Sheet-metal union owes big tax $

THE UNION that owns the Delaware riverfront site of the Democratic City Committee's biggest, most expensive soirees also has a big, expensive property-tax debt.

The Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 19, owns a 25-acre plot on Columbus Boulevard just south of Washington Avenue. The union uses one building on the land for training; another holds Penns Landing Caterers.

Next to those buildings is a 9-acre plot that the union owns, 50/50, with real-estate developer Eric Blumenfeld, according to David Ebby, Local 19's attorney.

That plot is $465,028 behind in Philadelphia property taxes - plus interest, penalties and other costs - for 2012, 2013 and 2014, according to city records.

The city filed liens on the property of $186,324 in 2012 and $219,657 in 2013.

Ebby said a real-estate deal in the works should create the cash to pay off the back taxes.

"We've got a couple of things cooking now," Ebby said. "I expect those taxes will be paid by the end of the year."

State Sen. Mike Stack III, now lieutenant governor-elect after winning Tuesday's general election with Governor-elect Tom Wolf, held his election-night party at Penns Landing Caterers.

The Democratic City Committee hosts a pre-election cocktail party twice a year at the catering hall, where candidates are introduced to the party faithful.

The most recent campaign-finance reports show that the Democratic City Committee paid $25,700 for the $150-per-ticket party fundraiser two weeks ago.

Gary Masino, Local 19's president and business manager, said he couldn't talk about the deal in play for the 9-acre plot, but called it "ridiculous" to link that land to the political events at the adjacent union-owned hall.

"The back property has never been used for political events," said Masino, who also sits on the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment.

 Nutter hobnobbing

Speaking of political parties, Mayor Nutter was out and about this week in places where he hasn't hung out for a while.

Nutter on Tuesday stopped in at the Famous Fourth Street Deli, where politicians gather to nosh and swap gossip during an Election Day luncheon. Nutter usually doesn't show unless he's on the ballot that year.

Nutter also turned up Wednesday at the Palm, where Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers threw a post-election luncheon.

Nutter spent some time talking with Local 98 leader John Dougherty and his crew, which always inhabits a large, round table in a front corner of the restaurant.

That turned a few heads, because Dougherty at times has been one of Nutter's most vocal critics.

Nutter has about 14 months left on his second term. Maybe he's gathering ideas for the next gig?

Source: Philly.com