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Inquirer calls for Brady to be kept on ballot!
Submitted by gman on Fri, 03/16/2007 - 10:22am.
If any of you didn't read today's Inquirer, I think it's worth reading the editorial: "Editorial | Brady's Pension Puh-lease...".
They argue that it would be down-right wrong if Brady were removed from the ballot. "Brady collected about 24,000 signatures, and has received some influential endorsements. All these factors ought to outweigh a relatively insignificant mistake - even if it wasn't really a mistake." and "But defeating Brady in a courtroom on a legal technicality, instead of taking him on in the public square on the issues of the day, would amount to a "neener, neener" strategy that doesn't benefit voters. Fix the technicality, if need be, and move on to the bigger issues that really matter to the people who live and work in Philadelphia."
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Knox's free ride
So apparently, Knox had the teachers cheering last night, by promising all kinds of things. I don't know anyone not on his payroll that actually wants him as mayor, yet he is in first place.
When is he going to be held accountable for his non-existant record of public service and his predatory lending and pay-to-play?
It seems like everyone is giving him a free pass to go out, buy everyone dinner in Roxborough and the Northeast, hire the staff from Power 99, and just buy his way into City Hall. Anyone else have a problem with this?
So let me get this straight...
You equate giving a plate of pasta and salad to interested residents who want to hear Tom speak with buying his way into City Hall?
You don't think much of your fellow citizens, do you?
Please note: No one was offered, say, WAM money or a patronage job to come to the dinner. As to our staffing - while I'm not aware of anyone from Power 99 who works for us, I don't really see why that's a problem.
Are you implying there's something wrong with Power 99?
Golden Girl
All I'm saying is Golden Girl.
As for fellow citizens, I'm starting to think less since Knox has been in first for two polls now!
76 percent of people are not
76 percent of people are not voting for Knox, either. And Philadelphians are known for strategic voting, as well.
Obviously these polls are good for him, but, no, I dont think he is going to win.
Knox
Dan, you're point is fair, but you know that in a 5 way split, someone can win with less than a majority. Thus far, Knox is in first in two polls, and his momentum is building. This is all about money. And if he wins, yes, he will have bought city hall. And for whom??
32-35
% can win this election for mayor. You don't think Knox has the resources to purchase 8-11 more points?
Daniel, my friend, this is of the few times I hope I am wrong and you are right.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Few??!?!
Few??!?!
No, obviously, I am worried. But, the airwaves will not be his alone for too long. And, the debates....
Run Offs
Jim,
Would you support a system where we had run offs for situations like this?
The Committee of Seventy
and Mr. Stalberg roundly castigated newly elected State Rep. Cherelle Parker for buying lunch for election day workers in her district.
They are silent about this. I believe that urge to see incumbents or party people fail trumps any of the abuses or misteps of challengers.
I have come to accept this situation in this election and just try to get through May 15th.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Committee of 70 is failing
The Committee of 70 has completely ignored their responsibility in this race. They could have called for Knox to limit his personal spending voluntarily. They could have called for him to stop practices like paying for petitions or buying people food. They could have raised awareness about his predatory loans and pay-to-play past.
They have chosen to give Knox a free-ride. Why is that? Does he have friends on their board?
They actually couldn't do
They actually couldn't do most of the things on your list, either because they're not within Seventy's well-defined mission, and/or because they're a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and so commenting on candidates actual worthiness for office is forbidden.
I don't think paying petitioners is necessarily something that Seventy does or should oppose. There are good and bad ways of doing it, and I don't know enough about how Knox's camapaign collected signatures to have an opinion
effect. I've already commented on the buying food thing - what's unethical about providing food at a voter outreach event?Commenting on his past would be so far out of bounds in terms of both their mission and the legal limits on their work that it's not even funny.
Councilman Kenney: Are you
Councilman Kenney:
Are you seriously trying to equate buying lunch for people who are on the city's payroll to run free and fair elections (I'm sure that vols and campaign & party workers were included, too, but they're not the problem) with running voter outreach events at which dinner is provided? Knox is not at all one of the candidates I'm considering voting for, but you were. However, your recent comments here trying to put all challengers in the "no bogus challenges" group, and now this absurdity, have put that consideration to rest.
You have to distinguish legitimate concerns about how a candidate is "raising" money and totally bogus concerns about how he's spending it. If Nutter or Fattah or Evans wants to offer me some refreshments as an inducement to come learn more about their candidacies, I'm all for it.
City Payroll?
They were Parker's volunteers and committeepeople on election day. Co70 had a fit and press conference to decry the action.
I do not think either Parker's or Knox's largesse is evil. I was just pointing out the double standard. If any of the other candidates were doing this there would be an outcry from some folks here and some of the reform groups. Not the end of the world.
Just worth noting by the way, the folks who run elections are not on the city payroll. They are all volunteers. I would have thought you would have known that. Wonder what it would be like if one election none showed up. Would you willing to spend 12 hours running a division for a donut, sandwich or slice of pizza?
The "outreach dinners" are not the issue. Knox's unrestrained ability to spend gives him the luxury of unlimited TV and the extra money to do these things like opening campaign offices all over the city and paying for petition circulators.
I paid no one to circulate my petitions. Imagine though if I did. No one here would really care. Would they?
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Jim...
Could you tell me any place where Tom Knox has been more roundly criticized, for longer, than this site?
Back when no one in the damn City seemed to care about payday loans, except maybe your bud Vince, we were raking him over the coals for it. Google Tom Knox, and see what comes up right after his own site.
As for Cherelle, again, over and over I have stated if there is a reason to like Dwight Evans, it is because of people in the Dwight camp like her.
70
I began this particular conversation with my percieved double standard of the Co70 regarding two similar actions of buying food for people and the two different reactions from the same group.
Imagine if the DN or Inky ran a story claiming that I was paying people to circulate my petitions. The reporter would go to one or two of my opponents for some negative comment.
You think that this story would not be a day or two long discussion here of how questionable it was for me to do such a thing. A challenger, in my opinion, would not get the same story or attention.
That's life, but it doesn't make it innacurate.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
They were Parker's
The original documentation is missing from Seventy's site, but some remains in the Google cache. Here's they're update to their original concern, where they try to wipe some of the egg from their face regarding allegations they made that were totally bogus about her entering polling places. They also say: "Seventy continues to be concerned about Ms. Parker’s providing free lunches to election officials throughout the 200th District who were not affiliated with her campaign."
"Election officials" to me connotes the election boards: judges of election, inspectors, and interpreters. If all they're talking about is party committeepeople and her campaign workers, then you're right: it was a bogus claim, or at least, if they're going to suggest that food buys votes, they should get on Knox's case too. But if they're talking about the elected, paid (more on that in a sec) election boards, then I think they're on solid ground.
I just got off the phone with someone at the Board of Elections, 215-686-1592, who quoted me the following daily rates of pay for election board officials:
Judge of Elections: $100
Inspectors: $95
Translators: $75 (plus $30 if you go to an interpreter's training)
All of the above are also eligible for an additional $20 if they go to a general training and subsequently work on election day.
It's definitely not a lot for a 14-15 hour day, but it's also not volunteerism.
I've spent that many hours, standing, outside, with candidate literature on more than one occasion.
Like any candidate, if you paid people a decent hourly rate rather than per signature, and provided good training/supervision to make sure that they were getting good sigs (which is important regardless of whether a petitioner is paid or unpaid), I would have no problem, and would argue against anyone who said they did.
If Knox paid per signature, then he is worthy of any derision and criticism he gets, as far as I'm concerned.
Less than
minimum wage is for all intents and purposes, volunteer.
Bottom line, they are no shows and there is no election. Lunch is not something that should be critcized especially when 70 is so loudly quiet on "outsider" Tom Knox spending much more money than Parker did.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Ummm, only an untrained
Ummm, only an untrained interpreter gets less than the current min wage of $6.15 under that schedule. And "for all intents and purposes, volunteer" is pretty different from "Just worth noting by the way, the folks who run elections are not on the city payroll. They are all volunteers. I would have thought you would have known that."
But you're right - the rates need to be adjusted to comply with the new minimum wage law. Especially for the general, which will be after the July 1 increase to $7.15.
The other factor is that the 2005 election is right after Stalberg became the head of 70. I think he got a little carried away and said some things he possibly now regrets. While I disagree strongly with you about the similarity between the two instances of giving gifts of food, it's possible that if Knox were running those events then as opposed to now, he'd get a different reaction from them. There's also the fact that this news story hit the papers today, a lot of other things are happening right now (compared to the snoozer that was the 05 municipal election, where the 200th district special election was the only thing approximating a contested election), and 70 could still comment.
Splitting hairs
about the city payroll. Are they on the payroll now? Yesterday? A stipend two days a year does not a payroll make. Your first post on this issue insinuated that they were employes of the city benefits and all.
By the way, while I like posting here and the give and take, I would really like to speak with a person whose name and affiliation I can know. It makes the conversation more genuine or how can I say, transparant. Ummm.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Real Names
Unfortunately, not everyone's employer (present or future) looks kindly on blogging, which is why some of us have to opt for anonymity, so that Google can't find us. Academia is particularly down on blogging -- if an employer finds out you write a blog, and it's not a blog devoted to your field of study (even then, it's tricky), the assumption is that you don't take your scholarly work seriously. I had to go anonymous on my other blog, too, for the same reason.
But to disclose as much as I can without the Google monster finding me:
My first name is Tim (although Schrift is definitely acceptable);
I study and teach at Penn in one of the literature programs;
Partly because my dad has worked for county government in Detroit for 35 years, first at the jail then later at the county executive's office, I'm a detail-oriented political nerd;
I work for no campaign, but support Michael Nutter for mayor, meaning I'm voting for him and sometimes send emails to his web site (which I wish were better);
Dan and a few other people on this blog know where I am and how to find me.
Thanks
I look forward to meeting with you at one of the notorious YPP get togethers.
I am also at Penn at the Fels center. Jim
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Likewise, looking forward to it.
...
No problem with buying dinner
I have no problem with a candidate buying dinner for people. I would rather have the money going to meet and greets than going into Carol Campbell's slush fund. If Knox has a message than resonates, people will vote for him. If he does not, they will eat his pasta and leave.
Supporting Michael Nutter for Mayor (as of today)
Political Doc
Exactly my point.
After all, Tom doesn't have a decade in the public eye. The dinners are a good way for people to hear what he has to say, and if they don't like it, they won't vote for him.
Susan
you are correct.
Knox has not had a decade in the public eye. He has had decades in the back room cutting self serving deals for no bid contracts that he will now rid us of.
Only in America.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
so you saying you're
a first hand witness?
or is your knowledge just hearsay?
______________________________
Phillyville
No
In general there are not a lot of first hand witnesses to these deals. He did quite well, however, through government contracts. I never hear a denial from the campaign, though.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Municipal contracts are a matter of public record.
If you know of any such "backroom deals," I suggest you list them. If they do exist, and there was something illegal or inappropriate about them, you should tell us why. (And perhaps you could also explain why you haven't spoken out about them before now. Perhaps you could name the other parties involved?)
And if you're being sloppy with the facts and making assumptions, or using innuendo for your own purposes, perhaps you should stop.
As to why we haven't responded: Campaigns as a rule don't respond to theoreticals. If you have something specific you'd like us to address, have at it.
You will have
an opportunity to respond when a candidate has been able to raise the money necessary to expose your guy for what he is. Those of us who have been around for a while, know quite well how he ammassed his fortune. You know quite well too, I presume you will have some spin prepared when the negative commercials finally do hit.
He did get no-bid contracts at all levels of government, run a predatory loan operation and benefited by government through his medical insurance business. Now he is "taking the sale sign off city hall". As I said, only in America can you rip people off and use the money to redo your image.
The entire campaign is extremely arrogant. If Knox does win, I can imagine the first press conference with you Susan as his press secretary. Say what you want about those of us in office. People may have criticism, but we do listen and often respond.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
The Councilmen is correct
The thought of this man becoming the next mayor of Philadelphia is beyond scary. Here is a man completely removed from the average Philadelphian, literally, buying his way to the top. Yea yea, he had a crappy childhood. But what has he done since? “Deputy Mayor”? Come on, everyone I’ve talked to during that administration says they all thought he was a joke and/or they never saw him. And now this guy whose money has been made stealing from the poor, running an insurance company (I haven’t figured out what’s worse, the predatory lending or insurance companies) while never being part of this community suddenly wants to lead it? Susan, how can you spin this shit and sleep at night? What’s your excuse for his quip against Nutter (“I paid more taxes last year than you have in your whole life”)? What’s your lame excuse for his “Irish” signs down broad street, when he isn’t even Irish?
I only wish that Kenney’s bill had passed. At least then this election would become fair game and not something this guy buys. He pays for petition signatures, he’s paid for a lead in polls and I’m sure he’ll pay people to go to the voting booth. If anything, his campaign shows how sad America is, all money and no substance and this guy can pull off this sorta lead? Susan, this guy literally has no policy. He doesn’t claim how he’ll get anything done, he doesn’t know the issues and his only remark is “lets take the for sale sign of city hall”? And more importantly he can’t claim he knows anything about leading a city in this much of disrepair. To do that, he has to be able to sit down and talk to people. Not pay others to do it for him. Oh, and this remark of yours about being in every neighborhood? His support in South Philly is laughable at best. I never see him or his staff down here and his campaign office on Broad street is always always always empty. Go figure.
I’ve already picked out my guy for city hall. As far as I see it, 4 people are highly qualified to do the job. Not some guy who has his doorman walk his dog around Rittenhouse Square.
Councilmen, if this guy wins and you wanna move outta the city on May 16th, I’ll split gas fares with yea…
Knox's Dog Walker
You mention Knox's dog walker...I believe he's a guy named Carlos who is his full time butler... Does anyone know how he pays him?? I assume it should be listed on his tax return...
Carlos
Actualy Carlos is an old friend of mine and was married to one of my best friend's cousin. He was a waiter at fine restaurants and is a mime. I am sure Carlos is here, and paid, legally. There are enough reasons to criticize Tom Knox. There is no need to go after his help, unless they make payday loans at high interest rates.
Carlos the dog walker
Thanks for that clarification...I don't know this fellow. I assume Tom Knox is prominent enough that he wouldn't mess up on something like that. But it would have to show up on this tax return, correct?
Michael Youngblood
I agree that his butler is not an issue...but does anyone know who this guy Michael Youngblood is? Apparently, he's Knox's driver and doing political outreach for him.
I was talking to two cops I know, who said they were voting for Knox until they found out about his close association with this Youngblood guy. They said they had worked on tracking him down for a murder or something in the 18th District. I did a google search and found some stuff about being in the JBM and also stealing over a $1 Million from a homeless shelter.
Anyone know what his story is, or why he and Knox are so close?
woa
Youngblood was fired by Street for not disclosing his federal drug conviction. He was also close to Katz.
Knox and Youngblood
Here is something I found online in an old Mary Patel column:
"Michael Youngblood is making a comeback. The former aide to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is being released from federal prison next month after being convicted in April 1999 for extortion, tax evasion and other crimes when he was in charge of overseeing contractors in the homeless shelter called Deliverance."
and
"Prior to this conviction, he had been imprisoned for cocaine possession during the 1980s.
Youngblood was a block captain and a political activist. He worked as an aide to Blackwell until then-City Council President John Street had him removed because of his prior convictions. Youngblood continued to work for Blackwell as an unpaid aide until his involvement with Deliverance.
Youngblood said he is amused by all the rumors saying he is coming back to stir up trouble. "They must afraid of me," he said."
Susan, what's up with Knox and Youngblood?
Susan, maybe you can clarify. What role is Youngblood playing in the Knox campaign, and why do they spend so much time together?
Knox and Pay to Play
The Councilman is correct. Mr. Knox is Mr. Pay to Play. He profited well off of city contracts while he was the supposed $1 a year deputy-mayor (until he got booted out after a little over a year). Just ask anyone that worked with him at the time.
What is going on right now is a travesty. Even money shouldn't be able to buy this much. It's one think to have no credibility. It's another to have a down-right aweful record, and just spin that into a campaign -- with no one for the press to the Committee of 70 or even Acorn holding him accoutable.
It makes no sense, unless everyone is scared of all his money.
Knox's contracts
Susan, I don't know if you want to put this challenge out there...I'm sure the contracts will come to light. Maybe you should spend your time figuring out how to spin this one.
Councilman Kenney is correct
Knox's deals with government didn't just fall out of the sky. There is always politics involved in these things. Dave Davies reviewed Knox's controversial business history in this article: http://www.thenextmayor.com/vault/20070220knox_profile.html
I am fairly confident that Ken Snyder has more than enough material to produce TV ads that will keep Susan busy posting here at YPP. But I must say I find it most amusing when Councilman Kenney decries "backroom deals," given who his patron is. Although not as amusing as state Rep. Cohen explaining why transparency is unfair to elected officials. This is why I love YPP.
He is not
running for mayor. Knox is.
It is nice that you have finally, publicly revealed your bias. As a newspaper professional, I would think that you would a more objective observer rather than a participant.
By the way, I am 48 years old and have been in public office for more than 15 years. When does one stop having a "patron" or being someone's guy? Or is it just more convenient to portray some people the way you often do?
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
I think, if there is a story
I think, if there is a story on YPP--it is Rep. Cohen's inability to understand transparent government and why it is necessary. Further, his desire to skirt that need.
You're "backroom deals" comment, however, has no such merit. You're not accusing the Councilman of such deals. And, to my recollection, no one ever has. Rather, you look to his "patron." I think the readers of YPP are intelligent to realize a man (or woman) is not "guilty" (a term I use with caution as at this time, no guilt has been found in the Fumo case) based on who their friends are or by mere implication. Particularly when the Councilman has his own record.
Fumo is not running for
Fumo is not running for Mayor. But, part of it is true- there is a little selective outrage. But, that is life. It might not be as odd as Mark and the disclosure thing, but it is funny.
Anyway, that said, at this point, Jim has a large enough body of work that he can not really be judged by Fumo, and instead on what he has done in office.
Jim, I will say this... You can't say it out loud, but I can: I think you will have a lot more fun on City Council if some of these challengers win.
Gaetano: I fear you misunderstand my post (and perhaps
Jim does too.) In my vocabulary, a backroom deal is not anything illegal so I am not accusing anyone. It is how democracy functions. I just felt there was an element of humor in this thread as "backroom deals" are seen as bad or good depending on who's doing the deals. I don't know what's biased about my amusement.
Jim, you have a good point about your links to Vince. Just as Rick Mariano was always Doc's guy and Blondell always Chaka's gal and Darrell always Street's guy, you are always Vince's guy. And, you're right, that kind of easy shorthand ignores the individual accomplishments of each. Ally would've been a better term than patron. But I still find this thread funny.
When You Control Television, You Control Everything
Gman,
The Russians let the little guys publish what ever they want, but ruthlessly rule the broad media (TV). That government knows that whoever controls TV, controls it all.
The media isn't going to say too much to hassle a $10,000,000-$15,,000,000 customer. That's why I think Tom Knox is getting a free ride. Frankly, at this point, I believe that the only way to not have Tom Knox as Mayor is for the various folks to get behind one candidate and take Tom Knox on, head to head along with a stealth street campaign. Of course I would prefer that Bob Brady be that candidate.
I know Dan thinks that almost 80% of the electorate doesn't think Tom Knox is their man. I hate to say this, but I have to give props to Tom Knox for the very successful media campaign currently being run on his behalf. i also consider him to be a sleaze, what with his pay day loans, his loan program to his campaign, and what appears to be a racial appeal to white voters. He loans his campaign millions of dollars and buys the election (through media control). If successful, people won't be able to line up fast enough to buy influence from Tom Knox. That money will be used to pay the campaigns loans (TO TOM KNOX)!
Sleaze, I tell ya, sleaze, pure and simple!
It's always the cover-up
I guess I'm the only one bothered by this - but I still can't get over the "it wasn't an oversight" defense by the Brady team.
If it wasn't an oversight, then why did they submit an amendment as soon as they found out about the omission?
Kicking him off the ballot for a meaningless technical flaw in his petition is absurd (at least it seems meaningless to me - has anyone really made a valid case that he was deliberately trying to hide something that would somehow mean anything significant about his finances or his candidacy?).
But the flip-flopping of his defense team raises questions for me. It seems pretty clear that the "he was just following his attorney's advice" stance is a calculated one, used to try to diminish the seriousness of the mistake (afterall, how significant could it be if his lawyer gave him the OK?). But it sure seems bogus, given that they clearly treated it as a mistake originally. To me, that raises questions about his veracity.
How it makes sense
I think when this thing first happened, Brady did go on the advice of his accountant or lawyer, but woke up to see a Dave Davies story in the Daily News talking about throwing him off the ballot. So, I think the reaction was to immediately file an amended version and retain senior legal counsel.
I think the filing was not an admission of anything (I believe the quotes at the time were, if it was a screw up, it wasn't intentional, etc.). The intent was to say, look these things are disclosed on the federal forms, we didn't think they had to go on here, but just to be overly cautious and put everything out there, here it is.
So, I understand your point, but I think the only conflict in communication was the immediate desire to try to address this concern -- blown up in the Daily News -- with the ultimate response from the lawyer saying some version of "stand your ground" and you were right in the first place and didn't have to disclose that.
Now, unfortunately, we're spending too much time talking about this, and not the issues. Also, I've been waiting for Gerry Mondesire to start blasting Knox of trying to sue his way into being the only white candidate, but he's been silent...odd...
kinda, sorta
You make it at least possible that I can see a justification - but still... "if it was a screw up, it wasn't intentional," is more than just a tad different from "it wasn't an oversight, he was following the advise of counsel." I can't imagine that the very first reaction when the controversy was raised wasn't to get the consulting lawyers on the phone and ask "what's up."
The Evans angle
Mondesire has been an Evans supporter since the beginning and since Evans teamed up with Knox to bring media attention to this suit, it makes sense that Mondesire wouldn't be attacking the tactic.
Ah, good point
That's right, I forgot Gerry was on the Evans campaign.