The Best Thing That Happened This Week
Michael Nutter at the announcement of Charles Ramsey’s retirement on October 14, 2015. Photograph by Matt Rourke/Associated Press
This is a big, big city. It’s always busy. We’ve got places to go and people to see. And this is Philly, remember. Sure, there’s an election in a few weeks, but nothing ever really changes. Another guy’s butt planted in the mayor’s chair. BFD.
But there was a moment Monday that tweaked our perception of the bleak, clanking bureaucracy of City Hall. Michael Nutter, standing at a podium after Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey announced his retirement following eight long years of trying to keep a lid on our drug runners and wife-beaters and murderers and arsonists and robbers and rapists, gave a nice little speech. “Philadelphia is, was and will be very, very lucky to benefit from the talent and dedication … “ Yada yada yada. And then—hold on. Is he crying? Hey, the Mayor is crying: “Thank you for coming to Philadelphia. Thank you for making my city a safer city. … ” And as cynical as you are—this is Philly—you get a little teary, too. Damn, the man really cares.
