Editorial for January 5, 2006


Give ’em hell, Alan

For the City of Brotherly Graft, a new day dawned on Monday when Alan Butkovitz assumed control of Philadelphia’s pocketbook. In taking the oath of office as Jonathan Saidel’s successor as city controller, Butkovitz can give Philadelphia a fresh start and fresh air.

Butkovitz should turn the might and clout and prestige of his position into a bully pulpit by calling a halt to the pay-to-play way of life in City Hall and by challenging City Council to change the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to require that the administration adopt cost-savings recommendations by the controller’s office. That would put some teeth into the agency’s audits.

Butkovitz should walk conspicuously, carry a big stick and speak out loud and clear against improprieties big and small. He must use the powers of his office to their fullest extent.

A shady city contract? Hit ’em where it hurts. Withhold the paycheck.

Milton Street gets his dirty little hands on an airport contract? Freeze his paycheck.

And Butkovitz should not be afraid to out-Saidel Saidel in the no-spin zone of free speech. Who can forget the bum rap Saidel took in February 1993 when, during a rowdy anti-busing meeting at George Washington High School, he noted that parts of Philadelphia looked like Beirut. Philadelphia will only benefit if Butkovitz similarly calls things the way he sees things.

Butkovitz has a checkered past, of course. As a state lawmaker, he showed pitiful judgment and blatant fiscal imprudence last July 7 at 2 a.m. when he and his fellow legislative thugs voted for their illegal pay hike. Voters should have punished Butkovitz when he sought the controller’s post, but we’re stuck with him, so let’s make the best of it.

Saidel’s top deputy, Tony Radwanski, would have made a great controller, but here’s hoping Philadelphia’s new fiscal watchdog will nonetheless take a big bite out of the status quo. ••

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