The Nutter administration takes a look at why, more than six months after the massive federal stimulus package was passed into law to stimulate the economy, Philadelphia has spent less than $1 million to retain just 52 jobs.

The latest Franklin & Marshall poll finds state voters still worried about the economy and not so happy with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's performance.

Two longtime local political consultants are charged with tax evasion after the feds say they collected tens of thousands of dollars from candidates but didn't report the income.

John Baer says the current campaigns to fill a seat on the state Supreme Court make a strong case for merit selection rather than political races to pick judges.

And Mayor Nutter's administration continues to debate with City Council about reform for the troubled Board of Revision of Taxes.

Here's the press release:

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYOR NUTTER, MAYOR BLOOMBERG MAKE WORLD SERIES BET THAT FOCUSES ON PUBLIC ARTS PROJECTS

Philadelphia, October 27, 2009- Today, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced a World Series bet that will benefit children in both Philadelphia and New York.

Regardless of the outcome, both Mayors will host public arts projects. Mayor Nutter will join Mural Arts to paint a mural on the side of a Recreation Center. Mayor Bloomberg will partner with Public Color to paint the interior of a school.

If the Phillies win the series, Mayor Bloomberg will travel to Philadelphia to take part in the day of service while wearing a Phillies jersey. If the Yankees win the series, Mayor Nutter will travel to New York to take part in the day of service while wearing a Yankees jersey. The Mayor of the losing city will also buy the Mayor of the winning city and his fellow volunteers lunch.

»  More Mayors Nutter and Bloomberg Make World Series Bet

City Council's Committee of the Whole has been holding a hearing for more than an hour now about how to reform the troubled Board of Revision of Taxes.  Missing from the hearing:  All six BRT board members.  That rankles Councilman Frank DiCicco, who noted the board members were invited to offer their thoughts on the legislation being debated.

“Not to be here today I think is very insulting to the citizens of Philadelphia,” DiCicco said, wondering how Council can act to improve the board's practices without their input.  “They’re not here to answer any of these questions."

DiCicco vowed to push for a ban that would prevent any current BRT board member from serving in a post at whatever governmental entity or entities that eventually take over those responsibilities.

BRT chairwoman Charlesretta Meade submitted a two-page letter last Friday in lieu of testimony today.  Meade calls "problematic" the plan proposed by Council and endorsed by Mayor Nutter to place "the appeal process with the same body of government as the assessment process."

The legislation would actually split those functions by abolishing the BRT by 2011 and creating a new Office of Property Assessment and a Board of Property Assessment Appeals.

The controller candidates -- Democrat Alan Butkovitz and Republican Al Schmidt -- trade punches in a debate.

We take an in-depth look at Republican District Attorney candidate Michael Untermeyer.

Talks resume today between SEPTA and the transit workers union.

Ladies are Phillies fans too, according to this story about the most crushed on players.

A Council committee hearing today on the city pension program highlighted the ongoing tensions between the city’s legislators and Mayor Nutter.

Ostensibly the hearing was about a year-old resolution from Councilman Bill Green on pension reform. But the timing suggested that is was in part a response to Mayor Nutter’s request last week that Council pass a resolution pledging to create a lower cost pension plan for new city hires.

Council balked at the request, despite a memo from the administration which said the city could face legal action from the state Public Employee Retirement Commission if it wasn’t passed.

Today, the administration retreated on that position. City Solicitor Shelley Smith sent testimony to Council, which said that the original analysis of the situation was “overly aggressive.” A new version of the memo said that legal action was unlikely if Council didn’t act.

Smith did not appear at the hearing.

We just hit the City Hall press rally for the Phillies, where we met Lamont Anderson, 40, of South Philly, who goes by the "entertainment name" Monty Gee. He says he's making a shirt with the following slogan:

"The Phillies are going to turn the New York Yankees into the New York Stankees."

What do you think? Would you wear it?

Here are the rules in a press release from the mayor's office:

Monday, October 26, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYOR NUTTER TO RAFFLE WORLD SERIES TICKETS

Philadelphia, October 26, 2009 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced a drawing for World Series tickets. Two pairs of tickets will be given to watch each of the upcoming home games.* Winners will be selected randomly from citizens who send an email to phillymayor@gmail.com by 5pm tomorrow, October 27th. Winners will be randomly selected from qualifying respondents.

“I want to give everyone an opportunity to watch the reigning World Champion Philadelphia win a second title,” said Mayor Nutter. “Send me an email, and you just might end up cheering for the Phils alongside me in the Mayor’s Box.”

Contest Rules:
Send an email to phillymayor@gmail.com by 5pm tomorrow, October 27th. In the body of the email, include your name, address and telephone number. Winners will be notified on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. This contest is open to both Philadelphia residents and nonresidents. City employees are ineligible for this drawing but are welcome to apply for tickets through the normal process by contacting their supervisor.

»  More Mayor Raffles World Series Tickets

Name recognition is a key factor in the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primary elections next May.  Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty faces a big challenge there and an "Off The Floor" column by Capitolwire Harrisburg Bureau Chief Pete DeCoursey today doesn't help much.

DeCoursey gets Doherty's name right in the sixth paragraph, after focusing much of his attention on Democrats Joe Hoeffel of Montgomery County and Tom Knox of Philadelphia.  But then comes this line in the 11th paragraph:  "Flaherty at this point is unknown in 90 percent of the state and has never run statewide."  Doherty is called Flaherty again later in that paragraph.

PhillyClout's Irish roots run deep so we can tell you surnames from the old country are not interchangeable.  You can look up the column here [subscription required.]

Republican Controller candidate Al Schmidt is pulling out all the stops in the final days of his battle against Controller Alan Butkovitz. He's running a new ad with some pretty salty language. Here's an excerpt:

"Alan, You have two months left as City Controller. Show some balls and stop playing footsie with Mayor Nutter."

Think Butkovitz will strike back? For the full ad, click here.