power to the people

Best part of the article is that the very politically connected owner didn't think anything was odd when he hadn't received a utility bill in over seven years. Nope, completely passes the smell test.

Politics as usual in the "City of Brotherly Love"

/just ignore our murder rate.

A restaurant shared a building and utilites with a public institution. Until 2010, there was no sub-metering, so one meter covered the entire building. Post 2010, after sub-metering was installed, the city did not send the restaurant the bill.

If it can be proven (in court, not through the media) that the non-sending of bills was intentional, then anyone involved in that should lose their jobs as public servants and probably face jail time.

If not, as long as the restaurant settles up the bills with the city, everyone should be fine. The newspaper is right in finding and pointing out a situation that is incorrect and is incorrectly passing the costs of a private company on to the taxpayer. They are not right in implying that it was political without any shred of proof.

/but of course, somehow this is Obama's fault, right?

"Philadelphia- Home of the Wage Tax".
Corruption is a Philly institution. From Vince Fumo (who is serving Federal time) to the politicians reaping millions in one time retirement payouts (DROP) program. The city closes fire houses on a rotating basis to save money .Now there is talk the public schools may not open on time due to lack of funding.

Pernnsylvania deserves it's own tag.

In Philly, crime don't pay!

Yes it IS obama fault as he is the defacto leader of that marxist party called the Democratic Party. Looking forward to when all the commie-marxist-demos- are fired and have to find real jobs.

P0e: A restaurant shared a building and utilites with a public institution. Until 2010, there was no sub-metering, so one meter covered the entire building. Post 2010, after sub-metering was installed, the city did not send the restaurant the bill.

If it can be proven (in court, not through the media) that the non-sending of bills was intentional, then anyone involved in that should lose their jobs as public servants and probably face jail time.

If not, as long as the restaurant settles up the bills with the city, everyone should be fine. The newspaper is right in finding and pointing out a situation that is incorrect and is incorrectly passing the costs of a private company on to the taxpayer. They are not right in implying that it was political without any shred of proof.

You'll have to excuse the Philly press. They've been covering stuff like this for years, and it's the M.O. of the city to do stuff like this for political patrons. "Pay to Play" is an art form out here. It isn't rare for our politicians to go to trial (or even prison) for their antics, but what shocks people is that it turns out that they've been doing it for so long, and so absolutely blatantly (see Vince Fumo for a wonderful example; John Street and Wilson Goode for more egregious ones) before law enforcement decided to say something about it.

/but of course, somehow this is Obama's fault, right?

John Street and (probably to a lesser extent) Michael Nutter. Nutter is still cleaning up after Street's backroom deals.

meathome: Best part of the article is that the very politically connected owner didn't think anything was odd when he hadn't received a utility bill in over seven years. Nope, completely passes the smell test.

Politics as usual in the "City of Brotherly Love"

/just ignore our murder rate.

murder rate? just look at camden, philly isn't even in the same league as its nj neighbor.

Hi, Welcome to Philadelphia.

This sort of behavior is common here.

I have a friend who works at the convention center and another at the airport, and they tell lovely stories about petty corruption and abuse that will churn your stomach. It isn't the no-show union jobs, alone, its the top-level, no-responsibility, politically-sponsored position. Folks making 6 figures for essentially occupying an office. It isn't a "Democrat" problem, per se, but what happens when a single party controls the government while sleeping with Labor for sixty years.

EnderWiggnz: meathome: Best part of the article is that the very politically connected owner didn't think anything was odd when he hadn't received a utility bill in over seven years. Nope, completely passes the smell test.

Politics as usual in the "City of Brotherly Love"

/just ignore our murder rate.

murder rate? just look at camden, philly isn't even in the same league as its nj neighbor.

I don't think that ANYone can compete with Camden for murder on a per capita basis (maybe Detroit or Gary, IN... that last one surprised me until I had to go there). I think Philly is averaging about one or two murders per day, and they're still playing catchup to their smaller neighbor.

Another surprising contentant - Macon, GA. Never would have thought it when I was there a few years back. When I visited last Sept, I was amazed that a place with fewer than 100K residents could have such a high murder rate.

First link approved.

*Yay*

/subby

medius: power to the people

Agrees:


/hot....
//and rad

An eatery that hosts political fundraisers and doesn't pay for utilities is named Water Works Restaurant & Lounge?!? This must be a great place to find a plumber. Just leave a gratuity and a short note describing the nature and location of your leak behind the bust of Nixon.

We're talking about Philadelphia. Is anyone surprised at these shenanigans?

I remember when they were doing the rehab of the old water works. Some society dame told me that when it was finished, it would rival the Pump Room restaurant in Bath UK. I'm pretty sure that dame had never been east of Cape May in her life.

Anyway, the Water Works Restaurant is nothing to write home about. Just another blah so so restaurant. This berg is full of them.