A look at who's getting a free pass from mayor

It was a busy first quarter of the year at the stadium complex, thanks in part to City Hall.

A press release from Mayor Nutter on Friday noted that the city had given out 1,332 tickets for access to various mayor's boxes. More than half went to children from recreation centers, nonprofits, and other groups. An additional 37 percent went to high school students who had straight A's or perfect attendance.

Here is where some of the other tickets went:

Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross got four tickets to the Wells Fargo Center to hear the music of Lil Wayne, five months after the rapper was released from Rikers Island for attempted gun possession.

Lou Agre, Democratic leader of the 21st Ward, whose Roxborough voters turn out in high numbers, sent seven guests to the Wing Bowl's gluttonous gala at the Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately, Agre was ill and did not attend.

City Councilmen William Greenlee, Curtis Jones Jr., and W. Wilson Goode Jr. were among those getting box seats to January's playoff game between the Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Others included U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.); State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.); Denise Dixon, the mayor's executive assistant; author Michael Eric Dyson; and Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League, an organization of black police officers. - Marcia Gelbart and Troy Graham

At the end of Thursday's City Council meeting, Majority Leader Marian B. Tasco had one more bit of business that wasn't on the agenda. As the sergeant-at-arms wheeled out a large cake with lit candles, Tasco led the chamber in a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Council President Anna C. Verna's 80th birthday.

A seemingly surprised Verna came down from the head of the chamber to blow out the candles. When she returned to the lectern, she reminded Council that sometimes we prefer to forget our birthdays. - Troy Graham

The much maligned Philadelphia Sheriff's Office last week became the first row office to answer Nutter's call for higher ethical standards.

Acting Sheriff Barbara Deeley on Thursday signed four executive orders prohibiting nepotism, sexual harassment, and gifts and regulating outside employment.

In January, Nutter signed similar orders that apply only to the executive branch because last year Council killed bills on outside employment, gifts, and nepotism that would have applied to all city workers and elected officials.

"Today the Sheriff's Office is proud to . . . stand with Mayor Nutter in holding our public servants to the highest ethical standards," said Deeley, a longtime top deputy in the administration of Sheriff John Green, who was criticized for failing to abide by city practices in contracting and accounting.

"Heard in the Hall" is not expecting a rush to follow. City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione until recently had her daughter as her chief deputy, and Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci has a law practice and other business interests. - Jeff Shields