Nutter: Deep poverty holding city back

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says he believes he’s leaving office at the top of his game. But even with the successes, Nutter says deep-seated poverty is holding the city back.

The poverty rate has stagnated at more than 20 percent for a generation. One out of four Philadelphians now live below the poverty line.

Nutter scrambled to plug holes when he took office eight years ago during the Great Recession.

This year, he welcomed Pope Francis to a city showing continuing signs of momentum. Violent crime is down. Millennials are flocking to the thriving city center. Building is booming. And Nutter helped put a plan in place to provide housing for all homeless veterans.

But he says the “vice-like grip” of poverty “will put you in a bad mood every day.” He hopes to continue fighting poverty out of office.