Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter talks about his new book, schools, taxes and flash mobs

Two years after leaving office, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has written a book about his life and political career called “Mayor: The Best Job in Politics.” After serving 15 years in Philadelphia City Council, Nutter resigned from office and launched what looked like a long-shot campaign for mayor in 2007. He came from behind and beat four formidable rivals in the Democratic primary, leading to an easy win in the general election

Nutter served two four-year terms. He faced a serious budget crisis following the 2008 recession, and he struggled to keep the Philadelphia School District funded. The result was several property tax increases — as well as an increase in the city sales tax and the imposition of a new cigarette tax.

Nutter is proud of the decline in the city’s crime rate, the growth in population, and improvements in the school district’s high school graduation and college attendance rates.

But he said he remains troubled at the level of violence and poverty in the city.

He talked at length about his response to a rash of “flash mobs” in Philadelphia, and how he responded more as a parent and a black man, than he did as a mayor.

You can hear my interview with Nutter by playing the audio above.