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Mummers Parade could be shortened

Philadelphia's raucous Mummers Parade appears set to make its annual trek up Broad Street come New Year's Day, but the party will likely run short.

Philadelphia's raucous Mummers Parade appears set to make its annual trek up Broad Street come New Year's Day, but the party will likely run short.

Doug Oliver, press secretary for Mayor Nutter, made that prediction yesterday after he met with Mummers leaders to negotiate the impact of the city's budget cuts on the parade.

The parade should follow its normal route but probably will be cut back by about 90 minutes, he said yesterday. The bacchanal usually lasts for eight hours, officially.

George Badey, publicity director for the Mummers Association, said that he was optimistic that Oliver's forecast was correct, but that more negotiations were needed.

In November, Nutter announced the city would eliminate its $355,000 annual subsidy for Mummers prize money - and provide no money at all for parade services as of Jan. 1.

He later restored $300,000 in service costs, such as police protection and sanitation, but held firm on prize money.

The Mummers' budget cut, along with closed libraries, swimming pools and more, was part of Nutter's response to the city's budget shortfall.

Oliver said that city officials and the Mummers would gather tomorrow for further negotiations. He said a final decision would be made by Thursday.

Badey said the tentative plan is for the parade to go from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It is to be televised locally by WPHL-TV (Channel 17). He said the amount of money the station would pay for TV rights was in flux, and would depend on sales of commercials.

Oliver and Badey said there would be no restriction in the distance covered by the parade, which traditionally has run from South Philadelphia up to City Hall.