"We cannot afford to underwrite or subsidize this business behind me," Nutter said. The Bustleton Podiatry Association, at 7936 Bustleton Ave., has not paid taxes since 1996, according to the Mayor's Office. Its overdue payments include wage and trust-fund taxes as well as interest and penalties.
The news conference originally had been scheduled for last Thursday, but the Mayor's Office canceled it to give Bustleton Podiatry more time to arrange a payment agreement with the city's Law Department. With no agreement in hand, Nutter announced Tuesday that an auction of furniture and other items would take place at the practice Sept. 30.
The mayor did not provide a specific reason for choosing Bustleton Podiatry. City Revenue Commissioner Keith Richardson said the business was not the largest delinquent in the city. Richardson, who was at the news conference, said that the mayor would hold similar media events "quite often," but that detailed plans had not yet been made.
"We were particularly surprised that this business was targeted because we have come forward and we have told the city that we would cooperate with them to resolve this," said Gary Krimstock, a lawyer for Bustleton Podiatry.
Both Nutter and Richardson emphasized that the amount of the practice's overdue taxes could support various city services, such as hiring two new firefighter or police recruits, or paying the salaries of four sanitation workers or library assistants.
"They've enjoyed a full complement of services everyday and have refused to pay for them," Nutter said.
Krimstock said the owner of Bustleton Podiatry "suffered some financial hardships in his business and incurred these business debts."
