September 18 is the deadline for the doomsday budget known as Plan C. If that goes into effect, as I’ve mentioned before, it will fundamentally change Philadelphia. It will be the systematic dismantling of a large part of city government, along with about 3,000 layoffs, including 1,000 police officers.
There has been progress in Harisburg, and I continue to be optimistic that, at least in the short term, disaster can be averted. I think it’s a good sign that everyone is upset – governor, mayor, unions – that’s the hallmark of a decent compromise. the ball is still in Harrisburg’s court as the state legislature tries to reconcile different plans.
In the meantime, Philebrity has a compendium of the ominous letters that are starting to circulate about how the city is, to a large extent, getting ready to shut down. *gulp*
Please explain the tuna sandwich reference!
This town
This town
Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich
Sealed Tuna Sandwich
With the wrapper glued
It’s by baloney on the rack
It goes for 40 cents a whack
It’s just a place for us to play
To help us pay
The cost of the tickets back to L.A.
The cost of the tickets back to L.A.
The cost of the tickets back to L.A.
All the people in the Sandwich Town
Think the place is great
What if part of it’s crumbling down?
Most of them prob’ly won’t be ’round . . .
They’ll either be dead
Or moved to San Francisco
(Where everybody thinks they’re Heavy Business . . .
But it’s just a Tuna Sandwich from another catering service . . .)
-Frank Zappa
Hang in there, Philly! At least you’ve got decent professional sports franchises.
When our city last went to pot, the Feds up and took it over. Does that makes us a sealed tuna sandwich too?