Another Tale Of Milton Street Woe

Hey, errbody, Milton’s back! Well, not really, actually; Gar Joseph just has a report about him in today’s Clout.

Hey, Milton didn’t even pay Richard Riley the promised $100 for working 14 hours at the polls on Election Day. Street was a City Council at-large candidate.

Riley, 66, lives in the Opportunity Towers senior high-rise in North Philly.

The day before the May primary, Street aide Tony Hudson dropped by and recruited Riley and a pal, Tony Whitfield, to hand out brochures at the polls the next day. He promised them $100 each.

At the end of the 14-hour day, in which Riley didn’t even get the usual free sandwich, nobody showed up to pay him.

Said Riley: “I think it’s a sham. We did a long, hard day’s work. He just used us.”

Hudson, meanwhile, said, “I don’t think anybody got paid. He ain’t by himself on that. There was no money.”

You know, I feel bad for those who got stiffed, but, I mean, if you’re working for Milton Street, you pretty much know you ain’t getting paid.

Milton stiffs a senior [Daily News, 2nd item]

An Election For Change, Except When It Wasn’t

Hey, Michael Nutter and Tom Knox did well! Whoo! Reform and change and it’s a new day in Philadelphia politics and “corrupt and contented” and Shame of the City, etc., etc.

The “reformers” did well in yesterday’s mayor’s race. The two somewhat outsiders, Nutter and Knox, were 1-2. But in City Council races, the reformers did well — but not well enough to win in most cases.

But let’s pass over that and get to the real story here: The end of the political career of one T. Milton Street, the former hot dog vendor and current New Jersey resident. Milton finished 17th out of 19 candidates in the Democratic primary yesterday. The loss pretty much ensures the end of Milton’s political career, since his trial on tax evasion and fraud starts later this year.

I supported a Milton candidacy because the value of his entertainment was worth much more than the $100 grand or so he’d be banking every year. (And he could have to pay it back to the city in back taxes, anyway.) If one estimates the average Philadelphia citizen pays, say, 5-10 cents in taxes to help pay Milton’s hypothetical salary, that’s quite a bargain for Milton’s non-stop wacky antics. A movie costs, what, nine bucks? It’d be the first time I knew my tax dollars were going to something I supported.

Plus, he wanted to legalize pot.

Let’s also hear it for Maceo Cummings and Rodney Little, who managed to lose to Milton Street.

2007 primary results [The Next Mayor]
[Quote courtesy of today's Daily News]

Milton Street Brand Water To Be Hot Seller May 15

Gar Joseph reports today about the election day tactic of one Milton Street. The erstwhile mayoral candidate is still running for City Council At-Large and is counting on a hot day — and perhaps a water system shutdown in the city — to carry himself to victory:

The much beleaguered, indicted, over-taxed mayoral brother is running for City Council at large. The water bottles are the work of Albert Littlepage, a candidate who has put together a field organization for unendorsed candidates like himself and Street.

The bottles will be distributed in key neighborhoods on Election Day.

“I think it’s a splendid idea,” Street said. “You can’t drink the water without seeing my lever number on the bottle. I think it’s a winner.”

Milton has also put aside the beef with Sharif Street attempting to knock him off the ballot — alleged by Milton himself — and is endorsing his nephew for Council At-Large.

We suggested a slogan: “Two Streets are better than one.”

“I don’t know,” Milton said, “one of them might be full of potholes.”

And I wonder which one that would be.

Clout | Brady: If not me, then Nutter - but never Knox [Daily News]

Milton Street Owes Money To Everybody

Milton Street’s City Council at-large campaign isn’t drawing too much attention. Maybe people know he can’t top singing on top of a coffin or maybe he’s just being held down by the man. (Fight for Room 215 reports he was turned away from a debate on Saturday.)

So how’s a former elected official already slated to go on trial in October — it was pushed back from the day before the primary — for corruption and tax charges get some media attention? Simple, of course: Have the city go after Uncle Milt for owing almost 400 grand in taxes.

A recent review by the city’s revenue department showed Milton owes $392,573 in taxes. It’s based on the federal indictment the government handed down in November, which charged him with failing to report $2 million in taxable income.

Milton, of course, is defensive:

“It’s totally absurd, because, number one, I’ve never earned that much money,” Street said. “I’m not getting into the airport stuff because it’s the subject of a federal investigation. But if the city is trying to protect its own ass based on figures they can’t substantiate, that’s up to them.”

“I don’t want to get into the federal charges because I am going to deal with that after the election,” Street told the Daily News last week. “But I will tell you, what goes into the wash will come out in the rinse. That’s when the facts will come out.”

Stay strong, Milt. Only a few more days ’til you’re City Councilman-elect Milton Street.

City going after Milton for 392G in taxes [Daily News]
Poor Milton [Fight for Room 215]

Jannie Blackwell’s Mother Cried, Too

Jannie Blackwell and Tom Knox officially formed their alliance yesterday, launching plans from the Hall of Justice to fight Lex Luthor, The Riddler and the lesser-known Gorilla Grodd.

Actually, they announced their partnership and mutual support at the Lucien E. Blackwell Homes, named after Jannie’s late husband.

Why are the two partners? Tom says his ticket is comprised of people who want to end “pay-to-play” in City Hall, but there’s another reason, too.

Blackwell conceded they lack a long-term relationship, though both grew up in public housing. “In fact that’s what makes it the better,” she said of their new political alliance. [...]

Asked whether theirs was a marriage of convenience in order to help Knox get African-American votes and Blackwell attain the Council presidency, Knox said: “That’s not true. I have more black votes than two of the black candidates combined.”

Blackwell responded: “Convenience is OK. It’s all right. Any way it comes is all right. My people will support Tom Knox.”

Irony is dead.

As such, any possibly successful idea is picked up on by the other candidates, and Dwight Evans announced the Public Housing Authority’s endorsement of him at Abbotsford Homes — where Tom Knox grew up.

Knox, Blackwell form an alliance [Inquirer]
Oh, snap! [The Next Mayor Blog]
Tuesday: Knox Dreams Of Jeannie

Tom Knox To End Tradition Democratic Politics In This City By Endorsing, Uh, Sharif Street

Tom Knox, the candidate who’s positioned himself as an outsider, as a guy who’s going to end the no-bid contracts, the insider deals, reform the democratic machine and make his mother proud has corraled his team who he wants on City Council.

It includes three current councilpeople — one who is responsible for the bill which would require tour guides to be licensed, another who had is responsible for the the bill boycotting Don Imus, and another who is Jannie Fucking Blackwell — as well as a plagiarist, the son of a former mayor and, of course, the son of the current mayor.

The release, from yesterday:

PHILADELPHIA – [Today], Democratic mayoral candidate Tom Knox will announce his recommended ballot for Philadelphia City Council. All candidates supported by Knox are committed to putting an end to pay-to-play politics in Philadelphia.

Invited to attend: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Councilman Juan Ramos, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Vern Anastasio, Cindy Bass, Bill Green, Cecil Hankins, Matt McClure, Matt Ruben, Sharif Street

Indeed! I can’t wait for Mayor Sharif Street in 2014.

The Tommy-Jannie ticket [The Next Mayor Blog]

Milton Takes On Fort Knox

Milton Street was in court paying traffic tickets yesterday, and since Milton Street is the greatest politician ever, the Daily News‘ Regina Medina was there to chat up the friendly neighborhood Milton man.

Street paid $337 of the $637 he owes to the court, and went on a $50 a month payment plan to pay off the rest of his total. (The question here is: Does Milton Street have a job? How does he plan to get $50 a month — assuming he doesn’t win his bid for City Council, that is. Hell, how does Milton Street afford tolls?)

And now that Milton Street isn’t actually running for mayor anymore — though he is on the ballot for City Council — he’s done talking about the man he dubbed Watermelon Man, Michael Nutter, and has moved on to everyone’s new favorite target, surprise frontrunner Tom Knox.

Street accused Tom Knox of lying about his plan to add more cops. “No, Tom Knox is lying,” he told the Daily News. “[If] he knows how to fund it, tell us how you’re going to fund it. Where are you going to get the money, Tommy?”

And then, there’s this:

Street said he’ll protest Monday outside Knox’s headquarters, though he doesn’t know at which one of the three offices he’ll stage his protest.

Hell, Milt! Protest at all three! You and Tommy the Loan Shark can chill all day. And it’s supposed to be nicer on Monday, I hope. Don’t want Milton to get rained on or anything.

Street pays his tix, then nips at Knox [Daily News]
April 4: Nastiness Begins In Mayor’s Race

Milton Defies All Odds, Remains On Ballot

If Bob Brady is eventually kicked off the ballot — which is probably unlikely — he’ll be one of only a handful. Jesus White and Queena Bass are still on the mayoral ballot. And, most importantly, yesterday a Commonwealth Court judge denied the petition to kick Milton Street off the ballot. Milton is in the running, people!

Making this more amazing is Street managed to stay on the ballot without the benefit of any legal counsel whatsoever. Street argued his own case, and he told KYW 1060’s Mike Dunn he stayed on the ballot due to his incredible arguing techniques:

“I made oral argument, and I gotta tell you, man, I was in good stride, man, I was goin’ full steam ahead.”

As is Milton’s campaign. He says next week he’s going to be unveiling “a proposal and a plan” to curb gun violence. We’re holding our collective breath.

Milton Street Survives Phila. City Council Ballot Challenge [KYW 1060]

Milton Not Young, Still Making Mistakes

Milton Street appeared in commonwealth court yesterday, and he’s still on the ballot!

Okay, so they haven’t decided if he’s going to be kicked off the ballot yet. The court promises a ruling sometime next week. But things aren’t looking good for Milton, who only filed his papers — which were due Monday — yesterday because he said the lawyer for the challenge told him there wouldn’t be an appeal. The lawyer, Jeremy Walker, said he didn’t tell Milt he was dropping the challenge.

Of course, since Milton was in court, it’s time for him to bash his nephew again! After being asked how Sharif Street is denying he’s the one responsible for the challenge, Milton replied:

“Of course he’s going to deny it. Listen, it’s a family thing. Sharif is young, making all kind of mistakes out there, and I’m telling you, he’s behind it.”

Can we go back in time to remember what Milton was like when he was young? If he was making even more mistakes back then… man, if only blogs existed back then. And if only I was alive.

Milton Street says trouble is relative [Inquirer]

Milton Alleges Grand Scheme Against Candidacy

Ohh, no. The Milton Street beat has cooled down over the past couple of weeks, probably because he’s no longer singing draped over a casket. (Once you do that, it’s sort of all downhill from there.)

But, well, today might be the very end of his candidacy. Today, Milton Street says he expects his candidacy for City Council At-Large to end because of two people: (1) his nephew, Sharif, and (2) Jannie Blackwell. But of course! What bigger enemy of Milton Street is there than Jannie Blackwell!

Street won his ballot challenge back on March 19. Street says attorney Jeremy Walker originally told him he wouldn’t appeal the ruling for his client, Samuel Harris, who originally challenged four Street petitions. And he said Sharif Street, the mayor’s son and Milton’s nephew and also a candidate for City Council At-Large, also told him he was safe.

But, ha ha! It’s going to continue. And then a “visibly upset” Milton Street said yesterday Jannie Blackwell is footing the legal bill for the whole challenge. Why? Street says she wants to be Council president, and she’s looking for Sharif Street’s vote. Blackwell, of course, says this is nonsense, and Walker says he’s never even met Blackwell, but here’s Milton’s quote:

“She figures that with Milton Street on the ballot and Sharif Street on the ballot, both of us will lose and therefore she loses her vote for president. So, she is the one who is financing this whole thing for Sharif to get me off the ballot so that Sharif can be a vote for her to be Council president.”

You know? It’s nice to know Milton Street knows he’s going to lose. Hey, at least he’s grounded.

Milt expects his candidacy to end today in Harrisburg [Daily News]