Hey, Philly, what gives?
PHILADELPHIA — This city, known to close on Sundays, is also shut Monday through Saturday. Its all-night diner closes 7:15. But Philly’s not only home to the Constitution and the Liberty Bell, but also to Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin. So don’t knock it. Last week, Cleveland’s hottest celebrity was
Ivanka’s driver. Sen. Chuck Schumer picked restaurant El Vez, whose table cards advertised “Hillaritas,” for our talk. Through the din, he shouted:
“Historic, I’d be New York’s first majority leader in over 100 years — from any party. But it won’t change my style. Still do TV Sundays. Still in my bones to be all over our streets. I’m from Brooklyn. I know to learn from the streets.
“At a recent street fair, a middle-class college girl said, ‘My parents can afford a good house. Not sure I can. They bought a good car. I can’t. They did college without debt. Not me. What’s wrong with us?’ I told her my job’s to change it.
Yeah, OK, but what is wrong with us?
“It’s our history. People always want the same things — good jobs, a future for children, ability to go to college. Periodically they lose faith. But never lose faith in America. We’re the best. When middle income declines, people get angry. But things always get better. And namecalling won’t put one dime in any pocket. “Yes, we need better roads, repaired bridges, new tunnels. Know Miss Liberty holds her torch. It may flicker, but always stays. It never goes out. It feeds on optimism. “Being from Brooklyn sometimes helps, sometimes hurts. But I tell candidates, ‘Don’t BS.’ ”