Mayor Nutter's previous legislative director, Julia Chapman, resigned abruptly last week with no explanation. Here's the release on her replacement:

MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

PHILADELPHIA, November 18, 2009 — Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the appointment of Lewis Rosman as Legislative Affairs Director. Mr. Rosman is a Senior Attorney in the Appeals and Legislation Unit of the City of Philadelphia Law Department, where he has worked since July 2000.

“Lewis is a well-respected legal expert and brings a great deal of experience and knowledge of city government to this position,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “He is well-known to City Council and has worked closely with the legislative branch of government on a wide range of issues for a number of years. He is a very valuable addition to our team.”

Lewis is a 1993 graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law (Order of the Coif) and has a B.A. degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Oberlin College. He clerked for the Honorable Jan E. BuBois, United State District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Before coming to the City, he was a litigation and regulatory attorney at the law firms of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., and the Philadelphia office of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott (formerly Connolly, Epstein, Chicco, Foxman Oxholm & Ewing).

Lewis grew up in Center City and attended Philadelphia public schools. He is on the Board of Managers of the Associated Alumni of Central High School. He is married to attorney Karen R. Guss and they live with their two children, Josie and Spencer, in Center City.

»  More Nutter Appoints New Legislative Affairs Director

The city's home forclosure program was profiled today in a lengthy New York Times story, which calls it a model for keeping people in their homes.

Still, while better than what most cities have to offer, the story does acknowledge that there are some problems with the Philly effort:

Some suggest the city’s program is plagued by the same basic defect as the Obama rescue plan: Nearly all the loans that have been modified have been altered on a trial basis, requiring homeowners to reapply for an extension of the terms after only a few months — a process that appears rife with obstacles, according to participants.

“There’s no teeth to the conciliation program,” said Matthew B. Weisberg, a Philadelphia lawyer who represents homeowners in cases involving alleged mortgage fraud. “It’s a largely ineffective stopgap prolonging what appears to be the inevitable, which is the loss of homes.”

For the full story, click here.

In case you missed it yesterday, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum -- the arch conservative who lost his seat to Sen. Bob Casey in 2006 -- has endorsed state Attorney General Tom Corbett for governor.

Here's a report from the Allentown Morning Call.

Here's the release:

DAVID EISNER NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO

OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER

Philadelphia, PA (November 18, 2009) – The National Constitution Center Board of Trustees announced today that it has appointed David Eisner, former Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, to serve as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center. Eisner succeeds Linda E. Johnson, a member of the Center’s Board of Trustees, who has served as Acting President and Chief Executive Officer since the Board began its national search in January 2009.

“The National Constitution Center is an extraordinary American institution,” said Eisner. “I look forward to working with the remarkable Board of Trustees, led by President Clinton, as well as the talented and energetic staff, to engage more citizens in our democracy and advance the Center as the heart of America’s most vibrant and meaningful discourse on the Constitution.”

“David’s diverse experience in the non-profit, corporate, and government sectors will be essential for the continued growth of the National Constitution Center as a leading cultural and educational institution,” said President William J. Clinton, Chairman of the National Constitution Center. “We are extremely fortunate to welcome someone of his caliber, who, throughout his career has demonstrated strong leadership, and a dedication to civic engagement and to the values at the very core of the Center’s mission.”

»  More Constitution Center Has New CEO

Amazing story about the decay of Port Richmond and how one slumlord is largely to blame.

The city's VA hospital is set to get a facelift.

A longtime secretary for former state Sen. Vince Fumo gets probation for involvement in a scam to steal $70,000.

A Delco union leader pleads guilty in a loan kickback scheme.

Here's the release:

RECOVERY ACT CREATIVE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE GRANTS ANNOUNCED

PHILADELPHIA, November 17, 2009 — The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in partnership with the Department of Commerce announces a new grant program to support job creation in Philadelphia’s creative sector. Grants will be available to nonprofit and for profit creative businesses for facility projects linked to job creation such as renovated office space, mixed-use facilities, artist workspace and creative industry incubators. The total funding allocated for the program is $500,000, funded from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

“We are thrilled about this program - the first of its kind in Philadelphia – a true collaboration between city departments that exemplifies just how important the creative sector is to the economy and the future of Philadelphia,” said Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer.

This grant program is a part of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy’s larger strategy to nurture and develop this sector by providing specific programs and resources to the creative economy. Serving a fast developing business sector and significant economic engine, this grant program also intersects with the Commerce Department’s business services, neighborhood development, business attraction and job creation efforts.

The City expects to make approximately ten grants in the range of $20,000 -$100,000. The grants will support the development of facility projects linked to job creation; including permanent jobs, as well as temporary construction, installation, architectural and engineering jobs.

»  More CIty Announces New Grant Program for Artists

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. On Mayor Nutter, two years in.

The Dad Vail race is moving to New Jersey, at least for 2010.

Railway construction work is expected to create jobs in region.

Gadlfy asks feds to investigate state Attorney General Tom Corbett.

And then there was one.  Kevin Feeley of Bellevue Communications told us today that he withdrew on Friday his bid for an annual $80,000 to $100,000 contract to provide strategic planning and communications services to City Council. That leaves Bill Miller of Ross Associates as the only bidder left.

Feeley, who offered to do the job for $84,000 per year with a rate of $100 per hour, said he decided to withdraw after questions were raised about the contract in the Inquirer and Daily News.  We told you about the contract in Friday's column.  "We did it at what we thought was a fair price," Feeley said of his bid.  "I just didn’t want to be involved in the controversy."

Miller told us there are discussions going on about his bid, which set hourly rates of $150 to $200 per hour but did not cite an annual cost.  Miller had a similar contract last year with Council for $25,000.  "My bid is my bid," Miller said. "At the end of the day, we’ve done that work before. We know what it takes. Our proposal was our best effort."

The big question:  Will Council go forward with the contract?  Council President Anna Verna last week told us she was not sure about that because the city is facing a projected $31 million deficit in the budget that ends on June 30.