The Race To Be Mayor: Philadelphia Style

donybrx · #1 Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:19 PM**

This particular story caught my eye.... fwiw

The race to be mayor, Philadelphia-style
By Larry Eichel
Inquirer Senior Writer

Full Text, etc. :
http://www.printthis.clickability.co...es%2F20070417_

At the mayoral forum held by the Center City District yesterday, something happened that hadn't happened in any of the dozens of forums to date:
An offer of a million-dollar bet.

The proposition was made by candidate Chaka Fattah to candidate Tom Knox whose personal wealth, and his willingness to spend it on his own campaign, has been central to the race.

While the wager wasn't consummated, it did provide some needed pizzazz to yet another gathering of Philadelphia's Democratic mayoral contenders.

Fattah was laying out what he describes as the centerpiece of his campaign: his plan to lease Philadelphia International Airport to a private operator and use the proceeds to fund an ambitious anti-poverty initiative.

Knox questioned the feasibility and legality of the idea, concluding, "We can't do it."

"Would you like to bet a million on it?" Fattah shot back.

Knox pointed out that leasing the airport is not permitted by federal law, which allows only one U.S. hub airport to be privatized. Chicago Midway has taken that slot.

"I promise you that we're going to be able to do it," said Fattah, who has noted that legislation to allow more airport-privatization is moving through Congress.

Fattah urged Knox to go ahead with the bet, saying that the winner would give the money to CORE Philly, a program he created to help needy young Philadelphians go to college.

"You know, I have a million," Knox said, underlining the fact that it was not clear how Fattah would come up with his part of the wager.

At this point, host Paul Levy of the Center City District asked the only other candidate attending the forum, Michael Nutter, if he felt the need to say anything.

"No," said Nutter, "it's just getting good."

When the betting talk died down, Nutter joined Knox in disputing the notion inherent in Fattah's plan - that a single initiative can make a big dent in the widespread poverty and lack of educational achievement that darken the city's long-term prospects.

"Let's be very clear," Nutter said. "There is no one idea here in Philadelphia about how to do anything. . . . I have 10 different ideas that create opportunity."

After the forum was over, Fattah repeated his claim that leasing the airport - assuming that the legislation passes in Congress - is something that could be done by the end of the first year of his administration.

"People talk like this is such a strange idea, but there are lots of examples of transactions to lease public assets for the public's benefit," Fattah said.

Knox made it clear that there had never been any possibility of the bet's actually being made - "I don't bet money on anything" - but seemed to tone down his criticism of the idea of the airport lease.

Asked if he would oppose a lease if Congress expanded the airport-privatization program, he said he was not sure.

During and after the forum, Fattah sought to clarify comments he made to an urban-design forum last week that he was "interested in rebuilding the lives of people and not just the skyline."

As mayor, Fattah said, he would be a friend to Center City and an advocate of city planning, though his priority would be "educational attainment and intervening in generational poverty."

Said Fattah, "We can do both."

bryson662001 · #2 Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 9:15 PM**

Sounds like Fattah is pretty loose with his wife's money. I am sure he would be the same way with the taxpayer's money. BTW I don't think this belongs here, does it?

donybrx · #3 Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 10:30 PM**

It'd be good to see less emphasis on big dollars.....but that isn't in the cards.
At least charity is mentioned as the recipient.....

Why not? the Philadelphia mayoralty election is a singularly important and fascinating issue...surely it warrants its own thread/ discussion in one place for the sake of continuity......city/discussion? I dunno..just a suggestion...

Joey D · #4 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 12:18 AM**

The mayoral race in Philadelphia is a pretty important city discussion nationally, however perhaps more appropriately placed in a more local forum.

Philly is at such a pivotal point in its history, whether people know or not, and having a lame duck, or corrupt, or superstar mayor really dictates the future condition of the city.

With the rise in crime, City Hall corruption, the squandering of tax money in the city (that I see,) there is much work to be done.

Being that the city is in a really good position with new development, the back-to-the-city mentality, and such, the right mayor doing the right thing with existing tax moneys, cutting taxes to retain work force, and lending tax abatements and opportunities to prospective businesses could really make the difference for a city that can go either way.

I'm very interested, personally, in the race, and I plan to register and vote (if I'm eligible,) for who I think would most benefit the city in the long term, instead of the guy who will keep the most of their friends and family in $20.00 an hour street cleaning careers.

I can't say how stunned I am about some of the beautiful things in this city like Rittenhouse Square, Old City, the theatres, nightlife, and University City. I also, however am utterly disgusted at the amount of crazies and panhandlers there are in the CBD scaring away people who may be looking at moving to Philadelphia. It also flabbergasts me at how many bullshit nonsense jobs there are in the downtown, ie 5 people with brooms sweeping up the same area of the sidewalk for hours on end, and other municipal workers who do nothing but bullshit their way through 8 hours with their friends instead of doing what they're paid for.

Corruption up to my eyeballs :/

Edit:

I thought I was done, but re: the 5 people with blue jackets and brooms sweeping up the same clean sidewalk in Center City while I'm walking ANKLE HIGH through TRASH in Kensington nobody does anything about.

How does that figure?

bryson662001 · #5 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 12:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey D

I thought I was done, but re: the 5 people with blue jackets and brooms sweeping up the same clean sidewalk in Center City while I'm walking ANKLE HIGH through TRASH in Kensington nobody does anything about.

How does that figure?

Money talks.....Kensington walks. The folks in the blue jackets aren't free you know. They cost property owners a lot of money......and that is for one per block, not five.

Joey D · #6 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 12:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Money talks.....Kensington walks. The folks in the blue jackets aren't free you know. They cost property owners a lot of money......and that is for one per block, not five.

That's funny, because I usually see them grouped together talking about something and laughing it up.

They are paid for by the business owners directly, or through taxes?

donybrx · #7 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 1:20 PM**

^^^ There's one being set up in downtown Wilkes-Barre (finally!) that's long overdue...and paid for by the businesses within the defined CBD district and the two downtown college campuses as well.....it's expensive but worth it.

The program in Center City Philly has been very successful...I couldn't believe the improvement after it first started, but these things seem to be the result of private initiative with municipal blessing.....in Wilkes-Barre's case, too, an earlier attempt at a Business Improvement District was squelched (by union veto- the same guys who really did goof off) leaving downtown looking extra ratty at the time...........

The homeless.... such a difficult issue, and heartbreaking, one shared by alll cities....even in the luster of pretty downtowns....I never set about thinking this through..I get bogged down among the components, mental illness, addiction, financial breakdown by itself or via mental illness/addiction or homelessness by choice. Then there's for-profit healthcare system that ignores/ displaces those who don't add to the bottom line....plus; Ugh. Seems to call for more than one solution. and more than politics....

I hope that PA politics.....and Philly's... can be improved to the point of quality leaderships/ less corruption. If enough people are fed up, they stand a chance....

BTW, JoeyD it's nice to hear that you're so tickled living in Philly and enjoying the city & CC's remarkable 'stuff'!

PhillyRising · #8 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 2:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey D

I thought I was done, but re: the 5 people with blue jackets and brooms sweeping up the same clean sidewalk in Center City while I'm walking ANKLE HIGH through TRASH in Kensington nobody does anything about.

How does that figure?

They work for the Center City Special Services District.....where the local businesses pay extra tax to have them keep the sidewalks clean (you didin't think City Hall kept the streets clean?), help people who may be lost and other things. It is one of the biggest reasons why Center City came roaring back to life. What you see in Kensington with the trash is what Center City used to look like......

At night...they even wash the sidewalks. The first time I saw that back in the mid 90's...I almost fell down in shock of seeing someone power wash the sidewalks in Philadelphia. We've come a long way....

Chaka Fattah would be a repeat of Wilson No Goode and Brady will have every union hack riding his coattails a la Rizzo. They are the the worst choices. We need a business friendly mayor who will reform the way City Hall does business. This city could blow many others out of the water if it was ever run right.......there is no reason why this city should lag behind.

dfane · #9 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 2:10 PM**

Can anyone tell me the difference in these canidates? Besides Nutter they are all the same.
Why not just keep Street in forever and just cut the middle man out and stop with these election fiasco's in this city?

PhillyRising · #10 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 2:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfane

Can anyone tell me the difference in these canidates? Besides Nutter they are all the same.
Why not just keep Street in forever and just cut the middle man out and stop with these election fiasco's in this city?

Nutter seems to be the only one who speaks to the whole city instead of pandering to his supporters.

dfane · #11 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyNation

Nutter seems to be the only one who speaks to the whole city instead of pandering to his supporters.

yep, but who am I?

I am just the resident racist on here, since I dont think all black people need to speak like 50 cents or whatever the hell hhis name is.

donybrx · #12 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 3:22 PM**

Who has Rendell's backing, if anyone at this point?

dfane · #13 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by donybrx

Who has Rendell's backing, if anyone at this point?

They all worked either for him or with him so who knows they are all the same for the most part.

PhillyRising · #14 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by donybrx

Who has Rendell's backing, if anyone at this point?

I don't think he has publicly backed anyone...although that may be due to having to bite his toungue the last 8 years. I never thought for one minute that Rendell really want Street to replace him. I often wonder how much better off Philadelphia would have been had Sam Katz won in 1999.

donybrx · #15 Posted **Apr 18, 2007, 10:04 PM**

I kinda thought so...^^^

Capsule F · #16 Posted **Apr 20, 2007, 5:56 PM**

Street tried his best to ruin this city, but it perservered. If katz was mayor it would have been even way better then now. Rendell is backing no one and he probably will not till the end.

Nutter or Knox, anyone else forget about it.

PhillyRising · #17 Posted **Apr 20, 2007, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capsule F

Street tried his best to ruin this city, but it perservered. If katz was mayor it would have been even way better then now. Rendell is backing no one and he probably will not till the end.

Nutter or Knox, anyone else forget about it.

Dwight Evans doesn't seem too bad. If what his commercial points out is true about improving West Oak Lane...then maybe he has some semblence of what needs to be done city wide for all Philadelphians...rich...average or poor. Nutter is still the best choice. Hell...I'd want Rendell back!

PhillyRising · #18 Posted **Apr 20, 2007, 10:02 PM**

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/loca...ouncil_47.html

Fattah endorsed by Council 47

White-collar union has 3,500 members
By DAVE DAVIES
daviesd@phillynews.com 215-854-2595
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah yesterday picked up the endorsement of the 3,500-member city white-collar union, AFSCME District Council 47 in the Democratic mayoral primary.
The larger, blue-collar city union, District Council 33, hasn't yet endorsed a candidate.

Even though Fattah has proposed privatizing the Philadelphia airport, something municipal unions oppose, DC 47 president Tom Cronin said that Fattah had earned the union's support with a longstanding pro-labor record and a focus on social issues about which his members care.

"We don't just pay attention to the bread-and-butter issues of a contract," Cronin said.

Fattah is one of three mayoral candidates who've picked up significant labor support. Besides DC 47, Fattah has the support of a Service Employees International Union local and the stagehands' union.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, a member of the carpenter's union, has the largest number of union endorsements for his mayoral run, including the police and firefighters' unions, Teamsters Joint Council 53, District 13 of the Communications Workers of America, 19 construction trades unions, the Seafarers Union and a regional council of the United Auto Workers.

Brady also has the support of a member local of DC 47 - AFSCME Local 810, which represents probation and parole officers.

State Rep. Dwight Evans has the support of three politically active unions - the Transit Workers Union, which represents SEPTA employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and Laborers Local 332, which has made big donations to local candidates, including Mayor Street.

Among significant actors in the local labor movement, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council, an umbrella organization of unions, aren't endorsing candidates in the primary.

Unions can't ensure the support of all their followers, but they can make financial contributions and contribute field workers before and on Election Day.

In past years, some unions have given more than $100,000 to mayoral candidates. Campaign-finance laws this year limit donations to $20,000 per calendar year by a labor committee.

Candidates Michael Nutter and Tom Knox so far haven't received any labor endorsements. *

Once again...the unions of Philadelphia prove how brain dead and self serving they are and how they continue to try to cling on the ways of the past by not endorsing the two pro business candidates.

donybrx · #19 Posted **Apr 21, 2007, 12:11 AM**

Is it probable that any of the other unions will follow suit with Fattah...or is it likely just this union....the article says not to expect many union endorsements for the primary....

Joey D · #20 Posted **Apr 21, 2007, 1:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by donybrx

^^^ There's one being set up in downtown Wilkes-Barre (finally!) that's long overdue...and paid for by the businesses within the defined CBD district and the two downtown college campuses as well.....it's expensive but worth it.

The program in Center City Philly has been very successful...I couldn't believe the improvement after it first started, but these things seem to be the result of private initiative with municipal blessing.....in Wilkes-Barre's case, too, an earlier attempt at a Business Improvement District was squelched (by union veto- the same guys who really did goof off) leaving downtown looking extra ratty at the time...........

The homeless.... such a difficult issue, and heartbreaking, one shared by alll cities....even in the luster of pretty downtowns....I never set about thinking this through..I get bogged down among the components, mental illness, addiction, financial breakdown by itself or via mental illness/addiction or homelessness by choice. Then there's for-profit healthcare system that ignores/ displaces those who don't add to the bottom line....plus; Ugh. Seems to call for more than one solution. and more than politics....

I hope that PA politics.....and Philly's... can be improved to the point of quality leaderships/ less corruption. If enough people are fed up, they stand a chance....

BTW, JoeyD it's nice to hear that you're so tickled living in Philly and enjoying the city & CC's remarkable 'stuff'!

Not sure if that was sarcastic, so I'll tell you I do like Philadelphia very much, but there have been some people who hear me criticizing aspects of the city and take it as an out of towner bashing the city. I have always known the city, but have never worked or used the transit in the city. I'm also new to the corruption and laziness I really never noticed when I would drive in, stay for a few days, and drive out.

Either way, I think there may be too many "blue people," (Wilmington has their "downtown visions" as well, so I'm aware of what they are,) and the homeless problem is just disgusting.

I don't mind homeless people, but when they're smack dab RIGHT down town on one of the ritzier strips it makes me sick. I'm not a cruel man, but that is so bad for anyone who has their first impressions in a city if they see 5 homeless people on ONE block in the frickin rich downtown part in the middle of the day screaming and heckling possible future urbanites who drive in to the city for a few dollars.

I EXPECT homeless people at the bus station.
I EXPECT homeless people midnight on 12th street sleeping on the ledge of a building.
I EXPECT homeless people to be in the subway.

They don't belong between the $20 per salad Midtown Continental, and the $10 per cookie Di Bruno's a block away from Rittenhouse, and 2 blocks away from Liberty Place.