In D.C., Nutter cheers Philadelphia
He has given speeches at suburban rotary clubs and addressed hundreds of regional business leaders at luncheons.
He has given speeches at suburban rotary clubs and addressed hundreds of regional business leaders at luncheons.
And last night, Mayor Nutter went to Washington to meet with nearly 60 African American journalists and communications professionals in his quest to improve Philadelphia's fortunes as well as its image.
The event, a meeting of the Washington Association of Black Journalists, was one of several organized regularly by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. in cities with heavy concentrations of media outlets.
For Nutter, the event marked his first opportunity outside of the region to assume a role he cherishes: acting as Philadelphia's chief cheerleader.
"Give us a second look," Nutter said during the reception, held at The Park restaurant near K Street, mentioning the soon-to-open President's House, the Convention Center expansion and a dozen new hotels expected to be built.
"The renaissance period of Philadelphia started about 86 days ago, and we want you to be a part of it."
The tourism marketing corporation holds similar events in New York and Toronto as part of a strategic effort to raise Philadelphia's visibility among more than those reporters specializing in travel or tourism, Jeff Guaracino, the corporation's spokesman, said.
"Our goal is to get journalists interested in Philadelphia, to share the news about what's happening in the city and the region."
Early in his first administration, former Mayor John F. Street made a similar pitch, addressing 100 meeting professionals in Washington to ask them to consider holding their conventions in Philadelphia.
Featuring a mayor as a guest "is invaluable for us and the journalists because it means giving reporters time to hear directly from the mayor," Guaracino said.
Nutter is also trying to enhance the city's reputation in other ways. He has begun rebuilding tattered relationships with Harrisburg lawmakers and suburban Philadelphia residents.
One measure of the differences: When Street in 2004 talked to baseball fans on the first official day the Phillies played in their new ballpark, he was booed. When Nutter pitched the first ball in this season's opening game last Monday, it was cheers all around.
