Title
1
2 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
3 - - -
INVESTITURE OF CITY COUNCIL
4 ORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
- - -
5 INAUGURATION OF HONORABLE MICHAEL A. NUTTER,
MAYOR, INVESTITURE OF MEMBERS OF THE
6 JUDICIARY, CLERK OF QUARTER SESSIONS COURT,
CITY COMMISSIONERS, REGISTER OF WILLS, SHERIFF
7 AND JUDGES OF TRAFFIC COURT
- - -
8 Academy of Music
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9 Monday, January 7, 2008
10:00 a.m.
10 - - -
11 PRESENT:
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA
12 COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL
COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE
13 COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO
COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR.
14 COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREEN
COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE
15 COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR.
COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY
16 COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY
COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI
17 COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER
COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL
18 COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUINONES SANCHEZ
COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN
19 COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO
COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO
20
PATRICIA RAFFERTY, CHIEF CLERK
21
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22
V A R A L L O Incorporated
23 Litigation Support Services
Eleven Penn Center
24 1835 Market Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
25 215.561.2220 215.567.2670
2
1
2 THE ANNOUNCER: Ladies and
3 gentlemen, welcome to the investiture of
4 members of Council, the organization of
5 City Council, the inauguration of the
6 Honorable Michael A. Nutter as Mayor and
7 the investiture of members of the
8 judiciary, Clerk of Quarter Sessions
9 Court, City Commissioners, Register of
10 Wills, Sheriff and judges of Traffic
11 Court.
12 We ask that you now please
13 either silence or turn off all pagers and
14 cellular phones for the remainder of the
15 ceremony. Thank you.
16 Ladies and gentlemen, please
17 rise and bow your heads for the
18 invocation given by His Eminence Justin
19 Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of
20 Philadelphia.
21 CARDINAL RIGALI: Almighty and
22 Eternal God, you have revealed your glory
23 to the nations. God of Wisdom and
24 Justice, through you authority is rightly
25 administered.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Help us to recognize your
3 primacy in our lives. May the desire to
4 be faithful to your commands direct our
5 thoughts and actions.
6 Bless our Mayor, Michael
7 Nutter, the members of City Council and
8 all elected officials of the City of
9 Philadelphia. Grant them the wisdom and
10 strength to strive to do your will in all
11 things for the greater honor and glory of
12 your name and for the good of all the
13 citizens of this City.
14 May this Administration be
15 marked by a profound respect for the
16 dignity of every person. Sustain its
17 efforts to bring about justice for every
18 man, woman and child. May it continually
19 work towards an end to the violence that
20 plagues the streets of our City.
21 Amidst the challenges and
22 trials that we face each day, help us
23 with your grace to be people of hope, to
24 persevere with confidence in the task you
25 have entrusted to us so that one day we
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 may enjoy the gift of your presence and
3 the joy of heaven, you who live and reign
4 forever and ever.
5 Amen.
6 (Amen.)
7 THE ANNOUNCER: Ladies and
8 gentlemen, please remain standing as the
9 Philadelphia Police, Fire Departments and
10 Prison Systems present the colors and the
11 Philadelphia Boys' Choir leads us in
12 singing the National Anthem.
13 (Colors are presented.)
14 (Boys' Choir sings National
15 Anthem.)
16 (Applause.)
17 THE ANNOUNCER: And now please
18 be seated, as we call to the podium City
19 Council President Anna C. Verna.
20 (Applause.)
21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
22 you very much, and good morning. It is
23 my pleasure to welcome you to the
24 inaugural proceedings for the investiture
25 of City Council members, the inauguration
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 of the Mayor and the induction of the
3 judiciary and elected officials.
4 Special guests joining us on
5 stage today are His Eminence Justice
6 Cardinal Rigali. Welcome. Reverend
7 Dr. Albert Campbell; Rabbi Henry Cohen;
8 Senator Arlen Specter; Senator Bob Casey;
9 Congressman Brady; Congressman Chaka
10 Fattah; Governor Rendell and his wife,
11 the Honorable Marjorie Rendell;
12 Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker
13 Knoll; Attorney General Tom Corbett;
14 Auditor General Jack Wagner; Mayor Luke
15 Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh; New York State
16 Senator John Sampson; District Attorney
17 Lynne Abraham; City Controller Alan
18 Butkovitz; Mayor John Street; former
19 Mayor William Green; former Mayor Wilson
20 Goode, Sr.; the Honorable C. Darnell
21 Jones, II; the Honorable Louis J.
22 Presenza; the Honorable Thomasine Tynes;
23 and members of the Inaugural Committee.
24 Please join me in welcoming
25 them. Thank you.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 (Applause.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: I
4 wish to acknowledge the new First Lady of
5 our City, Lisa Nutter, and their very --
6 (Applause.)
7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: And,
8 of course, we have all seen before and
9 practically feel as though we know her,
10 their very, very lovely daughter, Olivia.
11 (Applause.)
12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: And
13 son, Christian.
14 (Applause.)
15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Would
16 Councilwoman Krajewski please make a
17 presentation of flowers to Mrs. Nutter
18 and Olivia.
19 (Flowers presented to
20 Mrs. Nutter and Olivia.)
21 (Applause.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: This
23 being the day fixed by the Philadelphia
24 Home Rule Charter for the organization of
25 the Council of the City of Philadelphia,
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 the hour has arrived, and we will now
3 proceed with the organization of Council
4 and the investiture of Council members.
5 The first order of business
6 will be the election of a temporary
7 chairperson. Nominations are now in
8 order, and the Chair recognizes
9 Councilman Kenney.
10 COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Thank you,
11 Madam President. I nominate Councilwoman
12 Tasco.
13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
14 Chair thanks the gentleman.
15 The Chair recognizes
16 Councilwoman Miller.
17 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER: Madam
18 President, I second that nomination.
19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Are
20 there any further nominations?
21 (No response.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
23 Hearing none, the Chair recognizes
24 Councilman Goode.
25 COUNCILMAN GOODE: Thank you,
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2 Madam President. I move the nominations
3 be closed.
4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
5 Chair thanks the gentleman, and the Chair
6 now recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
7 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Thank you,
8 Madam President. I second the motion.
9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: All
10 in favor of the motion please indicate by
11 saying "aye."
12 (Aye.)
13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
14 opposed will say "nay."
15 (No response.)
16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
17 ayes have it, and the nominations are
18 closed.
19 There being no further
20 nominations, all in favor of the election
21 of Councilwoman Tasco will say "aye."
22 (Aye.)
23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
24 opposed?
25 (No response.)
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2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
3 ayes have it, and Councilwoman Tasco has
4 been duly elected temporary Chair, and to
5 her I relinquish this gavel.
6 (Applause.)
7 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Thank you,
8 Madam President.
9 As the first order of business,
10 I appoint Mrs. Patricia Rafferty
11 temporary Clerk. The next order of
12 business is the filing of the
13 certificates of election. The Clerk will
14 call the roll. I direct the Clerk to
15 call the roll, beginning with the
16 Councilpersons-at-large in alphabetical
17 order, and then to proceed with the
18 district Councilpersons in order of their
19 district, beginning with the First
20 District.
21 THE CLERK: Mr. W. Wilson
22 Goode, Jr.?
23 COUNCILMAN GOODE: Present.
24 THE CLERK: Mr. William Green?
25 COUNCILMAN GREEN: Present.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 THE CLERK: Mr. William
3 Greenlee?
4 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Present.
5 THE CLERK: Mr. Jack Kelly?
6 COUNCILMAN KELLY: Present.
7 THE CLERK: Mr. James F.
8 Kenney?
9 COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Present.
10 THE CLERK: Mrs. Blondell
11 Reynolds Brown?
12 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Present.
13 THE CLERK: Mr. Frank Rizzo?
14 COUNCILMAN RIZZO: Present.
15 THE CLERK: Mr. Frank DiCicco?
16 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Present.
17 THE CLERK: Mrs. Anna C. Verna?
18 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
19 Present.
20 THE CLERK: Mrs. Jannie
21 Blackwell?
22 COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL:
23 Present.
24 THE CLERK: Mr. Curtis Jones,
25 Jr.?
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCILMAN JONES: Present.
3 THE CLERK: Mr. Darrell Clarke?
4 COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Present.
5 THE CLERK: Mrs. Joan
6 Krajewski?
7 COUNCILWOMAN KRAJEWSKI:
8 Present.
9 THE CLERK: Mrs. Maria Quinones
10 Sanchez?
11 COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Present.
12 THE CLERK: Mrs. Donna Reed
13 Miller?
14 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER: Present.
15 THE CLERK: Mrs. Marian B.
16 Tasco?
17 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Present.
18 THE CLERK: Mr. Brian O'Neill?
19 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Present.
20 THE CLERK: Councilwoman Tasco,
21 a quorum of the members-elect is present,
22 and I have in my possession certificates
23 of election signed by Edgar Howard, City
24 Commissioner; Honorable Pamela Pryor
25 Dembe, Acting Commissioner; and Honorable
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Chris Wogan, Acting Commissioner, acting
3 as the County Board of Elections in
4 Philadelphia, indicating their election
5 of November 6, 2007, for a term of four
6 years, commencing the first Monday of
7 January, AD 2008.
8 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: The
9 investiture of members of Council will
10 now proceed. The members-elect will rise
11 to take the oath of office, which will be
12 administered by the Honorable C. Darnell
13 Jones, II, President Judge of the Court
14 of Common Pleas.
15 JUDGE JONES: Good morning.
16 (Good morning.)
17 JUDGE JONES: Thank you,
18 Ms. Tasco.
19 Would the members of Council
20 please place your hands on your Bible and
21 raise your right hands, repeat after
22 me...
23 (Oath of office administered to
24 members of Council.)
25 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 (Applause.)
3 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: The next
4 order of business is the election of
5 President of City Council for the City of
6 Philadelphia to serve for four years,
7 commencing January 7, 2008. Nominations
8 are now in order.
9 The Chair recognizes
10 Councilwoman Blackwell.
11 COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Thank
12 you. I proudly and with great honor
13 nominate Anna C. Verna.
14 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Thank you.
15 (Applause.)
16 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: At this
17 time, the Chair recognizes Councilman
18 DiCicco.
19 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you,
20 Madam Acting President. I second the
21 nomination.
22 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Are there
23 any further nominations?
24 (No response.)
25 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Hearing
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 none, the Chair recognizes Councilman
3 O'Neill.
4 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Madam
5 Chair, I move the nominations be closed.
6 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: The Chair
7 recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
8 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER: Madam
9 President, I second the motion.
10 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: All in
11 favor will say "aye."
12 (Aye.)
13 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Those
14 opposed?
15 (No response.)
16 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: There
17 being no further nominations, all those
18 in favor of the election of the Honorable
19 Anna C. Verna as President of City
20 Council will say "aye."
21 (Aye.)
22 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Those
23 opposed, "nay."
24 (No response.)
25 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: The ayes
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 have it. However, the temporary Clerk
3 will call the roll.
4 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
5 Blackwell?
6 COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Aye.
7 THE CLERK: Councilman Clarke?
8 COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Aye.
9 THE CLERK: Councilman DiCicco?
10 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
11 THE CLERK: Councilman Goode?
12 COUNCILMAN GOODE: Aye.
13 THE CLERK: Councilman Green?
14 COUNCILMAN GREEN: Aye.
15 THE CLERK: Councilman
16 Greenlee?
17 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Aye.
18 THE CLERK: Councilman Jones?
19 COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye.
20 THE CLERK: Councilman Kelly?
21 COUNCILMAN KELLY: Aye.
22 THE CLERK: Councilman Kenney?
23 COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Aye.
24 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
25 Krajewski?
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCILWOMAN KRAJEWSKI: Aye.
3 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
4 Miller?
5 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER: Aye.
6 THE CLERK: Councilman O'Neill?
7 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye.
8 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
9 Reynolds Brown?
10 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Aye.
11 THE CLERK: Councilman Rizzo?
12 COUNCILMAN RIZZO: Aye.
13 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
14 Sanchez?
15 COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Aye.
16 THE CLERK: Councilwoman Tasco?
17 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Aye.
18 THE CLERK: Council President
19 Verna?
20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Aye.
21 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: The ayes
22 are 17; the nays are zero. Councilwoman
23 Verna having been unanimously chosen by
24 the members of Council, I declare that
25 Councilwoman Verna is the duly elected
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 President of this body.
3 (Standing ovation.)
4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
5 you all so very much. Thank you. Thank
6 you.
7 I am truly honored to be here
8 today with the citizens of Philadelphia
9 and the region, other elected officials,
10 my family, friends and colleagues, as
11 together we continue and we will continue
12 our efforts to move Philadelphia forward
13 through the 21st century.
14 It was in Philadelphia just
15 eight blocks from here that the very
16 foundations of American democracy, the
17 Declaration of Independence and the
18 United States Constitution, had their
19 beginning. Carpenters Hall and the new
20 National Constitution Center are powerful
21 symbols of our City's rich history, but
22 they also represent our future. My
23 friends, I assure you the best days of
24 William Penn's "green country town" are
25 yet to come.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 (Applause.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: When
4 I stood before you four years ago, I told
5 you that we in City government have a
6 responsibility to improve our public
7 schools, our City's neighborhoods and our
8 City's economy. Today, through a lot of
9 hard work, much has been accomplished
10 toward these goals. Neighborhoods are
11 improving. Our economy continues to
12 stabilize, and more funding has been
13 provided for our public schools. New
14 schools are being built for the first
15 time in decades in a number of our areas.
16 These include the recently completed
17 Microsoft School of the Future, funded by
18 the Gates Foundation, and a new Audenreid
19 High School.
20 We must continue to focus
21 resources on our schools, since they
22 provide the groundwork for our students
23 to move on to the innumerable choices of
24 colleges and universities available to
25 them in Philadelphia.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 (Applause.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: I
4 cannot possibly name all of these
5 colleges and universities, but I feel
6 compelled to highlight a few.
7 Representing the Ivy League is
8 the University of Pennsylvania, which was
9 founded by the first great American
10 citizen, Philadelphia's own Benjamin
11 Franklin.
12 Last fall, Drexel University
13 hosted one of the Democratic Presidential
14 Debates. Drexel was chosen because of a
15 can-do attitude with respect to
16 technology.
17 The Community College of
18 Philadelphia provides a path to
19 possibilities, whether people are
20 starting their college career or starting
21 over.
22 In addition to these numerous
23 other institutions of higher learning,
24 Philadelphia has many incredible
25 resources. We have a world-class Art
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Museum and amazing restaurants with
3 cuisines from virtually every country in
4 the world. We are home to the musical
5 and theatrical venues that meet every
6 taste, ranging from this very historic
7 Academy of Music to the new
8 state-of-the-art Suzanne Roberts Theatre
9 just a few blocks from here.
10 We certainly are indeed blessed
11 to be a major source of medical research,
12 and our hospitals save lives every day.
13 All of these resources are the
14 keystones upon which we place our hopes
15 and dreams for the future.
16 We owe our thanks to departing
17 Mayor John Street for his commitment to
18 the City's neighborhoods.
19 (Applause.)
20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
21 Philadelphia's renaissance happened in
22 part because Mayor Street, along with
23 City Council, invested in neighborhoods,
24 and because individuals and employers
25 believed enough in the City to invest in
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 its future. It happened because people
3 committed to exercising civic leadership.
4 Philadelphia has the talent,
5 the ability and the assets needed to
6 flourish. Today you have before you a
7 new Mayor and a new City Council, filled
8 with both experienced veterans and
9 newcomers. All of us are eager to serve.
10 The trust that the electorate has placed
11 in my friend, our new Mayor, Michael
12 Nutter, and my Council colleagues is hard
13 earned, is hard earned and well deserved.
14 The people of Philadelphia have
15 our pledge that we will work together.
16 Politics at its best is about making good
17 choices and making these choices
18 together. We must build alliances by
19 seeking what unites us, not what divides
20 us.
21 City Council is mandated by the
22 Home Rule Charter to exercise its
23 independence from the executive branch.
24 Needless to say, sometimes there will be
25 disagreements between the Mayor and City
22
1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Council, but our focus must always be on
3 the common good, which is to make our
4 City a better place.
5 I want to take this opportunity
6 to thank my colleagues for entrusting the
7 Council presidency to me. Your trust
8 will be justified by my complete
9 dedication to the important work of this
10 Council. We must be responsible and
11 responsive to the people we represent.
12 To make our City a better
13 place, we must stop violent crime. I
14 will repeat, we must stop violent crime.
15 (Applause.)
16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Our
17 crime-fighting efforts must include
18 sensible gun laws.
19 (Applause.)
20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Once
21 again, I beg, plead and implore the State
22 Legislature to understand what our
23 Philadelphia representatives already
24 know. You must act now or give us the
25 authority to act, but something has to be
23
1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 done.
3 (Applause.)
4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: It is
5 simply unconscionable that our children
6 can buy guns almost as easily as they can
7 buy a piece of candy. That is truly sad.
8 As we make our streets safer,
9 we must continue to rebuild neighborhoods
10 across the City. Rebuilding requires a
11 full partnership between government and
12 neighborhoods. It requires listening to
13 communities about what they want and what
14 they need, because redevelopment is not a
15 one-size-fits-all effort.
16 I call upon all Philadelphians
17 to take pride in their neighborhoods and
18 become active participants in every way
19 they can. Progress comes not by sitting
20 casually on the sidelines, but working
21 together.
22 Over the course of my tenure in
23 Council -- and, Jim, don't you say a
24 word -- I have seen much change. Change
25 is natural and normal. As we begin 2008,
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 we must continue to adjust to the
3 changing needs of our City, build upon
4 what works and discard what doesn't work.
5 In that process, we must all treat each
6 other with dignity and respect. Every
7 person on this stage wants to serve the
8 citizens of Philadelphia in the best way
9 he or she can.
10 Debate marked by meaningful
11 criticism and helpful solutions, not by
12 bullying or belittling, is a much, much
13 more effective way to seek change. Our
14 City will be a better place if citizens,
15 advocates, activists and elected
16 officials alike follow such a positive
17 course of action.
18 If I could choose the buzz word
19 for today, it would be "optimism," the
20 optimism I hear in the streets about our
21 new Mayor, about Philadelphia's progress
22 and Philadelphia's future. That optimism
23 is accompanied by my pledge to work with
24 all these people, individuals and
25 neighborhoods across the City and with
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 governments, businesses and civic leaders
3 throughout the region to make
4 Philadelphia grow.
5 Finally, I would be remiss if I
6 did not publicly thank and acknowledge my
7 dear husband, Sevy, who is unable to join
8 us today. Without him I would not be
9 standing before you.
10 And, Sevy, I want you to know I
11 thank you from the bottom of my heart.
12 Thank you.
13 (Applause.)
14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: I
15 also want to thank my brother for coming
16 in from Florida to join me today, and
17 he'll be holding my Bible, which was used
18 by my father many years ago when he was
19 first elected as a magistrate.
20 So to all of you, I say thanks.
21 May God bless you and your families in
22 the coming year. And we will now again
23 proceed with the ceremony.
24 Thank you all very much.
25 (Applause.)
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Madam
3 President, you have to have the oath of
4 office administered to you. So I now
5 call on Judge Darnell Jones.
6 I also appoint Councilman
7 Kenney, Councilman Goode, Councilman
8 Rizzo, Councilwoman Brown to escort the
9 President to the rostrum so that she can
10 have the oath of office administered to
11 her. Joining her will be her brother,
12 Angelo Cibotti.
13 JUDGE JONES: Please raise your
14 right hand and repeat after me...
15 (Oath of office administered to
16 Anna C. Verna.)
17 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations,
18 Madam President.
19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
20 you.
21 (Standing ovation.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
23 you very much.
24 The next order of business is
25 the election of the Chief Clerk of the
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Council of the City of Philadelphia.
3 Nominations are now in order, and the
4 Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
5 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Thank
6 you, Madam President. I nominate
7 Mrs. Patricia Rafferty.
8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
9 Chair thanks the gentleman.
10 The Chair recognizes Councilman
11 Clarke.
12 COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Thank you,
13 Madam Chair. I second the nomination.
14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Are
15 there any further nominations?
16 (No response.)
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
18 Hearing none, the Chair recognizes
19 Councilwoman Krajewski.
20 COUNCILWOMAN KRAJEWSKI: Thank
21 you, Madam President. I move that the
22 nominations be closed.
23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
24 Chair again recognizes Councilman Kenney.
25 COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Thank you,
28
1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Madam President. I second that motion.
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: It
4 has been moved and properly seconded that
5 the nominations be closed.
6 All in favor will indicate by
7 saying "aye."
8 (Aye.)
9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
10 opposed?
11 (No response.)
12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
13 ayes have it and the motion carries.
14 There being no further
15 nominations, all in favor of the election
16 of Mrs. Patricia Rafferty as Chief Clerk
17 will please say "aye."
18 (Aye.)
19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
20 opposed?
21 (No response.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
23 ayes have it. However, the Clerk will
24 call the roll.
25 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Blackwell?
3 COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Aye.
4 THE CLERK: Councilman Clarke?
5 COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Aye.
6 THE CLERK: Councilman DiCicco?
7 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
8 THE CLERK: Councilman Goode?
9 COUNCILMAN GOODE: Aye.
10 THE CLERK: Councilman Green?
11 COUNCILMAN GREEN: Aye.
12 THE CLERK: Councilman
13 Greenlee?
14 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Aye.
15 THE CLERK: Councilman Jones?
16 COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye.
17 THE CLERK: Councilman Kelly?
18 COUNCILMAN KELLY: Aye.
19 THE CLERK: Councilman Kenney?
20 COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Aye.
21 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
22 Krajewski?
23 COUNCILWOMAN KRAJEWSKI: Aye.
24 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
25 Miller?
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER: Aye.
3 THE CLERK: Councilman O'Neill?
4 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye.
5 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
6 Reynolds Brown?
7 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Aye.
8 THE CLERK: Councilman Rizzo?
9 COUNCILMAN RIZZO: Aye.
10 THE CLERK: Councilwoman
11 Sanchez?
12 COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Aye.
13 THE CLERK: Councilwoman Tasco?
14 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Aye.
15 THE CLERK: Council President
16 Verna?
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Aye.
18 THE CLERK: The ayes are 17;
19 the nays -- I'm sorry.
20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
21 That's my line.
22 We're a little anxious up here.
23 The ayes are 17; the nays are
24 zero. Mrs. Rafferty having received a
25 unanimous vote by the members of Council,
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2 I now declare Mrs. Patricia Rafferty duly
3 elected Chief Clerk of the City of
4 Philadelphia.
5 (Applause.)
6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
7 Councilmembers DiCicco, Kenney and Kelly
8 will escort Mrs. Rafferty to the rostrum.
9 Judge Jones will administer the oath of
10 office to Mrs. Rafferty.
11 JUDGE JONES: Please raise your
12 right hand and repeat after me...
13 (Oath of office administered to
14 Mrs. Patricia Rafferty.)
15 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
16 CHIEF CLERK: Thank you so
17 much.
18 (Applause.)
19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: At
20 this time, I will name the officers of
21 City Council. Please be advised that at
22 a meeting of the democratic members of
23 Council the Honorable Marian B. Tasco was
24 elected Majority Leader and the
25 Honorable --
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2 (Applause.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: And
4 the Honorable Darrell L. Clarke was
5 elected Majority Whip of the City Council
6 of Philadelphia.
7 (Applause.)
8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Also
9 be advised that at a meeting of the
10 republican members of Council, the
11 Honorable Brian J. O'Neill was elected
12 Minority Leader and the Honorable Frank
13 Rizzo was elected Minority Whip.
14 (Applause.)
15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
16 next order of business is the
17 introduction of a resolution concerning
18 the rules of government of the Council of
19 the City of Philadelphia.
20 The Chair recognizes
21 Councilwoman Tasco.
22 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Thank you,
23 Madam President. I offer the following
24 resolution.
25 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: I
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2 would ask the Chief Clerk to please read
3 the title of the resolution.
4 CHIEF CLERK: A resolution to
5 provide rules for the government of the
6 Council of the City of Philadelphia.
7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
8 Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
9 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Madam
10 President, I move for the adoption of the
11 resolution.
12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
13 Chair thanks the Councilwoman.
14 The Chair recognizes Councilman
15 DiCicco.
16 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Madam
17 President, I move for the adoption -- I
18 second the motion.
19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: All
20 in favor will please indicate by saying
21 "aye."
22 (Aye.)
23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
24 opposed, "nay."
25 (No response.)
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2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
3 ayes have it, and the resolution is
4 adopted.
5 The organization of the Council
6 of the City of Philadelphia and the
7 investiture of the City Council members
8 are complete, in accordance with the
9 provisions of the Home Rule Charter.
10 The Council is honored by the
11 presence of Reverend Dr. Albert Campbell.
12 I ask you all please to rise as I invite
13 Reverend Campbell to lead us in prayer.
14 REVEREND CAMPBELL: Let us be
15 reverent as we pray.
16 Almighty God, our creator, who
17 having made each of us in your image and
18 after your likeness and has, therefore,
19 bestowed upon each of us a worth and
20 value above everything else you have
21 made, we are pleased to pause to pay
22 homage to you as the supreme ruler of the
23 universe.
24 Not only have you created the
25 earth and the world and all that is
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2 therein, but also you have made us
3 stewards of all that you have committed
4 to our trust. So that even while we
5 glory and magnify our own importance as
6 controllers and possessors of things over
7 which you have given us but which we do
8 not ultimately own, we are ashamed and
9 embarrassed that we have not always used
10 wisely and well that over which we have
11 been made stewards.
12 Forgive us, we pray, and help
13 us to be ever more determined to depart
14 from a selfish, wasteful misuse of that
15 which you've committed to us, and move to
16 a new level of responsible stewardship in
17 which we shall make the best and proper
18 use of all that you have made us
19 overseers of, sharers and users and not
20 careless abusers of your creation. Not
21 ultimately do we own this, but, Lord, we
22 know that you are the ultimate owner.
23 And so as we engage in these
24 important proceedings, we pray for this
25 new Administration as it begins the hard
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2 choices and decisions, as well as the
3 hard work also now begun.
4 We pray especially, therefore,
5 for Mayor-elect Michael A. Nutter that he
6 will be equal to the task of the awesome
7 servant leadership role he assumes this
8 day. May he be divinely endowed with the
9 wisdom and the courage to make the hard
10 and difficult choices and decisions,
11 knowing that leadership can sometimes be
12 a very lonely business. May his
13 appointments be well informed, and may
14 the appointees prove themselves worthy of
15 the confidence and trust placed in them.
16 Keep Michael A. Nutter well and
17 healthy mentally, emotionally and
18 spiritually. Bless his family, his wife,
19 his children, his immediate support
20 group.
21 May the rest of us fully
22 understand that all of us have a stake,
23 an important stake, in the future of this
24 City, this nation and this world and,
25 therefore, must we work together to bring
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2 help about good and positive change; that
3 reform can happen; that peace and justice
4 can reign; that hatred and violence,
5 murderer and mayhem can be reduced; that
6 all of our children can be educated; that
7 health and human services can be made
8 available; that jobs can be created; that
9 people can live together in decency and
10 harmony and unity of purpose. And may
11 this day and this history-making
12 inaugural event be the starting point for
13 a bright and promising new beginning.
14 In thy holy name, we pray.
15 Amen.
16 (Amen.)
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
18 you, Reverend Campbell.
19 Will everyone please be seated.
20 At this time, I invite Tracie
21 Luck to perform the "Ave Maria."
22 Mrs. Luck's accompanist is Blanche Burton
23 Lyles.
24 (Tracie Luck sings "Ave
25 Maria.")
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2 (Standing ovation.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: That
4 was absolutely beautiful. I could feel
5 tears coming to my eyes.
6 We will now proceed with the
7 induction of the Mayor of the City of
8 Philadelphia.
9 The Chair appoints Councilwoman
10 Miller, Councilman Kenney, Councilman
11 DiCicco, Councilman O'Neill and
12 Councilman Goode to escort the Honorable
13 Michael A. Nutter, Mayor-elect of the
14 City of Philadelphia, to the rostrum.
15 (Standing ovation.)
16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
17 Joining Mayor-elect Nutter are his wife,
18 Lisa, his lovely daughter, Olivia, and
19 their son, Christian. They will now join
20 Mr. Nutter at the podium. Thank you.
21 (Applause.)
22 JUDGE McKEE: Place your left
23 hand on the Bible and raise your right
24 hand, please, and repeat after me...
25 (Oath of office administered to
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2 Michael A. Nutter.)
3 JUDGE McKEE: Congratulations,
4 Mr. Mayor.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
7 Members of City Council, reverend clergy,
8 elected officials, distinguished guests,
9 ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinct
10 honor to present to you His Honor, the
11 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, the
12 Honorable Michael Nutter.
13 (Standing ovation.)
14 (Audience member yelling "it's
15 a new day.")
16 MAYOR NUTTER: I was thinking
17 about that myself.
18 Madam President Verna, the
19 members of Philadelphia City Council,
20 Judge McKee, thank you, Judge C. Darnell
21 Jones, the many elected officials who are
22 here today assembled on this stage, some
23 may be in the audience, members of the
24 judiciary, Governor Rendell, former Mayor
25 of the City of Philadelphia --
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2 (Applause.)
3 MAYOR NUTTER: -- Mayor W.
4 Wilson Goode --
5 (Applause.)
6 MAYOR NUTTER: -- Mayor
7 Green --
8 (Applause.)
9 MAYOR NUTTER: -- and, ladies
10 and gentlemen, in grand Philadelphia
11 style, Mayor John F. Street --
12 (Standing ovation.)
13 MAYOR NUTTER: -- Cardinal
14 Rigali, Reverend Campbell, Rabbi Cohen.
15 My life, of course, has been a
16 multi-phased experience. Many of you
17 know that I attended the Transfiguration
18 of Our Lord grade school and St. Joe's
19 Prep High School.
20 (Applause.)
21 MAYOR NUTTER: You may also
22 know that I'm a member of the Mt. Carmel
23 Baptist Church, where Reverend Campbell
24 is the Pastor.
25 (Applause.)
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2 MAYOR NUTTER: And you may or
3 may not know that when I moved to our
4 home in Wynnefield, for ten years Henry
5 Cohen, Rabbi Henry Cohen, and Edna Cohen
6 were our next-door neighbors.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: Yes, it's been a
9 multi-phased experience.
10 We have some company here with
11 us today. I attended about three weeks
12 ago the installation of Mayor Luke
13 Ravenstahl. He returned the favor and
14 came here to Philadelphia. We are
15 creating a new east-west partnership, and
16 I want to recognize Mayor Ravenstahl, the
17 youngest Mayor in the country.
18 (Applause.)
19 MAYOR NUTTER: We also have the
20 Allegheny County Executive, Dan Onorato.
21 I couldn't make his installation. I was
22 appointing new people to the government,
23 but he came today, and I want to
24 recognize him as well. Thank you.
25 (Applause.)
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2 MAYOR NUTTER: Our District
3 Attorney, Lynne Abraham; our City
4 Controller, Alan Butkovitz; and our
5 Attorney General, Tom Corbett, thank you
6 all for coming as well.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: There are a
9 couple of other elected officials over on
10 the side. I'm going to say something
11 about them in a second.
12 All of us in public life have a
13 connection, regardless of where we serve
14 and what our level of service. Our
15 Philadelphia family suffered a tragedy
16 just a few days ago. Three or four weeks
17 ago I asked Camille Barnett to come to
18 Philadelphia to be our new Managing
19 Director. She accepted immediately. She
20 is the epitome of public service.
21 Thursday night into Friday
22 morning tragedy struck and her husband
23 was killed coming to Philadelphia to
24 bring family items. Camille, of course,
25 cannot be with us today, as there is a
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2 wake for Jim Barnett later this
3 afternoon. There's a funeral tomorrow,
4 which I'll be attending. But I would ask
5 if we would bow our heads for a few
6 moments and keep Camille and Jim in our
7 prayers.
8 (Moment of silence.)
9 MAYOR NUTTER: Thank you.
10 To all the employees in the
11 City of Philadelphia government, I say
12 thank you for this wonderful opportunity
13 to serve with you, those I've asked to
14 come into government, those who have
15 responded to the call to public service.
16 We have the finest array of public
17 officials anywhere of any city in the
18 United States of America, and it is my
19 honor to serve with you and provide the
20 highest quality service to the citizens
21 of this City, who deserve it.
22 To Congressman Brady,
23 Representative Evans, Congressman Fattah,
24 Tom Knox and Al Taubenberger, the six of
25 us had a unique experience. This
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2 developed an even deeper relationship for
3 all of us. I believe that we made
4 Philadelphia proud.
5 And I'd ask that you recognize
6 all of the candidates from last year's
7 mayor's race.
8 We did a good job. Thank you.
9 (Applause.)
10 MAYOR NUTTER: I want to thank
11 my former staff members from when I was
12 in City Council.
13 And, by the way, Madam
14 President, old habits die hard. You may
15 not have heard, but as we were sitting
16 here on the stage -- and I'll say to my
17 former colleagues -- I voted in three of
18 the votes this morning, because I'm so
19 used to hearing -- old habits die hard.
20 I voted three times. And I voted for all
21 of you. I just want you to know.
22 To a great and incredible
23 campaign staff and transition
24 organization and the incredible thousands
25 and thousands of volunteers throughout
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2 Philadelphia and this region who helped
3 to get us to where we are today, all I
4 can say for the moment is thank you so
5 much for your hard work and your effort
6 and your dedication and commitment day
7 after day, hour after hour, month after
8 month. And I understand that at the
9 beginning, it may not have been looking
10 too promising, but you hung in there with
11 us and that's why we're here where we are
12 today.
13 To my family sitting over on
14 the side -- my mother; my father; my
15 sister; my wife, Lisa; Olivia; Christian;
16 Karen Robinson, Christian's mother -- to
17 all of you, I say thank you very much.
18 You've been the rock upon which I've
19 stood for a long period of time, and I
20 just want to say thanks.
21 (Applause.)
22 MAYOR NUTTER: There are
23 unfortunately a few who could not be with
24 us. Some of you heard me talk about
25 during the campaign I grew up, my
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2 mother's mother, my grandmother, in our
3 house and my father's mother just a few
4 blocks down the street. This would be a
5 very proud moment for them.
6 My political mentor, the late
7 Councilman John C. Anderson, got me into
8 this crazy business of politics in the
9 first place. To him I've dedicated all
10 of my public service.
11 Obra S. Kernodle.
12 (Applause.)
13 MAYOR NUTTER: And my wife's
14 mother, Pat Johnson.
15 (Applause.)
16 MAYOR NUTTER: Today marks a
17 new beginning, a beginning of hope, a
18 sense of optimism and renewal for the
19 City of Philadelphia, the opportunity to
20 turn our great potential into astounding
21 reality.
22 For some time I've been talking
23 about the great things that this City
24 could do, but the time for talk has come
25 to an end. The time for talk has come to
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2 an end. Now we need to turn our good
3 intentions into positive outcomes.
4 Today we begin to take action.
5 Today we begin to write --
6 (Applause.)
7 MAYOR NUTTER: Today we begin
8 to write a new chapter in the history of
9 the City of Philadelphia. For too long
10 we have allowed other people to tell our
11 story. It is now time for us to talk
12 about and act upon the true Philadelphia
13 that we know.
14 We now find ourselves on the
15 brink of greatness and the great
16 opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of
17 the City, the region, the country and the
18 world that Philadelphia is on the way
19 back. We can --
20 (Applause.)
21 MAYOR NUTTER: See, out on the
22 campaign trail, I wasn't getting all
23 these breaks for applause, so...
24 We can choose to challenge the
25 status quo that's been holding us back
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2 for much too long. We can choose to try
3 new ideas and new approaches and a new
4 way of getting things done. We can
5 choose to make a shared commitment to
6 returning this City to be one of the
7 greatest cities in the United States of
8 America.
9 The next chapter in this City's
10 history is yet to be written, because we
11 now have an opportunity to write it
12 ourselves.
13 (Applause.)
14 MAYOR NUTTER: And we are only
15 limited by our capacity for hope, our
16 capability to transform ourselves, our
17 commitment and resolve to each other.
18 This renewal for great change
19 will take great and bold action, and it's
20 in the spirit of bold action that
21 beginning today I will confront the great
22 challenge, the great issue that plagues
23 this City on a daily basis.
24 There is nothing more
25 devastating to the soul of Philadelphia
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2 than the killings and shootings that take
3 place day after day after day on our
4 streets.
5 (Applause.)
6 MAYOR NUTTER: In 2007, we had
7 392 homicides. Fortunately for us, that
8 number is a little lower than it was last
9 year, but nowhere near acceptable.
10 An hour to the north there's a
11 little city called New York. Ten years
12 ago, New York City had over 2,200
13 homicides, 2,200, but last year they had
14 494. There is no reason in the world why
15 this City should not set its sights on
16 attaining those kinds of goals over the
17 next three to five years, that we will
18 cut our homicide rate by 30 to 50
19 percent. No reason in the world why we
20 can't do that. None.
21 (Applause.)
22 MAYOR NUTTER: We are going to
23 change the mentality of those who think
24 that it is okay to run our streets with
25 illegal weapons and use them at random
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2 whenever they want. Today, today enough
3 is enough. Enough is enough.
4 (Applause.)
5 MAYOR NUTTER: To the
6 law-abiding citizens of Philadelphia, I
7 say that we are the great majority, and
8 to the law breakers, you are in the small
9 minority. This is our city and we're
10 taking it back, every day, every block,
11 every neighborhood, everywhere in
12 Philadelphia, because I've had enough,
13 and I'm not playing around about it.
14 (Standing ovation.)
15 MAYOR NUTTER: So I've asked
16 our new Police Commissioner, Chuck
17 Ramsey, to develop a new community
18 policing strategy for the City of
19 Philadelphia to confront this daily
20 deadly activity on our streets. We need
21 our police officers back walking a beat
22 or out on bicycles, engaged in community
23 policing at its finest.
24 (Applause.)
25 MAYOR NUTTER: They need to get
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2 to better know the community, and the
3 community has to know who is guarding and
4 protecting them every day, active
5 participants engaged in issues that have
6 been talked about for many, many years of
7 community policing and quality of life
8 patrol. We're talking about
9 re-establishing a quality of life in
10 Philadelphia that all of us deserve. We
11 deserve it, and you're going to get it.
12 (Applause.)
13 MAYOR NUTTER: At the same
14 time -- I'm speaking out to all
15 Philadelphians -- we need to respect and
16 protect the professionals of the
17 Philadelphia Police Department, who risk
18 their lives every day to make all of us
19 safe. Respect and protect our
20 Philadelphia police officers every day.
21 (Applause.)
22 MAYOR NUTTER: Our streets
23 should be safe enough for our children to
24 go out to play. People should be able to
25 go to work without fear. And our senior
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2 citizens, our senior citizens should be
3 able to go to the store or go to the
4 doctor or go to church whenever they
5 want. We all deserve that. You're going
6 to get that.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: But in order to
9 make this City safe, it's not just about
10 policing. It's not just about policing.
11 It really is about respect. It's about
12 mutual respect, that we understand that
13 we are connected to each other, that we
14 have a responsibility to look out for
15 each other, whether you know that person
16 at the end of your block or not. We are
17 connected to each other in a way that we
18 have to look out for each other day after
19 day after day. That's what citizenship
20 is all about.
21 (Applause.)
22 MAYOR NUTTER: Robert Kennedy
23 once said that each time a man stands up
24 for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot
25 of others, or strikes out against
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2 injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of
3 hope, and crossing each other from a
4 million different centers of energy and
5 daring, those ripples build a current
6 that can sweep down the mightiest walls
7 of oppression and resistance.
8 I want every one of you to
9 stand up for what you believe in. I want
10 every one of you to take personal
11 responsibility for looking out for
12 someone else in our community. Mentor a
13 child. Volunteer at a rec center. Go to
14 a homeless center. Work with a town
15 watch in the neighborhood. Or how about
16 this? How about just say "hello" to
17 someone you see walking down the street?
18 How about that?
19 (Applause.)
20 MAYOR NUTTER: These individual
21 ripples of hope ultimately create waves,
22 and those waves of hope are what will
23 carry us through the reform and the
24 change that this City has called for,
25 that this City needs, that this City
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2 deserves.
3 Each of us has a role to play.
4 Government cannot mandate that we act
5 nice, that we're good citizens, that
6 we're good parents. That responsibility
7 is for each and every one of us
8 individually. That's personal
9 responsibility, and we need more of it
10 here in Philadelphia. The government
11 cannot solve every person's problem every
12 day of the week.
13 (Applause.)
14 MAYOR NUTTER: But our
15 government can lead by example.
16 I talked a great deal about
17 ethics reform during the course of the
18 campaign, and I want to reaffirm that
19 ethics will be a centerpiece of this
20 government. You know that I've made a
21 series of announcements or appointments
22 of some of the finest people to come into
23 the government as ethics and integrity
24 officers. There is nothing that
25 government does that cannot be done
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2 ethically and transparently. Nothing.
3 Nothing. Nothing.
4 (Applause.)
5 MAYOR NUTTER: I plan to
6 continue to open up our government to all
7 of us. This will be a government that
8 serves all of us, not a select few, not a
9 select few.
10 (Applause.)
11 MAYOR NUTTER: It's in that
12 spirit that you may have heard I plan to
13 host an open house tomorrow from 4:00 to
14 8:00 in the afternoon. I'm reopening
15 City Hall. It's your City Hall. Please
16 come by. It's your City Hall.
17 (Applause.)
18 MAYOR NUTTER: There will be
19 entertainment and activities out in the
20 courtyard, and please come into the hall.
21 I'd like to meet every person that comes
22 through. I want you to know that your
23 government welcomes you into the
24 building, because all of us have a role
25 to play in turning this city around. It
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2 will be a great occasion. The building
3 looks great. Come on by. I look forward
4 to seeing you.
5 (Applause.)
6 MAYOR NUTTER: In addition to
7 the shared responsibility that each of us
8 have to each other here within the City,
9 you know that it is impossible for us to
10 make true progress without help and
11 partnership from the five counties around
12 us, from the Commonwealth of
13 Pennsylvania, from the federal government
14 and all of our many partners, some of
15 whom are on the stage with us today.
16 Think about it. Think about
17 the power and talent and relationships
18 that are on this stage and out in the
19 audience. Look around you. Look around
20 you.
21 I would put this political team
22 up against any other city or region
23 anywhere in the United States of America.
24 We have a team that can win when we work
25 together in partnership, when we
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2 recognize that there are many things that
3 pull us together, there are few things
4 that pull us apart; that we could
5 actually establish an east-west
6 partnership; that we can have a
7 five-county region; a metropolitan
8 mayors' caucus where all of the region,
9 Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware
10 and Montgomery Counties, working in
11 partnership.
12 Think about the relationships
13 in Harrisburg and in Washington and in
14 the five-county region. It is time for
15 us to work together, and I extend my hand
16 to every elected official, every
17 businessperson, every citizen all across
18 Pennsylvania.
19 (Applause.)
20 MAYOR NUTTER: Of course, there
21 are hurdles in our paths. Of course,
22 there are challenges that need to be
23 overcome, but there is no obstacle so
24 large, no task so difficult, no challenge
25 so great that we cannot succeed in
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2 working together. None.
3 Martin Luther King once said
4 that the ultimate measure of a man is not
5 where he stands in moments of comfort and
6 convenience, but where he stands at times
7 of challenge and controversy.
8 We have many challenges, but
9 Philadelphians are more than up to any
10 challenge that we have faced, because
11 we've overcome them in the past and we
12 have an incredible opportunity to do
13 better in the future. It is a new day
14 for Philadelphia.
15 (Applause.)
16 MAYOR NUTTER: And we know what
17 the solutions are to many of our
18 problems. If we want to cut the crime
19 rate in this City, then we need to put
20 ex-offenders to work and give people an
21 opportunity to get back in civil society.
22 (Applause.)
23 MAYOR NUTTER: And if we're
24 going to have jobs in Philadelphia, then
25 we need more businesses to feel
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2 comfortable investing in our great City.
3 And we need to make it easier for people
4 to do business in Philadelphia. All of
5 these things are inextricably tied
6 together.
7 You know, it shouldn't be that
8 difficult to keep and attract businesses
9 in this great City. Think about who we
10 are. We're perfectly situated between
11 the financial capital of the world and
12 the government capital of the world.
13 Forty percent of the country's population
14 lives within a day's drive of
15 Philadelphia.
16 We have one of the largest park
17 systems anywhere in the country. We have
18 more outdoor public art than any other
19 city in the country. We have a
20 waterfront yet to be developed, two
21 rivers, incredible neighborhoods, and a
22 business sector that continues to grow.
23 If we utilize these assets to
24 our advantage, if we work in a
25 cooperative spirit, there's nothing that
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2 can prevent us from putting this City and
3 this region back on the map, other than
4 our ability to cooperate and understand
5 that everyone shares in the credit
6 whenever anyone is successful.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: Now, of course,
9 there are a few things that we do need to
10 change. We need fundamental change of
11 our Zoning Code and our process of
12 getting business done in Philadelphia.
13 (Applause.)
14 MAYOR NUTTER: We must reduce
15 our taxes, simplify our tax code and make
16 it easier for development to take place
17 with community involvement and
18 engagement, but our process takes too
19 long.
20 (Applause.)
21 MAYOR NUTTER: We must protect
22 the fiscal health of this City, control
23 our government costs, come to grips with
24 a pension fund that's underfunded,
25 healthcare costs with double-digit
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2 increases. We have to manage our
3 finances well. We owe our public
4 employees a fair and reasonable contract.
5 That's what they deserve.
6 (Applause.)
7 MAYOR NUTTER: But those
8 contracts must also be fair and
9 reasonable for the taxpayers of this City
10 who pay the tab.
11 (Applause.)
12 MAYOR NUTTER: We should honor
13 Billy Penn, who gave us this "green
14 country town," by setting a standard for
15 ourselves to be the number one "green"
16 city in the United States of America.
17 (Applause.)
18 MAYOR NUTTER: We must
19 highlight and support our growing art and
20 culture community that people all across
21 the country have figured out that
22 Philadelphia increasingly is the place to
23 be for art and culture and entertainment
24 and nightlife.
25 (Applause.)
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2 MAYOR NUTTER: We have these
3 many things to do and there is more, but
4 there is nothing more important than
5 growing and developing a skilled and
6 educated workforce. That is the task for
7 the future. That is the task. That is
8 the work that will define who we are and
9 what we're about.
10 Unfortunately, here in
11 Philadelphia, only 18 percent of our City
12 residents have a four-year Bachelor's
13 degree. That ranks us 92nd on the list
14 of the 100 top cities in the country.
15 And so I challenge us to set
16 another goal for this City: To double,
17 to double our resident four-year
18 Bachelor's degree attainment rate over
19 the next five to seven years. That's
20 what we need to be working on. That's
21 where we need to invest our money.
22 That's what we should be doing, and
23 collectively commit ourselves to doing
24 that.
25 (Applause.)
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2 MAYOR NUTTER: Because if
3 Portland and Seattle and Oakland and a
4 dozen other cities across the United
5 States of America all easily have over a
6 third of their residents with that same
7 level of education, there is no reason
8 why Philadelphia and this region
9 shouldn't be able to do the same thing.
10 We are the education mecca of the United
11 States. We have 83 of the finest
12 colleges and universities you will find
13 in any region in this country. Education
14 is our business. It is our business.
15 (Applause.)
16 MAYOR NUTTER: One of the first
17 areas we can capitalize on is the fact
18 that 73,000 Philadelphians are in the
19 workforce today. They started college
20 and didn't finish.
21 I'm calling on our business
22 community to partner with the City, our
23 colleges and universities and their
24 employees to make it our goal, to make it
25 our mission to make a commitment to
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2 encourage those workers to go back to
3 school, complete your education and lift
4 yourself above the current status that
5 you are and enjoy all the opportunity
6 that exists right here in Philadelphia.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: And for our
9 young people, and for our young people,
10 if they are to ever have the opportunity
11 to go to college, let alone get a degree,
12 the first thing we have to help them do
13 is stay in school. Stay in school.
14 (Applause.)
15 MAYOR NUTTER: Here in this
16 City we have a 45 percent dropout rate, a
17 45 percent dropout rate.
18 Governor Rendell and I have
19 talked about education on a number of
20 occasions. We share a mutual commitment
21 to make sure that the children of
22 Philadelphia receive the best education
23 they can possibly receive.
24 The relationship among the
25 City, the State and the School District
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2 of Philadelphia must improve. And from
3 this day forward, Governor, I can assure
4 you, you have a partner in education
5 right here in Philadelphia.
6 (Applause.)
7 MAYOR NUTTER: But more than a
8 partnership, let us again set a goal.
9 People who have confidence in the future
10 make big plans. They set goals. They
11 drive agendas. And I have great
12 confidence in this City. I have great
13 confidence in the Governor and the
14 General Assembly and the members of City
15 Council. And so with that 45 percent
16 high school dropout rate, let us set a
17 goal for ourselves that over the next
18 five to seven years, we will cut the
19 dropout rate in Philadelphia in half. We
20 can do this. We can do this. We must do
21 this. We must do this.
22 (Applause.)
23 MAYOR NUTTER: This goal, this
24 goal is an economic imperative. It is an
25 educational imperative. It is a moral
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2 imperative. We must give our young
3 people the opportunity to grow and
4 develop and to be successful. If you
5 want to lower the dropout rate, if we
6 want to have great schools, if we want to
7 have a thriving business community, we
8 must have an educated workforce. That's
9 the kind of Philadelphia all of us should
10 aspire to.
11 So these are the kind of
12 challenges that face us, but these are
13 also the goals that we can accomplish.
14 We can make this a safer city. We can
15 educate our young people. We can grow
16 our economy.
17 I'm talking about the kind of
18 hope and commitment and sacrifice and
19 investment that will allow us to attain
20 these goals to create the new
21 Philadelphia that I've been talking
22 about. Now is the time, and this is the
23 place. A new Philadelphia, a
24 Philadelphia where young people can grow
25 and work and be safe and go to school; a
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2 new Philadelphia where business can
3 invest and tourists can come and enjoy
4 themselves; a new Philadelphia where
5 people no longer see handguns as the
6 first or last or only option to resolve a
7 conflict; a new Philadelphia that
8 attracts many new residents to our City,
9 some born in this country, some not born
10 in this country, because Philadelphia
11 must be a more friendly place for
12 everyone to come and celebrate the great
13 liberties that are enjoyable right here
14 in Philadelphia.
15 (Applause.)
16 MAYOR NUTTER: A new
17 Philadelphia where we respect ourselves
18 enough to keep our own City streets
19 clean. That's the new Philadelphia that
20 we're talking about.
21 (Applause.)
22 MAYOR NUTTER: And a new
23 Philadelphia where everyone, everyone,
24 everyone gets to participate in economic
25 opportunity.
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2 (Applause.)
3 MAYOR NUTTER: Well, that's my
4 vision for a new Philadelphia, and I'm
5 asking all of you to embrace it and make
6 it happen.
7 (Applause.)
8 MAYOR NUTTER: Today we make
9 change and reform real. Today. Today.
10 Today. Ladies and gentlemen, the
11 renaissance period of Philadelphia got
12 started about a half hour ago.
13 (Applause.)
14 MAYOR NUTTER: I'm asking you
15 to join me in the greatest American city
16 turnaround that anyone has seen in the
17 last 50 years. Ladies and gentlemen,
18 I've laid out for you this is the new
19 Philadelphia.
20 God bless you. God bless
21 America. God bless all of you. Thank
22 you very much. Bye, bye.
23 (Standing ovation.)
24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
25 Again, congratulations, Mr. Mayor.
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2 To celebrate the inauguration
3 of Mayor Michael Nutter, Evelyn Fordham
4 Goodman sings "Ordinary People,"
5 accompanied by Keith Goodman.
6 (Evelyn Fordham Goodman sings
7 "Ordinary People.")
8 (Applause.)
9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
10 you so much for sharing your beautiful
11 voice with us and that lovely song.
12 At this time, the Chair invites
13 the newly elected officials to take the
14 oath of office in the presence of
15 Council, the Mayor and other dignitaries.
16 Would the retention judges of
17 the Common Pleas Court please rise and
18 take the oath of office.
19 The Clerk will read the
20 certificates of election for the
21 retention judges of the Court of Common
22 Pleas.
23 THE CLERK: Philadelphia,
24 November 6, 2007, Office of the Judge of
25 the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia:
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Mark Bernstein, Rosalyn Robinson, Peter
3 Rogers, Edward Summers, you are duly
4 retained in the Office of Judge of the
5 Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia
6 County for a ten-year term, commencing
7 the first Monday of January, AD 2008.
8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
9 you.
10 Judge Jones will administer the
11 oath of office.
12 JUDGE JONES: I'm getting good
13 at this.
14 Please raise your right hands,
15 with your left hands on your Bibles, and
16 repeat after me...
17 (Oath of office administered to
18 Mark Bernstein, Rosalyn Robinson, Peter
19 Rogers and Edward Summers.)
20 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
21 (Applause.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
23 Chair now invites the retention judges of
24 the Municipal Court of Philadelphia to
25 stand and take the oath of office.
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 The Chief Clerk will please
3 read the certificates of election for the
4 retention judges of the Municipal Court
5 of Philadelphia.
6 CHIEF CLERK: Deborah Griffin,
7 at an election held November 6, 2007, you
8 were duly retained in the Office of the
9 Judge of the Court of the Municipal Court
10 of Philadelphia County.
11 (Applause.)
12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:
13 President Judge of Municipal Court, the
14 Honorable Louis J. Presenza, will
15 administer the oath of office.
16 JUDGE PRESENZA: Please repeat
17 after me...
18 (Oath of office administered to
19 Deborah Griffin.)
20 JUDGE PRESENZA:
21 Congratulations.
22 (Applause.)
23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
24 Chair now invites the newly elected
25 judges of the Traffic Court of
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Philadelphia County to rise and take the
3 oath of office.
4 The Chief Clerk will please
5 read the certificates of election for the
6 judges of Traffic Court.
7 THE CLERK: Mike Lowry, Robert
8 Mulgrew and Willie Singletary.
9 (Applause.)
10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
11 oath of office will be administered by
12 the Honorable Thomasine Tynes, President
13 Judge of Traffic Court.
14 JUDGE TYNES: Please hold your
15 Bible in your left hand and with your
16 right hand, repeat after me...
17 (Oath of office administered to
18 Mike Lowry, Robert Mulgrew and Willie
19 Singletary.)
20 JUDGE TYNES: Congratulations.
21 (Applause.)
22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
23 Chair now invites the City Commissioners
24 to stand as their names are called. They
25 are Margaret Tartaglione, Anthony Clark
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 and Joe Duda.
3 (Applause.)
4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
5 Chief Clerk will please read the
6 certificates of election for the City
7 Commissioners.
8 CHIEF CLERK: Margaret
9 Tartaglione, Anthony Clark and Joseph J.
10 Duda, at an election held November 6,
11 2007, you were duly elected City
12 Commissioners for the City and County of
13 Philadelphia for a term of four years,
14 commencing the first Monday of January,
15 AD 2008.
16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
17 Honorable Darnell Jones, II will
18 administer the oath of office.
19 JUDGE JONES: Please raise your
20 right hands and repeat after me...
21 (Oath of office administered to
22 Margaret Tartaglione, Anthony Clark and
23 Joseph J. Duda.)
24 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
25 (Applause.)
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
3 Chair now invites the Sheriff of
4 Philadelphia, John D. Green, to stand and
5 take the oath of office.
6 (Applause.)
7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
8 Chief Clerk will please read the
9 certificate of election for the Sheriff
10 of Philadelphia.
11 CHIEF CLERK: John Green, at an
12 election held November 6, 2007, you were
13 duly elected Sheriff of the City and
14 County of Philadelphia for a term of four
15 years, commencing the first Monday of
16 January, 2008.
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
18 Honorable Darnell Jones, II will
19 administer the oath of office.
20 JUDGE JONES: Please raise your
21 right hand and repeat after me...
22 (Oath of office administered to
23 John D. Green.)
24 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
25 (Applause.)
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
3 Chair now invites Ronald R. Donatucci,
4 Register of Wills, to stand to take the
5 oath of office.
6 (Applause.)
7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
8 Chief Clerk will please read the
9 certificate of election for the Register
10 of Wills.
11 CHIEF CLERK: At an election
12 held November 6, 2007, you were duly
13 elected Register of Wills for the City
14 and County of Philadelphia for a term of
15 four years, commencing the first Monday
16 of January, AD 2008.
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
18 Honorable Louis J. Presenza will
19 administer the oath of office.
20 JUDGE PRESENZA: Place your
21 right hand on the Bible, please, raise
22 your left hand, repeat after me...
23 (Oath of office administered to
24 Ronald R. Donatucci.)
25 JUDGE PRESENZA:
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Congratulations.
3 (Applause.)
4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
5 Chair now invites Vivian T. Miller, Clerk
6 of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia, to
7 stand to take the oath of office.
8 The Clerk will please read the
9 certificate of election for the Clerk of
10 Quarter Sessions.
11 CHIEF CLERK: Vivian T. Miller,
12 at an election held November 6, 2007, you
13 were duly elected Clerk of Quarter
14 Sessions for Philadelphia County for a
15 term of four years, commencing the first
16 Monday of January, AD 2008.
17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
18 Honorable Darnell Jones will administer
19 the oath of office.
20 JUDGE JONES: Please raise your
21 right hand and repeat after me...
22 (Oath of office administered to
23 Vivian T. Miller.
24 JUDGE JONES: Congratulations.
25 (Applause.)
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: For
3 our final musical selection today, the
4 Philadelphia Boys' Choir will perform
5 "America the Beautiful."
6 (Philadelphia Boys' Choir sings
7 "America the Beautiful.")
8 (Standing ovation.)
9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: That
10 was truly beautiful.
11 As we conclude the ceremony, I
12 want to thank the Inaugural Committee for
13 their hard work for today's ceremony. I
14 also want to thank our clergy members for
15 being with us and offering their prayers
16 for us and for our City.
17 At this time, I would ask that
18 you all stand in prayer to be delivered
19 by Rabbi Henry Cohen. Following the
20 benediction, I ask that you please be
21 seated for the conclusion of the session.
22 Rabbi?
23 RABBI COHEN: God of All
24 Humanity, we've come together to ask your
25 blessing on the City of Philadelphia. We
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 thank you that you have blessed Mayor
3 Michael Nutter with rare gifts of mind,
4 heart and spirit. You have blessed him
5 with a mind that understands the roots of
6 violence, poverty and school dropouts.
7 You have blessed him with a heart that
8 has the courage to reach out to people of
9 every race and creed, to greatly reduce
10 the violence, poverty and ignorance that
11 stifle too many lives.
12 Mayor Nutter is blessed with
13 members of City Council, with judges and
14 other officials, all of whom have their
15 own gifts of mind, heart and spirit, who
16 will work with him for a better tomorrow.
17 He is blessed with a loving and
18 supporting family, who will be there for
19 him in times of fulfillment and of
20 frustration.
21 And, finally, Michael Nutter
22 has been blessed with faith. May his
23 faith continue to grow with the spirit of
24 hope that gives us all the expectation
25 that he and we together will find for
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 Philadelphia and its surroundings, the
3 ways that are pleasantness and the paths
4 that are peace.
5 Amen.
6 (Amen.)
7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank
8 you, Rabbi Cohen, for your inspiring
9 words.
10 Again, I would ask all of you
11 to please be seated.
12 At this time, the Chair
13 recognizes Councilman Clarke.
14 COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Thank you,
15 Madam President.
16 Madam President, I move that
17 the Council stand adjourned until
18 Thursday, January the 24th, 2008.
19 (Duly seconded.)
20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: It
21 has been moved and properly seconded that
22 the Council stand adjourned until
23 Thursday, January 24, 2008.
24 All in favor let be it known by
25 saying "aye."
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1 CITY COUNCIL - 1/7/08
2 (Aye.)
3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those
4 opposed?
5 (No response.)
6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The
7 ayes have it, and Council stands
8 adjourned until Thursday, January 24,
9 2008.
10 Thank you all so very much.
11 Thank you.
12 (Applause.)
13 (Ceremony adjourned at 11:50
14 a.m.)
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1
2 CERTIFICATE
3 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the
4 proceedings, evidence and objections are
5 contained fully and accurately in the
6 stenographic notes taken by me upon the
7 foregoing matter on January 7, 2008, and that
8 this is a true and correct transcript of same.
9
10
11
12
13
14 ______________________________
15 MICHELE L. MURPHY
16 RPR-Notary Public
17
18
19 (The foregoing certification of this
20 transcript does not apply to any reproduction
21 of the same by any means, unless under the
22 direct control and/or supervision of the
23 certifying reporter.)
24
25
End
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