Philly's Corrupt Mayor Is The Last To Know

Sure, John Street padded the city expenditures with money for his friends.

Longtime unskilled acquaintances found themselves in lucrative city jobs with foggy job descriptions, yet were still unable to come to work or explain what they did for a living. Other luckless buddies suddenly found themselves as presidents of minority firms awarded no-bid contracts for work that never seemed to get done. His wife was given a plush office and wonderful perks, but her only qualification seemed to be that she was married to the mayor. Yeah, he admits he took money from his campaign coffers and took his family on an expensive European excursion. And oh yeah, workers from his campaign have nasty habit of firebombing people they don't like.

But John Street is no crook. Integrity matters with this man.

Right.

Finally, the FBI is looking into the stink around this mayor.

Yesterday morning, agents raided a small financial firm run by two Street supporters, including one of Philadelphia's most prominent Muslim leaders. Under Street's administration, the firm got a no-bid city contract to collect delinquent taxes.

Last night, Street told reporters he had done nothing wrong.

"My integrity is very important to me," he said.

Sure it is, John.

In the statement, Street said lawyer Arthur Makadon, whom he described as "my friend and adviser," had been told by the U.S. Attorney's Office that Street is not a "target of any federal investigation."

That does not necessarily mean that federal authorities are not interested in the mayor. Target is a specific term federal prosecutors use to describe someone who is likely to be indicted.

In a telephone interview, Makadon would not reveal anything further about what he had learned from the U.S. Attorney's Office about Street's status.

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.

Yes, John. You ARE being investigated. Understand?


- posted by total @ 10/09/2003 06:02:00 AM .