Phila. councilman defends aide in flap with TV reporter

Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. was unapologetic in City Council yesterday as he addressed a television investigation questioning the work habits of a top employee.

Goode indirectly defended his aide, Latrice Bryant, who last week flashed handwritten signs in Council Chambers comparing a Fox29 news reporter to the Ku Klux Klan. Goode and Bryant are African American; Fox29 reporter Jeff Cole is white.

Saying he took an oath to defend the U.S Constitution, Goode said the news media had the right to tell a story, even if it was "inaccurate," "misleading," or about "petty politics."

He then questioned the diversity of the news media, and said many black elected officials feel that they don't enjoy the same freedom of speech that others do.

"I can look over all the press gathered here each week and freely state that there is not enough diversity there," Goode said in a speech at the end of yesterday's Council meeting. "We can look at it for ourselves - but I still defend their freedom of expression."

Fox29 on Tuesday aired a report in which cameras followed Bryant, Goode's $90,000-a-year legislative aide, on 10 days over the summer, documenting her arriving around lunch time on a number of days that she reported starting work around 9 a.m.

Fox also filmed Bryant and Goode leaving City Hall at 12:30 p.m. on July 7, a Monday, then going into Goode's house as he carried a case of Coors Light. Bryant left the house more than three hours later, according to the report.

Last week, Fox29 attempted to interview Bryant and Goode as they walked into Council Chambers. Goode, saying Cole and a cameraman were being physically aggressive, warned Cole: "Don't you ever disrespect a black woman like that again."

As Council began the business part of its meeting, Bryant held up notebook paper with handwritten messages reading, "Fox 29 are racist" and "Jeff Cole KKK."

Goode, a third-term Democrat, has acknowledged that Bryant's time sheets contained inaccuracies. He said those mistakes were attributable to Bryant's failing to fill out time sheets on a daily basis, and being prone to mistakes when filling out time sheets days or weeks later.

Fox 29's report said that Bryant's time sheets apparently did not match her work hours on nine out of 10 days.

Goode told Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall this week that Bryant's actions in Council were "absolutely inappropriate - an inappropriate response to her being rattled." Bryant has declined to comment.

But yesterday Goode was defiant, chiding the media for ignoring his legislative agenda while pursuing the flare-up around time sheets and Bryant.

"If you ask me about time-sheet accuracy in my office, I'll tell you the problem is resolved. If you ask me whether someone has a right to publicly accuse another person of something without knowing that it's definitely true - even when it's done to me - I will defend it as a constitutional right," Goode said.

"I took an oath of office, I will not betray it, but I will not allow anyone else to judge me, or impose their values on me, or tell me what to do in my office," Goode said. "I will continue to do what I've done for almost nine years, only better."

Republican Councilman Frank Rizzo said he had expected something different from Goode's address. "I thought that personally there'd be a little bit of apology," Rizzo said. "But we didn't hear that."

In other Council business yesterday:

Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco called for hearings on the practice of "reverse mortgages," where homeowners take out equity in their home that they won't pay back in their lifetimes. Tasco said she was worried that the trend may represent the same danger to seniors as predatory, adjustable-rate mortgages.

Councilman Darrell L. Clarke introduced zoning legislation that would allow the Family Court complex to be situated at 15th and Arch Streets. The complex is still in the proposal stages and has not been funded.

Councilman Frank DiCicco introduced a bill that would establish a $1,500 fine for using or installing an overly loud motorcycle exhaust system.

Councilman James F. Kenney proposed computerized ethics training for all Council staff.