Street Loving Summer Job
June 3, 2008 –
Former Mayor John Street, whose Temple University Urban Politics class ended last month, began a new job yesterday: passing out Subway flyers on 16th and Chestnut St., dressed as a six-foot-tall sandwich. "It's a little stuffy in here, but otherwise I really can't complain," he enthused from within the oversized foam hoagie. "And when I get back to the shop, they let me have as much soda as I want–and half off any six-inch sub!"
 Street was thrilled to once again be out among the people of Philadelphia. "This really takes me back to my days of community organizing," he said through his cartoon bread-face. "Although instead of fighting for fair housing, I'm, you know, handing out coupons for foot-long Subway Melts. It still feels good, though." The former two-term mayor added that he may stay on as a costumed hoagie well into September. "I know this is just my first day, but I'm really enjoying it," he said, his voice echoing slightly from within the lettuce, tomato, and onion-festooned suit. "And it's a heck of a lot easier than teaching, believe me."
Passersby were stunned to learn that the man-sized sandwich was none other than the 97th mayor of Philadelphia. "I thought that voice sounded familiar," said 58-year-old Vonda Harrison, shaking her head. "I tell you, that man is crazy. Would Ed Rendell or Wilson Goode do a thing like that? I don't think so." Street, though, casually dismissed such criticism. "People might think it's beneath the dignity of an ex-mayor to do something like this, but what can I say?" he asked rhetorically, waddling to the nearby Subway for his lunch break. "I'm finally doing something I'm good at."
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