Supermarket magnate Jeff Brown is already running political commercials for his 2023 mayoral run. Smart strategy. The local media have largely ignored Brown, one of two candidates (the other being Rebecca Rhynhart, City Controller) who is not a former member of City Council. True in recent years, Philly’s mayor has come from Council, but it’s probably a good time for the city to get a fresh perspective into the debate …
I’m not suggesting that crime isn’t the overriding concern among Philadelphia’s voters, as it should be. But the next mayor better have some business acumen if this city is going to make a comeback. Required reading for our next mayor — Buzz Bissinger’s A PRAYER FOR THE CITY, the story of Ed Rendell’s first term …
It’s getting where you can’t go to a good restaurant in this town without committing to a pricey tasting menu. I understand the economics behind it, but hey, not all of us want to eat six courses of food. And the hefty price commitment prevents a lot of us from trying your new restaurant …
I get the unhappiness that Paul Whelan was not included in the Brittney Griner swap. But what would the critics have done differently? The deal was reportedly Griner or nothing. The Whelan case is much more complicated, but we should continue to make every effort to free him. However, Donald Trump Jr. is way out of line when he describes Griner as “America-hating” simply because in the past she participated in protests against racial injustice. Don Jr. was apparently OK with the attempt to stage a coup on Jan. 6. He has no right to smear Griner because she was freed and Whelan wasn’t …
I, too, am sorry about the demise of the Philly Pops. The pandemic hurt, but let’s face it, in recent years, the Pops failed to attract enough of an audience to survive. I never saw the Philly Pops’ warmed-over versions of pop and show tunes as a cornerstone of arts in Philadelphia. Jazz is America’s true art form. The Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra has as much right to or more support from the city’s arts community than the Pops. But in the end, these organizations can’t exist without sufficient paying customers. If you’re truly concerned about the future of the Philadelphia Orchestra, put your money where your mouth is …
It’s great that President Biden intervened to avert a rail strike. Such a strike would undoubtedly have damaged this country’s ability for an economic comeback and caused many layoffs. But let’s not forget that the deal did NOT include a single day of guaranteed paid sick leave for rail workers while the top five railroads earned over $80 billion in profits in 2021. Guaranteed paid sick leave should be a right in 2022 America, not a privilege. So, restrain your applause …
A Virginia restaurant recently denied service to a Christian group. The religious group espouses pro-life policy and limiting marriage to one man-one woman. The restaurant owner doesn’t agree. I don’t happen to agree with the Christian group, either. But I also don’t agree with denying folks service at a restaurant because you don’t agree with their views. You opened a restaurant with an implied commitment to serve the public. Period. If it’s wrong to deny service to customers because of their race. ethnicity or gender, it’s wrong to require them to agree with your political, social or religious views …
I think the same rule should apply to the case being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. A woman in the business of designing websites refuses to do so for a gay married couple. In her defense, she is citing her Christian beliefs. But the proposed website has NOTHING to do with gay marriage. The mere fact that she’s open to the public denies her a right to discriminate. With the makeup of this Supreme Court, the outcome of the case is in doubt …
The controversy involving GMA 3 co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach is a scandal, but not for the reason being given. The scandal is ABC’s decision to suspend the pair, not their affair. At first, the network took no action, citing the fact that Holmes and Robach broke no network rules. But after a reported outcry on social media, ABC changed its mind and suspended both of them indefinitely. Reports are that at present, the network is conducting its own investigation into Holmes. He allegedly also had affairs with women staffers who were his subordinates (Holmes and Robach are considered equals in the workplace). At the very least, the network’s conduct is unfair to Robach. She apparently is not suspected of any violations. The only reason she is being hung out to dry seems to be ABC’s fears of blowback from some of the show’s fans. Robach should immediately be reinstated, whether or not Holmes is found guilty of violating the rules of the network …
Sometimes you can’t satisfy everybody. Phillies owner John Middleton is finding that out. Middleton has spent freely at baseball’s winter meetings to attract top talent to the Phillies. The majority of the fans are happy that their team has an owner who’s willing to invest a lot of money in trying to win it all. But some moan that athletes attract undeservedly outrageous sums of money (the latest being Trea Turner’s contract reportedly priced at $300M for 11 years). Look at it this way. Professional athletes are entertainers. Few folks complain about what Tom Cruise gets paid to star in a movie. Bryce Harper is just another version of Tom Cruise. Entertainers get paid for what the market can bear, not from tax money. If you want teachers, cops and firefighters to get higher salaries (as do I), support raising your taxes.
I didn’t think so.
