While you were gone: A recap of the mayoral-campaign weekend

Wondering what’s been going on with the mayoral (and other) campaign(s) since you walked away from your computer on Friday? We got you covered.

Let’s check out a few stories that have run here, and via other media outlets, in the past few days.

What we’re linking

— Abraham-Kenney cage match gets underway (Off Mic/Dave Davies): A nasty little war of words erupted late last week between Philadelphia mayoral candidates Lynne Abraham and Jim Kenney, and I couldn’t help wondering what kind of fireworks we’d be seeing if either had the campaign cash to start buying media ads.

— Rep. Parker announces bid for Councilwoman Tasco’s soon-to-be vacant city seat (NewsWorks): In attendance at state Rep. Cherelle Parker’s council-campaign launch were former Gov. Ed Rendell, State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, candidate for council at-large Helen Gym, state Rep. Dwight Evans, mayoral candidate Jim Kenney and Eighth District Councilwoman Cindy Bass.

— Q&A: Jim Kenney on public transportation, pedestrian safety, and South Philly’s organized chaos (Plan Philly): PlanPhilly sat down with ex-Councilman and current mayoral contender Jim Kenney last week for a conversation that touched on a wide variety of planning topics, from historic preservation  and Vision Zero to the virtues of public transportation.

— To the next mayor: Council has kicked the can enough (Inquirer): Philadelphia’s unfunded pension liabilities is estimated at $5.3 billion. If today the city allocated 100 percent of its current budget to paying off its pension debt, it would still come up $800 million short. So, what’s the next mayor to do? Certainly not kick the can down the road. City Council already did that this year. Twice.

— Why the Next Philadelphia Mayor Matters More Than the Next President (Citified): Washington D.C. gets the attention, but local elections are far more consequential.

— Philly’s pension problem is fixable (Inquirer): In short, rather than funneling money into fixing potholes, improving public safety, shoring up schools, or funding tax cuts, tax money is being siphoned off into the deepening crater known as our pension system.

— Coalition issues recommendations for next mayor (Philadelphia Tribune): The Next Great City Coalition’s recommendations include repairing substandard housing conditions that are making Philadelphia residents sick; creating clean, litter free streets, parks and rivers; protecting vulnerable residents and infrastructure in extreme weather; strengthening small businesses; connecting neighborhoods to the city’s trail and bicycle network and providing free drinking water and nutritious food to students.

What we’re watching

Keep an eye out this week for our talk about leadership (and more) with current Mayor Michael Nutter, sit-down discussions on a variety of topics with mayoral candidates Nelson Diaz and Jim Kenney and, among other stories, coverage of Tuesday night’s “Petition Pitch Party” at the Field House.