Democratic nominee John F. Street's first television ad of the general election started Friday with a couple of subtle clues for the viewer. First, it delivers a simple message that life in Street's Philadelphia will be good. And second: He's the Democrat. The tag line at the end of the ad says, "John F. Street, Democrat for Mayor."

He didn't have to say "Democrat" in the primary because it was a race among five major Democrats. But the word has potency in the general election.

At last count, the registration numbers in Philadelphia were 738,543 Democrats and 187,455 Republicans -- a painful reality for GOP mayoral nominee Sam Katz. For Katz to win, he needs as many Democrats as he can find to ignore party labels and vote for him for other reasons. And Street must hold onto his party's voters.

The less subtle content of the ad is easy on the eyes and ears. In a softly lit classroom, Street talks to students in the voice of a comforting teacher and father: "I was a member of Philadelphia City Council for 19 years. I was the Council president for seven years. And what I have learned is that -- in a great, big, diverse city like the city of Philadelphia -- people want fundamentally the same thing: Good schools and safe neighborhoods, a decent place to live and a decent job. And that's what we want for you in this city. That's what we want."
-- Cynthia Burton

Icy relations
begin to thaw

Mark Segal is opening the door to the Democratic mayoral nominee.

Segal is the gay activist who has been one of John F. Street's most bitter critics. Until last week, he had rebuffed all attempts to make peace over Street's opposition to the city's domestic-partner bills. Segal agreed to a lunch at the city's political hangout, the Palm, with several key Street aides, including campaign manager Lana Felton-Ghee. Street was seated nearby. It was an obvious setup, but one that apparently worked.

As lunch progressed, Street went over and struck up a direct but cordial conversation, mentioning that he had supported gay and lesbian issues in the past. Did it work?

Yes and then some.

Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, devoted his weekly column on Friday to the encounter.

He was charmed.

Segal wrote, "I finally got to see something that I heard existed but never witnessed: John Street's charm."

He says they talked "more honestly then we had in the 20-some years that we have known each other." He also conceded in the column that as a Council member, Street had at times voted favorably on issues affecting the city's lesbian and gay community.

Segal concluded by saying, "As a community we'll want to support the candidate who can show us not only a history of work on our behalf, but a candidate who we can learn to trust. This is not just about the past; it's about our community's future."

If the line This is not about the past isn't a door cracking open, then cows do fly.
-- Cynthia Burton
In the city,
a tree just might fall