Clout: If Phils win, who'll pay for parade?
WHILE WE ALL know it's bad luck to speculate before the Phillies actually win the World Series, there is one burning question here at PhillyClout.
Who will pay for a parade?
Last year, the city paid just over $1 million in police overtime, street cleaning and medical service for the victory romp down Broad Street, according to the mayor's press office. The cost was lessened by $300,000 contributed by about 22 organizations. But this year - after massive budget cuts and a tax boost to balance the city financial plan - does Philly have that kind of scratch?
Mayor Nutter yesterday said he didn't want to jinx the team, but did make clear that the city's wallet is thinner this year.
"In this current economic environment, obviously everything is very tight," Nutter said, noting that those who stage parades and festivals are now required to pay the city for its security and clean-up expenses. That policy was implemented last year when the city had to cut more than $1 billion from its five-year financial plan. That led to the cancellation of the annual Columbus Day Parade earlier this month.
Asked if they would pick up parade costs if needed, the Phillies yesterday said it was too early to discuss such an event.
Last year, the Phillies helped with fundraising efforts and picked up a substantial tab for some parade costs, as well as celebratory events at the stadiums, said Mike Harris, director of marketing and special projects for the team. He declined to say how much the team spent last year, calling it "comparable" to the city's expenses.
In its annual review of the value of baseball teams, Forbes in 2009 put the worth of the Phillies at $496 million - including the value of the stadium - making it the seventh-wealthiest team in baseball. The report noted that the team had record attendance and revenue last year.
Where's the love, man?
City Controller Alan Butkovitz was happy to use Mayor Nutter's photo in his campaign material in the spring primary, but when he met with the Daily News editorial board this week, he was eager to make it clear that he's independent, and no stooge of the mayor.
"I see Nutter every month, and it's the worst day of my month, because it's going to the principal's office," Butkovitz said. "He's got an expectation that I should report to him . . . . He doesn't believe that he should ever be criticized, and he thinks he should get a lot of advance notice of what we're doing. He basically thinks that he should be doing the fraud investigations, all that kind of stuff."
We asked Nutter's press office if the mayor would like to respond, and didn't hear back.
State rep cries traitor
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican from a suburb 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, has a knack for offending.
Metcalfe created consternation this week when he e-mailed every member of the state House, responding to an invitation from "Operation Free," a group of military veterans touring the country to push policies on climate change and energy independence as national security issues.
"I believe that any veteran lending their name to promote the leftist propaganda of global warming and climate change, in an effort to control more of the wealth created in our economy, through the cap and tax type policies, all in the name of national security, is a traitor to the oath he or she took to defend the Constitution of our great nation," Metcalfe wrote.
The Operation Free tour stopped by City Hall yesterday and the veterans weren't too happy about being called traitors.
Metcalfe, an Army veteran, argues that they're only traitors if they're advocating multinational treaties on climate and energy issues that he believes would violate the Constitution.
We asked Metcalfe if he has any proof that Operation Free is advocating for any policy that would violate the Constitution. He came up empty on that, prompting us to ask if tossing around a term like "traitor" was heavy-handed for a policy disagreement.
Metcalfe replied: "If you don't fit that definition, then why would you take offense to it?"
A dog's life at MSB
PhillyClout spies say that Managing Director Camille Barnett has been bringing her dogs to work this week and asking her staff to walk them, as well as give one fido eyedrops. We asked the mayor's press office for comment and were told that Barnett was traveling and could not be reached. Don't get us wrong, we love our pets and we know Barnett is also a devoted dog-owner. But should city workers be dog-sitting on the job?
Quotable:
"I keep forgetting we have a minority party."
- City Council President Anna Verna, after she forgot to ask if her three Republican colleagues had any legislation to introduce during yesterday's weekly session.
Staff writer Dave Davies contributed to this report.
Have tips or suggestions? Call Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or Catherine Lucey at 215-854-4712. Or e-mail
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Have a news tip? Gossip? Suggestion? Call Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or Catherine Lucey at 215-854-4712. Or e-mail phillyclout@phillynews.com.
