Frank Rizzo Leadership

In the history of mayoral politics relationship with the press, no one had a complete control of the media such as former Philadelphia mayor Frank Lazzaro Rizzo (1920-1991). Before elected as mayor, Rizzo had ties with the Philadelphia press as police commissioner. Rizzo relations with the press were strong due to past events evolving the press, live or no coverage, and the effectiveness/disaster of his relationship with them. Rizzo, like anyone from his generation, took care of people including the press. He viewed them as hard workers being underpaid under hard conditions. “...he took on reporters as hard working guys who had pretty tough taskmasters to please: irascible city editors. They were underpaid and very overworked…I think he sort of identified with them because he considered himself to be a hard-working average guy and that’s what he considered reporters to be…(Pag130131)”. Rizzo had respect for some of the press especially with city events.

One of the reasons Rizzo had a strong relationship with the media were city events occurred during his tenure as mayor. In Rizzo’s first year as mayor, the police department was investigated for corruption by Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, Ken Pollack. Pollack had tapes, photos, and witnesses of bribes taken by police. This was during Rizzo’s last year as police commissioner. Rizzo was shocked but 42 policemen were arrested. Rizzo replied that he had several senior policemen work with District Attorney Arlen Specter in probing the corruptive cops. Rizzo felt betrayed because he always had fair treatment of the press. Another reason Rizzo had a strong relationship with the media has his handling of the press in the past. Rizzo always pampered thee press. Rizzo gave the access to police records at the main district headquarters in Philadelphia called “the Roundhouse”. During Christmas season, Rizzo invited the reporters to one of the fanciest, old restaurant called “Bookbinders”. The press...