THIS IS BULLSHIT

And so now we come to the hard place and the rock. Philadelphia, due to its lack of fiscal responsibility under numerous mayors, has had to report to a special commission appointed by the State on all fiscal matters since 1986. One of the requirements of the State (for underwriting City bonds) is that it maintain a balanced budget. The State Senate, controlled by Republicans, has failed to approve the Governor's (a Democrat) budget, which was due to be approved by July 1.

The legislature has passed a special bill to pay State employees, so the State Police cars still roll along the Turnpike. But Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which are both detested by the militiamen, gun toting NRA slobs, and the crustaceans who occupy the rural center of the State, are dying.

Philadelphia's Mayor, Michael Nutter, has presented his required balanced budget to the powers that be, but it has not been accepted because all financial bills are stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. The mayor was told that, unless his budget is approved by August 15, he would have to take other measures to reduce the City's expenditures. It is not likely that the City's balanced budget can be approved, since the Senate has adjourned for the summer.

Meanwhile, 3000 city employees, including a friend of ours who moved here from New York to accept a city job last winter, are expected to be laid off next week. At the height of the summer heat, trash collections will be curtailed too. 600 police will be fired and 400 firemen will have to go.

This is civilized? This is not the City of Brotherly Love. This is bullshit.