This board seems to carry a very visible bias so I have decided to write why I think Mayor Street won this election. Replying to each thread would take up too much time. I tried to become involved in the discussion during the election but was nearly driven insane by some of your rantings. I’ve said it before and I will say it again – back up your facts if you want to tango. (And that doesn’t mean cite something from someone’s blog)

So you want to know why Mayor Street won by 18 points? Here is why.

Mayor Street is Real
In the spring and summer of 1999, Mayor Street made promises to the City of Philadelphia. He said he would: attack the problems affecting the quality of life in neighborhoods, fight for the children of Philadelphia, cut taxes and attack the blight that has plagued the city and gone mostly ignored by every administration prior to his.

Guess what? He kept those promises.

-187,000 abandoned cars removed from the streets
-$131 million more for our school district PER YEAR
-After school programs created for 25,000 children
-$156 million in tax cuts
-Thousands of miles of streets plowed that were previously ignored
(All of this info was reported in the Daily News and Inquirer, if you need the stories, I’ll email them to you.)

What about Sam?
In those four years (or for that matter, the past 20 years), where was Sam Katz? Does anyone know? One story the city was fortunate enough to hear about entailed his mismanagement of a 2-person staff. Truth be told – I don’t think he had anything specific to do with the embezzlement claims. I could be wrong but I don’t think he is a criminal. However, I really don’t think he has any ground to stand on when criticizing the mayor. When he tried to tie a part-time recreation department worker to the mayor and labeled him “a mayoral aide,” I laughed out loud. Someone not in the mayor’s office shoots off his mouth and it is an atrocity……but your own partner, who is a 4-time convicted criminal, steals hundreds of thousands of dollars and you think “I was scammed” is an appropriate answer? That’s right – Mark Robins was a partner. He has an ownership stake in some of the companies Sam owns. This was not some hired gun he pulled off the street. The embezzlement story wasn't so much about Sam the Thief - it was about Sam the Mismanager. But let’s move on past that problem to January.

So Sam is gone for 4 years and then pops up in January to run for mayor (shocking, I know). What does he do? He proceeds to walk into countless community centers to make promises that are impossible to keep. As reported in the Daily News, those promises exceeded $500 million dollars in the year 2004 alone. On top of those promises (that were above and beyond the current city budget), Sam repeatedly refused to discuss what services would be cut as per his “tax plan to save the city.” What’s that mean? It means he would have had to cut $552 million from the present budget to accommodate his promises to communities and to stick to his tax plan. 1% for each of the following years would also be cut from the budget. The grand total of those 1%-a-year cuts was $1.182 billion. $1.182 billion is a bit too much for me to not receive an explanation. The Inquirer was right when it called that move “an insult to voters.” In addition to that problem with the tax plan, Katz was never able to find one Wall Street Bond Company to buy into his idea. Without that key ingredient, there wouldn’t have been a tax cut because the hole would have been even larger than the one he already PLANNED to create.

The Bug
On October 2nd, the Daily News released a poll. The poll said that the mayor was winning by 8 points. Most notably, Sam Katz’s unfavorable rating was soaring. Days later, a listening device is found and the election is hijacked. Unbeknownst to most, the Katz Campaign was delivered their excuse for another election loss.

The first poll after the bug showed the mayor’s lead increasing. That was only the beginning of a trend Sam Katz couldn’t have been happy about. Before Election Day arrived, some polls showed Mayor Street’s lead as high as 22-points. Was the bug racially motivated? I'm not sure but I do know a couple things.

-The US Attorney is extremely political - you do not get a job as a campaign manager for Rick Santorum and Arlen Spector if you are otherwise
-The Attorney General is also extremely political - as a Senator he was fiercely Republican and proud of it
-The FBI has a long history of targeting African American public figures without indicting them - Martin Luther King Jr., Mayor Willie Brown, Mayor Coleman Young (40 Years under surveilance) etc.
-Philadelphia is on the top of the Republican's Priority List for the 2004 Presidential Election - does that mean the city will change overnight if Katz had won? No, but if Philadelphia's Democratic turnout slipped slightly, the state could very easily go to the Republicans. Mayor Street was a major reason Bush lost so bad in Philadelphia - ask him if you don't believe me. Or you could read his Faith Based Initiatives speech.

Election Day
Election Day came and Mayor Street annihilated Sam Katz. Even in Sam’s backyard, Chestnut Hill, Mayor Street took 45% of the vote. And the allegations that Mayor Street racially divided the City? Riiiiiight – he more than doubled the amount of white voters he had in 1999. And if the city was so divided, how come there were no reports of racially motivated altercations on Election Day? The only news I heard had to deal with white-on-white crime, mostly from the labor unions.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the fact that Mayor Street’s record of accomplishment earned him a second term. Mayor Street doesn’t want to be mayor because it was his childhood dream – he wants to be mayor because he is truly concerned about the neighborhoods in Philadelphia. His record shows that. When compared with a person who has spent almost $30 MILLION and never won a single election, he is the clear choice.
An 80,000 vote victory is proof of just that.

Talk about rantings? Where do I begin to rebute that long ranting you did Lisa?

Where was Sam during 2000-2002? Sam didn't "disappear" after '99. He was heavily involved in the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and then merged it with another prominent business organization, which became "Greater Philadelphia First". And he's CEO even. I wish you and Street would quit that propoganda of yours, about Sam "disappearing".

Honestly, where was John Street during 2000-2003? We barely saw anything of him since the last election, and during this election. Wait, I take that back, when we did see him in the past few years, he was always busy defending his actions or the brutha/sista actions. Frankly, he wasn't even available much during this election, except for those po' black churches on sundays. In fact, take a look at this thread and defend him?: http://www.phillyblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1289

Frankly, Sam _IS_ a businessman at heart, and as such _DID_ rightfully engage in some external-to-Philadelphia development projects. He had every right to do something like this. But what justifies it moreso is that mostly all of his external projects were used to better municipalities in other places. In a sense, he has great experience developing business-related projects for cities. And this would have been quite an asset to have in a Mayor of Philadelphia. ESPECIALLY right now, in this time where we are losing businesses, and we got all these projects (as Safe Streets, etc.) that require money from a tax base that heavily comes from having these big businesses.

Street kept promises? Well hell, that's easy to do since those "promises" relate to things that a regular Mayor should be routinely responsible for anyways. Keeping streets clean and safe, funding schools--please. Street is lucky to have a reputation that he's doing his job requirements. No rocket science there. These were easy wins.

Sam made some promises, yes; but Sam gets credit for taking more of a risk. Sam's promises are strategic, and are not easily attained; especially being a Republican Mayor against a Council of in-bred Democrats that felch off City residents for their cozy nest eggs. Sam gets credit for putting himself out there to take that risk. If Sam's promises (like lower wage tax, etc.) helps bring big business back to the City, which all indications are that it would, then we'd have a bigger tax base to keep our programs funded and monies coming in to help the more desperate areas that need it.

Sam's business scandals? Should I even start mentioning the reasoning behind the current FBI/Justice Federal Investigation into John Street's Regime? I didn't think you wanted to go there. Fine, enough said. Too bad Street can't more justly claim to "being the victim".

John Street won in '99 because he rode Ed Rendell's coattails. Plain and simple. People hate John Street, as he has a bad reputation, and proven allegations of being quite the mo'fo'er. This is the same guy Ed Rendell refused to leave office for Governor in '97 because 'people would have hated him for leaving and letting John Street take over this City' (Ed's paraphrase from "A Prayer for the City" book).

And John Street won in '03 because he used racial motivations, preyed on people's fears of bush/ashcroft (hence the margin of the white vote he got), and again ride Ed Rendell's coattails. Again, he couldn't win on his own.

The last poll before the bug showed Katz in the lead [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/987753/posts]; and everyone knew Katz was on his way to victory. Street had regular war meetings in City Hall, sweating bullets over this one long before election season started; he knew he was in trouble.

A Mayor's job is to be the visionist, a strategist, and a salesman for a City. And John Street hardly comes close to fitting that bill. He's done nothing but shoot for easy wins (don't even mention the stadiums, that surely wasn't rocket science to pull off) with his 'bruthas and sistas' in his po' no/west philly neighborhoods. Granted, they need some attention, and John did a decent job; but timing says Street is nothing more or better than a transitionary Mayor and we're not gonna see any more progress for the next 4 years.

Sam Katz has the experience to be the effective visionist/strategist/salesman that Philadelphia needs right NOW. Business leases are up soon, and Sam has big ties into the business community here. John Street's relationship with West Market St. has been nothing but childish and abrasive. Sam has what it takes to cut those deals and be sure that the programs for the neighborhoods are funded, and be an all-around champion for our City.

[And btw: 25 years of political experience is really not what is in vogue right now; look at Arnold in California. People are sick and tired of these life-long career politicians; 25 years says to me that he's had a great amount of time to discover all the loopholes in our laws and use them to his advantage. Again, look at the current Federal Investigation and see where that gets Street. I can't believe he has the nerve to try to stay head of this City and drag it through the ringer, as it will be in the next 6 months. He should be stripped of his position for that and for the FACTS that he and his friends have played racial remarks to their advantage.]

An 80,000 vote victory proves nothing more than that is another 80,000 added to the already 180,000 proven idiots that care nothing about this City, and only about themselves. Well enjoy it while you can, because when Street goes DOWN, and he WILL be going down, your free rides will be over. Again, hopefully it will happen before businesses decide to leave, and take away money from the tax base that funds your neighborhood programs.

In fact, Street is already taking money away, isn't it? Not two days after the election, he pulled 40% away from Safe Streets. Talk about a sucker-punch! You voted for this loser, deal with him.

edited: for clarity

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[ PHILLYTIM.NET ]
ROCK AND ROLL HAS ARRIVED & THE STREET SHACKLES ON THIS CITY ARE GONE!

Honestly, this grows wearying. Street partisans will be Street partisans, Katz partisans will support their guy. The difference? Katz partisans knew their opponent well. We've had plenty of time to study John Street and his record. From statements like the above, it's painfully clear that Street partisans were not listening to Katz any longer than it took to cull a few tidbits on which to build their polemic.

Katz walked into countless neighborhood meetings...and talked about what he wanted to do for the city. If you'd like to call that "making promises," then so be it, but that is what happens in a campaign - you outline your vision. John Street didn't do this very much, it's true. Why? Because he wasn't PRESENT at many of these neighborhood meetings & candidates' forums - he either couldn't be bothered to show up or said he would be there & blew it off. And he didn't talk about his vision for the city (his "promises") - because he doesn't have a vision. He has no clue what to do next.

The Republican conspiracy bogeyman remains ludicrous paranoid nonsense. There is NO evidence to support this notion, nor has there ever been. Sure, there are politically connected people in the national & local judicial system. Those who are so quick to suspect dirty political shenanigans on the part of Republicans seem oblivious to the equally slimy political games played by Mssrs. Fattah, Borsky, and Hoeffel, who jumped in and ran with the conspiracy ball and just about ran it into the ground. Those of you who are such devoted Democrats - why don't you go and ask Governor Rendell's wife, the judge, if she thinks the entire judicial system (of which she is a part) could be corrupted in order to bring down Street?

Time will tell with Street. Let's revisit his "record" at the end of his second term. 60 percent of voting Philadelphians wanted him back, it's true - those plus the ones who didn't bother to vote at all have 4 years to justify their decision.

Thanks Lisa. Now I see the light and errors of my ways. I wish I could go back and change my vote for Street. :roll:

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Jason
Lynn Swann 06'

"Individualism is absent when other peoples' standards, not reality and reason, are ones primary guide."

Zogby isn't awake yet

My god folks, get over it.....

Katz was not in the communities for the last 4 years, he was helping with the business side of the city...but guess what...while business control everything the CEO's only have ONE vote.

Katz lost not b/c of some illigetimate thing...he lost b/c street was able to out poiticize him, plain and simple.

The race card....He played it, sure but he is a politician trying to win, politicians will do almost anything to win. An opportunity presented itself, and he took full advantage of it...that is smart politics.

Absolutely.

I am not the biggest street supporter, but he won...he BEAT sam. If Sam REALLY wants to run again and win he needs to show his face in the neighborhoods NOW! Period.

My question now is where is sam, and does he plan to run again? If he does he needs to start drumming up support in the next few months, and if he isn't running, then for the staunch republicans on the board, your rep needs to start getting involved soon.

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it's too early to talk about the next election. and Lisa, please stop bringing up the tax cuts like they were street's idea. he atempted to stop them.
we paid millions to tow abandoned cars that the city could have even profited off of. the city was the reason for the abandoned cars in the firstplace. it's nce that mroe streets were plowed, but many went unplowed and that is a basic city service.
that's not to overshadow safe streets and it's perceived effect. that's not to overshadow the fact that much of the city doesn't work. that

Oh my stars -- are you guys gonna talk about this every week until the next election? :wink:

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Mahatma Gandhi

Safe Streets sucks. It does nothing. I live 2 blocks from a safe streets corner. A car is almost always on the corner. Yet a rape occured 1 block from a safe street corner. Why? The criminals know exactly where the cops are going to be. That doesn't help anyone, but the people who live right on that corner. So one house is safer and the rest of the city is worse. Nice. :roll:

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Jason
Lynn Swann 06'

"Individualism is absent when other peoples' standards, not reality and reason, are ones primary guide."