Mayor Nutter's feel-good first 100 days

In his first 100 days, Mayor Nutter, among other things, hired a new police commissioner with a dramatic promise to reduce crime, stamped his new administration with an emphasis on honesty and openness, and launched a spring cleanup to wipe away the city's "Filthadelphia" reputation.

But his most talked-about achievement is something else entirely: He has made people feel better about Philadelphia.

"If there is a place where the mayor has exceeded his strongest supporters' high expectations, it is in the image and impact area of what it has meant for him to be mayor," said Comcast executive David L. Cohen, who was chief of staff to Gov. Rendell when Rendell was mayor in the 1990s.

Civic leaders, business executives, and even former political foes say the former 15-year city councilman is off to a remarkably successful start. With only one day off since his Jan. 7 inauguration, he has also earned recognition as a consensus builder as he sets about forging ties with suburban, state and federal lawmakers.

"He is doing the things he needs to do to pull people together," mayoral primary foe Tom Knox said. "I'm proud to have him as my mayor."

Said radio personality E. Steven Collins: "There is a momentum of hope and change around Mike Nutter and what he represents."

That feeling extends to the suburbs and the business community, where Nutter is both in demand and reaching out to leaders. Last month, Nutter got a standing ovation after addressing the Ardmore Rotary Club - one of 39 events and meetings he has attended outside Philadelphia as mayor.

"This onetime councilman has proven himself to be a high-performance executive," said former Gov. Mark Schweiker, president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. "He's not just doing the news conference in City Hall. He is out rubbing elbows."

Along the way, Nutter has also shed some of his wonkishness, showing he has a bit of a comic's timing. "This time last year, I was very solidly in fourth place," he quipped as he pitched a group of Washington journalists on the virtues of Philadelphia.

Of course, this is just a start. His biggest proposals - floating a $4.5 billion pension obligation bond, rewriting the city's zoning rules, cutting the business privilege tax - are in motion but incomplete.

And he has yet to face a major crisis - not even a snowstorm - to test his leadership skills.

City Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, for one, has doubts. "There are a lot of things Michael Nutter is proposing that are still to be determined. . . . It's unrealistic."

Ray Murphy, coeditor of Young Philly Politics, a progressive blog, said there were no bold leadership strokes to point to. "Overall it seems a little bit like [the administration] hasn't fully gotten going yet," he said.

Others say Nutter's progress is impressive, as is his energy.

On a single day last week, Nutter delivered a keynote speech to mayors of New Jersey, visited a playground at 27th and Master Streets, attended an awards ceremony at the National Constitution Center, and went to a dinner with Delaware County officials in Media.

In between, at City Hall, he signed major gun-control legislation that was designed to spark a lawsuit as the city endeavors to strengthen its powers to fight crime.

"At this point, what is there not to like?" asked Arthur Makadon, chairman of the Ballard Spahr law firm in Center City.

Makadon and others interviewed for this article singled out the staff Nutter has assembled, many of its members coming from outside Philadelphia, as particularly praiseworthy.

"I rarely have seen anyone go to that length to bring in as diverse and as qualified a group as Michael did," said Makadon, a close observer of the Rendell and John F. Street administrations.

Among the new hires are Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, who previously served as Washington's police chief; Managing Director Camille Cates Barnett, a professional city administrator who has led efforts in at least half a dozen cities; and Commerce Director Andrew Altman, an urban economic-development expert from Washington.

In Nutter's view, Ramsey has "reenergized and refocused the Police Department, and has gained the trust and support of the public."

His administration has also launched PhillyStat, a computer-driven management tool to improve customer service. And Nutter played a role in Rendell's selection of chief executive Arlene Ackerman to lead Philadelphia's public schools.

He has appointed 164 people to city boards and commissions. Some come from outside traditional government and political spheres (Laborers Local 332 business manager Sam Staten Sr. is on the Zoning Code Commission), while others do not (former federal prosecutor Kenya Mann is now on the Philadelphia Board of Ethics).

"Legislatively, I don't think a lot has been accomplished yet," said Republican Mike Cibik, leader of Center City's Fifth Ward. "But he's certainly a breath of fresh air."

Freshman Councilman Bill Green said: "We may not agree on everything . . . [but] I've been extremely impressed with the caliber of the people I deal with in the administration."

Nutter has also improved relations with Harrisburg - which were left strained by the Street administration.

"Michael's built a lot of friendships," said State Rep. John M. Perzel (R., Phila.), former House speaker. "People like to be recognized, to know someone is appreciated, and Michael makes you feel those things."