It's Official - Redevelopment Authority is Insane

[Volanova]

The Embarrassing Cluelessness of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority | NakedPhilly

Hah! That's great. Did the Mayor's office really think that they could get away with claiming that they had never been contacted before and expect someone running a business not to have a copy of the communications, especially in this day and age when EVERYTHING is archived?

They're either incompetent, stupid, or both.

[seand]

Hah! That's great. Did the Mayor's office really think that they could get away with claiming that they had never been contacted before and expect someone running a business not to have a copy of the communications, especially in this day and age when EVERYTHING is archived?

They're either incompetent, stupid, or both.

Officially the RDA is its own state agency. The mayor basically appoints the chair but the rest of it is not under his direct control by state law. Its politically stupid to defend the RDA's stupid actions, obviously being driven from Johnson's command, as the district councilperson. Let Johnson take the heat for his own idiocy.

[Volanova]

Officially the RDA is its own state agency. The mayor basically appoints the chair but the rest of it is not under his direct control by state law. Its politically stupid to defend the RDA's stupid actions, obviously being driven from Johnson's command, as the district councilperson. Let Johnson take the heat for his own idiocy.

Those were my thoughts, although I did not realize the RDA was so independent from the Mayor's Office. How close are Nutter and Johnson? Perhaps it's Johnson calling in a favor, hoping that the Mayor's office will keep the heat off of him?

[seand]

Those were my thoughts, although I did not realize the RDA was so independent from the Mayor's Office. How close are Nutter and Johnson? Perhaps it's Johnson calling in a favor, hoping that the Mayor's office will keep the heat off of him?

I don't think Johnson and Nutter are particularly close but I perhaps oversold the RDA's independence.

Because the Mayor appoints the Chair and its a state agency, it tends to be a patronage agency for a close political ally of the mayor. Street put John Dougherty in thanks for his political support, Nutter put in Terry Gillen, ward leader for the 30th Ward (basically Grad Hospital), policy wonk and spouse of EConsult's Kevin Gillen.

Non-traditional Ward Boss Terry Gillen Uses Old Pols' Ways To Win - Philly.com

She may be a new-school wunderkind but in this instance she's an old school ward leader doing exactly what her district councilperson tells her, something obviously very, very dumb.

Still Nutter even Gillen could pass the buck to Johnson if the heat gets hot enough.

[raider.adam]

Those were my thoughts, although I did not realize the RDA was so independent from the Mayor's Office. How close are Nutter and Johnson? Perhaps it's Johnson calling in a favor, hoping that the Mayor's office will keep the heat off of him?

The RDA isn't politically independent.

I don't think Johnson and Nutter are particularly close but I perhaps oversold the RDA's independence.

Because the Mayor appoints the Chair and its a state agency, it tends to be a patronage agency for a close political ally of the mayor. Street put John Dougherty in thanks for his political support, Nutter put in Terry Gillen, ward leader for the 30th Ward (basically Grad Hospital), policy wonk and spouse of EConsult's Kevin Gillen.

Non-traditional Ward Boss Terry Gillen Uses Old Pols' Ways To Win - Philly.com

She may be a new-school wunderkind but in this instance she's an old school ward leader doing exactly what her district councilperson tells her, something obviously very, very dumb.

Still Nutter even Gillen could pass the buck to Johnson if the heat gets hot enough.

Gillen isn't the head of the RDA anymore. Been different leadership for several months. I believe Gillen is currently overseeing the paid lobbyists.

[seand]

The RDA is a state agency where the mayor can appoint a chair who can then hire lots of political friends. Subject in many ways to all of the flaws in the DRPA. Its not officially part of the mayor's executive branch but in the way of real politics, the mayor has tremendous influence.

My point is, its still politically surprising for McDonald to take full knee-jerk ownership of every dumb thing the RDA does.

[ArcticSplash]

The RDA is a state agency where the mayor can appoint a chair who can then hire lots of political friends. Subject in many ways to all of the flaws in the DRPA. Its not officially part of the mayor's executive branch but in the way of real politics, the mayor has tremendous influence.

My point is, its still politically surprising for McDonald to take full knee-jerk ownership of every dumb thing the RDA does.

Hopefully he learned his lesson because he has been crucified over the "Ori didn't contact us until just now... for realz". That's a major slip-up. I know McDonald in no way went through PRA's communications and records to see what was up---he probably just fired off an e-mail and got back "we only got this letter from him, see attached" and they ran with it.

I hope the DN continues with this tomorrow by pointing out the fact that MULTIPLE attempts (at least 11) have been made to get this lot; and the RDA just threw the requests in the trash or in Ori's case... they actually typed up letters, sealed envelopes and licked stamps to tell him to F Off.

[Eastcoast]

Shouldn't y'all be setting up a HUGE Point Breeze City Owned Vacant Lot Clean Up Day? AKA the Point Breeze COVLCUD 2012, hey, that really rolls off the tongue!

Keep stirring the pot, get some more media coverage and cause the locals the outrage of outsiders coming into PB and cleaning things up.

So long as no one gets shot.

[ArcticSplash]

Shouldn't y'all be setting up a HUGE Point Breeze City Owned Vacant Lot Clean Up Day? AKA the Point Breeze COVLCUD 2012, hey, that really rolls off the tongue!

Keep stirring the pot, get some more media coverage and cause the locals the outrage of outsiders coming into PB and cleaning things up.

So long as no one gets shot.

It will need to be an open-carry event, then.

[Gladys]

The story's now hit FARK.

Fox News is also gonna pick it up.

Good. Skewer him. Maybe, just maybe these guys will start to realize they are there to serve a district.....not own a fiefdom in the the kingdom.

Just got interviewed by CBS (or CW?) while walking past the garden. Not sure when the story is airing.

The problem is they are by and large so very bad you need heavy equipment and a flatbed truck to get rid of all the stuff. It's not a "hey kids i've got a barn" type situation.

[Eastcoast]

It will need to be an open-carry event, then.

Nice.

I wonder if you could get a DuPont/Kevlar corp sponsorship?

[raider.adam]

Nice.

I wonder if you could get a DuPont/Kevlar corp sponsorship?

Oh. Not beer? I was going to get my beer cozy.

[Gladys]

beer and guns, the all american outing.

[Eastcoast]

I would suggest a thematic cleanup under the fun title of Kenzinger, Kevlar and Kahr.

But that might be misunderstood in PB.

[ArcticSplash]

Ori will be on both 6ABC and CBS3 on the 11PM broadcasts. TONIGHT. Tune in.

[NickTheCage]

the rda needs to be abolished and post haste. The fact that my tax dollars go to an organization that actually thwarts positive development and harasses someone who makes positive changes to a lot in this condition is disgusting.

I told you so!