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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMSept. 28, 2006 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
New Leadership. New Direction. A New Philadelphia.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Melanie Johnson
(267) 984-2027
Philadelphia, September 28, 2006 –Mayoral candidate Michael Nutter wants Mayor John F. Street to tell the citizens of Philadelphia “Where’s the Board?”
City Council passed the bill to create a Board of Ethics in December of 2005. The voters of Philadelphia answered the ballot question on Election Day May 16, 2006 with a resounding Yes! to create a Board of Ethics. Even if you take into account that the Election was certified on June 5 that still gives the Mayor 115 days, as of today September 28, to submit the five names needed to create the Board of Ethics.
Let’s take away Saturdays and Sundays beginning with June 5 up to September 28 and that leaves the Mayor with 82 days to submit five names for the creation of the Board of Ethics. Mayor, “Where’s the Board of Ethics?”
A few weeks ago, when asked why he had not submitted the names for the Board of Ethics, the Mayor said that he had some politics to work out before making a decision.
Michael Nutter says, “There are no more important appointments for the Mayor to make and there is no room for politics at the Board of Ethics. If anything should be devoid of politics isn’t it the Board of Ethics?”
“It does not appear that there was any outreach to the public or various organizations in the selection process. Does anyone even know where they can submit their names for the Board of Ethics?” ask Nutter.
The perception of a corrupt Philadelphia government may well have been the catalyst for the Pennsylvania State Senate’s approval of a bill that removed Philadelphia’s right for local zoning controls regarding the casinos.
In the last few years more than 25 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted of committing a crime pertaining to City government. In this climate why hasn’t the Mayor created the Board of Ethics immediately? Would the vote have turned out differently yesterday if we had a Board of Ethics?
“Virtually nothing has been done -- at least not publicly -- to create the Board of Ethics,” said Nutter. “It’s an insult to the voters of this City who by a more than 80% margin voted to create a Board of Ethics because they are tired of the corruption in this City. Mayor Street owes it to the people of this City and the reputation of Philadelphia to nominate the best citizens to serve on the Board in order to restore integrity to our government.
Again I ask Mayor Street “Where’s the Board of Ethics?”
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PO Box 58550 • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Phone: (215) 545-9700 • Facsimile: (215) 545-4088
Paid for by Nutter for Mayor, Kahiga A. Tiagha, Esq., Treasurer