After reading a recent poll, I am definitely worried a bit. Philadelphia needs a change, period. And after hearing street today say that everything is fine in the city (status quo) and that conshocken's growth has nothing to do with the city, I just don't know.

If Katz doesn't win, I'll be p.o.'ed, very p.o.'ed, I wonder if I'll even stay in the city or continue to be such an advocate for it. While I am not saying that I don't love this city and all it has to offer, but what it says about this city as a whole is sad, people are willing to put up with corruption for HOW LONG?

I dunno, I'll never leave, I love it here, but I'll feel a bit less "Philadelphian" if Street wins, I'll still love my city, but my fire will be put out for a few months..

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That's a great point. I don't live in the city, but if Katz doesn't win (again), I'm really going to have to take a step back and contemplate how much I should even bother caring. Why try and help Philadelphia if Philadelphia doesn't want to help itself? If Street wins, I think that's another nail into Philadelphia's coffin. That's not to say that some day, some year, some decade, the city could become great again, but Street sure as heck will not lead this city to greatness. Neither will any of his fellow machine cronies. If Street wins again, that's a sad, sad day in this city's history.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

How You Can Help Elect Sam Katz Mayor

Wednesday, October 15
Direct friends and family to the Sam Katz for Mayor website, www.sam2003.com, so they can become informed about Sam's vision for a growing Philadelphia.

Add a tagline to your personal e-mails: "Vote Sam Katz First. Push Button #218 on November 4."

Thursday, October 16
Forward the Sam Katz campaign e-newsletter to your entire e-mail address book so that everyone stays up-to-date on the issues that matter to Philadelphians.

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Friday, October 17
Volunteer to help the campaign with Get Out The Vote literature drops on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2. Call the Volunteer Line at 267-765-1401, ext. 3000.

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Call and e-mail every college student you know. Will he or she be in town to vote on November 4? If not, mail them an absentee ballot application. Applications are due no later than October 28 and the absentee ballot itself must be returned to the Philadelphia City Commissioners' Office before 5:00 p.m. on October 31.

Sunday, October 19
Pull out your address book. Address postcards to your Philly friends, encouraging them to vote for Sam. "Hi! I'm voting for Philadelphia's future by voting for Sam Katz on November 4th. We Can Do Better!"

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It's Pin Day. Wear two Sam Katz pins today -- on your jacket, your purse, your briefcase or your backpack. One is for you and one is to give to another Sam supporter to wear.

ELECTION DAY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2003 (RAIN OR SHINE!): VOTE SAM KATZ FOR MAYOR!

How are the polls? Last I heard, Street was well ahead (something like 10%) as far as likely voters are concerned. However, that was before the bugging thing came out (then again, I don't expect that to change things much). Anyway, I am indeed dissapointed that Street has done so relatively well considering the state of the city, the scandals of his administration, etc. I think he will win (if history is a guide) and what that will say about the city is that people here are stuck in thier ways, resistant to change, vote along party lines, consider race to heavily, etc. The fact that Street was able to beat out Katz last time around with those ridiculous commercials about how people shouldn't vote for Katz because he's a Republican (no other points made) alraedy showed how voters in this city are so stuck in their ways that politicians can count on this to get ahead. Regardless of who wins, however, it seems that the city will nevertheless keep its head above water in spite of it all. It has done so for the last several decades despite high taxes, corrupt city government, a state that wishes it would drop dead, etc. While it would be nice to have a city government that would actually do positive for the city, the city has done *ok* (not great, but it is hardly on a slide the way Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, etc. have been) despite itself for decades and will probably continue to do so.

True, the city does "ok," but half the reason for this is because it's tops or almost tops in history, culture, etc. Also, there is wealth here, though much of it has moved away. The city still benefits from things it has had, but has done little to help itself, as all of us here know.

It's amazing that Street can say "vote for me, I'm a Democrat" and half the city listens. Total brainwash.

Agreed. The potential for this city to be greater than every other U.S. city asides NYC is clearly here. It is just that the city seems to throw obstacles at itself every step of the way. First there's corrupt government, then there's the anti-business attitude, then there's the quality of life issue (trash everywhere, panhandlers and drug addicts everywhere, police presence nowhere, run-down facilities), etc. Anyway, it seems that our "leaders" are main causes of these obstacles. Even if Katz wins, the other jokers in City Council, the unions, the NIMBYs, etc. will gang together to try their best to stop any progress. What we need is for some non-governmental entity without all the red tape to do stuff. The DRPA seems to be doing good stuff for the city (though I'm sure they're corrupt as well), so has the Center City District, the Goldman Group, etc.

You're right, but corruption and red tape are everywhere. I think the problem here is that because the business climate just plain sucks, the land and the potential is not worth what it should/could be worth. In other cities, progress happens because money-making often goes along with progress. Hopefully, someday, taxes will fall, and that will help encourage good projects, regardless of the amount of red tape of stupid NIMBY's there are here. With taxes the way they are, we practically have to beg developers to do things (ie Cira Center needs a KOZ as the pitch, etc).

Wil,

I agree with you. I didn't vote for Street last time and will not be voting for him this time...

I'm pretty much going to stay here regardless of who is mayor. I'm pretty happy for the most part. But, I do think it's time for a change.

P

Even worse - I've heard a few things in the news the last day or two indicating some polls showing that Street has actually GAINED support since word got out of the bugging.

Think about that...that's saying "I'll vote for the guy if he's under federal investigation and may have committed criminal acts; I wasn't that interested in him before, but now that he may be a crook, he's definitely got my vote!" Pretty sad.

OK, so here's something that may be a factor in this - the OJ jury dynamic. Despite evidence of wrongdoing (of varying degrees of convincingness, if that's a word), it has been said that a lot of African-Americans will identify with a fellow African-American that is perceived as being the target of persecution by the (presumably white) establishment. Isn't that the standard explanation for the acquittal of OJ? And I suspect that if this bugging thing has mobilized the African-American vote for Street (and who knows how much faith to put in these news reports?), then this dynamic lies behind it.

I can understand that people who've felt themselves wronged by the system for decades are not going to rush to condemn Street based on the actions of an agency as duplicitous as the FBI - fine, so be it. But still...to support a candidate for your city's highest office BECAUSE he's under investigation and could conceivably be brought up on criminal charges?? That's pretty scary. If that's what things have come to, then we truly have a dysfunctional democracy.

Neil, it is an interesting phenominon, we as blacks were so happy to see OJ "get off", when in most circles people resented OJ for tunring his back on the black community and by marrying a white woman, yet when his back was against the wall, the community supported him, even in light of the evidence.

But lets not make this an OJ thread.

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