Ramsey Doesn’t Want Chicago Job

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey poses with other police officers Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pool)

Good morning, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today:

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says he doesn’t want to be Chicago’s top cop.

“My plans are to retire,” Ramsey told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday. “They need someone to run the day-to-day operations of the department. That’s not something I am interested in at this point.” Chicago is looking for a new police chief after Garry McCarthy was fired in the wake of the Laquan McDonald scandal, and Ramsey — who spent a couple of decades on the Chicago force — had been on the shortlist for the job several times in recent decades. Now, though, he’s through with full-time policing. Ramsey did leave one door open, however. “If this (police) oversight group or the mayor’s office wanted my services as a consultant, that I would consider,” he said.

Donald Trump just featured Milton Street at a campaign rally.

Philly Mag’s Holly Otterbein reports: At a Wednesday night campaign rally in Manassas, Virginia, Trump took to the stage with a small group of black ministers … and Milton Street, the former Pennsylvania state senator, ex-con, and perennial mayoral candidate. Later, Trump and Street discussed the Black Lives Matter movement in a question-and-answer session with audience members at the rally. Street asked Trump if he would come to Philadelphia to “address the black community on what we’re going to do about stopping the crime in the black community and black-on-black crime in [the] black community and crime in our schools.”

“I would do that,” Trump said. Then he heaped praise onto Street: “I went to the Wharton School of Finance in Philadelphia. I know Philadelphia well. He is a highly respected, great man in Philadelphia.” Street said he met offstage afterward with Trump. Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taxpayers are picking up $8 million of the tab for Pope Francis’ visit.

The Inquirer reports: “Despite early assurances that the World Meeting of Families would pay all costs for the papal visit, the city said Wednesday that taxpayer dollars would cover nearly half the costs related to the event – about $8 million.” Mayor Nutter said the arrangement is typical of big event productions in the city — and worth it. “I’m very grateful people pay their taxes, and I have to believe in such a diverse city that there are some who are probably not excited about the many walks and runs we have here, but this event highlighted the city of Philadelphia in ways and at levels that are almost unimaginable.”

Tell us if you’ve heard this one before: It looks like Pa. state officials are finally on the verge of a budget deal.

“In the sixth month of a state budget stalemate, lawmakers may make a final push this weekend to agree on the details of historic education funding, expanding the sales tax base, reforming public pensions and making wine and liquor more readily available,” TribLive’s Brad Bumsted writes. “We have to be close,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “We worked through the past weekend. We need a budget soon.” The budget was originally due to be complete in June.

Now he’s a Philly athlete: The Sixers have suspended rookie Jahlil Okafor for two games for his Boston street fighting.

Philly Mag’s Derek Bodner reports: The decision comes on the heels of a second video released by TMZ earlier Wednesday which showed Okafor in a second altercation in Boston, which happened just moments after the one released last week. In addition to the fights captured on video in Boston, Okafor was also involved in an altercation in Philadelphia in the morning of October 4th where Okafor allegedly attempted to punch a heckler through an open car window, and ultimately had a gun pulled on him. In addition, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Okafor was pulled over for going 108 miles per hour over the Ben Franklin Bridge. The Sixers said in a written statement: “We will provide the necessary resources to support him on his journey and will do our part to help him succeed both on and off the court.”

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