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.
- Street's efforts to clean the streets of abandoned cars and blighted homes is the direct cause of the revitalization of our neighborhoods today. Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Newbold, these places didn't exist 10 years ago. Thanks to John Street's policies, these neighborhoods are now part of our City's future.
— PhillyPatriot - And he never permanently closed or "browned out" any fire companies. Just saying. — Genghis
- The only thing that is more of a joke then the city democrats is the city republicans.— Captain Terrific
- Pluski, were they serving extra sugary cool aid in Northern Liberties this evening or something? Please settle down, get off of your retro banana seat bicycle and loosen those skinny jeans so I can remind you that it is now 2011, and this city has been pretty much run by African Americans for more than a decade. Enough with the excuses, its ludicrous and irresponsible to blame any of this on race. Also love that subsequent to your enlightening lecture on the American Dream and racism, you allude that Street "did some great stuff, and some corrupt stuff too". Well said! Can't debate that. Ok, back to reality. If John Street were white, he would still be the most corrupt and ineffective mayor this city has ever seen. How is that for stuff.— spencerstreetsupernova
- Will, why don't you call out the whole Democratic establishment and their cattle who blamed George W. Bush and J. Edgar Hoover for bugging Streets office. It was one of the darkest moments in our cities history to allow John Street to win that election based on complete lies. If the bug were not discovered, he likely would have been indicted as well, eventually. The Inky and it's dumbed-down brethern DN also fed the lies, so all of you are to blame as well. John Street was the worst mayor in our cities history, and possibly one of the worst mayors of a big city in the nations history.— spencerstreetsupernova
Comment removed.- "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. "
So we should re-elect Mayor Nutter in the fall because he is the least corrupt Mayor we have had? Can we raise our standards here please Mr. Bunch? The journalists in this town are nothing more than guardians of the status quo. Enlighten for us Mr. Bunch on the flaws of the Nutter Administration. Mayor Nutter is the incumbent and should have to defend his record. John Street hasn't even declared yet and the journalists in this are constantly talking about him. How about you write about the fact that Nutter ran as a reformer and hasn't reformed a single thing? How about you write about his tax increases, service cuts and cuts to public safety? How about you write about his hypocrisy on wanting to end DROP but supporting DROP Queen Marian Tasco who has abused and perverted the DROP program? Hold Nutter accountable and start doing your jobs as journalists.— Serpico - Street certainly had his faults. However, compare the operation of the school district under Street and Nutter. Street did put pressure on the Gov. to get abandoned cars off the street. These are meager accomplishments but they certainly outstrip Nutter's weak kneed leadership on school and quality of life issues. As for Street's opponents, Sam Katz??? Give me a break.— mick-of-the-moment
- Milton's been a criminal for about 40 years now. He became an "activist" in the 70's when the police had the nerve to give him parking tickets when he staked out spots for his lunch trucks at Temple.— rwwhit
- Comment removed.
- I would just like to say that Will is the mirror image of Rush....
- Wil- Please answer two questions for me: Did you vote for mayor in 2003? DId you vote for Street? I remember the KATZ=BUSH=ASHCROFT pap that was spread around by the DNC during that election, and a lot of Philly Dems falling for it hook, line and sinker because they wanted to 'stick it' to Bush. That really worked out well for Philly, didn't it?— ILikeIke
- Mick's defending John Street. Can't parody this stuff.— RG
- did YOU vote for Sam Katz, Bunch?
- Creepy blue eyed guy: I thought you hated the tax system? Milton should be your hero, after all he stuck it to the MMMAAAANNNNNNN, didn't he?
If Marion Barry could get re-elected, anything is possible. Please stop acting like any Democrat would vote against their party because the D's run someone incompetent. It's like the whacko Evangelicals criticizing McCain a couple of years back. Like they were really going to vote Obama.— phillyjeffsr
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