Insider Brady
tries his hand

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Bob Brady has probably campaigned in the Northeast more than any other mayoral candidate and knows he must do well in its neighborhoods to have a chance to win.
All but one of the Northeast Democratic ward leaders is supporting him, and a lot of the members of unions that are backing him live in the area.
Those supporters are hoping Brady pays special attention to the Northeast if he is elected mayor.
"I’m not going to forget about the people in the Northeast," he said.
One of his ideas is to increase services offered at the Northeast Municipal Service Center at 9239 Roosevelt Blvd. He notes that many people, especially senior citizens, don’t want to travel to Center City for various transactions and prefer face-to-face interaction as opposed to using a computer.
"I’d like to put in a much more effective mini-City Hall," he said.
Brady, 62, is a five-term congressman with a very liberal voting record. The 1st Congressional District includes Castor Gardens, Oxford Circle and Frankford.
Also, Brady’s the longtime chairman of the Democratic City Committee. As party boss, he has most of the ward leaders on his side. But many analysts question whether ward leaders and committee people can sway votes in a high-profile race such as mayor.
Brady’s citywide message is that he can work with the diverse elements of the Democratic Party and that he also has good working relationships with Republicans.
Among his accomplishments are ending the labor strife at SEPTA, Community College of Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia.
"I bring people together," he said. "That’s what I do."
Brady, a former carpenter and longtime Overbrook resident, credits Mayor John Street with focusing on improving communities through the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and lauds former Mayor Ed Rendell for revitalizing Center City.
"I’d like to do both," he said.
As part of his "Takin’ It To The Streets" campaign theme, he has stopped in diners and shopping centers in the Northeast. He’s usually accompanied by City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, former City Controller Jonathan Saidel — who bowed out of the mayor’s race to make way for Brady — and ward leaders.
On Saturday, standing on a flatbed truck in the parking lot of Chickie’s & Pete’s, the candidate spoke of hiring more police officers and extending hours and adding programs at recreation centers to help decrease crime.
"We need to make this city safe," he said, adding that businesses will be more willing to locate in Philadelphia if they believe their employees will be safe.
The candidate often frets that senior citizens are under a form of "house arrest" because of the crime rate. He’s heard some bingo players say they need to leave games early to get home before it’s dark. Others say they simply stay home to watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune instead of going outside.
"Make it their choice," he said of seniors who prefer to stay homebound. "Don’t make it mandatory."
When he entered the race for mayor, Brady was among the favorites, but Tom Knox has cut into his base of support. He’s criticized Knox for donating to President George W. Bush and another Republican, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
In debates, Brady has said Knox’s experience does not measure up to the public service record of himself, Chaka Fattah, Michael Nutter and Dwight Evans.
Brady has also taken offense to Knox’s focus on the city’s so-called "pay-to-play" culture, contending that he, Fattah, Nutter and Evans are not responsible for the municipal corruption that has been uncovered in the last three years.
When Knox defended himself about the contributions to Bush and Santorum by pointing out that he’s given $500,000 to Democrats, Brady suggested those donations are a form of pay-to-play.
Brady’s three main issues are safer neighborhoods, better schools and lower taxes.
He wants to hire more police officers, parole officers and parent truancy officers, increase funding for Town Watch groups and establish a cabinet-level position to coordinate a faith-based response to crime.
He would also use his persuasive powers to secure state and federal funding for smaller class sizes and expanded after-school programs.
And, he would more aggressively lower the wage tax.
Brady has been endorsed by District Attorney Lynne Abraham, City Controller Alan Butkovitz, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, the School Police Association of Philadelphia, firefighters Local 22, the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, seven locals within AFSCME District Council 33 and the Public Record political newspaper. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com