Report: Ramsey to Retire
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. AP | Matt Rourke
Good morning, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey will reportedly announce his retirement today.
The Nutter Administration has alerted the press to a “major public safety announcement” today, and the Daily News reports that Ramsey, 65, will announce his intent to retire at the end of the year.
Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Kenney is expected to win next month’s election, and to pick Ramsey’s successor. “Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross has long been viewed by department insiders as the likely successor to Ramsey,” the Daily News reports. “But other candidates, including SEPTA Police Chief Tom Nestel, could emerge as well.”
Police are still investigating the death of a 3-year-old Haddon Township boy.
The boy, Brendan Link Creato, was reported missing from an apartment building at 6 a.m. Tuesday; his body was found at 9 a.m. “The cause of death remains under investigation, and further details have not been disclosed,” AP reports. “Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy.”
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful boy Brendan Creato,” his mother, Samantha Denoto, said in a statement released to the public. “Along with the Creato family, who also lost a son and grandson, we are grieving and tremendously saddened.”
Pennsylvania schools may have to start shutting down soon if the state doesn’t pass a budget.
“Funds are running out so fast in Erie, the state’s fourth-largest city, that the schools could shut down by November 1,” the Atlantic reports. “The school board last month unanimously authorized this previously unthinkable option. If the money runs dry, Erie would consider requiring its 12,000 students to stay home for a week or two.”
Yes, Philadelphia is also feeling a big pinch: “Throughout the state, Pennsylvania school districts had already borrowed more than $346 million—led by Philadelphia, which borrowed $275 million—to make payroll and fund basic services as of September 29, the state Auditor General reported.”
A Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice ensnared in the “Porngate” scandal is very sorry.
“I sincerely apologize for such content,” Justice Michael Eakin wrote in a statement released Tuesday. “Those who know me understand the items chosen for release do not reflect my character or beliefs, nor have they ever been part of my consideration of any case or business of the court.” The Judicial Conduct Board is investigating. (ABC27)
ESPN ranked all 122 major pro league franchises. The Phillies came in 118th.
It’s the fifth straight year the Phillies have dropped in the rankings, but this decline — 35 spots lower than last year — is particularly ugly. The situation isn’t hopeless, ESPN says: “Some big contracts are about to come off the books, and the combination of a new $2.5 billion deal with Comcast SportsNet, payroll flexibility and a budding farm system could bode well for the coming years.”
No Philly franchise ranked in the top half of the list, by the way. The Eagles came in at 79, followed by the Flyers at 81, and the 76ers at 98. Only one other city with teams in all four sports failed to place a single team in the upper half of the rankings: New York. Both of that city’s MLB teams made this year’s playoffs — before the rankings were calculated — which means that Philly, for now, is the reigning king of mediocre sports.
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