Political intrigues

Two big and one small intrigue in the news over the last week, which could make the spring quite interesting:

• Showing that some incumbents are more equal than others, the Democratic City Committee is once again bypassing State Rep. Tony Payton in favor of endorsing one of his more establishment-connected opponents. Nothing like embracing the youthful and energetic wing of the party and encouraging the flourishing of progressive politics citywide! Even Ed Rendell thinks this move is folly. I guess the local hacks would rather have back the empty suit who occupied the seat before Payton came along...
  
  
• Meanwhile, matters in the 1st State Senatorial District just took a turn for the even more bizarre, with news that Johnny "Doc" Dougherty is circulating petitions for the primary. Lessee, voters in the district either (a) like Fumo (either from past favors or the sense that he's being unfairly prosecuted), in which case they're unlikely to switch allegiance to perpetual nemesis Doc, or (b) are disgusted by Fumo's hundreds of indictments and see him as a representative of All That's Wrong In Harrisburg, in which case consummate insider Doc doesn't seem like quite the breath of fresh air they'd be looking for (while activist Dicker is a prime alternative). I suppose that there are some folks who (c) have never really liked Fumo but never had another choice, in which case Doc could represent a familiar and thus nonthreatening option (of the One of Us sort) -- but are there really many folks in this category anymore? (And if Doc had a big fan base of his own, wouldn't he have run for mayor?)
  
  I guess only time will tell how this plays out, but count me as among those hoping that Doc would serve to split the Old-Timer vote, leaving Dicker a wide-open field for those looking for reform, energy, and good ideas.
  
  
• Meanwhile, progressive Ward Leader Terry Gillan is stepping down to take a city job in the Nutter administration. (Does this mean that Nutter is stepping down too? I find the Ward Leader rules, ahem, a bit opaque.) Gillan was instrumental in the revolt that led to a subset of WL's endorsing Nutter rather than Brady, and I suspect she sowed other good sorts of trouble out of the public eye. She also ran for State Rep. some years back, but will hardly be missed in the already crowded race to challenge Babette Josephs this year. Anyway, I hope that Gillan has great ideas for economic development in Philly, especially in bringing some progressive outlooks to a traditionally more conservative aspect of city government. (I don't know enough about the 30th Ward to guess who might step up to succeed her there.)

Gleanings from last week

(Sans Monday, which I had off in every sense...)

• Nutter revokes casino's license -- His reversal of Street will add to SugarHouse delay. More here. An unexpected move, to me at least, revolving around the riparian rights issue. Expect to hear more!
  
  
• City Council seeks fresh start with Nutter -- Today, with three new members, Council will begin tackling major holdover issues from 2007. An interesting preview of what's likely to get early attention in this new Council session. More here.
  
  
• Ex-prosecutor now city insider -- Integrity officer worked on "bug" cases.
  
  
• Ex-Rep. Fitzpatrick running for state House seat in Bucks -- I guess the state GOP is pretty worried about the Philadelphia suburbs, to convince a former US Rep. to run for a state legislative seat
  
  
• Ronnie Polaneczky: To save those who live here, hire those who live elsewhere -- a fairly convincing argument that we need to allow a year for emergency workers to take up city residency, lest we always run short
  
  
• Medicaid will not cover errors in Pa. -- Gov. Rendell said hospitals will no longer be paid for costs to correct serious medical mistakes. Is this a clever part of a larger incentive program, or just a big stick likely to cause doctors to try to hide their errors rather than brainstorming systemic solutions?
  
  
• A warning on Philadelphia's pension and health costs -- A Pew report says health and pension costs will drain Phila.'s resources to tackle other problems.
  
  
• Nutter: Enforce Phila.'s gun laws -- The mayor is setting up a legal showdown with the state Supreme Court, which banned such city ordinances.
  
  
• Editorial: Transportation Funding -- Taxes, tolls - something
  
  
• Opinion: PHILLY LIVE! COMPLEX: INVITE THE PUBLIC -- PLANNING SHOULD BEGIN WITH CITYWIDE DISCUSSION I'm intrigued that there are thoughts of expanding the Great Stadium Desert into a more integrated complex, but I hope calls for community input are heeded.
  
  
• TO HONOR MLK, MAYOR PROPOSES NEW WAY TO SERVE
  
  
• YPP: Subprime Lending in Philly: Same Old, Same Old -- that is, crappy loans and high foreclosure rates have been a steady problem here for some time...

Senate primary forum

I've got some round-up stuff from last week to get to, but am totally working on half the sleep (and thus half the work-rate) that I need, so that's all on hold. Just wanted to point out Albert's write-up of the Neighborhood Networks forum for the 1st District Senate race, also known as Fumo v. Dicker. Should be an interesting test of the strength of a corrupt old warhorse against a determined reformer, but in a context where there's just much more to it at every stage, especially with a rainmaker of Fumo's stature. Anyway, Vince passed on this forum, but it was a chance to hear from the challengers, at least...

Gleanings from last week

• Forums will seek input for city plan -- Beginning tonight, the city holds a series of meetings to ask residents how Phila. should evolve over 30 years. I love that this dialogue is continuing.
  
  
• Rendell reiterates need for legislation to cover uninsured. Yeah, how about that Rx for PA? Doctors chip in in support too. Jane looks at the issue of hospital-acquired infections (something the Governor would like to focus on) here.
  
  
• The city's lack of adequate ambulance coverage is another recurring news story. The latest funneling of frustration here, here, and here.
  
  
• Tax breaks multiply in Pa. House. Great, 'cause everything's well covered right now...
  
  
• PATCO extends hand to SEPTA -- The two agencies could join forces in a plan for commuter rail service on the Phila. waterfront. This seems so logical, there must be a catch!
  
  
• Three finalists for job of Phila. schools chief -- lots of follow-ups to this story subsequently, with interviews, one withdrawel, and a mixed reaction from city parents.
  
  
• Nutter picks five for his redesigned Zoning Board. Could sanity prevail?

A smattering of recent stories

A few that still stand out after several days have passed:

• Nutter's appointee as the Director of the Office of Research, Planning, and Policy is somebody well qualified to address the city's needs for zoning reform and community housing development, which bodes well for the new mayor's attention to those topics. Thanks to Jen for helping us see the significance of one in the deluge of recent picks.
  
  
• Philly's new police chief signals that things are going to change with him at the top. Some groans from mid-level commanders, but this sounds like wise stuff.
  
  
• Nutter can't do anything about Street's legacy or last-minute pay-grab, but apparently he's going to review his late appointments, which conveniently included his son, among other pals (and even himself).
  
  
• PA's freshman US Senator Bob Casey defends his record of quiet work and hefty earmarks for the state. Um, yay?

Defibrillator, please!

Can somebody tell me how we can still be at this point in discussions of property tax revaluations in Philadelphia? I mean, the numbers have been available (at least everywhere that homes have been selling), the issues have been pretty clear (nobody wants to tax grandma out of her house now that it's worth something), and I've heard nothing about Council bills or activist coalitions to get something substantive underway. Each article over the last 3+ years has read almost identically to this one . . .

We have a new mayor

Yunno, John Street just left a bad taste, what with his last-minute money-grab at the expense of city coffers. But for incoming Michael Nutter, it's all garlands so far.

• Inky:
  
  'This is our city and we're taking it back'
  
  Educators hail Nutter's 'call to arms' on dropouts
  
  Editorial | A Fresh Start
  
  
• Daily News:
  
  First day of a new era
  
  Ronnie Polaneczky | Around town, folks feel hopeful
  
  Elmer Smith | Playing the role of a wise man
  
  At $50 a ticket, public has a party

My mom's in town, so couldn't make either the inaugural or tonight's planned open house, I'm sorry to say, but I hope to have other opportunities to see the new mayor in action. Best of luck to him and to the city!