FLEMING - The NAACP, Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street said, is charged with the responsibility of advocating for human rights and putting people in government who will be accountable for achieving them.

"The NAACP is obligated to make sure there is unfettered access to the political system, even though we believe the political system isn't all of the answer," Street told about 150 people at the Auburn-Cayuga NAACP's 37th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner Friday night at the Springside Inn.

Street spoke for about 40 minutes, dotting his talk with anecdotes and praising his home city for establishing programs to assist children, as well as creating resources for those coming out of prison so they would not become repeat offenders. He said it was the duty of the NAACP to be "on the case" of social issues that mattered to the quality of life of a community.

While Street spoke about the necessity of communities setting up programs to help people without resources succeed, he also pointed out the need for personal responsibility.

"Everybody thinks I grew up on the mean streets of Philadelphia, but I grew up on a farm in Norristown, Pennsylvania," he said. "And we got up early every morning and we worked ... I was raised in an environment where if you don't work, you don't eat. If you don't plant, you don't harvest, and you don't eat. We understood early on the value of hard work."

Street, 60, was first elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1980 and served for 19 years. In 1992 and 1996, he was chosen unanimously by members of the council to serve as council president. He was elected mayor in 1999 and took office in 2000.

As president, according to his biography, he worked to promote community policing, fought for tougher gun control laws, promoted Townwatch organizations and education and youth programs. He sponsored a liquor-by-the-drink tax that resulted in an additional $23 million per year for Philadelphia public schools.

This is the second time Street has been the keynote speaker at the Freedom Fund dinner here. He is the nephew of Auburn-Cayuga County NAACP President Merritt Fletcher. Street spoke with affection about Auburn and Fletcher and his wife Naomi.

"I love coming to Auburn New York," he said. "It's like a second home, coming to my aunt and uncle's home to eat spaghetti and meatballs," he said. "It's a wonderful part of my life; it's my family. I've rented on the lake here and ridden my bike. It reminds me of my rural beginnings.

The affection went both ways.

"Politicians don't like nepotism , but I'm not a politician," Fletcher joked. "I use my nepotism. He's my nephew and I'm proud of him."

Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net