If he could take it back - and I am sure there is a long list of things Vince Fumo would like to take back today - No. 1 would be his decision to testify on his own behalf at his federal corruption trial.
As jurors made clear yesterday - after finding Fumo guilty of all [...]

By Tom Ferrick
Let’s stop the whole dark-cloud thing about raising taxes and cutting services in city government and talk about the silver lining.
The city’s financial difficulties represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make significant changes in the way Philadelphia government operates. The situation offers an opportunity for a top-to-bottom reappraisal of what government does, how it [...]

By Tom Ferrick
The bankruptcy of Philadelphia Media Holdings, announced late Sunday, isn’t a surprise. The company had already missed several payments on its $390-million debt owed to several banks. All newspapers generally have been hit hard by the downturn in advertising that has come with the recession.
What is a surprise - at least to me [...]

By Tom Ferrick
There was a piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer the other day about trends in naming children that pointed out what has been true for several decades now - naming, which used to be a bow to tradition, is becoming a matter of personal expression.
Naming the kid after your father or grandfather or favorite [...]

Vincent takes the stand for the third day and offers his own rendition of this country classic…..Feel free to sing along…..
I’m sorry, so sorry
That I was such a fool
I didn’t know
You feds could be so cruel
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Uh-oh
Oh, yes.
You say my mistakes
Are against the law.
I guess I see (now)
The wrong that’s been done
 
(I’m sorry) [...]

By Tom Ferrick
I didn’t make it to federal court yesterday for Vince Fumo’s second day on the witness stand and perhaps it is just as well.  I would have been tempted to laugh out loud and gotten in trouble with the judge.
Bailiff, escort that laughing man from the courtroom at once!
On Monday, we had [...]

By Tom Ferrick
Of all the words I would use to describe Vincent Fumo, shy, awkward and introverted are not among them, but that’s how Fumo portrayed himself yesterday in his testimony in federal court.
That Vincent I do not know.
I know the rambunctious, over-the-top, master-of-the-universe Vince — the profane, funny, smarter-than-smart guy who fought with the political [...]

By Tom Ferrick
Talk about mixed emotions.
Imagine you are Mayor Michael Nutter reading the results of the public opinion poll released last week.
First, there’s good news. Your approval rating is 71%, despite the bumps and bruises you have taken over the budget cutting done so far.
Now, some bad news: Most folks hate the steps you’ve taken [...]

By Tom Ferrick
The good thing about the budget crisis is that it gives the city a chance to re-examine its priorities and ask hard questions. One of them is: Is this program really necessary?
Mayor Michael Nutter asked that question earlier and came up with some interesting answers: No to all the city’s swimming pools, [...]

By Tom Ferrick
(Part 5 of 5)
The city’s pension fund keeps eating up more and more of the city budget - and it is no surprise why. The city’s system is a defined benefit plan. Pensions are determined by a formula that takes into account years of service, final salary and a multiplier. The multiplier varies [...]