How to Not Get Fired From Philly’s Most Important Job

Six tips for new schools boss William Hite.

New Philadelphia School District superintendent William Hite inherited a school system that’s broke and broken. If history is any guide, he’ll be run out of town before this year’s first-graders graduate from middle school. However, he could end the steady turnover and constant failure if he just does a few things well:

Revel Casino Will Get Penny Slots Before Resort Market

Plus: How Atlantic City’s inevitable failure will lead to gambling increase in New Jersey.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the opening of the Revel casino in Atlantic City. Supporters predicted the upscale $2.4 billion resort would reverse the struggling Shore town’s sagging fortunes.

Mitt Romney Has Perfected Flip-Flopping

Which side of the Republican candidate would show up at the White House?

The race for the White House will soon kick into high gear, and it's amazing to me that Mitt Romney is even close in the polls, let alone could win. He has run a lackluster campaign and comes across as a phony, duplicitous, flip-flopping hypocrite. Though he does have nice hair.

There’s No Reason for Penn State to Play Football This Year

But that has nothing to do with the NCAA sanctions.

The NCAA gave Penn State a harsh penalty but it is the wrong one. Plain and simple the football program should have been shut down for at least a year or two.

In Philly, Helping Will Earn You Skepticism

The school district is lucky to have the William Penn Foundation’s support. Let’s thank them with conspiracy theories.

One of the big problems that has plagued Philadelphia for decades has been its lack of strong and competent leadership. The city is known as a "go-along-to-get-along" place. Those who push hardest for change are often run out of town or get frustrated by the lack of progress and give up. The lack of corporate headquarters in the city has resulted in a power vacuum that is often filled by a one-party political class lacking in the vision or ability to solve the big issues of the day. The result is a city in decline as entrenched interests fight over a shrinking pie.

Hiring: Most Important Job in Philadelphia

A quick look at the two candidates for school district superintendent.

The Philadelphia School District has narrowed its nationwide search for a superintendent to two men. One is unproven, the other is uninspiring. Both come with red flags. That’s why the School Reform Commission should keep looking. The School District can’t settle for average or worse. It needs a stud who has what it takes to transform a failing and bankrupt school system in need of a major overhaul.

Imagine Philadelphia Without Stephen Starr Restaurants

Property tax hikes could time travel the city back to the good ol’ bankruptcy days of 1992.

Mayor Nutter and City Council are being lauded for their effort to overhaul the outmoded property tax system. While the stated goal of making property taxes fair and equitable makes sense, be careful what you wish for. It is entirely possible that the property tax overhaul could take things from bad to worse.

Gambling and Homelessness Go Together Like Thelma and Louise

Casinos cause more problems than they solve.

With a new advertising blitz and a new $2.4 billion casino, Atlantic City was betting on a comeback this summer. Instead, the stabbing deaths of two tourists in broad daylight last week outside of the Bally’s casino underscored the seedy side of Atlantic City that officials like to gloss over. (Disclosure: I edit an anti-gambling blog.) In an effort to reassure tourists that it was safe to go back into the casinos, Governor Chris Christie came to town and drank a beer at the Irish Pub. Keep drinking, guv. The problems of Atlantic City are big and deep, and can’t be fixed by a new slogan and another casino.

Howard Stern Is Offensive on America’s Got Talent

Offensively sappy.

I have never watched America’s Got Talent before, but I tuned in this week just to see the show’s newest judge, shock jock Howard Stern. Here’s the short take: Stern has gone softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy. The show promoted the longtime radio personality as a bad boy, complete with a video montage set to the Rolling Stones hit “Sympathy for the Devil.” But he’s mostly a cheerleader.