Spring Break
Building a better Philly
Mayoral candidate came to Drexel to talk about the city's postive side.
By: Jordan Osecki
Issue date: 8/10/07 Section: News
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:45 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:44 AM EST
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:45 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:44 AM EST
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Michael Nutter, the Democratic mayoral candidate for Philadelphia, visited Drexel University on August 8 as part of the Pennoni College's Great Works Symposium.
Nutter recalled memories from when he attended the University of Pennsylvania. The probable mayor of Philadelphia was slated to be a doctor, enrolled in UPenn's Pre-Med program, until he walked into his first chemistry class: "Once I saw that periodic table, I knew that I didn't want to become a doctor. So I decided to take a 'W' for the course, for the sake of my G.P.A., and move on. I think the world is a safer place because of that as well," Nutter said.
Nutter commented that besides going to UPenn, he does have ties to Drexel University: "While I didn't venture on Drexel's campus too much during my time at that university next door (UPenn), my assistant who is with me just about all of the time is a Drexel alum. So you see, I do always have the Drexel and the dragon with me," Nutter said.
Nutter began talking about Philadelphia positively, citing a National Geographic article titled "The Next Great City," and even argued that it is already a great city. He listed some of Philadelphia's assets, including 9,200 acres of park, the largest outdoor mural collection of any city in the U.S., its walk-ability, its affordability, its far reaching transportation system, its premier sports facilities, and its 83 colleges teaching 300,000 students.
Nutter also discussed many of the problems facing the city. He named violent crime and education issues as the biggest. According to Nutter, Philadelphia has only an 18% college attainment rate for its citizens, and that there is a 45% dropout rate in the city's high schools.
He also described plans to cut taxes, especially the business privilege tax (BPT). Nutter's plan is to eliminate the gross receipts portion of the tax, which is a portion that businesses must pay even if they operate at a loss for the year. He also plans to lower the other half of the BPT tax, the net income tax, to the same rate as the wage tax.
Nutter recalled memories from when he attended the University of Pennsylvania. The probable mayor of Philadelphia was slated to be a doctor, enrolled in UPenn's Pre-Med program, until he walked into his first chemistry class: "Once I saw that periodic table, I knew that I didn't want to become a doctor. So I decided to take a 'W' for the course, for the sake of my G.P.A., and move on. I think the world is a safer place because of that as well," Nutter said.
Nutter commented that besides going to UPenn, he does have ties to Drexel University: "While I didn't venture on Drexel's campus too much during my time at that university next door (UPenn), my assistant who is with me just about all of the time is a Drexel alum. So you see, I do always have the Drexel and the dragon with me," Nutter said.
Nutter began talking about Philadelphia positively, citing a National Geographic article titled "The Next Great City," and even argued that it is already a great city. He listed some of Philadelphia's assets, including 9,200 acres of park, the largest outdoor mural collection of any city in the U.S., its walk-ability, its affordability, its far reaching transportation system, its premier sports facilities, and its 83 colleges teaching 300,000 students.
Nutter also discussed many of the problems facing the city. He named violent crime and education issues as the biggest. According to Nutter, Philadelphia has only an 18% college attainment rate for its citizens, and that there is a 45% dropout rate in the city's high schools.
He also described plans to cut taxes, especially the business privilege tax (BPT). Nutter's plan is to eliminate the gross receipts portion of the tax, which is a portion that businesses must pay even if they operate at a loss for the year. He also plans to lower the other half of the BPT tax, the net income tax, to the same rate as the wage tax.
