Phantom Fattah

In case you had not noticed, U. S Congressman Chaka Fattah is running for his 10th term and, again, it is virtually without any opposition.  Some have described this seat as the “softest deal in the U,.S. Congress” for he has to do almost nothing to get reelected, and in fact he does almost nothing from year to year.

 

Only at election time does he surface from his career in socializing with the area elite and then he distributes millions in taxpayer dollars, mostly to entities that are run by those same folks from the hierarchy of area universities, research hospitals, and organizations that on the surface seem to have economic and social credibility.  I guess we are to assume that the taxpayer dollars will “trickle down” to that vast percentage of the unemployed and underemployed in this city and its surrounds that are his district.

 

Let’s take a minute and define that the 2nd Congressional District has been redrawn to remove Cheltenham and nearby suburbs north of the city, but now does include Lower Merion and Narberth West of the city.  In addition the boundaries of West and South Philadelphia are modified slightly but in general it includes those communities West of Broad Street. Clearly, Congressman Fattah has the responsibility to focus on the needs of a significant portion of Philadelphia and some of those communities certainly could use fresh business development and permanent jobs, not just those that result from sprinkling political WAM at election time or “stimulus money” that, after skimming, builds nothing permanent.

 

Yes, after two more years of relative silence, Congressman Fattah began buying votes with tax dollars again when the Spring primary got underway. Although he lives only 1 mile from central Germantown, one of the communities that could most use direct intervention with proposed redevelopments, I wonder if anyone has ever seen him a Germantown and Chelten?  How about Broad and Erie or 52nd and Baltimore?  No, he will most often be found clicking glasses at the Art Museum or social gatherings with the City’s most notable.  In fact much of the money he distributes helps keep them and their associates in guaranteed subsidized jobs with six figure salaries.

 

Now, we need higher education, research, and think tanks that study how to best serve the citizens needs, but right now that greatest need is at the other end of the economic spectrum. I would ask Congressman Fattah to look out the window of that commuter train that takes him from East Falls through North Philadelphia and then from the window of the Acela Express on his way to Washington and see all the abandoned and dilapidated industrial areas that stand unused, employing no one and generating no tax base for the city, state or federal government. He has been part of the political machine that destroyed what was once a vibrant and self-supporting city by taxing most of it out of existence. Today what is left of this city employs many suburban types in tax exempt skyscrapers often built with federal subsidies and tax abatements.  

 

Of course the above is a rhetorical question, as Chaka Fattah will never ride that commuter train, likely does not use the Acela, and despite getting elected nine times on his name only, seems to have little real concern for rebuilding opportunity for those very same folks his family was dedicated to.

 

He has moved on.  Those voters should do the same.

 

Jim Foster

Editor