Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, about what John Street did?
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Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, about what John Street did?
Back in 2003 (but it seems like about two decades ago) there was a very popular country song called "Have You Forgotten" by a singer named Darryl Worley. Actually, the premise of the song was a tad ridiculous and ripped from the headlines of Fox News -- conflating the war in Iraq with 9/11 in a major way. That said, the broader point is true: That Americans have an amazing capacity to forget events -- especially political events -- that happened just a couple of short years ago.
Especially in Philadelphia.
Let's consider the case of John Street, ex-mayor and -- apparently when I wasn't paying attention -- political elder statesmen.
For the last couple of months, the press in Philadelphia has been fawning over the Street-fueled notion that the Democrat-turned-independent, who was in City Hall from 2000 through the start of 2008, is getting back in the game, either challenging his long-time nemesis Mayor Nutter or running for City Council at-large, a ploy that would probably succeed because of a quirk in the city's election law and the weakness of the city's Republican Party. (Once on City Council, the theory goes, he might even be able to exploit some of his old relationships to become Council president, as he was in the 1990s.)
But virtually none of the stories have stressed what should be in the first two paragraphs, and probably the first sentence, of any article speculating about a Street comeback: That he presided over one of the most corrupt administratiions in Philadelphia history.
Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, that Street's top fundraiser and closest political ally, attorney Ron White, was indicted on corruption charges for showering Street's city treasurer with gifts while winning massive amounts of city business for himself and his clients? (White died of pacreatic cancer before his case went to trial.) The indictment stated:
The mayor instructed his staff that if White or companies he proposed appeared qualified for city work, "the staff members should award the city business White sought and provide White with inside information .... regarding the operations of city agencies otherwise unavailable to the public," the indictment said.
Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, that the city treasurer, Corey Kemp, is still serving a 10-year federal prison sentence for selling his office under Street?
Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, that Street and his aides steered major city banking and bond business to Commerce Back at the same time that Street was asking bank officials for a good deal on a mortgage? Relatives of Street and a top City Hall aide also sought sweetheart deals with Commerce. Two officials of Commerce Bank were eventually convicted in the corruption scandal.
Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, how Street never adequately explained why he received a mysterious $10,000 check from an insurance company that received city business?
Gave you forgotten, Philadelphia, that Street's former law partner Leonard Ross pleaded guilty to corruption charges that included misusing his position as head of the Penn's Landing redevelopment authority?
Have you forgotten, Philadelphia, that there is much, much more -- that well over a dozen people (I wasn't able to track down the final tally) were ultimately convicted of criminal charges related to Street's mayorality, and that the constant scandals harmed the city's efforts to curb its day-to-day problems like failing schools and rampant schools.
Apparently we have forgotten, since the prospect of a Street comeback is being taken very seriously -- something I could not have predicted when he slinked out of office in January 2008. The comeback talk is even more bizarre when one considers that the subsequent Nutter administration, though flawed, has been arguably the least corrupt administration in modern city history. Indeed, you have to think the buffoonery of Street's older brother, the convicted tax dodger T. Milton Street, and his mayoral primary bid was a clever ploy to make John Street look Churchill-esque in comparison.
Don't be suckered -- to be fooled not once but twice by the corruption of John Street would be a shame on the city well beyond anything that Lincoln (Philadelphia is "corrupt and content") Steffens could have ever imagined.
Nutter's not perfect, but he has made some very solid progress in the city under extremely difficult circumstances, some of which are a direct result of the deplorably corrupt (a-hem) John Street. Things don't get better overnight, but Philadelphia has a straight-arrow leader in Nutter.— triggerfish
Comment removed.- I haven't forgotten that he spent his second term doing nothing. I also haven't forgotten that the reason he got a second term was because he masterfully parlayed an FBI BUG PLANTED IN HIS OFFICE into the win. How sad is it that a federal corruption investigation was what saved his campaign?— MCZ97
- At least the streets were plowed when it snowed, and police were not allowed to rob & steal from people with relative impugnity.— Joyner80
- Have you forgotten how to spell?....Commerce Back?? Gave???— Tom Kearney
- Will, I'll give credit where credit is due. I didn't even bother to read the article before I posted my first reply, because I never thought you'd say a bad word about John Street. You called it like it was, and, that is what it's all about.— MCZ97
- Will, for someone who likes "freedom of the press" you sure delete a lot of my comments, none of which have any of the "racial slurs, potentially libelous allegations, obscenities or other juvenile noise".
- Philadelphia's political problems are not liberal, libertarian, conservative, or progressive. It is good people staying away from polls, letting many of the same names be re-elected time and time again. Those with power in government and business(e.g. Comcast, Eagles, etc)treat most of the the city's citizens as stupid and ignorant, while constantly, and publicly, talking about the city's toughness and straightforwardness. As citizens(and also as fans), we overreact to criticisms by talking heads from other cities, but the fact is, Philadelphia's system of government and big business hurts the people of this city more than anyone on WPHT or ESPN will ever will. Be glad about the revitalization of certain areas, regardless of who gets the credit, and build on that. Patronize the many great restaurants in this city; most other big cities pale in comparision in this vital area. Finally, don't let another primary or Election day go by without VOTING; it is your RIGHT and the powers that be in Philly DON'T WANT YOU TO USE IT!— 76erfn
- Who cares as long as the (non-Erkel-like-Nutter) brothas and sistas are running the city again? That's all the matters to the majority of voters in Philly.— gYo
- Good point gYo! As long as the brothas and the sistas are running (ruining) the city! God forbid a white mayor had made that comment.— PaulieWalnuts
- I would like to know PhillyPatriot's definition of "honest". John Street is one of the most corrupt mayors, and councilmen, of all time. His politics are always dealt from the bottom of the deck, race-baiting and making sure he and his friend's pockets were always lined with patronage cash and jobs. But vote for him, by all means. Philly just wouldn't be Philly without a corrupt Democratic Chairman and Mayor who take advantage of moronic, uneducated urban voters to empower themselves. I left the city so I leave you to your vices. ENJOY!— shirleyf
- Comment removed.
- I don't think I have forgotten that when Mayor John Street ran for re-election the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer and I suspect the author of this article whole-heartedly endorsed his candidacy against the republican opponent. Perhaps, Will Bunch has forgotten! You guys supported him! Even after the federal wire-tap was recovered from his office you guys endorsed him. You guys were all so thrilled to bame that on G W Bush. What malarkey! Now, all of a sudden you consider John Street corrupt? You did not say or report that back when it counted! Who is forgetting what?— philaresident
- Then police commish Syvester "the cat" Johnson, who knew the Fed's were to go public, was the unidentified "friend" who blew the proverbial police whistle on the Fed's bugs by ratting out the location to two of Street's insiders, Communication's Director Barbara Grant and ex footballer, George Burrell. Burrell told the Grand Jury that he requested that police look for the bug even though he didn't think there was a bug. Neither Grant nor Burell would disclose the name of the alleged "friend" who blew the whistle.— lefty
- Question; Shouldn't the Fed have investigated then commish, Sylvester, "the cat," whom they knew to be Sylvester "the rat"? Why the across the board "hands off" policy? Why didn't the DA's office do a better job with the Grand Jury? Why didn't the INK and DN push for a more intensive investigation? Why didn't these two papers better serve the citizens of Phila by attacking Street and his machine for introducing its contrived cry of racism? Where were Harold, Will and the rest of the liberal media, including natl outlets?— lefty
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