According to the Philly Mag profile of Tom Knox, referred to earlier today by Wendy, an incident from early in Ed Rendell's first term regarding special perks and US Air was attributed to Knox.
A member of the administration, saying he was acting under authorization of the mayor, had demanded VIP status in the USAir reservation system. He wanted automatic upgrades to first class for himself and his wife, and preferential boarding, and while Schofield and USAir had no problem with it …
“Who’s making this request?” Schofield was asked.
“A deputy mayor by the name of Tom Knox.”
Knox denies this one, too. Why, he’s had VIP status since the ’80s, courtesy of his black American Express card, so calling USAir wasn’t something he’d ever stoop to.
Although the black American Express card existed as a sort of urban legend back in the "me" decade, AMEX didn't actually introduce such a thing until 1999 when they began issuing a black colored card called the "Centurion" card. There are multiple explanations of this urban legend, including here and here and the official site of the Centurion. Oh, I'm sorry, don't you have the $2500 annual fee? No? Then I guess that last link won't be working for ya.
Since it's not a direct quote from Knox, it's hard to tell who got this wrong but if he's using urban legends to deny that he tried to he used his position in the administration to get that perk, then maybe that whole payday lending thing was actually the fault of that vanishing hitchhiker?
(edited to add) Just because he probably didn't think I'd do it, I wanted to credit the wife of the friend of mine who tipped me off to this as "a sharp-eyed, rich-person friend of The Next Mayor." No word on whether she has one of these mysterious "black cards" but apparently the first rule of black card is you DO NOT talk about black card.
Comments (9)
Knox is a pathological liar. He lied about his career, lied about his accomplishments, and lied about his independence.
Like a used car salesman looking to move a "cream puff" owned by a little old lady, he has led the voters of Philadelphia down a primrose path to mediocrity.
It takes more than ideas to run a government, it takes leadership skills. Tom Knox is accustomed to running a business like a monarch.
Government doesn't work like that. You have to hand hold and get people to agree; its called democracy.
Stop the monarch of Rittenhouse square before he runs this City straight into the ground.
Posted by Jill | April 24, 2007 7:08 PM
Tommy knox is a liar..liar, liar, liar, liar,liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liliar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar,liar, liar, liar, liar, liar,and fraud!
Posted by Tommy the Loan Shark | April 24, 2007 10:29 PM
Like Bobby sticking the city with more John Street? Clearly, the only "change" Bob Brady would make is to which cronies get the no-bid, no-show, jobs.
"The conduct of your personnel raises suspicions that this might be an attempt to intervene in and even [to] compromise an election." Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah, Joe Hoeffel, in a letter to the FBI.
"I was just spinning the shit, and it worked." Bob Brady, to Philadelphia Magazine, 2004 after indictments involving narcotics and municipal corruption were handed down.
Posted by Anonymous | April 25, 2007 5:51 AM
Hey Anonymous -Dougherty paying you to get up early and write your crap? Paybacks are a bitch!
As for John Street -Doc always takes the credit for getting him in - I guess now he is changing direction to line his pockets and promote his new Johnny Doc agenda. You better get your self another BA -throw the bum out and get to work.
Posted by Carpenters True Blue Union | April 25, 2007 10:32 AM
I have it on good authority that Knox told the magazine that he used his black card.
Posted by RogerRoger104 | April 25, 2007 2:19 PM
Hilarious. Then it is a straight up total lie. What an elitist creep.
Posted by Jill | April 25, 2007 3:14 PM
Bob Brady has more than a little trouble with the truth.
He has even admitted to being a liar.
He sold out the whole city, just so Street would get re-elected and he could keep hand in the till.
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