Milton Street

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

T. Milton Street

T. Milton Street, Sr. is an entrepreneur and former politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the brother of current Philadelphia mayor John F. Street. Originally a street hot dog vendor, he rose to prominence as an activist challenging the city's vending and housing ordinances.^[1] He was elected to the 181st District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1978, and to the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1980 to 1988 as a Republican. He later returned to prominence during the 1990s through his many business ventures, including a local amphibious tour bus company and vending and consulting contracts with the city and Philadelphia International Airport.^[2] Often accused of impropriety by the local media, in 2006 he was indicted under charges of corruption and tax evasion.^[3]

He has declared his candidacy in the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election, while awaiting his trial. His candidacy has been denounced by many, including fellow candidate Michael Nutter, who called his candidacy a distraction from important issues.^[4] Street was later arrested on February 19 in New Jersey for failure to pay multiple traffic tickets, though he asserted upon release that his campaign would continue.^[5]
Street had announced that if 5,000 people did not attend a noontime rally at City Hall plaza on March 1, he would give up his candidacy for mayor. Media reports placed attendance at about 200, many of those curious passersby. Street was undeterred, saying he "underestimated" his passion and vowed to continue in the race, not wanting it to be considered a "publicity stunt."^[6]
Yet five days later he withdrew, instead announcing his intention to run for one of the five Democratic at-large council seats on the last day to file nominating petitions. This would place him in contention with his nephew, Sharif Street, son of the current mayor of Philadelphia. Milton Street himself pointed out that the city residency requirement for a council candidate is one year instead of the three years for a mayoral candidate. There has been some question as to where Street officially resides, in Philadelphia or Moorestown, New Jersey.^[7]. On March 12th, Street's petition's was challenged in court by a voter, since Street only turned in 894 validated signatures into City Hall and the requriement to be placed on the ballot is 1,000, meaning most likely he will be unable to make the Democratic Primary ballot. [1]