Back when Sam Katz was appointed by Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett to the board of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), which is charged with monitoring the city’s finances, I reached out to Katz via e-mail to get a comment. He responded from a Gmail account, and ever since he's been popping up in my “chat list.”
Yesterday, I chatted him to ask about the news that Greg Rost had been appointed to the board of PICA by the Pa. House Democrats. Rost was chief of staff for Mayor Rendell, and has since worked for Temple and the University of Pennsylvania.
Here's a transcript of our conversation.
Ben: Any reaction to the PICA appointment and your new board member?
Sam: Greg Rost is an experienced leader in City government who was present at PICA's creation and knows its role and potential. He brings the added perspective of having played significant roles at Temple and Penn. He is no-nonsense, focused and smart. He is a superb appointment and addition to the PICA Board.
Ben: that's a pretty serious paragraph for gchat
Sam: oh. Right. Greg can really dance. He has a great touch around the greens. I've never sen him at a costume party, but I've seen the photos. what is good G chat...remember I'm an old fart?
Ben: hahaha. pithy sentences. seriously, do you know for a fact that he can dance? like, how do you actually know him?
Sam: actually, Marcy (Rost) is a much better dancer. I do know he has a great touch around the greens.
Ben: just to be clear, when you're talking about greens, that's golf? not gardening?
Sam: Very good. What do we have for him, Johnny?
Ben: not all the readers of “it's our money” are old rich white guys, so we have to decode the lingo. so you golf with him? when did you meet this guy?
Sam: i've never played golf with him in my life. I met him when he was serving as Chief of Staff for Mayor Rendell. I've also never danced with him or attended a costume party with him.
Ben: ok, good to know. So, he was around when PICA was created?
Sam: He was serving on David Cohen's staff during the early years of the Rendell Admin. He wasn't involved with PICA but I am pretty sure he was around the City when Five Year financial planning started.
Ben: interesting, so he really understands the five year plan. seems like a useful skill
Sam: Absolutely. he had his hands in it as would any Mayoral Chief of Staff.
Ben: after leaving the city, he went on to work for Penn and Temple. you said in that lame paragraph statement above that was important...why?
Sam: Greg has served as the staff manager for three major execs in town..a Mayor and two major University Presidents. Not many people have this range of experience.
Ben: so...why does the education thing matter?
Sam: It's not education. It is understanding the management issues and choices that executives have to make every day. It's understanding the political pressures on execs from commissioners/deans from students, constituents and understanding Harrisburg and Washington which are critical to cities and universities. It's the range of exposure and experience Greg has had with all things Philly.
Ben: one of the issues that might come up, for example, is requiring colleges and universities and other non profits to make payments in lue of taxes
Sam: the issue of property taxes or PILOTs on non-profits will be an issue that we will have to explore.
Ben: right seems like since he worked at these institutions, he might have an interesting perspective on that. like, really in a position to know how much PILOTs would hurt an institution's bottom line
Sam: as well as help the City's
Ben: since he's so closely aligned with these major educational institutions, can he be an honest broker?
Sam: PICA doesn't make tax policy or set budget priorities. It does make recommendations. Everyone has to confront the demands of their day job with the overall public good. Greg has the integrity to do what his role calls for or know when to step out of the conversation.
Ben: Ok, so before we sign off, can I ask you a few political questions?
Sam: as long as you understand that you're getting political answers (hahah)
Ben: fair enough. are you supporting any of the at-large candidates for city council? either endorsing or raising money?
Sam: No
Ben: Anyone you like? What District are you in? the 8th?
Sam: Yeah. 8th.
Ben: so who are you going to vote for there?
Sam: Frankly, I think it is better for the PICA Chair to avoid public expressions of support for any candidate running for a City Council seat given that PICA needs to work with the members of council and such an endorsement might appear to carry weight beyond my personal views.
Ben: politics make sam grumpy
Sam: not in the least. i love politics. some days I miss it. But this is an incredible opportunity for a political emigre and I want to do the job at PICA in the best way I can. I've been in Philadelphia electoral politics for 40 years. Right now, I have a different role.
Ben: ok, i think that's a good spot to end it. thanks sam.
Sam: thank you ben
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Nothing here.— tr88- Great to have 2 campus Socialists whose positions are paid with public funds looking out "for our money", isnt it? They never saw taxpayer money they didnt want to get their hands on (well except Doron Taussig complaining about his having to pay a fee to write his blog, that's unjust). Nice to know the same policies that have served Philadelphia so well the last 40 years will have "revolutionary" propagandists advocating the same failure for decades to come. Honestly, exactly what credentials do these up and comers who earned their bona fides at the "City Paper" have, other than the obvious shilling for the status quo?— tr88
- tr88: Thanks for reading!— benwaxman
- What kind of project is this? Fair and balanced NPR is in a joint project that hire leftist ideologues. I know WHYY, or NPR, or CPB or PRI or some combination of the above are also using public money sponsoring the right wing idealogues. I just cant find it. Ask them, they'll tell you how unbiased they are.
The Professional Left in action.
It's Our Money” is a joint project between Philadelphia Daily News and WHYY, funded by the William Penn Foundation,— tr88 - Livin the dream.
The millions of dollars being spent by George Soros, Moveon.org and various other organizations represent a capital infusion for the future of American liberalism. However, unless these groups invest in student activists, they will deprive themselves of a critical resource.
Ben Waxman is a student studying politics at Juniata College.— tr88 - It would be interesting to peek into WHYY's hiring practices, wouldn't it? Chock full of young Republican activists, I'm sure.— tr88
MONEY AND JUSTICE DON'T MIX
WILL THE NEW COUNCIL GIVE YOU A SAY?
Tips? Comments? Questions?
Contact:
Doron Taussig:
215-854-5307
doron.taussig@gmail.com
@dorontaussig
Holly Otterbein:
215-854-5809
hm.otterbein@gmail.com
@hollyotterbein
Juliana Reyes:
215-854-5855
juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com
@juliana_f_reyes
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