Journalism
After nearly four years of psychological trauma, legal expense, aggravation, and sleepless nights, I am free of all entanglements with my former employer, the Philadelphia Inquirer. And after nearly four years, I have removed a gag order, and I’m free to speak. But first, the background: It started on
Politics
Well, wasn’t that anti-climatic? I mean Friday’s Committee of 70 poll that seemed to show a five-way tie for mayor, with the three women candidates in the lead. (Unlike some, I can define “woman.” And each of the three is a mother, not a “birthing parent.”) Anyway. . . The
Political Correctness
It’s Friday morning, and I can guarantee you that most of the chattering class is hitting refresh, waiting for the release today of the independent mayoral poll commissioned by the Committee of Seventy. Why the intense interest in the poll? Because out of the nine Democratic candidates hoping to
Politics
Tuesday night’s 90-minute Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce mayoral forum saved the best for last, if you hung in until the last 15 minutes. The event was streamed on 6ABC, and at the end solo moderator Matt O’Donnell gave the six participants a chance to ask questions of
Politics
And now, Helen Gym begins to reveal her true self. The true self that is consumed with nonessentials and superficials. She lifted the curtain at a Thursday forum sponsored by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists in an exchange with Jeff Brown, another mayoral candidate. They were asked how they
Politics
The highlight of Tuesday night’s mayoral debate carried by Fox 29, came around the mid-point when the bon homme slipped and candidates slapped at each other. By my count, supermarket CEO Jeff Brown took four shots, uber progressive Helen Gym got slapped twice, Allan Domb once, not counting reporter
Politics
Jeff Brown is a hugger. He got that from his father, along with the family business. Like his father, he is a grocer, an unapologetic businessman, straight up. Like his father, he sees business as a way to make money, sure, but also to help people. The help his ShopRite
Crime
Pardon me while I chuckle about the amazing, sudden, unexpected proliferation of pro-cop Democrats. Here’s me chuckling. ☺️ Most of these Democrats happen to be candidates and their awakening (not Awokening) intersects with their attempts to be elected or re-elected, most especially in big cities that have been under the
Politics
He never voted until he was 30, former City Councilman David Oh tells me, sheepishly, as he sits for an interview in Chinatown’s EMei restaurant. Voting wasn’t a thing in Southwest Philadelphia where he grew up, he says, adding that he was intimidated by the voting procedures. His
Politics
I was having a nightmare the other night, and I awoke in a cold sweat. I rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face and turned on KYW NewsRadio. OMG! It wasn’t a nightmare. The identity-obsessed Helen Gym is running for mayor. First, the good news.
Politics
Yes, even before Philadelphians have selected our next governor and U.S. senator, I’m going to look over the horizon and take a stab at figuring out who our next mayor will be. In the words of one of my anonymous political gurus, that election will be strange. Why?
God
Continuing an annual conversation between Your Favorite Columnist and God that stretches back almost two decades. Stu: God, you are getting on my last nerve. God: What’s got your shorts in a bunch, Sonny? Stu: Don’t call me Sonny. We soldiered through COVID-19, your 2020 “gift” to humanity,