tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100872262012-01-04T10:33:26.985-05:00Jottings about local politics in southeastern PAACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.comBlogger15621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-51724501726045693002012-01-04T10:31:00.002-05:002012-01-04T10:33:26.992-05:00

Bob Brady makes clear where his priorities lie -- personal survival over party, state, city... Doesn't make you that excited to have him pulling the regional strings, does it?

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-64937020052575067432011-12-13T09:42:00.000-05:002011-12-13T09:43:10.797-05:00

More bad news on the frakking front: municipalities to be denied any say over how gas is extracted, companies to be granted emininent domain, little people to be screwed in every possible way.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-57347774418575326532011-11-07T12:43:00.002-05:002011-11-07T13:03:55.892-05:00

This is a bit of a sleeper election, with lots of uncontested elections and judicial retentions -- however, there are three races where a smattering of votes can really make a difference, and surprisingly, two of those involve Republican candidates.At the top of the ballot are two state-wide judicial races that are likely to be close. Especially important is the Commonwealth court, which is

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-80700442455318775992011-09-13T16:45:00.002-04:002011-09-13T16:48:21.922-04:00

I don't mind the idea of going to a popular election, rather than the arcane electoral system we have now, but I'm not sure I want Pennsylvania to go it alone in that direction, leaving the electoral tussles to everybody else (and empowering the minority party in the state). Um, can we nip this in the bud??

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-57669196391399547142011-06-06T09:00:00.001-04:002011-06-06T09:01:25.924-04:00

Shouldn't residents of his one-time home state get a veto on a Santorum Presidential run? Talk about chilling! (Then again, maybe popularity at the polls doesn't pick Presidents anyway, heh.)

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-601605180465341612011-05-17T06:00:00.000-04:002011-05-17T06:00:11.147-04:00

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-24057610317542776652011-05-16T12:11:00.008-04:002011-05-16T14:04:37.957-04:00

Yes, there's an election tomorrow! Which, if nothing else, may reshape City Council for the next decade. With all the government functions being pushed down from federal to state and local levels, this means a lot of important decisions may fall upon the shoulders of the people we elect this year. Nevertheless, low turnout is expected, so anybody who cares needs to get their vote logged! I

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-2264614442739345972011-03-16T09:11:00.002-04:002011-03-16T09:13:21.650-04:00

Man, this article on San Francisco's efforts to understand and regulate the availability of parking is amazing. A smartphone app that indicates the level of parking space availability on a Google Map? What I'd give to just know when/whether a bus is coming at one of my local stops... Sigh.(via Atrios)

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22389683393258125412011-03-03T08:55:00.003-05:002011-03-03T09:20:20.140-05:00

The current high-profile battle over union rights in Wisconsin is sort of the canary in the coalmine for union prospects all over the country, as the Koch brothers widen their anti-union efforts to other states. There are many signs that Pennsylvania will be getting this movement soon, including some news reports about their announced strategy. I can tell that regional activists are gearing up

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-30842588150811410852011-02-16T14:32:00.001-05:002011-02-16T14:33:19.342-05:00

Just thought I'd pop up again to post a link to this heartening essay: Want a safe place to raise kids? Look to the cities. A lot of things we urban parents think about, but others that tend to get overlooked. Go, city life!

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-90315076329310432162011-02-07T11:39:00.002-05:002011-02-07T12:02:41.956-05:00

Had an opportunity to meet one of the flurry of challengers to Frank DiCicco for Philly's 1st District (runs along the riverfront) City Council seat, Jeff Hornstein. He seems like a smart guy with a history of progressive activism (organizing for SIEU and public transit) and lot of good ideas, who thinks the time is ripe for a reform wave in Philly's City Council. Certainly, the retirement of 4

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-33314067512284042622010-07-19T12:40:00.002-04:002010-07-19T12:42:30.852-04:00

I just love this slide show of polling places around Philadelphia, which showcases many offbeat locations and small details of how these places are run. I love that such a patched-together system works, not only here but probably all around the country (although urban solutions are inherently more constrained and thus often more wacky)...

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62711676702672829422010-05-19T09:26:00.001-04:002010-05-19T09:27:55.542-04:00

This seems about right to me, as a summary of yesterday's results:There are a lot of reasons Arlen [Specter] managed to work his fake moderate game for so long, but I'm glad that era is over. I hope (and am mildly optimistic) that Joe Sestak will be a better senator than one might expect, but in any case getting rid of Arlen was a worthy goal in and of itself.-AtriosOnward to the general!

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-71749730460596905682010-05-17T18:31:00.002-04:002010-05-17T19:35:08.968-04:00

This feels like a low-profile election, despite the presence of at least two pretty important primaries. Maybe it's the lack of enthusiasm that many voters feel about the Senate race, plus the feeling of inevitability that has come to be attached to the gubernatorial race; combine that with the crappy weather forecast, and the prospects of low Philadelphia turnout mean that every voter is really

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-33770338455848009932010-04-29T08:53:00.003-04:002010-04-30T12:13:12.525-04:00

Hard to know yet what all this will mean. Tierney was no great gift to the city, especially since he took on so much debt to buy the papers that he bankrupted the place, even though the newspapers themselves continue to show a small profit every year. The return of a longtime local publisher seems good, but being run by hedge funds could mean a lot of decisions that favor profit issues over news

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74242468687108845212010-03-09T12:41:00.002-05:002010-03-09T12:46:30.105-05:00

Some people seem confused about the resistance to casinos -- other than traffic, what's the problem? I think that the answer is right here"Yes," Jonas confirmed, most of his players fit that profile. In fact, because Parx players tend to live within 20 miles of Street Road, many go even more frequently [than 3-4 times per week]."We have customers," Jonas boasted, "who give us $25, $30 five times

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-27792608944531846522010-02-02T19:43:00.001-05:002010-02-02T19:46:59.029-05:00

A coalition of local civic groups, headed by Neighborhood Networks and the Coalition for Essential Services, is hosting a forum at which folks can hear from (and possibly ask questions of) the whole heap of folks running for Pennsylvania Governor this year. Get a jump on your primary decisions, or just get a look at the competition...When: Thursday, Feb 18, 7-9 PMWhere: Arch Street United

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-48608340819465881602009-11-16T13:49:00.001-05:002009-11-16T13:50:12.258-05:00

First Fumo, now Perzel... can anybody interest the Feds in Johnny Doc?

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-65576927726948275802009-07-14T12:58:00.001-04:002009-07-14T13:02:46.380-04:00

Holy cow! apparently Philadelphia area Congressman Jim Gerlach intends to quit to run for Governor next year. No idea what his chances are, but this means no incumbent in the 6th District -- where are you Lois Murphy??

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-92144902011564168992009-05-18T20:47:00.004-04:002009-05-18T21:36:34.220-04:00

I've gotten to meet and/or hear from a large percentage of the candidates this year, but that hasn't always given me a clear sense of preferences, as you'll see. The big-ticket races tomorrow are District Attorney and City Controller, both important and interesting races, but most of the ballot contains judicial races, which is where small numbers of thoughtful voters can really make a

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-37043075947414934732009-04-28T14:08:00.005-04:002009-05-05T15:57:15.588-04:00

I suppose it was fated, but it's still hard not to feel the earth shudder when Arlen Specter switches parties! That should shake up the picture for the 2010 elections quite a bit; expect new life in the gubenatorial race and rather muted entries for a Senate primary battle with this old warhorse...Update: I got this very phone call last night (4/29). Completely perplexing -- are they trying to

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-75438040918010510902009-03-17T09:34:00.002-04:002009-03-17T09:41:07.445-04:00

It took the jury foreman nearly 15 minutes to read all the verdicts: guilty on all 137 counts. Sorry, Vince, but looks like you're not as entitled as you thought you were.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-67772622535095483752009-02-23T08:40:00.001-05:002009-02-23T08:41:57.048-05:00

The Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They say that daily operations will be unaffected, but one can expect this to have reverberations locally for some time.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-55338955337729276142008-12-02T13:41:00.003-05:002008-12-02T13:50:11.050-05:00

It's probably been obvious that things here have gotten increasingly quiet since The Arrival, and I think I'm going to make it official. I just can't scan the dozens of regional sources I used to, let alone find the time to compose summaries or commentary. I'd like to say I'll drop in here when something huge happens, and I probably will, but there's been big stuff already that slipped over the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-66512449812021401672008-11-04T13:27:00.002-05:002008-11-04T13:30:47.567-05:00

A simpler ballot than usual, so no lengthy set of recommendations here. I think the Democratic ticket is generally good, with the possible exception of the Attorney General for PA, where there is some controversy over his rabid anti-immigrant views (but that's not really the AG's purview). A YES on the ballot questions, to varying degrees of conviction.But, President! And some other

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-91722115506581737052008-10-20T12:17:00.003-04:002008-10-20T12:23:03.428-04:00

I don't know whether I can really be said to be maintaining this blog anymore (sigh), but I did want to note this one story: that the PAC belonging to John Dougherty's electricians' union finally had to pay a penalty for their illegal meddling in the mayoral primary (even if the $$ value is small for such a major player). A first victory for the city's new Ethics Board. I notice that the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-86647101598174949042008-09-30T17:43:00.002-04:002008-09-30T17:50:43.766-04:00

Man, I've bookmarked so many stories that I never seem to have time to blog... Sigh.But anyway, was shocked by these statistics at YPP about gambling in other cities, which put the proposed Gallery placement of the Foxwoods casino in pretty negative light.* A survey of southeast Asian refugees in Connecticut (where statewide they only have two casinos), found that 59% were pathological gamblers.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-27199653016940567872008-09-12T07:29:00.004-04:002008-09-12T09:32:19.300-04:00

I have to admit I was shocked to hear that Foxwoods was considering a move of their site not to someplace else remote like the airport or the navy pier, but to the Galleria downtown, and that this appeared to generate widespread approval from the political class. After some days' coverage and rumination on my part, I gather that there are some logistical possibilities I'd never have considered,

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-87661682257526172062008-08-26T21:29:00.002-04:002008-08-26T21:31:01.122-04:00

PA Sen. Bob Casey is addressing the Democratic convention (thankless, the speakers against the din of meanderers). About John McCain's record of voting 90% with George Bush: "That's not a maverick; that's a sidekick!" heh heh...

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-90201656599951131332008-08-25T11:18:00.002-04:002008-08-25T11:21:14.343-04:00

Congrats to Dan U-A and Ed Goppelt for forcing Philadelphia's election commisioners to do their job and make election returns available online to all citizens, not just a few priviledged insiders. Good work, everybody who helped pile on the pressure by faxing a password request or by giving this story some of the fresh air it needed. Occasionally regular folks get to make things happen.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-42173795244802203432008-08-22T11:25:00.003-04:002008-08-22T11:30:49.674-04:00

Front page in today's Inquirer is news that Foxwoods is open to considering other sites for its casino complex. Not clear where, or how serious, but this is unprecedented in the discussions, so will be interesting to see. Getting these big boxes off of the riverfront seems like a good thing for the city's ability to develop its resources, but I suspect that any new site will face continued

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22476596573560531852008-08-17T17:39:00.002-04:002008-08-17T18:13:32.125-04:00

Just a few recent articles that update ongoing stories or bring up interesting new points:Remember that Fumo case? The one with several hundred indictments, and stories of everything from alpaca farms to shredding documents? It's still trudging along. A former computer aide appears ready to add his guilty plea to that of his partner in email erasure, and may testify against Fumo

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-42939030053370526822008-08-17T16:07:00.003-04:002008-08-17T16:09:31.131-04:00

Folks have expressed concern that Fumo's replacement in the 1st State Senate seat, while no known horror like Johnny Doc, might be a puppet, having gotten some late money from Fumo himself. Only time will tell, but here's a little video of Farnese claiming to be his own man and promising transparency in his future work. Here's hoping.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-5709677265139330472008-07-26T16:36:00.003-04:002008-07-26T16:44:14.213-04:00

The city reached a one-year contract deal with its largest union of municipal workers this week (see also editorial here), leaving only the firefighters (arbitrated) and a couple of small union agreements to iron out. Everybody hopes that these one-year deals will give the new mayor and his advisors a chance to figure out how to handle the budget, weather the changes in the economy, and still

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22144640372624414002008-07-25T17:34:00.002-04:002008-07-25T18:03:01.526-04:00

Just a few things that caught my attention...Philadelphia's homeless problem has been on the rise, most notably in increased sightings in Rittenhouse Square, including fountain bathers et al., despite increased efforts at finding shelter for people living on the streets. Numbers are down, but I guess they're more visible -- I've certainly been more aware of doorway and underpass clusterings than

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-64551426287912047212008-07-22T22:03:00.003-04:002008-07-22T22:06:49.491-04:00

State Rep. Babette Josephs is depicted as a thorn in the side of reformers in an Inquirer article today for holding up a number of potentially important bills in her committee (most notably to me, the anti-gerrymandering effort). She says they all need improvement, but I think she needs to get moving on those tweaks if she doesn't want her chairmanship to become a drag on her next primary

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62630738943772016572008-07-11T21:08:00.002-04:002008-07-11T21:25:51.382-04:00

Three stories of interest today:The long-brewing Harrisburg scandal over use of legislative staff in campaign capacities (as revealed by unsubtle bonus payments) has reached the indictment stage. The Democrats (staffers, that is) took the hits, although future reviews of Republican behavior are promised.Closer to home, the labor union PAC which deluded themselves that they could make political

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-76386417025166033932008-07-05T15:08:00.002-04:002008-07-05T15:23:55.496-04:00

After our giving Willy Singletary the thumbs-up for Traffic Court (in the absence of having met any other candidates, we will admit), we were a bit saddened by his subsequent troubles over unpaid tickets and the like. Happily, an article in today's Inquirer indicates that he's doing well on the bench, whatever else might be going on. In the end, giving a crap about the job is still worth a lot,

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-83512115393477511042008-06-21T13:58:00.002-04:002008-06-21T14:25:11.888-04:00

A few recent stories have caught my interest, especially several that appear to be the culmination of events tracked here previously:Apparently, Philadelphia's trend-setting citywide WiFi effort will not end abruptly with the (inevitable?) departure of commercial partner Earthlink: a local partnership has taken over the network and hopes to figure out later how to make money from it. (No really,

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-35173169427458508572008-06-19T18:25:00.003-04:002008-06-19T18:28:23.285-04:00

That is, white working-class voters. The ones that supposedly would never elect a black guy (or whatever your story of the week is). Because Obama has a large lead over McCain in Pennsylvania and several other WWC-heavy states according to a recent poll. So it looks like we (and the nation) are all in play after all...(via dailyKos)

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-66489362599108065482008-06-15T21:13:00.003-04:002008-06-15T21:27:39.751-04:00

Well! All sorts of interesting things brewing at the state level while I'm not watching (or at least not blogging, sigh). Much to my surprise, Pennsylvania passed a smoking ban at the state level! Where did that come from? Harrisburg is a mysterious place.Recent attempts to reform the effects of lobbying on the state legislature are having some effects, at least in keeping our legislators

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74248570165485644912008-04-23T17:27:00.003-04:002008-04-23T17:39:13.206-04:00

Two things:My huge apologies to my readers for my absence on this one. Nobody needed my input on the national race, but there were some hot and fascinating local battles. In all honesty, I would probably have hurt myself trying to make a clear endorsement in the two races closest to me, but I usually at least try to lay out the arguments for others sharing the wrestling. I hope to someday

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-60982469152862782652008-04-07T11:04:00.002-04:002008-04-07T11:09:04.650-04:00

Radio Times on WHYY is about to air a discussion with the 1st District State Senate candidates -- John Dougherty, Ann Dicker, and Larry Farnese. Likely to be of interest to anybody in that district as well as political junkies generally.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22743494112182254792008-02-19T17:29:00.002-05:002008-02-19T17:37:36.164-05:00

Man, I've been absent here for a while, and have a huge backlog of things I'd like to yap about -- pols from Bill Green (a pleasant surprise) to Tony Payton (revenge of the Evil Insiders) to Vince Fumo (who's in, who's out, who might he tap to run his race?); developments around the city (union minority deal, Nutter budget, SEPTA plans, EMS fixes) and state (esp. the Open Records business); and a

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-560827026703406892008-01-31T18:35:00.000-05:002008-01-31T18:51:02.641-05:00

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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-45764511359883419452008-01-29T18:44:00.000-05:002008-01-29T19:08:35.474-05:00

(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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-21352557990190798492008-01-28T20:05:00.000-05:002008-01-28T20:08:32.986-05:00

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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-54800560700991234912008-01-25T17:59:00.000-05:002008-01-25T18:14:26.731-05:00

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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-39389617953630839352008-01-15T18:58:00.000-05:002008-01-15T19:08:02.822-05:00

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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-73683954947181648552008-01-09T14:43:00.000-05:002008-01-09T14:46:17.924-05:00

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

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-69759387186351169292008-01-08T18:27:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:33:36.635-05:00

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 dropoutsEditorial | A Fresh StartDaily News:First day of a new eraRonnie Polaneczky | Around town, folks feel hopefulElmer Smith | Playing

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-41769763688137062922007-12-21T18:14:00.000-05:002007-12-21T18:16:31.318-05:00

Turns out that foodbanks have fallen on really hard times, just as economic and weather factors are driving demand to record levels. Trying to decide what to get your loved ones? Perhaps a donation in their name will give a warm glow that lasts a bit longer than chocolate or toys, since you'll be helping whole families get through the cold months. Something to consider, in terms of pitching in

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-69992682881787196242007-12-19T19:00:00.000-05:002007-12-19T19:04:45.344-05:00

Many Democrats were dismayed when Joe Hoeffel managed to secure a Commissioner position in Montgomery County only by displacing his fellow Democrat, Ruth Damsker, foiling hopes of a change in party affiliation in the county governing body. However, unexpected developments have put Hoeffel into an alliance with one of the Republicans, meaning that the GOP won't dominate the board. What the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-82349983827047169502007-12-17T13:06:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:18:01.485-05:00

I'm gonna take a break for the holidays, starting this week and extending possibly as long as the first week in January. No round-ups or weeks in review during that period, although any shocking or thrilling news might merit a break-through post now and again.Don't know what next year is going to bring -- February marks the expected arrival of our first child, which throws all expectations out

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-91958319410621369402007-12-14T20:50:00.000-05:002007-12-14T21:04:29.274-05:00

Remember that? Citywide wireless, regional pride, blah blah?The Phila Story: Learning from a Wireless PioneerWireless project over budget: EarthLink, which skipped a Council hearing, couldn't say when the network would be done.Earthlink a no-show for Council hearingYPP: What the Wi-Fi?Albert: WiFi Philly at City Council

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-20331024134784051872007-12-14T20:42:00.000-05:002007-12-14T20:50:25.300-05:00

Clash over labor proposal looms: City Council will debate an amendment tomorrow that would allow nonunion labor on Convention Center work.Opinion: UNIONS LABELED FAILURES ON MINORITY WORKERS: COUNCIL AMENDMENT A GUTSY MOVE TO CHANGE STATUS QUONonunion-labor deal for center is in sightUncertainty over bill on expansionEditorial | Diversity in the Unions: No fairness, no jobsCouncil to unions:

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-69477480897985047862007-12-14T20:35:00.000-05:002007-12-14T20:41:25.502-05:00

CLASS(ROOM) WARFARE: NOW WE'LL SEE IF HARRISBURG IS SERIOUS ABOUT EDUCATIONDeborah Leavy | How to help in the classroomBringing Ethics Reform to the School District37 finalists for CEO of city schoolsExtension OK'd for red-light plan but Senate nixes school $Also, Red-light cameras in; school $ outand Why do things stay the same? The Parking Authority, school funding and HarrisburgSRC keeps

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-39257685722801565862007-12-14T20:28:00.000-05:002007-12-14T20:35:50.376-05:00

Shoot! I just deleted my Tuesday bookmarks. I suspect that that will leave some of my themes incompletely explored...Pa. high court allows probe of casino owner: A grand jury can continue to investigate if Louis A. DeNaples lied to get a slots license, it ruled.Also, Court: DeNaples probe can go on: Grand jury investigating casino ownerNO MAS!: IT'S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL ON THE CASINOSWith

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-61546790556399330242007-12-14T19:58:00.000-05:002007-12-14T21:05:14.563-05:00

Monday: Black majority in city, but lead lesser lives: Panel discusses fallout of 'Equality Index'and also As black middle class rises, black underclass fallsand from the Weekly, A Black-and-White Issue: A new report identifies dramatic racial inequalities in Philadelphia. Progressives a-blog about Nutter-Bradyand Nutter answer questions about party reform. Sort of.YPP: Rx4PA: House Bill 2098

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62608324166908216152007-12-11T20:10:00.001-05:002007-12-11T20:21:55.280-05:00

Here are some highlights from last week. It appears that I'm in a period without time for daily roundups...Monday: John Baer | The 'New Vince' tastes suspiciously refreshingTuesday: Blackwell out; Tasco new Council majority leader and also Blackwell drops leadership postWednesday: Rendell playing tough with insurance -- might some new health plan get put to a vote?!?Thursday: Black Caucus walks

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-24139784548862666242007-11-30T19:26:00.000-05:002007-11-30T19:37:47.745-05:00

Nutter brings former DA's to bear on oversight of city functioningNutter puts ethics team in placeNutter taps trio to be his ethics sentinelsOpinion: 3 BRIGHT SPOTSYPP: Ever Heard of the Inspector General's Office? -- is a bad or a natural thing that powerhouse Seth Williams is being replaced? (Williams' own statement on the matter is quoted here)The lame-duck bluesCouncil shrugs off Street

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74313750826509103992007-11-30T19:19:00.000-05:002007-11-30T19:26:23.929-05:00

Just to me:Blackwell gets out of way of Youth Study Center, scores perks along the way:West Phila. to get Youth Study CenterA $12 million community center in West Philadelphia will clear the way for a permanent home for the city's youth detention facility nearby and remove a looming obstacle from the Barnes Foundation's planned move to Center City, officials announced yesterday.At last, a deal is

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-4091063652168216192007-11-30T18:58:00.000-05:002007-11-30T19:16:55.004-05:00

State:No more polls, says GOP in Pa. SenateIt's a new generation of retirement homesPossible Amtrak strike is delayedPa. proposals on public records advanceCityNutter transition reaches to non-politicosand Nutter selects leaders for his transition teamOh asks D.A. to probe ballots from vets homeRally: City schools need $1 billion: Nutter joins call for additional state funding, citing findings of

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-4951364628373107642007-11-30T18:30:00.000-05:002007-11-30T19:51:08.828-05:00

Nutter chooses chief of staff: Clarence D. Armbrister, a Temple executive, was Phila.'s treasurer. He drew praise, though he isn't a political insider.Also, Nutter's new top aide no strangerSugarHouse gets a license to buildAnd, City allows SugarHouse to build over riverDropout program's big 1st year: More than $10 million was raised and 1,400 slots added by Project U-Turn. But only a few youths

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-26927105367896548682007-11-28T19:00:00.000-05:002007-11-28T19:20:45.139-05:00

Parents appeal to PPA, in vainParking agency rebuffs schools plea: Parents seeking a share in Phila. Parking Authority profits were told most of the money is already earmarked. (what about the ballooning staff?)Parents visit PPA seeking school $Opinion: PARENTS CHALLENGE PPA: THEY SPEAK TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY: EDUCATIONNo Lollapalooza for Fairmount Park: Texas firm withdraws its proposal. This

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-4223526162593788252007-11-28T18:46:00.001-05:002007-11-28T18:54:56.085-05:00

Have been bookmarking the news, but apparently lacking the energy (between home obligations and an overheated cubicle) to blog. Hope that will settle out soon. Meantime, will wrap up the first half of this week by reducing each day to a handful of most interesting stories.City GOP benefits from Parking Authority: The agency's workers and consultants have given at least $241,000 to committees

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-39030825583374647222007-11-16T18:50:00.000-05:002007-11-16T19:06:15.012-05:00

With a full side of snark.Ex-lawmaker arraigned in ghost-employee case -- nepotism at its bestPa. court denies expansion of hate-crimes lawSEPTA to offer 'fare credit' to ease onboard ticket buy -- good toward a return ticket the same day. Man, is this a company that loves its customers, or what?Task force charges 17 as 'straw buyers' of guns -- noooo, not in PA!Rendell presses House on gun bills

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-69931464312689698952007-11-15T18:33:00.000-05:002007-11-15T18:42:25.900-05:00

Schools may get some Parking Authority cash -- a fraction of what was promised, but it's something. Also, House panel: Parking Authority must aid schoolsStudy: Pa. schools need cash: A panel said $4.8 billion - a 28% hike - was required to remedy underfunding. Phila. would get $1 billion. Also, Pa. study: State underfunding schools by $4.6B a year and discussion at YPP here.Not trying to hide the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-78372833873952363122007-11-15T13:34:00.000-05:002007-11-15T18:44:22.240-05:00

Nutter taps former D.C. police chief to be Philly's top cop -- sounds like a strong choice, although bound to be a bit controversial with the police department, since he's not from their ranks...Head of Montco board to run for Pa. treasurer (this is Casey's former seat, to be filled next year)Changing Skyline | To the mayor-elect: Look to the river plan (related story on public reception of the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-32166217348030007142007-11-15T12:55:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:10:44.337-05:00

Not sure how well I can keep up over the next week, with energy a bit low and lots going on around the house, etc. But still reading, so worth highlighting at least the most interesting stories.Three bits on casinosAfter a year, slots look like a big winner for Pa. -- money pouring in, but may still fall short of Rendell's predictionsKey SugarHouse hearing tomorrow -- trying to avoid paying the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-85861837260732822382007-11-13T19:24:00.000-05:002007-11-13T19:37:07.885-05:00

Mystery donor astounds charities: Erie-area shelters and other institutions receive $100 million.Nutter urges cooperation in Chester County talk -- there's certainly room for better cooperation between Philadelphia and its surrounding communities!Shops, growth bring hope -- La Salle University gets more involved in its surrounding community; great news for North Philly.Neighborhood woes (via the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-4750735410412145682007-11-13T11:37:00.001-05:002007-11-13T11:39:00.983-05:00

Congrats to Albert Yee on getting a very slick portfolio of his photos up on the web. The site is nice-looking and the photos are really impressive -- hope it lands him some free-lance gigs and other business. Enjoying the sights and faces of Philly (mostly) meantime!!

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62901697330722263152007-11-12T18:18:00.001-05:002007-11-12T18:19:52.020-05:00

Count goes on in Kelly-Oh race -- went all weekend and likely to continue through Thanksgiving...YPP: New Podcast: The Legislator and the Agitator, with Rep. Tony Payton and Brady RussellCommitteepeople make a difference: it’s not too soon to start thinking about 2010 -- yes, I think David Oh (this fall) and Anne Dicker (this spring) can attest to this effect as well...

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-91788501041096308702007-11-08T20:08:00.000-05:002007-11-08T20:51:38.333-05:00

Post-election bitsThe Inquirer summarizes all the results (with 99% or so in) here, and the Daily News discusses the low turnout here (without noting that it was 50% bigger than predicted). An Inky editorial ruminates on what we can learn from this election here, and Ray Murphy offers his own take here (which jibes with mine).MayoralIT'S NUTTER, BY PLENTY (from Wed) -- summary of the challenges

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-89265584768657112272007-11-07T16:15:00.001-05:002007-11-07T16:17:43.720-05:00

Was working the election (somewhat shakily) yesterday, and home sick today.Hope the voter's guide was useful, and that I'll be back soon. meh.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-54852327552665126672007-11-05T18:46:00.000-05:002007-11-05T19:17:27.973-05:00

Ok, here are my thoughts on this one. First, the main reason to turn out is the Supreme Court races -- you may not feel really excited or informed about them, but these are positions that will have a lot of influence over critical issues in the coming yeard, including zoning, casino, and health care lawsuits, and the critical legislative districting that occurs in 2010. Thus, it's important to

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-41780499304875821922007-11-05T18:19:00.000-05:002007-11-05T18:44:35.078-05:00

Election-relatedTomorrow's the big day -- gen info and links to polling place listStakes are high in Pa. Supreme Court race: The expensive campaign could result in the shift of several balances.Taubenberger takes on Nutter in a final debateMayoral campaigners persist in homestretchYPP: Elect Jesse Brown in the Eighth (District Council)Editorial | Choosing Pa. Judges: Merit, not moneyYPP: Is the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62456561629422357412007-11-05T14:13:00.000-05:002007-11-05T14:41:55.792-05:00

Politicians and election-relatedThe Inky looks at the campaign of Republican Supreme Court candidate Mike Krancer, a self-funded rich guy.Adding to the heat in the Delaware County commissioners' race, a prominent Republican endorses a Democratic candidate. A Daily News piece notes that that same candidate, Landau, has a substantial bankroll for his campaign, indicating that people think he has a

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-75291259733184580282007-11-05T13:53:00.000-05:002007-11-05T14:12:11.362-05:00

Election-relatedOne Council rival drops out to help other beat MillerBig money coming from party bigwigs: New election-financing laws force candidates and committees to look more to their leaders. (NJ races)Nutter outlines plans to make city healthierCityPaper: Split Decision: Concerned citizens fight to make a judge pay for a controversial sex-crime decision.DN Opinion: OUR PICKS FOR COUNCIL

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-10332711268962098672007-10-31T19:00:00.000-04:002007-10-31T19:14:51.433-04:00

Shifting allegiancePhila. Bar slams judge in rape case: Teresa Carr Deni had its support for a third term. Then she reduced a charge to theft of a prostitute's services.Jill Porter | Phila. Bar rips judge who nixed rape of hookerFumo out of fire?Judge delays Fumo's trial beyond primary -- benefits of picking a busy lawyer, I guess!Fumo's trial delayed againA lively GOP race for minority seats on

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-25779132915068837912007-10-30T19:39:00.000-04:002007-10-30T19:56:42.630-04:00

Around the politicians:Commissioner: 'Stop-and-frisk' risks unrest -- the best sentence here is this one:Departing Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson said the presumptive mayor's promise to invoke the more aggressive law enforcement strategy would undermine the community rapport that Johnson feels he has developed in six years on the job."community rapport"?? Does Johnson have any sense of

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-50064199736620392572007-10-29T19:17:00.000-04:002007-10-29T19:27:37.820-04:00

Grumpy local bitsDevelopers' ties to a councilman test finance law: Nearly 25% of Jack Kelly's primary campaign funding was from entities tied to two brothers. This may be legal, but it's certainly not within the intent or spirit of the law, which gives Kelly some bad press just as his challenger, David Oh, is nipping at his heels.Report: Philadelphia Parking Authority bloated with patronage.

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-20769247603773951842007-10-29T19:12:00.000-04:002007-10-29T19:15:44.284-04:00

Casino feistSugarHouse sues city to get casino built: The intent, said its lawyer, was "to force those guys to do what they're legally obligated to do." Already proving their good citizenship!Casino files suit on zoning: SugarHouse anxious to start buildingOf fear and intimidationDisplaying symbols of intimidation could bring jail time: A City Council bill would prohibit displaying nooses,

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-39850907961476534592007-10-29T19:03:00.000-04:002007-10-29T19:11:36.419-04:00

City Council is considering the stop-and-frisk ideaCouncil airs 'stop and frisk' views: The Nutter crime-fighting proposal got its first public-safety hearing.Brass: Cops already stopping & frisking (surprise!)Lots of judges on the ballot, and nervousHigh court candidates face pay-raise fallout: Three of four hopefuls, meeting in a Phila. forum, also addressed high campaign costs.CityPaper: When

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-51526239214784072482007-10-29T18:50:00.000-04:002007-10-29T19:10:17.745-04:00

Who's in the news?State Republicans: Bonus inquiry spreads to GOPCarol Campbell: Short-term councilwoman making her mark -- note that she's behind two ballot measures this fall, which the Committee of Seventy opposes.Rick Santorum: Santorum To Pen 'Inquirer' Column I Won't Read (PhillyWillDo)David Oh: Costume Party: In the scramble for an at-large GOP council seat, David Oh plays the role of

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-15782957256923176912007-10-29T18:45:00.000-04:002007-10-29T18:49:54.158-04:00

Soccor stadium in Delaware County?Funding, warning on soccer stadium: Delco officials announced a $30 million commitment to the Chester site. The project hinges on state aid.Delco lining up on soccer planMore cameras at more intersections soon to comeMore police cameras to go up: The surveillance program will start in W. Phila. next month and focus on crime-plagued public areas.250 more eyes on

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-67003596319182248772007-10-29T18:37:00.000-04:002007-10-29T18:44:26.149-04:00

Lots of stories, as apparently a big rally last weekend launched the 10,000 Men anti-crime initiative, followed by some neighborhood orientation sessions...Thousands of men pledge to patrol for peace: 'We can make a major difference'A LEGION RESPONDS: Grass-roots anti-crime effort launchesThey came because . . .Stu Bykofsky | '10,000' goes on the offensive10,000 reasons to declare their appeal a

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-39191124490059127642007-10-23T18:22:00.000-04:002007-10-23T18:24:23.196-04:00

That is, continued presence of contractors, with associated needs to live as though camping, get up early every day, sometimes do late-night prep work, and take day time slices to oversee the chaos, is keeping me from worrying about such things as the gentle waves of local news. I'm making heaps of bookmarks, but will probably have to post only the highlights, and later, when I'm able to see/

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-27988931584442115582007-10-19T17:57:00.000-04:002007-10-19T18:01:00.633-04:00

Polite, low-profile, blah blah...Taubenberger launches first punch: The GOP underdog candidate criticized Michael Nutter's support for property reassessment. He said it would hurt "the little guy."Also, Mayor foes feud over property- tax reformA forum on Phila.'s environment (from MOnday)Also, A clean fight on environment: Mayoral candidates still spar softlyIn long & civil campaign, a short &

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-37173376386705474972007-10-19T17:50:00.000-04:002007-10-19T17:57:25.703-04:00

Pa. Guard expecting major call: It could involve 4,000 troops, the most sent overseas since Korea.State tells district: No data, no money: The school district failed to complete a finance report on time. Pa.'s education chief is holding up $20 million in aid. -- it makes you so proud!Pa. sets post-rape rules for hospitals -- must be offered emergency contraception. City Council displays two faces

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-48239913715269615752007-10-19T17:38:00.001-04:002007-10-19T17:49:45.529-04:00

Record number of tabs for this day. Will see if some filter out by theme...SCHIP veto puts 2 under pressure (Saxton and Pitts)City hikes Boy Scouts' rent by $199,999 over gay ban -- wow, where has this story been all this time?N.J. National Guard faces a big, earlier deploymentPa. Senate acts to ban bonuses for legislative aides: The unanimous vote came after a grand jury probe. The House will

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-18315168197531217472007-10-19T17:29:00.000-04:002007-10-19T17:37:40.538-04:00

I-80 toll plans moving forward'Superbug' infections escalating: CDC alarmed by spread of drug-resistant staph.Bias alleged in probe of bonuses: A Lehigh Valley prosecutor says Attorney General Tom Corbett is focusing only on Democrats.Center City rally issues call for tough gun lawsAlso, Gun victims protest violenceIn 'dead' market, Fumo trying to unload Fla. homeCouncil races heating up: Brian

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-15319826435734145712007-10-19T17:20:00.000-04:002007-10-19T17:28:30.160-04:00

As promised, getting back to my bookmarks. However, there are a ton of them, so will skip the duller ones...City, state: Whose law rules on donors? The Pa. Supreme Court is to decide whether Phila. can set campaign caps.Also, Campaign $$ limits argued in high courtA move builds to outlaw strikes by Pa. teachersPa. House ducks vote on shrinking itself: A call for a commission to consider changes

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-90382085963289801602007-10-17T17:43:00.000-04:002007-10-17T17:44:37.043-04:00

I have contractors losing my cats down holes in the walls, family camped out in my living room, an inability to sleep at night, and generally no grip on my life this week. Many articles have been bookmarked by me, so perhaps I'll manage a whirlwind round-up later on . . .

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-30878798908867391992007-10-15T17:31:00.000-04:002007-10-15T17:39:15.161-04:00

Again, appointments both before and after work.... grump.Changing Skyline | Filling a Phila. real estate void: The $800 million Cira South will be helpful, but not perfect. (there's a Phila real estate void?!)Pittsburgh GOP hoping: The Republican candidate tries to capitalize on missteps by the young, unelected mayor.Nutter ally Terry Gillen seems poised to soarThis week's lesson: Peaceful

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-20988169631445728662007-10-12T19:21:00.000-04:002007-10-12T19:43:20.575-04:00

Getting sleeeepyyyy....More fun from New Jersey: Another chapter in A.C. scandal: Latest twist adds to an epic of corruption. Also, Look who owes Atlantic City $363,000Street's $34 million request blocked: Not wanting to "handcuff the next mayor," Council asked why Street sought so much for DHS so late in his term.Water report flags Pa. pollutersHalf the major water-treatment plants and

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74681385650585702402007-10-12T19:00:00.001-04:002007-10-12T19:18:23.491-04:00

This week is just getting away from me. Belated out-takes from the 25 or so articles I bookmarked yesterday...Atlantic City mayor steps down: Council President William Marsh takes oath as acting mayor.Also, Marsh pledges to restore faith in A.C. -- look for an amusing set of updates on this story in today's news.Idea: No school taxes for elderly: Perzel thinks it's folly to spread around the

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-40885750247186676722007-10-10T19:48:00.000-04:002007-10-10T20:00:29.389-04:00

SEPTA's latest rate headache: RefundsReport: Flaws risk wrong execution: The American Bar Association urged changes in the Pa. system to better guard against putting an innocent person to death.Related: John Baer | In Pa., we can't even kill people properlyDemocrats gain ground on sprawl: In Chester County, the minority party is building steam by accusing Republicans of not doing enough to save

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-1563805891788842512007-10-09T17:33:00.000-04:002007-10-09T17:40:54.500-04:00

Legality of some Pa. marriages is questioned -- online ordinations in trouble?A mad dash to influence Pa. energy plansBread & Roses to hail 30 who've made a markAmerican Bar Association says Pa. Death Penalty is FlawedAAJane: Josh Shapiro at the PA Press Club LuncheonSkyline: Front Street's Domino ScenarioJohn Baer | Electing judges: Yet another field ripe for reform in Pa.Opinion: OWL

ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22350162075995525112007-10-08T17:47:00.001-04:002007-10-08T17:56:59.199-04:00

Morning and evening obligations for a couple of days mean that blogging may be light for much of this week...Blame begins in costly schools reportGuv & board circling over control of Convention CenterOpinion: Convention Center progressEthics Board wrestles errant PAC, so far winning points but not matchSt. Joe's fundraising about to pay off with far larger campusDaniel Rubin | Postal boxes

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