December 23-29, 2004

political notebook

Ho! Ho! Ho!

by Mary F. Patel

Will city Managing Director Phil Goldsmith be the next to leave Mayor John Street's cabinet? That rumor made the rounds during the annual Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers holiday party last Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at The Bellevue ballroom and sparked discussion about his potential replacement.

Goldsmith did not attend the party, but neither did any other official working under the mayor -- for good reason. The new Board of Ethics, created by an executive order from Street, prohibits city officers and employees from receiving gifts or invitations to free parties from those who have a relationship with the city. (Klehr's founding partner, Len Klehr, is a contributor to Street and sits on his finance committee.)

When asked later about his rumored resignation, Goldsmith said it was not true.

While current political types weren't there, former Commerce Director Jim Cuorato, who left his post last January and is now project executive at Brandywine Realty Trust, had a tremendous time at the Mardi Gras-themed party. He didn't appear to miss City Hall in the least.

That same night, the Bald Ball was in full swing over at Toto's. The event was a fund raiser for both the Wellness Community, a cancer support group, and Locks of Love, a nonprofit that provides hairpieces to children who have lost their hair through illness.

Deputy City Representative Bonnie Grant, a breast-cancer survivor, was the spokeswoman, along with Philadelphia Film Society Managing Director Thom Cardwell, who came up with the event concept. Twelve-year-old Janet Riggens of Philadelphia donated 10 inches of her hair that night.

While the event was upbeat -- about $4,000 was raised -- these are bittersweet times at the restaurant as, after a 21-year run on Locust Street, Toto Schiavone will close the doors for the last time Dec. 28.

Combined Christmas/fund-raising parties continued into last Friday when Daily News columnist Jenice Armstrong hosted a holiday event at Suite 450 for BEBASHI, a full-service HIV/AIDS case management agency serving the city's black community for almost 20 years.

The party was also an unveiling of the Sexy Singles Calendar, featuring the subjects that appeared in the Daily News last summer. Singles such as Philadelphia Style Executive Editor Susan Stapleton were on hand, but the calendars never made it.

Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club co-chairs Renee Gilinger and Michael Marsico continue to break new barriers for their organization.

Last Saturday night at Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal's Christmas party, U.S. Rep. and Democratic City Chairman Bob Brady remarked that the co-chairs had become a couple. Their relationship evolved over the last few months and Marsico said he expects no adverse reaction from Liberty City.

"Our efforts with the community speak for themselves," said Marsico, who was the lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT) outreach director for the Democratic Party's PA Victory 2004. The couple, who have put the "B" back in LGBT, are off to Venezuela for Christmas.

Among the guests at Segal's house were Gov. Ed Rendell and his wife, Midge, former Mayor Wilson Goode, Mayor Street and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, who was recognized by Segal for the high court's recent ruling on domestic partnership. On Dec. 6, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the city has the authority to provide benefits to same-sex partners of city employees, reversing the Commonwealth Court ruling that the city lacked the authority. The city had been providing these benefits since City Council passed the domestic partner ordinance in 1998 and then-Mayor Rendell signed it into law.

On Sunday, Dr. Edwin P. Camiel and his wife, Judith, hosted their annual Christmas party, along with daughter Kristin, at their Merion home.

Ed Camiel -- a psychiatric consultant who has evaluated the psyches of death-row criminals like Gary Heidnik -- is the nephew of former Democratic Party Chairman Peter Camiel. Guests included Camiel's cousin, Common Pleas Court Judge Allan Tereshko, who is up for a federal judgeship, and Michael Foglietta, nephew of the late U.S. Rep. Tom Foglietta. Foglietta, there with his wife, Debbie, said he is ready to move from Radnor back to the city and dive into politics.

Political Notebook hits the 10-year mark this month. You can hear Mary as a guest on Sen. Bob Rovner Talks to the Stars on 950 WPEN-AM Dec. 25 at 5 p.m.