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 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]

Milton Street Doesn’t Know–Cough, Sharif Street, Cough–Who Attempted To Knock Him Off The Ballot

Hallelujah! Yesterday, the mysterious man known as Samuel Harris had his petition challenge to T. Milton Street denied, clearing the way for Ol’ Uncle Milty to run for At-Large City Council on the May 15 primary.

While it doesn’t quite have the same panache as a mayoral run would’ve, I think we citizens of Philadelphia will take what we can get here. Oddly enough, Milton Street wasn’t challenged for anything relating to, oh, living in New Jersey. Apparently everybody else felt he was “domiciled in Philadelphia.”

And KYW 1060 has this nice Milton Street gem:

“You know, you can’t really know who was behind it. I have a good idea who was behind it, but I’m not going to say.”

But then Milton Street went on to say his nephew Sharif, who is also a candidate for City Council at large, led the challenge. Uncle Milton said he respects Sharif for fighting, adding that he doesn’t take it personally.

I like a candidate who flip-flops almost instantaneously. It adds some realism into the election equation. Appeals are forthcoming to Milton not being kicked off the ballot, but for now, cross your fingers and celebrate. Might want to get a St. Joseph statue in the meantime.

Petitions OK, Milt hits campaign trail [Daily News]
Milton Street’s Bid for Phila. City Council Continues [KYW 1060]

Breaking: Milton Lives… For Now

Breaking: Milton Street survived the challenge to his nominating petitions! Of course, this is only a delay for him; he survived the challenge to his financial statement. The challenge to his signatures — many of which appear to be in the same handwriting — takes place on Monday.

Oh, yeah, and Street has blamed his nephew, Sharif Street, for challenging his petitions. Is he disappointed by that? “No, it’s going to be disappointing to him when I get on the ballot.”

Challenge Update: A long day, almost over [Fight for Room 215]

Sharif Don’t LIke It?

Milton Street, ex-candidate for mayor and current candidate for city council at-large, might not be on the ballot much longer. His petition has been challenged, as a court filing yesterday accused hundreds of his signatures of being fraudulent.

Sad, I know. However, there’s a fun twist! The man filing the challenge is none other than Sharif Street, Milton’s nephew and fellow candidate for city council at-large.

Okay, not really. But the man who challenged Milton’s petitions, West Philadelphia’s Samuel Harris, has been paid in the past by Sharif for political outreach work. So it was only $500 last year and $190 in 2003. But that’s close enough! Sounds like Sharif’s challenging Milton’s petitions to me!

Sharif denied the allegations, as his spokesperson said he hasn’t hired or asked anyone to challenge Until Milty’s bid for an at-large seat. Primary in a day and two months! Gawd, there’s still so much time left.

A dead end ahead for one Street? [Inquirer]

Milton Street Continues The Good Fight

Well, we all knew this day would one day finally come. But, unlike with Barbaro, I’m not rejoicing. Milton Street has dropped out of the mayor’s race. If he had done it after his rally failed to draw 5,000 people, then he’d actually be keeping his (first and only) campaign promise. But, instead, he waited until the only thing anyone can remember from the rally is Milton Street leaning over a coffin singing a-hahahahaha.

Milton said he was dropping out of the race as to not split the minority vote. Then, showing he knows how traditional politics work, he called on the other black candidates to find one who could win, then have the other two drop out. Because, of course, “black” is the most important quality we need in a mayor. (I thought “qualified” or “hard-working” or “has good ideas” or something was it, but apparently I’m wrong.)

Much like Barbaro, though, Milton Street will rise up from the dead. He’s running for City Council. And, really, the Inquirer’s Marcia Gelbart and Michael Currie Schaffer deserve a triple gold star for this description of Sharif Street after he found out Milton wasn’t running for mayor:

“Thank God,” Sharif Street whispered as his uncle told reporters that he wouldn’t run for mayor. “Thank God. This is a good thing he’s doing.”

But as his uncle’s new plan emerged, Sharif Street - who had just turned in 5,600 signatures - froze.

“I’m still gathering my thoughts,” he said, appearing stunned. Eventually, though, he rallied. “We’re going to figure things out,” he said. “Every individual has a right to run for office. In life you face the obstacles in front of you.”

If anyone has video or audio of Sharif Street’s head exploding on the spot, please pass it along.

Anyway, it might not matter. Milton Street’s petition was apparently pretty much just all filed in the same handwriting, meaning… yep. Sharif Street might need to file a challenge to get his Uncle Milton off the ballot. Can the other candidates just lay off and make Sharif do it? Please?

Milton Street now eyes Council - vs. nephew [Inquirer]
[Milton Head via David Maialetti, Daily News]