Security Risk

Ride the Ducks has its work cut out for it in Philadelphia. The duck-boat company is facing a number of lawsuits and trying to get city approval to resume operating. And now the feds are breathing down its neck. Chief Judge Theodore A. McKee of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and other federal officials have told the National Park Service and city officials that Ride the Ducks' former loading zone along 6th Street north of Market poses a security risk to the federal courthouse.

Politicians, port officials and security experts worried aloud yesterday about the Bush administration's decision to allow an Arab company to become a major player in U.S. seaport operations. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wrote a stern letter asking for details about the process that led to a pending deal's approval by a secretive committee based in the U.S. Treasury Department. Its Newark container terminal is part of the transaction. Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.)

A lot of people in Conshohocken were happy to see Kiwon Lee buy a vacant, deteriorating corner grocery and begin renovations for a new dry-cleaning store in their small suburban town. Until they saw his very urban plans for security. Lee, a 41-year-old Philadelphia businessman, decided the large plate-glass windows in front would be too big a security risk. So he did what any discerning city merchant would: He installed rolling steel gates over the windows and the front door to prevent nighttime break-ins and vandalism.

President Bush, brushing aside opposition from Democrats and some powerful Republicans, said yesterday that he would veto any effort by Congress to stop a deal allowing a company owned by the United Arab Emirates to run seaports in Philadelphia and five other U.S. cities. "I'm trying to conduct foreign policy by saying to people of the world, 'We'll treat your fairly,' " Bush said aboard Air Force One. "And after careful scrutiny, we believe this deal is a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country, and at the same time, sends a signal that we're willing to treat people fairly.

For 10 1/2 years, Ailish Nic Phaidin had what she considered a prestigious job - administrative assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland. The good pay and working conditions came to an abrupt end on Feb. 26, 1987, when Phaidin was called by her boss and told, without explanation, that she was being fired as a "security risk. " On Monday, a Philadelphia lawyer filed a suit for Phaidin in U.S. District Court here. The suit names Secretary of State George P. Shultz, U.S. Ambassador Margaret M. Heckler and three other embassy officials.

Mayor Street says that the Philadelphia Gas Works' plan to build a terminal for tankers hauling a liquid form of natural gas "could be a great thing for the city. " When asked about the mayor of Fall River, Mass., who is opposing a similar project in his city for homeland-security reasons, Street said, "Everything poses a security risk these days. " Two LNG projects, two mayors, two very different reactions. How come? The answer may stem from the fact that the PGW project is unlike any other in the country.

THE SCHWEIKER administration has issued a ruling that, for now, affects only reporters, particularly those who work in the state Capitol newsroom, but has the potential to harm some innocent people. The policy could also adversely affect the way reporters cover state government and thus the news the public is entitled to. Those are my reasons for not submitting to the order that requires reporters to pay $10 for a criminal background check conducted by the state police to determine whether members of the press are a risk to security.

An inmate who escaped from the Chester County Farms Prison on Friday was still at large yesterday, although warden Thomas Frame said he did not believe that the inmate presented a great danger to the public. Duane Robert Riley, 41, escaped by jumping a six-foot fence in the recreation yard of the prison's pre-release center Friday afternoon, a day after he was moved into the center because of overcrowding at the prison. He had been incarcerated since August on an 11- to 23-month sentence for terroristic threats against his estranged wife.

Convicted triple killer Roger P. Buehl wants to marry on death row, but prison officials won't let his betrothed inside Graterford prison. They think they have a pretty good reason: Seven years ago, she was caught smuggling marijuana to another death row inmate. But love may yet prevail. In legalese a cupid could savor, U.S. District Judge Jay C. Waldman has ruled that barring the bride from a brief, one-time visit to the prison, solely on the basis of her past brush with the law, may be unconstitutional.

U.S. education act has unrealistic mandates Re: "Pa. schools missing federal goals," Aug. 13: Well, the first round of scores are in and we are just beginning to see how the ridiculous mandates and reporting requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the inappropriately named No Child Left Behind Act) are leaving children and schools behind. Good schools, very good schools, are being made to look as if they are failing because of failure to meet one specific narrowly defined goal out of 45 possible measurements.

Ride the Ducks has its work cut out for it in Philadelphia. The duck-boat company is facing a number of lawsuits and trying to get city approval to resume operating. And now the feds are breathing down its neck. Chief Judge Theodore A. McKee of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and other federal officials have told the National Park Service and city officials that Ride the Ducks' former loading zone along 6th Street north of Market poses a security risk to the federal courthouse.

And now, for something completely bizarre featuring a rapping rodent named G-Hog and a gaggle of flashdancers trying to get teenagers interested in health careers. Clearly, I'm in need of some counter-programming after all the gun violence and vicious political ads of recent weeks. But how to do justice to one of the strangest uses of $4,157 in taxpayer money in Pennsylvania history? I'm talking about the Department of Labor and Industry promoting Health Careers Week (Nov. 5-9)

A plan to move Camden County probation offices from Camden to an office complex between Routes 38 and 70 has some Cherry Hill residents up in arms. Flyers protesting the move were sent out Thursday by the Woodland Civic Association, a neighborhood association, to businesses and hundreds of homes in the township. "We are concerned about safety, the additional burden on the Cherry Hill police, the value of our property, the effect on area businesses and the image of our community," the flyer reads.

Moving the Regional Produce Market to the Navy Yard would create serious security risks and block major growth at the Port of Philadelphia, maritime business and labor leaders said yesterday. Uwe Schulz, president of the Ports of the Delaware River Marine Trade Association, pressed port officials to fight a plan by Gov. Rendell and State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.) to put the new produce terminal on the Navy Yard site, just south of the port. The association is the employer group that hires labor for the port.

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio, who as a congressman crafted the law to prevent foreign investments deemed security threats, says the controversy over a United Arab Emirates-owned company managing U.S. ports might have been avoided had Congress exercised more scrutiny. Florio also criticized President Bush for failing to make clear why his administration was confident the company, based in a region where anti-American sentiments run high, does not represent a potential security threat.

President Bush, brushing aside opposition from Democrats and some powerful Republicans, said yesterday that he would veto any effort by Congress to stop a deal allowing a company owned by the United Arab Emirates to run seaports in Philadelphia and five other U.S. cities. "I'm trying to conduct foreign policy by saying to people of the world, 'We'll treat your fairly,' " Bush said aboard Air Force One. "And after careful scrutiny, we believe this deal is a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country, and at the same time, sends a signal that we're willing to treat people fairly.

Politicians, port officials and security experts worried aloud yesterday about the Bush administration's decision to allow an Arab company to become a major player in U.S. seaport operations. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wrote a stern letter asking for details about the process that led to a pending deal's approval by a secretive committee based in the U.S. Treasury Department. Its Newark container terminal is part of the transaction. Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.)

Mayor Street says that the Philadelphia Gas Works' plan to build a terminal for tankers hauling a liquid form of natural gas "could be a great thing for the city. " When asked about the mayor of Fall River, Mass., who is opposing a similar project in his city for homeland-security reasons, Street said, "Everything poses a security risk these days. " Two LNG projects, two mayors, two very different reactions. How come? The answer may stem from the fact that the PGW project is unlike any other in the country.

Closing the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and Joint Reserve Base would be an indefensible military mistake, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said yesterday. With the Defense Department expected to release a list of recommended base closings next week, Santorum, a Republican facing a tough reelection fight next year, said he is functioning as a lobbyist and advocate for all Pennsylvania bases. "This is exactly what the military says we want from our bases," Santorum said after a tour of the Willow Grove base, one of only three nationwide with Reserve and National Guard flight units from all of the military services.

U.S. education act has unrealistic mandates Re: "Pa. schools missing federal goals," Aug. 13: Well, the first round of scores are in and we are just beginning to see how the ridiculous mandates and reporting requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the inappropriately named No Child Left Behind Act) are leaving children and schools behind. Good schools, very good schools, are being made to look as if they are failing because of failure to meet one specific narrowly defined goal out of 45 possible measurements.