FBI Steps Up Probe (Phila Mayor Street)

The Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | Oct. 9, 2003 | Emilie Lounsberry and others

[JohnnyZ]

I tell you one thing: I ain't flyin' into Philly any time soon.

I do, all the time. Nice place.

[JustPiper]

Mayor No Target

[JustPiper]

BTW he did blame the republicans and said it has been proven in the past how conservatives work and many in his admin are saying the same thing...ala Watergate...blech!

[JustPiper]

Recall ;)

[all4one]

It seemed that Street along with the head of Police Sylvester Johnson had the mayor's office checked for listening devices on a regular basis. Utilizing city police to check for these devices is very questionable. Street had also hired an outside firm to check for "bugs". Someone this paranoid about finding bugs must have a great deal to hide. The timing could not be better. Katz better win this race in a landslide.

[all4one]

I am just wondering how soon until the NAACP, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton show up to play the race card.

[Think free or die]

Yes, it is a nice place! And the airport isn't so bad either. I suspect most of this airport connection is financial rather than safety or homeland security related. There's a history of corruption in the airport parking franchise. There have also been management changes at the airport in recent years which looked a little strange at the time. If I'm remembering correctly, a recently-hired airport manager was found to have bogus credentials (diploma mill?). Maybe some Philadelphia Freepers will recall the details.

I wouldn't rule out a Homeland Security connection with the financial stuff, especially with the local Imam involved. While I don't care for Mayor Street or his brother, I've never had the impression that they're involved in anything terribly complex. It's more typically some thuggery combined with garden-variety sloppy accounting and convenient lack of oversight that permits city money to find its way into a variety of waiting pockets. Cronyism, elevated to an art form.

[aristeides]

Shouldn't the city police have checked with the FBI (and/or the U.S. Attorney) first to determine if there was a legitimate law-enforcement reason for the bug before they tipped off the mayor?

[TheFrog]

Re:"I wonder why they decided to do the sweep."
This was a routine sweep conducted on a periodic basis by the local PD.

[connectthedots]

Street released his statement after Richard Manieri, spokesman for Philadelphia U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, said authorities had told the mayor where he stood. "We have stated very clearly to Mayor Street and his attorney the mayor's status in this matter," Manieri said yesterday. He would not elaborate.

Code for "We told him his ass is going to prison." No federal judge is going to authorize the FBI to bug a big city mayor's office without probable cause.

[Think free or die]

If the surrounding counties could vote, you might get a recall. Since it's only Philadelphia voters, forget it. Philadelphia picks up a lot of revenue through wage tax on non-resident workers, or by a variety of state subsidies. Wasting tax dollars through corruption may be upsetting to taxpayers, but many of them are ineligible to vote in Philadelphia, so they can't really do much about it. Taxation without representation.

[TheFrog]

Re:"Is this a common practice in mayoral offices? Call me naive, but the fact that they do these periodic sweeps makes it look as if someone has something to hide." Most government offices, at all levels, that deal with sensitive / classified issues are routinely swept. You need to remember that bugging devices can be easily purchased.

[TheFrog]

Re:"Shouldn't the city police have checked with the FBI (and/or the U.S. Attorney) first to determine if there was a legitimate law-enforcement reason for the bug before they tipped off the mayor?" They did contact the FBI who immediately said "It wasn't us". I would bet that this is just another rouge agent breaking the law for personal or political gain.

[End Times Sentinel]

If I'm remembering correctly, a recently-hired airport manager was found to have bogus credentials (diploma mill?). Maybe some Philadelphia Freepers will recall the details.

 

Almost, there was a woman recently appointed by Street, who upon further investigation it was discovered that she never actually graduated from Harvard after all.  Initially, she resisted pressure to step down, but finally caved in.

 

Also, early on in his administration, he fired Airport director Alfred Testa and replaced him with Street flunky Charles Isdell.  The first of an endless series of Street firing "whitey" to put a "brother and sister" into a position.  At one point, he had a 100% record although he just may have screwed that up too.

 

While I don't care for Mayor Street or his brother, I've never had the impression that they're involved in anything terribly complex. It's more typically some thuggery combined with garden-variety sloppy accounting and convenient lack of oversight that permits city money to find its way into a variety of waiting pockets.

 

Well said!

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[aristeides]

Does the firebombing of a campaign office of Street's opponent in next month's election warrant a federal investigation?

[aristeides]

Street aide one of 2 charged in threats outside Katz office:

Both men allegedly had words with landlord Lewis Harris on Aug. 26, hours before a suspected unlit firebomb and a piece of concrete were hurled through office windows at 1704 N. 22d St.

Alexander and Temple have denied threatening Harris or having anything to do with a firebomb.

[Think free or die]

"there was a woman recently appointed by Street, who upon further investigation it was discovered that she never actually graduated from Harvard after all. "

That's the one I was thinking of - Thank you!

[TheFrog]

Re: "Does the firebombing of a campaign office of Street's opponent in next month's election warrant a federal investigation?" Yes, but if that was the case the FBI should have simply made the of the shelf "We do not comment on on-going investigations" and not said "it was not us".

[aristeides]

I wonder if knowledge of this investigation was so closely compartmentalized that the normal spokespeople of the FBI were unaware of it.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Does the firebombing of a campaign office of Street's opponent in next month's election warrant a federal investigation?

Since Katz had frequent personal contact with the felon that was fired from Street who was suspected in the firebombing.....well that might be a great big YES.

I am sorry Philadelphians, you have a fabulous city, but you have the choice between two crooks for Mayor.