44 MILLION REASONS TO #SaveGamingRevenue ECGRA has strategically invested $44 million in 203 community and cultural assets, 700 entrepreneurs and business lenders, job Grants training and educational institutions, and & Loans neighborhoods and municipalities. 6:1 Return Local share gaming revenue is strengthening the nonprofit ECGRA has invested $6.7 million in business TM organizations and for-profit $ growth through Ignite Erie resulting in $39.6 businesses in the city of Erie that 22mm million in additional capital for local companies. are implementing the city’s in the City comprehensive plan. $18.1million in gaming revenue is inextricably woven into $ Erie’s cultural, recreational, 18.1mm and human services assets, ECGRA’s investments have resulted QUALITY dramatically improving quality in a cumulative impact of $87.2 OF LIFE of life for residents and quality million, supported and sustained of experience for tourists. 573 573 jobs, and generated $2.9 JOBS million in local and state taxes. Two Ways to Help WRITE. CALL. ADVOCATE EDUCATE yourself. for Erie’s share. Transforming a Region with Local Share Gaming Revenue: An Economic Impact Study Tell Your Legislators How ECGRA Read and Share ECGRA’s Grant Money Works for You! Economic Impact Study at ECGRA.org/impactstudy ECGRA.org/calltoaction prepared by: @ECGRA814 #IgniteErie ECGRA.org/igniteerie /ECGRA ECGRA_Economic Impact Full Page Ad.indd 1 3/1/17 3:11 PM 44 MILLION REASONS TO CONTENTS: From the Editors The only local voice for Sometimes we all need a news, arts, and culture. March 29, 2017 Editors-in-Chief: little health care. Brian Graham & Adam Welsh #SaveGamingRevenue or an entire week recently, one of our Managing Editor: staff members had a nagging cough. It Nick Warren Just a Thought – 5 F Copy Editor: wasn’t the first time a slight sickness has Katie Chriest Speaking from experience crept up this season. Coughing has kept Contributing Editors: him up at night, wreaking havoc on his Ben Speggen sleep schedule. That lack of sleep made his Jim Wertz body weaker every day. The rollercoaster ECGRA has strategically invested $44 million Contributors: of temperatures outside certainly wasn’t in 203 community and cultural assets, Maitham Basha-Agha Exile on State Street – 6 Ed Bernik helping, either. After a long winter season, entrepreneurs and business lenders, job Mary Birdsong What the City of Erie needs in stresses at home and elsewhere were tak- 700 Tracy Geibel Grants training and educational institutions, and Lisa Gensheimer the next mayor ing a toll on him. Gregory Greenleaf-Knepp What he needed was some good old fash- & Loans neighborhoods and municipalities. Dan Schank Tommy Shannon ioned health care. Ryan Smith After the spectacular failure in the House 6:1 Ti Sumner Our City’s Other Election – 8 Matt Swanseger of Representatives on Friday, March 24, the Return Bryan Toy The crucial role of Erie City Affordable Care Act is still standing. De- Cover Design: spite President Trump and House Speaker Nick Warren Council Photographers: Paul Ryan’s best-laid plans, Republicans Local share gaming revenue is Maitham Basha-Agha have neither repealed nor replaced the act Ryan Smith known as Obamacare. ECGRA has invested $6.7 million in business Brad Triana strengthening the nonprofit This was understandably seen as a major TM Publisher’s Assistant: News of the Weird – 11 organizations and for-profit $ growth through Ignite Erie resulting in $39.6 Emily Hanisek loss for the Republican leadership. At last million in additional capital for local companies. Intern: Parking slopes and April’s look, Trump’s approval ratings stood at 36 businesses in the city of Erie that mm Angie Jeffery 22 percent, lower than President Obama’s ever are implementing the city’s expectations in the City 1001 State St. Suite 901 were. comprehensive plan. Erie, Pa., 16501 We’re not exactly sure what will cure rat- [email protected] ings like that, but we’re sure it’ll be covered. Harrisburg Happenings – 13 Remedies come in all forms. Some might $18.1million in gaming revenue The Erie Reader is the local voice for view our city’s ills as a nagging cough, news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only $15 million dollars and more while others consider them symptoms of a is inextricably woven into independent, alternative newspaper. Founded in 2010, the Reader has quickly unanswered questions chronic diagnosis. One possible cure is new $ Erie’s cultural, recreational, become the region’s award-winning city leadership. In this issue, we welcome 18.1mm and human services assets, source for arts coverage, a strong cul- back former Erie Mayor Rick Filippi with a tural compass, and a dynamic resource ECGRA’s investments have resulted dramatically improving quality for news and opinion. With a dedication new edition of “Exile on State Street.” De- QUALITY to long-form journalism and a commit- The Police and the scribing which qualities our next leader in a cumulative impact of $87.2 of life for residents and quality ment to provoking thoughtful discus- needs at this crucial time, he offers up a OF LIFE sion, the Reader tells the stories of the Public – 15 million, supported and sustained of experience for tourists. people and places making and shaping rallying cry to inspire our next generation Erie, while highlighting the events and Bridging the divide and of leaders. 573 573 jobs, and generated $2.9 issues influencing life in northwestern creating accountability While we will certainly continue our million in local and state taxes. Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is pub- JOBS lished every other week and distributed discussions about the upcoming mayoral at over 250 high foot-traffic locations in election, this issue also looks at another Pennsylvania from North East to Girard immensely important impending decision: to Edinboro. In addition to appearing in print, Erie Reader adds new content dai- Spotlight On Erie – 23 who will be on Erie City Council. Ben Speg- ly at ErieReader.com as well social me- Come, be my April fool, Come, gen outlines a few particulars of this elec- dia sites. All rights reserved. All content tion, such as the sheer quantity of contend- © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State we'll break all the rules St., Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of ers and the unique situation presented by Two Ways to Help this publication may be reproduced empty seats as well as candidate team-ups. without permission. The opinions of In “The Police and the Public,” Lisa Gen- our columnists and contributors are their own and do not always reflect that sheimer examines community-law enforce- WRITE. CALL. ADVOCATE of the editorial board or organization. Rosa’s Legacy Reborn – 33 ment group seeks to build trust and curb Direct sales inquiries to 814.314.9364. violence in our city. Tracing a 15-year-old EDUCATE yourself. For editorial inquiries, email contact@ ErieReader.com. Take a culinary trip to court case involving police brutality, she for Erie’s share. Transforming a Region with Local Share Gaming Revenue: An Economic Impact Study Meadville … and the draws a line between a personal tale of jurisprudence and present-day efforts by Tell Your Legislators How ECGRA Read and Share ECGRA’s Dominican Republic. the police department to make their force Grant Money Works for You! Economic Impact Study at ECGRA.org/impactstudy fairer for the entire community. ECGRA.org/calltoaction prepared by: So as we reach the welcome end to flu Music Reviews – 35 season, let’s hope we can rest up. Spring might just begin warming our lives a little Jack Stauber, Valerie June, Jay more every day. We can fill our lungs with Som, and The Shins a breath of fresh air and start on our own healing process, whatever that may be. @ECGRA814 #IgniteErie ECGRA.org/igniteerie /ECGRA March 29, 2017 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 ECGRA_Economic Impact Full Page Ad.indd 1 3/1/17 3:11 PM VOTE BRENEMAN for MAYOR ON MAY 16 HURRY OFFER ENDS SOON EXCLUSIVE OFFER for FORMER MEMBERS FREE Enrollment SAVE UP TO $250 Must present this coupon at time of enrollment. Expires 3/31/17. Not valid with any other offer. Membership dues apply. 5401 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com March 29, 2017 NEWS & VIEWS Just a Thought DOWNLOAD. Speaking from experience DOWNTOWN. soaks my shirt with its brine. Eye-catching color in … My fingers wriggle in new work- this West 10th Street garden is like planted gloves, poetry. itching to do a little digging, to join the earthworm’s long, dark transla- I worked at night, tion of the world. that’s how I filled … Here for a moment, mine many days. is a small lot: I only I’d often end up turn the soil, and often at the Erie Book- fail to recognize what I uncover. store, then housed … the garden begins as in the ground lev- a patch of dirt: el of Lovell Place, anything can happen. with welcoming As an apartment-dweller I longed light from high for my own small lot, especially in windows. I loved spring. I’d walk by purposeful home- to meander among owners out working in their yards, the used books and their winter-pale cheeks flushed imagine who’d held with fresh air and exercise and re- them before, where newal. But I’d never thought of yard they’d been taken work as poem fodder. in carry-ons, what they’d stirred in previous readers. You could say that poetry Developing Plans, Programs and Resources Poetry Scene elevates the mundane. for a Better Downtown. used to be held But more accurately, there on Friday poetry reminds us that nights, and one there’s no such thing as night I nervously TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT got up and read my the mundane.