Also this issue:

Classroom Chaos
Did Edison's reduction of support staff help foster school violence?
-Elisa Ludwig

Free Marty!
The ringleader of a band of stadium gatecrashers has his day in court.
-Daryl Gale

Soundbites
-Deborah Bolling

The Bell Curve
City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

January 9-15, 2003

political notebook

The Big Kahuna

by Mary F. Patel

Governor-elect Ed Rendell's inaugural is scheduled to be as festive as the man himself. Rendell will be sworn in on Tue., Jan. 21, at 11:30 a.m., in an outdoor ceremony on the east side of the Capitol Building.

At 1:30 p.m. there will be a parade, and at 7 p.m. there will be a gala concert held at the State Farm Show Complex less than two miles north of the Capitol.

Bill Epstein, communications director for the inaugural, said that the talent line-up has not been confirmed yet but should be finalized within a week.

At 9 p.m., following the concert, the inaugural gala will take place, featuring a Taste of Pennsylvania buffet dinner, music and dancing.

All of the inauguration activities require passes or tickets. The gubernatorial swearing-in ceremony and parade are open to the public, but seats will be limited. Tickets for the gala concert and ball are $50 per person. The official website for ordering tickets is

www.rendellinauguralcommittee.org.

Epstein said that tickets are selling out very quickly.

The gala is black-tie optional and buses will transport guests to the Farm from the Capitol area for those who do not want to drive.

On Wed., Jan. 22, there will be free open tours of the governor's mansion from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sam I Am

When is Sam Katz announcing his intentions to run for mayor?

"After the Super Bowl," said Katz. The big game is scheduled for Jan. 26.

Katz will finish up as CEO of the nonprofit think tank, Greater Philadelphia First; his last day will be Jan. 15. Greater Philadelphia is merging with the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and former governor Mark Schweiker will head up the new conglomerate on Feb. 1.

In 1999, the last time Katz, a Republican, ran against John Street, only 9,447 votes separated the two.

Katz does not think that raising money will be a problem.

"I raised over seven million dollars last time," said Katz. "And I will have enough to be competitive. This time more people know my name."

There is a great deal of concern that this race will become racial.

"I will not be doing that," stressed Katz. "This will not happen in the Katz campaign and if anyone in the campaign brings it up, I say forget about it."

Log On

Former Log Cabin Philadelphia Chair David Greer has been appointed by President George Bush to serve on the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS for a three-year term.

Greer, a Republican, was also Log Cabin's state chair.

Greer will be sworn in on Jan. 29 and join the 35-member panel that former President Bill Clinton began in 1995 to advise the president on HIV/AIDS policy.

Greer said that AIDS is still very much an epidemic despite the new medications available.

"Young people, particularly in the minority community, are becoming HIV-positive at an alarming rate," said Greer, who was on his way to a meeting with Bush's domestic policy adviser, Margaret Spelling. "The new drugs may slow the process of immediate fatality, but that has given people a false sense of hope. There are many side effects to these drugs -- not to mention, they are expensive. The drugs cost $15,000 a year and not all are covered by health insurance," he said.

Greer will not be paid for his appointment but will be compensated for his expenses. He plans to meet with U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum on HIV/AIDS issues.

An Epiphany

Councilman Angel Ortiz and his wife, Lydia Hernandez, hosted their annual Three Kings party at their Northern Liberties loft compound. This party features an interactive performance with the Three Kings bearing gifts to the Magi. Neighborhood children receive the gifts.

Mike Marsico, the legislative director for Ortiz and liaison to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community during Rendell's campaign, attended the party. He has recently been appointed to Rendell's boards and commissions transition team, along with Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal, Arthur M. Kaplan, a partner at the law firm Fine, Kaplan and Black, and activist Chris Biancheria.

Their goal is to provide statewide outreach to the LGBT community and recommend qualified candidates who are interested in becoming members of Rendell's transition team and/or board or commission members.

Honoring an Editor

Amber Rose Fonzen, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the 2003 winner of the Ron Patel Scholarship. The scholarship was formed to honor Ron Patel, the Sunday editor of the Inquirer and this reporter's husband, who died of cancer in January 2000. She will receive a $5,000 check for graduate school.