If the Phillies had won, would Mayor Nutter have held the team to the same standard as the various cultural and ethnic organizations who had put on parades and festivals over the past year?

In late 2008, the city implemented a policy requiring those who stage parades and festivals to pay the city for its security and cleanup expenses. That policy was put in place when the city had to cut more than $1 billion from its 5-year financial plan.

Yesterday, Nutter gave his answer: Everyone has to play under the same rules.

"We have communicated [to the Phillies] that should there be an event of that type, money will have to be raised or costs paid external to the city," Nutter said.

This is a nonissue after the Phillies' loss last night, but Nutter did make clear that he is trying to run a fair operation.

Last year, the city paid just over $1 million in police overtime, street cleaning and medical service for the victory romp down Broad Street, according to the mayor's press office. The cost was lessened by $300,000 contributed by about 22 organizations.

Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark declined to comment on the parade issue yesterday because the World Series wasn't over.