If we ran
the world Philadelphia, it's highly unlikely that we'd camp out in the dismal rain for an
iPhone like all those "
normal citizens," but we've got to give props to John F. Street for roughin' like the
rest of us. Apparently, Mr. Street set up shop earlier this morning and made up his mind to brave the inclement weather in order to be one of the first to snag an iPhone. Currently, he's waiting patiently along Ranstead St. at 16th St. in Center City to be third in line to purchase an iPhone from the AT&T store, and while we're sure such an influential character could have just
paid someone off to do the waiting for him, the reward will be that much sweeter when 6:01PM rolls around.
Update: Looks like the media descended on the mayor and the dude took off about an hour ago! Looks like someone else has his spot in line (now word on whether he's waiting for the mayor), but we'll have an
update in our lineblog shortly.
posted Jun 29th 2007 11:31AM
Jesus christ. i know people in san francisco that work as assistants that are waiting in line for their bosses.
this must be one shitty town if the mayor can't find one person to sit out in the rain for him.
I was gonna say the same thing... I'm suprised he didn't pay his secretary or somebody to do it for him. Maybe he just enjoys the thrill of being among the first to walk in and get one...
yeah, Philly sucks (for what those poor bastards get in return for paying City tax). The only good thing about Philly is the sheer number of Suicide Girls that live there.
http://www.suicidegirls.com
Here in Philly, politicians know all about paying people off.
Yeah, thats totally true, so who was watching Philly while Street is watching the line, hope it's not Milton.
So who's doing all the mayor-type stuff in Philly today?
His secretary.
Im sure they do it every other day too. So its just a normal day to everyone else.
Are you saying that mayors actually work?
who is doing the mayor stuff when he isnt in line??????
Good for him. Maybe he'll actually talk to a constituent while he's there. Not a bad thing at all.
Supposedly he's going to have someone waiting in line for him while he fulfills his "mayoral duties" according to wpvi.com (a local tv station in Philly). But you gotta give credit to the dude... I'm in Philly right now and I'm not doing it.
I think this a publicity stunt. Look even engadget is taking notice.
Will relaly help put a positive light on him in the midst of risiing crime in philly.
I'm sure his brother Milton would have done it for a few hundred thousand dollars of taxpayer money.
hilarious Jeff
What the hell? Why would he pay his assistant to do it? I'm glad to see that someone who could take the easy way out isn't.
This man has my respect. Way to have a human side.
Does he also have your respect for neglecting his municipal duty to his constituency to stand in line for a stupid $600 gadget? 'Cause if he does, your respect isn't worth much.
Why shouldn't he? It's not like he single handedly runs the city, and the man probably puts more overtime hours in than you believe possible.
Save your judgment. It's not worth much.
I'm sure a lot of people are going to buy the iPhone to sell on ebay at twice the price. I hope apple has enough supply for everyone. I hate those people.
lol.
i have a true respect for that man.
he wants to be out with the people, in the fray!
If he were really out with the people, in the fray, he'd realize that almost 300 people have been murdered in this city so far this year and he hasn't done a thing to try and stop it.
@Philman
Who the fuck do you think he is? Batman? What's he supposed to singlehandedly do about the increased murders?
I have no idea if he does his job well or not, but seriously, what do you want one man to do?
Sleeping in the streets, living like a homeless, begging for water, being unable to wash and paying $600 for the priviledge. Apple created here a unique customer experience!
Hello Troll. Ventured out from under the bridge for this, huh?
Yeah but when he gets one he won't pass the credit check.
...that ain't right ;)
This was great news when I saw it this morning. Philly was one of the first cities committed to offering free city-wide wi-fi under Mayor Street. That should come in good use when the Mayor find those Edge downloads to be a bit slow. And it's pretty cool that he waited himself, rather than forcing some underling to sit out there for him.
Having lived in philly for the past 3 years, I can safely say that the city is probably better off with Street out on the street not doing mayoral things...
... and he looks homeless...
... and im not saying that because he's black...
... and im not saying that because he's black...
It's cause he's black you would even add this line...
Guy's a pretty good people person at least... came to my parents' store and took photos with the fam when he first took office...
He doesn't look homeless...Just look at his tennis shoes. That's high-end shizzzz!
Does it say "69" on his shoes?
HAHAHAHH thats was awesome! HAHAHAH he does look like a bum. Man I am so pissed right now. I dotn wanna even read anythign anymore
Yeah, too bad our murder rate is by far the worst in the country...
You beat me to that! I live in Delaware, and I always hear on the new about the murder counts...over 200 now...way to go Mayor! Foucs on the iPhone! Idiot.
Haha, that's funny, I'm from DE too but live in Philly.
Now I hope no one gets drive-by'ed waiting for an iPhone.
ebay.
That ATT store is right outside my work and just strolled down there to see if the good mayor is still there. Unfortunately, he wasn't.
Anyone that camps for ANYTHING is a pathetic loser.
(Except for say.. medicine for you ill child)
I can't speak to standing in line in general, but the iPhone is the 1st thing since Star Wars (Episode 1) that people have been interested in living on the street for a week to be the first to see/own.
Is this the "Star Wars" of the current day? If so, it's telling of a cultural shift. The shift? Who knows, but something's changed.
Nope, its the Star Wars Prequel.
"I can't speak to standing in line in general, but the iPhone is the 1st thing since Star Wars (Episode 1) that people have been interested in living on the street for a week to be the first to see/own."
Um so where were you when the Playstation 3 and Wii launched?
my hope is that they'll have so many iphones to go around that no one will have to go on ebay to pay off a hack who just sees dollar signs
fat chance, but i can dream right?
er, i didnt mean to suggest the mayor is going to ebay his phone; i just mean line standers in general. and dont even get me started on george "media whore" packer
If he is really waiting in line all day for an iPhone, has anyone checked to see if he is taking a vacation day? If he is getting paid by the Philly public to wait for an iPhone while the city is dealing with some significant issues (high murder rate, city tax burden, mayor's brother thinks he can sing gospel off-key for mayoral votes next to a coffin as a "election rally" (I hope this is on YouTube)), there is going to be hell to pay ... again.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20070629_Street_out__aide_in__in_quest_for_latest_phone.html
see the link above for philly.com story. An aid is waiting for him now. The best part is he says he was actually working off his blackberry from line.
actiually found out about this on the radio at 9:00 am this morning and just laughed.
btw. philly is in real trouble anyway so far there have been 200 people killed so far and he hasn't really done anything about it and so many other issues in that city that i would never want to live there
He mentioned on the news in Philly here today that he would need to leave a few times for meetings. He was told that he was 3rd in line by the store owner, no matter what. But I commend him on doing it himself. Even though he is a suck-ass Mayor.
I don't think he actually left. This morning on our local (philadelphia news) they interviewed him, and he said he had to leave a couple of times during the day. He said he would have an Aide sit for him, but he would return....
There's a typo in the Update... should be "(No word on whether..."
:o)
Uckin kidding me! I am from Philly and near center city also. 179 Homicides this year and he is waiting for an IPHONE. What an Awesome Mayor. Shows you all how bad and trashy my city is. Pathetic!
Make that 202 homicides and 1 great mayor.
He really ruined my day. It was a great friday. just looking at him makes me sick. I remember when i worked at Staples and he walked in for help, and just walked away. I got in trouble but I didn't care I would do it 10 folds over.
"Ya know, I cant afford a hot rod, but I can afford a $600 phone."
I love how he's WAITING IN LINE FOR AN iPhone when Philly's imploding in on itself. Whether anyone cares about the phone or not, he's just one example of how everyone is oblivious to what's going on.
The cops here are reeling from a communications blackout every few months now, thankyouverymuch Motorola. Dammit, if he put his money where his mouth is, we'd be doing something about the 400 murders a year now, wouldn't we?
Crime is not the fault of the mayor....it is the thug ass citizens..Yes he could be doing more to help but as I saw on TV he has a special police task force that goes out every night in the bad areas to stop crimes before it happens and they are allowed to be more aggressive...actually members of the unit were picked based on their aggresive arrest nature...He is working on the crime but signing papers and such does not solve it. He will need the full help of the police commission behind him and some tuff love on the streets to kick ass and ask question later to strike fear in the hearts of them young bucks that are causing the trouble.
Are you kidding me with that comment!? Not the Mayors fault!? Lets go back in time shall we. Umm a name that goes by Rendell, crime was at 23 percent. istead of 200+ homicides it was more like 40. And another thing if he would let the cops do there job I wouldnt saying anything. We need to stop being nice and just breakin and search anythign and everything. Neighborhoods are being destroyed everyday because of so called rights. Yeah lets allow everyone carry guns. AND ANOTHER thing! Streets office are bunch of thieves they pocket and steal everything. Corrupt!
I'm 79% sure people would be bitching if we had found out somebody had stood in line for him, while he was all cozy up in his crib.
Myself, I give props to the guy. How many other mayors thought of standing in line, or even want an iPhone for the technological reasons?
That said, why run? You're the mayor and you want an iPhone - what's so negative about that? I would have sat there and ordered some hot Cocoa for the gang.
As a citizen of Philadelphia I think it sends a bad message that, with all of the problems our city is currently facing, the mayor feels he can camp out for a phone. It's a PHONE.
I understand the arguments that he is a human being and is entitled to personal days - I won't argue with that. What I will say, though, is that he is a very, very public figure and his behavior should reflect that.
Whether or not he can make a difference on this one particular day off is a little irrelevant. The fact is that he's on his 2nd term, almost out of office, and he's out to lunch already. This just underscores that fact, and I'm embarrassed for our great city as a result of his behavior. It's an attitude.
Mr. Street outta be careful, if he's in North Philly when people know he has the nice phone, he may just get mugged. I know I'm bluetoothin with my Treo going to Temple. - Zacharias (http://bsgeek.com)
See the video in youtube were: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5KYS0f76B5Q
Good God, people. Do you hear yourselves, complaining because a man decided to sit in line like everyone else to get the latest gadget?
Yes, because those hours he sat in line were obviously crucial to his working to eliminate the murders in a major city. I mean, in that one morning he could have performed miracles!
Yes, because those hours he sat in line, he should have been in his office! He is an elected official and therefore shouldn't even be seen in a McDonalds, or God forbid taking a bathroom break! And those weekends and holidays? Puh-leeze. None for him!
Yes, because if he'd sent his assistant to wait in line for him, you people would be complaining about THAT, and this comment string would be filled with, "What, he couldn't be bothered to wait along with the COMMON PEOPLE?"
Some people. Never happy. The man is choosing to take care of his own business for a day and all you can harp on is the number of murders thus far this year? Oh, and how he looks. And his shoes.
Complain about his politics or complain about a guy sitting in line with the hordes to buy the latest phone. But good grief, what do the two have to do with each other?
I can't believe people aren't concerned more about if he's on payroll while in line and if he's writing off the phone what a waste of good money, there are starving & homeless people, without jobs who would take 600.00 and live on for a month. I know I live on disability it's not much more than that. Or poor animals needing food in shelters, in Philly and in each state in the US and our governors are standing in line for material items what a great example of what our Country and our people are coming to. in the age of technology gone to far?