Letters: Column on Dad Vail and the mayor is misleading

Buzz Bissinger's Sunday column, "Loss of Dad Vail is proof of Nutter's incompetence," is beyond misleading. It's a disservice to readers who count on The Inquirer for thoughtful opinions, based on fact.

Having written a book on Mayor Edward G. Rendell's administration 17 years ago, Bissinger was left with a legitimate respect for the depth of the challenges that Rendell faced. Unfortunately, Bissinger's experience hasn't transferred from one administration to another.

If Bissinger took time to understand the economic crisis facing this country (including the Nutter administration), he wouldn't be so careless in his remarks. If he would acknowledge the devastating impact of the financial crisis on the city's budget, he would understand why we are not in a position to pay for special events at a time when we're fighting to preserve basic and essential services. If he took the same pride in his work that earned him a Pulitzer for investigative journalism more than two decades ago, he would have been compelled to speak with at least one person in the administration before passing judgment.

Dad Vail organizers notified the city that they had severe financial concerns after losing more than 60 percent of their corporate sponsorships. Within days of sending their letter, they met with city officials, with a check already in their pocket from Rumson, N.J. Their decision had been made without giving the city a chance to compete. Beyond surprising city officials, they blindsided countless colleges and universities and thousands of student-athletes. Nonetheless, we will continue to reach out to Dad Vail organizers and work in partnership with our rowing community in an effort to see the event return to Philadelphia, where it belongs.

Doug Oliver

Press secretary

City of Philadelphia