Tuesday round-up

• Politicians
  
  
  
  • Governor Rendell plans a major health-care initiative for his second term, aiming to widen coverage while keeping down costs. And ponies for everyone! John Baer looks at this and other second-term proposals and speculates about the motivations for such ambition, and its chances for success.
    
    
  • Evans officially announced for mayor yesterday, emphasizing his commitment to the problem of violent crime, and releasing a detailed policy paper for how to reduce crime levels in Philadelphia. More here. A number of regulars at YPP would have liked to hear about more than the one issue.
    
    
  • In the ongoing Saidel/Brady speculation, two entries today: Elmer Smith is a bit surprised by the early appearance of race in the air (and the way it demeans the intelligence of voters), and a short DN piece notes a big show of togetherness by the two supposed rivals.
  
  
• Schools
  
  City Council grilled Schools chief Vallas about a number of issues, from the suddenly discovered deficit to test scores and dropout rates. Wilson Goode, Jr., in particular pushed the chief on the link between dropouts and gun violence. Street was also at the special meeting, calling for a 5-year plan from the School Reform Commission, so that everybody (esp. the city!) knows what the bottom line is currently and where it might best benefit from additional funding.
  
  
• Newspaper status
  
  Despite a long day of negotiation, serious distance still existed yesterday between management and Guild on pensions. Mediators were meeting with management today, and the two sides planned further negotiations. Meanwhile, the Teamsters and other unions working for the city newspapers have signed new contracts and are back to regular business.
  
  
• Other stories
  
  
  
  • New Jersey's civil union legislation is on the fast track, possibly headed for the governor's desk by the end of the week.
    
    
  • A group of casino activists staged a civil disobedience in Harrisburg yesterday, asking to see documents that the Gaming Board hadn't made public. Fourteen were proud to be arrested.
    
    
  • An Inquirer editorial decries the lack of commitment to anti-violence programs, given our record high homicide rate.
    
    
  • Finally, a fun Inquirer fluff piece looks at skyscraper light shows and how they happen, from technicians crawling over scaffolding at Liberty Place, to computer screens setting up fancy displays on the Cira Center.