A half-million dollars in stimulus money will go toward creating jobs in Philadelphia's creative economy, the city announced Tuesday.

Chief Cultural Officer Gary Steuer said, in a press release, that the city expects to award 10 grants of between $20,000 and $100,000, mostly to organizations or companies that create jobs in low- to moderate income neighborhoods.

Applications are due by Dec. 18. See the press release below:

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

»  More City gets stimulus grant for "creative sector"

Julia Chapman, Mayor Nutter's director of legislative affairs, resigned today effective immediately. Chapman was among Nutter's longest serving and most trusted advisers, serving as the chief of staff of Nutter's council office for 11 years before he was elected mayor.

The press release announcing Chapman's long-rumored departure was distributed after 6 p.m. today. A copy appears below.

PHILADELPHIA, November 13, 2009 — Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that he has accepted the resignation of Ms. Julia Chapman, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Office of the Mayor, effective immediately. Ms. Chapman has served in this position since Mayor Nutter took office in January 2008.

“I have worked side-by-side with Julia for the vast majority of my political career and her advice and support over these years has been invaluable to me personally, and to the City of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter. “Julia’s hard work, intellect and support have been critical to any legislative success I’ve experienced for more than a decade. Though I am sad that I will no longer be working with Julia on a day-to-day basis I certainly wish her every success in her future endeavors and thank her for the many years of public service that she has given. I and all Philadelphians owe Julia Chapman a debt of gratitude.”

»  More Senior Nutter aide resigns

City officials said they will save more than $6 million next year on health-care costs for less than a quarter of its employees, without increasing worker contributions or "significant" benefit changes.

In an announcement clearly directed at the city's four major municipal unions now working without a contract, the city today at 2 p.m. will notify 5,000 employees not represented by unions - as well as 1,900 union workers who participate in the city-run health care program - that benefits will change beginning Jan. 1.

The city will save nearly $6.3 million by re-bidding medical, prescription, dental and vision programs, by going to a self-insured plan, and reducing some health benefits. Those changes to health benefits include increased co-pays for specialists in some programs, and increased out-of-pocket limits in all programs. The changes will mean no increase in contributions for those employees.

There are 29,000 total employees in the city.

»  More City: We can save $6 million on healthcare

City Controller Alan Butkovitz today accused private tow truck operators in Philadelphia of exceeding legal limits on tow fees and running cash-only businesses, which is prohibited by city law.

Butkovitz said the tow company violations were blatant and widespread, which the controller blamed on law enforcement by the city's department of Licenses and Inspections, which regulates the city's private towing industry.

"It seems like there's open contempt for what the rules are because L&I has left such a gap in enforcement that these companies actually believe that they're making the law," said Butkovitz at a morning press conference.

The controller's report includes photos of signs posted throughout the city by private tow companies warning motorists that a tow will cost them $175, exceeding the $150 limit set by city law. Many of the signs also say the tow operators will only accept cash as payment, another violation of city law.

»  More Controller: Private tow companies are bilking drivers

One year after Mayor Nutter announced the closure of fire companies, pools and libraries to combat a financial crisis of "incredible proportions," his administration announced that the city would face a $31 million deficit unless further reductions are made next year.

City Budget Director Stephen J. Agostini and Nutter's chief of staff, Clay Armbrister, laid out for City Council Monday afternoon the ingredients to the newest alarm, which include faltering wage tax revenues, expected state revenue that didn't make it into the state budget, and costs expected from new casinos.

Agostini has already asked department heads to slice their spending by 7.5 percent next year as he prepares to present a 2011 budget to Council in January or February. Agostini would not say how the city would close the deficit.

This mini-crisis is not as grave as the forecasts at this time last year, when the city had to erase a $108 million deficit. The branch libraries were never closed after City Council members prevailed in a lawsuit. Some pools were opened this summer. Agostini is not asking for immediate cuts, only that departments make up for this year's $31 million hole in next year's budget.

»  More Budget blues again

Mayor Nutter yesterday said he had "no idea" what he did to provoke SEPTA union transit chief Willie Brown, who has called the mayor a "little Caesar" and blamed him for the union's decision to strike.

Today, Gov. Rendell said the same thing.

"He told them the same things I did," Rendell said in a phone interview this morning. "He did not say or do anything that would have precipitated ill will." The governor made his comments after briefly discussing what happened in the final minutes Monday night after he and the mayor relayed to Brown SEPTA's contract offer, and why they both thought it was a good deal. Brown, of course, summarily rejected it and called for the 3 a.m. walkout.

"It's not like he (Nutter) was there working to somehow minimize the offer," Rendell said. "I think the mayor acted apropriately. ... He believes what he believes and he is pretty strong about expressing it."

»  More Rendell: Nutter's tone may be an issue, but he deserves no blame for strike

SEPTA union transit leader Willie Brown  - who is now meeting with Gov. Rendell - stopped by City Hall this afternoon and spoke with eight City Council members.

During the meeting, Brown continued to voice frustration with the mayor, referring to the walkout as “Nutter’s strike,” according to Councilman Frank Rizzo. Previously, Brown called the mayor "Little Caesar."

He and others who were there also said Brown depicted the mayor himself as the deal breaker that ended talks Monday night, and that led Brown, in anger, to call for the 3 a.m. strike. “Apparently the mayor did something that he (Brown) didn’t elaborate on,” Rizzo said.

In an interview after the meeting, a flabbergasted Mayor Nutter said he was perplexed by Brown's comments. "I have no idea what the gentleman is talking about," the mayor said.

»  More Nutter: "No idea" what Willie Brown is talking about

For a relativley quiet Election Day, it was a noisy afternoon today at The Palm.

In one corner sat the Republicans, including losing District Attorney candidate Michael Untermeyer. No doubt, though, that the others with him - city GOP leader Michael Meehan, Republican City Committee chairman Vito Canuso, state Reps. John Taylor and George Kenney, and Philadelphia Parking Authority executive director and ward leader Vince Fenerty - were juiced by big GOP gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as for Pennsylvania's open Supreme Court spot. State Rep. John Perzel also stopped in.

Dining in another corner - literally - were members of electricians' union Local 98. It was a true building trades moment, with applause breaking out sporadically as they celebrated victories as well, and hoped to be celebrating yet another one with an anticipated win by state Superior Court candidate Anne Lazarus. At last count, Lazarus was said to be up about 1,500 votes. Besides Lazarus, others seated in the Local 98 section included Building Trades Council President Pat Gillespie, Local 98 business manager John Dougherty, new Municipal Court Judge-to-be Joe Waters and City Councilman Bill Green.

To be sure, a number of other former and current politicos were scattered throughout the Center City restaurant, which has served for years as a traditional gathering spot for post-election gossiping. ("Did turnout reach 13 percent yet?") Seated at a separate Palm table, for instance, were former state House Speaker Bob O'Donnell and his wife, Donna Gentile O'Donnell, and lobbyist Nick Maiale.

»  More Big Post-Election Day Crowd at The Palm

The call for the elimination of the city's four row offices got a little louder today with the release a new report by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.

The authority, which oversees Philadelphia's finances, said the city could save as much as $15 million a year by scrapping the offices, and stated that as the goal given that their joint functions are "primarily administrative in nature." The offices include the sheriff, register of wills, clerk of quarter sessions and the city commissioners.

In addition, the authority argued that their continued existence goes against the spirit of open government: “The independent status of the row offices adds a layer of bureaucratic expense, diminishes the mayor’s ability to properly budget and oversee their administrative functions, allows circumvention of city hiring rules, and creates the potential for patronage and political favoritism,” the report said.

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Committee of Seventy has also argued in favor of abolishing the four offices and the positions of the six elected officials who run them.

»  More New report: Row offices must go!