Communication 120002

..Title INVESTITURE OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL INAUGURATION OF THE MAYOR and INVESTITURE OF MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY JUDGES OF TRAFFIC COURT CITY COMMISSIONERS SHERIFF REGISTER OF WILLS The Academy of Music Broad and Locust Streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, January 2, 2012 10:00 a.m. ..Body - - - MR. HENDERSON: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and Happy New Year. Welcome to the investiture of members of Council, the organization of City Council, the inauguration of the Honorable Michael A. Nutter as Mayor, and the investiture of members of the Judiciary, City Commissioners, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and Judges of Traffic Court. We ask that everyone please turn off all pagers and cellular devices for the remainder of the ceremony. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and bow your heads for the invocation given by His Excellency Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia. (All guests rise.) ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT: Let us pray. Father in heaven, make us honest stewards of the world you place in 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION our hands. Make us good guardians of the dignity that you give as a birthright to every human person. Help us to reach out to the suffering and the persecuted and to protect the poor, the weak, and the immigrant. Help us to reflect your light to others and to show by our action that truth, integrity and service still shape the purpose of the community life we share. In a special way, bless our leaders, especially Mayor Nutter for his dedication and service to our city, but also including all those who serve in public life. Guide them in building a civil order that honors your law and your love. Give us the eyes to see your holy face in each other and to live and love accordingly, and pour down your grace on all of Philadelphia so that those who come after us will see beyond the buildings and history and industry of our city to the greater beauty of the 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION goodness and decency of her people. We ask this as your sons and daughters, confident in your love. Amen. (Amen.) MR. HENDERSON: Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments and the Prison Guards present the colors, while the Philadelphia Boys Choir leads us in singing our national anthem. (Colors are presented; national anthem is sung.) (Applause.) MR. HENDERSON: Thank you. You may all now be seated as we continue with this morning's proceedings. Let's listen to a poetry reading by Philadelphia Poet Laureate, Ms. Sonia Sanchez. (Applause.) MS. SANCHEZ: How nice, now I'm tall. Good morning, Philadelphia. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Good morning.) MS. SANCHEZ: Since I was given seven days to write this... I call this "A Song for Philadelphia" for Mayor Michael Nutter at our new beginnings. Before birth or becoming, before the pulse of a seed, before our creation, our nothingness, our eyes challenged, the death trumpeters. When we turn in our birth nostalgic for blood, when we show ourselves on the water into the sleeves of winter, what does it matter if we cannot taste the scene? So precocious a city, how did we learn to serve death with our hands in our pockets, so young our breaths? How did we inoculate our needs until we genuflected death too? A vigil of blood clotting on steel and glass leaks into our pores, a vigil of slot machine profits courting our spirits, a vigil of hope rummaging our eyes for food and shelter. This earth perched on the heads 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION of lower case luminaries. Dare reconfirm this earth free of the corruption of war. Can heroes be born without the fanfare of bullets? How many times can we auction off democracy whose heads are larger than God, whose hands are larger than the sea, whose eyes are larger than the stars? Inside time we pilot laughter, our mouths lassoing our poem souls, for this day, this day, this day has the precision of a pause. Old words become great echoes on Monday morning abstinence. Can you hear the children's breaths flying out of their skins? Old words conjugate in wild colors. Now hear this, now hear this, our children are walking barefoot across our souls. Their storefront laughter is collapsing in the streets. Can you hear? Can you hear the people's fears, confessing to the cadence of forgotten air? Philadelphians, Philadelphians, 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION walking, bending, raising, living inside your words, practicing the rural of neighborhoods, flowing from your thighs. Can you hear them teasing the City with a girlish glance? Oh, bluesy city. Beat, beat. Beat, beat, beat, beat, beat that base. Beat, beat, beat, beat, beat that base. Let the ghosts fly out. Play the wonder in your fingertips. The City is not dead. I am not dead. We are merely occasional fallen nightingales. No more breath smiles here. No harpsichord teeth placing words into an antique pillbox. On this January landscape, we hear humming. We hear humming of prayer on your tongues saying step inside. Step inside. Step inside, mi amor. You are wild time, rosemary, watermelon seeds, garlic, roses caught in our throats. Your hands are anointed with eyes. Your legs greet themselves at the door. Step inside. Step inside. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Step inside. A moon wind, our bones join at the spine. Our blue midnight breaths sailing on urban tongues. Like Lorca, yo quiero, I love, I want. Like Lorca, yo quiero, I love, I want. Like Lorca, yo quiero, I love, I want, I say. I say, I say, I say step inside. Step inside. Step inside, mi amor, as we untangle this language of death. Stand words up and say minuet our blood. Step inside. I say step inside. Step inside a moon wind. As we commandeer our children's legs and they become rivers, repelling ice water ghosts, kneeling on razor-thin knees at confession. Step inside. Step inside. Step inside, mi amor, as we become one city, alive and apart from the elasticity of the dead. Give me the spirit, Lord. I say give me the spirit, Lord. Give me the spirit, Lord. Give me the quick 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION civil courage, Lord. I say give me the quick civil courage, Lord, so I can spread it over my face and mouth. Give me the spirit tongue of a thousand suns. I say give me the spirit tongue of a thousand suns to warm our hearts, oh Lord. Give me the spirit, Lord. I say give me the spirit, Lord, to come awake in your thunder so our eyes can see behind trees. Help us to remember, oh Lord. Are we not more than hunger and music. Are we not more than greed and poverty. Are we not more than color and homelessness. Are we not more than anger and dance. This day is walking towards us, and I say give us the spirit, Lord, to put on our eyes and forever, oh Lord, let us be in the eyelash of your memory, in the eyelash of your memory. Our ebobo (ph), our ebobo, our ebobo. Praise God. Praise God. Praise 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION God for we, the people. For we, the people. For we, the people. Thank you. (Applause.) MR. HENDERSON: Philadelphia poet extraodinaire, Ms. Sonia Sanchez. Now please welcome City Council President Anna C. Verna to the podium. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Thank you all very much, and may I say good morning. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural proceedings for the investiture of City Councilmembers, the inauguration of the Mayor, and the induction of the Judiciary and elected officials. Special guests joining us on stage today are Archbishop Charles Chaput, Reverend Dr. Albert Campbell, Reverend John Roberts, Rabbi Solomon Isaacson, former Governor Ed Rendell, former Mayor John Street, former Mayor William Green, former Mayor W. Wilson 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Goode, the Honorable Pamela Dembe, the Honorable Matthew Carrifiello and the Honorable Thomasine Tynes. I also wish to acknowledge elected officials joining us on stage today as well as members of the Honorary Inaugural Committee. Please join me at this time in welcoming the First Lady of our City, Lisa Nutter, and the Nutter's lovely daughter, Olivia. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Would Councilwoman Tasco please make a presentation of flowers to Mrs. Nutter and Olivia. (Presentation of flowers to Mrs. Nutter and Olivia.) (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: This being the day fixed by the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter for the organization of Council of the City of Philadelphia, the hour has arrived, and we will now proceed 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION with the organization of Council and the investiture of Councilmembers. The first order of business will be the election of a temporary chairperson. Nominations are now in order, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Green. COUNCILMAN GREEN: Thank you, Madam President. I nominate Councilman Jones. COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Thank you, Madam President. I second the nomination. COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Are there any further nominations? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Goode. COUNCILMAN GOODE: Thank you, Madam President. I move the nominations be closed. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez. COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Thank you, Madam President. I second that motion. COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: All in favor of the motion will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The ayes have it, and the nominations are closed. There being no further nominations, all in favor of the election of Councilman Jones will say aye. (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA: The 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION ayes have it, and Councilman Jones has been duly elected temporary Chairperson. Before I relinquish this gavel to my colleague, I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on my years as, first, a Council staff member, then Councilwoman for the 2nd Councilmanic District, and finally as Council President. There are a few principles that I followed over the course of my career in public service, and I'd like to impart them to all of those beginning or continuing their journey in City Council. Uphold the truth that has been placed upon you by the citizens of this great city. Treat your colleagues and constituents with dignity and respect. Remember that compromise is an essential element in all successful legislative bodies. And always remember public service is a noble profession. I believe that if you make decisions with these ideals in mind, your 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION careers will be as happy and fulfilling as mine has been. I'd like to thank my Council colleagues, past and present, for sharing their wisdom and generosity of spirit with me, my staff for their dedication, and mostly the people of the 2nd Council District for having placed their trust in me. Together we have accomplished so much of which I am very, very proud. Thank you, and God bless. (Standing ovation.) COUNCILMAN JONES: Thank you. As the first order of business, I appoint Mr. Michael Decker temporary Clerk. The next order of business is the filing of certificates of election. The Clerk will call the roll. I direct the Clerk to call the roll beginning with Councilpersons-at-large in alphabetical order, then to proceed to the District Councilpersons in order of their district, beginning with the 1st 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION District. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. W. Wilson Goode, Jr. COUNCILMAN GOODE: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. William Green. COUNCILMAN GREEN: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. William Greenlee. COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. James F. Kenney. COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Dennis O'Brien. COUNCILMAN O'BRIEN: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. David Oh. COUNCILMAN OH: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Ms. Blondell Reynolds Brown. COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Mark Squilla. COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Kenyatta 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Johnson. COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Ms. Jannie Blackwell. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Curtis Jones, Jr. COUNCILMAN JONES: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Darrell Clarke. COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Bobby Henon. COUNCILMAN HENON: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Ms. Maria Quinones-Sanchez. COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Presente. CHIEF CLERK: Ms. Cindy Bass. COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Ms. Marian B. Tasco. COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Mr. Brian 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION O'Neill. COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Present. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Jones, a quorum of the members-elect is present, and I have in my possession certificates of election from the County Board of Elections in Philadelphia, indicating their election on November 8th, 2011, for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCILMAN JONES: The investiture of members will now proceed. The members-elect will rise to take their oath of office, which will be administered by the Honorable Pamela Pryor Dembe, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. JUDGE DEMBE: Please place your left hands on the Bible and repeat after me. (Office of oath administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations, and thank you. (Applause.) 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION COUNCILMAN JONES: The next order of business is the election of the President of City Council for the City of Philadelphia to serve four years, commencing January 2nd, 2012. Nominations are now in order. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon. COUNCILMAN HENON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I proudly and with great honor nominate Darrell L. Clarke. (Applause.) COUNCILMAN JONES: At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien. COUNCILMAN O'BRIEN: Mr. Chairman, I second the nomination. COUNCILMAN JONES: Are there any further nominations? (No response.) COUNCILMAN JONES: Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Mr. Chairman, I move the nominations be closed. COUNCILMAN JONES: The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney. COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Mr. Chairman, I second that motion. COUNCILMAN JONES: All those in favor will say aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN JONES: Those opposed will say nay. (No response.) COUNCILMAN JONES: There being no further nomination, all those in favor of the election of the Honorable Darrell L. Clarke as President of the City Council will say aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN JONES: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN JONES: The ayes have it. However, the temporary Clerk will call the roll. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Bass. COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Blackwell. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Clarke. COUNCILMAN CLARKE: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Goode. COUNCILMAN GOODE: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Green. COUNCILMAN GREEN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Greenlee. COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Henon. COUNCILMAN HENON: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Johnson. COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Kenney. COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Aye. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION CHIEF CLERK: Councilman O'Brien. COUNCILMAN O'BRIEN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman O'Neill. COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Oh. COUNCILMAN OH: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Squilla. COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Tasco. COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Jones. COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Councilman Clarke having been 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION unanimously chosen by members of Council, I declare Councilman Clarke is duly elected President of this body. (Standing ovation.) COUNCILMAN JONES: I appoint Councilman Henon, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman O'Brien, Councilwoman Brown to escort Council President Clarke to the rostrum. Joining the Council President will be his daughter, Nicole Bright, and his grandson, Kadin Jones. (Applause.) COUNCILMAN JONES: It is my pleasure to present to you the President of City Council, the Honorable Darrell L. Clarke. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you, Councilman Jones, for conducting the first order of business of the City Council as temporary Chair. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Wow, 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION this is truly a good morning for me. This is an exciting day for me personally, as well for this City Council and City government. The inauguration of 17 members of Council, six of them new, and the selection of new officers is an important moment, filled with promise and opportunity for Philadelphia. Oh, by the way, my grandson, Kadin -- my daughter, Nicole, and I had a conversation late last night and he was in a rather rambunctious mode. He is only one years old. Should he be on the stage? Probably not. He's going to be joining us a little later. Before I speak about that promise and some of the challenges we face, I want to acknowledge the two most important people in my life, my daughter, Nicole, and that aforementioned grandson, Kadin. They mean the world to me. I want to thank you. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: I 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION want to also acknowledge and thank two people who taught me so much since I came into City government 20 years ago. John Street. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: I would not be standing here today if it were not for John Street. I learned many things about government from him - paying attention to detail, understanding the importance of budget and its impact on services. The list goes on and on. However, the most important thing I learned from him was not details or facts; it was the value of hard work, and I thank him for that. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Likewise, when I ran for Council, I developed another significant relationship. Council President Anna Verna. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: I 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION learned not only the true importance of listening to people and understanding the views of the Councilmembers, but, more importantly, I learned the true value of fairness, and I think all of our members can attest to that. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: If I can work as hard as John Street and be as fair as Anna Verna, I'll have a solid foundation with which to lead this Council. Mayor Street, President Verna, I just want to thank so much for your years of guidance and support and friendship. Thank you so much. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: When I was growing up in Strawberry Mansion, I, like most Philadelphians, was raised in a row home community, with quality public schools, thriving local businesses, and strong families. But unfortunately for many Philadelphia 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION neighborhoods, that is no longer the case. The economic downturn has caused many local businesses to close, and our neighborhood districts are not what they used to be. Our public schools have made strides, but too many remain dangerous, the dropout rate is too high, and the recent strife with the Superintendent and the SRC serve no one well, least of all our children. To get where we must go, all parties involved, City Council, the Mayor, the SRC, the PFT and every, I mean every parent must work together. We must also create a strong business-friendly environment. We must send a clear message to the country and the world that Philadelphia is open for business. It is extremely important, let me emphasize extremely important, that this Council and this Mayor work productively on the issues that unite us rather on those on which we disagree. Mayor Nutter -- 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: -- we wish you well in your second term, and I'd like to say that this Council President stands ready and willing to work with you to move this great city of ours forward. MAYOR NUTTER: Thank you. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: For the last several years, Council and the Mayor had to make some difficult decisions as the economy worsened and tax revenues declined, but we still had to deliver services. So we collectively agreed to several increases in taxes and fees. And I will understand if you do not applaud for that. But as our economy begins to stabilize, we need to generate creative ideas to strengthen our budget and deliver services without always resorting to putting our hands in the taxpayers' pockets. I believe we can use the assets 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION we have in new ways to help create jobs and revenues. Last year, Council commissioned a study on ways our City can think and act differently when it comes to the issues of taxes and generating revenues and reducing our costs. That study produced a report with some very good ideas. Let me touch briefly on a very few of them. One such idea is to create a series of development districts across our city. We need to get the thousands of City-owned parcels out of the City's inventory and in the hands of developers to create jobs, opportunity and revenue. Also, we must explore municipal marketing opportunities. Millions of dollars are being generated in other states and in other cities across our country. No, Mary Tracy, I'm not saying that we should put a billboard on top of Billy Penn's hat. But if we work together, we can realize revenues to help 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION pay for essential services while still preserving the character of our public spaces. We should also apply the same kinds of creative thinking to reducing the cost of government. We should continue to aggressively retrofit our municipal buildings with alternative energy sources. And, Mayor Nutter, I want to thank you for the most recent bill that you introduced and we passed to do just that. In doing so, we'll save money and we'll continue to support the environment at the same time. Additionally, proceeds from aggressive municipal asset sales program could be utilized to reduce long-term debt. Furthermore, we must continue to attract businesses from other countries -- and, Councilman Oh, I know you like hearing that -- and further stimulate the fast-growing sectors of our 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION economy - our healthcare, institutions, hospitals, colleges, and universities. As we work cooperatively and think creatively, we must also practice fiscal responsibility. We must take steps to confront a long-simmering problem, the City's unfunded pension liability. We must work together with the Mayor, the Pension Board, and the City's municipal unions to craft solutions to the serious fiscal problem before it overwhelms us. I'd like to say now to the new members of Council, I make this promise. I will work hard every day to listen to your proposals and to treat you as fairly as Council President Verna treated me when I was first elected. And to my veteran colleagues, also known as the "old heads," I say let us start this term fresh and reinvigorated, using our experience, but also opening ourselves to new ideas to move the great city of ours forward. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION And to the citizens of Philadelphia, I ask for your help, your prayers, and your ideas as I work every day to keep the faith you have placed in me today. With that, I want to thank you so much and thank you for this blessing. I honor it, and I will do you proud. Thank you all, and God bless you. (Standing ovation.) CHIEF CLERK: The Honorable Pamela Pryor Dembe, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, will now administer the oath of office to Council President Clarke. JUDGE DEMBE: Raise your right hand and repeat after me. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you so much. (Standing ovation.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Time 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION to go to work. Thank you. The next order of business is the election of the Chief Clerk of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. Nominations are now in order, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco. COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Mr. President, I nominate Mr. Michael Decker. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh. COUNCILMAN OH: Mr. President, I second that nomination. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. Are there any further nominations? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: None further. Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson. COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Mr. President, I move the nominations be 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION closed. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. I move the nominations be closed. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla. COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Mr. President, I second the motion. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the nominations be closed. All in favor of the motion will say aye. (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Those opposed say no. (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The ayes have it and the motion is carried. There being no further nominations, all in favor of the election of Mr. Michael Decker as Chief Clerk of Council will say aye. Those opposed -- 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: I'm sorry. I got a little ahead of myself. Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The ayes have it. However, the Clerk will call the roll. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Bass. COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Blackwell. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Goode. COUNCILMAN GOODE: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Green. COUNCILMAN GREEN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Greenlee. COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Henon. COUNCILMAN HENON: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Johnson. COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Jones. COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Kenney. COUNCILMAN KENNEY: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman O'Brien. COUNCILMAN O'BRIEN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman O'Neill. COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Oh. COUNCILMAN OH: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Councilman Squilla. COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Aye. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman Tasco. COUNCILWOMAN TASCO: Aye. CHIEF CLERK: Council President Clarke. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Aye. Te ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Mr. Decker, having received a unanimous vote of the members of Council, I now declare Mr. Michael Decker duly elected Chief Clerk of the City Council of Philadelphia. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Councilmembers Goode and Blackwell will escort Mr. Decker to the rostrum, and Judge Dembe will administer the oath of office. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Congratulations, Mr. Decker. At this time, I will name the 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION officers of the City Council. Please be advised that at a meeting of the democratic members of Council, the Honorable Curtis Jones, Jr. was elected Majority Leader, the Honorable Blondell Reynolds Brown was elected Majority Whip, and the Honorable William Greenlee was elected Majority Deputy Whip of the City Council of Philadelphia. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Also be advised that at a meeting of the republican members of Council, the Honorable Brian J. O'Neill was elected and the Honorable David Oh was elected Minority Whip. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The next order of business is the introduction of a resolution concerning the rules of government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee. COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Thank 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION you, Mr. President. I offer the following resolution. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chief Clerk will read the title of the resolution. CHIEF CLERK: A resolution to provide rules for the government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee. COUNCILMAN GREENLEE: Mr. President, I move that the rules as set forth in this resolution be adopted as the temporary rules of this Council until the permanent rules are adopted. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass. COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Thank you, Mr. President. I second the motion. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: All in favor of that motion will say aye. (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Those opposed, nay. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The ayes have it and the motion is carried. The rules contained in this resolution have been adopted temporarily. The resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The organization of the Council of the City of Philadelphia and the investiture of the City Councilmembers are complete, in accordance with the provisions of the Home Rule Charter. The Council is honored by the presence of Reverend John Roberts. I ask you to all please to rise as I invite Reverend Roberts to lead us in prayer. By the way, that's my Reverend. (All guests rise.) REVEREND ROBERTS: Let's bow our head. Lord, thou has been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were brought forth and 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION forever thou has formed the earth and the world. Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. We ask now that you would bless us as we stand in your presence. We're blessed to come, and we're glad we're here. Thank you for waking us up this morning and giving us strength to get up. Thank you for blessing us to come safely to this place. We thank you for the great leaders of this great city. We thank you for our Mayor. We thank you for his family. We thank you even now for our President of City Council, my friend and brother, the Honorable Darrell Clarke. We pray now for his daughter, his granddaughter (sic), even his brother that is not well at this time. We ask, God, for your wisdom and for your knowledge, for your word says that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people mourn. And 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION there have been people that have been crying for a long time. But we ask that you would give wisdom and knowledge to these great leaders of this great city. Bless our brother, President Clarke, as he leads City Council. We serve God by serving one another. So we ask for your divine wisdom now. We pray for your choice blessings in this new year. So many have gone on, but we are still here, and because of this, we're grateful and in our spirits, we say thank you. Now continue to lead us. Bless this City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. We thank you for how you brought us, because we realize that promotion comes from God, and if we continue to put you first and seek you first, everything else will be added on. Bless us now and we shall be blessed. Heal us and we shall be healed. Save us and we shall be saved, as we 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION continue in the spirit of oneness and of love. I ask this in your precious name, and as always, Lord, I thank you for listening. Amen. (Amen.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you, Reverend Roberts. Will everyone please be seated. At this time, I invite the Greater Exodus Baptist Church Choir to perform "Faithful is Our God." The choir is directed by Carol Nathaniel. (Greater Exodus Church Choir performs "Faithful is our God.") (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you so much. Thank you so much. We are also honored by the presence of Reverend Dr. Albert Campbell. I ask you all to please rise as I invite Reverend Campbell to lead us in prayer. (All guests rise.) 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION REVEREND CAMPBELL: Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the City, the watchmen waketh, but in vain. Let us pray. Oh thou who art the source of all light and life, wisdom and truth, we are pleased again to pause to pay homage to you for this day, for this hour, and for this significant investiture and inaugural event that brings us together across many diverse lines. We are both glad and grateful. We pray earnestly that this gathering today omens a new beginning in our common quest for the common good in this great City of Brotherly Love. We intercede on behalf of the Mayor, the Honorable Michael A. Nutter, that he will continue to be endowed with wisdom and with courage for the facing of the complex issues of these times. May he be provided with the statesman-like tools and resources necessary for the 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION leadership that will be required. We also ask for an incredibly exciting and productive spirit of cooperation and dedication between the high offices of Mayor and those of City Council so that the best possible results for this city might be achieved. And we ask that the citizenry will join the elected leadership in working and watching and praying for peace, for the reduction of violence in our communities, for the lifting of the quality of education for all of our children, and for the raising of the quality of human relations in every sphere of our life together. In thy holy name we pray. Amen. (Amen.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you, Reverend Campbell. Will everyone please be seated. At this time, I invite Priscilla Coblentz and Claude Donaldson 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION to perform "The Prayer," composed by Carole Bayer and David Foster. (Priscilla Coblentz and Claude Donaldson perform "The Prayer.") (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you so much. We will now proceed with the induction of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. The Chair appoints Councilman O'Brien, Councilman Kenney, Councilman Oh, and Councilman Goode to escort the Honorable Mayor Michael Nutter to the rostrum. The Chair invites Mayor Nutter's wife, Lisa, and daughter, Olivia, to join him at the rostrum. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chief Clerk will read the certificate of the election of the Honorable Michael A. Nutter as Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION CHIEF CLERK: Michael A. Nutter, at an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly elected the Mayor of the City and County of Philadelphia, for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Honorable Theodore A. McKee will administer the oath of office. JUDGE McKEE: Raise your right hand, place your left hand on the Bible and repeat after me. (Oath of office administered.) (Standing ovation.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: To the members of City Council, Reverend clergy, elected officials, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinct honor to present to you His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, the Honorable Michael A. Nutter. (Standing ovation.) MAYOR NUTTER: Good morning. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Good morning.) MAYOR NUTTER: To our elected officials, our members of Congress, members of the General Assembly in Harrisburg, Archbishop Chaput, Reverend Griffith, Reverend Campbell, Reverend Roberts, Rabbi Isaacson, and all members of our faith community, Judge McKee, Judge Pryor Dembe, Judge Carrifiello, and Judge Tynes and all the members of the Judiciary, Governor Rendell, Mayor Green, Mayor Goode, Mayor Street and our good friend from across the river, Mayor Dana Redd of Camden, to all the members of Philadelphia City Council, to the retiring members of Council and the new members of Council, welcome to City government. To former President Anna Verna, who I enjoyed many, many years of getting to know and working with. Let us please recognize one more time 60 years of public service to this great city. (Standing ovation.) 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION MAYOR NUTTER: And to our new Council President, Council President Darrell Clarke, who I've also worked with for a long period of time and gotten to know well, and I look forward to our partnership in moving this city forward and deeply appreciated your remarks this morning. Our new Council President, Councilman Clarke. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: To Lisa, Olivia, Christian, my mother, Catalina, my sister, Renee. First and foremost, thank you to the people of Philadelphia for once again bestowing upon me this tremendous honor. I will never be able to fully express what it means to me, a kid from West Philadelphia, to stand on this stage at the Academy of Music as Mayor of my hometown and to have this wonderful opportunity -- 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: And just to have this wonderful opportunity to continue to serve the city and the people that I love so much. Since that January day four years ago when we were last gathered in this place, we've made tremendous progress together. On that day, I made a promise that we would be a safer city, a more educated city, a growing city, a number one city for art and culture in the United States, a more green city where businesses would come and invest and create jobs, and a city that people all across America will be talking about in good ways. And because of the hard work of our public servants, our workforce, the dedication of our elected officials and the ingenuity of our citizens and neighborhoods all across this great city, I've kept those promises, and we have set Philadelphia on a fundamentally different 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION course, a different path, a new trajectory. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: But we're not done yet. And so as I stand before you today at this beginning of a second term, it is not my intention to celebrate what has been done, but to talk briefly about the values I believe that are needed to guide us in doing what must be done. I'm not motivated by pride and satisfaction and past accomplishments. I'm motivated by a vision of what can be, by an urgency to tackle and take on the challenges that are holding us back as a city, and the deep concern and sense that though we are making progress, there are too many Philadelphians who do not share in the success and promise. I'm motivated by a determination that as we continue to transform Philadelphia, we cannot, we must not, and we will not leave anyone 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION behind. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: The sense of community and togetherness has guided America since its earliest days. In April of 1630 when a band of colonists set sail from England for opportunity and freedom in the New World, one among them, John Winthrop, composed a message to his fellow immigrants describing how they were going to succeed and set an example for those who are to follow. Winthrop said, "We must be knit together in this work as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must delight in each other, make others' conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work as members of the same body." Philadelphia, of course we have our own way of saying it. We have the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Affection. We're proud of our city. We look out for each other. We stand up for each other. We fight for each other. And that's certainly how it was when I was growing up at 55th and Larchwood. On Saturday morning, all the kids on the block grabbed a broom, grabbed a bucket. We mopped our steps. We cleaned up our block together. And when one of us went to the movies or to the rec center, we all went together. We had respect for each other and for our elders. When my mother told me to be back on the steps before that streetlight came on, you can best believe that I was there. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: Community, togetherness, respect, pride - that's the Philadelphia way. It's who we are. We stand together - together as a block, together as a community, as a neighborhood, and as a city, all working to make our city a better place. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION I see that togetherness almost every day as I travel through the neighborhoods all across Philadelphia. I see young people in after-school activities learning a second language, painting stained glass on a church, or expressing themselves through spoken word or poetry. I see community leaders working with us through our Philly Rising initiative to clean up their neighborhoods or through our Health Department's MOMS program to help young, first-time mothers access the early childhood services their baby needs. And I'm going to see it this afternoon when I visit Project HOME residents who are in our workforce development and job training programs, trying to build a better life for themselves and play a role in the future of this city, all of us working together as members of the same body. But I also see in our City of 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Philadelphia that William Penn, a Quaker, founded with the values of community, fairness, and inclusiveness as its bedrock, that there are too many neighborhoods where we have lost that sense of community, that pride in our city, that commitment to each other. There are too many Philadelphians who don't feel safe in their own neighborhoods, whose children are stuck in low-performing schools, who are struggling to find work, and some who have even given up looking for a job. And I refuse to accept that we can or should move forward as a city if we have not done all that we can to include all Philadelphians in our progress. We must be willing to have an honest conversation about the things that are holding us back as a city and ask ourselves, What are we prepared to do about them, together. We must be willing to do 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION something about the fact that of the 317 people who were murdered in Philadelphia last year, 83 percent of them were killed with a handgun; nearly 75 percent of those killed, African American men; nearly 80 percent of those doing the killing, African American men, a local and national epidemic that is insufficiently discussed, let alone taken on. What are we going to do about this? We're going to put more police on the streets. A hundred and twenty new officers will be on foot patrol by this summer. But we must do more. We're going to continue to build partnerships with the community through community policing and our Philly Rising program. Working with mayors around the country and with leaders in our own community, we've begun a serious, adult conversation and have started to develop 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION strategic plans to deal with the proliferation of illegal guns and the fact that people and their guns are wiping out an entire generation of African American men and boys. And we're deploying and developing a new approach, which we'll roll out in the next few months, to getting these illegal guns off our streets, targeting the people who have them, the people who are supplying them, and the neighborhoods where they're operating in, and the five police districts in the City where nearly 50 percent of the homicides occur, and working with our partners at all levels of government to go after them aggressively and relentlessly every day. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: But while we say to those who hide behind their illegal guns that we will come after you and the people who are supplying these weapons harder and tougher than ever before, we 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION must also be brave enough to extend a hand to those who want to put that gun down to make a different choice. We must show them that if you put that gun down, we'll put work in your hands, we'll put a job in your hands, we'll put a book in your hands, we'll put a paycheck in your hands. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: And we'll work with you to put your future back in your hands. Because some of these young kids that are terrorizing our neighborhoods are themselves just frightened kids. They're not all bad kids, and they weren't born like this. These are kids who lack opportunity, who believe that they have no future, that there is no door open to them. And when we have to lock them up, we also lock up their potential. Two days ago I visited our city prisons. This is a tradition started by 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Mayor Street. Two days ago I met a young man in juvenile detention on State Road. His name is Kent. He's 17 years old. Kent was sentenced to 7 to 20 years for four armed robberies. He told me that he got about $2,000 as a result. But he also told me that he's carrying a 3.6 GPA at John Bartram High School and he scored a 1400 on his SATs. Colleges are still sending him letters at his home, not knowing where he is right now, asking him to apply to college. He told me that he's sorry for what he's done, and he knows that he has to pay a high price for his actions. He's our kid, and he and all the other juveniles on State Road and all the other young people in Philadelphia have to know that we care about them and that there is a future for them here in Philadelphia. We have to show them -- (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: We have to show them all that they do have a future, that 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION they can get a job, that to be a real man or real woman takes responsibility and good behavior, taking care of your own life, to earn a wage and provide for your family. We can reach these kids, and I will not accept that we can leave any of them behind either. I also won't accept that we can leave behind so many of our students in failing schools and that they and their families shouldn't have access to the same opportunities that the kids or the people in this entire hall here today have themselves. Not only is it unfair, but it also holds all of us back. I'm on the phone every day talking to companies, fighting to bring jobs to Philadelphia, and the number one thing that the executives talk with me about is our workforce. If we don't have educated, trained, skilled workers, we will continue to struggle to attract new businesses, grow the companies that we 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION already have, and create the new jobs that our city so desperately needs. We must better educate and train our young people, and that's going to require serious and difficult changes in our school system and in the way in which we provide education here in Philadelphia. I committed on day one that my Administration would work in cooperation with the State, the School Reform Commission, and the School District. And now through the Philadelphia Great Schools Compact, we will turn around the lowest-performing schools in our system, and if they can't be turned around, close or replace them with high-quality alternatives. Reform, restructure, replace. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: Because the alternative is abandoning some children in some schools in some communities, effectively saying that they don't 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION deserve every opportunity that we can give them, whose education somehow must take a back seat to political agendas, historic mismanagement, and the tradition of low expectations, who can be left behind as we try to move this city forward. Well, I'm a public school parent too, and I can't accept that, I won't accept that, and neither should you. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: These two issues - high crime rates in many neighborhoods and too few quality public education options - are holding us back as a city. They stretch the fabric of our society to its breaking point. And this is not some moral or social crusade. This is an economic imperative for our city. We spend one-third of our city budget on our criminal justice complex, one-third of your tax dollars dealing 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION with bad decisions and bad behavior. It's a waste of your money. That money could be better spent on education and after-school programs and libraries and parks and recreation centers and job opportunities. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: If more of our young people went to school, stayed in school, graduated, went on to higher training or college, we'd have less poverty, less crime, more jobs. We'd be able to cut your taxes and, at the same time, generate more revenues to invest in our communities all across Philadelphia. Imagine what the City can be if we changed the mentality of those who think they can carry and use illegal weapons in our neighborhoods and get away with it. Imagine what this city can be if every child, fueled and driven by high expectations, gets a high-quality education in a safe environment, 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION supported and encouraged by their parents and their community. Imagine what the City can be if we continue to attract new companies and new jobs and train our Philadelphians so that they can succeed in these new industries. Imagine what the City could be if we restore to all parts of Philadelphia the values of community, togetherness, respect, and pride that should define our city and that I see in some parts of Philadelphia. This is all within our reach. These are the challenges that we must confront, and we will tackle them. There must be no issue too uncomfortable or too complicated for us to take on, no discussion too awkward or sensitive for us to have. We will say what needs to be said but hasn't been. We will do what needs to be done but hasn't happened. We cannot accept the status 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION quo. This cannot be just how it is. We're bigger than that, we're bolder than that, and we're better than that, Philadelphia. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: And so today I make a pledge, and I ask you to join me in this commitment, that we will focus on the forgotten, we will shine a light on areas of darkness, we will give a voice to those not heard, and that we will continue to build a better Philadelphia to move our city in a positive direction and that we will not leave anyone behind. That, as I said earlier, we must be knit together in this work as one city. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: We must reject this notion of a tale of two cities, a society divided into the rich and the poor, the affluent and the oppressed, the educated and the enslaved. We are not two cities. We must not become two 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION cities. We are one city, one Philadelphia, and we will succeed together as one Philadelphia. Despite enormous challenges over the last few years, we are building our way back, and Philadelphia is undergoing a transformation. My job is to keep pushing us forward, faster and farther, and to make sure that we don't leave anyone behind. This city took a young black boy from West Philadelphia, growing up with his mother and father and sister and grandmother, and found a way to keep him out of trouble and give him the best education possible, even though his family couldn't afford it. It gave him a sense of community, of right and wrong, of the notion that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers. The City introduced that young man to a political leader, John C. Anderson, who would inspire him to 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION dedicate his life to serving others, and ultimately this city allowed that man to serve as the Mayor of his hometown. You didn't leave me behind, and I won't leave any of you behind, not in this city, not now. (Applause.) MAYOR NUTTER: I will spend every waking moment of every day of this new term working with our City Council, working with our state, working with our federal government, working with all of you and all Philadelphians, and fighting for you and fighting for this city each and every day. We're in this together, one city, one Philadelphia, no one left behind. May God bless you. May God bless Philadelphians. May God bless the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, our great city, Philadelphia. Thank you, Philadelphia, so much. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION (Standing ovation.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Mr. Mayor, again, congratulations. I now invite Reverend Terrence Griffith to offer a prayer for the City. REVEREND GRIFFITH: Let's all stand as we honor the Lord. (All guests rise.) REVEREND GRIFFITH: God of our years, God of our silent tears, thou has brought us thus far on our way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light. Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Our Father and our God, we first pause to acknowledge you as a maker and a king. We pay homage to you because you are God and God alone. You change times and seasons, set up kings and depose them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. For this we praise your name and bow in humble submission to your will. We ask your blessings on your servant, Michael Nutter. You have given 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION him another term to lead this great city. Give him the faith of Abraham, the fortitude of Noah, the patience of Moses, the charisma of David, the savvy of Nehemiah, the wisdom of Solomon, the fire of Jeremiah, the fight of Peter, and the compassion of Jesus. As he desires to heal our city, let prayer and the word be his foundation, and instill in him the desire to always seek your face. For City Council we pray. You have tasked them to represent and to speak on behalf of the people. As they deliberate from day to day, may the interest of the people be paramount, not self-interest or special interest, but an interest of the people they were chosen to represent. Give each the courage to stand alone on principle and the decency to say yes for the benefit of Philadelphia. For the Judiciary we pray. May they operate not only by the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION And may they be just, fair, compassionate, merciful, and function free from external influences. We pray, Father, for your blessings on the City Commissioners, Register of Wills, Sheriff, judges of Traffic Court. Bestow your blessings on them. But most of all, God, we pray for Philadelphia. We humble ourselves. We pray. We seek your face. We turn from our wicked ways. Therefore, we ask that you heal our city. Heal the City of gun violence. Heal the land. Heal the City of domestic violence. Heal the land. Heal the City of those who molest our children. Heal the land. Heal the land of hatred. Heal the land. Make Philadelphia that shining city on the hill, where the poor find hope and the homeless shelter, where our children receive quality education and our seniors are respected. We know you can do it. We know 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION it's possible. And so, God, make justice roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Amen.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you, Reverend Griffith. To celebrate the inauguration of the Mayor, the Philadelphia Boys Choir will perform "Lift Every Voice," under the direction of Jeffrey Smith. (Philadelphia Boys Choir performs "Lift Every Voice.") (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. Thank you so much. At this time, the Chair invites the newly elected officials to take the oath of office in the presence of Council, the Mayor and other dignitaries. Would the retention judges of the Common Pleas Court please rise and take the oath 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION of office. The Clerk will read the certificates of the election for the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. CHIEF CLERK: Philadelphia, November 8, 2011, office of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia: Joan A. Brown, Dennis P. Cohen, Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi, Thomas Dempsey, Kevin M. Dougherty, Gary S. Glazer, Elizabeth Jackson, James Murray Lynn, Margaret T. Murphy, Arnold L. New, George W. Overton, Paul P. Panepinto, Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro, Lisa Rau, Robert J. Rebstock, Gregory E. Smith, Albert John Snite, Jr., Earl W. Trent, Jr., and Chris Wogan. You are duly retained Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County for a ten-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Judge Dembe will administer the oath of office. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION JUDGE DEMBE: Please put your left hand on your Bible and raise your right hand. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair now invites the newly elected judges of the Common Pleas Court to please rise and take the oath of office. The Clerk will read the certificates of the election for the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. CHIEF CLERK: Philadelphia, November 8, 2011, office of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia: Diana Anhalt, Charles Ehrlich, Angelo Foglietta, Jonathan Q. Irvine, Vincent L. Johnson, Sean Kennedy, Barbara A. McDermott, Maria McLaughlin, Carolyn H. Nichols and Thomas M. Nocella. You are duly elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County for a ten-year term, commencing the first 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Monday of January, AD 2012. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Judge Dembe will administer the oath of office. JUDGE DEMBE: I hate to tell you, but nobody cheers like that in the courtroom. Please hold your Bible and raise your right hand and repeat after me. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair now invites the retention judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia to stand and take the oath of office. The Clerk will please read the certificate of election for the retention judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. CHIEF CLERK: James M. DeLeon, Thomas F. Gehret, Nazario Jiminez, Jr., 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION William A. Meehan, Jr., Bradley K. Moss, Harvey W. Robbins, David C. Shuter, and Karen Yvette Simmons, at an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly retained Judge of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County for a six-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: In the absence of the President Judge of Municipal Court, Judge Dembe will administer the oath of office. JUDGE DEMBE: Please raise your right hand. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair now invites the newly elected judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia to stand and take the oath of office. The Clerk will please read the 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION certificate of election for the newly elected judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. CHIEF CLERK: Joyce Eubanks and Marvin Williams. (Applause.) CHIEF CLERK: At an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly elected Judge of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County for a six-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Judge Dembe will administer the oath of office. JUDGE DEMBE: We let you watch all the others. Raise your right hand. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. The Traffic Court judges were 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION not able to be with us today, but the Chair would like to recognize and happy that the President Judge of Traffic Court, Thomasine Tynes, joins us. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you for being here. The Chair now invites the City Commissioners to stand as their names are called. They are Anthony Clark, Stephanie Singer, and Al Schmidt. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chief Clerk will read the certificates of the election for the City Commissioners. CHIEF CLERK: Anthony Clark, Stephanie Singer, and Al Schmidt, at an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly elected City Commissioners for the City and County of Philadelphia for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Honorable Dembe will administer the oath 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION of office. JUDGE DEMBE: Please raise your right hand. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair now invites the newly elected Sheriff of Philadelphia, Jewell Williams, to stand and take the -- (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: -- (continued) to stand and take the oath of office. The Clerk will read the certificate of election for the Sheriff of Philadelphia. CHIEF CLERK: Jewell Williams, at an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly elected Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Thank you. The Honorable Pam Dembe will administer the oath of office. JUDGE DEMBE: Please raise your right hand. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE DEMBE: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The Chair now invites Ron Donatucci, Register of Wills, to stand to take his oath of office. The Chief Clerk will read the certificate of election for the Register of Wills. CHIEF CLERK: Ronald Donatucci, at an election held November 8, 2011, you were duly elected Register of Wills for the City and County of Philadelphia for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2012. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. The Honorable Matthew 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION Carrafiello will administer the oath of office. JUDGE CARRAFIELLO: Raise your right hand and repeat after me, please. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE CARRAFIELLO: Congratulations. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. For our final musical selection today, the Philadelphia Boys Choir will perform "America the Beautiful." (Philadelphia Boys Choir performs "America the Beautiful.") (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you so much. That was so inspirational. As we conclude the ceremony, I want to thank the Inaugural Committee for their hard work for today's ceremony. I also want to thank our clergy members for being with us and offering their prayers 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION for us and our city. In Rabbi Henry Cohen's absence, Rabbi Solomon Isaacson will deliver benediction. I ask you all to stand for the prayer. (All guests rise.) RABBI ISAACSON: He didn't call me his Rabbi. I don't know why. City Hall Rabbi, all right. I'll settle for that. You know, I'm so used to hearing all these swearing in's, so how about I, Rabbi Solomon Isaacson, do solemnly ask the Almighty to bless all those that have been elected to these offices and to bless especially the congressional delegation from Washington, who they all work, have worked and, God willing, will work to help to make this a better city for all of us. Just as the Maccabees faced adversity and they overcame tremendous odds to be able to sanctify the holy temple, we ask the Almighty to assist our 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION beloved Mayor, present City Councilmembers, and newly elected members and guide them and give them the wisdom to do what is most beneficial for the citizens of our great city. For our present and newly elected judges, may the Almighty pass on to them the wisdom as he does to preside in a just and fair manner. For the Register of Wills, I say the will of the people is health and happiness. For Traffic Court judges, less tickets. (Applause.) RABBI ISAACSON: And, of course, to my dear friend, the Sheriff, good luck. And now, Hashem, the Almighty, spoke to Moses saying... (Rabbi speaking in Hebrew.) RABBI ISAACSON: Let me see if she can do that in Hebrew. Can you do that in Hebrew? I didn't think so. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION The Almighty said to Moses, Speak to Aaron and his sons saying, so shall you bless -- and I take a little bit of freedom here -- all of us, saying to them, may Hashem, the Almighty, bless you and safeguard you. May Hashem illuminate his continence for you and be gracious to you. May Hashem turn his continence to you and establish peace for you. And let my name be mentioned and used in holiness and sanctification. And let us always remember that the Almighty is in every corner in every room in every place in the world, and when we call upon him, his line is never busy, he's always listening and, God willing, he should always answer you with goodness and health and happiness and success. And, Mr. Mayor, a special blessing to you. It's not easy to be Mayor of our great city. We have various different types of people, as you have well reiterated here. I ask the Almighty 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION to give you special strength that you should be able to oversee and manage this great city with our new President of City Council, his Rabbi, Darrell -- well, John Street called me his Rabbi. Remember that? Anyway, City Hall Rabbi, whatever it is. God bless all. (Applause.) CHIEF CLERK: Will you all please remain standing as the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments and the Prison Honor Guards remove the colors. (The removal of colors.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you so much. Before I call for an adjournment, I just want to say two quick things. To my colleagues, as we travel around, I'm sure you've heard, there are some extremely high expectations of us. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION But I know that we're going to fulfill them, because I know all of -- I've gotten to know all of you and I've known some of you for a long time. I'm really excited about what we're going to be able to do. We're going to help this Mayor in every possible way. Every now and then we will disagree, but we will disagree on the substance of the issue and it will not be personal. So, Mayor, I just want to say this Council is ready and willing to work with you. We're going to give you a 115 percent. MAYOR NUTTER: Thank you. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: And last, for those of you who do not have lunch reservations anywhere, we will be feeding people up in City Hall. We have a reception with some good food and some music. So if you just walk right up and go to City Hall, we hopefully can join you there. 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION With that, Councilwoman Brown, I'd like to recognize you. COUNCILWOMAN BROWN: Thank you, Mr. President. I move that City Council stand adjourned until Thursday, January 26th, 2012. (Duly seconded.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, January 26th, 2012. All in favor? (Aye.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The ayes have it, and this Council stands adjourned until Thursday, January 26th, 2012. Thank you all very much. (Applause.) MR. HENDERSON: Thank you to all newly elected, incumbent, and 1/2/12 - INAUGURATION retained City officials. And thank you, Philadelphia, for being in attendance today. I'm Doug Henderson. Have a very Happy New Year and a prosperous 2012. (Proceedings adjourned at 12:02 p.m.) - - - CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on January 2, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. -------------------- MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.) ..End