Every city in the nation is seeing its tax revenues falling these days because of the GOP/Buch-led recession. There’s no arguing that. Michael Nutter, the Mayor of Philadelphia has had to make some hard choices, one of which is to close some city libraries. Given Michael Nutter’s program for education, I know this was hard for him to swallow. But, as pointed out by Brendan Skwire, there’s some revenue out there, from the Philadelphia Eagles, that is about the amount needed to keep those libraries open. I suppose it is not so simple, but with the Eagles basking in the glow of a big victory yesterday, it might be a good time for them to come forward. Hey, this is all complicated, based in money owed by the former owners of the Eagles, but it just might be time for Jeff Lurie, the Eagles owner, to come forward. From the Philadelphia Daily News:

AMOUNT OF money the city will save by shutting 11 libraries: $8 million.
Amount of money the Eagles have owed the city for years: $8 million.

It’s a tie!

Actually, it’s more than a tie. It’s an outrage. Back in 1985, when the Eagles were struggling financially - yes, back in the olden days, it was possible for an NFL team to be struggling - the city helped out by building sky boxes for the team at the old Vet stadium, and agreed to let the team keep all the revenue for 15 years. After that, the team would pay the city a share of the money.

That money, $8 million, should have come in 2001. It’s seven years later, and the city has yet to see a dime. The city sued the team in 2004 for more than $10 million, including back payments and interest.

The Birds (current value, according to Forbes: $1 billion) maintain that the city caused a canceled exhibition game that led to losses for the team. They apparently feel that the city owes them money, and have countersued. So now that it’s in the courts, there’s no great hurry to settle up. Let the court costs mount up and sooner or later, they probably figure, the city will cry uncle and walk away.

Hmm. As our regular readers know, this blog was started by rabid Eagles fans. I met the owner of this blog, Richard Blair, on the Philadelphia Eagles Message Board. We have our Eagles pedigree, that’s for sure. But it seems to me that there’s a crisis here and the Eagles, good citizens usually, need to step up and abandon their litigation and pay the city what they owe. Brendan is not the only one complaining about this issue. Phillybits, Phawker and even an article on nj.com are calling for the Eagles to step forward.

I’m pleased more than you could say about the Philadelphia Eagles win yesterday. My wife and I were screaming at the TV. I am hardcore, as you may know from my co-founding of an Eagles charity. My loyalty to the Philadelphia Eagles cannot be questioned, but it is possible that Jeff Lurie’s loyalty to Philadelphia can be questioned. though his company works hard against breast cancer through EYP, it seems to me they are quibbling about legalistic fine points in denying the City of Philadelphia revenue they desperately need.

It is time for this old debt of the Philadelphia Eagles be solved to the benefit of the kids of Philadelphia. Hey, Jeff Lurie, please think of the kids, think of your city, think of the need of people in these dark economic times. forget your phalanx of lawyers and pay up the obligations you incurred upon buying the team that has made you so very much money. Hey, and when you do these good things, maybe that will be the karma we need to make it to the playoffs this year.