Milton Street Death – Former Philadelphia Activist Died At 83

Milton Street’s death was confirmed by his nephew. 

At the age of 83, former Pennsylvania senator Milton Street passed away on the morning of Monday, November 28, 2022.

According to a statement from his family, the former lawmaker was, first and foremost, a populist activist.

In a statement posted online, his family wrote, “It is with sorrow that we announce the demise of former Sen. T. Milton Street Sr., activist, legislator, and politician.” 

Former senator Street worked to improve Philadelphia as a community organizer and subsequently as a state politician.

Thomas Milton Street Sr., 83, gained notoriety as a Philadelphia activist combating homelessness and poverty before serving in the Pennsylvania House and Senate.

Mr. Street was the nephew of Pennsylvania Senator Sharif Street and the brother of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street.

When Street passed away, his family was around him.

Mr. Street’s health deteriorated after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis a few years ago. Cancer spread affecting his back, ribs, and hip bones.

Regardless of political membership, he worked to dismantle obstacles and envisioned how the government could work for regular people by creating change via policy, according to a statement from Sen. Sharif Street, his nephew.

Mr. Street, one of three brothers, was born in 1939 and was raised on a 110-acre farm in Montgomery County close to Swedeland. His family attended services in Philadelphia and adhered to the stringent Seventh-day Adventist Church.

According to Mr. Street’s nephew, his first protest was against the church for discriminating against women in hiring.

Only two of Mr. Street’s bids were successful, and he was ousted from the state Senate in 1980 after joining the Republican Party in an effort to gain more significant influence. As a result, the GOP gained control of the chamber.

Due to his three-year failure to file federal tax returns, Milton Street was sentenced to 26 months in prison.

Mr. Street promoted populist and odd initiatives over the years. He repeatedly urged that 5,000 individuals be hired to operate as local activists, maintaining and securing streets. He asserted in 2015 that the city could build a sizable net to collect meteorites for commercial sale.

All three of Mr. Street’s wives passed away. His three daughters, his younger brother, and several nieces and nephews are left behind.

Milton Street obituary

The family released Milton Street Obituary.

The viewing and funeral services will take place at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 West Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia, on Thursday, December 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, December 16, from 9 to 2 p.m.

Local officials paid him tributes.

Local officials praised Mr. Street for his commitment after his passing.

Mr. Street was referred to as an entrepreneur by the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, which promoted companies like the ones he founded. The caucus also referred to Mr. Street as “a mentor and as a friend to many.”

In his own statement, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke reiterated the sentiment and related the tale of how he met Mr. Street and was subsequently invited to area meetings on what is now Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

‘I attended those sessions and was impressed, Clarke wrote. Milton Street was never afraid to speak out against injustice whenever and wherever he discovered it. He did so with force. He taught me a lot of things.’