News of Friday: Bob Brady's Blitz, and more (The Next Mayor)

Some things to call to your attention even as the weekend begins...

Do not ever, ever, underestimate Bob Brady as he works the streets and the airwaves. And that's what he's doing now. I just saw his "endorsed by cops, endorsed by Lynn Abraham" TV ad again today, and now he's announced plans for a big Saturday blitz:

"A caravan of supporters will make stops along the way to energize people across the city. The last leg of the tour will begin at the 3300 block of South 20th Street around 3:00 p.m., and hit neighborhoods throughout South Philadelphia including a stop at Pat’s and Geno’s for a quick cheese steak….wit.

“I am running for Mayor, and takin’ my campaign to the streets where violence is at a crisis level, and our schools are in a chaotic state,” said Brady about his Saturday afternoon campaigning.

“On Saturday I will barnstorm the City and touch the people who support my bid for Mayor, and every week until the election I will continue to fight for things that matter to them.”

Meanwhile...

...Michael Nutter, not one to back down from a press-stunt challenge, will give away free smoke detectors in West Philly (at the corner of 60th and Chestnut, at noon) and then spend some time with the local businesses out there. “We try to reserve time on Saturdays to meet business owners and talk with residents,” said Nutter in his press release. "They have a lot to say about what they want out of the next Mayor.”

Ditto for Chaka Fattah, who will announce his plans for new after-school programs Monday...

In other news...

Former Philadelphian John Hickenlooper -- oh, and he's the highly regarded mayor of Denver now -- is coming back to his home region on April 18 to talk about how he's addressed Denver's challenges (ending a $70 million deficit? Reducing crime? Transit? Done!), and what Philadelphia might learn from it.

The program is sponsored by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. And later, they're bringing in D.C.'s Mayor Anthony Williams. For more, visit the Economy League's site.

...and, just to note the Philadelphia passion of it, and the pretty good summation of the race so far, please check out Mike Mallowe's column in the Evening Bulletin.

Comments (10)

Michael :

Bob Brady has been the head of the political machine in Philadelphia for decades. He has basically hand-picked ward leaders, judges, and most candidates. Philadelphia is in need of a desperate change - - we need drastic reforms to turn this city around. How then, can anyone think that the man that has been pulling the strings of this city for so long can POSSIBLY be the change that is needed? Brady has helped create this problem - he is certainly not the solution.

Posted by Michael | March 24, 2007 11:54 AM

Dave

Brady can't even seem to run a much smaller organization like the local Dem Committee in a responsible fashion. I shudder to think how he'd run the city.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070323_Can_Bob_Brady_run_this_city_.html

Posted by Dave | March 24, 2007 12:03 PM

DC:

Wasn't Brady the head of the Democratic Party in the 1990s when this city turned around?

How is it that he was not responsible for that but now he's responsible for the recent problems? I'm not buying it.

He can help get people elected, but once in office he does not make their decisions for them. I'm sorry if that does not fit into your simplified view of the world.

Posted by DC | March 24, 2007 9:54 PM

Brady is still the head of the party that runs this city. If those that he helped elect are not making the right decisions for the city, and he agrees, then he shouldn't support them for re-election. After all, it was the machine that he heads that gave him $20K for his campaign - doesn't this sound like good ol' Philly politics - the kind that needs to change?

Posted by Michael | March 24, 2007 11:16 PM

Anonymous:

I'm still slayed by the pension that pays him as he was working 40 hours a week for that carpenter's union. Is this guy a Congressman or a Capo?

Posted by Anonymous | March 25, 2007 4:11 PM

The city turning around is mostly the result of an increased nationwide interest in urban living and a hot housing market and has little or nothing to do, IMO, with Brady. If anything, I think the city has been turning around in spite of some very bad leadership.

Posted by Dave | March 25, 2007 10:59 PM

eddie:

How little real info some of you are privy too...If you really and truly are satisfied with the overall leadership in the City of Philadelphia via John Street, then -your selection for mayor should be either Knox or Fattah. See, these are the two (2) choices forwarded to the electorate by none other than the man who continually serves himself, Ed Rendell. There is no denying that Rendell has his hands in this race and only cares about what he determines is best for him. After all, his plan has placed him in the Governor's mansion!

Posted by eddie | March 26, 2007 6:51 AM

Knox and Fattah also happen to be the two who are polling highest above Brady, and eddie happens to (I think) be a Brady supporter. There you go.

Posted by Dave | March 26, 2007 8:53 AM

Thanks Dave..I flunked mind reading....and I am voting for Milton Street as a write in candidate, since as I said, it would be a continuation of the Knox and Fattah tragedy that Rendell orchestrated....

Posted by eddie | March 27, 2007 8:33 AM

I love how Brady's supporters all try to disown him. Poor guy ;-)

Posted by Dave | March 27, 2007 9:51 AM

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