Milton Street

For the hamlet inEast Sussex,seeLong Man.For the street in London, seeMilton Street, London.

Milton Street
Member of thePennsylvania Senate from the3rddistrict
In office January 6, 1981 – November 30, 1984
Preceded by	Herbert Arlene
Succeeded by	Roxanne Jones
Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from the181stdistrict
In office January 2, 1979 – November 30, 1980
Preceded by	Ulysses Shelton
Succeeded by	Alphonso Deal
Personal details
Born	Thomas Milton Street (1939-04-25)April 25, 1939 Norristown, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Died	November 28, 2022(2022-11-28)(aged 83)
Relatives	John F. Street(brother), Sharif Street(nephew)
Residence(s)	Moorestown, New Jersey,U.S.
Education	Oakwood College Temple University

Thomas Milton Street Sr.(April 25, 1939 – November 28, 2022) was an American businessman, aPennsylvania state senatorfromPhiladelphia,and the brother of former Philadelphia mayorJohn F. Street.Originally a street hot dog vendor, he rose to prominence as an activist challenging the city's vending and housing ordinances.

Early life and career before politics

Street was born on April 25, 1939, the middle of three brothers.He grew up on a farm nearSwedelandinMontgomery County,outside Philadelphia, in a strict family ofSeventh-day Adventists.He attendedOakwood CollegeandTemple University,and was owner of Street Food Concessions prior to entering politics.

Political career

State legislature

Street was elected to the 181st District of thePennsylvania House of Representativesas aDemocratin 1978, and to thePennsylvania State Senateas a Democrat in 1980. However, shortly after his election, he switched parties toRepublicanin order to give the Republicans control of the State Senate. He was rewarded with a committee chairmanship and a finer office that was previously State SenatorVince Fumo's.He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress against incumbentRepresentativeBill Grayin1982,and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for re-election as State Senator in 1984.

2007 Mayoral candidacy

Main article:2007 Philadelphia Mayoral Election

Street declared his candidacy in the2007 Philadelphia mayoral election,while awaiting trial on federal tax charges. His candidacy was denounced by many, including eventual MayorMichael Nutter,who called Street's candidacy a distraction from important issues.Street was later arrested on February 19 inNew Jerseyfor failure to pay multiple traffic tickets, though he asserted upon release that his campaign would continue.

Street had announced that if 5,000 people did not attend a noontime rally atCity Hallplaza on March 1, 2007, he would give up his candidacy for mayor. Media reports placed attendance at about 200, many of those curious passersby. Street was undeterred, saying he "underestimated" his passion and vowed to continue in the race, not wanting it to be considered a "publicity stunt."

2007 City Council candidacy

Five days later Street withdrew, announcing his intention to run for one of the five Democraticat-largecouncilseats on the last day to file nominating petitions. This would place him in contention with his nephew,Sharif Street,son of the former mayor of Philadelphia. Street himself pointed out that the city residency requirement for a council candidate is one year instead of the three years for a mayoral candidate. There has been some question as to where Street officially resided, in Philadelphia orMoorestown,New Jersey.On March 12, 2007, Street's petition was challenged in court by a voter, since Street turned in only 894 validated signatures into City Hall and the requirement to be placed on the Democratic Primary ballot is 1,000. He did get on the ballot and was unsuccessful in his bid, finishing 17th of 19 candidates (for five spots) with 1.47% of the vote.

2011 Mayoral candidacy

Main article:2011 Philadelphia Mayoral Election

Street was once again running for mayor in the2011 election.He challenged incumbent mayorMichael Nutterin the Democratic primary, and lost, accumulating 24.07% of the primary vote.

2015 Mayoral candidacy

Main article:2015 Philadelphia mayoral election

On March 10, 2015, Street filed as a Democratic candidate formayor of Philadelphia.As with previous years, violence prevention was a central theme of his campaign. He received 1.68 percent of the vote, finishing last in 6th place.

Shortly after his failed campaign, Street announced a proposal to train 5,000 residents inmartial artsto support law enforcement.

2018 State House campaign

Street ran for his old seat in the 181st Pennsylvania House district as the Republican nominee. He received 4.66% of the vote, losing to DemocratMalcolm Kenyatta.

2019 Mayoral candidacy

Main article:2019 Philadelphia mayoral election

On May 15, 2019, Street announced his candidacy in the 2019 mayoral election. Having announced too late to run on either party's ticket, he ran an independent write-in campaign. He had until August 1, 2019 to submit the necessary paperwork and petition with the required signatures.

Business ventures

Street later returned to prominence during the 1990s through his many business ventures, including a localamphibious tour buscompany and vending and consulting contracts with the city andPhiladelphia International Airport.

Trial and conviction

In November 2006, Street was indicated on federal charges ofwire fraud,mail fraud,and tax offenses.The fraud charges arose from Street's involvement with Philadelphia Airport Services, a joint venture established to seek a maintenance contract atPhiladelphia International AirportandNortheast Philadelphia Airport;federal prosecutors alleged that the airport contacting company hired Street and paid him $2 million worth of consulting fees and income for which Street did little or no work, and for which he did not report income on histax returnsor pay tax.

During his trial, Street claimed that thefederal income taxon wages is illegal and theInternal Revenue Servicehad no authority to collect taxes, a commontax protestor argumentuniversally rejected by the courts.

On February 22, 2008, a jury convicted Street was convicted of three counts of failure to file tax returns for years 2002, 2003, and 2004.The crimes were misdemeanors.He was acquitted on four counts of mail and wire fraud; and the jury deadlocked on two charges that Milton had filed false returns in 2000 and 2001.A co-defendant, John H. Velardi Sr., was acquitted.

In September 2008, U.S. District JudgeLegrome D. Davissentenced Street to 30 months in prison; during the hearing, Judge Davis said that Street's conduct in failing to file returns or pay tax on almost $3 million in income was "outrageous" and also ordered Street to pay $413,000 in back taxes.Street appealed, but his conviction was affirmed by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.Street served 26 months in prison.

Death

Street died on November 28, 2022,after a battle withprostate cancer.