The Larry Kane Report

Two people have changed the culture of corruption in this area and their careers are forever linked. It was hard charging U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan who launched a wide ranging investigation into City Hall corruption. Meehan’s investigation changed the entire area’s view on corruption, in essence helping to elect a reform Mayor like Mike Nutter.

Nutter sensed the mood and used the John Street administration as a target of his campaign. That, and his tough stance on crime, helped propel him to victory. Now, Nutter has chosen three experts in fighting corruption, who all worked for Meehan, to top posts in his administation. Their job: weed out corruption and keep things clean in the new regime,

What a brilliant stroke. It shows Nutter’s genuine talent to find qualified people. It also is a great testament to the work of Patrick Meehan.

It doesn’t take a genius to realize that John Street, never charged witha  crime, was in apparent denial of the problems of his administration, insisting at times that Meehan’s investigation was politically motivated.

Street underestimated the wide swath of Meehan’s investigation. The politicians and the experts underestimated the ability of Michael Nutter to be elected.

Now he begins the tough job of seeking real change. He has followed the path that was paved by the prosecutor. And what better way to fulfill the job than by hiring the people, with bright records of honesty and integrity, who helped Pat Meehan get the job done.

Comments(5)

I have been watching reaction to this column for 17 months, and I am always amazed at the fast and sharply emotional reaction to any debate on gun control, especially the one that I raised about the empty suits in the Pa. Legislature who refuse to give Phila. the chance to impose gun restrictions.

It has always been interesting to me that the stories of murder on the streets get little or no reaction, and that’s because the people who are not there, the people who are not living in fear, seem not to care, unless the killing gets close to them. That is the sad part of America - those who have so much who care so little about those under fire, whether it be serving their country in Iraq or dodging bullets on the streets of a city.

We truly live in the “ME” generation. It is also the “it’s not my problem generation.” It’s enough to make you sick just thinking about it.

I really enjoy reading the letters on both sides of the gun control debate. I just wish that those people who talk about weapons and rights start thinking about the victims, and the killers, and the opportunity to take the weapons of murder away.

The exchanges on this page are welcome and important.

I just wish we had as much reaction to the killings as we do to the arguments over guns.

When we stop feeling for the victims, we become a society full of empty promises and more than broken hearts - broken dreams.

Comments(27)

I believe in the Constitution. I support the First Amendment , the rights of free speech, and the protection that it affords my business. I support the Second Amendment, and the right of responsible citizens to bear arms. The rights we have are an important part of the fabric of law in our society.

But there are other rights that are sacred in a civilized society. One of them was stated so well by Philadelphia Mayor-Elect Michael Nutter in a televised debate. The future Mayor said, “I have a right not to be shot.”

So do you!

Recent attempts to pass LIMITED and special  legislation in Pennsylvania legislature couldn’t even get out of committee because of two powerful forces in the state – rural lawmakers and the powerful gun lobby. Even rare testimony by Governor Ed Rendell couldn’t push the legislators to consider bills that would allow communities plagued by harsh gun crime to stiffen up their gun control laws JUST in their geographical sectors.

There is no doubt that such laws would lower the murder rate in Philadelphia and other cities ravaged by violent criminals.

But for now, the legislators said “no.”

For his part, Rendell said he would continue the fight. That could mean he might campaign against legislators who oppose this very limited form of gun control.

In the meantime, powerful forces continue to preach law and order, but they are shameless cowards when it comes to living by their words.

They have a right to be obstructionists in the fight against evil.

They, like you, have a right not to be shot.

Comments(24)

You are about to witness a nail-biting drama of epic proportions, one that may sway back and forth for the next 60 days. New national polls suggest that top-tier Republicans now lead Hillary Clinton in a head to head match up. No surprise here. This is a fickle electorate, fed up with most of the choices, longing for something new after 7 years of government by decree. The voters dislike Bush, but they also have a long memory of the Clinton years, and not such fond ones at that,

Voters are also blaming a rather lackluster Democratic congressional leadership for the fact that we are still mired in war, with our economy at a breaking point. As I said previously, we are moving back quickly to homegrown issues like education, social security and the biggest of all, money.

What is missing in this campaign is new ideas. My suggestion to the candidates: cut the pontificating and fire the pollsters. Do what Obama is doing in Iowa –get together with and listen to small groups of people. The people will tell you a lot more about this country than you know.

Listening is a powerful tool.

Hillary Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, and the other wannabees would be wise to listen to a people’s debate about the issues.

Let me be the first to suggest that one of the networks broadcast a series of town forums called, “The People Speak.” We need open microphones and unlimited time to listen to what people are saying. Pollsters give you stats. They rarely give you the reasons why people are thinking like they do. This could follow the format of the Next Mayor and Great Expectations project at the Philadelphia newspapers.

If Clinton , Obama, Guiliani, McCain, Romney and Edwards want to win badly enough, they will make listening their first priority.

The people need to set the campaign agenda, which is so far muddled in re-branded old thinking, promises of more spending, and Republican candidates who flip their views on a moment’s notice.

It is time for the contenders to shut up for a while, and let the voters debate the issues in open forum.

Comments(4)

It’s early in the morning, and after the drama of the Eagles versus the Patriots, I feel better than I thought I would. After all, the Vegas bet makers (whoever they are) had it all wrong. A season of frustration turned on a valiant and talented group of football players who were supposed to get crushed, but almost burst the balloon of the giants of the game this season.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This area’s emotions run a wide range during football season, and losing is not admired around here. But true grit in the face of adversity is. So, watching the game like the rest of you, I got really excited that we not only scared the daylights out of the Brady Bunch, but we almost won it. In a way, despite the quarterback controversy that will begin this morning, and regardless of the frustrations of the fans, and the futility of some of the season, this game made me feel really good. I mean, after all, the real thrill of sports is the unexpected - the Phils passing the Mets in the final months, the Miracle at The Meadowlands, the success of a smaller player like Alan Iverson, the drama on the ice, and the one word that we feed on in this town — hope

In many ways, this game was a turnaround for a team that needed a transfusion of joy. Even when the final seconds ticked away, I felt a sense of victory in the air, a triumph of spirit.

Now for those of you who simply can’t take the agony of defeat, remember always that on November 25, 2007, the Eagles took it hard to the Patriots, with a backup quarterback, a running back (Westbrook) who is a career classic, and a bunch of linemen who made the Patriots look ordinary.

If that is not enough to wake you from your Monday morning funk, I suggest read the news from overseas these days. That will make you appreciate any moment of diversionary sports joy.

The Eagles snatched respect from the jaws of defeat.

Let the quarterback controversy begin!

Comments(5)