Belated Wednesday news links

My schedule is getting disrupted a bit, so couldn't get to blogging before now. Apologies for the delay...

• Ray Murphy's group, Philadelphians Against Santorum, is asking the mayoral candidates to remember that there's a significant election in November (and thus stop stealing the spotlight between now and then). He raised the point in a letter delivered Monday to the six presumed mayoral frontrunners, eliciting a variety of responses. I'm sure that those running for US Senate, PA Governor, and a heap of state and US legislative races agree that there are bigger issues in 2006 than who might be on the ballot in 2007!
  
  
• Joe Hoeffel, once a hopeful for US Senate and for PA Lieutenant Governor, has accepted a position in state government, specifically in a business/economic development office. Today's Inquirer reports that he's taking flak for the job, insinuated to be a reward for staying out of some of this year's primaries. I'd think his legislative background would be pretty good qualifications, but who am I to question regional cynicism...
  
  
• We seem to breed our politicians tough in Pennsylvania: following in Arlen Specter's footsteps in defying health set-backs, Pittsburgh's mayor Bob O'Connor is working from his hospital room as he receives treatment for a rare cancer. Best wishes to him and his family.
  
  
• The Daily News notes that the crime-surveillance cameras theoretically approved by voters in May aren't much closer to appearing on Philadelphia's streets. It's only been two months; surely we want to do this carefully so it's done well and with no complaints or problems...
  
  
• The proposed Trump casino has optioned another dozen acres adjacent to its site, which would allow it to get into business sooner. If exercised, the sale would lead to the relocation of longtime local fave TastyKakes...
  
  
• The Philadelphia Weekly has as a top story a spittle-flecked rant against Michael Smerconish, conservative columnist and pundit. [It goes for a remarkable 7 screens at tiny text size!]

  I'm not saying there's a definitive link between a taste for shit hippie music and a penchant for sadly reactionary politics...

  Um, wouldn't a serious rebuttal to his ideas go farther than a taunt of his (imagined) highschool social life et al.? Whatev.
  
  
• A second PW piece looks at the Philly papers' labor contracts, due for renewal this week. Negotiations may be helped by the honeymoon aura around the still very new local ownership...