The few, the proud -- we privileged citizens of Philadelphia. The police department, headed by popular new commissioner Sylvester Johnson, had the requisite evidence against Allen Iverson and was anxious to get rolling.
Well, perhaps that is a bit of an overstatement. The cops didn't actually go searching for evidence until a few days after the original 911 call was placed. The same call that had the victim, Charles Johnson, alleging that Iverson threw his wife out of their mansion -- buck-naked, no less. Not satisfied with his night's entertainment, Iverson chased his wife to West Philadelphia, where he and his uncle forced their way into an apartment and threatened violence, all the while proudly displaying an unregistered handgun.
But before actually hunting for the gun or checking everyone's story, the city allowed Iverson's people to meet with some of our brave men in blue. After Iverson and the rest of his renowned crew had plenty of time to get their story straight and the evidence -- namely the gun -- to disappear, the cops told Iverson he only had to surrender himself when his lawyer returned from vacation.
Now, tell me again why it took so long to get Iverson in custody. Why did Philadelphia Mayor John Street jump into the fray? Why did Street's $156,000 a year Communications head accuse the police of being too zealous in their pursuit of an alleged gun-toting felon? Particularly when the cops had admitted that if it had been a normal guy, he would have been in the clink faster than an Allen Iverson bobble-head doll on an eBay sale? What's the answer?
Simple. Just a few months ago, Street said that "the brothers are running the city." Street's multi-racial "brothers" are joined together in the a favoritism game that John Street has learned to play with mastery. Just ask his real brother, Milton.
If you're looking for Milton Street, check the vendor allocations at the Penn Relays or a plethora of other super profitable arenas. Or try the airport where one of Milton's "interests" landed a multi-million dollar contract ahead of far more qualified firms. Just don't look for him at Traffic Court. The elder Street brother isn't too fond of hanging around there since he was convicted of punching a Traffic Court official in the mouth. It's understandable, considering that Milton was once a Traffic Court Administrator and considered himself much more expert in the matters of scofflaw than the judge -- who was holding him accountable for $2,500 in unpaid traffic tickets. However, one ill-advised roundhouse a thug does not make, right? As long as Milton did the time for the crime, why shouldn't he be allowed to reap the benefits of his brother's success? Blood is thicker than water. Street is also proving that allegiance is thicker than justice.
So proven by his Acting Head of Communications, Frank Keel, the man that astounded the police with accusations of an overzealous Iverson pursuit, while at the same time the mayor's office was saying that they would not become involved -- at least, not any more involved than they already were. Keel is not a city employee, but a contracted one. Why? First, he is not a city resident. When asked why he doesn't move into the city that he represents, The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Keel responded, "My kids are in school and very happy there." Well, who can blame them? The schools in Mont
gomery County are much better than the schools in Philly, and a tad bit safer.
More importantly, if Keel were a city employee his business would not be allowed to contract with other city agencies. Currently, Keel's people have contracts with the city's Law Department, Recreation and Human Services and Philadelphia Safe & Sound -- run by Naomi Post, who is also known as Mrs. John Street.
So, intrepid Iverson fans, your bravado is well founded. Allen's posse seems to include the mayor and he probably won't even get the four weekends in jail that brother Milton received following the Traffic Court melee. And if you think I have an agenda, you might just be right -- I desperately need an internship and I would absolutely love one with the city. I am willing to threaten or punch someone or even move to the suburbs if that's what it takes. Hey, for a very cushy department, I might even consider marriage. But it would have to be quite a position.
