COVERITLIVE.COM

1:01	CatherineLucey - Hi everyone. I'm hear to talk about the Mayor, almost two years into his term. Hit me with your questions and comments!

1:02

[Comment From Cleanup Philly]
Nutter seems to be favoring a "don't rock the boat too much" strategy, really the opposite of Rendell, who gained power by knocking his opponents off balance and moving the pieces while they recovered. Nutter's strategy is one you use if you plan to run for city council reelection, not for greater politics. Does Nutter intend to implement his campaign platform on wage taxes, property taxes, AVI, ethics, etc. to the level that he first suggested?

1:04

CatherineLucey - Comparing the Nutter and Rendell is always tricky, especially because Nutter has had to deal with much more serious financial problems than Rendell -- problems that are far from over. Those fiscal woes have slowed many of his campaign promises, including tax reductions, which had to be put on hold when he made budget cuts. BRT reform legislation has been introduced in City Council, so that issue should be moving forward.

1:05	[Comment From G] Pauline Abernathy Mark Alan Hughes Wadell Ridley Andrew Altman Wendell Pritchett Julia Chapman It seems the mayor has lost alot of longtime advisors in his two years. Any thoughts as to why?

1:07

CatherineLucey - Those people have left over the course of 18 months for a variety of reasons -- some, like Altman, for pretty impressive jobs. Still, it is widerly rumored that the administration can be a challenging place to work, and the financial situation certainly hasn't helped that. But I really doubt the number of departures is unusually high.

1:08

[Comment From SOGO Rider]
With the Septa strike finally over do you think there will be anyway for the mayor to stop future transportation strikes? It seems Septa's leadership will be home this thanksgiving eating their ham bone soup happy at everything while Septa's riders know that another strike could shut down the city again in a few years.

1:10	CatherineLucey - I don't think the Mayor can stop future transit strikes, because he's not actually in charge of SEPTA. But I know lawmakers in Harrisburg have talked about legislation that would take away their right to strike.

1:12

[Comment From Cleanup Philly]
It seems like Nutter wants to ask permission to make cuts from City Council. But Rendell as governor certainly has not done that with state government and more layoffs are imminent. Nutter a mayor in a "strong mayor" city, so what gives with his timidity and hesitation?

1:15

CatherineLucey - Nutter does have to work with Council, even though the city is a strong mayor model. And Council does have to approve the mayor's budget, so they get a real say over how funds are handled. But last fall, when Nutter announced his initial round of cuts, he didn't seek Council's approval first, because he didn't need to. I think, as he said today in the paper, he's still figuring out the best way to work with Council. And as a former Councilman, he has special insight into their role.

1:15

[Comment From G]
The recent Perzel grand jury report talked about a meeting between he and then-mayor John Street, in which Street spent most of his time checking his blackberry. From the recent push of the sales tax hike, how do you view Mayor Nutter’s relationship is with the state GOP leadership, specifically Senator Pileggi? Do you believe they may have conspired to investigate the city pension plan?

Page 1 Next >