Officials say Mummers will march next month
Friday, December 18th, 2009
By: Tom MacDonald
tmacdonald@whyy.org
City and federal officials say a Philadelphia holiday tradition is in no danger of being canceled. Funding issues nearly halted the Mummers Parade last year, but parade backers are optimistic they'll raise the necessary funds this year.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Since the city stopped paying for police overtime and cleanup at parades last year, nearly all parades have had trouble covering costs. This year's Columbus Day parade had to be canceled.
Congressman Bob Brady made a last minute fund raising push that saved last year's Mummers parade. He says this year, there is nothing to worry about.
Brady: We're going to raise it, I raised it last year, I will raised it this year. I'm going to raise I have commitments, Jimmy Kenney has commitments, Councilman Frank DiCicco has commitments, and the mayor has cut it way down, the administration did a great job sharpening their pencil.
Mayor Michael Nutter is also confident that the parade will go off on schedule. Councilman Jim Kenney, a mummer himself, tentatively agrees, though he wants to see the final paperwork for the parade.