Allan Domb: ‘All I care about are the outcomes’

Allan Domb intended to run for mayor in 2015.

As president of the Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors, he had become enmeshed in local politics and wanted to take the next step.

“I sat down with political experts who said to me, ‘Government is very different than business,” Domb recounted during a one-on-one interview at his campaign office. “And it’s like, you want to be a heart surgeon, but you’ve never done any surgeries.”

He took their advice. That year, Jim Kenney was elected mayor, and Domb, who built his career buying and selling real estate in Center City, ran successfully for City Council at-large to learn more about the inner workings of City Hall.

Following nearly two terms, Domb is now among a handful of favorites seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor in the May 16 municipal primary. More soft spoken than some of the other candidates, his self-funded campaign has made an impact and forced others to spend big.

“I have zero ego. All I care about are the outcomes,” said Domb, who lives in Rittenhouse Square. “I think my ability to bring people together for a win is crucial. I think my ability to be a salesperson for the city and a cheerleader for the city is better than anybody else’s.”

Eryn Santamoor was among a field of at-large hopefuls who ran against Domb in 2019. Shortly after the race, he hired her as his chief-of-staff.

“He doesn’t take a lot of credit for the work he does behind the scenes,” said Santamoor, who is again running as a Democrat for council at-large. “It’s not his style to be out in front. It’s his style to push other people forward.”

Domb, in his public safety plan, sets a goal of reducing shootings and homicides by 50% during his first four years in office. He would declare a crime emergency, convening a public safety cabinet with law enforcement leaders that would meet at least once a week.

He supports “constitutional Terry stops” to crack down on gun crime. Opponents of the policy, also known as stop-and-frisk, note that the practice has targeted Black and brown communities, which can create a rift between officers and residents.

Domb said conversations with policing experts around the country informed his position on the controversial policy.

“What you have to do is train our police officers that if an outline of a gun or a knife is visible, if there’s a danger that’s visible, then you’re allowed to do it,” he said.

To further combat gun violence, he wants to take advantage of emerging technology, such as an artificial intelligence program developed by Conshohocken-based ZeroEyes that flags firearms caught on security cameras.

Domb’s platform also calls for redirecting gun cases to the state Attorney General’s Office or federal prosecutors if District Attorney Larry Krasner is refusing to prosecute certain offenses.

“The only way I would have to go around somebody is if somebody wasn’t cooperating, but my first goal is to work with everyone and get them to cooperate,” he said.

He characterized drug use and homelessness in Kensington as “the worst humanitarian crisis in the country right now.”

Domb would push to have the neighborhood declared a disaster zone, allowing for the help of state and federal emergency management agencies.

As mayor, he vowed to mandate financial literacy, technology and entrepreneurship courses for all K-12 students. In addition, Domb said he would open 25 churches, libraries and other locations for evening adult classes on similar subjects.

Domb voted for the Philadelphia Beverage Tax; however, he now says he was pressured by the Kenney administration to support the proposal. Domb intends to study the tax to determine if the rate could be lowered without a substantial loss in revenue.

Much of the coverage of Domb’s campaign has centered on his wealth. He has injected more than $7 million of his own money into the race – significantly more than any other candidate.

“For someone who grew up shining shoes at 25 cents, it’s a lot of money for me,” Domb said. “I know how hard it is to make that money.”

But he added: “I am prepared to invest in whatever it takes to win. I don’t think there’s anything more important right now than a healthy city, a safe city and a city that has a tremendous future.”

Early in his candidacy, Domb released a detailed ethics plan. If elected, he has pledged to sell his businesses and properties to an entity that will be owned by his adult son and other investors. That new organization would not be allowed to develop any new real estate or apply for zoning changes.

‘I’m really an entrepreneur’

Growing up in North Jersey, Domb worked as a shoeshiner, paper delivery boy, janitor and dishwasher.

“I had every possible part-time job,” Domb added.

Money was tight in his household, he said, and he recalled his family being evicted from their Fort Lee apartment with three days’ notice because his mother complained that the unit was without hot water for two weeks.

Domb worked full-time at a lock company while attending American University. Upon his graduation, in 1976, the firm offered him a job as a manager in Philadelphia.

Shortly thereafter, he enrolled in real estate courses at Temple University after listening to legendary local radio host Jay Lamont discuss the business, Domb remembered.

He built a real estate empire based mainly in Rittenhouse Square and earned the nickname “the condo king.”

“I don’t call myself that,” Domb said. “I feel it’s wrong. I’m really an entrepreneur.”

Elected to council in 2015, he successfully pushed to expand wage tax refunds for low-income residents and crafted a program to better collect delinquent real estate taxes.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck, Domb’s office pivoted to focus on the needs of the restaurant and hospitality industry. He championed the creation of streeteries and other outdoor dining spaces.

“He’s always seen the importance of our industry,” said Ed Grose, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. “He’s always been supportive.”

“He couldn’t make the virus go away, but he could help us survive it,” Grose added.