-g emil reutter
On May 1st we sent out eight questions to the Mayoral candidates in Philadelphia concerning the arts. Questions concerned the poet laureate program, funding for museum/homes in Fairmount Park, questions about what books the candidates have read, visits to the art museum, who are their favorite poet/writers and artists. We requested the candidates respond by May 10th. We included all the Democrat candidates and the Republican candidate for the May 19th primary. Responses appear below in the order they have been returned. Those not responding appear at the bottom of the post. Remember to vote May 19th!
Anthony Williams – Democrat, Philadelphia
https://www.anthonyhwilliams.com/about/
As Mayor would you continue the Poet Laureate position in Philadelphia?
Absolutely. As Poet Laureates, Sonia Sanchez and Frank Sherlock showcase the best of what Philadelphia has to offer. We should continue it, and highlight Philadelphia as a city that recognizes arts and culture as one of city’s strategic assets.
In recent years funding for the arts has substantially decreased. What is your position of funding of the arts and would you increase city funding?
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As Mayor, I will elevate city government’s commitment to the arts by creating a Department of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. I will also commit to securing a dedicated revenue stream for the arts, as a part of a longterm strategic vision for how the sector can accelerate economic growth for artists and organizations alike.
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The museum/homes of Fairmount Park are jewels of the city. What would you do as Mayor to insure proper funding and maintenance of these homes visited by the public?
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I’m committed to increasing the operating and capital budgets for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Underfunding the basic capital needs of parks and recreation is short sighted. Thirteen percent of Philadelphia is parkland. Philadelphia has one of the top 5 highest total acreages of park land in the nation, and we spend less than almost every city to maintain it. This is to our detriment: the city’s parks generate over $40M in increased equity for homeowners that live near them. With a focus on strong programming in museums and homes in Fairmount Park, we can attract neighborhood revitalization, engage families, and activate community pride.
Who is your favorite poet/writer and why?
TS Elliott in high school, grew to love novels of James Baldwin and poetry of Nicki Giovanni in college- has an eclectic set of tastes in poetry and prose.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Henry Ossawa Tanner
When was the last occasion you paid a visit to the Art Museum?
Art museum visit : for official business but not in a while for pleasure, but visited the Barnes in 2014 with wife Shari, just before I started running for mayor
How many books do you read during the course of a year?
Reads at least 2 books a month
Do you have a personal passion for the arts and if so what discipline do you engage?
Has personal passion for the arts based upon discovering this was the best format to learn; arts and sports was what kept my attention in high school, that’s why I am so frustrated by the fact that the arts have largely disappeared from public schools, it is the only thing that motivates some kids to stay in school? Favorite discipline is music…loves to dance.
Doug Oliver- Democrat, Philadelphia
http://dougoliver2015.com/who-am-i/
As Mayor would you continue the Poet Laureate position in Philadelphia?
Certainly. Our city has a rich history and exciting future rooted in written and spoken word. Those who have served in the official capacity – Sonia Sanchez and Frank Sherlock – as well as those who have served as unofficial cultural ambassadors like The Roots, Jill Scott, Linda Creed, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and dating as far back as Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Allen Poe and our founding Father Benjamin Franklin … all of these amazing writers and poets have lent to the depth of our cultural richness and helped to put the city on the map.
Now, through the launch of the Youth Poet Laureate program and our city hosting the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival last year, spoken word has also emerged as a way to connect to the youth in our city, allowing their voices to be heard. Preserving the Poet Laureate position is a relatively small investment that renders massive tangible and intangible benefits for our city and our cultural economy. And even during times when tough decisions on our budget may have to be made, I think we could look to public/private partnerships to support and even expand the program. I applaud the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy for its work.
In recent years funding for the arts has substantially decreased. What is your position of funding of the arts and would you increase city funding?
Tourism has a $10 billion impact on the overall economy of the Philadelphia region. One of the most important draws for the more than 30 million visitors to the region each year is the strength of our arts and culture community. Much of that traffic has been confined to the many fine institutions in Center City. In our Beyond the Bell strategy, we look to expand the benefits of the tourism industry to our culturally rich neighborhoods.
One way we can support this is to increase targeted investment in thriving multicultural “Main Streets,” extending the same Business Improvement Districts that brought life to the Avenue of the Arts and University City into other neighborhoods. I would also like to consider strategies for bringing the Uptown Theater back into commerce and using it as a catalytic project that would spur growth along North Broad Street. We would also like to implement a tourism district “Round it Up” program for local businesses, offering customers an opportunity to designate their leftover change to our City’s Cultural Fund. Additionally, I would like to look at working with The Philadelphia Fund and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance on our city’s participation in Give Local America!, a national online single day of giving event that has worked well in Pittsburgh and New Orleans to spur individual donor support of our cultural institutions and other non-profit organizations.
The museum/homes of Fairmount Park are jewels of the city. What would you do as Mayor to insure proper funding and maintenance of these homes visited by the public?
Many of these history buildings date back to the centennial exhibition of 1876. Fairmount Park has some of the greatest architectural gems of any parks system in the country. I believe these capital projects require strong public/private partnerships between the philanthropic community and city government. I also believe in adaptive reuse of many of these historic buildings like the Please Touch Museum and Ryerss Mansion at Burholme Park.
Who is your favorite poet/writer and why?
Maya Angelou. Her life. The richness of her words. Her ability to persevere through incredible adversity, translate her pain into prose that have helped uplift generations of readers – across all walks of life – to become one of the greatest writers of our time is inspiring.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
I would have to say both Norman Rockwell and Gordon Parks. Both had a way of capturing their respective views of the American experience and every day life in ways that were both relatable and impactful.
When was the last occasion you paid a visit to the Art Museum?
It’s been a while since I’ve able to make it to the Art Museum. But the incredible thing about Philadelphia is that we are home to a rich, diverse collection of repositories for the arts. I recently visited the African American Museum of Art in Philadelphia for the opening of the exhibition Badass Art Man: Original Work of Danny Simmons.
How many books do you read during the course of a year?
10 to 15. I try to get in one a month.
Do you have a personal passion for the arts and if so what discipline do you engage?
I used to play the trumpet. One of the defining moments in my life was when I was student at Pickett Middle School and some guys stole my trumpet and broke it. I haven’t played since. However, I still remain extremely passionate about the Arts. There’s been a lot of focus placed on STEM industries – science, technology, engineering and math – as economic drivers. I’m in support of STEAM – those same disciplines with an added emphasis on the Arts. Some of our greatest assets are the many cultural institutions throughout our city. I believe it is important for us to include those institutions in conversations around preparing our children for the future, developing unique job and small business opportunities and ultimately building out a stronger and more diverse economy in our City.
Jim Kenney- Democrat, Philadelphia
https://kenney2015.com/about
As Mayor would you continue the Poet Laureate position in Philadelphia?
Yes
In recent years funding for the arts has substantially decreased. What is your position of funding of the arts and would you increase city funding?
Yes through partnerships with corporations and large non-profits. Increasing access to the arts in to engaging our students and they will be a key part of my plan to expand the community school model throughout Philadelphia. schools are critical.
The museum/homes of Fairmount Park are jewels of the city. What would you do as Mayor to insure proper funding and maintenance of these homes visited by the public?
Private-public partnerships will be critical. I am dedicated to being a constant advocate for these and other cultural jewels that contribute invaluably to our tourism and local economy.
Who is your favorite poet/writer and why?
Langston Hughes, very lyrical
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Atkins, a Philly artist who despite an underprivileged childhood went on to achieve great things and give back tremendously to his community.
When was the last occasion you paid a visit to the Art Museum?
Last year for a benefit to support the museum
How many books do you read during the course of a year?
4-5
Do you have a personal passion for the arts and if so what discipline do you engage?
I participated in the New Year’s parade for many years, but these days I mostly just sing showtunes.
Nelson Diaz- Democrat, Philadelphia
http://www.nelsondiazformayor.com/meet-nelson
As Mayor would you continue the Poet Laureate position in Philadelphia?
Yes I would. This is an important symbolic token of our support for the creative arts in Philadelphia, and I look forward to helping to select our third Poet Laureate as Mayor.
In recent years funding for the arts has substantially decreased. What is your position of funding of the arts and would you increase city funding?
The City should invest more in the arts and in parks because doing so would yield huge dividends for the city, on a financial as well as a cultural level. I’d much rather invest in the arts than in sports stadiums, for instance, because the arts generate so much more for our city than a stadium does. The arts are one of the key drivers of our economy and deserve our enthusiastic support as a city government.
The museum/homes of Fairmount Park are jewels of the city. What would you do as Mayor to insure proper funding and maintenance of these homes visited by the public?
City funding for our parks should be increased. I’ve repeatedly gone on record during this campaign pledging to increase city support for our parks department and invest more resources in maintaining and expanding parks and green space across our City.
Who is your favorite poet/writer and why?
My favorite author is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Not just for her legal opinions, but for her inspiring and powerful memoir. As a fellow Puerto Rican from public housing in New York, I found it particularly meaningful to read her journey.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Picasso. I’ve had the privilege of seeing his work around the world and always found it amazing.
When was the last occasion you paid a visit to the Art Museum?
I’m actually a member of the Board of Trustees of the Art Museum; I visit frequently, and was there a month ago for a presentation on the African American collection.
How many books do you read during the course of a year?
On average I read four books a year for pleasure and a number more for business and corporate law or governance.
Do you have a personal passion for the arts and if so what discipline do you engage?
I am a particular fan of dance and music, and enjoy salsa dancing. While my form is a little unorthodox, I make up for it with enthusiasm.
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No Response
Lynne Abraham
Melissa Murray Bailey
T Milton Street
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-g emil reutter lives and writes in the Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pa. He can be found at: https://gereutter.wordpress.com/about/
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