Read It and Weep

So the housing market is cooling, and some developers are putting their plans for still more luxury condos on hold. What people should be talking about is the news that Philadelphia has a larger percentage of persons living in poverty than any other city in America. One of every four city residents -- twice the national average -- is poor. And it's not getting better: Philadelphia's median income has dropped four percent in the past three years, after accounting for inflation. So lots of people who aren't doing so well to begin with are getting poorer.

The 2007 mayoral campaign has already begun. Let's see what the many candidates now running have to say about this issue. It can't all be about Center City and the people who can afford to live there. Hey, maybe all those heavy hitters who were so willing to sign on to the effort to get the Olympics to Philadelphia can spend some time on this issue. Well, a guy can dream, can't he?