By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer
Mayor John Street last week welcomed the media to the second biweekly informal roundtable discussion at his campaign office, and he had a question of his own.
Street wondered why media members weren’t asking state House Speaker John Perzel and Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz what they thought about recent comments by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Santorum appeared to link gay sex to bigamy, polygamy and adultery.
His comments angered gays and even polygamists.
Katz issued a brief statement that read, “Throughout my entire life I have made every effort to be inclusive, open-minded and respectful of individual privacy. In my view, it is inappropriate to equate consensual acts between two adults with those that are harmful to others involved. It fuels prejudice and promotes misunderstanding.”
Perzel simply said, “I’m not Rick Santorum,” adding that Street should stay out of the matter because he never fully explained his infamous boast to an NAACP convention that “the brothers and sisters are running this city.”
Street met the media on April 24 at his campaign office at 1601 Cherry St.
It was a busy day for the mayor.
Earlier, he attended a memorial service for the late City Councilman Thacher Longstreth and joined songwriter Kenny Gamble to unveil a $100 million plan to build 400 homes in South Philadelphia.
He also made a bet with Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli on the outcome of the Flyers-Senators NHL playoff series. They get Tastykakes if the Senators win the best-of-seven-game series, while we get BeaverTails — a hot pastry smothered in cinnamon, chocolate and other toppings — if the Flyers prevail.
Later in the day, Street issued an executive order and signed a bill passed by City Council, both designed to ensure equal access to city contracts for minorities and women.
At the media gatherings, Street addresses a single issue before opening the floor to questions.
In the first session, he bragged about the success of his Safe Streets anti-crime initiative.
Last week, he listed the merits of his Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.
Street, who served on City Council for 19 years before winning the mayor’s office, recalled a time when it was a big deal for the city to remove an abandoned car or clean a vacant lot.
Now?
“We take it all for granted,” he said.
As for Safe Streets, the mayor can point to corners where a police presence has eliminated drug activity.
Street has a message for drug dealers: Philadelphia street corners are closed to their trade.
“You’re not going to be able to sell them,” he said.
In response to a question about criticism that drug sales have merely been moved to houses, Street said police officers will be better able to tie dealers to drugs sold from a home.
In the past, drug dealers would be able to hide small quantities in an abandoned car or house, then simply make the transaction when a customer pulled up to a street corner.
Now, drug dealers will presumably have larger quantities at their homes.
In addition, Street thinks it’ll be harder for drug abusers to find dealers. He spoke to one former addict who said she gave up drugs simply because she couldn’t find any.
The success of NTI and Safe Streets has convinced the private sector to invest in communities, according to Street.
Citizens Bank is providing $104 million in mortgage assistance to low-income folks. Developer John Westrum is building houses in the city. Street has even met with Toll Bros. in hopes that the housing developer will invest in the city.
Street said his focus on neighborhoods, along with the joint public/private financial commitment, is responsible for community improvements.
Crime and the prison population are down, enrollment in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs is up, mortgage applications are increasing, and people generally feel better about their neighborhoods, he said.
“They think there’s some future in staying in these communities,” the mayor explained.
Moreover, in stable neighborhoods, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) is encouraging responsible home ownership and preventing a slow, steady decline in communities.
On other matters, Street defended the building trades, saying they’ve made a great contribution to the city. He cited construction of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, new stadiums for the Eagles and Phillies and the boom that followed the city’s decision to build higher than the statue of William Penn on top of City Hall.
The building trades have come under criticism for a lack of minority members. The mayor said he’ll talk to union leaders about releasing their membership lists, adding that he’s secured a commitment to diversity from building trades boss Pat Gillespie.
Reform will begin, the mayor believes, with greater access to apprentice and pre-apprentice programs.
Street will not let all of the building trades — among his biggest political allies — be blamed for problems at the convention center.
“It’s one union — the carpenters,” he said, labeling them “recalcitrant.”
In regard to the dispute between City Councilman David Cohen and Philadelphia Housing Authority executive director Carl Greene, Street said he will ask the housing boss not to discuss contract and pension issues with Council.
The mayor said such a hearing would set a bad precedent, with the potential for contracts with police officers, firefighters, municipal employees and teachers all negotiated in public.
Street said Greene is doing a “great job” but should answer questions in front of Council — but only under certain conditions.
“Councilman Cohen doesn’t run PHA,” he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com