Milton Street just held an impromptu press conference in City Hall to announce that he's running for mayor in the Democratic primary.
According to Daily News City Hall bureau chief Mark McDonald, Street says he's motivated by a desire to fight the easy availablity of guns. He also said he believes candidate Dwight Evans should not run for mayor, but stay in Harrisburg to help support gun legislation.
As for the pesky matter of his recent federal indictment for tax fraud? He said he didn't know why that would be an issue, since, in his words, he hasn't done anything wrong. He pointed out that he hasn't been convicted of anything.
Reporters also asked him about the residency requirement to run for mayor. Street seems to live in New Jersey -- that's where reporters tracked him down on the day of that indictment. He didn't directly answer that question, saying instead something to the effect of, "I sleep where I sleep."
Comments (38)
I can't believe anyone even showed up to his call for a press conference...if Evans should stay in Harrisburg to fight for gun legislation, Street should stay in New Jersey and fight federal prosecutors...
Posted by mike | February 15, 2007 12:36 PM
Wait, is it April 1st already? This is a joke, right?
Posted by Anony-mouse | February 15, 2007 12:44 PM
He already wasn't allowed to run for office at the state level due to his residency (or lack thereof) so he can't possibly believe that he'll be able to run for mayor. What's his motivation? All I can think of is maybe he's trying to help or hurt one of the other candidates...
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 15, 2007 1:23 PM
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa (breathe) hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa.
Posted by Melissa | February 15, 2007 1:35 PM
Just another crook running with the rest of them
Posted by Art | February 15, 2007 2:40 PM
I had a good long laugh too.
This town is a circus.
Is Miltie any worse than Brady "spin the s**t"? Any worse than Fattah doing get out the vote work with convicted felons aka rap stars or trying to charge people to drive into the city?
They're just shilling for the stupid vote and hoping it is still a majority.
Posted by sad town of dimwits and pumpfist mclefties | February 15, 2007 2:47 PM
I know this sounds crazy, but how about electing someone with actual business SKILLS?
Too nuts?
Since the job of mayor is an administrator who must make responsible fiscal decisions?
Too freaky?
Encourage the market by removing obstacles like the wage tax, the BPT, and collect property taxes to fund schools and the city?
Whahhhhht? How can we live off the government cradle to grave? We might have to get jobs and focus on an education -- that will kill the drug trade, Philly's largest employer and a reliable source of under the table political contributions if you know the successor to Shamsud-din Ali and Ron White.
Preserve well paying Philly jobs on the street! Vote crack house and open air drug markets this election so we can keep a FUBU Democratic machine.
Thank you.
Posted by Crack House Rules | February 15, 2007 2:56 PM
I'm embarrassed to say I'm from Philly.
For too long Street supporters justified their candidates' corruption by saying, but what about FUMO! Not "let's make this place better," but "let's get ours." Reward suppporters, punish critics. OK, you can share a cell with Fumo if you wish.
You can be persecuted brothas together at last who strove so hard to serve their constituency that put them in office by any means necessary.
What is nepotism? How could you call it wrong? How about that Hobbs Act? Are we sick yet of Philly pols who play stupid on good government?
Good government? Why bother when you can cry to the state and federal government to bail you out? Collect property tax? What?
Why, no one could afford to live here who would vote for us if we collected a property tax that could fund decent schools.
The brothas and sistahs are in charge, and that's why this place has an economy and violence like a failed state. Take the regional rail to Trenton from 30th Street. Vacant building after vacant building is owned not by private owners, but by city agencies who do nothing but wait to a chance to use the property as a carrot for a willing generous polictically active donor.
Philly holds too much property out of the private market, and then begs for funds for "development!"
Throw the beggars out.
The Street Bruthas make Nagin look like a genius.
Posted by Anonymous | February 15, 2007 3:21 PM
This guy really has a set, huh? If he is elected mayor of Philadelphia, I may pack up and move to New Orleans
Posted by Ryan | February 15, 2007 3:32 PM
Seems like he is as qualified as most of the other yahoos running, what's the problem? With the nitwits in Philly, he would probably get 20% of the vote. Look at who is running and ask yourself is this the best you can do or deserve?
Posted by jimmy mack | February 15, 2007 3:40 PM
I hear that, but still give me Brady or even better, this republican from the NE Al something. We love underdog stories here right? Forget about the sports teams. A republican winning Philadelphia is the best underdog story I can think of. Stallone can be his campaign manager.
Posted by Ryan A. | February 15, 2007 4:00 PM
I think you guys found a hot topic here.
Sounds like the Street brothers are pretty popular... sort of like George Bush ;-)
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 15, 2007 4:05 PM
his slogan can be "you've been paying me for years, let's make it legit."
business as usual
Posted by michael | February 15, 2007 4:08 PM
I think this is a great idea. Perhaps Vincent Fuomo can be his Assistant Mayor?
Posted by Happy Philadelphian | February 15, 2007 4:23 PM
What the hell is going on here, do this guy have any respect for himself? Nooooooo. He should just share a jail cell with his brother John and Fumo. Again, what the hell is going on here. His family have managed to embarrassed this great city enough.
Posted by LAMONT W THOMAS | February 15, 2007 4:40 PM
Well DC managed to elect Marion Barry again. Why don't we get our chance?
Posted by michelle | February 15, 2007 4:45 PM
Seriously, what is wrong with a poltical moderate, a centrist, instead of the local party yahoos and wackojackos?
Why, the ward leaders would have to "appoint" one, and given the favors for favors system, no one is going to appoint someone just for being promising.
If we get a good pol from this system, it's entirely fortuitous. It's certainly not from an empowered voter. It's from walk around money, and Citizens' Alliance.
Why have a ward system if you have a responsive, modern, campaign finance and ethics reformed local government? Why have "special elections" instead of real ones?
I've literally had "progressives" tell me that "republicans would get stronger." So what? Have some faith and respect the process of electing and not appointing people, running errands for years until you look like Jabba the Hut in a wheelchair, until you sit there dazed like David Cohen unable to speak. Oh, yeah, let's have Mariano, let's have a Brady the union man even though there are hardly any jobs here left to unionize. This Dem party like the Comcast Slowsky turtles. Oh, dear, oh, dear do something different? Changes is happening too fast!
Fresh blood is not poison.
Milton thinks he's earned it. According to the way things are done around here, he has cause to think so. Plus, he knows that he'll have to be bought off to withdraw. He's just doing a Fumo. Mess people up and they will throw money at you.
Brady and Fattah will have to team up with the funds to buy off this fool.
Posted by Democrats, this is your frankenstein | February 15, 2007 4:45 PM
He's got my vote
Posted by OJ Is innocent | February 15, 2007 4:53 PM
OMG the talk shows are going to have a field day.
Posted by Oh my head hurts make it stop | February 15, 2007 4:54 PM
Marion Barry won, not that I agree, because he went through a mea culpa, went to rehab, and allied his experience with the low income voters who were living at the height of the DC crack epidemic when everyone knew someone, or so Barry stated.
But Milton isn't saying "I was lost and now I'm found and I can teach your your adult child to get off the pipe and come pick up the kids. Elect me because I've been there."
Milton is saying "I'm the reason Street got elected, and I'm allied with the top ten or so most powerful AA businessmen and their allies in the city, so screw the indictment. I'm the teflon black Fumo."
Expect the Tribune to come out with a rosy article, the weeklies to interview delusional supporters tongue in cheek but the average voter won't get it, and the Inquirer to endorse him as a "man of the people."
Posted by Anonymous | February 15, 2007 5:11 PM
this is the best news ever!
Posted by sarah | February 15, 2007 5:18 PM
The mayoral race is a joke and Philadelphia will never be taking seriously with all these clowns flexing their muscle. It's really a sad day in Philadelphia politics. Will we ever get a "Corey Booker" type guy in office? Someone, that cares about the issues and not about how much money his/her family, or associate is going to get from a contract. I am ashamed to say I am from this city of "Brotherly Love" or can I say "Brotherly Hate".
Posted by Jann Peppers | February 15, 2007 5:26 PM
If we name the airport after Milton and give him a cut of the parking money, will he go away? This is even funnier than the illegal alien card from Bank of America or a republican mayor in Philly. I'm still laughing over how PennDot and the city handled the snow storm, now this.
Next weeks entertainment will be John Street announcing his run for Arlen Spector's seat. Wait till they catch his "brothers and sisters" line in DC.
Posted by jimmy mack | February 15, 2007 5:31 PM
Dear Philly, You are a second rate city, that has no clue of honesty and hardwork. Your values have been severly diminshed over the years. Besides your mayor doesnt really care about your well being, he took advantage of your vote for the benefit of himself. Thanks for continuing to make New York the best city on the east, followed by Boston, DC, Baltimore. Can't wait until you beat Scranton out as the Armpit of America. -New York (A first rate city)
Posted by Anonymous | February 15, 2007 6:20 PM
unfortuantly the majority of the city votes for others like them, not those they aspire to be.
Posted by Anonymous | February 15, 2007 6:23 PM
We do need a Giuliani.
Philly's Dem party is a freak show except for outsiders Nutter and Knox. Just when I thought we might have a dignified election on ideas and issues...
Milton wouldn't surprise me if he announced his candidacy in drag in between sets at a cabaret. Nothing about the Streets surprise me anymore.
Milton must hate Nutter and Evans so is trying to sink them. That's OK, because Nutter needs to take over again from Carol Jabba the Hut Campbell. (She ate her ward!)
And we need Evans in Harrisburg as well as here.
The typical ward meisters are proud that they use their vote fraud and spin to hound people with less than a 9th grade education into delivering the next side show Bob.
Classy.
Do the national Dems really want this kind of Philly to be their avatar of how to make a blue state? That's how to be sure to put a Mitt Romney at the top with still more federal cuts to dem urban programs.
On second thought, that might not be so bad.
Posted by YahhhhhhhhhHH! | February 15, 2007 7:06 PM
My God, we need to double the size of the Philly FBI office. They must be quite overloaded.
Yes, the Ink will endorse Street II in order to stick it to Ashcroft's plot. They are a sharp set of pencils over there.
Posted by Anonymous | February 15, 2007 7:34 PM
Please! Please! Not another person with the last name of Street in the office of Mayor.
Posted by Antonio | February 15, 2007 10:20 PM
We do not give him enough credit. Miltie the Magician is a financial genius: He can make millions of dollars disappear without a trace. So, in the slim chance that someone will actually be dumb enough to donate money to his "campaign", here is my prediction: When his campaign war chest is full enough to his satisfaction, the lightbulb will go on, and he will figure out that there's no chance of him EVER being elected to anything. When all of the riches from his campaign "donations" disappear into his pocket, he will drop out of the race. Let's not give him that opportunity. And don't forget Sharif Street, who had legal troubles of his own, and is running for City Council. The apple does not fall far from the rotten family tree.
Posted by Dee | February 15, 2007 11:30 PM
Oh no, no, no, no...not another Street!!! That's the last thing this poor city needs...that has to be a joke, right? This city needs a REAL mayor, the polar opposite of our current mayor...so we can start showing what we got. Oh, and to Anonymous who posted about the Armpit of America and who said "Dear Philly, you are second rate"...either you're from Jersey, or you need to go BACK to New York and stay there!
Posted by rita | February 15, 2007 11:45 PM
Just "nuts" about Nutter...the INTELLIGENT choice! Saw the forum tonite of Dem candidates..Brady had the eloquence of a doorknob, Evans is very angry about "something", Fattah is a Jesse Jackson wannabe and Knox is willing to spend his fortune just so Philly doesn't vanish into the cesspool of apathy and complacency. Please folks..it's obvious Nutter is our only hope...send him some $, hold a "it's now or never" rally, light some candles, do whatever it takes to stop the bleeding. If he doesn't win, it's a Taliban beheading! We're at a crossroads and can't afford 4 more years of low-life, second-class mentality. This City is capable of so much more, but it's gonna take the tough love approach of a Michael Nutter to achieve the type of recognition that warrants the strut, the swagger like New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington. Philadelphia is a city of many "firsts" and a Michael Nutter can restore it to its rightful place on the map as a "first". It won't be easy, he'll step on toes, he'll alienate many, but ya know what...too bad...I own a condo here, I pay property and wage taxes so I have a vested interest in this City..that's something that those who make a career of living with freebies all their lives don't do, and as a former single parent, I don't want to pay for them anymore. The Streets and Fattahs of the City have a made a career of helping to keep certain people "poor" by giving more freebies....that's how they get these people to vote for them, that's how they keep their job. Certain people's plight makes for their fat bankbook! Please folks, help Nutter get elected...it's our only hope!
Posted by carolann | February 16, 2007 1:02 AM
Milton Street kind of gives new meaning to John Street's rant several years ago:
“the brothers and sisters are running the city. Oh, yes. The brothers and sisters are running this city. Running it! Don’t you let nobody fool you, we are in charge of the City of Brotherly Love. We are in charge! We are in charge!”
Talk about a joke! This city is just going down the toilet by the minute. ever since the "brothers and sisters" have been running this city you've seen what has happened. And only in this city could someone get away with saying crap like that!
Posted by E C | February 16, 2007 1:04 AM
It is times like these when I am glad to no longer live in Philly. His running is beyond ridicuous. Two questions: Who paid him to do this? (as his motivation has always been to get paid by any means necessary) and How much? I'm am so sure he would be a willing participant in a bidding war over his participation (or non-participation) in the election. Any takers?
Posted by LJ | February 16, 2007 10:00 AM
Let's not get out of hand here with this #@$^%$#@ about the brothers and sister's are running this city because this city when the white people have run this city has been on the same track of going down hill. Sure I agree with your feelings toward the Streets, but white people like rendell and Rizzo took and stole money too. Also, they gave out contracts and jobs to family and friends or too people who gave them money for their elections. So please with the brothers and sisters ran this city into the ground, same game but different rules "color".
Posted by LAMONT W THOMAS | February 16, 2007 2:45 PM
Well,
All polititians are frauds... Your vote doesnt really count. so stop worrying. We are well
on our way through the NEW WORLD ORDER!!!
Posted by f*ck you | March 1, 2007 6:18 PM
Philadelphia- the slow death
Born and raised here, this most historical place. Have witnessed the long trend decline and to summarize here is why.
Philly is a town filled with amatuers and wannabes of all stripes in politics, business etc. Their enablers, the citizens of philly consistently prove they are their own worst enemy and it would be difficult to find a place so divided but yet in so lock step when its election time. Voting results show the old party loyalties remain firmly in place to its detriment.
Another thing you'll be pressed to find, independent political thought from the populace. Kool Aid is this towns favorite drink.
Philly is reaping what its citizens have sown by electing do nothing politicians and voting along racial, union or strict socialist democrat party lines for 40 years running at least.
Philadelphians choose to create a hostile business environement by electing leaders who nary mention the words "job creation", "economic development" or "lower taxes" unless its wrapped in federal or state funding for socialist democrat policies to line its loyalist minions pockets via insider deals, pay to play, questionable development or even when developing policy and property for the oligarchy known as PHA. Philadelphias HUD manages somewhere between 20000 and 30000 properties in the city. This figure is indicative of the citys financial condition where 25% of the population is on some form of public assistance. By this we can conclude Philadelphia is one if not the poorest of all for a city of this size.
In recent years the racial divisive politics have sunken to a new low and now the people elect a mayor who is surrounded by thugs, criminals and downright idiots. There are some bright spots but they lack the necessary vision to lead and therefore collect a paycheck and fiddle while rome burns.
Philadelphia is a shameful mess of so much dysfunction, racial animosity, unabashed loyalty to an entrenched body politic of patronage, corruption, incompetence if not outright criminal behavior.
This is present in every aspect of this city from its schools, services and government.
Here is my advice for Philadelphia from a former resident, either wake up and accept the reality (via your elected leaders)that you the citizens are directly responsible for empowering and realize with the 2008 election that the defintion of insanity applies here and Phillys future hinges on its application or rather non application-
The definition of Insanity- doing the same thing and expecting a different result
Do the same by electing more anti-biz, racially divisive socialist democratic party hacks and oligarchs and prepare to become the new Flint.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death but dont send me to Philadelphia!
Posted by son of liberty | March 2, 2007 12:25 AM
Very well said 'Son of Libery'.
Phlidalphia needs more than a mayor, it needs
a watch dog. Theres just is no room for coruption
at this low point in the city's development.
This has to be a plan or are you telling me people are really this stupid as to allow the city to get to this point? I mean, it is a 'city'
right?
The key things that make up a city :
Population - very few rich,large amount working class (a few paychecks saved but no real wealth)
and a great majority (white and black) are poor.
Transportation - Septa is pretty reliable, however Septa should offer more incentives such
as incorparating with events taking place
(basebal games, Theater, feastivals in old city)
Septa should compensate the small businesses in the impoverished areas where EL construction takes place(Small businesses keep the city going)
Opportunities - If everyone has a means to an end
crime would naturally decline. Make people work damit! slowly wean off government assistance. deep down inside everyone wants to earn their keep no matter how small. to give a handout only
Perpetuates thier habits of laziness, and dont think that it is only black people hogging the tit of this city you would be surprised of the loop holes many whites jump through.
Posted by f*ck you | March 2, 2007 3:38 PM
Thank You F*ck you!
Philly is a classic study of what does not work in the long run and yes I am saying Philadelphians are to blame simply by electing the same time and time again. They trade short term gain, motivated by their own laziness, lack of resourcefulness if not simply lack of a higher standard for this city and in the long term lose, consistently at that. Let me also say this, this is not a racial slanted opinion.
Any negative racial inference that anyone perceives in my criticism of the current city govt simply because they are black is wrong...it’s because they are the elected representatives who when you really add it all up..."are not representin"! They should be held to the same standard, a higher standard and thats not to say its all bad but you have to admit, its not what it could be, far from it and if you need your memory jogged, its all in black and white. Its ashame Philly has a memory like a sive unless your Santa Claus at an Eagles game.
So when the Pied Piper of handouts comes calling in the form of the latest democratic party hack throwing the crumbs to the masses with mouths wide open while asking for your vote, they dance to the tune and follow the Piper to the pay station where they are effectively mortgaging their and their children’s futures.
All one has to do is remember the last election, it was Sam Katz=Evil Republicans=George Bush= Root of All Evil. The cliche and classic race card logic was practiced by the current administration with its own words (way before, during and after the election) and they set the tone there and yet many continued to vote for these buffons. But I will refrain, I wont kick you while your down since your kicking yourself and about to do it again soon.
This is the logic Philadelphians, white and black responded to. Dummy Logic.
You’re dead on about what makes up a city or better yet, what makes a great city great.
1) Population- too many poor people and why, anybody with half a brain and money has left, they have voted with their feet and literally have fled taking their resources with them.
This is where the anti-capitalist eat the rich mentality that is philly through and through (unless you’re the mayor’s brother or other insider) is reaped in the long term. It’s a very slow progressing cancer that Philadelphians don’t see until its killing the host. Welcome to Philly today and it’s been in motion for 3+ decades.
2) Transportation- Philly has the makings of what could be a great system but it itself is a microcosm of what’s wrong as is PGW etc. I am no Septa cheerleader but have to say I don’t think most Septa employees want things they way they are. It finds itself in its current financial state due to lack of rider ship brought forth by Philly’s financial decline. Its simple math, people avoid this city and thus spend elsewhere and do not ride septa. Declining fortunes have a ripple effect.
In stark contrast, already overcrowded NYC grows at 9% a year but yet Philly cant keep people here and I love the new phrase to somehow lessen the blow to newcomers ..."its a very livable city". It is indeed for all except for the victims of its soaring crime rate even though crime overall is down, and yet in Philly its up in all neighborhoods.
Declining fortunes once again
3) Opportunities- compare Philadelphia to other metro areas and what’s startling is not that Philly loses to San Fran or NYC, that’s obvious, and there are many complex reasons, but the fact that places Like Austin TX or Atlanta Ga or Whereverville NC has overtaken Philly on the prosperity index.
Why? What happened?
Simply due to the fact that the leaders Philadelphia's citizens have empowered are of the same cloth and not a one of them had or has a vision (some are downright criminals or surrounded by them) to make this, the cradle of liberty for modern human civilization, the place it could and should be.
Hey but we have Casinos, great! Thats the best this crowd can do. San Fran has Cisco and Intel and we have Ballys and TheCorpforCurrentPoliticalInsidersCasino, classic Philly.
Philly voted for them dummies! Philly is getting what it deserves.
Philadelphia's decline perpetuates every election when the citizens of this once great place, allow themselves to be manipulated into emotion based logic rooted in today’s cliché' 60's mindsets of (insert various racial, economic or political stereotypification here from that era which some still cling to today religiously) while the world of the 21st century grows up around and without them.
Unless someone tells Philadelphians they are responsible for their current malaise, they will continue to live the Grand Delusion and once again, respond to the classic bogeymans of years past and pull the same old lever for the same old candidate the get the same old result...nothing but more decline, death and taxes.
In the meantime, this once great city suffers and history is all that we look forward to in the future.
Signed a Son Of Liberty, and a former Philadelphian
P.S. You are correct F*ck You, everyone wants to do for themselves and for those who are able and dont...F THEM, they are dragging everyone down with them, cut them off now or die with them!
"if we do not hang together, we shall all hang seperately"
Benjamin Franklin
Posted by Son of Liberty | March 6, 2007 1:44 PM