From the Editors The local voice for news, Contents: March 2, 2016 arts, and culture. Different ways of being human Editors-in-Chief: Brian Graham & Adam Welsh Managing Editor: Erie At Large 4 We have held the peculiar notion that a person or Katie Chriest society that is a little different from us, whoever we Contributing Editors: The educational costs of children in pov- Ben Speggen erty are, is somehow strange or bizarre, to be distrusted or Jim Wertz loathed. Think of the negative connotations of words Contributors: like alien or outlandish. And yet the monuments and Lisa Austin, Civitas cultures of each of our civilizations merely represent Mary Birdsong Just a Thought 7 different ways of being human. An extraterrestrial Rick Filippi Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp The upside of riding downtown visitor, looking at the differences among human beings John Lindvay and their societies, would find those differences trivial Brianna Lyle Bob Protzman compared to the similarities. – Carl Sagan, Cosmos Dan Schank William G. Sesler Harrisburg Happenings 7 Tommy Shannon n a presidential election year, what separates us Ryan Smith Only unity can save us from the ominous gets far more airtime than what connects us. The Ti Summer storm cloud of inaction hanging over this neighbors you chatted amicably with over the Matt Swanseger I Sara Toth Commonwealth. drone of lawnmowers put out a yard sign supporting Bryan Toy the candidate you loathe, and suddenly they’re the en- Nick Warren Senator Sean Wiley emy. You’re tempted to un-friend folks with opposing Cover Photo and Design: The Cold Realities of a Warming World 8 allegiances right and left on Facebook. You’re inclined Brad Triana How climate change is threatening wild- – perhaps just a tiny little bit – to rear-end the car in Photographers: Ryan Smith life habitat – and its related industries – front of you festooned in the other party’s snarky Brad Triana throughout Pennsylvania. stickers. Publisher’s Assistant Every four years, we redraw these familiar dividing Emily Hanisek lines. And begin to harbor the belief that we are right Intern News of the Weird 11 Angie Jeffery and they are wrong and how could they be so stupid? Now available on Amazon.com: Buddhist And things have been getting worse. 1001 State St. Suite 901 monks. A 2014 Pew Research Center report titled “Political Erie, Pa., 16501 Polarization in the American Public: How Increasing [email protected] Ideological Uniformity and Partisan Antipathy Affect Playport: Joy That Sticks 15 The Erie Reader is the local voice for Politics, Compromise, and Everyday Life,” explored news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only A foray into Erie’s first all-you-can-play how “Partisan animosity has increased substantially independent, alternative newspaper. arcade over the [last two decades]. In each party, the share Founded in 2010, the Reader has quick- ly become the region’s award-winning with a highly negative view of the opposing party has source for arts coverage, a strong cul- more than doubled since 1994. Most of these intense tural compass, and a dynamic resource Bridging the Divide 18 partisans believe the opposing party’s policies ‘are so for news and opinion. With a dedication to long-form journalism and a commit- A conversation with civil rights leader misguided that they threaten the nation’s well-being.’” ment to provoking thoughtful discus- and former CEO of the NAACP Benjamin The report also suggested that “there is a tendency sion, the Reader tells the stories of the Jealous on the left and the right to associate primarily with people and places making and shaping Erie, while highlighting the events and like-minded people, to the point of actively avoiding issues influencing life in northwestern those who disagree. Not surprisingly, this tendency Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is pub- Spotlight on Erie 21 is also tightly entwined with the growing level of par- lished every other week and distributed at over 250 high foot-traffic locations in Here we are now. Entertain us. tisan antipathy. In both political parties, those with Pennsylvania from North East to Girard strongly negative views of the other side are more like- to Edinboro. In addition to appearing in ly to be those who seek out compatible viewpoints.” print, Erie Reader adds new content dai- Dealing a Helping Hand 32 ly at ErieReader.com as well social media Locally, from arguments about the EMTA to Unifie- sites. All rights reserved. All content © How the MCRC and Presque Isle Downs dErie to how to solve Pennsylvania’s enduring budget Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., & Casino guide refugees toward playing crisis, divides deepen as sides clamber to carve out Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this publication may be reproduced without their cards right. their own identifying beliefs in opposition to the oth- permission. The opinions of our colum- er’s. nists and contributors are their own and But as civil rights leader and former CEO of the do not always reflect that of the editorial NAACP Benjamin Jealous told the Reader’s Dan board or organization. Direct inquiries to Beef. It’s Not What’s for Dinner. 34 814.314.9364 or [email protected]. Schank, “It’s easy to figure out what you disagree on, Embracing a plant-based diet has never but it takes more energy to actually figure out what been easier in Erie. you passionately agree about.” Ultimately, we all have only so much energy and at- tention to spend in this fleeting life. And if we’re spend- Geeked Out 36 ing all on how we differ, we’ll have nothing left to spend Deadpool: an unlikely superhero movie on the awareness of our myriad similarities. Nevertheless, Sagan’s cosmic perspective is our road back to richness. “Every one of us is, in the cosmic per- spective, precious,” he writes. “If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” March 2, 2016 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & OPINION Erie At Large The educational costs of children in poverty Today, eight of the City’s 11 public el- ementary schools have child poverty rates greater than 88 percent. In 2006, there were four. Couple this with the fact that neigh- borhoods surrounding Emerson-Grid- ley Elementary, which has a child poverty rate of 90.8 percent, and those near Jefferson Elementary, which has a child poverty rate of 88.3 percent, also have the highest concentrations of children under five living in poverty in the city. These schools will soon serve those populations. WOODLEY WONDERWORKS As the Erie School District struggles to figure out how to keep its doors open, the local economy, more children living its lights on, and its teachers paid, it By: Jim Wertz in poverty during that period may not must also confront the economic reali- come as a surprise. ties of providing meals, specialized ser- n the wake of Gov. Wolf’s 2016 ad- What is surprising, however, is how vices, and after-school programs that dress to outline next year’s budget that districtwide increase is impacting keep the City’s most vulnerable popu- Iinitiatives, Erie School District Su- individual elementary schools across lations coming back to the classroom perintendent Jay Badams announced the city. Four schools in 2006 had child each day. Some of these services are that the Erie School District will end poverty rates of less than 70 percent: partially grant funded, and that helps. its fiscal year with an estimated $3 mil- Grover Cleveland Elementary (61.2), But many of the programs are funded lion deficit, due largely to the fact that Harding Elementary (62.8), JoAnna in part or fully by the state, and the the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is Connell Elementary (66.8), and Jeffer- ongoing budget crisis that threatens now around 250 days without a budget son Elementary (69.4). By 2014 those same schools saw rad- in the current fiscal year. According to the Pa. Department ical increases in childhood poverty. Without restoration of education of Education, the average number The poverty rate at Jefferson Elemen- funding from the state, Badams esti- of public school students living tary increased 18.9 percent and now mates that the Erie School District will in poverty in 2006 was nearly 80 nears 90 percent school-wide; the need to shed nearly $9 million from percent districtwide. By 2014 that poverty rate at Grover Cleveland in- next year’s budget, and that’s only if average had increased by more creased 17.6 percent and now nears 80 the Governor’s education initiatives than 6 percent. are even half funded. If the legislature percent school-wide. JoAnna Connell continues to operate only on opposi- and Harding Elementary Schools have tional terms and next year’s budget is child poverty rates of 74.4 percent, the school districts across Pa. will crush also grossly or wholly unfunded, the lowest in the Erie School District. Perry the finite opportunities offered to Erie’s reality for Erie’s city schools will be Elementary saw an increase in child- children if it’s not soon resolved. much worse. hood poverty of 14.1 percent, the third Diminished services for children in That’s because cutting after-school largest increase in the City leaving Per- poverty in Erie and everywhere bor- programs and closing schools with rel- ry with an overall poverty rate greater ders on institutional child abuse and atively small populations is only going than 88 percent. the State Legislature should be held to compound the greatest issue facing Part of the increase can be credited to responsible.