You’re Fired; but if You’re a Political Ally’s Child, You’re Hired

For government executives, layoffs indicate managerial failure. Failure is usually attributable to your predecessor if you are newly installed. For a second term executive, the responsibility for failure is on you. Mass firings in government result from poor planning. The advisable and humane way to achieve staffing reductions is through attrition and retirement incentive programs. Unfortunately, after inheriting a $300 million dollar surplus from the Rendell Administration, the Street Administration has announced the imminence of 500 layoffs. However, through a curious alignment of financial priorities, the Street Administration has somehow identified budgetary resources to hire a 19-year-old child of City Councilman Juan F. Ramos - a staunch ally of the current administration.