Such as this idea:
Every candidate for mayor of Philadelphia must take the pledge to fire everyone above the level of Assistant Manager at the Philadelphia airport.
A haven of political corruption and patronage, the situation is actually worse than most Philadelphians believe. Every person who passes through the Philadelphia airport becomes an ambassador to the world, describing in gory detail the vast incompetence, ignorance and arrogance that is the Philadelphia Airport experience.
It is time to hold all those in management accountable for their failings to motivate, educate and inspire the front line workers. This cannot be a "slap-on-the-wrist" warning to do a better job. We all know that approach won't last beyond the election. This must be a purge of epic proportions. The kind of vast sweeping change that the victims will lament to their grandchildren. The innocent must be swept up with the guilty as a lesson to their replacements that all are responsible for the actions - or inaction - of their coworkers.
You may laugh at me. You may even suggest that it would be throwing out the baby with the bath water. My response would then be that you can continue to enjoy the current level of "service" provided by the angry, incompetent and overworked employees.
It's worth pointing out that Chaka Fattah has recommended that we sell lease the airport in his Opportunity Agenda...
(PS: Thanks for the commenter who corrected my error in this post -- Wendy)
Comments (4)
Insiders who are funding various candidates estimate that there are about 1,600 patronage jobs at stake in this election at places as various as the airport, PGW, the parking authority and other local agencies.
One of the reasons Fattah--yes, he could--find a buyer for the airport is there are definately efficiencies to be found. As to why we need a private investors to do this over city government, I don't understand. There is nothing innovative about Fattah's plan to sell the airport. Rather, it reflects a good bit of laziness instead of the political will to deal with real problems in the School District and Streets Department among others. We have a great candidate who understands this in Michael Nutter and two mediocre front runners (Knox and Fattah) who sell the same old tired lines basically offering to hold the hands of race conscious voters.
Posted by Anonymous | April 15, 2007 5:49 PM
Actually, Fattah wants to lease the Airport not sell it and here's what his "plan" says about airport employees:
"This lease arrangement would ensure the continuation of current labor contracts, current employee retention and the assumption and expansion of all minority business contracting agreements. Any lease would also include the requirement that collective bargaining rights be protected."
Posted by Max | April 15, 2007 7:01 PM
For the purpose of the commentary, leasing vs. selling doesn't matter.
There is little doubt that any operator worth their salt will maintain those employees that are necessary. Admittedly, most of them do fulfill a purpose.
Posted by Anonymous | April 15, 2007 7:53 PM
Can we all agree that leasing or selling the airport is a bad idea. Its a publicly owned asset. While we're at it, why not sell Fairmount Park or turn the Art Museum into condos.
Posted by Jill | April 16, 2007 12:11 PM