A brief blurb in today's Inquirer reveals a little about the style of the current mayor:
Mayor Street is trimming his staff, but not through layoffs.
Senior administration officials have been joining the mayor on 6 a.m. Sunday power walks - long ones - along the Kelly Drive loop, through Valley Green, and in other parts of Fairmount Park.
"We're getting fit, and it's a nice team-building thing," said Loree Jones, the administration's secretary of external affairs. "We're talking through issues, working out, and getting to know the people we work with."
The walks have been going on since mid-July, inspired by the Fitness Enthusiast-in-Chief. Street is training to participate in a three-day, 60-mile charity walk in October that is to raise money for breast cancer research.
Anywhere from three to 17 people form the core of the walking group, with fluctuations because of child-care issues and other family obligations, Jones said. She said some of the walkers planned to participate in the fund-raiser and others were just interested in the exercise - and possibly a little face time with the big guy.
"Civilians join, too," Jones said. "People along the way will sometimes recognize the mayor and want to talk to him about education, potholes, violence, you name it."
Lest anyone think Street is not compassionate, Jones said the mayor had taken to inviting reluctant staff and cabinet members to join the walks later in the morning, for a shorter version of the main workout.
"It's a very inclusive group," Jones said.
As they walk, the city officials will identify potholes that need fixing or downed trees that need removal, chew over policy - and razz each other.
"We've had a lot of fun, joking about who walks faster and slower and about what getting up at 5 a.m. on a Sunday does to your Saturday-night life," Jones said. Another teasing topic: who has the "lamest" excuse for missing a session.
Jones said that she was one of those preparing for the charity walk, and that her training spreadsheets show she had walked 74 miles so far with the mayor.
Those interested in the breast-cancer walk can go to www.the3day.org for more information.
I actually want to take a break from my usual snarkiness to give Mayor Street some MAJOR PROPS for participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. Nice job, Mr. Mayor!
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