PA in the WSJ

This is a list of articles regarding Pennsylvania in this week's Wall Street Journal. Chances are I missed something, but these are the articles that caught my eye.

It should be noted that I routinely do not read the editorials in the WSJ. So any discussions of the state, its elected officials, businesses, or citizens, in editorials will not be mentioned here.

PA Politicians

Our folks were quiet this week, perhaps home talking with constituents.

PA Businesses

Oh, dear. “In the McDog house?,” by Ryan Chittum, Jennifer S. Forsyth, and Michael Corkery (8/15), has Robert Toll of Toll Brothers saying the reason why nearly 25% of people buying the homes Toll builds prefer to list their income and assets rather than provide documentation of them is “they’re lying, cheating dogs not paying their taxes.” Company spokesmen later said the comments were tongue in cheek. Also foot in mouth.

An interesting tidbit from “March of the inconvenient truths,” by Sam Schechner (8/17), especially considering the news this week that two film studios or film related businesses might locate in the Philly area:

Christina Weiss Lurie, a philanthropist and co-owner of the Philadephia Eagles, says she has invested in the “mid six figures” on two documentaries in progress, one about Iraq and another on Nigerian oil. Rather than aiming for a profit, “It’s much more about having an impact on the national conversation,” she says.

Sounds like blogging!

Brief mentions: Cozen O’Connor, Philadelphia law firm (8/13)

Foamex, based in Linwood (8/17)

Other PA

Philadelphia is mentioned several times in “Wireless – without strings attached,” by Amol Sharma (8/16). The article says that Philadelphia’s wireless project is running 30% over budget.

Philadelphia again in “Home inequity,” by Ruth Simon (8/16). The article is on “jumbo” mortgages, those for over the $417K guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We find this sentence:

Linda Baron, an agent with Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors in the Philadelphia suburb of Blue Bell, Pa., says she has seen some of the more expensive homes in her area come off the market and prices for others drop in response to the recent uptick in jumbo rates.

Later in the article the ubiquitous Moody’s Economy.com is mentioned. (They were quoted elsewhere this week also but I've misplaced that note.)

Other Interesting Tidbits

Bad news for women in politics, “Women’s march into office slows,” by June Kronholz (8/15)