And, if he's listening, one of them might even help John Street figure out why one of the city's most charismatic Democratic leaders has embraced the GOP candidate for mayor.

It's your style, Mr. Street. Ever since winning the Democratic nomination, you've acted as if you had already been crowned mayor.

Instead of seeking common ground with White over the summer, you appeared to take his ultimate endorsement for granted. When Katz went to White, it was to talk issues. All you talked about was when the inevitable endorsement from White and his close supporters could be expected.

For most of the summer, you brought that same style to much of the rest of the city. While making, and then breaking, dozens of engagements with various interests groups throughout the city, you sent a message that your schedule was more important than theirs.

Just one example: Both you and Mr. Katz were invited to the dozens of community events known as the WelcomeAmerica! festivities. Katz showed up at almost all of them, you showed for almost none.

The same continues to happen with groups as varied as the AARP and the Foundation for Architecture. They're interested in hearing from their candidates for mayor, but you make and then break appointments as if, once again, it is your schedule that matters rather than theirs.

None of these individual schedule snafus, standing alone, makes much difference. And every candidate for office can be excused for not being particularly enthusiastic about being pummeled by pesky, maybe even parochial, questions from what some call "special interest groups."

Yet, you elevated the practice to an art form over the summer. But in the eyes and minds of those left waiting to hear from you, it's not art. It's lack of respect.

With most groups - even White and his allies - the desire is merely to have a good discussion about issues of interest to them. You don't even need to have answers to all the questions asked.

Just being there to listen, respectfully, might well be both enough and very instructive. After all, if you don't show up to hear what everyone's questions are, you won't know what's on people's minds and, therefore, what problems they want the next mayor to solve.

By this style, you've even raised questions about whether you are the natural successor to Mayor Rendell. Even when it drives him nuts and to near exhaustion, he's everywhere, every day.

Sometimes he even blows his top, especially at the press, when he doesn't like the question or the attitude of the questioner. Such "Edruptions" have become accepted, even acceptable, because Rendell's style is the opposite of imperial.

By contrast, you seem to be trying to arrange your own coronation. It didn't work with White and, unless you understand that, White will not be the last person to send you a painful message.

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