Only in Philadelphia

Fast Eddie had it right, “This is Philadelphia. We tend to eat our own.” That town sure enough did it last night. I’m sure it’s not the first time in American politics, but it certainly is suprising to think that the good citizens of Philadelphia elected a mayor because his administration is under Federal investigation. Lessee, do the math, the mayor is tainted by corruption therefore we ought to give him four more years to screw us! Brilliant! I guess those Philly schools are worse than anybody thought. Logic classes anyone?

Oh, and let’s not even mention the fact the election was fought almost entirely along racial lines. Fortunately none of the black on white violence I expected has erupted yet. Like my brother said, it seems like we’ve been transported back to 1965.

So, what do the people of Philadelphia expect to get from Street? Surely he’ll be mostly crippled as the Federal investigation begins to skive off members of the administration and pack them off to prison. Will the city council get along or fight him even harder since they know they’re rid of him in four years no matter what? Will white flight accelerate for the first time since Rendell got into office, dropping property values, undermining tourism and playing havoc with tax receipts?

I surely don’t know. It occurs to me that while, to many of us, this seems like the end of the world and the certain doom of the city there are those who would have felt precisely the same had the opposite result occurred. I guess things will just keep on keepin’ on, in four years there will be another opportunity for change. By then, who knows where the city will be and who will stand for the big job. There’s always hope – that’s the beauty of the American system.