Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring
Now that an out-of-town judge has ruled that Bob Brady can stay on the mayoral ballot — pending an appeal — Brady wants to focus on his vision for the city.
Brady, whose candidacy was threatened when he failed to include a carpenter’s union pension on a financial disclosure form, visited the Times office on Friday afternoon to discuss his bid.
A Democrat who represents the 1st Congressional District, he acknowledged being frustrated that it can take 18 months for a good piece of legislation to make its way through the process.
As mayor, progress would happen a lot quicker, he said.
"I want to get things done," he said.
An Overbrook resident who chairs the Democratic City Committee, he is focusing his campaign on safety, education and economic development. He has the backing of many labor unions, District Attorney Lynne Abraham and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5.
A former carpenter, Brady prides himself on knowing all of Philadelphia’s elected officials, most of whom he’s helped put in office. He also has working relationships with some Republicans. He calls himself a "unifier," not a divider. He thinks his honesty and persistence have paid off in helping to settle several labor disputes.
"I put people together," he said. "That’s what this city needs."
The candidate said he loves Philadelphia and wants to make it a better place for his two children and four grandchildren. He wants to instill neighborhood pride across the city.
Philadelphia needs a tough guy for the tough issues it faces, in Brady’s view.
"I’m going to bring this town back," he said.
Brady has been endorsed by almost every Democratic ward leader in the city. He has the support of every Northeast ward leader except state Rep. Mike McGeehan, who is neutral.
On Saturday, Brady campaigned extensively in the Northeast, standing in the back of a pickup truck while a sound system played a recording of the Doobie Brothers’ Takin’ It to the Streets.
The campaign caravan made stops at his local headquarters on Cottman Avenue, Franklin Mills mall, the Ashburner Inn, Lowe’s, the Oxford Circle home of City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione and Slack’s Hoagie Shack, where he was interviewed live on WIP (610 AM).
While all of the major candidates — Brady, Chaka Fattah, Dwight Evans, Michael Nutter and Tom Knox — have campaigned in the Northeast, most of the Northeast votes are expected to go to Brady and Knox, the only white candidates in the Democratic primary. If Brady wins, he indicated he would open a few more "mini-City Halls" in the Northeast.
As for public safety, he would hire more police officers, re-deploy others from desk duty to the streets and make sure officers have the best radio communications, protective vests and other equipment. He’d also use his negotiating skills to have the FOP and police department brass work together.
Brady believes the state legislature should allow Philadelphia to make its own gun laws, such as limiting purchases to one per month. He thinks Gov. Ed Rendell, a former Philadelphia mayor, needs to assert himself to get the law changed.
If Brady wins the primary, he will face Republican Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He likes Taubenberger and would look forward to the race because he thinks it would be an issues-oriented campaign.
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In other news from the Brady campaign, the candidate released a new television commercial about his plans to expand after-school programs in recreation centers.
At present, only 90 of 150 recreation centers offer programs, which Brady said provides constructive alternatives during peak times for juvenile crime. He also believes programs can prevent students from dropping out of school.
As mayor, he would fund the initiative by adding $5 million to the Department of Recreation budget and secure $10 million through Safe and Sound and other non-profit organizations.
"With more and more kids going home to an empty house, after-school education programs are a vital method to helping improve grades, but also and as important, keep kids off the streets and out of harm’s way," he said.
Also last week, Brady announced a "Housing Opportunities for Everyone" policy.
A former carpenter, he would establish a deputy mayor of housing and neighborhood preservation and create a housing trust fund from unclaimed sheriff’s sale proceeds to give grants to families to fund essential home repairs.
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Knox held his seventh free community dinner last Thursday in Holmesburg. More than 150 people listened to the candidate while eating pasta, meatballs and salad at the American Legion McMenamy Post 178, at 8041 Frankford Ave.
The candidate promised to increase funding for the Fairmount Park Commission and tie recycling collections, now every other week, to weekly trash pickup days.
The people in attendance seemed to like the wealthy businessman’s background and the fact that he is spending his own money.
Justine Karcher, of Academy Gardens, is a staunch Republican who was beaten up for wearing an "I Like Ike" button for GOP President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s.
Karcher likes Knox’s call for a 311 non-emergency number and believes he would not owe anyone anything in office, since he’s funding his campaign. She will become a Democrat to vote for him on May 15. The only other time she abandoned the GOP was to back former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo.
"I swore I would never switch parties, but for two good guys, I will," she said.
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Evans, a state representative, released a plan to promote Philadelphia’s arts and culture.
If elected, he would re-establish the Office of Arts and Culture and re-institute the Mayor’s Arts and Culture Advisory Council, which he credits with helping to expand the Avenue of the Arts.
In addition, he would work with the School District of Philadelphia and the School Reform Commission to make the arts an integral part of every student’s education. He thinks art expression can be a way to increase literacy and decrease violence.
And, he would push for a voter referendum in Philadelphia and the suburbs to create a revenue source to fund the arts and culture industry in the region.
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Nutter, too, outlined a plan to boost arts and culture in the city.
The candidate explains the importance of arts and culture by noting that the Philadelphia Museum of Art has higher annual attendance than the Philadelphia Eagles.
In City Council, he voted for renovation of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and more funding for the art museum, libraries and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
Like Evans, he wants to reopen the Office of Arts and Culture. He would give an additional $6 million to the Philadelphia Cultural Fund over the next four years and would increase funding for the Atwater Kent Museum, Mural Arts Program and Greater Philadelphia Film Office. He’d also make the city’s cable television channel available to musicians and other performers.
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Fattah, a congressman, last week released his plan to provide after-school opportunities, particularly for 12- to 16-year-olds in need of a place to go at the end of the school day.
If elected, he would open community learning centers in regions across the city. The centers would feature computer laboratories.
The cost would be $15 million. The funding would be obtained from revenue gained by leasing Philadelphia International Airport to a private operator.
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Fattah, Knox, Brady and Republican Taubenberger will participate in a panel on Making Philadelphia’s Neighborhoods Senior-Friendly on Wednesday, April 11, at Loews Hotel in Center City.
The panel, moderated by former City Managing Director Phil Goldsmith, will be part of a conference sponsored by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. The candidates will appear from 3:45 to 5 p.m.
Among the conference participants is the Rhawnhurst Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), an organization that assists senior citizens.
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The grassroots progressive organization Neighborhood Networks has made its endorsements in City Council races.
In the Democratic primary in the 7th Councilmanic District, the group is backing Maria Quinones-Sanchez over Marnie Aument-Loughrey and incumbent Dan Savage.
In the Democratic primary for Council at-large, the organization is supporting incumbents Blondell Reynolds Brown and Bill Greenlee and challengers Matt Ruben, Andy Toy and Marc Stier. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com