Was it UPS that used to have the slogan "We do more before 10 am than most people do all day" before "What can Brown do for you?"
Anyway, the Nutter-elect continued his march towards inauguration with a couple of high-profile appearances, including one pretty big victory.
As we wrote about yesterday, Nutter, teaming up with Dwight Evans and a whole lot of pitchfork holding, torch waving parents, gently nudged the Parking Authority into pitching in a little cash for the School District for this year and next. Extensive coverage of the win, including a quote from PPA Executive Director Vince Fenerty that seems to be a pretty thinly veiled shot at the current administration can be found in the DN, Inky, Bulletin, Tribune, Metro and KYW. (WHYY radio report coming later).
The Fenerty quote, from the Inky version, is, "I see it continuing to go up under the Nutter administration, and you can quote me on that in big, bold letters." So if it was so easy and if he can be so sure that these payments will increase in the future, what kept it from happening during the Street administration?
Nutter was appropriately deferential to the group of parents who stormed the gates of the Parking Authority and drew attention to this issue - Parents United for Public Education or PUPE (pronounce that Pyewp, please). Young Philly Politics congratulates one of PUPE's leaders, Helen Gym, who happens to be a regular contributor to their blog. Helen also took part in our first Next Mayor Community Forum where she talked about a number of issues, education among them.
Nutter and Evans were also quick to point out to the parents (as one of our commenters was yesterday) that the mission of the PPA is not to fund the schools. That's just one of the bonuses that was promised as a result of the state takeover. They encouraged the parents to remain vigilant in their oversight of the PPA and to focus their activism on the entities that can truly make a difference in increasing funding for schools - the state and federal governments.
Earlier today, Nutter joined State Senator Anthony Williams and a number of the city's black elected officials, as well as the leadership of the Laborers Union, to announce a commitment to increasing minority participation in the trades unions. KYW's Steve Tawa's report is here with the word inclusion in quotes in the title as if it's a code word for something else. Nutter's message discipline continues as he works the quote, "left out, locked out, or locked up, because of a lack of opportunity" into yet another story. This time around, though, he uses some stronger rhetoric describing the situation in Philadelphia as "an environment of economic apartheid." He even got a little folksy with, "[w]e're going to end the 'it's not me, it's the person behind the tree' nonsense going on." He's been a great study in the power of political messaging and the very careful choice of wording since the beginning of his campaign.
But don't worry. Even with this flurry of pre-inaugural activity, I'm sure there will be plenty for Nutter to do once he takes office.
Comments (1)
I think it was the Army slogan.
Posted by Army Strong | December 19, 2007 3:40 PM