Milton Street facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Milton Street
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| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 3rd district |
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| In office January 6, 1981 – November 30, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Herbert Arlene |
| Succeeded by | Roxanne Jones |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 181st district |
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| In office January 2, 1979 – November 30, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Ulysses Shelton |
| Succeeded by | Alphonso Deal |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Milton Street
April 25, 1941 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2022 (aged 81) |
| Relatives | John F. Street (brother), Sharif Street (nephew) |
| Residences | Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S. |
Thomas Milton Street Sr. (born April 25, 1941 – died November 28, 2022) was an American businessman and politician. He served as a state senator in Pennsylvania and was from Philadelphia. He was also the brother of John F. Street, who was once the mayor of Philadelphia. Milton Street started his career selling hot dogs on the street. He later became known as an activist, working to change city rules about street vending and housing.
Contents
Political Career in Pennsylvania
Serving in the State Legislature
Milton Street began his political journey in 1978. He was elected to the 181st District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democrat. In 1980, he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate. Soon after, he changed his political party to Republican. This change helped the Republican Party gain control of the State Senate. Because of this, he was given an important role as a committee chairman. He also received a better office.
Street tried to become a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1982 but was not successful. He also ran for re-election as a State Senator in 1984 but lost.
Running for Mayor of Philadelphia
Milton Street ran for mayor of Philadelphia several times. He first announced his candidacy in the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election. Many people had different opinions about his campaign. He held a rally at City Hall plaza, saying he would stop his campaign if 5,000 people did not attend. Only about 200 people showed up, but Street decided to continue his campaign anyway.
He later changed his mind and decided to run for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council instead. This meant he would be running against his nephew, Sharif Street. There were some questions about where Street officially lived, which is important for candidates. He did get on the ballot but was not elected, finishing 17th out of 19 candidates.
Street ran for mayor again in the 2011 election. He challenged the current mayor, Michael Nutter, in the Democratic primary. He lost this election, getting about 24% of the votes.
In 2015, Street ran for mayor of Philadelphia once more. A main part of his campaign was about preventing violence in the city. He finished last among the candidates. After this election, he suggested a plan to train 5,000 people in martial arts to help law enforcement.
Later Campaigns
In 2018, Milton Street ran for his old seat in the 181st Pennsylvania House district. He ran as a Republican candidate but lost to Malcolm Kenyatta.
He announced his candidacy for the 2019 mayoral election on May 15, 2019. He ran as an independent candidate, meaning he was not part of a major political party's ticket.
Business Ventures and Legal Matters
Business Successes
In the 1990s, Milton Street became well-known again through his various businesses. These included a company that offered tours on amphibious buses (vehicles that can travel on both land and water). He also had contracts for vending and consulting with the city and Philadelphia International Airport.
Legal Challenges
In 2006, Street faced legal issues related to his business dealings. He was accused of not filing his taxes correctly. In 2008, he was found guilty of not filing taxes for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004. This is a less serious offense than tax evasion. He was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison. Street tried to appeal the decision, but the court upheld his conviction.
