More Philliness

Street offers salute to himself
"We have prepared this city for tomorrow," the mayor told a business group, which responded with a valentine.

By Marcia Gelbart
Inquirer Staff Writer

Mayor Street, in one of the last big speeches he will make before leaving elected office next January after 27 years - the last eight as mayor - both celebrated his successes and sought to shape an agenda for his successor yesterday.

For 38 minutes, he talked to regional business leaders about the opening of the city's new sports stadiums and the airport's considerable expansion. He reminded them of his administration's consistent focus on children and after-school programs. He touted the months-old smoking ban, the city's wireless program, and, most recently, the successful effort to keep Thomas Eakins' The Gross Clinic painting in Philadelphia.

And lest anyone forget, Street mentioned some things twice - such as $1.2 billion in tax cuts enacted on his watch.

"Over the last seven years, we have laid the groundwork for future progress," Street told a crowd of hundreds at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's annual mayor's luncheon, held at the Sheraton City Center Hotel. "We have prepared this city for tomorrow."

The chamber responded in kind to Street, with a seven-minute, Comcast-sponsored film whose title said it all: "A Valentine Tribute to Mayor John F. Street." In it, about a dozen community and business leaders looked back on the mayor's achievements. (TM - Gagggg!)


Street's ties to the business community have been tenuous for years, with corporate leaders complaining, especially in his first term, that they largely felt ignored by him.

Even now, he has yet to deliver on old promises. Three years ago, for instance, Street vowed to deliver the chamber $1 million so it could better market the region. One $500,000 check came last year. City Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff said yesterday the remaining $500,000 would arrive before this year's end.


The Trekmedic is beside himself with laughter:

Hey, Mayor Feces-for-Grey-Matter - here's a salute for ya: