Hillary makes a little history
A look at the week that was, the issues and people who made headlines, and a few darts and laurels for those who deserve them.
LAUREL: To a historic, momentous week. This is not an endorsement of Hillary Clinton. But it should be noted that this was a huge moment, the first time a woman has been nominated for the highest office in the land by a major party. And it happened right here in Philadelphia. You go, girls. Yes, you too can grow up to be president one day.
DART: To the less than sterling reaction the city has gotten from visitors. Getting around has not been easy. Traffic has been a hassle, as it always is, and a lack of taxis hasn’t helped. Not exactly putting our best foot forward.
LAUREL: To Bernie Sanders. He accomplished what he wanted, in the process moving the party platform in a much more progressive path. And he was gracious in stepping aside and getting on board the Hillary bandwagon.
DART: Less forgiving were his vociferous supporters, who showed their outrage most of the week. To many of them it remains “Bernie or Bust.” Some booed every mention of Hillary Clinton and even turned their wrath on their guy Bernie. Tough crowd. Not helping matters much was the knowledge that broke literally on Day One of the convention in leaked emails that party leaders had clearly been backing Hillary and badmouthing Bernie during the primary campaign. It rightly costs party boss Debbie Wasserman Schultz her position and left her outside looking in on the convention she had a major hand in planning.
DART: To the continuing violence that remains a plague in too many Delco towns. Upper Darby this week recorded its fifth homicide of 2016. There have been 23 homicides in the county so far this year.
LAUREL: To those residents in Haverford and other towns who are uniting behind their police force. Are all cops perfect? Certainly not, but that does not change the fact that most take to heart their pledge to “serve and protect.” They do a dangerous job, and most do it well.
LAUREL: To John D’Alonzo. He was awarded a Carnegie Medal for heroism for his efforts in subduing a gunman who had killed one person and shot another at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital two years later. He would much rather talk about the co-worker he lost on that day. He is doing what he can to keep Theresa Hunt’s spirit alive.
DART: Richard Plotts is a prime example of what’s wrong with our mental health and gun laws. It was a combustible situation that never should have been allowed to mix.
DART: To the continuing travails of the Jim Finley and other residents of Upper Chichester in dealing with the hassles of the CSX railroad line that dissects their community. They went to the township this week for a meeting with officials and representatives from the railroad to air their complaints. The company spokesman said their issues would be taken to heart. We’ll see.
LAUREL: This has been going on for literally decades in Upper Chi. It’s gotten so bad that Finley is considering selling his home and shutting down the Cardile’s Farm Market his family has run for years on Meetinghouse Road.
DART: To the Upper Darby School District, which seems content to leave the situation involving Superintendent Rick Dunlap as something of a mystery. Dunlap has been placed on administrative leave. He’s the top-paid person in the district, making $194,866 a year. Taxpayers deserve to know what his status is.
LAUREL: To the poor, bedraggled school board members across the county who struggle to balance a budget and get little in return. Take the folks who serve on the Interboro School Board for instance. They battled red ink in their budget, actually raising taxes and cutting jobs, only to be faced with more money issues at their most recent meeting.
DART: To the hardball tactics that wound up with a Libertarian candidate who was collecting signatures to get on the November ballot in the 7th District Congressional race being chased out of Rose Tree Park. Pat Sellers eventually got the American Civil Liberties Union to go to bat for him and remind the county of the candidate’s First Amendment rights.
LAUREL: To the deal that defused the situation, with Sellers being allowed to collect signatures so long as he did not interfere with the shows at Rose Tree Park. It’s a shame that could not have been ironed out before he lost out on that opportunity to collect signatures.
It should be noted that this was a huge moment, the first time a woman has been nominated for the highest office in the land by a major party. And it happened right here in Philadelphia.
LAUREL: To the Community Health and Education Outreach and its founder, Barbara A. Burton Jones of Yeadon. The organization served underserved health care clients in the county for 14 years. They closed their doors at the end of June.
DART: The saga of CHEO is similar to the plight of many non-profits, who have increasingly struggled for funding since the recession of 2008.
LAUREL: To the arrival of the Eagles and another training camp. With the Phils swooning since the All-Star break, the return of the Birds could not get here soon enough.
DART: To the distinct lack of buzz surrounding this team. What is it? The hiring of Andy Reid acolyte Doug Pederson as head coach? The team’s admission that No. 1 draft pick and wunderkind Carson Wentz likely will not play at all this season? This team needs a jolt of electricity? Are you listening, Sam Bradford?