Pay to Play: How big of an issue is this? - PhillyBlog

SteveJohnston · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2003, 02:20 PM

Quote:

"There's always going to be 'pay to play' in politics," said Fred Siegel, an urban affairs expert at the Cooper Union in New York City who has studied Philadelphia. "The question is how blatant it is. Philadelphia, it seems to me, crosses the line regularly... . If you're coming there to do business, beware; the process is so convoluted and expensive that only somebody who has invested politically already is going to want to enter the game."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...al/7102870.htm

Do you agree with this characterization of Philadelphia? How much of an issue is this to you?

niksiz · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2003, 08:59 PM

niel · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 09:41 AM

That particular quote that you included says it all - why should anyone invest here when the extra costs of corruption are so high? It's what they said about the rampant lawlessness in Russia after the USSR fell - that had to brought under control, because if it wasn't, no-one in their right mind would invest there.

SteveJohnston · #4 (**permalink**) 11-11-2003, 04:54 PM

How can we force this to change?

phillyTIM · #5 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 04:28 AM

Will they pass?

I think the one limiting the amounts of campaign contributions will. And should. That's the easy one.

The other one - barring the reward of contracts to contributers? Not a chance, with this in-bred City Hall of goons and crownies there. Corruption has become way too deep for change like this. It will take a Federal force to disband this kind of thing here.

SteveJohnston · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 05:35 AM

The Associated Press
http://pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/ind...4414281890.xml

Quote:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia City Council committee is slated to meet Wednesday to consider two bills aimed at limiting political contributions and curbing alleged preference given contributors for city contracts.

One bill to be considered by the Council's law and government committee would bar the city from awarding contracts to people and businesses that give campaign contributions to elected officials. The other bill would limit the amount of money candidates could accept and spend.

Proponents say Philadelphia is one of only a few major cities that does not limit campaign contributions. The current system has been criticized as "pay-to-play" with contributors given preference for city contracts and other favors.

Do you think that it has a real chance of passing?

eldondre · #7 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 08:39 AM

from that article

Quote:

"It has the lowest private equity portions I've seen," Saidel said. "It is one thing if government wants to help get a project over the top, but it is another thing for us to be a private mortgage company."

Under the plan, Goldenberg and Clear Channel would put up about 48 percent of the project's cost. An analysis by the City Controller's Office of similar projects found that the average private investment was 73 percent.

eldondre · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 08:41 AM

how big of an issue is this?
this guy's name popped up twice in thei nky. too badthey didn't connect them for us. this article provides enough fodder to make me angry in itself.

Quote:

After the deal died, Street, by then the mayor, tried to work with DisneyQuest's local partner, developer Kenneth Goldenberg, to bring in something else to the area. They had hoped for an entertainment complex with movies and shops.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/7295428.htm

zogby blob · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 09:58 AM

I don't like the first. I do the second.

wilreynolds · #10 (**permalink**) 11-19-2003, 12:34 PM

Lets see how the pay to play works out, on this one. A guy that donates 120k days before the election to street is now asking for a HUGE tax break...doesn't this guy know to wait a bit?

Lets keep an eye on this one:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/7295425.htm

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