Thomas Paine Cronin, who has led the city's white collar municipal union for 27 years, is stepping down. The Inquirer's Gail Shister has a fascinating look back on his eventful tenure, in which Cronin observes: "I've pissed a lot of people off. I have no regrets." Indeed he did. Cronin has antagonized no fewer than six mayors (Street dubbed him Thomas Pain), usually while seeking the best deal possible for his members at the bargaining table. Given the city's persistently precarious financial condition, his interests and the city's were rarely aligned. Cronin won some and lost some (most famously capitulating to Ed Rendell), but he was always a force to be reckoned with. District Council 47's 6,500 members will pick a new leader Thursday night, meaning the next mayor will be grappling with someone other than Cronin during contract negotiations begin next year.
In other news, Philadelphia Forward may soon escalate its campaign against the Bureau of Revision of Taxes property assesment regime. There's more scrutiny of the city' health department, which looks to be in disarray (though at least the mammogram machine was found). Mayor Street declined to explain how his property taxes went unpaid. Philly chefs are not amused by Councilman Jack Kelly's anti foie-gras campaign.
Mayor Street will attend a noon event in Love Park sponsored by Campus Philly. GOP mayoral nominee Al Taubenberger is all over town today, making at least three campaign stops. No word yet on Michael Nutter's schedule.
Update: We overlooked an interesting column from Phil Goldsmith. Citing the weakness of Philadelphia's Republican Party, he calls for non-partisan mayoral elections (like those in Chicago, Boston, LA and other cities).
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