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"The brothers and sisters are running this city. Running it!"
Philadelphia Inquirer (philly.com)
| 17 April 02
| Cynthia Burton
Posted on 04/17/2002 6:58:56 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
Philadelphia Mayor John Street Again Apologizes
By Cynthia Burton
Inquirer Staff Writer
Mayor Street stirred up debate with comments to the NAACP on Saturday.
A subdued Mayor Street apologized again today for his remark that "the brothers and sisters are running this city" but stuck to his pride about having helped African Americans attain important city jobs.
Speaking at the much-awaited swearing in of Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson at the Convention Center, Street softened his rhetoric, saying, "I am proud that the leadership of our administration represents the diversity of our great city."
That statement was delivered in a monotone, compared with his rousing, bring-the-crowd-to-its feet declaration Saturday at an NAACP convention here.
At that training conference before 700 people from up and down the East Coast, he had declared:
"The brothers and sisters are running the city. Oh, yes. The brothers and sisters are running this city. Running it! Don't let nobody fool you, we are in charge of the City of Brotherly Love . . . We have lifted the glass ceiling . . . It never ceased to amaze me that there seemed not to be the opportunity in certain strategic places for people of color. You can't say that anymore."
But today, after two days in which many criticized those remarks as racially divisive, Street appeared somewhat chastened.
Asked if he thought his comments Saturday were a mistake, he said, "I don't know whether I made a mistake. All I know is if people are offended, I regret anybody being offended and I don't intentionally offend people."
He added that "anytime you say anything about race in this city, people's attention is gathered and sometimes in an unprecedented kind of way."
Contact Cynthia Burton at 215-854-5778 or
cburton@phillynews.com.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
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To: southern rock
I have dentists in the family, so they take care of me. I even get a free toothbrush every 6 months. Courtesy of South Philly born dentists.
61
posted on
04/17/2002 8:39:27 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: mseltzer
I wouldn't put Rendell in the same category as Clinton
Like I said .. many things can be said about Rendell but before he took over .. Philly was on the verge of bankruptcy .. Rendall pulled the city out of that .. so for that I'll give him credit
Plus I still remember what Market Street looked like before Rendell took over .. looks a heck of a lot better now
62
posted on
04/17/2002 8:41:11 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: MissAmericanPie
I liked this comment by the mayor ...
Don't let nobody fool you,
You would think the mayor would at least have had a decent education.
63
posted on
04/17/2002 8:41:30 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
To: mseltzer
I hope she lives a long time. She will .. she is from the old stuborn irish genes .. lol
64
posted on
04/17/2002 8:43:00 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: UCANSEE2
You would think the mayor would at least have had a decent education. In Philly??? .. lol
65
posted on
04/17/2002 8:43:55 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: What Is Ain't
Lets hope so . After all , the man takes pride in the hiring practices to promote the diversity .... lol !
66
posted on
04/17/2002 8:44:33 PM PDT
by
Ben Bolt
To: Mo1
I agree to a point. Rendell was maybe the best of a pathetic list of recent mayors. He does deserve some credit.
67
posted on
04/17/2002 8:44:43 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: mseltzer
But it used to be comforting to know that I could get in the car at 4AM and get a great steak.LOL, isn't the Melrose Diner open 24/7 too?
To: Mo1
Hey, my cousin is a Philadelphia public school teacher. Wait a second, you're right. No chance.
69
posted on
04/17/2002 8:45:49 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: UCANSEE2
He doesn't need an edumakachion, he's the mayor.
To: Lancey Howard
My parents had their first date at the Melrose Diner. I don't like it much myself.
71
posted on
04/17/2002 8:47:30 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: Lancey Howard
Mayor Street was a jerk, is a jerk and will forever be a jerk. However, the people of Philthydelphia have the right to elect a criminal as mayor if they see fit to do so.
Just glad *I* don't have to live in that "city".
To: mseltzer
No chance Hey there is hope .. under John Street .. the State took control of the schools ..
You remember that Health Guru he hired shortly after becoming mayor .. she was going to shape up the folks in Philly and get them healthier .. problem was after she took the job she gained like 20 pounds .. lol
73
posted on
04/17/2002 8:51:33 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: Mo1
That was hysterical. He wanted the people of the city to stop eating cheesesteaks. Why not ask them to stop breathing too?
74
posted on
04/17/2002 8:52:36 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: mseltzer
I've been to Pat's Gino's and the rest, but Oregon Steaks was my favorite. No No No .. Dallessandro's at Henry Avenue and Wendover Street in Roxborough has the best Steaks
75
posted on
04/17/2002 8:57:51 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: Mo1
Dallessandro's at Henry Avenue and Wendover Street in Roxborough has the best Steaks
You are just plain wrong. Why can't you admit it? What is your problem? Oregon Steaks was better. Anybody would know that.
76
posted on
04/17/2002 9:00:42 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: mseltzer
You are just plain wrong. Why can't you admit it? Is this going to be like the Southern Folks and there talk of the Best BBQ .. lol
77
posted on
04/17/2002 9:02:27 PM PDT
by
Mo1
To: Lancey Howard
"The brothers and sisters are running the city [into the ground]".
78
posted on
04/17/2002 9:03:20 PM PDT
by
Consort
To: Mo1
No, the southerners can have their own arguments, but this is really important. Are you learning disabled?? Oregon steaks was the best, just admit it.
79
posted on
04/17/2002 9:05:15 PM PDT
by
mseltzer
To: Lancey Howard
...he should know better than to say this crazy stuff...the real irony is that Street was a loudmouth activist firebrand when he was young - breaking into meetings, disrupting council sessions, etc etc - he would have been the first to protest had some white mayor said something equally as divisive - before he "matured".....
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