Nutter Holding After-School Program in His Office
February 26, 2008 –
In response to controversy surrounding his $21 million cut from a child-welfare agency's budget, Mayor Michael Nutter has taken it upon himself to look after those children whose after-school programs were closed as a result. "The last thing I want to do is take valuable resources from our neediest children," he said yesterday afternoon, his office buzzing with rambunctious, screaming kids. "I blame the previous mayor for the budget problem, but at the same time, I see these children as my responsibility. Rashawn, put that down!"
 Earlier this month, Nutter took $21 million from the Street administration's overbudgeted Safe and Sound program, causing the closure of after-school programs in some of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods. And while the mayor has ordered that the organization reopen the programs, and compensate for the shortfall by trimming its budget, it appeared yesterday that many after-school programs remained shuttered. "They had one at our church, but it hasn't opened back up yet," said Mercedes Tejada, 31, of Olney, as she picked up her seven-year-old daughter, Carmita, from City Hall. "But anyway, she really likes Mr. Nutter. He lets her play with his glasses."
Nutter insisted that the mass of rowdy schoolchildren would not distract him from his duties as mayor. "Having them pour in here every afternoon was a bit of a shock at first, but I'm getting used to it," he said, separating two boys who were stabbing at each other with pencils. "It's for the good of Philadelphia that these kids have a–excuse me–Rashawn! Rashawn! What did I just tell you?" Deputy Mayor Don Schwarz marveled at Nutter's patience. "He'll be in his office, on the phone with his economic team or Commissioner Ramsey, and meanwhile, there are thirty kids tearing the place to pieces," he laughed. "Between you and me, he's probably wishing he'd just left Safe and Sound alone."
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