Milton Street
Milton Street | |
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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 April 25, 1939 Norristown, Pennsylvania,U.S. |
Died | November 28, 2022 | (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
[edit]Street was born on April 25, 1939, the middle of three brothers.[1][2]He grew up on a farm nearSwedelandinMontgomery County,outside Philadelphia, in a strict family ofSeventh-day Adventists.[1]He attendedOakwood CollegeandTemple University,and was owner of Street Food Concessions prior to entering politics.[2]
Political career
[edit]State legislature
[edit]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.[3]He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress against incumbentRepresentativeBill Grayin1982,[4]and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for re-election as State Senator in 1984.[5]
2007 Mayoral candidacy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Milton_Street_rally.jpg/220px-Milton_Street_rally.jpg)
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.[6]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.[7]
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."[8]
2007 City Council candidacy
[edit]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.[9]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
[edit]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.[10]
2015 Mayoral candidacy
[edit]On March 10, 2015, Street filed as a Democratic candidate formayor of Philadelphia.[11]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.[12]
Shortly after his failed campaign, Street announced a proposal to train 5,000 residents inmartial artsto support law enforcement.[13]
2018 State House campaign
[edit]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
[edit]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.[14]
Business ventures
[edit]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.[15]
Trial and conviction
[edit]In November 2006, Street was indicated on federal charges ofwire fraud,mail fraud,and tax offenses.[16]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;[16]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.[17][18]
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.[19]
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.[20]The crimes were misdemeanors.[21]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.[20]A co-defendant, John H. Velardi Sr., was acquitted.[20]
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.[21]Street appealed, but his conviction was affirmed by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.[22]Street served 26 months in prison.[1]
Death
[edit]Street died on November 28, 2022,[23]after a battle withprostate cancer.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdBrennan, Chris; Conde, Ximena; Hazelton, Lynette; Russ, Valerie (November 28, 2022)."T. Milton Street Sr., former activist and politician, has died at 83".The Philadelphia Inquirer.RetrievedJuly 19,2024.
- ^ab"T. Milton Street".PA House Archives.RetrievedJuly 19,2024.
- ^Paul Nussbaum, September 27, 2008, "A long, strange trip for Milton Street,"Philadelphia Inquirer,at[1].
- ^Barone, Michael;and Ujifusa, Grant.The Almanac of American Politics1988', p. 1015.National Journal,1987.
- ^"Pennsylvania State Street - T. Milton Street Biography".legis.state.pa.us.RetrievedFebruary 1,2019.
- ^"KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia - Nutter Calls Milton Street Candidacy" A Distraction "".March 5, 2021.
- ^"KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia - Milton Street Booked for Ignoring Traffic Tickets".March 5, 2021.
- ^Gelbart, Marcia (March 2, 2007)."For Milton Street, numbers add up He said he'd quit the race for mayor if a rally didn't draw 5,000. He fell 4,800 short. And he's staying in".Philly.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
- ^http:// philly /mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/16849987.htm[dead link]
- ^Gelbart, Marcia."Nutter easily defeats Street in primary","Philly", May 18, 2011, accessed August 5, 2011.
- ^Dean, Mensah (March 11, 2015)."6 Dems, 1 GOPer, make deadline to run for mayor".Philadelphia Daily News.RetrievedMarch 12,2015.
- ^"Prior Year Election Results".philadelphiavotes.RetrievedAugust 27,2015.
- ^Hickey, Brian.Philly Voice,May 15, 2019, "Milton Street says he's running for Philly Mayor as an independent".Accessed May 17, 2019.
- ^WHYY,May 15, 2019, "Facebook Twitter Email Former state Sen. Milton Street announces candidacy for mayor".Accessed May 17, 2019.
- ^http:// philly /mld/philly/news/16711440.htm[dead link]
- ^abPhiladelphia mayor's brother indicted,United Press International (November 28, 2006).
- ^Split verdict in Milton Street trial,Associated Press (February 22, 2008).
- ^Joseph A. Gambardello and Joseph A. Slobodzian,Accountant for Milton Street testifies,Philadelphia Inquirer(February 13, 2008).
- ^Joseph A. Gambardello,Street's position on taxes rejected often by courts,Philadelphia Inquirer(February 16, 2008).
- ^abcJoseph A. Gambardello,Milton Street verdict is mixed,Philadelphia Inquirer(February 22, 2008).
- ^abEmilie Lounsberry,T. Milton Street Sr. gets 30 months for dodging taxes,Philadelphia Inquirer(September 27, 2008).
- ^Tax Notes Today, 2010 TNT 48-10 (3/12/2010).
- ^James Jackson,T. Milton Street Sr., former Pennsylvania state senator, dies at 83,Philadelphia Tribune(November 28, 2022).
- 1939 births
- 2022 deaths
- African-American state legislators in Pennsylvania
- American people convicted of tax crimes
- Pennsylvania Democrats
- Pennsylvania Republicans
- Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes
- Politicians from Philadelphia
- People from Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Street family of Pennsylvania
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American people
- Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators