Mayor Nutter Defends Decision To Spend Week In China
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Mayor Nutter has returned from a week-long trip to China and he's defending the journey as more than a junket.
Upon his return from a week in Beijing and Philadelphia's sister city Tianjin, Mayor Nutter met with reporters outside his office, and was asked about the decision to spend a full week on the other side of the world. Nutter first stressed that the trip cost taxpayers nothing, as the Chamber of Commerce program called "Select Philadelphia" picked up the estimated $9,000 tab for Nutter and four other city employees.
And the mayor then defended his role as an international promoter of Philadelphia. "My job is to try to help bring more jobs and economic opportunity to the city of Philadelphia, which clearly will have a positive impact on the city's finances. The more people who are working, the more companies that we have here, improve our economic environment. It is a part of the job of the mayor."
Also on the trip were representatives of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Fox Chase Cancer Center and Drexel University. Nutter spoke in Beijing to a conference on urban sustainability.
