parks has pioneered an exciting format for the discovery of art in nature,” he said. “We want to show people that there is beauty throughout Pennsylvania’s landscape, and sometimes it can be intentional art.”

Inventive and Wonderful

Each year, Cowl and Lauver look forward to walking through Art in the Wild. Artists themselves, they admire the ingenuity that the program offers those with a creative spirit.

Their students will be creating birdhouses made from wood kits and coconut shells, and they’ve even started looking for natural items to decorate with, such as natural dyes from berries and carrots.

“Projects like these go beyond standardized testing that a lot of the public schools have to do,” Cowl said. “By working with the children on these projects, they have the chance to learn about habitats, natural resources and critical thinking when it comes to building something. These are the connections to learning we want to provide.”

Incorporating art with early childhood education has the power to leave a lasting impression, said Lauver, who has taught kindergarten at the school for 13 years. Growing up in New York, she remembers when an art teacher said her painting was good enough for an exhibit. From that moment on, Lauver said, she thought of herself as an artist.

Kathleen Swain of Susquehanna Township has also found inspiration. An avid knitter, she will use felting, the process of creating very dense fibers through knitting, to create more than 20 different animals to place in the exhibit.

In addition to birds and birdhouses, she will knit turtles, snakes and Canada geese that she’ll hang from the trees, place on logs and otherwise position in their natural habitats.

“I think Art in the Wild is one of the best things that park has done,” Swain said. “Some of the exhibits are just so inventive and wonderful.”

As a member of the Friends of Wildwood Park and an avid hiker, Swain waited until after her daughter’s wedding last year to get involved.

Now, she might spend up to 10 hours making a single bird to hang in her display. Working with the theme of reflection, Swain is making all of her creatures in pairs and posing them to look at each other, much like a parent and child.

Unlike the many sweaters, blankets and mittens she’s knitted in the past, a project of this size has taken much of her time since Thanksgiving, she said. But the experience is one she doesn’t regret.

“When you visit, just be prepared to walk the entire loop,” she said. “There are so many beautiful, unique exhibits, that you don’t want to miss any. Keep an open mind and be alert. You don’t know what beauty might surprise you.”

“Art in the Wild” will be on display April 11 to Oct. 31 at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Park Way, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.dauphincounty.org and search for “Art in the Wild.” A brochure featuring a map of the displays is available at the Olewine Nature Center.

Spirited Arrival: Distillery Set to Open in Harrisburg

March 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Midstate Distillery is slated to open in the summer in this building on Harrisburg’s Cameron Street.

Lovers of small-batch, locally produced spirits, raise a glass—it looks like Harrisburg will get its first craft distillery after all.

For more than a year, business partners Dan Healy and Brian Myers have been quietly creating a distillery inside the former Smith Paint Building at 1817 N. Cameron St, a couple of blocks south of the state Farm Show Complex. If all goes according to plan, the pair expects to open Midstate Distillery this summer.

“We want to make a product that the people of the greater Harrisburg area will embrace,” said Healy, 32, a Camp Hill resident.

Healy and Myers, 42, bought the building in December 2013 and have been hard at work since transforming the dilapidated, 7,000-square-foot space into a modern distillery and tasting room. They plan to manufacture rum, vodka and moonshine at first, then gin and whiskey.

Healy said they originated the concept two years ago after leaving another manufacturing company co-owned by Myers.

“We left and brainstormed what to do next,” he said. “We had considered brewing, but thought that market seemed more saturated.”

They began touring micro-distilleries, taking distilling classes, working on their business plan and searching for a site. They decided on Cameron Street because of the central location, the proximity to the Farm Show Complex and the existing industrial zone, which allows distilleries to operate by right.

In addition, the building was already fitted with an extensive sprinkler system, which is essential given the potentially volatile process of manufacturing spirits.

This is the second micro-distillery proposed for Harrisburg in recent months. In December, city residents Alan Kennedy-Shaffer and Stanley Gruen attempted to locate a distillery in the historic “Carpets and Draperies” building in Midtown Harrisburg, a location that required a zoning variance. Following a contentious meeting, the city’s Zoning Hearing Board denied their application.

Healy said Midstate Distillery will produce about 20 cases of liquor a week to start, with the ability to ramp up as demand increases. They will serve drinks by the glass, as well as sell bottles, and also would like to distribute to bars in the area. There are no plans to serve food, though they are open to partnering with food vendors.

Healy and Myers hope to open in July, though the timing will depend upon receipt of their state distillery license. They’ve already received their federal Distilled Spirits Permit. They also must complete the interior renovation, which they’re mostly doing themselves.

“The building has required a lot of TLC,” said Healy.

When Midstate Distillery opens, it will be the first distillery in Harrisburg in many decades, perhaps since Prohibition. In recent years, craft distilleries have opened in cities across Pennsylvania, such as Old Republic in York and Thistle Finch in Lancaster.

“We’re very excited,” said Healy. “But we’re also a little nervous because we still have a lot of work ahead of us before we can open.”

Homicide Solve Rates, Here and Elsewhere: A Story Supplement

March 30, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.

How hard is it to get away with murder in Harrisburg?

TheBurg’s April issue, which comes out tomorrow, includes a story about the city’s homicide clearance rate—the percentage of murders solved by police.

Relying on data from the county coroner, the county courts, newspaper reports, the district attorney’s office and the Harrisburg police department, we compiled a chart of local homicides over six years, from 2009 to 2014.

There were 87 homicides in Harrisburg in that period, a high murder rate for a city this size. Police made arrests in 77 percent of the cases, with 20 remaining unsolved.

That’s a relatively high clearance rate—higher than the national average for homicides in 2013, which was 64 percent. Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter, in an interview for the story, explained some of the factors he thought contributed to his department’s success, including good police relationships in the community.

This morning, a few days after our story went to print, NPR debuted a tool on its website that allows users to compare clearance rates of local agencies.

NPR requested data from the FBI for local law enforcement agencies across the country. (The FBI already makes regional data available on its website.) Their tool provides data on homicide and other crimes from 2011 to 2013.

In those years, Harrisburg reported solve rates of 125 percent, 64 percent and 88 percent, respectively. Over the three years combined, the clearance rate on a total of 36 murders is about 89 percent.

One note on percentages: The NPR tool, following the FBI’s crime reporting standards, gives a clearance rate for each individual year. You simply take the number of crimes cleared in a given year, and divide by the number of new crimes that year.

That allows for more uniform comparisons, though it does come with some caveats—data reported by local agencies are not always accurate, and some are missing, leading to obviously incorrect conclusions (for example, the tool reports the NYPD cleared zero homicides in 2011 and 2012).

For our analysis, we used homicides committed and solved to get a single percentage over the six-year period, a somewhat different measure. Our solve rate skews high in the early years (since police have had more time to solve those crimes) and low in the later years (since they’ve had less time).

Missing data aside, though, one great thing about NPR’s tool is it allows you to compare Harrisburg with other cities. York, for example, has a homicide rate and population similar to Harrisburg’s: there were 39 murders in York between 2011 and 2013, in a population of 43,841.

In 2012 and 2013, York reported clearance rates of 55 and 33 percent, respectively. (Clearance data appear to be missing for 2011.)

Philadelphia, which saw 902 murders from 2011 to 2013 in a population of 1,553,153, posted clearance rates in those years of 60, 70 and 70 percent.

You can view NPR’s clearance rate tool here. To access a spreadsheet of our 2009-2014 homicide data for Harrisburg, click HBG homicides, 2009 – 2014. Our story on Harrisburg’s solve rate will appear in TheBurg’s April issue.

Happenings: The April Calendar of Events

March 30, 2015 | by Admin

Museum & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Lotus: The Art of Lightness,” featuring Lotus road and racing cars, through April 26.

“Motorbikes for the Masses,” an exhibit dedicated to low-cost transportation including motorbikes, scooters and mopeds, through Oct. 11.

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“The MakeSpace Arts Collective,” an exhibit featuring the artists of The MakeSpace in Harrisburg, April 3-May 7; reception, April 3, 5-8 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Clare Margaret

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

Artwork by Beverly Spitzer and Michele Taber, through May 4.

The Hershey Story Museum
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

“Chocolate Workers Wanted,” life in Hershey’s chocolate factory from 1905 to 1925, through spring 2016.

Landis House
67 N. 4^th St., Newport
www.perrycountyarts.org

“Landis Legacy: the Typical Tourist,” featuring memorabilia of the Landis family’s travels through Europe and Cuba, through April 3.

The MakeSpace
1916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgmakespace.com

Gallery exhibition and wall mural by MakeSpace resident artist Meisa Chase, through April 17.

Mangia Qui/Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7358; mangiaqui.com

Works by Gianna Veno & Elide Hower, though April.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmueum.org

“In the Hands of the Enemy: Captivity, Parole & Exchange of Prisoners in the Civil War,” through June 1.

“1865,” an exhibit highlighting the fifth year of the Civil War covering battles, strategies and civilian lives, through December.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

The art of David Hughes, through May 30

“Abandoned America,” photography by Matthew Christopher, April 4-June 27

PCCA Gallery
Perry Country Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
perrycountyarts.org

“Collection of Watercolors,” featuring works by Donna Berk Barlup and Debra Tritt Kreiger of Mechanicsburg and Linda Young of Carlisle, through April 4.

Natured-inspired paintings by Kathy Corr & Patty Toth, April 8-May 2; reception, April 10, 6-8:30 p.m.

“Teaching Artists,” works by professional artists who teach students through PCCA’s Arts-in-Education program, April 10-May 1; reception, April 10, 6-8:30 p.m.

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

“Images of Life,” prints from the Darlene K. Morris collection, through April 1.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“UnCommon Modern: A Pennsylvania Glossary of Midcentury Architecture,” featuring photographs by Betsy Manning, through Apr. 26.

“A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania’s Alexander Wilson,” featuring bird prints and first-edition volumes of the 200-year-old “American Ornithology” series by Alexander Wilson, through Jan. 3, 2016.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Harry Bertoia: Four Decades of Drawing,” through April 12.

“Found in Transition,” a juried Doshi exhibit, opens April 21.

“Everyone Can Fly: Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach & Regional Picture Book Illustrators,” through May 24.

Whitaker Center/The Curved Wall
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

“Art Instructor Exhibition,” works by the Art Center School and Galleries of Mechanicsburg, through April 3.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art in the Wild,” outdoor art exhibit, April 11-Oct. 31.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

The artwork of Amber Long, through April 15.

Art by Susan Kramer, April 17-May 13.

Yellow Wall Gallery/Midtown Scholar
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

“Literatur Trash Polka,” the art of David K., through April 15.

The artwork of Jamie Rice and Adrianne Rice Visnofsky, April 17-May 13; reception, April 17, 6 p.m.

Read, Make, Learn

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 10: Fantastic Fish and Sauces, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 15: Tuscan Food & Wine Pairing, 6-9 p.m.
April 29: Weekend Entrees in 30 Minutes or Less, 6-9 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

March 22: Free Intro to Improv workshop

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

April 2, 9, 16, 23: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12-2 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12-1 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 1, 15, 22, 29: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
April 3, 10: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
April 6: Swing Dance at the Scholar, 6 p.m.
April 11: Snacks & Storybooks w/Gamut Theatre, 2:30 p.m.
April 19: Book Talk w/Richard Sommers
April 21: Book Talk & Signing w/Jeff Oppenheimer
April 25: Storytime w/Peter Sirotin

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

April 7, 21, 28: Abstract Weekly Class
April 24: Encaustic Workshop

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

April 11: “Cruisin’ the Cosmos: Spring Star Party,” 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
April 12 & 19: “Sundays in the Gallery” Series, 3 p.m.
April 25: Spring Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Perfect 5th Musical Arts Center
6240 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-691-9100; theperfect5th.com

April 13: QuickStart Guitar, 6:30 p.m.

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

April 9: Theme: “End of the Line,” 7 p.m. (at Midtown Scholar)

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

April 1: Bird Walk: Early Migration, 8-10 a.m.
April 1: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m.
April 8: Stress Relief Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 9: Art in the Wild Lecture, “Nature as the Client,” 7-8:30 p.m.
April 11: Art in the Wild Workshop w/Paul Nagle, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 11: Clean Up Your Earth Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 12: Flower Walk: Dutchman’s Breeches and Trout Lilies, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 19: Creature Feature: Spring Peepers, 1-2 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

April 18: Cesar Millan
April 24: The Temptations & Four Tops
April 26: Pat Benator & Neil Giraldo
April 30: Vince Gill

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

April 3: The Alchemystics
April 9: Still Hand String Band & the Wallace Bros.
April 12: Craver, Hicks, Watson & Newberry
April 17: Tsunami Experiment
April 19: Eilen Jewell
April 23: Jimkata
April 24: JT & the Mild Heat and Manian and the Monumentals
April 26: The Stray Birds

Broad Street Market
1233 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
broadstreetmarket.org

April 3: The Coalishun
April 25: The Coalishun

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

April 1: Marcus Spreecher
April 2, 12, 26, 30: Anthony Haubert
April 3, 17, 18: Chris Emkey
April 4, 10: Noel Gevers
April 7: Daniel Sheehan
April 8: Julie Moffitt
April 9, 22, 29: Jessica Cook
April 11, 25: Ted Ansel
April 14, 24: Roy Lefever
April 15: Andrea Britton
April 16, 23: Giovanni Triano
April 21: Deborah Anderson
April 28: Maria Battista

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

April 12: Chris Bacas & Voyage West (Wyndridge Farm, Dallastown)

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

April 1: The Ghost Inside
April 12: Chance & Fort Washington School of Rock
April 18: Charm City Devils
April 19: Between the Buried and Me
April 20: Taylor Caniff
April 21: Dopapod
April 22: Yellowcard
April 24: Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime
April 25: (Hed) P.E. & Alien Ant Farm
April 30: The Devil Wears Prada

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 3: Hank Imhof
April 4: Soul Release
April 10: Antonio Andrade
April 11: Ed Horan
April 12: Jason Barshinger
April 17: Kevin Kline
April 18: Dale Stipes
April 19: Colette and Kristin
April 24: Jeanine and Friends
April 25: Doug Morris
April 26: Kristin Rebecca

The Garlic Poet
148 Sheraton Dr., New Cumberland
717-774-5435; garlicpoet.com

April 2: Shea Quinn
April 9: Hexbelt Duo
April 16: Eli Charleston
April 23: Shotgun Ragtime Band
April 30: Corty Byron

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

April 18-19: “Brahms’ Requiem”

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

April 13-14: Brit Floyd
April 17: Hershey Symphony
April 19: Celtic Thunder
April 24: Primus
April 29: 2Cellos

HMAC/Stage on Herr
1110 N. 3rd St./268 Herr St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 3: First Friday Dance Party w/Vetour Productions
April 9: Strangest of Places
April 17: Terry Reid w/The Split Squad
April 18: The Whiskey Shivers
April 25: Adam Ezra Band
Every Wednesday, Open Mic w/Mike Banks

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

April 3: Casey Buckley
April 10: Rivers w/Shawan Rice
April 17: Hot Jam Factory w/The Shackletons & Spiderglass
April 24: Dentist w/Dead Lizard

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com

April 19: Robert Sarazin Blake & Catamt Coyote

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 12: Shippensburg University Concert Band
April 18: The Hit Men
April 23: Jackie Evancho
April 26: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

April 25: Amernet String Quartet (at Temple Ohev Sholom)

Midtown Scholar Bookstore- Cafe
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 10: Emily Long
April 11: Ellyot H. Ray
April 17: Randy Niles
April 18: “Music Together”
April 23: Over the Rhine
April 29: Trez School of Music

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

April 17: The Album Leaf

Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

April 25: The Brubeck Brothers Quartet

River City Blues Club
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

April 1: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
April 2: Mark Santanna Electric Jam
April 3: Carlos Elliot & the Cornlickers
April 4: Cedric Lawson’s Life Force Band
April 8: Blue Elephant Open Jam
April 9: Mark Santanna Electric Jam
April 10: Marissa Elise and the Groove
April 11: Robert Frahm Trio
April 15: Nate Myers Trio Open Jam
April 16: Mark Santanna Electric Jam

Stock’s on 2^nd
211 N. 2^nd Street, Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com

April 3: Wally DeWall
April 4: Mitch Gregory
April 10: Keith Goldstein
April 11: Up Pops the Devil
April 17: Wally DeWall
April 18: Songsmith
April 24: Scott Rivers
April 25: Shea Quinn & Steve Swisher

Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

April 14: The Wood Brothers
April 18: Four Bitchin’ Babes
April 19: York Junior Symphony Orchestra
April 25: Jeff Beck
April 25: Richard Thompson
April 28: Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt

Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7358; mangiaqui.com

April 3: Sean Farley
April 4: The Wild Hymns
April 10: Nate Myers & the Aces
April 11: Erin & the Project
April 17: Scott Peoples
April 18: Tim Wolfe
April 24: Kris Kehr
April 25: Up Pops the Devil

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmfolk.org

April 11: Spring Coffeehouse (at Fort Hunter Barn)
April 12: April Jam Session (at Fort Hunter Barn)
April 12: Craver, Hicks, Watson & Newberry (at Abbey Bar)
April 24: John McCutcheon (at UUCY, York)

The Stage Door

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

April 12: Oxymorons

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Through May 2: “Funny Girl”

Gamut Theatre Group
3^rd Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg
717-238-4111; www.gamutplays.org

April 1-18: “The Three Billy Goats” (Popcorn Hat)
April 18: TMI Comedy Troupe

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Improv Comedy
April 11: Forte Largo featuring Chuck Britton

HMAC/Stage on Herr
1110 N. 3rd St./268 Herr St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 10-12: “The Vagina Monologues”
April 23: Improv 101

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

April 7: “The Great Gatsby”
April 11: Chinese Cultural & Arts Institute

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmonline.net

April 24-May 10: “There Goes the Bride”

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 9: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”
April 16: Pilobus

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 19: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”

Midtown Scholar Bookstore- Cafe
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 17: TMI Improv
April 17: Comedy Night at the Scholar

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

April 17-May 3: “Talley’s Folly”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Road, Camp Hill
717-737-6768; www.oystermill.com

April 10-26: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged”

Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

April 2: “Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story”
April 10: David Sedaris
April 17: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 18-19: “Cinderella”

March News Digest

March 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

12 Run for Council

A dozen residents handed in petitions last month to run in the May primary for seats on Harrisburg City Council.

Four seats are up for grabs this year. Three hold four-year terms, while a fourth is a two-year seat to fill the unexpired term of Councilwoman Eugenia Smith, who died last year. Councilwomen Susan Brown-Wilson and Sandra Reid decided not to seek re-election.

The candidates, all Democrats, who filed for the four-year seats are:

Jeff Baltimore (incumbent) *
Jeremiah Chamberlin *
Ron Chapel *
Cornelius Johnson
Alan Kennedy-Shaffer
Brad Koplinski (incumbent)
Koscina Lowe *
Westburn Majors
Rhonda Mays
Ellis R. “Rick” Roy *

Two Democratic candidates filed exclusively for the two-year seat:

Destini Hodges
Pat Stringer

The primary is slated for May 19. No Republicans filed to run in the election.

* Also filed for the two-year council seat.

Treasurer, School Board Candidates File

Harrisburg will have competitive races this year for the Democratic nomination for both city treasurer and school board.

In the race for treasurer, challenger Brian Ostella will face off against incumbent Tyrell Spradley. Spradley has been in the office since November following his appointment by City Council. The seat was open after former Treasurer John Campbell was arrested last summer and resigned. No Republicans are running in the primary.

Six candidates filed for the Democratic nomination for five, four-year seats on the school board:

Monica L. Blackston-Bailey (incumbent)
Lionel Gonzalez
Matthew Krupp
Daunessy Penn
Jennifer Smallwood (incumbent)
Melvin Wilson Jr.

Krupp also filed for the Republican nomination, the only candidate to do so.

Two Democratic candidates filed for the sole, two-year term on the school board:

LaTasha Frye (incumbent)
Judd R. Pittman

No Republicans filed for the two-year seat. The primary will be held May 19.

2^nd Street Plan Gets Boost

Harrisburg’s plan to return N. 2^nd Street to two-way traffic received a key endorsement last month as the state Department of Transportation gave its preliminary approval.

Following a study, PennDOT concluded that the conversion of N. 2^nd Street from one-way to two-way traffic between Forster and Division streets is feasible. However, it “must be supported by a number of improvements on Second Street as well as other area roadways in order to safely accommodate redistributed traffic.”

Most importantly, N. 7^th Street north of Maclay Street must be converted from two-way traffic to one-way traffic northbound to Division Street. Moreover, improvements would have to be made at the intersections of Division and N. 7^th streets and Forster and N. 2^nd streets.

Finally, PennDOT urged additional study on the impact of the change before final planning for the conversion.

N. 2^nd Street was made one-way in 1956 to speed traffic flow out of the city. Since then, many have blamed the fast-moving, three-lane street for a number of ills, including decreased property values, blight and lessening the quality of life for some city residents.

Market Building to Stay Open

The Broad Street Market’s stone building will remain open, reversing an earlier decision to close it.

The market’s board of directors last month said it needed the space due to a flurry of applications by potential market vendors. In addition, some in the community opposed closing the building.

In late February, the board announced it would shutter the 150-year-old stone building temporarily and relocate the prepared food vendors there to the renovated brick building. The board now says it will try to make improvements to the stone building while keeping it open.

“There has been an influx of interest from new potential market businesses and, in order to house the increasing number of vendors, we are going to have to hold onto that space and figure out a way to renovate while doing business,” said board President Jonathan Bowser.

The market is still looking for new, food-oriented businesses. To apply, visit www.broadstreetmarket.org.

Reid Pleads Guilty

Harrisburg Councilwoman Sandra Reid pleaded guilty last month to a summary charge of disorderly conduct following an incident in November at a city service station.

The district attorney’s office charged Reid for allegedly interfering with an arrest at City Gas & Diesel in the 1500-block of State Street. She was ordered to pay $253 in a fine and court costs.

Following her arrest, Reid missed numerous council meetings and decided not to run for re-election.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 2034: J. & D. Weidler to F. & C. Ramirez, $88,000

Bigelow Dr., 12: W. Portzline to S. Adamson, $60,000

Calder St., 207: PA Deals LLC to J. Manzella, $73,000

Calder St., 208: MTM Property Group LLC to J. Martin, $58,500

Cumberland St., 270: W. Fritz Jr. to PA Deals LLC, $68,750

Fulton St., 1719: Sovereign Bank NA to PA Deals LLC, $67,000

Green St., 1120: P. & H. Jackson to N. Foote, $128,500

Green St., 1307: T. McNew to J. & D. Ruggiero, $89,900

Green St., 1309: Leasing Solutions LLC to L. Oberly, $100,000

Manada St., 2010: B. & S. Dean to N. Etter, $36,000

Naudain St., 1630: R. Eisner et al to R. Murphy III, $37,500

N. 2^nd St., 403: WCI Hotel Partners LP to 401 Hotel Partners LP, $482,709

N. 2^nd St., 2146: R. & W. Shoop to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $130,000

N. 2^nd St., 2530: B. MacDonald & M. Connolly to K. Dillon & D. Smyler, $106,000

N. 3^rd St., 608: P. Kumar & S. Sharma to 608 N. Third LLC, $177,500

N. 3^rd St., 2532: M. Hogan to D. Tamang & P. Moti, $125,000

N. 7^th St., 3101: PT Properties LLC & Realty Management Inc. to Conewago Contractors Inc., $1,378,000

N. 12^th St., 1500: Math Inc. to Greenworks Auto Recycling LLC, $250,000

Norwood St., 938: C. Weller to Edwin L. Heim Co., $70,000

Reily St., 225: M. Bitsko to M. Fickes, $99,000

Rumson Dr., 330: A. Pastula to G. Di Bosco, $41,500

S. 16^th St., 334: Tri County HDC Ltd. to M. Espada, $99,900

State St., 1839: G. & M. Robinson to M. Tiedrebeogo, $50,000

TheBurg Podcast, March 27, 2015

March 27, 2015 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

March 27, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk about the mayor’s outside-the-box effort to reduce parking prices, the outsiders vs. insiders mindset coming back to council chambers and drawing primary ballot challengers out of the shadows.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme. You can listen to his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud and in the iTunes store.

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page, here.

Park Place

March 27, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Cars parked along State Street in downtown Harrisburg.

Not infrequently, a Harrisburg resident comes up to the public microphone during a City Council meeting and complains about–you guessed it–parking.

You read the same types of things in the comment section of PennLive or hear them just by talking with someone on the street or in a bar. Too expensive, aggressive enforcement, not friendly, no room for error.

And, every time, I think to myself: “Haven’t these people been paying attention?”

The deal is done, the cake baked, the horse outta the barn. The mayor and council can’t do anything because the city, drowning in red ink, signed off on an insanely complicated deal that privatized the parking system to pay off a big chunk of its overwhelming debt.

Game over. Get used to it.

And then, it turned out, I was wrong.

Over the past week, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced a series of changes to the parking system that required creativity, boldness and no small measure of salesmanship.

It meant intervening in an area where he had no real power or authority. It required believing that, despite abundant evidence to the contrary, obstinate, invisible Park Harrisburg might be open to change–change it contractually did not have to make. It mandated putting together a series of improvements to the parking system, finding the money to fund some of them, and selling the package to all the parties (the operator, the manager, the state, City Council, Pango).

The cynics might look at the result and see small potatoes. Starting April 1, the “happy hour” rate from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be reduced by $1 per hour. Motorists can park for free for four hours on Saturday but only if they use the Pango mobile app. Beginning in May, they can park during lunchtime for just $3 total, but must use the River Street garage. Park Harrisburg has promised a five-minute grace period before issuing tickets and says its enforcement officers will be retrained as “ambassadors” who will engage the public, not alienate it.

To cover any lost revenue to Park Harrisburg, Papenfuse has pledged $285,000 in “hotel tax” funds left over from last year, money earmarked for marketing the city. He believes that getting more people downtown is a good use of the city’s marketing dollars.

I agree.

For the past year, Harrisburg has found itself the victim of what I would call an anti-marketing campaign. People have been put off by aggressive enforcement, pricey tickets and a distant, uncaring operator. Local media have piled on, so that, day after day, week after week, people have heard a single message: Stay out of Harrisburg!

Papenfuse’s actions helped change the tenor of the conversation. Sure, some people will always regard free parking as a birthright. Others, however, may believe that it’s worth a couple of bucks after work to get easy, walkable access from McGrath’s to Stock’s, from Cafe Fresco to Federal Taphouse, from Cork & Fork to Suba–among a dozen other places downtown. These are the people who are reachable, who might be lured back by a little good news, by a cheaper rate, by a few free hours on Saturday.

Is there a risk for Harrisburg? Yes. Papenfuse’s move is a gamble, though, like a good gambler, he has limited his downside. The city can’t lose more than the $285,000 in hotel tax funds, money that, by design, is intended to bring outsiders in. And that’s a worst-case scenario. Assuming some people respond positively to the changes, the city might lose far less, maybe nothing.

Meanwhile, Papenfuse has maximized his upside. He’s out to prove to Park Harrisburg that lower rates will actually increase their business and boost their revenues. If he’s right, the parking operator may see the value in lower rates permanently, and downtown businesses may recover lost customers. Meanwhile, unlike most marketing campaigns, the results will be directly measurable and some, perhaps all, of the money may remain unspent, available for another initiative down the road.

Papenfuse has proven himself to be a creative problem-solver. He took something most people (myself included) thought was done, over, cooked. He revived it, sold it to multiple parties, and, starting Wednesday, parkers, businesses and the city will be the beneficiaries.

In the past, I’ve poked some fun at the mayor for his boundless enthusiasm. This achievement, though, is something he has every right to be excited about.

After Challenge, Candidate Seeks to Unmask His True Rival

March 27, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Every election season, the challenges appear, picking out every conceivable error on political candidates’ paperwork—some glaring, some subtle—in an attempt to knock them off the ballot before a vote even occurs.

It’s not always evident who’s behind the challenges. But in court Friday morning, Alan Kennedy-Shaffer, a Democratic candidate for Harrisburg City Council, named who he believed was behind his: James Pianka, a long-time operator in city politics, though one who usually works behind the scenes.

Two petitioners sought to strike the nomination of Kennedy-Shaffer on claims that he notarized a portion of his own paperwork. One, by David Smith, of the 2600-block of Lexington Street, has since been withdrawn. The other, by Jan Prosseda, of the 2800-block of N. 2^nd Street, was heard at Friday morning’s hearing.

Kennedy-Shaffer notarized the signatures of the people who circulated petitions on his behalf, allegedly a violation of state notary law, the challengers claimed.

There is nothing on the surface of either court challenge to indicate any connection to Pianka. Pianka, asked about the Prosseda challenge Thursday afternoon, distanced himself from it, though he would not explicitly deny involvement.

“Is my name on it?” he said, referring to the civil complaint, as he left a meeting at an office building uptown.

When Pianka was asked for an explicit denial, his son, James Matthew Pianka, who was with him, repeated his father’s question. “Is his name on it?” he said, as they walked towards their car.

But there are plenty of indications that the man whose name actually appears on the challenge isn’t behind it, either.

Reached by phone Thursday, Prosseda said he filed the petition “as a favor” for someone whose name he declined to mention.

Prosseda also said he was unaware of the scheduled hearing and did not appear in court Friday.

Timothy Brennan, Prosseda’s attorney, said he could not discuss conversations with his client. Asked about Pianka’s involvement, Brennan gave no comment, indicating only that Prosseda’s name was the one on the challenge.

Kennedy-Shaffer, an attorney and an employee at the state Department of Corrections, is one of 12 candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring for the four council seats up for grabs in this year’s election.

He believes Pianka filed the challenge in retaliation after the Dauphin County Democrats opted not to endorse any candidates in the council race.

Kennedy-Shaffer moved for an open primary at the committee’s March 14 meeting, cutting off an effort by Pianka to secure an endorsement for Brad Koplinski, Kennedy-Shaffer said.

Both Pianka and his son have circulated petitions for Koplinski, a current council member who failed in a recent bid for lieutenant governor.

But Alex Reber, the committee’s vice-chair, said he doubted the petition challenge had anything to do with the vote for an open primary, pointing out the committee has been opting not to endorse candidates in most city races for the past several years.

“I don’t think it was retaliation,” he said. “We’re happy there’s an open primary. We think it’s good for democracy.”

Of the 40 or so members from Harrisburg in attendance on March 14, two-thirds voted in favor of an open primary, said Rogette Harris, the committee chairwoman.

In Friday’s court hearing, before Judge Scott Evans, Kennedy-Shaffer’s attorney did not dispute that his client had notarized the petitions under question. He argued, however, that doing so was not a violation of the election code, and even if it was, it was an “amendable” error that should not result in removal from the ballot.

Brennan, representing Prosseda, argued to the contrary that Kennedy-Shaffer’s action showed “purposeful indifference” to what he should have known was a potential violation of the law.

As part of his case, Brennan brought testimony from Gerald Feaser, director of the county elections bureau, who said he had given general, non-legal advice to Kennedy-Shaffer and other potential candidates at a Feb. 9 informational meeting.

Feaser also had told Kennedy-Shaffer that notarizing his own paperwork was something he “wouldn’t advise,” Feaser testified, though he added that he was not an attorney and that he viewed his comments as “public relations” and not as legal advice.

Evans’ decision is not expected until next week, as Ron Clever, Kennedy-Shaffer’s attorney, got the judge’s permission to file a legal brief Monday morning.

In the meantime, whether or not he defeats his challengers in court, Kennedy-Shaffer has sought at least to unmask them.

“I’ve got a target on my back from Mr. Pianka and Mr. Koplinski,” Kennedy-Shaffer said during testimony.

Koplinski did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

This story has been updated with comments from Alex Reber, vice-chair of the Dauphin County Democratic Committee.

Parking Play: The mayor’s quarter-million-dollar bet on downtown parking.

March 25, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Mayor Eric Papenfuse, holding scissors, at a ribbon-cutting for Pango mobile parking app last year.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse, holding scissors, at a ribbon-cutting for the Pango mobile parking app last year.

Harrisburg motorists are about to be part of Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s grand parking gamble.

The wager? That reduced happy hour prices and free parking on Saturdays will draw more parkers downtown, offsetting the damage to local businesses from a rate hike that began last year.

The stakes? About $285,000 in public money.

That’s the amount the city will pledge, pending a City Council vote Wednesday night, to make up for lost revenues in the event reduced prices don’t attract more drivers.

“We’re going to experiment with a theory we have…which says that basically, if we lower rates, then maybe more people will come to park,” Papenfuse said. “And we certainly believe that that will hopefully be the case.”

The money for the experiment will be allocated from a city account holding unspent county hotel tax dollars from 2014. Hotel taxes, which come from a countywide 5-percent levy on overnight lodging, are split between the county, the city and the tourism bureau for the purpose of promoting regional tourism.

If council agrees to the allocation, happy hour parking prices, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, will be lowered from $3 to $2 per hour beginning April 1.

Additionally, drivers will be able to get four free hours of parking on Saturdays by using the promotional code “LUVHBG” on a mobile parking app, beginning April 4.

The city will sponsor the free hours for drivers using the Pango app, which allows people to purchase and renew parking remotely by phone for a small fee.

For drivers using the “LUVHBG” code, which can also be entered as the number 588424, Pango will waive the fee as well as validate the four hours of parking, making the hours “truly free,” Papenfuse said.

Papenfuse discussed the proposal at a press conference Wednesday morning in city hall, where he described the changes as a response to customer complaints about increased rates and longer hours.

“Why are we doing this? Because we have listened,” Papenfuse said.

Trimont Real Estate Advisors, the parking system’s new manager under a long-term lease signed in 2013, also announced several initiatives on Wednesday to improve customer experience and attract more parkers.

One is a “rebranding” of parking officers as “ambassadors,” under a program that Standard Parking, the parking operator under the lease, has employed in other cities.

The “ambassadors” will be specially trained with knowledge of city events and locations, will wear “Ask Me” buttons to encourage the public to approach them, and will carry city maps and other informational material for handing out to visitors.

The operators also plan to implement a five-minute grace period before officers will ticket a car whose time has expired. The grace period is currently being tested and should take effect in the next two weeks, said John Gass, a director at Trimont.

A third program is a lunchtime discount program at the River Street garage, where weekday drivers will be able to pay $3 for up to two hours of parking, as long as they enter the garage after 11:30 a.m. and leave by 1:30 p.m.

On weekends, the program will allow drivers to pay $3 for up to four hours of parking, as long as they enter after 11 a.m. and leave by 3 p.m.

The lunchtime pricing reflects a steep discount on usual rates, which at the River Street garage are normally $8 for two hours and $12 for four hours.

The program is planned to take effect by May, pending the installation of new automated exits and entrances.

The initiatives, which are the first of several to be implemented in the coming years, should help show the parking system is “responsive to public comments,” Gass said.

Harrisburg leased its parking system in late 2013 as part of a state-sponsored plan to pull city finances from the brink of bankruptcy.

The system saw worse-than-expected returns its first year, in part because a long winter led to delays in installing new meters. The fourth quarter saw a shortfall in projected revenues of about $750,000, according to unaudited 2014 financials.

The approved 2015 budget projects $22.5 million in total revenues, with a tiny surplus, around $75,000, left over after all expenses.

Partly for that reason, the city had to put up money to guarantee that any rate changes would not hurt revenues. Nonetheless, Papenfuse said Wednesday he was confident the lower rates would attract enough drivers to cover the city’s wager.

The $285,000 figure represents the city’s “total exposure,” he said, reflecting how much revenue the system would lose if the lower rates attracted no new drivers.

Gass agreed. “We think we have very conservative assumptions at this point,” he said. “The $285,000 is truly a worst-case number.”

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