4 minute read
EDITOR’S NOTE
JENNY DEHUFF
Editor-in-chief
Advertisement
EDITOR’S NOTE
A FEW PEOPLE who helped shape my early career are no longer around anymore, and I’ll never be able to repay my debts to them. One person stands out to me. He was my first mentor and desk mate at The Bulletin – the second iteration of the old Philadelphia Evening Bulletin – the largest circulation newspaper in the city for nearly 100 years. His name was Jim McCaffrey, a big, soft-hearted, pony-tailed spiritualist who gave me great advice on how to navigate the city’s murky political waters as a cub reporter fresh out of college and new on the Philadelphia scene.
McCaffrey, who I affectionately called, “Caff,” showed me how to cut through the crap of frequently handed out press releases and go for the real story. He taught me so much in such a short time that I never felt like I got to thank him fully. He passed away seven years ago this past August. He was 59.
It’s willful, open and straight-shooting people like Caff that we need more of in life. A good mentoring relationship is a two-way street: It relies on the mentee showing interest, paying attention, asking questions, giving feedback and showing improvement. The person giving the advice has to have enthusiasm, empathy, a good attitude, an interest in their mentee and a belief in their mentee’s ability to grow, to learn and to develop.
We’ve seen a lot of the opposite of that lately in cities like mine, where riding your dirt bike or ATV down the middle of a sidewalk or city street is more the type of thing that’s glamorized and celebrated.
And when the lukewarm response to behaviors like this from some of our elected officials amounts to C’est la vie, it doesn’t inspire much hope for the future.
The people named in our Fifty Over 50 list are featured here for a good reason: They have been inspirations to others, cornerstones of their communities and catalysts for change. They know about resilience, responsibility, integrity, critical thinking, and having a clear vision and a strong voice. Unlike our previous lists, this one is not ranked, and those who are named were either nominated or carefully selected by our editorial board.
Also within this issue, we feature Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, the first woman to hold the position in the General Assembly’s 244year history. She opens up about her party’s petition for an audit of last year’s general election, how she handles the arguments surrounding child sex abuse survisors as well as her battle with breast cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so don’t forget to tell a woman in your life you appreciate her – especially if she led you to your own path of success.
SUBSCRIBE TO
From Philly to Erie, local politics coverage that goes the distance
First Read provides Pennsylvania’s lawmakers, power leaders, and influencers with the most relevant and impactful news at the start of each weekday.
Get all the news that matters most to PA politics and policy straight to your inbox!
Scan to subscribe for free
Compiled by CITY & STATE Compiled by CITY & STATE TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021
WEATHER: Philadelphia: partly sunny, high of 79; Harrisburg: mostly cloudy, high of 78; Pittsburgh: mostly cloudy, high of 76.WEATHER: Philadelphia: partly sunny, high of 79; Harrisburg: mostly cloudy, high of 78; Pittsburgh: mostly cloudy, high of 76.
FROM CITY & STATE
* Republican state Rep. Jim Cox has introduced legislation that would FROM CITY & STATE the unemployment programs provided by the CARES Act while aiming to motivate unemployment claimants to find jobs by offering them a c bonus for finding work. * Republican state Rep. Jim Cox has introduced legislation that would the unemployment programs provided by the CARES Act NEW THIS MORNING: motivate unemployment claimants to find jobs by offering them a c * Republican leaders of the state House of Representatives threatened last bonus for finding work. Friday to impeach Philadelphia elections officials if they count ballots from the May 18 primary, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports
NEW THIS MORNING:
* With the state’s wide-open races for governor and U.S. Senate taking shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Donald Trump are running and considered strong contenders for the party’s nominations, * Republican leaders of the state House of Representatives threatened last ated Press reports. Friday to impeach Philadelphia elections officials if they count * Democratic state Rep. Amen Brown is crafting legislation to permanently ballots from the May 18 primary, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports get rid of a $5 copay state prison inmates are required to pay for medi cal care after prison officials said inmates had avoided COVID-19 tests because of the fee, NBC Philadelphia reports. * With the state’s wide-open races for governor and U.S. Senate taking shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Donald Trump are running * People receiving unemployment are concerned about the state’s planned and considered strong contenders for the party’s nominations, weeklong shutdown of the online unemployment claims system for overhaul, Spotlight PA reports. ated Press reports.
