August 5–12, 1999

political notebook

by Mary Frangipanni Patel

C’est La Vie

The first thing Michael Youngblood says he intends to do when hegets out of jail is to get even with a lot of people.

"And they are all political people," he says.

Youngblood, a former aide to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, was convicted in April of extortion and taxevasion stemming from his dealings with the homeless housing development called Deliverance.

Youngblood was accused of extorting money from contractors working on Deliverance. He has maintained his innocence,saying he is taking the heat for a number of political types who should be taking the trip upstate, not him.

But Youngblood says he expects those he is protecting to take care of him when he gets back.

He will be serving 18 to 24 months in a federal prison upstate; he’s not sure where yet.

"I’ll go anywhere but Allenwood," he says. "There are too many rednecks and it’sdirty."

Before starting his hiatus on August 16, Youngblood says he will have a big party with about 130 close friends at LaFamiglia.

Youngblood has always had his hand in politics, especially in past elections, when he has played a big part as one ofthe city’s block captains, who are always able to turn out votes, specifically in judicial races.

He and other block captains supported Marty Weinberg in the primary but now Youngblood says he is recommendingthat the block captains not be involved in the general election.

"They’re aren’t experienced enough yet," he says.

However, Youngblood says he hopes Republican Sam Katz gets elected in November.

"Republicans are not racist," he says. "If Katz gets elected, then everyone will get everything theywant."

Democratic mayoral candidate John Street is the last person Youngblood says he would want to see as mayor.

Youngblood says Street, as City Council president, fired Youngblood as Blackwell’s aide because Street said thatYoungblood lied on his employment application and that no one who has been arrested should be allowed to work in CityCouncil.

Youngblood says he never filled out an application, although he did serve five years in his favorite prison,Allenwood, back in 1986 for possession of cocaine.

"However, Street does not have the authority to tell other council members who to hire," he says.

Youngblood stayed on in Blackwell’s office as an unpaid aide while fighting the matter in court.

"It went through Common Pleas Court, Commonwealth Court and then the Pennsylvania Supreme Court," saysYoungblood, "until they sent it back to City Council. But Street never put the matter up for a vote."

If Youngblood is such a known backroom figure, then who put the screws to him with Deliverance?

"It was the city councilman who is working with the FBI with other investigations on his fellow councilmembers," says Youngblood, "and a female ward leader who also has a position on Democratic CityCommittee."

"I was a victim of a conspiracy," says Youngblood. "But I’ll settle all those scores when I getback."

Council President Anna Verna was out of town, but her chief of staff, Kathleen Murray, said afterspeaking with Verna, that she "absolutely, positively has not been notified of any investigation in CityCouncil."

 

P-A-R-T-Y

When the dog days of summer hit, that means it’s time for the annual BradyBeach Party honoring U.S. Representative and Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady.

All Democratic candidates are expected to attend.

This year’s event will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, at the usual spot, Jimmy’s Bar and Grill, located atSpruce and New Jersey Avenues in Anglesea, North Wildwood. Entertainment will be provided by Masquerade.

The party is from 5 to 9 p.m. and tickets are $25. For more information call Democratic City Committee at215-241-7800.

Meanwhile, Republicans are gearing up for their major summer event, the famous Meehan Clam Bake.

The Meehan Clam Bake is a longtime Republican tradition going back to the old days when noted Republicans Austin andBilly Meehan were the power in Philadelphia.

Since this year is a mayoral election, Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz is expected to make an appearanceas well as Republican Gov. Tom Ridge.

Ridge rarely gets involved with city elections, but this year’s mayoral race is particularly important toRepublicans because of the Republican National Convention next year. And what better way for local Republicans to showoff than to have a Republican mayor?

Ridge may also be a contender for running mate with Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush.There is talk that Bush may show up at the Clam Bake and more talk that Libby Dole may drop by.

But it is also thought that Libby Dole, wife of Viagra cheerleader and former GOP presidential candidate Sen. BobDole, may be asked to be Bush’s running mate rather than Ridge.

The clam bake will be held on Sunday, Aug. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bavarian Club in the greater Northeast.Tickets are $75; for more information contact Republican City Committee at 215-561-0650.