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“There are limitations in what Mike can do,” Zuritsky
said. “If he handles himself in the right way and works with
City Council, he can do a lot and overcome a lot of the problems
he’s inherited.”
Working with the council could be a challenge. Indeed,
Nutter was often the one to butt heads with Street, earning
him a reputation as a lone wolf and a voice in the darkness.
Nutter said he has learned to compromise, but there is only
so far he’ll give.
“I don’t believe that ultimately having anything is better
than nothing. In the political environment, people will often
say, ‘I’ll settle for the sake of getting something’ and I think
that undermines the point,” Nutter said. “Much too often here in political life, here
in Philadelphia, we’ve been
ready to accept any old thing, second or third best,
because we have this collective
self-image, self-esteem,
problem, that somehow
we’re not worthy of better. I
want to change those standards
and set high expectations
for ourselves: the public
officials and our public.”
Kenney predicts Nutter
will have a workable majority
of Council support.
Although he backed Brady
during the primary, Kenney
said he was looking forward
to working with a Nutter
administration “with an
enthusiasm I haven’t had in
the last few years.”
“We can’t be obstructionists
or naysayers,”
Kenney said. “The Council
and the Mayor need to
show a united face. Sadly,
over the last four years, we
haven’t done that.”
The fact that Nutter often did stand alone works for him
now. During his first year, he faces tough negotiations with
the city’s four largest unions when their contracts expire in
June. The final contracts will shape the city’s financial future
for years to come, and Nutter will likely seek significant concessions
on health benefits and pensions.
“He wasn’t supported by anybody with the exception of
the papers and the people. He had no unions, no elected officials,
nobody,” Ceisler said. “It’s actually an advantage to him
because he goes into office owing no one.”
Asked about what changes to expect during the first
year of his administration, the first thing Nutter says is: “It
will be cleaner.” Literally, in that he’ll call for a citywide
clean-up.
And figuratively, as he attacks the crime problem and
further cleans up the mess that was City Hall in the Street administration.
During the primary season, he proposed police
use “stop and frisk” procedures in high-crime areas, a concept
that worried some civil libertarians. To rebuild confidence in
government, he wants to crack down on no-bid contracts and
bring new blood into politics. Part of that, he said, would be
introducing graduates of Wharton and other area colleges to
public service.
“They’ll find the same challenges here,” Nutter said.
“While the financial rewards might not be comparable, I
think the human rewards are almost immeasurable.”
He also wants to turn Philadelphia into what he called “an
education city.” Two numbers, he said, are key to the future
of the city: 45 and 18. The first number refers to the percentage
of public school students who drop out. The second is the
percentage of residents that have a four-year degree.
“We cannot survive as a city… if those two numbers stay
the same,” Nutter said.
And, he said, he wants to make the city fun again. He
wants city dwellers to be proud of their home. Part of doing
that will fall to him: Philadelphians love a leader who is
out there embodying the spirit of the city. Ed Rendell did
it. John Street did not. The city needs someone who fits its
view of itself.
Stalberg thinks Nutter may have the goods: “I think
there’s a good chance Nutter will grow into that role and really
present a great positive image for Philadelphia and make
Philadelphians feel good about themselves again.”
Former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Natalie Pompilio writes
and lives in Philadelphia.
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