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Founding Of Ethics Panel Apparently Corrupt

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Back in May, on primary election day, the citizens of Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly in favor of an ethics board. The Street administration was supposed to have the five-member board solidified by, well, Sept 3.

The Street administration didn’t, of course, come up with any of those five names by Sept. 3, or even by yesterday. Fortunately, we have this thrilling explanation:

“We may have a little political work to do on this,” Street said during an unrelated news conference yesterday. He did not elaborate.

I’d love to think the meaning of Street’s statement is something like, “How can we make this stupid board powerless and not have to deal with it ever again?” More likely it’s just like a college senior who needs an extension: “Shit! I totally forgot about it. Just give me a little more time and I’ll have it all done!”

Deadline missed for ethics panel [Inquirer]
May 16: Hey, It’s Election Day!

Hey, It’s Election Day!

051606ilikeikecartoon.jpg Hey, it is election day! And, depending on where you live, you might actually have a contested race in this primary. Since virtually every state legislator took the pay raise — the real tricky ones voted against it and then took it — the people have risen up! It’s democracy in action! Whoo!

Well, until they all get trounced today and we have the same state representatives we’ve always had. But, hey, at least none of our current lawmakers kick kittens. As far as I know.

There’s also a race for U.S. Senate, where state treasurer and noted mime Bob Casey faces a pair of upstart challengers that may, if they’re lucky, combine for about 10 percent of the vote. However, in early exit polling, Chuck Pennachio leads Casey and Alan Sandals 100 percent to 0. Of course, I only polled Albert Yee. It is raining today, so there’s a chance that only about 15 people will vote — which usually bodes well for underdogs.

The biggest things on the ballot today are, of course, the two referendums we citizens of Philadelphia are being asked. The first question is kind of the same thing as the question last year, i.e. ethics board and no “pay to play” and all that jazz. I don’t know why we need to be asked again, but, hey, whatever.

The other question concerns a proposal to put up cameras in “high-crime areas” so that the police might be able to catch criminals easier. As my only endorsement of this election, let me urge you to vote no on this. No, it’s not the Big Brother stylings of it — please, we’re filmed everywhere we go — it’s that I know very well that the City of Philadelphia will have these cameras and somehow screw things up. Come on. You know a crook will commit a crime right in front of a camera, and a raccoon will have eaten the tape or something, and it’ll be a mess.

Actually, that’d be kind of funny. Maybe you want to vote yes on that after all.

At Pa. polls, a moment of truth [Inky]