PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the third year, Philadelphia will send 200 kids to sleep-away camp in the Poconos free of charge.
Camp Philly, as it's called, is a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation program, but it's funded with private donations from local businesses and unions. The announcement created a photo opportunity for one local union leader with legal problems.
Parks and recreation commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell led a news conference to thank Camp Philly's lead sponsors, and she had a lot to thank Building Trades leader John Dougherty for, not just this year's $100,000.
"Next year, we will give you $100,000 from the Philadelphia Building Trades so that you don't have to worry about, you can plan next year," Dougherty said.
Dougherty's last public appearance was in federal court for a hearing in his bribery case, when he made no comment.
The Camp Philly announcement gave him a chance to highlight the union's good work and his relationship with Mayor Jim Kenney, as he reminisced about their childhood playground at Second and Jackson streets and how quickly the mayor called him after getting elected.
"I guess it was maybe week number two, and the mayor called to make sure the Philadelphia Building Trades were going to be real active in his administration and he wanted more kids from the neighborhoods into the trades, but maybe the second or third thing that we talked about was Second and Jackson," Dougherty said.
The mayor also reminisced about their South Philly childhood, making it clear he feels no need to distance himself despite Dougherty's indictment.
