No Cheesesteaks, No Peace!

Here in Philadelphia, there are a few things that are absolutely sacrosanct. These are no mere icons or idols, but irreplaceable symbols of our history, life and tradition in the City of Brotherly Love. Among them, The Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Eagles, William Penn’s statue atop City Hall, and the city’s official sandwich, the Cheesesteak.

And now, horror of horrors, Rick’s Steaks is being unceremoniously ousted from it’s 25-year home at the Reading Terminal Market. The Market’s board voted to replace Rick’s, who was on a month-to-month lease, with Tony Luke’s, rival cheesesteak tycoon. Tony Luke’s, the board said publicly, was a bigger name and a better “fit” for the Market than the popular Rick’s, and demanded that Rick vacate by July 31.

Rick’s owner, Rick Oliveri, is the grandson of cheesesteak inventor Pat Oliveri, who made Pat’s King of Steaks a South Philly landmark for generations. Having grown up with grease and onions in his veins, and in South Philly no less, Rick is one tough hombre, and wasn’t about to give up without a fight. He hired a lawyer, and filed a complaint in Common Pleas Court seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow the sandwich maker to stay put until a judge decides if Rick has a valid lease or not.

“As far as I’m concerned, my lawyer thinks I have a lease,” Rick Oliveri told the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’m staying.”

Oliveri has vowed to fight the good fight, and says he’ll be there frying cheesesteaks until someone comes to drag him out. Several of his fellow Reading Terminal merchants have joined him in protest, and now the annual Dutch festival, scheduled for early August, has been cancelled.

Rick Oliveri says the board’s problem with him is more personal and political than commercial. Oliveri has been acting as the advocate for his fellow merchants (at their request) in their various grievances and negotiations with the Reading Terminal Market Board. Oliveri says it was that vocal advocacy that got him the boot, not the prospect of a “bigger” name sandwich shop.

For now, on this last day of Rick’s authorized stay at the Market, he’s there at his usual station, making sandwiches for the masses. The board looks like the villain in the court of public opinion, and the stalwart entrepreneur is the put-upon hero. Cheesesteak eaters from all over Philadelphia, (and you cannot imagine how many there are) are rallying to the cause, and join Rick and his fellow merchants in their protest of the board’s callous treatment of a Reading Terminal Market anchor.

We have nothing against Tony Luke’s, and in fact, have praised his roast pork sandwiches as among the best we’ve eaten. But even Tony would have to admit that he didn’t want a spot at the Market this way. Political retaliation should never be at the expense of Philadelphian’s stomachs. It’s in the city charter.

We cheesesteak eaters here at Ross Associates, (and yes, that’s ALL of us) join the chorus of support for Rick’s, and hope he gets to stay put right there at the Reading Terminal Market, and close to our offices.

Long live grease! No cheesesteaks, no peace! The gluttons united can never be defeated!

(Okay, so we’ll come up with better protest slogans. Give us time. We’re still eating lunch.)

PA Again Open For Business

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - As we predicted, the ink wasn't even dry on our last post about the PA government shutdown before we had to print this update.

Not that the below post isn't timely and relevant, it is. But in today's 24-hour news cycle, what happened yesterday isn't just old news, it's ancient history. So here's what's going on today.

Late last night Governor Ed Rendell and members of the state legislature held a news conference in Harrisburg to announce the end of the budget standoff, the end of the forced furloughs, and the end of the short-lived government shutdown.

Lawmakers agreed to stop disagreeing, and the new budget will be on Rendell's desk by the end of the week. Although both sides claim victory, the agreement reached is based on good old fashioned compromise. There will be funding set aside for the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia, $900 million for highways and mass transit, and a new arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Still up in the air is the governor's energy initiative, which would have amounted to a $5.40 surcharge on your monthly electric bill to pay for alternative energy research. Lawmakers have announced plans to meet on the energy bill in a special session.

In all, 25,000 state employees were affected by the less-than-24-hour furlough, and lost more than $3 million in the process. Still, the governor and legislators are smiling, and for now, all's well in the Keystone State.

Tomorrow, as the poet said, brings its own fresh Hell.

PA Budget Impasse Forces State Shutdown

Monday, July 9, 2007 – At 12:01 AM today, most Pennsylvania state offices and services shut down, and thousands of non-essential employees were furloughed. The fight, as you may have heard, is over the legislature’s failure to pass a state budget which includes several key provisions on energy, mass transit and highway funding that Governor Ed Rendell considers deal breakers.

One of the major sticking points is a $5.40 surcharge on residential electric bills to support an $850 million fund to explore renewable and alternative energy. GOP lawmakers consider this a new tax on Pennsylvania homeowners, especially, they say, since the state is currently enjoying a surplus, and have drawn a line in the sand.. The Governor stood firm, reiterating his claim that finding alternative sources of energy will pay dividends for everyone in the long run.

“The energy policy should not be holding these people hostage,” said Republican State Representative Bill Adolph of Delaware County. “We have a $650 million surplus. There is no budget crisis.”

Similar cries have risen from GOP quarters throughout the state, blaming Rendell for not giving in, and essentially denying 25,000 state workers a living, albeit temporarily. Roughly 52,000 state employees, whose positions are deemed “critical” will continue to work. State police, prison guards, veteran’s services, the PA National Guard, health and welfare departments are among those critical jobs.

Interestingly, the shutdown will not effect the state’s five slot parlors, liquor stores, and lottery system, which are open for the duration. A quick rundown:

Open

Food and animal safety inspections

Birth and death certificate processing

Food stamps, cash assistance, and health care for the poor

Unemployment compensation and workers compensation processing

Hospital and nursing home inspections

Slot parlors

State police patrols

Liquor stores

Lottery

Closed

Permits for mining, oil and gas well drilling

State parks and campgrounds

Driver’s license and motor vehicle registration offices

Grant programs

Museums and Historic sites

Civil service testing

As the story changes hour by hour, we’ll keep you up to date with addendums and post scripts on the developments. Check out our blog, Watercooler Whiners, for updates. Until then, go buy a bottle of booze and a lottery ticket, and drop a few quarters in the local slot machines.

Next Time, Get It On eBay

Philadelphia made the national news reports once again; and once again, not for anything good. John F. Street, our beloved lame duck of a mayor, bless his heart, spent last Friday sitting in the rain since 3 AM, in line for a new iPhone with the rest of the techno geeks.

Big deal, right? Wrong. While in the larger scheme of things, Street’s gadget vigil doesn’t affect the city’s crime rate or tax base one iota, the public image of a chief executive in a city besieged with troubles sitting around waiting for a new phone got under many Philadelphians’ skin. To the mayor’s surprise, ordinary citizens got up in his face and gave him an earful, in full view of local and national news cameras.

One woman read Street the riot act for not being at his post during business hours. Identifying herself as a former city employee, she said that when she worked for the city, she couldn’t even leave her desk to run out to the dollar store, and yet he can sit here all night and all day on the taxpayers dime. Street seemed genuinely shocked that the woman would confront him face-to-face, and mumbled a lame-sounding defense about working while sitting in line, having sent his first official city-related e-mail at 4 AM.

The problem is that the mayor is right, but completely misses the point. Of course, he can do work from anywhere - using his handheld device to make calls, send and answer e-mails and faxes, and keep up with his appointment schedule. It’s perfectly logical that he could be productive and engaged in city business while sitting in the rain three blocks from City Hall. But we’re talking about public perceptions here, not practical reality.

In a city where the murder rate is rising faster than the summer temperatures, and where residents and tourists alike fear venturing anywhere outside of Center City, perception is reality.