Patsy learns how money and ethics influence Philadelphia politics

Dave Davies gives Patsy her final Philadelphia mayor’s race vocabulary lesson. How does “street money” affect elections? How do “field operations” affect voter turnout? And what is the city’s ethics board doing to keep the election clean and fair?

Fourth in a series.

WHYY senior political reporter Dave Davies is surprised to see Patsy north of Snyder Avenue — let alone at City Hall. Little did we know, the civic-minded “South Philly stoop lady” is a media consultant for Mayor Nutter.

Here Patsy and Dave have their final impromptu Philadelphia mayor’s race vocabulary lesson. How does “street money” affect elections? How do “field operations” affect voter turnout? And what is the city’s ethics board doing to keep the election clean and fair?

In the course of their discussion, Dave realizes that Patsy has more influence than he ever dreamed.