Phila. mayor responds to critics

Speaking to about 500 leaders of the region's business and civic community Monday, Mayor Michael Nutter took the opportunity to respond to people who have criticized his administration. Nutter introduced Vice President Joe Biden at a fundraising breakfast for the Committee of Seventy.

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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter came into office on a wave of optimism and reform. Now, almost two years into the administration, critics are grumbling about a lack of good organization and communication. Nutter drew a parallel between his own situation and the heightened critiques of President Obama, whose approval rating has recently dropped below 50%. And then he quoted Theodore Roosevelt.

Nutter, quoting Roosevelt: It's not the critic who counts, the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or how the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again.

Nutter recently drew the ire of the head of the Transit Workers Union for interfering with negotiations to end the Septa strike, and critics say he did not do enough to keep the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.