It's Time for Philadelphians to Step Up For Councilman Goode

You know, I've been watching this whole "Wilson Goode, Jr. thing" very closely, as many as you have and, in my opinion, it's way past the time for that issue to be over; I mean, really over, as in back to the Councilman and the media focusing on critically needed, constituent-based legislation.

Let me say for the record, that I believe that W. Wilson Goode, Jr. is one of those rare, African-American elected officials who has figured out how to command respect and make critical input across the entire legislative agenda without sacrificing, one bit, his commitment to speak for, and create legislation to serve, the needs of historically underserved black voters. He has, arguably, been the most productive City Council member, over the past eight years, on a wide number of mostly economic issues. Maybe that's why the Councilman always ranks among the highest vote-getters, overall, in Councilmanic elections and, certainly, why he has consistently been able to attract the greatest number of African-American votes among all City Council candidates.

All of that being said, in June, Jeff Cole, the local Fox-TV affiliate's investigative reporter, started out to do a story about whether Latrice Bryant, chief legislative assistant for Councilman Goode, had been improperly signing her time sheets in Goode's City Council office. When the reporter, who is apparently a credible journalist, visited City Council chambers in late September to ask Bryant questions, in person, she refused to be interviewed and was followed by him in City Hall. Recognizing that his employee was not comfortable being followed by the reporter, and a cameraman, Councilman Goode stepped in and said to Cole: "Don't you ever disrespect a black woman like that again."

For many black men and women across the city, I'm sure, the Councilman's action was seen as chivalrous and the right thing to do. I have absolutely no doubt that in barbershops all over the City, black men were assuring each other that, if THEY had been the Councilman and that same thing had happened to one of THEIR employees, they would have said and done the same thing. To Fox29 and to most of the members of the local journalism community, however, Goode's statement was akin to waving a red cape in the face of an already enraged bull. It was probably seen as a challenge to their collective First Amendment rights and they, as a group, and as a local profession, became "righteously indignant."

The whole issue moved quickly to another level, and Fox was able to score an even bigger and more sensational story, when Ms. Bryant decided, following the incident, to hold up the two, now-infamous signs in Council Chambers, alleging racist intent by Cole and by the t.v. station.

At that point, all hell had officially broken loose.

Local print outlets, by now in a self-righteous frenzy, all weighed in with their own coverage. In short order, editorial pages, with their opinion pieces, op-ed columns and political cartoons, joined the fray. In the following weeks, other columnists -- black and white -- jumped in to make it clear that there was complete media solidarity on this issue. One reporter even went so far as to lodge an official complaint with the City's Human Relations Commission.

In most of the stories, one of the biggest issues seemed to be reporters' almost universal unwillingness to accept that $90,000 might be reasonable compensation for Ms. Bryant, a relatively young black woman in a City Council office.

Subsequently, the TV station was able to obtain, apparently from a former friend of the Councilman, what were presented as "suggestive" photos of him and Ms. Bryant, vacationing in Jamaica. As far as I know, vacations with friends, who share professional, business or political offices, are not prohibited by law in Philadelphia. And if it is done, it's not really any of our business, even if we are taxpayers. These were also dated photos and, certainly, constituted “old news,”at best. But there they were, offered up as further proof that Wilson Goode Jr. and Latrice Bryant had done, and were doing, something terribly wrong and that they "had to go."

I had spoken a few times to the Councilman, over this period, to ask him if I could be helpful in any way in the issue. He seemed to believe, however, that Philadelphians, in their infinite wisdom and fairness, would eventually recognize that he had done nothing wrong, that his chief legislative assistant had apologized for her transgressions, that he had corrected the time sheet procedures in his office, and that city residents and local media outlets would balance this one, ill-advised incident against an entire career of good work, and the controversy would be quickly ended.

Earlier this week, however, I received a call from a friend of mine -- a guy named Tom Massaro, who served as City Housing Director under Mayor Bill Green. Massaro, who grew up in public housing in Newark, New Jersey, and I, who grew up in public housing in Philadelphia, have almost always been on the same side of public issues. I'd be the first to admit, though, that in most of those issues, Tom does a great deal more "heavy lifting" inside City Hall, sharing his years of experience with elected officials who seek it and need it.

Tom, by the way, does all of this while fighting his own long-running personal health challenges. But, that's another story.

In any event, Tom said that the "Wilson Goode thing" had definitely not been put to rest, that some of his long-running associates had not spoken to him since the Fox-TV stories broke, that even some of his Council colleagues have not called, and have been skittish, lately, about joining him in important legislative initiatives, since the "negative stories" have surfaced.

None of that is very good for our City.

As part of a larger, national, economic crisis, Philadelphia’s Mayor's Office is now in the process of adjusting the City's five-year budget projection to reflect what now looks to be an $850 million deficit. That implies that there will be city layoffs, program cuts, and service reductions. I believe these are all issues wherein W. Wilson Goode, Jr. can bring value to our city.

Hey, what's news is news, and I'm certainly not one who is opposed to valid news coverage. I am, at the same time, very much opposed to frivolous news coverage, “old news,” or unnecessarily damaging, "vendetta" news coverage, when there are so many more important issues that really deserve coverage and political attention.

If you agree that we need to get over this whole "Wilson Goode thing" and get back to business, if you believe that the Councilman has done creditable work in City Council, to date, and that he still has much to offer in the way of legislative expertise to our city, send him a letter, a fax, an e-mail or give him a call to let him know that. I think he'd certainly appreciate it.

Also take a few minutes to send similar expressions of support for Councilman Goode to local media outlets, print and broadcast. The purpose would not be to be argumentative or contentious, but to let them know, in no uncertain terms, that you do support the Councilman and all that he has done for this City over a long career of public service. In your correspondence, encourage both the Councilman and the TV station to "get over" this minor problem, and to get back to work on the bigger issues, without bearing grudges on either side. You may be surprised at just how much good that will do. Neither the Councilman nor the tv station can survive without your support.

Oh, and while you're at it, take some time to say a silent prayer that Tom Massaro will beat back his lingering health problems. He also needs our support, even though, like Wilson Goode, he'd never publicly admit it.



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