Tuesday news

• Politicians
  
  
  
  1. Out of this year's record crop of legislative challengers in Pennsylvania, some 25% are no longer on the ballot, due to withdrawels and challenges. Keeping the scribes busy!
     
     
  2. Well, Mark Cohen has shaken off his primary opponent, and thus was probably looking forward to side-stepping the recurrent issue of the pay-hike. But then his substantial book expenses came to light causing one columnist to wonder if he's lost his mind. I'm sure the books are cheaper than a staff researcher, but a library is free (and offers exposure to the Common Man as an added benefit).
     
     
  3. Ousted State Supreme Court Justice Nigro is considering another run for his old seat, in hopes that his symbolic scapegoating can be put behind him.
     
     
  4. Also, the supporters of Florence Cohen's bid to fill her late husband's seat on the Philadelphia City Council are planning to deliver their petitions to Council President Anna Verna tomorrow at noon. No link, just info: Supporters are welcome to (1) join the event, which will occur in City Hall outside room 405, (2) return any petitions that are still circulating (call 215-620-3396 to have them picked up), and/or (3) put in a last flurry of calls to their Ward leaders. Verna has until this weekend to consider calling for an election to fill the seat during the May primary; however, she could also do so in November (when there might be two open seats to fill), so continued pressure is not wasted.
     
     Many people seem to view this effort as nepotistic. However, counter-intuitively, it represents a more democratic option: Cohen's pledge not to run for reelection in 2007 means that a genuinely open primary could be held for that seat, rather than there being a machine-annointed incumbent already in place. It's a worthy goal, even if one with long odds.
     
     
  5. Above Average Jane notes that challengers to some SE-PA incumbents in the US Congress have had some powerful early fundraising. Bodes well for their general election prospects.
     
     
  6. America's Hometown profiles Councilman Michael Nutter, his disctrict and his CV. No word on whether this is the first in a series or just a one-time thing.
     
     
  7. Another regional blogger looks at State Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill's relationship to the gaming industry, in light of some money that he just returned to some casino-related campaign contributors, and looks at a lot of other money that he might be well to return to donors and taxpayers both.
     (via PhillyFuture)
  
  
• Casinos
  
  
  
  1. The five major groups wooed the gaming board yesterday, with celebrities in tow to make an impression.
     
     
  2. However, they all appeared to downplay the effect that they would have on their respective neighborhoods.
     
     
  3. The Daily News provides a map with short summaries of the five proposals.
  
  
• Other news
  
  
  
  1. An Inquirer piece looks at the perennial question of why college grads don't stay in Philadelphia, and the suspects range from an outdated image of the city to high taxes to job prospects. Take-home: Nobody knows for sure.
     
     
  2. The victory of activists over the 12th Street Gym's ownership is reported today by both the Inquirer and Daily News. Good early publicity for Philadelphians Against Santorum as well.
     
     
  3. The Inquirer also has a piece profiling one of the local heavyweights behind a group that might buy the Philadelphia newspapers. He's a conservative, but says his major focus would be on better (and, um, funner) promotion of the two papers. The piece also includes profiles of some other investors from the coalition.
     
     
  4. An Inqy editorial suggests that Philadelphians eat in New Jersey restaurants to protest the lack of anti-smoking bills here (since their ban goes into effect this weekend).
     
     
  5. Albert has fantastic photos of yesterday's immigration rallies around Philadelphia. uplifting.