Also this issue:

Ink-Stained Kvetch
The piercing cry of favoritism rings out as South Street debates the arrival of a new tattoo shop.
-Alex Richmond

Then Came Brunson
The nation's only black female TV station owner is right here in Philly and about to celebrate 10 years of broadcasting at WGTW.
-Deborah Bolling

Ed of Days
-Mary F. Patel

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

January 23-29, 2003

hall monitor

The Way West

by Daniel Brook

The election of our good ol' Philly boy Ed Rendell to the governor's mansion is a two-edged sword for the hometown: On the one hand, he's hiring lots of Philly people to help him run the state, which is a good thing, considering the potential benefits the city could reap. On the other hand, Rendell's hires could be plucking the best and brightest from the city, potentially draining our pool of talent.

A couple of notables: Managing Director Estelle Richman, one of the most respected managers in the city, is heading to Harrisburg as the state's new secretary of welfare. Former state representative and longtime Latino community activist Ben Ramos, a stalwart of Philly's Hispanic community, is our new secretary of state, making him the highest ranking Hispanic in Pennsylvania history. The new governor has also tapped Nora Dowd, president of the AARP and tireless advocate on behalf of older Pennsylvanians, as our new secretary of aging. Fine picks all, but the worry is that the exodus of talent to the state capital will create sort of a "brain drain" back here in Philadelphia.

"Sure, I guess there's somewhat of a Œbrain drain,'" says Barbara Grant, spokesperson for Mayor Street. "You're always concerned when you lose talented people on the caliber of an Estelle Richman, because they don't come along every day. The upside is that people like that almost always lay a firm foundation for their successors to continue what they started. The office of managing director is one of the most critical jobs in the administration, certainly, but you remember when Joe Martz left people were worried, and Estelle stepped right in without missing a beat."

Grant says that the mayor is busily engaged in the business of finding Richman's replacement. Former interim school board CEO Philip Goldsmith's name has been floated around, but Grant says that while Goldsmith is certainly on the shortlist, the mayor hasn't quite made up his mind yet.

"I expect the mayor to make his announcement any day now," she says.

Pedro Rodriguez is executive director of Action Alliance for Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia, an advocacy group for seniors. As such, Rodriguez is a colleague of Nora Dowd and coincidentally, a neighbor and longtime friend of Ben Ramos. Rodriguez is proud of his pals and pulling for their success in Harrisburg while at the same time lamenting their departure from the communities that have come to depend on them.

"Most, if not all, Philly Latinos are highly supportive of Ben," Rodriguez says. "It's a history-making appointment. One of our own ascends to the top, and it makes us all swell with pride, even though we'll miss him."