Milton Street, off by 4,800, says it still adds up to a run

Call it a campaign promise already broken.

T. Milton Street Sr. had said he'd give up trying to succeed his younger brother as mayor if 5,000 people didn't show up to support him yesterday at a noontime City Hall rally.

Well, they didn't. The crowd was more like 200. But no matter. Street - who lives in New Jersey and is facing federal tax charges - says he is staying in the race.

"I don't want you to think I deliberately deceived. I don't want you to think this was a publicity stunt," Street said, explaining his change in position. "I feel like I underestimated my passion."

That passion was on full display for nearly an hour yesterday as Street got as much publicity as any of his five Democratic rivals could hope for.

With an organist playing soft church-like tunes in the background, Street preached. ("Oh heavenly father, we're calling on your help today!")

He sang. ("If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.")

And he leaned over a mahogany-colored coffin that shared the temporary stage with him, from which he spoke, a symbol of the murders in the city that he says have compelled him to run. "No more caskets," he said, shaking his head, shutting his eyes. "No more death."

One onlooker, local ad man Elliot Curson, said, "It's great theater. It's visual. He's powerful."

But he may not be eligible. The City Charter requires candidates to have lived in Philadelphia for three years before a general election. When Street filed for bankruptcy last year, a judge found that he lived in New Jersey.

Street will also be busy before the May 15 primary. He is to go on trial the day before on charges that he did not report earning more than $2 million in consulting fees at Philadelphia International Airport.

"I stand accused of doing some wrong things, but I don't stand convicted," Street, a former state senator and longtime vendor, told the crowd yesterday. He didn't mention outstanding traffic warrants he is fighting in Moorestown.

He did talk about housing, drugs, and "black-on-black" crime. "You think the legislature is going to allocate money to stop black people from killing black people? No," he said to a dozen teens gathered around him before the rally. "We have to organize our community and stop the killing."

On stage, he was at times interrupted by hecklers. And Larry West, a 22-year-old man in a mohawk, showed up with a sign that said "No criminals in City Hall. Stop Milton Street."

His campaign is largely a family affair, with his son as manager and his former son-in-law providing legal counsel. Street's daughter was also on hand yesterday.

But his brother, the mayor, was a few hundred yards away, inside a cabinet meeting on City Hall's second floor.

Street's nominating petitions are due Tuesday. He needs 1,000 signatures.

Before the rally, Street said he had received an offer to host a radio talk show. But for now, he said, "There's something within me that I cannot explain... I've got to keep on pushing."