Philly Politics: Exhibit A

I’d like to direct you to an article published on the front-page of The Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday that -- to me -- encapsulates what makes Philly what it is today. I.e., political favoritism, incompetence, personal ambition, and disregard of communal needs. Episodes like this are not surprising anywhere in the world, but it’s especially irking because it’s an accepted part of the political culture here. (“Politics is politics,” says Mr. Howard.)

It doesn't bother me that Ms. Anna Verna made her own choice in selecting a person for this job – going against the advice of a veterans group. What incenses me is that she hired a man for an important position within our local government who does not meet its minimal qualifications, as advertised by her own office!

Mr. Howard has neither a college degree nor any experience, and yet he will now occupy what looks like the most powerful veterans affairs position in the Philly government. How, you say, can Verna make this decision, when the requirements for, say, a receptionist at large office downtown entail the possession of a college degree?

Answer: Because knows him and -- perhaps -- owes him something too. God only know what kind of favors he did for her when he was Democratic ward leader or City Commissioner, or what their relationship is.

Do you still wonder why former Mayor John Street’s office was tapped by the FBI?

Sorry folks, but Republican’s aren’t the only selfish, corrupt nepotists in the American political landscape. The sickest thing about this episode, of course, is that Verna judiciously eliminated the post of deputy director in order increase Howard's salary! (We wouldn’t want him to take pay-cut to do work he's unqualified for!)

And where are the needs of the veterans in all of this, whom this official purportedly represents?

Nowhere.


Link to the article (scroll down a little):
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11F1F7A813F9A9A8&p_docnum=1

p.s., I just wrote a letter to the good councilwoman (no email on her website?) about this. I used to live in her district!