House Takes Tips On Time-Wasting From City Council

Late last month, City Council took time out of eating donuts to debate an issue important to all Philadelphians. You see, there’s a movement to retire Roberto Clemente’s number among all teams for all times in baseball, because politicians think it might get them votes from Latino baseball fans.

And so lame duck Councilman Juan Ramos spearheaded a resolution asking baseball commissioner Bud Selig to retire #21. Baseball did this with Jackie Robinson’s number in 1997.

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a similar resolution asking baseball to retire that number.

Jackie Robinson’s widow and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (no relation) oppose the measure, because they don’t have to be elected by anyone.

Mr. Selig, retire this jersey! [Metropolis]
Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente’s No. 21 [AP/Philly.com]

City Council Wasting Its Fucking Time Once Again

Yesterday, City Council took time out not to come up with some new ban or regulation for a change, but did spend time debating a bill to declare Philadelphia officially “pro-choice.”

The vote, which went 9-8 in favor of the people with nothing better to do, has no legal standing and never will, since abortion wouldn’t really become a city-by-city issue. But, hey, there’s that Planned Parenthood in the Gayborhood, so if this city’s so pro-choice even gays are getting abortions, then who knows.

The bill was sponsored by Blondell Reynolds Brown, who you may remember as the City Council member who was reelected because a bunch of people voted for Ben Ramos instead of Juan Ramos since his ballot position was better. (Philadelphia is a pro-choice city, but only the idiots actually get born.)

But, oh, Frank DiCicco almost voted against it, but his vote for it was pretty much better anyway. The Inquirer article didn’t say he rolled his eyes, but, oh, it’s more fun if he did.

The proclamation came very close to failing. As the roll was called, Councilman Frank DiCicco paused for several moments, clearly agonizing over how to vote, before finally saying “aye.”

Cardinal Rigali immediately condemned the bill, and then went to Africa to tell people if they used condoms to prevent AIDS (and, uh, abortions) they would burn for all eternity.

Now Phila. is officially ‘pro-choice’ [Inquirer]