I just got back from Michael Nutter's press conference at City Hall. His speech was... well... a nice speech. It was full of platitudes and gratitudes.
Thank you to my constituents, thanks to my staff, thanks to Council President Verna, the ward leaders in his district, thanks to Bob Brady and I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow!
He opened his speech with "I love this place" and said many times, "It's time for me to leave." The closest he came to saying that he would be running for mayor during the speech was when he said he "wants to pursue a different leadership role," very similar to his answer on Radio Times when Marty Moss-Coane asked him if he wanted to run for mayor. He also referred to his next move as "the next step in my career."
Fielding questions from a reporter, he sounded a little more definitive with "Today is the first step in preparation to run for mayor."
Find out what raised my ire by clicking on "continue reading."
But then came the big question. What are your ideas? What do you want to do as mayor?
How did he handle that question?
Not much better than Tom Knox did when asked about his "Stop the Violence Signs." Nutter said a couple times that he will be talking about his ideas more in the future and that he'd be rolling out his plans in the coming months.
Frankly, that answer is getting a little tired.
A couple weeks ago at a rally for the CORE Scholarship Program, I asked Congressman Fattah similar questions about what his plans for education would be and he gave me the same, this is my record, I'll be rolling out more plans in the future answer. I didn't write anything about it then because he didn't really have anything new to offer.
Nutter knows that he can dominate today's news cycle with an announcment of his resignation from Council and that two or three weeks we'll all show up again and give him another day of free media when he formally declares his candidacy for mayor. All of the candidates know that no one will press them when they give that "I'll be talking more about that in the future" answer.
We all know, or at least hope, that they already have ideas about how to make the city a better place. That somewhere up in their heads, they've been thinking about creative, innovative and realistic ways to improve the lives of the people they hope to serve. Why not share those ideas now? They don't have to be polished or filled with all of the details yet or even fully complete. All I want is a little sneak peek.
Yes, if we're doing our job we'll examine those ideas. We'll critique them. We'll get feedback from "experts" about the viability of the ideas and we'll get your opponent's reaction to them. We'll then give all of this information to... gasp... the voters and let them decide it they like what they hear.
I know this may seem like an unfair rip on Nutter and I expect to get some pretty heated comments from his supporters. But if I'm going to nickname Tom Knox's campaign "Team TBD" then it's only right that I call out any candidate when they're not prepared with their ideas.
This city is starving for ideas. People are being shot every day. The population continues to dwindle. Only 55% of the district's students graduate. Give us something. Anything.
Like I said, go strong or go home.
Comments (10)
Disappointed in Nutter - he's been on council for 15 years and he stated last week that his biggest accomplishment is the smoking ban. It was a good idea, but the bill that passed wasn't even his bill! Wake me up when he can build a coalition and get something done that really makes the city better (jobs, safety, education, etc.). Not that Knox is much better - when was the last time a sign in the window stopped a crime?
Posted by Jones | June 27, 2006 4:11 PM
Nutter doesn't stand a chance of reaching the finals. He talks the talk but doen't come through. He is not open or responsive to his constituents and as their horror stories with his service come to light, the rest of Philly will be smart enough avoid him like you do a drunk uncle. At least Street delivered.
Posted by Garret | June 27, 2006 5:12 PM
He's hypocritical - for all of his "ethics" preaching he is the only one who is involved in an investigation (other than Doc) - for his involvement with Carol Campbell and trying to get her a no bid contract with the Sheriff's office - remember that? I am sure that was in exchange for maybe her support - doubt it now that he threw her under the bus. Nutter was also fined for leaving pertinent information off of his campaign reports and ethics statement. Friedman, maybe you're too far in the forest to see the trees - step out into reality and let me know how it looks.
Posted by Jones | June 28, 2006 9:51 AM
posting lies does not make the campaign you work for look good.
there is no investigation into Nutter by any law enforcement entity.
the smoking bill that was passed was indeed Nutter's bill.
Nutter and his campaign has never been fined by any legal entity either.
his record of accomplishment on schools, taxes, crime, and the community makes the other five candidates look like dwarves.
Posted by clout | June 28, 2006 1:56 PM
I actually don't work for a campaign. But I am sorry that your head is too far in the sand. Do you not recall that Michael Nutter lobbied for Carol Campbell, West Philly ward leader, for an $80,000 no-bid contract that was awarded to her out of the Sheriff's office? When the Sheriff decided it didn't need her services, Nutter called the Sheriff on behalf of Carol. When the news came public, Nutter threw Campbell under the bus.
Also, the smoking ban that passed by Council was Marian Tasco's, not Michael Nutter's! Nutter's didn't pass last session - Tasco's passed this time. Maybe he championed it but he did not build the coalition or get the votes to support his bill.
It's sad that after 15 years on council, his proudest moment came with a smoking ban in the last month. Where's he been for 14 and a half years!
Also, council doesn't run the Philly schools, the state does. Plus the city's report card is in the tank. He hasn't done anything to lower taxes. It is imperative that our next mayor have political savy. While I think that Nutter is very intelligent, he can't get council to vote for his bills! They are always watered down or not his! He lacks the ability to put a coalition together to vote for his bills. How will he be able to get council to support him as mayor?
Think objectively and don't let your paycheck run your mouth.
Posted by Jones | June 29, 2006 10:21 AM
jones, you're wrong. again.
you said nutter is under investigation for the campbell contract. he is not. please provide a link to an article that says otherwise.
the smoking ban bill that passed was Nutter's, not Tasco's. sorry, you're just wrong.
and Nutter authored and got passed the bill four years ago that continued to cut the wage tax when Mayor Street wanted to stop cutting the wage tax, so he has cut taxes.
I dont work for Nutter either, thank you very much.
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