11 far-out wishes for Philadelphia in '11

January 5, 2011
By Mark D. Schwartz
Philadelphia Daily News

THE VERY first week of the new year is a good time for both looking back to see what people have actually accomplished and making wishes for the future.

Here's my overview of the city of Philadelphia and its elected leaders.

1. With every city resident secure in adequate housing, the Philadelphia Housing Authority can create its own palace with granite columns. Every day will be a celebration. Then, some in public housing will themselves be housed at the Waldorf Astoria for the Pennsylvania Society. There they can join others, like governors former and present who themselves have enjoyed the public's aid with their housing - as well as others who have made it rich at the public trough.

2. With streets safe and crime vanquished, the new re-elected mayor's biggest decision of the year will be to help name, unname and rename the 2011 Christmas Village.

3. Public projects like the Family Court building will be built for the public, not the "family" of insiders. And someone will explain how and why the casino licenses were issued as they were.

4. Philadelphia's movers and shakers - those who wrote leniency letters for Vince Fumo - will adopt a new code of integrity, having renounced the bad old ways of pay to play.

5. Elected officials will forego their bloated pay and retirement benefits, recognizing the true rewards of public service.

6. The IRS will decide that nonprofits associated with elected officials like Vince Fumo or Dwight Evans don't really deserve tax-exempt status.

7. After reviewing his record of having at least two positions on every issue, evicted Sen. Arlen Specter will come to understand the difference between political expediency and statesmanship.

8. With hunger eradicated in a congressional district once nationally ranked as the worst in that area, and the GOP in control of the House, Rep. Bob Brady can forget about legislating and Washington, devoting his time to a higher calling - keeping track of all those convicted political cronies.

9. With every single Philadelphia student fully able to read and write, and most prepared for the college of their choice, School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman will be freed up to splurge on inferior vendors and make-work projects.

10. Having left the state coffers with a healthy surplus, Gov. Rendell will go out in style with a concert by the Beach Boys.

11. Philadelphians will understand that they deserve better than those who represent them.

If this is what 2011 portends . . . bring it on!