by KYW’s Michelle Durham

The City of Philadelphia’s decision to retract a low-rent lease to the local chapter of the Boy Scouts (see related story) over the organization’s stance on homosexuality resulted in a mass e-mail campaign that very nearly took down the city's e-mail system.

Jeff Jubilerer represents the Boy Scouts’ Cradle of Liberty Council:

"The story of the city's asking to hike up the rent for the local scouts has really reached across the blogosphere and the Internet.  There has been an outpouring of support across the country.  Frankly, we have not generated a proactive effort among folks beyond our Cradle of Liberty  Council -- it's really coming from different third-party groups."

City councilman Frank Rizzo says he plans to spend his day answering as many of the 3,000 messages he received as he can.
 
"I think they [the Boy Scouts] have to understand that if they want to occupy government-funded, taxpayer-funded space, maybe they can't do that.  But if the national level can agree on some language, maybe this can be worked out."

Rizzo says he's had some conversations with his colleagues in council, and he remains hopeful:

"So many people are interested in this issue.  I can tell you this: I talked with some of my colleagues in council, and I think this is going to be worked out in a way that satisfies both sides of the aisle."

Representatives of the Street administration were not immediately available for comment.