OK, fair is fair: We’ve been harshing on the Dude a lot lately. But let’s not lose sight of things: Nutter inherited a world of hurt here and is, we are confident, just trying to do the best thing. So before you freak out on him at these town hall meetings coming up, remember something that is kind of getting lost in the shuffle: Dude went down to DC to bang on doors for federal money. And given all these reports about how the incoming Obama cabinet is the most citified, urban-concerned bunch in the last wedontevenknowhowlong, he just might get it.

In the past three weeks, Philadelphia, New York and other cities have announced cuts to services as revenues hit by the economic slowdown create budget deficits. Philadelphia will lay off about 220 city employees, and shut libraries and swimming pools to close a $108 million gap in its current $4 billion budget.

“We who run some of America’s larger cities are dealing with the economic damage wrought by the credit and housing crises,” the letter says. “The economic contraction precipitated by these twin crises is forcing us, and mayors all over the country, to dramatically reduce programs and services for millions of residents we serve.”

Also, we promise that for the rest of the day, we’ll only post FUN THINGS. All of this politicking is cramping our style. We begin it all with this reprise of Dude’s head on the body of one Matthew McConaughey. Breathe deep. We’re gonna be OK. We’re all in this together. We’re not howlies. We’re brahs.
Update: OK, so fun things seem to be kind of hard to find today. But we’re working on it.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 2:04 pm.