The Ad - http://youtu.be/PxXWA9oeb3o

Yesterday we talked a little bit about how Williams has the most money in this campaign, which is the onnly reason he is considered a front runner. Well his first TV ad is out. While it is positive, Im not sure if there is any truth in it yet.

I also must say that this guy is out in my opinion.

1. His wife is a fracking lobbyist. Giant red flag right there. http://www.philebrity.com/2015/03/13/this-moment-in-phl2015-anthony-hardy-williams-wife-is-a-fracking-lobbyist/
2. The city's Board of Ethics has fined the Carpenters Union $1,000 for donating $21,500 - $10,000 over the limit - to State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams' mayoral campaign, and the union has agreed to pay. Whether Williams' campaign will have to return the extra $10,000 was not clear Thursday. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/mayor/20150320_Carpenters_union_fined_for_exceeding_campaign_contributions_to_Williams.html
3. So much of his money is coming from corporate interests in charter schools. I'll say it again, the public vs charter debate should be a good school vs bad school debate, and you don't accept tons of money from charter school advocates without giving them something in return. It's too important of an issue to allow someone in with unsure alliances.

To the video:

First claim: "Got almost a 1/4 billion dollars out of Harrisburg to fund public schools"

• his 1st source: http://paindependent.com/2013/07/watchblog-philly-schools-to-get-120-million-from-permanent-extension-of-temporary-sales-tax/
• "The state House voted 119-83 to extend indefinitely a 1 percent local sales tax for Philadelphia, which was enacted in 2009 and was scheduled to be phased out at the end of 2013. The revenue will be used to give $120 million annually to schools in the city.

The permanent extension of the sales tax, which is counted on top of a 6 percent state sales tax and an additional 1 percent city sales tax, was included in the state tax code bill, a kind of instruction manual that moves along with the state budget bill. The bill goes to the state Senate for a final vote that could come on Tuesday."

• He didn't get that money out of Harrisburg. He continued to take that money from Philadelphia citizens with an increased sales tax, let's be clear.

• his 2nd source: http://news.yahoo.com/philly-schools-45m-ease-money-crisis-222334392.html

• The Obama administration provided $45 million in debt forgiveness to Pennsylvania that was meant to address the education funding gap for Philadelphia. Corbett held that money hostage, demanding Philadelphia teachers take a 10 to 20 percent pay cut from their new contract, but massive public outcry forced him to release the money in October 2013.
• Outside criticism of the governor's decision to withhold the $45 million escalated last week, especially after the asthma-related death of a child who attended a school without a full-time nurse brought national attention to the funding crisis in Philadelphia schools. Zogby said that his "heart goes out" to the girl's family, but that the incident did not figure in the governor's decision.
• "These discussions have been ongoing," Zogby said. "We went into this [putting conditions on the funding] with the understanding that there was going to be a lot of pressure on the state and we were prepared for that going in."

• What convinced Corbett to release the funds, Zogby said, was "the demonstration that the SRC and the superintendent were serious about the business of long-term reform and had taken sustainable, tangible actions around fiscal and operational controls. That was the driving force, not the noise coming from some of the other groups."

• Do you really want to drive attention to this mess in your TV ad, or are we so predictably lazy that his campaign knows no one will ever actually look at these anyway.

• $120 + $45 million = $165 million. Still $85 million away from a 1/4 billion, so math isn't a strong suit either.

Next claim "stared down the barrel of the gun lobby to take illegal guns off the street."

• his source: https://phillyda.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/gun-violence-task-force-nets-18-arrests/
• The Philadelphia program operates in much the same way as its precursor in St. Louis. Citizens who would like to report a property where illegal guns are believed to be kept should call the Gun Violence Task Force at (215) 686-9585. Experienced officers, trained to take a "low-key" approach, will then visit the property, speak to an adult resident, and request permission to search for illegal weapons. In exchange for such permission, the District Attorney's Office will promise in writing that should any illegal firearms be located in the premises, no one will be charged with illegal possession of the firearms. Should any located firearms be traced to prior crimes, charges may be filed against the individuals who committed those prior crimes.
• Since it began in December 2006, the Task Force has opened 1,623 investigations involving the illegal transfer of firearms, made 521 arrests, and seized 1,006 firearms. In addition, the Task Force has assisted Philadelphia Police in solving numerous shootings, burglaries, robberies, and homicides. To date, the Task Force has convicted 342 individuals of straw purchasing and other gun trafficking offenses. (as of 1/2011).

• This one appears to be true. Although I don't know how great it is to quote "18 arrests" from 4 years ago

• PLUS, he eats a cheesesteak at the 25 second mark. He's as bad as nationally televised football games.

In other news:

• Is Milton married? http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/ninetynine/79890-whats-milton-streets-marital-status-its-anybodys-gues
• Education Forum Tonight http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/blogs/ninetynine/item/79911-five-of-six-dem-mayoral-candidates-commit-to-tonights-education-forum-in-s-philly