Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
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Also this issue: Paki-Slammed Play Missy for Me Over the Rainbow Sins of the Fathers Fisher Swims Free for Now |
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July 12-18, 2002
political notebook
Remembering Buddy
Last Saturday, final respects were paid to political enigma Henry “
Buddy” Cianfrani,
who died on July 3 from complications from a stroke. Buddy had been the subject of numerous columns in Political Notebook since it first began in 1994.
A familiar fixture at Seventh and Fitzwater for many years, Buddy was known for getting candidates elected and providing advice on how and when to run for office. He was the leader of the 2nd Ward as well as a political consultant. His consulting firm, Cianfrani and Associates, was located at the satellite office of state Rep.
Babette Josephs
at Seventh and Passyunk.
But most business was conducted at
Stanley Pizza’s
coffee shop at Seventh and Fitzwater, where Buddy held court early in the morning. Stanley’s Coffee Shop was the official headquarters for the 2nd Ward until the summer of 1995, when Pizza decided to sell the business.
So Buddy moved across the street to 737 Fitzwater, which he named Green’s Town Watch, after Sheriff
John Green
. It later became Brady’s Town Watch, after U.S. Rep and Democratic City Chairman
Bob Brady
. Buddy got Pizza a job at Traffic Court.
At the new clubhouse, Buddy installed a cushy couch for guests and brushed up on his cooking skills. His specialty was meatballs, and the savvy judicial candidate would bring Sarcone’s bread for sandwiches.
Buddy’s forte in the last 10 years had been helping judicial candidates get elected.
Here are some of his highlights in this column in the last eight years.
Top Dawg in South Philly
Who has more power in South Philly? Buddy or state Sen. Vincent Fumo.
Most people say that Buddy made Fumo a senator and that it was Buddy who could get the vote out and get candidates elected. If you hired Buddy, your chances were good that you would be elected.
Buddy and Steve Lopez
In 1997, former Inquirer columnist Steve Lopez released a novel titled The Sunday Macaroni Club. The protagonist in the tome is Augie Sangiamino, whose background parallels Buddy’s -- a former senator turned political consultant.
Buddy knew he was the subject of Lopez’s book and decided to attend Lopez’s book signing at Borders. “I wanted my cut, and if the book makes it to Hollywood, I wanted input as a consultant,” said Buddy, who went to Borders and received a standing ovation.
Buddy’s Birthdays
In 1998, before Buddy was diagnosed with cancer, he celebrated numerous parties for his 75th birthday.
He made an appearance at the Pen & Pencil Club for an Off-the-Record Session and brought along his granddaughters. The line to get in was out the door.
Later, Buddy’s friends gave him a party upstairs at the Club, where Buddy’s contemporaries packed the joint.
A week later, then Mayor Ed Rendell, John Street, who was president of City Council at the time, and Tom Kelly hosted a splashier party for Buddy at the Rittenhouse Hotel, where 300 guests paid $250 to get in the door. The guest speaker was U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
Buddy the Entrepreneur
Buddy was probably one of the few Democrats that maintained good relationships with Republicans and supported what he considered to be good Republican candidates, such as Specter, former Gov. Tom Ridge and state Treasurer Barbara Hafer.
This annoyed City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione, also a ward leader, who circulated a petition around the Democratic City Committee to have Buddy removed as ward leader.
No one signed.
What will happen to Buddy’s ward?
Buddy suffered the stroke, which took its toll weeks later, on primary day. While recuperating, he had been elected again as ward leader, and his ward chair, Tony Palmiere, beat out Ed Nesmith, a contract specialist in Hafer’s office. Palmiere has been ward chair for 10 years. “Buddy left me instructions,” said Palmiere, who is still quite shaken. “He was like a father to me.”
Until this week, Palmiere worked as a legislative assistant for Josephs out of the building where Cianfrani and Associates was housed. “I have lost most of the 2nd Ward to reapportionment,” said Josephs.
She said that since most of the 2nd Ward falls under state Rep. Marie Lederer, she does not have the funding to maintain the satellite office, but she says she’ll still keep her central office on Walnut Street.
Palmiere also said it is too soon to discuss what will happen to Brady’s Town Watch and Buddy’s office.
The Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival kicks off Thursday, July 11, for 13 days of films and parties.
Highlights include the presentation of the Artistic Achievement Award to actress Jennifer Tilly on Saturday night at the Prince Theater and a benefactor party on Friday with actor, writer and director Steve Guttenberg at this reporter’s apartment to promote his new film, P.S. Your Cat Is Dead.
Political consultant Christopher Dezzi, 29, is home recovering from surgery. He had six hernias removed and stomach reconstruction last week at Jefferson Hospital, but he expects to be back in action again soon.
