Street Mews

Mayor John Street is not the type of mayor who hangs out at hip, retro lounges like 32° in Old City unless, of course, there are campaign checks to be collected.

Last Thursday night, Street stopped into 32ö, where a fundraiser for his campaign was held by the Young Professionals for Mayor John Street.

Flanked by his son, Sharif Street, an attorney with Wolf Block who has his own political aspirations, and Democratic State Committee Chairman T.J. Rooney, Street made an impassioned pitch for money. Digging into Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz, Street deemed his opponent's name unworthy of mention and repeatedly referred to him only as "a person," "he" or "him."

"You guys are going to be the ones who are going to have to pay the price for the indiscretions of a person who doesn't know and doesn't know that he doesn't know. Have you every heard that expression? He who knows and knows that he knows is wise; follow him. He that knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; shun him!" said Street.

"And the only problem with a person who has never held a public office, a person who ran for mayor in 1991 and lost [here's where Street asked for audience participation, so now the whole club is chiming in with the word "lost"], a person who ran for governor in 1994 and lost, a person who ran for mayor in 1999 and lost -- usually when I do that I say, "a person who ran for mayor in 1991, lost and disappeared, ran for governor in 1994, lost and disappeared.' The only problem with a person who has never held a public office, who has only ever won a primary when he was uncontested, is that he doesn't know that he doesn't know. And that spells trouble," said Street.

Larry Cohen, 32's owner and a Street supporter, provided an open bar and some appetizers and, not surprisingly, the bar was three-deep. The ticket price was $40 and more than 200 attended.

This fundraiser was different in that it was not the usual types who attend this kind of affair, but a different cast.

Alan Nochumson of the firm Spector Gadon & Rosen, one of the 35 organizers of the event, said that young people who are not politically active were targeted. Who else attended?

Despite the fact that he is the partner of Micah Mahjoubian, who works for the mayor, Ryan Bunch, a puppeteer, attended with Mahjoubian. He said that he rarely attends political functions, even though his partner's livelihood is at stake.

Since Bunch and Mahjoubian bought a loft in Center City, Bunch said he has a new interest in politics.

Carmen Martello III, a.k.a. Xero, and James Pasternack of the band P.T. Lovekraft arrived. "Micah told us to come," said Xero. "We don't know much about John Street, but we thought we'd check it out. Our music is circus-synth-rock. Look at our website, www.ptlovekraft.com."

They drifted to the bar to chat with some nubile young women in clingy tops.

Tim Robbins, a young man who buys and sells properties for a living, said he was supporting Street. "As a young, African-American professional, I like what John Street has done with Operation Safe Streets and his Neighborhood Transformation Initiative," said Robbins. "Iíve looked at Sam and I think he has a stronger business grasp. But John Street has had 20 years in City Council with a proven track record."

Katz's Response Meow

The Sam Katz campaign responded to the remarks made by John Street about "him" at the Young Professionalís fundraiser.

Nate Raab, Katz's deputy press secretary, said, "If [John Street] spent one-tenth of the time offering this city and its voters constructive solutions as he does personally attacking Sam, we would not have lost so many jobs and people. Sam does not wish to engage in these types of attacks. Young Professionals and other voters who come to speak with Sam Katz will hear first and foremost about Sam's plans to restore momentum and growth to Philadelphia."

Joyful Hours on the Street

The Young Professionals for Mayor John Street have teamed up with the Young Friends of Mayor John Street to host weekly happy hours on Thursdays (except for this week, out of respect for 9/11), which include guest speakers who will discuss Streetís record.

Harry B. Cook, the director of Philly1.com, is one of the organizers. "My friend Avram Hornick, who I know from Akiba Hebrew Academy, is letting us use his new place, Loie," said Cook. "There will be free drafts for the first 80 people."

Loie Brasserie and Bar is located at 128 S. 19th St. and on Fri., Sept. 12, the guest speaker will be Street's close personal friend, John Dougherty, business manager of Local 98.

The speakeasy begins at 5:30 and ends at 7 p.m.