View source for John F. Street

{{Short description|American politician (born 1943)}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| image           = John F Street.jpg
| caption         = Street in 1999
| order           = 97th [[List of mayors of Philadelphia|Mayor of Philadelphia]]
| term_start      = January 3, 2000
| term_end        = January 7, 2008
| predecessor     = [[Ed Rendell]]
| successor       = [[Michael Nutter]]
| birth_name      = John Franklin Street
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1943|10|15}}
| birth_place     = [[Norristown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date      =
| death_place     =
| constituency    =
| party           = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (since 2011)
| otherparty      = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (until 2011)
| spouse          = 
| children = 4, including [[Sharif Street]]
| relatives       = [[Milton Street]] (brother)
| alma_mater      = [[Oakwood University]] (BA)<br /> [[Temple University Beasley School of Law]] (JD)
| profession      =
| signature       =
| footnotes       =
| order2          = President of the [[Philadelphia City Council]]
| term_start2     = January 6, 1992<ref name=PresidentElect>{{cite news|last=Maryniak|first=Paul|title=An inauguration or a funeral?|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y1cNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1W4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4686,961526&dq=president+of+the+philadelphia+city+council&hl=en|access-date=November 16, 2011|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=January 4, 1992}}</ref> 
| term_end2       = December 31, 1998
| predecessor2    = [[Joseph E. Coleman|Joseph Coleman]]
| successor2      = [[Anna C. Verna|Anna Verna]]
| order3          = Member of the [[Philadelphia City Council]]<br />from the 5th district
| term_start3     = January 7, 1980<ref name=CouncilMember>{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Carolyn|title=Green Becomes Mayor of Phila., Pledges Good, Clean Government|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v-sNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4826,973413&dq=philadelphia+city+council&hl=enhttps://news.google.com|access-date=November 16, 2011|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=January 8, 1980}}</ref> 
| term_end3       = December 31, 1998<ref name=Resignation>{{cite news|title=STREET ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION, CLEARING THE WAY FOR A MAYORAL RUN \ THE MOVE IS EFFECTIVE DEC. 31. HE IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS CANDIDACY IN JANUARY.|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33108AD07E290&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 16, 2011|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=December 11, 1998}}</ref> 
| predecessor3    = [[Cecil B. Moore]]
| successor3      = [[Darrell L. Clarke|Darrell Clarke]]
}}

'''John Franklin Street''' (born October 15, 1943) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 97th [[List of mayors of Philadelphia|Mayor of the City of Philadelphia]]. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004. He is a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] and became mayor after having served 19 years in the [[Philadelphia City Council]], including seven years as its president, before resigning as required under the Philadelphia City Charter in order to run for mayor. He followed [[Ed Rendell]] as mayor, assuming the post on January 3, 2000. Street was Philadelphia's second black mayor.

Street floated the possibility of being a candidate for statewide office in Pennsylvania. In light of corruption scandals, those prospects never materialized. ''[[Time Magazine]]'' listed him as one of the three worst big-city mayors in the United States in 2005.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050214,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418014008/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050214,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 18, 2005 | magazine=Time | title=The 5 Best Big-City Mayors | date=April 17, 2005 | access-date=May 6, 2010 | first=Nancy | last=Gibbs}}</ref>

==Background and early career==
Street was born in [[Norristown, Pennsylvania]], and grew up as a member of a farming household. He graduated from Conshohocken High School, received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree in [[English language|English]] from [[Oakwood University|Oakwood College]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama]], and his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from [[Temple University Beasley School of Law|Temple University]], which he had to apply to several times before he was accepted. Following his graduation from law school, Street served clerkships with Common Pleas Court Judge Mathew W. Bullock, Jr. and with the [[United States Department of Justice]] from which he was quickly terminated for poor performance. In his first professional job Street taught English at an elementary school and, later, at the Philadelphia [[Opportunities Industrialization Center|Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC)]]. He then practiced law briefly prior to entering into public service.  Street is married and has four children, including [[Sharif Street]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Colaneri|first1=Katie|title=Sharif Street launches Pa. Senate bid|url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/politics/90044-sharif-street-launches-pa-senate-bid|accessdate=9 December 2016|agency=WHYY Newsworks|date=15 January 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080210/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/politics/90044-sharif-street-launches-pa-senate-bid|url-status=live}}</ref> and is a practicing [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]]. His deceased brother, [[T. Milton Street|Milton]], was a former member of the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly|state legislature]], and a two-time [[Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|mayoral candidate]].

Inspired by his brother's successful election in 1978, Street made his initial foray into elected politics in 1979, when he challenged incumbent Fifth District Councilman [[Cecil B. Moore]]. Moore was a popular and respected civil rights leader in the city who was active within the [[NAACP]], and Street's decision to challenge him drew the ire of some. Moore, who was in failing health, initially sought to see-off the challenge from Street but died before the May primary. Street won the election, and quelled some of the tensions over his original challenge to Moore by sponsoring a bill to rename the former [[Cecil B. Moore Avenue|Columbia Avenue]] in Moore's honor.<ref name=Moore>{{cite web|last=Goss |first=Scott |title=City |url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/city-38370534.html?page=2&comments=1&showAll= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131044413/http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/city-38370534.html?page=2&comments=1&showAll= |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |work=News and Opinion |publisher=Philadelphia Weekly |access-date=February 14, 2012 }}</ref>

Street was chosen unanimously by members of the Council to serve as President in 1992, after incumbent [[Joseph E. Coleman|Joe Coleman]] retired, and was re-elected in 1996. Street, working closely with former Mayor [[Ed Rendell]], was instrumental in crafting and implementing a financial plan that passed Council unanimously, and turned a $250 million deficit into the largest surplus in city history. Despite decreasing the business and wage tax four years in a row, Philadelphia still has the 10th largest tax burden in the United States. This is due to the financial burden to run the city's prisons, pay debt service, and employee pensions and health benefits.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/pa/20071126_To_keep_vital_tax-cut_vows__cut_labor_costs.html To keep vital tax-cut vows, cut labor costs | Philadelphia Inquirer |11/26/2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Mayor of Philadelphia==

===Elections===

====1999====
Street was elected in [[1999 Philadelphia mayoral election|one of the closest elections in Philadelphia history]], defeating Republican [[Sam Katz (Philadelphia)|Sam Katz]] by a margin of fewer than 7,500.<ref>[https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/11/phi-n06.html Democrats narrowly retain control of Philadelphia City Hall]</ref>

In an unusual circumstance, the City Council President at the time, [[Anna C. Verna|Anna Verna]], was briefly in the position of running the city before Mayor Street was sworn in, as Rendell resigned the post in December 1999 to become the head of the [[Democratic National Committee|DNC]] (per Article III, Chapter 5, Section 3-500 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter).
In 2001, he was named runner up "Politician of the Year" by [[PoliticsPA]].<ref name=poloftheyear2001>{{cite web|title=Sy Snyder's Politician of the Year 2001 |work=[[PoliticsPA]] |publisher=The Publius Group |year=2001 |url=http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803100256/http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year.htm |archive-date=2002-08-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====2003====
Street was once again challenged by Sam Katz in the [[2003 Philadelphia mayoral election|2003 mayoral election]]. Despite an ongoing FBI investigation, Street was aided by Pennsylvania Governor and former Mayor of Philadelphia, [[Ed Rendell]] endorsing and campaigning for him.<ref name=pareport2003>{{cite web|title=The PA Report "Power 75" List |work=Pennsylvania Report |publisher=Capital Growth, Inc. |date=January 31, 2003 |url=http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920200116/http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf |archive-date=September 20, 2006 |quote=""Governor Rendell's squeezing business not to support Republican nominee, Sam Katz, will help"" |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was named the 2003 Politician of the Year by the political website [[PoliticsPA]], because "It takes an extremely shrewd and effective politician to turn an FBI bugging of the mayor's office into a positive but that's exactly what Mayor John Street did."<ref>{{cite web|title=Politician of the Year |work=[[PoliticsPA]] |year=2003 |url=http://politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year03.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031220015911/http://politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year03.htm |archive-date=December 20, 2003 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> Street won with 58% of the vote for reelection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/election/20031105phillymayoreln4.asp|title=FBI bug helps Street win re-election as Philadelphia mayor}}</ref>

The race was covered in the documentary film ''[[The Shame of a City]]''.

===Policy===
His relationship with the City Council was tenuous at best. He and former councilman [[Michael Nutter]], who became the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia, often engaged in public political sparring. Regardless, Street ultimately agreed to a 2005 revision of Nutter's New York-style smoking ban (after much public criticism over his failure to support a smoking ban in Philadelphia).

[[Image:George W. Bush and John Street Philadelphia July 4 2001.jpg|thumb|275px|right|John F. Street with [[United States President|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in [[Philadelphia]] during [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] in 2001]]
During Street's first term, much emphasis was placed on the "Neighborhood Transformation Initiative." The Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI), which was unveiled in April 2001 was an unprecedented effort to counter the history of decline in the City of Philadelphia and revitalize its neighborhoods. The program was designed to revitalize and restore communities, to develop or restore quality housing, to clean and secure streets, and to create opportunities for vibrant cultural and recreational facilities.

Initially, opponents raised objections to the program's emphasis on demolishing abandoned buildings rather than seeking re-use or restoration of the sometimes historic properties.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} Others hailed the program for bringing much-needed investment to the city's many poor neighborhoods.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} However, initial results have been positive. Since 2000, the average home in Philadelphia has appreciated{{when|date=August 2019}} by approximately 30 percent. The housing market continues to thrive, and developers have created more than 4,880 market-rate apartments and condominiums in the past several years.{{when|date=August 2019}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-09 |title=mapstats |url=http://www.phila.gov/nti/mapstats.htm |access-date=2023-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909072507/http://www.phila.gov/nti/mapstats.htm |archive-date=2007-09-09 }}</ref>

Street also made children and their welfare a focus of his first term in office. In his first inaugural address in January 2000, Street officially proclaimed the year 2000 "The Year of the Child" in Philadelphia. He sought to increase funding for after-school programs, and formed the Philadelphia Children's Commission, a diverse group of government, civic, business, and faith-based leadership, whose job it was to advise Street on policies and programs that would have a positive impact in the lives of Philadelphia's children. He also sought to fight truancy among school aged children.<ref>[http://www.phila.gov/mayor/yotc.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914170004/http://www.phila.gov/mayor/yotc.html|date=September 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.phila.gov/mayor/afterschool.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008030119/http://www.phila.gov/mayor/afterschool.html|date=October 8, 2006}}</ref>

The city's public schools were among the worst in the country when Street took office, and much of his attention early on went into difficult decisions about the schools. In November 2001, a compromise between Street and the Republican-controlled [[Pennsylvania General Assembly|General Assembly]] allowed for the privatization of the Philadelphia Public Schools. [[EdisonLearning|Edison Schools]] took over day-to-day operations of some of the worst-performing city schools, while a small number were taken over by other institutions, primarily area universities.

In August 2001, the lucrative [[Philadelphia Parking Authority]] was taken over by the Pennsylvania government in a compromise designed to help the Philadelphia School District out of its fiscal crisis. Many believed that the Parking Authority's revenues were politically insubstantial in comparison with the high-profile [[patronage]] positions on the Parking Authority's board that were transferred from Democratic to Republican hands in the move.

[[File:President George W. Bush Passes out Birthday Cake with Philadelphia Mayor John Street at an Independence Day Celebration.jpg|thumb|275px|right|Mayor Street celebrating [[United States President|President]] [[George W. Bush]]'s 55th birthday in [[Philadelphia]].]]
Drawing ire from [[skateboarders]], he banned skateboarding from the internationally famous [[Love Park]] after the city had hosted the [[X-Games]] in 2001 and 2002 at the [[Wachovia Center]]. In 2004, he turned down a $1-million offer from [[DC Shoes]] to maintain and renovate the park to allow skating. Instead the city spent $800,000 on adding obstacles to prevent skaters from skating in the park.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/lovepark LOVE Park, Philadelphia PA<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715062119/http://www.ushistory.org/lovepark/ |date=2007-07-15 }}</ref>

Street created the Office of Health and Fitness after the city was named the fattest city in the nation by ''Men's Fitness'' magazine in 1999. The magazine cited the low number of athletic facilities and high number of fast-food restaurants. Street also signed into law a smoking ban on September 12, 2006.

Street also advocated the construction of a citywide [[Wi-Fi]] network. The network is to be run by the non-profit organization Wireless Philadelphia in partnership with the city and commercial internet service providers. Opponents of the plan suggest that government involvement will quash innovation. Supporters hope that the plan will help bring information access to poor Philadelphians and make the city more attractive to young and educated people.

In a 2002 address at a convention of the [[NAACP]], Street said that "the brothers and sisters are running the city. Oh, yes. The brothers and sisters are running this city. Running it! Don't you let nobody fool you, we are in charge of the City of Brotherly Love. We are in charge! We are in charge!" This observation attracted some criticism and charges of racial divisiveness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northeasttimes.com/2002/0424/mayor.html |title=Northeast Times |access-date=2007-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154932/http://www.northeasttimes.com/2002/0424/mayor.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }} [[Northeast Times]]</ref>

The murder rate in Philadelphia hit a seven-year high during Street's tenure, but the overall trend was significantly lower than in the 1970s under [[Frank Rizzo]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In 2005 there were 380 murders, up from 330 in 2004. Forty-five percent of those murdered were 25 or younger. 2006 saw 406 murders in the city, including a Philadelphia police officer.<ref>[http://www.nbc10.com/news/6161126/detail.html Philadelphia Police Take Aim At Murder Rate – Local News Story – WCAU |Philadelphia<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154605/http://www.nbc10.com/news/6161126/detail.html |date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> This murder trend continued to escalate into 2007, with 127 murders occurring by the end of April, 2007, a rate far in excess of the larger cities of [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[Chicago]].<ref>[http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a10_phillyhead.5816464apr24,0,6303084.story]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427092720/http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a10_phillyhead.5816464apr24%2C0%2C6303084.story|date=April 27, 2007}}</ref> At least one commentator referred to Street as being "strangely silent" in his efforts to reduce the city's murder rate.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/mayors_race/20070516_Man_of_street__not_of_Street.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130145/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/mayors_race/20070516_Man_of_street__not_of_Street.html|date=September 29, 2007}}</ref>

On July 27, 2006, Street launched the Adolescent Violence Reduction Partnership (AVRP) as a way to prevent high risk youth (target age 10-15) from being victims of combat violence. He also expanded the Youth Violence Reduction Partnership (YVRP) into the 19th Police District in West Philadelphia.<ref>[http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/yrvp.pdf For Immediate Release: November 1, 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

On September 12, 2007, Philadelphia [[Police Commissioner]] [[Sylvester Johnson]], an [[African-American]], supported by Street, called on "10,000 black men" to patrol the streets to lessen crime.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_us/philadelphia_violence;_ylt=Apic5MRBs8x6tZpPQuPMUMys0NUE  Yahoo.com,  Philly seeks 10,000 men to guard streets]</ref> On Halloween Day, with the 2007 murder total above 335, a Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed for the second time in as many years (he was the third officer to be shot in a four-day period).

==Controversies==

===City Hall corruption scandal===
During the re-election campaign against [[Sam Katz (Philadelphia)|Sam Katz]], the [[FBI]] acknowledged that it had placed listening devices in the Mayor's office as part of a sweeping investigation of municipal corruption.<ref>{{cite news | title = U.S. Bug in Mayor's Office Roils Philadelphia Race | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/09/us/us-bug-in-mayor-s-office-roils-philadelphia-race.html | date = October 9, 2003}}</ref>  The FBI's investigation uncovered a corruption scheme led by Street's friend and fund raiser [[Ron White (Philadelphia)|Ron White]], who died before going to trial.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/white-kemp-and-10-others-charged-in-philadelphia-corruption-case | title = White, Kemp, and 10 Others Charged in Philadelphia Corruption Case | publisher = [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] | date = June 29, 2004}}</ref>  Former city treasurer Corey Kemp, a member of Street's administration, was sentenced to 10 years in jail after being found guilty on 27 corruption-related charges in May 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/fbi_probes/ |title=FBI Probes - Philadelphia Inquirer |website=www.philly.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614032548/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/fbi_probes |archive-date=2008-06-14}}</ref> Eventually at least 15 individuals connected to Street were convicted of crimes related to City Hall corruption.<ref name = corruption >{{cite news | title = Street ally pleads guilty to corruption charges: The mayor's former law partner admitted using his position to enrich himself and raise funds | publisher = philly.com | date = December 14, 2005 | url = http://articles.philly.com/2005-12-14/news/25422459_1_corruption-charges-plea-bad-judgment| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411151602/http://articles.philly.com/2005-12-14/news/25422459_1_corruption-charges-plea-bad-judgment| url-status = dead| archive-date = April 11, 2013}}</ref>  One additional prosecution of members of Street's administration took place in the wake of the Kemp conviction and resulted in an acquittal of Mayoral Aide John D. Christmas.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}

In September 2005, a prominent Muslim clergyman, Shamsud-din Ali, in Philadelphia was sentenced to more than seven years in prison on racketeering and other charges. Prosecutors said the cleric, who was once a member of Mayor John F. Street's transition team, used his political connections to obtain dubious loans, donations and city contracts. Ali was sentenced to 87 months in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/cleric-sentenced-in-philly-corruption-probe |title=Cleric Sentenced in Philly Corruption Probe |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=2008-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107095711/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169801,00.html |archive-date=2008-01-07 |url-status=live }}</ref>   His conviction was affirmed on July 18, 2007, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (493 F.3d 387).

Leonard Ross, a lawyer and close advisor of Mayor Street, who led a committee trying to develop a crucial piece of city-owned property, was charged with fraud and conspiracy in December 2005, and later pleaded guilty to the charges.<ref name = corruption/>

The 2003 Philadelphia mayoral election was captured in the documentary film ''[[The Shame of a City]]'' by [[Tigre Hill]], which gave viewers an inside look at the campaign and portrayed Street in a negative light.

In November 2006, federal authorities charged that [[T. Milton Street|Milton Street]], Street's older brother, traded on his last name to obtain lucrative city contracts and failed to pay taxes on more than $2 million in income.<ref name=Verdict >{{cite news | title = Verdict mixed for Street: The ex-mayor's brother was found guilty on tax charges, but acquitted of any fraud | url = http://articles.philly.com/2008-02-23/news/25265487_1_wire-fraud-fraud-charges-verdict | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116140029/http://articles.philly.com/2008-02-23/news/25265487_1_wire-fraud-fraud-charges-verdict | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 16, 2014 | date =  February 23, 2008 | publisher = philly.com}}</ref>  It was alleged that soon after Mayor Street took office in 2000, Milton Street began hiring himself out as consultant to companies that thought he could help them get city contracts.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}  One company paid Milton Street $30,000 a month consulting fee.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}  Milton Street was found guilty on tax charges.<ref name=Verdict/>

===Boy Scout controversy===
{{Main|Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia}}
On July 31, 2006, Mayor Street ordered the local [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]] council, Cradle of Liberty Council, to admit [[homosexual|gay]] scout leaders, vacate the city-owned building that it has occupied since 1928, or pay market rent.<ref name="Inkysolicitor">{{cite news | url= http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/15130782.htm | title=Diaz seeks 'dialogue' with Boy Scouts| newspaper= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]| date=June 25, 2006}}</ref>   Although the city subsidizes rental space for more than 75 community and activist organizations, including 14 other youth organizations and several religious groups that have restrictive membership policies, the Mayor took the position that the Boy Scouts were not in compliance with the city's anti-discrimination ordinance.<ref name="Inkysolicitor" /> The Scouts argued that the city's action violated their right to [[freedom of assembly]] guaranteed under the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]]. The case ended with the court ruling in favor of the Boy Scouts of America.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/24brfs-CITYCANNOTEV_BRF.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=Pennsylvania: City Cannot Evict Scouts for Gay Ban | date=2010-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100624_Jury_says_Philly_can_t_evict_Boy_Scouts_for_anti-gay_policy.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100627144956/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100624_Jury_says_Philly_can_t_evict_Boy_Scouts_for_anti-gay_policy.html| archive-date = 2010-06-27| title = Jury says Philly can't evict Boy Scouts for anti-gay policy {{!}} Philadelphia Inquirer {{!}} 06/24/2010}}</ref>  The Cradle of Liberty Council was also awarded $877,000 for legal costs arising from the city's unlawful action.<ref name="philly.com">{{cite web| url = http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20101118_Philadelphia_would_sell_building_to_Boy_Scouts_under_proposed_settlement.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120044113/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20101118_Philadelphia_would_sell_building_to_Boy_Scouts_under_proposed_settlement.html| archive-date = 2010-11-20| title = Philadelphia would sell building to Boy Scouts under proposed settlement {{!}} Philadelphia Inquirer {{!}} 11/18/2010}}</ref>

==Post-mayoral career==
John Street's mayoral tenure ended on January 7, 2008. Upon leaving office, Street accepted an adjunct faculty position in the [[Temple University]] Department of [[Political Science]]. That spring, he taught two sections of a class on urban politics. Asked about his transition from public life to academia, the former mayor was quoted as saying, "You know what?  I think I'm really going to like it here!"

Street was Chairman of the [[Philadelphia Housing Authority]] (PHA) board when it came under criticism for poor oversight and mismanagement. The board was accused of improprieties in its legal spending, of failing to oversee president Carl R. Greene before he was fired from the agency, and of other ethical violations.<ref name=PHA1>{{cite web | url = http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-27/news/38845604_1_kelvin-jeremiah-pha-executive-director-carl | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150311185223/http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-27/news/38845604_1_kelvin-jeremiah-pha-executive-director-carl | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 11, 2015 | title = PHA to pay $8M, take back local control | publisher = Philly.com | date = April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name=PHA2>{{cite news | title = Philadelphia Housing Authority Returned To Local Control After Two Years Under Federal Receivership | url = http://www.realestaterama.com/2013/04/29/philadelphia-housing-authority-returned-to-local-control-after-two-years-under-federal-receivership-ID020565.html | publisher = [[Housing and Urban Development]] | date = April 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name=PHA3>{{cite news | title = New local board for Phila. Housing Authority | url = http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-27/news/38863922_1_hud-rules-one-person-pha-receivership | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150406092407/http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-27/news/38863922_1_hud-rules-one-person-pha-receivership | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 6, 2015 | publisher = Philly.com | date = April 27, 2013}}</ref>  Control of the PHA was taken from the city of Philadelphia and given to [[Housing and Urban Development]] in 2011 to address these issues and was then returned to the city in 2013 under the direction of a new board.<ref name=PHA1/><ref name=PHA2/><ref name=PHA3/>

In 2011, he changed his voter registration from [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]. Though Street maintained the switch was only, "..a means of keeping a variety of options available as a matter of good politics...", some had speculated that he intended to challenge incumbent Democratic Mayor [[Michael Nutter]] in the [[Philadelphia mayoral election, 2011|2011 mayoral election]].<ref>{{Cite news |title= Former Mayor Street switches to independent, maybe to challenge Nutter?|author= Jeff Shields |newspaper= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=2011-04-19 |url= http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20110419_Former_Mayor_Street_switches_to_independent__maybe_to_challenge_Nutter_.html}}</ref> He ultimately did not participate in the primary, and instead his brother, [[Milton Street]] challenged and lost to Mayor Nutter.<ref>Gelbart, Marcia. [http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20110518_Nutter_easily_defeats_Street_in_mayoral_primary.html "Nutter easily defeats Street in primary"], "Philly.com", May 18, 2011, accessed August 5, 2011.</ref>

==Mayoral electoral history==
{{Election box begin | title=[[Philadelphia mayoral election, 1999]]}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = John F. Street
  |votes      = 211,136
  |percentage = 49.52%
  |change     = -30.12%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Samuel P. Katz|Sam Katz]]
  |votes      = 203,908		
  |percentage = 49.12%
  |change     = +29.31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Other
  |votes      = 5,376		
  |percentage = 1%
  |change     = +0.46
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      =
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      =
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}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
  |winner     = Democratic Party (US)
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[Philadelphia mayoral election, 2003]]}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = John F. Street
  |votes      = 267,230
  |percentage = 58.34
  |change     = +8.70
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Sam Katz (Philadelphia)|Sam Katz]]
  |votes      = 189,357		
  |percentage = 41.34
  |change     = -8.28
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Socialist Workers Party (US)
  |candidate  = John Staggs
  |votes      = 1,291	
  |percentage = 0.28
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      =
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      =
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
  |winner     = Democratic Party (US)
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* [[Timeline of Philadelphia#21st century|Timeline of Philadelphia]], 2000s-present

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/philadelphia_mayor.html CityMayors profile]
*{{C-SPAN|82977}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Ed Rendell]] | title=[[Mayor of Philadelphia]] | years=2000&ndash;2008 | after=[[Michael Nutter]]}}
{{s-civ|[[Philadelphia City Council]]}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Joseph E. Coleman|Joseph Coleman]] | title=[[Philadelphia City Council|President of the Philadelphia City Council]] | years=1992&ndash;1998 | after=[[Anna C. Verna|Anna Verna]]}}
{{Succession box| before= [[Cecil B. Moore]] | title= Member of the [[Philadelphia City Council]] for the 5th District | years=1980&ndash;1998 | after=[[Darrell L. Clarke|Darrell Clarke]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{PhiladelphiaMayors}}
{{Portal bar|Christianity|Biography|Politics|Philadelphia|Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Street, John F.}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Norristown, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Mayors of Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Philadelphia City Council]]
[[Category:2004 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:Wikipedia pages referenced by the press]]
[[Category:Temple University Beasley School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Oakwood University alumni]]
[[Category:American Seventh-day Adventists]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Democrats]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania independents]]
[[Category:Street family (Pennsylvania)]]
[[Category:2000 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:African-American mayors in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Pennsylvania]]