Communication 240002

..title COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING The Met Philadelphia 858 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 2, 2024 10:20 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK F. SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK - - - 2 1 1/2/24 INAUGURATION - STATED MEETING 2 - - - 3 MR. TALIAFERRO: Ladies and 4 gentlemen, please be seated. Welcome 5 to the investiture of members of 6 Council, the organization of the City 7 Council, the inauguration of the 8 Honorable Cherelle L. Parker as 9 Mayor, and the investiture of members 10 of the Judiciary, and City 11 Commissioners, Sheriff, Register of 12 Wills and City Controller. 13 We ask that you please turn 14 off all cellular phones and 15 electronic devices for the remainder 16 of the ceremony. Thank you. 17 At this time, I'm going to 18 ask that you will please rise and bow 19 your heads for the invocation given 20 by the Reverend Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler 21 of the Bethel A.M.E. Church. 22 REVEREND TYLER: Let us pray. 23 Good morning, God. As we 24 gather for this auspicious occasion 25 this morning, reminded of the words 3 1 of Mrs. Elizabeth Willing Powel, wife 2 of Philadelphia's first post- 3 Revolutionary War Mayor. Mrs. Powel, 4 had she been born in yet another 5 time, being the daughter of a Mayor 6 and the brother of another Mayor may 7 have been a Mayor herself, and yet 8 though she was denied that 9 opportunity, her words echoed down 10 through the question asked of 11 Benjamin Franklin at the closing of 12 the Constitutional Convention held in 13 this City. Mr. Franklin, do we have 14 a republic or a monarchy? A 15 republic, he responded, if you can 16 keep it. 17 We pray this morning not 18 necessarily for the nation but for 19 this City that celebrates the fact 20 that this is a republic, that this is 21 a democracy and yet if it is to be 22 true to the words on the paper, it 23 will only be so if we as he said, 24 fight together to keep it. 25 But first, we pray this 4 1 morning for our incoming Mayor and 2 her cabinet. We pray for our 3 incoming City Council and their 4 President. We pray for members of 5 the Judiciary, newly-elected and 6 retained. We pray for the City 7 Commissioners, for the Sheriff, the 8 Register of Wills, the City 9 Controller and all of those who will 10 be appointed to work side-by-side 11 with them. 12 And yet we recognize that 13 praying for them is not enough if we 14 want to keep this democracy. We now 15 pray for ourselves. We pray that we 16 remember the casting of votes to help 17 elect someone is not the end of our 18 responsibility but only the beginning 19 if we as a city are to succeed. 20 We come to pray that our 21 words that we expressed in protest 22 marches, that these are our streets 23 will be more than just slogans and 24 will show up not just for 25 demonstrations but for hearings and 5 1 public meetings and for zoning 2 commission gatherings. 3 We pray that we'll hold fast 4 this democracy that's government of 5 the people, by the people and for the 6 people because all of us, elected and 7 not, will do our part. And less we 8 fret, that the problems that 9 Philadelphia faces are too big for 10 all of us together. We are not the 11 first brothers and sisters, siblings 12 to face broken-down, burned-out walls 13 and rubble. 14 The Bible that I preach from 15 reminds me of a similar time as our 16 own and the Prophet Nehemiah was 17 appointed to rebuild a broken-down, 18 burned-out wall. But Mayor Nehemiah 19 knew he couldn't do it alone so he 20 encouraged the people to work 21 together. And side-by-side artists, 22 skilled laborers, bakers, people who 23 just worked in their homes all 24 gathered together to rebuild the 25 wall. And the wall went back up 6 1 because the people had a mind to 2 work. 3 Give us now God a mind to 4 work as we support our elected 5 officials. And fill us each with 6 holy imagination that will wash away 7 pessimism, doubt and despair. Help 8 us to see a bold new vision of 9 Philadelphia and what is possible as 10 we begin and finish building this 11 wall together. And let it be said of 12 us as it was said in Nehemiah's day 13 when they finished the wall that 14 there were no gaps left in it. 15 Help us to close the gap 16 together, the gap of drug addiction, 17 the gap of gun violence, the gap of 18 income disparity, the gap of racial 19 disparity, the gender gap, the gender 20 identity gap, the gentrification gap, 21 the health care gap, the gap between 22 housed and unhoused, the gap that 23 prevents those with disabilities from 24 fully accessing everything our city 25 has to offer. 7 1 Oh God, use us to close the 2 mass incarceration gap. Let us even 3 close the trash gap that has too many 4 neighborhoods living with mountains 5 of trash on the corners that depress 6 the spirit of the residents and the 7 neighbors. Fill us with holy 8 imagination to see a city that is 9 safe for all residents to walk down 10 whether you're in Center City or out 11 in the neighborhoods. 12 And when we meet the 13 naysayers that will tell the Mayor, 14 that will tell the Council, that will 15 tell others that we can't do it, 16 there's not enough to go around, 17 remind us that you are still the God 18 who sits high and looks low, that you 19 are still the God with a cattle on a 20 thousand hills. 21 You're still the God that 22 will supply all our needs. You're 23 still the God with all things are 24 possible. And so, God, fill us in 25 this way that when we are finished 8 1 working on the wall, that we will 2 have a city of opportunity that works 3 not for some but that works for all. 4 It's in the name of Jesus 5 that I pray and ask it all, let it be 6 so. 7 MR. TALIAFERRO: Ladies and 8 gentlemen, please remain standing as 9 the Philadelphia Police and Fire 10 Departments and the Prison guards 11 present the colors while the Girard 12 Academic Music Program Concert Choir 13 leads us in singing the National 14 Anthem. The choir is directed by 15 Dominique DeSilva. 16 (Colors are presented and the 17 National Anthem sung.) 18 (Applause.) 19 MR. TALIAFERRO: Ladies and 20 gentlemen, we would ask that you 21 please remain standing as the Boys 22 Latin of Philadelphia Brothers In 23 Song perform the "Black National 24 Anthem." The choir is directed by 25 Renard Golden. 9 1 (Brief recess.) 2 MR. TALIAFERRO: We apologize 3 for this moment of technical 4 difficulty. You may gratefully take 5 your seats. 6 And now, ladies and 7 gentlemen, once again we would ask 8 that you would please make welcome 9 the Boys Latin of Philadelphia 10 Brothers In Song choir as they 11 perform the "Black National Anthem." 12 The choir is directed by Renard 13 Golden. 14 (The Boys Latin of 15 Philadelphia Brothers in Song 16 performs.) 17 (Applause.) 18 MR. TALIAFERRO: Ladies and 19 gentlemen, you may once again be 20 seated. 21 And now we would ask that you 22 would please help us to welcome City 23 Council President Darrell L. Clarke 24 to the podium. 25 (Applause.) 10 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 2 Interesting day and a great day. So 3 first of all, I want to thank 4 everyone for being here today in a 5 historic venue, a venue where we will 6 recognize a historic moment. For the 7 last time for me I would like to 8 welcome you to the 5th Councilmanic 9 District. 10 Today one of our special 11 guests we have joining us on the 12 stage, the Honorable Marcia Fudge, 13 Lieutenant Governor Austin A. Davis, 14 Senator Bob Casey, U.S. 15 Representative Brendan Boyle, U.S. 16 Representative Dwight Evans, U.S. 17 Representative Mary Kay Scanlon, 18 State Senator Anthony H. Williams, 19 State Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, also 20 Speaker of the House, State Rep. 21 Jordan A. Harris, State Rep. Regina 22 Young, Former U.S. Representative Bob 23 Brady and Former Councilwoman Marian 24 Tasco and Coun -- affectionately 25 known to us as The Boss, former 11 1 Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown 2 and Senator Vincent Hughes, also 3 former, current, I'm not quite sure, 4 Mayor James A. Kenney -- F. Kenney, 5 we'll see in a moment and former 6 Mayor John F. Street and former Mayor 7 W. Wilson Goode. Members of the 8 Judiciary, the Honorable Timika Lane, 9 the Honorable Lydia Kirkland, the 10 Honorable Nina Wright Padilla, the 11 Honorable Patrick Dugan, the 12 Honorable Carolyn H. Nichols and the 13 Honorable John Sabatina, Jr. 14 And our Clergy members: 15 Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, and thank 16 you, Reverend, for the spirited 17 prayer this morning and Bishop James 18 Darrell Robinson, Reverend Bonnie 19 Camarda, Amir Qasim Rashad, Rabbi 20 Solomon Isaacson, Reverend Joseph 21 Kelley, Archbishop Nelson Perez and 22 Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller and the 23 Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer. 24 Also, wish to acknowledge 25 elected officials joining us today in 12 1 the audience. The members of the 2 Honorary Inaugural Committee and the 3 Co-Chairs of the Inaugural Committee: 4 Dawn Chavous, also soon to be known 5 as the First Lady, Leo Addimando, 6 Reverend James A. Lovette, Ronald 7 Martin, Marian B. Tasco, Garrett 8 Snider, Gladys James and Tonyelle 9 Cook-Artis. 10 I now invite Bishop James 11 Darrell Robinson of Yesha Ministries, 12 the Reverend Bonnie Camarda, Director 13 of Partnerships of the Salvation 14 Army, Amir Qasim Rashad of the United 15 Muslim Masjid and Rabbi Solomon 16 Isaacson of Congregation Beth Solomon 17 to offer a unity prayer for the City. 18 Ladies and gentlemen, please 19 stand for the Unity Prayer for our 20 city. 21 BISHOP ROBINSON: As we stand 22 here united by the purpose of God's 23 grace through many dangers, toils and 24 snares we have already come, it's 25 God's grace that has brought us safe 13 1 thus far and his grace will lead us 2 home. We're grateful to a mighty God 3 for this opportunity to pray and to 4 come together in unity. 5 We come from different 6 faiths, but we believe in a God that 7 brings all mankind together. The 8 Bible says how good and how pleasant 9 it is for brethren to dwell together 10 in unity. This is an awesome time 11 that this City can be unified around 12 this great Administration that's 13 coming in. 14 And so, we thank God for his 15 grace. We thank God for his mercy. 16 We thank God because we trust him and 17 that he's able to do exceedingly, 18 abundantly above all that we could 19 ask or think. The Bible declares 20 that he is the king of glory. And 21 so, we give God thanks and we believe 22 that if we come together like this 23 and we give God the praise that 24 belongs to him, whatever your faith 25 traditionally is, wherever you're 14 1 from, whatever church, mosque, 2 synagogue, let's take a moment right 3 now and give God the best praise we 4 can give him. 5 Because of him we're here and 6 we thank God for all that he's doing. 7 The word of God says the book of 8 Malachi proclaims that have we not 9 all one Father. Have not one God 10 created us. And so, we pray for the 11 unity that Jesus prayed. He said, 12 Father, make them one even as we are 13 one. And we pray this prayer in the 14 name of Jesus. Amen. 15 (Amen.) 16 MR. RASHAD: I guess I'm 17 next. As-Salaam-Alaikum. 18 (Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.) 19 MR. RASHAD: The prayers and 20 peace be upon you, his blessings and 21 his mercy in this 2024 calendar year. 22 I bear witness there's no God, 23 nothing, no deity worthy of worship 24 except Almighty God, and I bear 25 witness that Muhammad is his 15 1 messenger. Our unity prayer for the 2 City today is that we all come 3 together as one Philadelphia to make 4 transformational changes that 5 positively impacts our city and 6 improves the quality of life for all 7 working class people. 8 As we begin this new year, we 9 pray for peace in our city, our 10 country and across the world. We 11 pray for the poor and suffering, 12 people of this city who have suffered 13 poverty and social injustice. We 14 pray for the poor and the oppressed 15 who have suffered the violence of war 16 in Africa, in the Ukraine and in 17 Gaza. Salaam-Alaikaum. Ameen. 18 REVEREND CAMARDA: Let us 19 continue in the spirit of prayer. 20 (Spanish translation). We ask God to 21 grant every person under the sound of 22 our voice wisdom, patience and 23 understanding. And we ask God to 24 protect our leaders and our city. 25 Blessed all the newly-elected and 16 1 reinstated officials who have chosen 2 the life of public service to focus 3 on the needs of its people who 4 collected to serve. (Spanish 5 translation). 6 Thank you Lord because we are 7 united in prayer. We are one no 8 matter where we come from, no matter 9 what type of background we have, no 10 matter what religion. Father, I pray 11 that you will make us one. Thank you 12 for this opportunity. In the name of 13 Jesus, and the people say Amen. And 14 the people say? 15 (Amen.) 16 RABBI ISAACSON: You know, 17 when I looked at the invitation and I 18 saw my name at the bottom, I figured 19 everybody would be happy to see me 20 because they would know the program 21 was over, but then I realized that I 22 didn't read it right. 23 First, let me read what they 24 wrote here. We ask God to grant 25 every person -- no, we pray that all 17 1 obstacles and barriers that would 2 keep our leaders from working 3 together are removed. We pray that 4 individuals choose to show love 5 instead of hate, to exude forgiveness 6 instead of vengeance and to show 7 compassion instead of cruelty. 8 I want to take this 9 opportunity to congratulate our new 10 Mayor, which I've known for quite a 11 few years and our new President of 12 City Council, which I've known for 13 many years and the rest of the new 14 Councilmembers and the old 15 Councilmembers, which I've known for 16 many, many years. I've been hanging 17 around City Hall since the mid '70s. 18 Anyway, I would like to say 19 the prayer that the Almighty says in 20 the Bible where he commands Aaron to 21 bless the people of Israel, and I 22 bless you with this prayer. (Hebrew 23 translation.) 24 May God bless you and protect 25 you. May he shine his shine, his 18 1 countenance upon you. May he look at 2 you at all times with favor. May he 3 grant you your blessings and your 4 wishes and your good health, which is 5 very important. (Hebrew 6 translation.) 7 May he always shine his face 8 upon you. May he always smile on 9 you. May he always grant you good 10 health and happiness. May the 11 Almighty bless our new Mayor -- our 12 incoming Mayor because she hasn't 13 been sworn in yet, right, our 14 incoming Mayor and our incoming 15 President of City Council with much 16 health and happiness and success. 17 And I hope and pray that 18 everyone in City Council and City 19 government will work with them 20 together to make this city better 21 than any other city in the country, 22 to make this city a place where 23 people will want to live, where 24 people will die to come to 25 Philadelphia -- not die, but you 19 1 know. 2 (Laughter.) 3 RABBI ISAACSON: May the new 4 Mayor and President of City Council 5 work together with compatriots and 6 build this city so strong that it can 7 withstand bigotry, anti-Semitism, 8 that it can withstand all the things 9 that are wrong in life and make this 10 a city not only that we can be proud 11 of, but that the entire country can 12 be proud of. Amen. 13 (Amen.) 14 (Applause.) 15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 16 Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. You 17 can please be seated. 18 This being the day fixed by 19 the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter 20 for the organization of the Council 21 for the City of Philadelphia the hour 22 has arrived, and we will now proceed 23 with the organization of Council and 24 the investiture of Councilmembers. 25 The first order of business 20 1 will be the election of a temporary 2 Chairperson. Nominations are now in 3 order. 4 And the Chair recognizes 5 Councilmember Thomas. 6 COUNCILMAN THOMAS: Good 7 morning, Council President. Good 8 morning, colleagues. And good 9 morning to the public. 10 Thank you for the 11 recognition, Council President. I 12 proudly nominate Councilmember 13 Katherine Gilmore Richardson. 14 (Applause.) 15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 16 And the Chair now recognizes 17 Councilmember Bass. 18 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Thank 19 you, Mr. President. 20 I second that nomination. 21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 22 Are there any other nominations? 23 (No response.) 24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 25 There being none, the Chair 21 1 recognizes Councilmember Jones. 2 COUNCILMAN JONES: 3 Thank you, Mr. President. I 4 move that the nomination be closed. 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 6 The Chair thanks the gentleman and 7 recognizes Councilwoman Ahmad. 8 COUNCILWOMAN AHMAD: Thank 9 you, Mr. President. I second the 10 motion. 11 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 12 Thank you. 13 All in favor of the motion 14 say aye. 15 (Aye.) 16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 17 Those opposed? 18 (No response.) 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: The 20 ayes have it. And the nominations 21 are closed. 22 There being no further 23 nominations, all in favor of the 24 election of Councilmember Gilmore 25 Richardson will say aye. 22 1 (Aye.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 3 Those opposed? 4 (No response.) 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 6 The ayes have it. And Councilmember 7 Gilmore Richardson has been duly- 8 elected temporary Chairperson. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 11 But before I relinquish this gavel to 12 my colleague Councilmember Gilmore 13 Richardson, you all didn't think I 14 was not going to say a couple of 15 words. I'd just like to just say a 16 couple of words and starting out as 17 the staff person at the 5th 18 Councilmanic District. Let me do 19 this now -- he moved off the table. 20 Well, first of all as I said, 21 good morning everyone, and it's an 22 honor for the final time where I'll 23 host this historic event and we're 24 going to witness a lot of history 25 today. Philadelphia is of course a 23 1 city of historic firsts and we're 2 witnessing a few more of those today. 3 I'm so proud to live in a 4 city, as the Rabbi said, that is 5 constantly working towards a more 6 inclusive democracy, and this stage 7 reflects that today. And before I 8 say anything else, I need to give 9 thanks one final time to the 10 residents of the City of Philadelphia 11 for giving me this awesome, awesome 12 privileged opportunity -- 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: 15 With your passion, your letters, your 16 social media posts, your calls and 17 emails and sometimes your screams, 18 you made me a better public official, 19 and I thank you for that. 20 For everyone on this stage 21 whether this is your first term or 22 you've been here for a little bit, I 23 want to thank you for choosing to 24 serve Philadelphia. In a democracy 25 representing the people is one of the 24 1 most important things that you will 2 ever do in your life, and I really 3 mean that so you should take that 4 seriously. 5 The people have chosen you, a 6 diverse, energetic, passionate and 7 talented group of individuals to 8 bring your expertise and your life 9 experiences to these roles and make 10 decisions that serve their needs. 11 You are educators, scientists, 12 activists, community leaders, 13 business owners who share one common 14 belief, that Philadelphia's best days 15 is still ahead. 16 In my years as an elected 17 official in the City, we've 18 experienced some difficult times. In 19 fact, when I stood on this stage in 20 January 2020 nobody realized that 21 three months from that time that we 22 would be experiencing some very 23 serious challenges, the COVID-19 24 pandemic, social unrest and the 25 resulting economic instability in the 25 1 most unprecedented downturn that 2 we've seen. 3 But like we always do as a 4 city, we found ways to serve each 5 other, to lift each other up, to help 6 the folks who needed assistance, to 7 rebuild, to support local businesses 8 and to work together towards better 9 days. It was a reminder that public 10 service is not only for folks on this 11 stage and people who work in the City 12 jobs. Public service is volunteering 13 to be a block captain. It's 14 organizing a community clean-up. 15 It's volunteering for the Safe 16 Corridors so the neighborhood kids 17 can walk to school safely. 18 It's letting your neighbors 19 know about City programs they may not 20 have heard about like the 21 Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. 22 All right, City Council. It's all 23 that and more. So it's about 24 believing that the City's best days 25 are ahead of us and that you have a 26 1 part to play in getting us there. So 2 everyone in the City has expertise 3 and life experiences that can turn to 4 public service. 5 So find the need in your 6 community and make that connection 7 and help others find the connection 8 to serve. That's how we take our 9 city to the next level and make sure 10 that our success creates 11 opportunities for everyone. It's how 12 we took a historic theater like we're 13 standing in today, and somebody said 14 they wanted to demolish it. But we 15 made it into this awesome venue where 16 the first woman Mayor of this great 17 city will take her oath. 18 So I get to actually announce 19 two family members, Little sister and 20 Little brother. And now, I got to 21 start calling them Big brother and 22 Little sister. To Mayor Parker, 23 Council President Johnson, members of 24 City Council, Commissioners, Judges, 25 Controller, Sheriff, Register and the 27 1 residents of Philadelphia, I wish you 2 all a blessed day. 3 I want to thank you so much 4 again for this awesome opportunity 5 and success and happiness in your 6 service to others, and God bless you 7 all. I really appreciate you. God 8 bless you. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 11 RICHARDSON: Thank you again, Council 12 President Darrell L. Clarke, for 42 13 years of tireless and dedicated 14 service to the great city of 15 Philadelphia. 16 As the next order of 17 business, I appoint Mr. Michael 18 Decker temporary Clerk. 19 At this time, I will remind 20 Bible-holders to please follow the 21 program. We will swear in members of 22 City Council shortly. If you are 23 participating in this part of the 24 program, please make your way to the 25 stage along the aisle on the right 28 1 side of the venue as you face the 2 stage and follow the signs for 3 further direction. Thank you. 4 The next order of business is 5 the filing of the certificates of 6 election. The Clerk will call the 7 roll. I direct the Clerk to call the 8 roll beginning with the 9 Councilmembers-at-large in 10 alphabetical order and then to 11 proceed with the District 12 Councilmembers in order of their 13 District, beginning with the 1st 14 District. 15 CHIEF CLERK: Nina Ahmad. 16 COUNCILWOMAN AHMAD: Present. 17 CHIEF CLERK: Kendra Brooks. 18 COUNCILWOMAN BROOKS: 19 Present. 20 CHIEF CLERK: Katherine 21 Gilmore Richardson. 22 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 23 RICHARDSON: Present. 24 CHIEF CLERK: Jim Harrity. 25 COUNCILMAN HARRITY: Present. 29 1 CHIEF CLERK: Rue Landau. 2 COUNCILWOMAN LANDAU: 3 Present. 4 CHIEF CLERK: Nicolas 5 O'Rourke. 6 COUNCILMAN O'ROURKE: 7 Present. 8 CHIEF CLERK: Isaiah Thomas. 9 COUNCILMAN THOMAS: Present. 10 CHIEF CLERK: Mark Squilla. 11 COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Present. 12 CHIEF CLERK: Kenyatta 13 Johnson. 14 COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Present. 15 CHIEF CLERK: Jamie Gauthier. 16 COUNCILWOMAN GAUTHIER: 17 Present. 18 CHIEF CLERK: Curtis Jones, 19 Jr. 20 COUNCILMAN JONES: Present. 21 CHIEF CLERK: Jeffrey Young, 22 Jr. 23 COUNCILMAN YOUNG: Present. 24 CHIEF CLERK: Mike Driscoll. 25 COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL: 30 1 Present. 2 CHIEF CLERK: Quetcy Lozada. 3 COUNCILWOMAN LOZADA: 4 Present. 5 CHIEF CLERK: Cindy Bass. 6 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Present. 7 CHIEF CLERK: Anthony 8 Phillips. 9 COUNCILMAN PHILLIPS: 10 Present. 11 CHIEF CLERK: Brian O'Neill. 12 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Present. 13 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 14 Gilmore Richardson, a quorum of the 15 members-elect is present and I have 16 in my possession certificates of 17 election from the County Board of 18 Elections in Philadelphia indicating 19 their election on November 7, 2023 20 for a term of four years, commencing 21 on the first Monday of January 2024. 22 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 23 RICHARDSON: The investiture of 24 members of Council will now proceed. 25 The members-elect will rise to take 31 1 the oath of office, which will be 2 administered by the Honorable Timika 3 Lane, Judge of the Pennsylvania 4 Superior Court. 5 (Applause.) 6 JUDGE LANE: Place your left 7 hand on the Bible and raise your 8 right hand and repeat after me. 9 (Oath of office 10 administered.) 11 JUDGE LANE: Congratulations. 12 (Applause.) 13 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 14 RICHARDSON: The next order of 15 business is the election of a 16 President of City Council for the 17 City of Philadelphia to serve for 18 four years, commencing January 2nd, 19 2024. 20 Nominations are now in order. 21 The Chair recognizes Councilmember 22 Lozada. 23 COUNCILWOMAN LOZADA: I 24 proudly and with great honor nominate 25 Kenyatta Johnson. 32 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 3 RICHARDSON: Thank you. 4 At this time, the Chair 5 recognizes Councilmember Phillips. 6 COUNCILMAN PHILLIPS: Madam 7 Chair, I second the nomination. 8 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 9 RICHARDSON: Are there any further 10 nominations? 11 (No response.) 12 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 13 RICHARDSON: Hearing none, the Chair 14 now recognizes Councilmember Bass. 15 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Thank 16 you, Madam Chair. I move the 17 nominations be closed. 18 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 19 RICHARDSON. Thank you, Councilmember 20 Bass. 21 The Chair now recognizes 22 Councilmember Landau. 23 COUNCILWOMAN LANDAU: Madam 24 Chair, I second the motion. 25 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 33 1 RICHARDSON: It has been moved and 2 properly seconded that the 3 nominations be closed. 4 All in favor of the motion 5 will signify by stating aye. 6 (Aye.) 7 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 8 RICHARDSON: Those opposed? 9 (No response.) 10 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 11 RICHARDSON: The ayes have it and the 12 motion is carried. 13 There being no further 14 nominations, all those in favor of 15 the election of the Honorable 16 Kenyatta Johnson as President of City 17 Council -- 18 (Applause.) 19 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 20 RICHARDSON: -- will say aye. 21 (Aye.) 22 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 23 RICHARDSON: Those opposed? 24 (No response.) 25 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 34 1 RICHARDSON: The ayes have it. 2 However, the temporary Clerk will 3 call the roll. 4 CHIEF CLERK: Councilwoman 5 Ahmad. 6 COUNCILWOMAN AHMAD: Aye. 7 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 8 Bass. 9 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Aye. 10 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 11 Brooks. 12 COUNCILWOMAN BROOKS: Aye. 13 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 14 Driscoll. 15 COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL: Aye. 16 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 17 Gauthier. 18 COUNCILWOMAN GAUTHIER: Aye. 19 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 20 Gilmore Richardson. 21 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 22 RICHARDSON: Aye. 23 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 24 Harrity. 25 COUNCILMAN HARRITY: Aye. 35 1 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 2 Jones. 3 COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye. 4 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 5 Landau. 6 COUNCILWOMAN LANDAU: Aye. 7 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 8 Lozada. 9 COUNCILWOMAN LOZADA: Aye. 10 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 11 O'Neill. 12 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye. 13 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 14 O'Rourke. 15 COUNCILMAN O'ROURKE: Aye. 16 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 17 Phillips. 18 COUNCILMAN PHILLIPS: Aye. 19 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 20 Squilla. 21 COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Aye. 22 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 23 Thomas. 24 COUNCILMAN THOMAS: Aye. 25 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 36 1 Young. 2 COUNCILMAN YOUNG: Aye. 3 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 4 RICHARDSON: The ayes are -- 5 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 6 Johnson. 7 COUNCILMAN JOHNSON: Aye. 8 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 9 RICHARDSON: Okay. Got to vote for 10 yourself. 11 The ayes are 17. The nays 12 are 0. Councilmember Kenyatta 13 Johnson having been unanimously 14 chosen by the members of Philadelphia 15 City Council, I declare that 16 Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson is the 17 duly-elected President of this body. 18 (Applause.) 19 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 20 RICHARDSON: I appoint Councilmembers 21 Squilla, Thomas, Bass and Lozada to 22 escort Council President Johnson to 23 the rostrum. Joining the Council 24 President at the rostrum will be his 25 wife Dawn Chavous and his two sons 37 1 Isaiah Mandela and Elijah Kwame 2 Johnson. 3 The oath of office will be 4 administered by the Honorable Timika 5 Lane, Judge of the Pennsylvania 6 Superior Court. 7 JUDGE LANE: Place your left 8 hand on the Bible and raise your 9 right hand and repeat after me. 10 (Oath of office 11 administered.) 12 JUDGE LANE: Congratulations. 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 15 RICHARDSON: It is now my humble 16 honor and privilege to present to you 17 the President of City Council, the 18 Honorable Kenyatta Johnson. 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 Good morning, everyone. 21 (Good morning.) 22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 23 Good morning and Happy New Year. I 24 want to thank everyone for being here 25 today for this very exciting historic 38 1 occasion. I want to first thank my 2 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is 3 the anchor in my life. 4 Before I share with you my 5 vision and focus as the new leader of 6 City Council, I want to take a moment 7 to acknowledge a few people starting 8 with the love of my life, the wind 9 beneath my wings, the joy of my soul, 10 my beautiful wife Dawn Chavous. 11 (Applause.) 12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 13 want to publicly thank Dawn for her 14 unconditional love, encouragement and 15 support. I also want to thank her 16 for always having my back and 17 graciously dealing with the 18 sacrifices and challenges that come 19 along with marrying a public servant. 20 I love you, babe. 21 (Applause.) 22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 23 Although I love this City and I love 24 being a public servant, my first job 25 is that of being a father. I want to 39 1 acknowledge my two young kings, 2 Isaiah Mandela and Elijah Kwame, who 3 always keep me grounded as a dad. I 4 am always prioritizing the time I 5 spend with them, whether it's 6 dropping them off to school, going to 7 basketball practice at the Christian 8 Street YMCA, basketball and soccer 9 games with the Mary Anderson 10 Monarchs, musical lessons at the 11 Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz 12 Performing Arts or just making it 13 home for dinner and hanging out 14 playing Madden Football on the PS5. 15 Yes, they have a busy schedule. I am 16 so proud of my boys and honored to be 17 their father. 18 Dawn and I also are grateful 19 to have a tight network of support, 20 including our parents: Ronald 21 Martin; Robert, Big Bob, Chavous; 22 Barbara Chavous-Pennock and David 23 Pennock; our nieces; nephews; 24 extended family members; our church 25 families and very close friends who 40 1 are here with us today. It 2 definitely takes a village of support 3 when you live a life of a public 4 servant and are also raising young 5 children, and we are grateful for 6 ours. Thank you. 7 (Applause.) 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 9 must also acknowledge the late Hardy 10 Williams, a former Pennsylvania State 11 Representative and Senator, who was 12 my political mentor. 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Hardy Williams was the co-founder of 16 the Black Political Forum and is 17 considered by many to be the 18 Godfather of Black independent 19 politics in Philadelphia. He paved 20 the way for so many people who have 21 served in public office, including 22 me. 23 I want to thank his son, 24 Senator Anthony Hardy Williams -- 25 (Applause.) 41 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 2 -- who continued in his father's 3 footsteps in believing in the power 4 of young people. Senator Williams 5 have mentored and provided a pathway 6 to politics and a life of public 7 service for the likes of Pennsylvania 8 House of Appropriations Majority 9 Chair Jordan Harris, State 10 Representative Regina Young, 11 Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge 12 Timika Lane, and the first female 13 speaker of the Pennsylvania General 14 Assembly, the Honorable Joanna 15 McClinton. 16 (Applause.) 17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 18 Tony, your dad is smiling down on you 19 today with a sense of pride and joy. 20 Thank you, Big Bro, for always 21 believing in me, having my back and 22 pushing me to be great. 23 I also want to take a moment 24 to acknowledge my former Professor 25 when I attended the University of 42 1 Pennsylvania Fels School of 2 Government, the outgoing Mayor Jim 3 Kenney for his eight-tenure as 4 Mayor -- 5 (Applause.) 6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 7 -- and 23 years of service as an 8 At-large member of City Council. 9 During Mayor Kenney's tenure, I 10 admired how he boldly decided to make 11 rebuilding our parks, playgrounds and 12 recreation centers a cornerstone of 13 his agenda, because all children and 14 families deserve high-quality 15 amenities regardless of their 16 neighborhood. 17 He also made sure that 18 thousands of children had access to 19 high-quality PreK to set them on a 20 path of academic achievement as a 21 means to combat poverty. Mayor 22 Kenney, thank you for your service 23 for the 1.6 million Philadelphians 24 who live in our city and thank you 25 for your friendship. 43 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 3 also want to take a moment to express 4 my sincere gratitude and appreciation 5 to my other big brother, the now 6 Former 5th District Councilmember and 7 City Council President Darrell 8 Clarke. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 11 want to thank Council President 12 Clarke for his service to the City of 13 Philadelphia. Council President 14 Clarke served the residents of the 15 5th Council District for 24 years, 12 16 as Council President. I want to 17 publicly thank you for your wisdom 18 and support throughout your tenure. 19 I remember that while I was 20 serving as a State Representative we 21 discussed the possibility of me 22 joining you in City Council. You 23 talked passionately about how City 24 Hall is where the rubber meets the 25 road and when it comes to improving 44 1 neighborhoods. We also talked about 2 the immediate and transformative 3 impact I can have on the constituents 4 of the 2nd Council District. Thank 5 you, Council President Clarke, for 6 your friendship and dedicated service 7 to our city. 8 Also, retiring from City 9 government today is now former 10 At-large Councilmember Sharon Vaughn. 11 Councilmember Vaughn -- give my 12 sister a round of applause. 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Councilmember Vaughn served this 16 legislative body with distinction 17 during her short term in office. 18 During Councilmember Vaughn's tenure, 19 she led the effort to hold Council 20 hearings on the embarrassing 21 conditions of the Philadelphia Prison 22 System after several inmates escaped 23 from State Road. As a result, 24 changes are now being made to the 25 prison system due to her efforts. 45 1 Thank you, Sharon, for your service 2 and dedication to the City of 3 Philadelphia. 4 In a few minutes we will 5 witness history and swear in the 6 Honorable Cherelle Parker, the 100th 7 Mayor and first woman to hold this 8 office in our city's history. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 We have worked together for years in 12 the Pennsylvania General Assembly as 13 well as in City Council. My fellow 14 City Councilmembers and I look 15 forward to working with you to make 16 Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, 17 greenest city in America with 18 economic opportunity for all. 19 Did I get that right, 20 Cherelle? 21 MAYOR PARKER: (Nodded 22 affirmatively.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 24 Madam Mayor, with your passion and 25 commitment for change and your can-do 46 1 attitude, there is a new sense of 2 hope and optimism to transform 3 Philadelphia into one of the most 4 economically, viable and greatest 5 cities not just in this nation but in 6 the world. I'm looking forward to us 7 rolling up our sleeves and working 8 together to take the City of 9 Philadelphia to the next level. 10 Now, at times my colleagues 11 and I will disagree with Mayor Parker 12 on important issues facing our city. 13 However, disagreements and compromise 14 are a natural part of the legislative 15 process. Astute politicians 16 recognize that good effective 17 leadership means we will agree more 18 than we disagree. 19 I recognize at this moment in 20 the history of Philadelphia it is too 21 important to squander over the 22 politics of personalities and 23 personal agendas. We have an 24 opportunity to do something special 25 as we improve the quality of life for 47 1 all Philadelphians. 2 While City Council is an 3 independent-elected body, my 4 colleagues and I will work every day 5 to seek opportunities, a partnership 6 with not only the Mayor, but anybody 7 willing to work with us to help move 8 our great city forward. There is 9 nothing that we as Philadelphians 10 cannot do when we all work together. 11 As I embark upon this new 12 role as Council President, I want to 13 say sincerely and humbly, thank you 14 to the 16 members of City Council for 15 believing in me, trusting me and for 16 having faith in my ability to lead 17 this body into a new day. 18 Colleagues, you have my word 19 that I will represent this body with 20 fidelity and professionalism. I will 21 always have your back and govern in a 22 just and fair manner. I make this 23 same pledge to all the citizens of 24 Philadelphia. This new year is a 25 dawn of a new era in a very exciting 48 1 time in the City of Philadelphia, an 2 era filled with hope and infinite 3 possibilities. 4 On the stage today, we have 5 one of the most diverse and inclusive 6 City Council bodies in the history of 7 Philadelphia. 8 (Applause.) 9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: A 10 third of our body are new members and 11 will be serving for the first time. 12 Our diversity is our strength. And 13 in the birthplace of democracy it 14 truly exemplifies a governmental body 15 where all citizens can have their 16 voices, issues and concerns heard. 17 This morning I would like to 18 share my vision with City Council 19 with you. As Council President, 20 there are five major areas of focus 21 that will shape the agenda that I 22 plan to work on with my fellow 23 Council colleagues, Mayor Parker and 24 Philadelphia over the next four 25 years. 49 1 I will start with one of the 2 most important issues facing our city 3 today, gun violence. Laron Williams, 4 Nikolette Rivera, Devin Weedon, 5 Da'Juan Brown, Kaylin Johnson. These 6 are just a few of the names of 7 children who have lost their lives to 8 gun violence in our city. Yes, the 9 homicide and shooting numbers have 10 gone down from last year to this 11 year, but I am no way celebrating. 12 It means that what we are 13 doing is working, but it's not 14 enough. We must do more and we will 15 do more. Each one of the young 16 people I named will never grow old, 17 never have a family of their own and 18 their families, who have been 19 impacted by this senseless gun 20 violence, will be affected by their 21 tragic loss for the rest of their 22 lives. 23 I'm sharing this with you 24 because we can no longer desensitize 25 or normalize this behavior. As long 50 1 as I have breath in my lungs, I will 2 continue to fight and advocate for 3 solutions until the epidemic of gun 4 violence is totally eliminated and we 5 create a city of peace, not guns. 6 (Applause.) 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 8 We can continue this downward trend 9 of murders and shootings in our city 10 this year and in the future, but we 11 all must work together, elected 12 officials, community leaders, 13 business leaders, the District 14 Attorney and, yes, the police 15 department as well to achieve this 16 goal. 17 I am looking forward to 18 supporting the men and women of the 19 Philadelphia Police Department, and 20 my good friend new Police 21 Commissioner Kevin Bethel. I had the 22 great opportunity to work in the 23 trenches with Commissioner Bethel 24 when he served as Captain of the 17th 25 Police District working every day to 51 1 keep guns out of the hands of our 2 young people. 3 I also want to take a moment 4 to just acknowledge to our Mayor 5 Cherelle Parker. That was an 6 outstanding choice for Police 7 Commissioner. Give her a real big 8 round of applause. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 11 also look forward to continuing a 12 partnership with the Philadelphia 13 District Attorney's Office and the 14 Pennsylvania Attorney General's 15 Office, which administers the Gun 16 Violence Task Force to go after 17 traffickers in our city. Those who 18 flood our streets with illegal guns 19 must know that there is no place that 20 they can hide anymore. 21 City government must also 22 work and partner with victim services 23 organizations like Mothers In Charge, 24 Every Murder is Real, Moms United by 25 Agencies and other agencies to 52 1 support victims and co-victims of gun 2 violence to make our city safer. 3 These groups work day-in and day-out 4 to support mothers and fathers and 5 families who have been impacted by 6 gun violence. 7 We must make sure their 8 voices are heard. We also have to 9 continue investing in violence 10 prevention initiatives that are 11 results-driven, which means that our 12 most valuable assets which are our 13 boots-on-the-ground organizations 14 like NOMO, The Young Chances 15 Foundation, Unity in the Community, 16 the Father's Day Rally Committee and 17 the Fathership Foundation are 18 supported and have a seat at the 19 table as we strategize to create a 20 safer city. 21 As Council President, I will 22 work with my colleagues and others to 23 spread a citywide message of peace, 24 not guns. We must make investing in 25 our youth a priority through public 53 1 policy, focusing on addressing their 2 trauma, mental health and the post- 3 traumatic stress disorder they are 4 experiencing as a result of living in 5 neighborhoods with severe gun 6 violence. 7 Former First Lady Michelle 8 Obama once said, "There is nothing 9 more important to this nation's 10 future than investing in our young 11 people." If we cannot protect our 12 young people from the dangers of gun 13 violence, then we have failed as a 14 city. As we examine this issue of 15 crime and gun violence in our city, 16 we must recognize that unless we 17 address the core underlying symptoms, 18 Kendra Brooks, which is poverty in 19 the years and years of disinvestments 20 in Black and Brown neighborhoods, we 21 will continue to be on this 22 never-ending cycle in Philadelphia. 23 (Applause.) 24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 25 And the neighborhoods where we see 54 1 the highest levels of gun violence, 2 Jamie, and violent crime, you also 3 see high rates of poverty. We must 4 break the cycle and that starts today 5 with this new City Council and our 6 new Mayor because it's a new day. 7 (Applause.) 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 9 want to take a moment, a personal 10 moment, to thank City Councilmember 11 Curtis Jones for his years of work on 12 this issue. 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 He's been Council's Chairman of the 16 Public Safety Committee for years and 17 I'm proud of the work we've 18 accomplished together during my years 19 as a member of the Committee under 20 his leadership. Back in September, 21 he held the blueprint for a Safer 22 Philadelphia Crime Summit at 23 St. Joe's University. 24 I would be remiss if I also 25 didn't acknowledge and thank 55 1 Councilman Dwight Evans who 2 established the foundation and 3 created the original blueprint for a 4 Safer Philadelphia. 5 (Applause.) 6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 7 We appreciate his efforts in laying 8 the groundwork many years ago. As a 9 result of the Crime Summit, 10 Councilman Jones hosted last year, he 11 released more than 140 12 recommendations just over two weeks 13 ago. I look forward to working with 14 Councilmember Jones and other members 15 of Council to implement 16 recommendations from the blueprint 17 and continue to collaborate on our 18 shared mission to make Philadelphia a 19 safer city for all of its residents. 20 It's going to take all of us 21 in this room and even those watching 22 online to support this effort. We 23 need to act with a sense of urgency 24 so names can stop being added to the 25 list of children who have lost their 56 1 lives too soon to senseless gun 2 violence. 3 Our second major area of 4 focus is eliminating poverty in our 5 city. Nobody in this room needs to 6 be reminded that Philadelphia has 7 been labeled the poorest big city in 8 the America with a poverty rate that 9 remains above 21 percent, and that's 10 despite steady improvements over the 11 last decade. While our city has seen 12 important signs of economic growth, 13 these gains have not been evenly 14 shared across the City, leading to 15 what many call a tale of two cities. 16 Recent data from the U.S. 17 Census Bureau shows that roughly 1 in 18 8 White households in America 19 experience poverty, but 1 in 4 20 African American households are 21 living below the poverty line. 22 Meanwhile, 33 percent of Hispanic 23 households, the highest of any ethnic 24 group, have incomes below the poverty 25 level. And at the neighborhood 57 1 level, these statistics are just as 2 stark. 3 Any individual Councilmember 4 can illustrate our city's economic 5 divide by looking closely at the 6 different neighborhoods that make up 7 their Districts. We must double-down 8 on our resources and become laser- 9 focused on lifting impoverished 10 neighborhoods out of poverty. 11 We must find ways to put all 12 Philadelphians back to work. No 13 matter your education level or 14 whether you are returning home from 15 incarceration, we must put people 16 back to work. We must erase the 17 stigma -- 18 (Applause.) 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 We must erase the stigma of being the 21 largest big city with the highest 22 poverty rate and become the number 23 one big city in America for economic 24 growth and development. We will 25 achieve this through focusing on 58 1 increasing diversity and inclusion 2 and equitable ownership on 3 City-supported development projects 4 and improving procurement, supplier 5 and professional services 6 opportunities for Black-, Brown- and 7 women-owned businesses. 8 (Applause.) 9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 10 While working in partnership with the 11 diverse Chambers of Commerce, the 12 Building Trades and establishing 13 public and private partnerships in 14 the nonprofit and business sector, it 15 is incumbent upon us as City leaders 16 to understand why our city's growth 17 has not been shared equitably across 18 every community and neighborhood. We 19 must take steps to ensure that every 20 family regardless of their zip code 21 or background has a pathway out of 22 poverty and an opportunity to build 23 generational wealth. 24 (Applause.) 25 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 59 1 Growing our city's economy and 2 creating good-paying, family- 3 sustaining jobs is an important piece 4 of that puzzle. It is critically 5 important that our city puts in the 6 hard work to ensure that every 7 community has access to these 8 opportunities and that every family 9 shares in this prosperity. 10 Many of the issues that I am 11 highlighting today are 12 interconnected. Violence in our city 13 is impacted by poverty. And the 14 effect of poverty is housing 15 insecurity, which is my third area of 16 focus. According to our city's 17 Office of Homelessness, there are 18 currently 4,725 people living without 19 functional housing in our city and 20 will not have a home to go to this 21 evening. That is totally 22 unacceptable. 23 We must continue to 24 acknowledge and confront our housing 25 crisis by addressing the critical 60 1 need for more affordable and 2 workforce housing options and give 3 more funding to programs to help 4 residents prepare and stay in their 5 homes. Thank you, Councilwoman Jamie 6 Gauthier. 7 (Applause.) 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 9 As we focus on equitable development 10 through public policy, we must find a 11 healthy balance between supporting 12 affordable housing and market rate 13 development without the displacement 14 of long-term residents. 15 In the spirit of Council 16 President Darrell Clarke, the City 17 Council's Turn the Key Program, which 18 is on the verge of providing 1,000 19 new homes for first-time homebuyers 20 and my recent Save Our Homes Property 21 Tax Relief Plan, which reduces 22 displacement through making property 23 taxes fairer and more transparent, 24 our initiatives are already having a 25 positive impact on this issue. 61 1 Strategizing and working with 2 the Philadelphia Housing Authority is 3 also key to addressing this crisis. 4 We can do more and we will do more 5 because it's a new day, ladies and 6 gentlemen. 7 (Applause.) 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 9 My fourth area of focus is public 10 education, Councilwoman Katherine 11 Gilmore Richardson and Mr. Chair 12 Isaiah Thomas. We must closely 13 examine our education system and 14 prioritize the needs of students 15 attending PreK through 12th grade 16 schools in Philadelphia to make sure 17 we are striving for excellence and 18 academic achievement and positive 19 experiences and outcomes for all 20 students. 21 To me this means making sure 22 our school buildings are joyful, 23 welcoming and in a safe learning 24 environment that are lead- and 25 asbestos-free as well as ensuring 62 1 that we have safe corridors so 2 students don't have to worry about 3 what may happen to them going to and 4 from school. 5 Now, just take a moment and 6 imagine with me what our city would 7 be like if children could attend 8 school in a gun violence-free 9 environment. We do not need to just 10 imagine it. It is possible for this 11 to become a reality if we are all 12 willing to work together and work 13 with a sense of urgency. 14 Just imagine how students 15 would feel walking into a new clean 16 building that has proper heating and 17 air-conditioning. Addressing many of 18 these issues take resources, which 19 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has, 20 Mr. Chairman of Appropriations Jordan 21 Harris. 22 (Applause.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 24 plan to work diligently with Mayor 25 Parker and members of the 63 1 Pennsylvania House and Senate in 2 Harrisburg to make sure all of our 3 students in Philadelphia have the 4 funding needed to properly educate 5 students in a safe and welcoming, 6 state-of-the-art school building and 7 also ensure that students are able to 8 benefit from a fair funding formula. 9 The inequality of student funding in 10 Pennsylvania is shameful and almost 11 criminal. 12 I want to thank our Governor 13 Josh Shapiro for investing more money 14 in Pennsylvania school districts, but 15 the School District of Philadelphia 16 is still severely underfunded. This 17 is confirmed by the Pennsylvania 18 Commonwealth Court ruling that 19 recently declared Pennsylvania's 20 school funding system is 21 unconstitutional. 22 We need more funding in our 23 public school system, but we also 24 need to make sure we have 25 accountability to ensure increased 64 1 funding will increase academic 2 outcomes for students. We must give 3 our teachers and principles the tools 4 and resources they need to create a 5 culture of academic excellence 6 without having to teach in 7 overcrowded classrooms, purchasing 8 school supplies out of their own 9 pockets and fearing for the safety of 10 their lives and the lives of their 11 students in the backdrop of 12 neighborhoods filled with gun 13 violence. 14 We must also address our 15 truancy crisis. Students need to be 16 in school every day and not hanging 17 at home or in the streets. 18 (Applause.) 19 Councilman Phillips, thank 20 you. Our children and our youth 21 deserve better. And I know working 22 with Mayor Parker and our School 23 Superintendent, Dr. Tony Watlington, 24 we can and will do better. Excuses 25 are not an option. It is a new day 65 1 and we will need to expect and 2 accomplish more for our students. 3 (Applause.) 4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 5 It will take all of us working 6 together to improve public education. 7 We want students to graduate and 8 become productive citizens because 9 students today will become our 10 workforce tomorrow, which leads me to 11 the last major area of focus that I 12 would like to address today. 13 In order to have a thriving 14 economy, we must have a visually 15 strong workforce and an evolving 16 strong and diverse business 17 community. This means we have to 18 drastically improve the way we do 19 business in Philadelphia by creating 20 a much easier, welcoming and 21 user-friendly business environment. 22 We need a tax structure that 23 encourages businesses to move into 24 Philadelphia and most importantly 25 stay in Philadelphia. I hear from 66 1 individuals all the time that it is 2 extremely difficult and frustrating 3 to do business with the City of 4 Philadelphia. 5 Over the next four years, we 6 must not only reform our tax 7 structure and regulatory environment 8 to make our city more 9 business-friendly and economically 10 competitive, we must also evaluate 11 the burden City government puts on 12 businesses and eliminate outdated 13 systems that make it more difficult 14 to do business. 15 (Applause.) 16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 17 We must develop innovative ways to 18 make accessing City services less 19 complicated. I also believe we can 20 find a healthier and fair balance 21 between providing tax relief for 22 businesses while also significantly 23 investing in small businesses which 24 are the bedrock of our economy and 25 our neighborhoods. It is also 67 1 important for us to support Black and 2 Brown female-owned businesses as a 3 way to make sure they are on the same 4 playing field as men. 5 (Applause.) 6 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 7 When supporting small businesses and 8 businesses of color, it allows us to 9 expand our tax base which provides 10 the revenue needed to continue 11 supporting our City's budget 12 priorities. As the President of City 13 Council, I recognize that the 14 creation of a City budget is about 15 the scarce distribution of resources 16 to serve the entire city. But we 17 must create an equitable budget that 18 takes into consideration the issues 19 and concerns of the most vulnerable 20 citizens of Philadelphia. 21 Now, I have laid out an 22 ambitious vision for City Council and 23 Philadelphia over the next four 24 years, but it is a new day and let me 25 hear everyone say it is a new day. 68 1 (It is a new day.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 3 know working together we can get it 4 done and we will get it done. Now, I 5 need to take just a few moments to 6 clear up some misperceptions about me 7 as a person and as a leader as well 8 as address the footnote that is 9 consistently a part of every article 10 written about me and my family. 11 (Applause.) 12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 13 As everyone knows, in recent years my 14 wife Dawn and I went through trials 15 and tribulations that made a lot of 16 people across this region question 17 our integrity. Those were 18 challenging days. But every single 19 day my wife and I got up, held our 20 heads high and continued working and 21 taking care of our family. 22 (Applause.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 24 But most importantly, kept serving 25 the people of Philadelphia. During 69 1 that time, individuals from across 2 the City and state and people from 3 all ethnic races and ethnic 4 backgrounds throughout Philadelphia, 5 including many of my City Council 6 colleagues on this stage today, stood 7 beside us, supported us and prayed 8 for us. 9 They knew our integrity. 10 They knew our work ethic. They knew 11 our heart and they knew our 12 innocence. On November 2nd of 2022, 13 12 women and men saw through the 14 falsehoods and by the grace of God 15 our future is a bright one. 16 (Applause.) 17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 18 This story sounds like something out 19 of a Hollywood script, but it is not. 20 It is a real-life story. It is our 21 real-life story that played out in 22 front of an entire city and world. 23 And at the end of the day, we are 24 here on this stage because of the 25 grace of God. 70 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 We are here on the stage because of 4 the grace of God who I know and 5 believe has ordered our steps. Today 6 14 months later we are still here, 7 still standing stronger than ever and 8 I have the distinct honor of being 9 the new President of the Philadelphia 10 City Council, one of the greatest 11 cities in the world. 12 (Applause.) 13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 14 What a difference a year makes. I 15 have dedicated my entire life to 16 public service. And I say life and 17 not career, because when you do this 18 work for the right reasons which is 19 it to help those in need, it's not 20 just a job. It's the way of life. 21 Despite all of the adversity 22 we have been through, I have never 23 stopped fighting for the citizens of 24 Philadelphia and I never will. This 25 is the type of leader I am. I am 71 1 going to keep showing up. I am going 2 to keep working and together we are 3 going to get the job done. 4 Thank you. Thank you, 5 Philadelphia. Thank you for 6 believing in me. And I just want to 7 say God bless the City of 8 Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly 9 Love and Sisterly Affection. God 10 bless. 11 (Applause.) 12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 13 Thank you. The next order of 14 business is the election of the Chief 15 Clerk of City Council in the City of 16 Philadelphia. The nominations are 17 now in order. 18 And the Chair recognizes 19 Councilman Driscoll. 20 COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL: Thank 21 you, Mr. President. I nominate 22 Mr. Michael Decker. 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 24 The Chair thanks the Councilmember. 25 The Chair recognizes 72 1 Councilmember Young. 2 COUNCILMAN YOUNG: 3 Mr. President, I second the 4 nomination. 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 6 Are there any other further 7 nominations? 8 (No response.) 9 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 10 Hearing none, the Chair recognizes 11 Councilmember Harrity. 12 COUNCILMAN HARRITY: 13 Mr. President, I move the nominations 14 be closed. 15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 16 The Chair recognizes Councilmember 17 Brooks. 18 COUNCILWOMAN BROOKS: 19 Mr. President, I second that motion. 20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 21 It has been moved and properly 22 seconded that the nominations are 23 closed. 24 All in favor of the motion 25 will say aye. 73 1 (Aye.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 Those opposed say nay. 4 (No response.) 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 6 The ayes have it and the motion is 7 carried. 8 There being no further 9 nominations, all in favor of the 10 election of Mr. Michael Decker as 11 Chief Clerk of the Council of the 12 City of Philadelphia will say aye. 13 (Aye.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Those opposed say nay. 16 (No response.) 17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 18 The ayes have it. However, the Clerk 19 will call the roll. 20 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 21 Ahmad. 22 COUNCILWOMAN AHMAD: Aye. 23 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 24 Bass. 25 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Aye. 74 1 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 2 Brooks. 3 COUNCILWOMAN BROOKS: Aye. 4 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 5 Driscoll. 6 COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL: Aye. 7 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 8 Gauthier. 9 COUNCILWOMAN GAUTHIER: Aye. 10 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 11 Gilmore Richardson. 12 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 13 RICHARDSON: Aye. 14 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 15 Harrity. 16 COUNCILMAN HARRITY: Aye. 17 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 18 Jones. 19 COUNCILMAN JONES: Aye. 20 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 21 Landau. 22 COUNCILWOMAN LANDAU: Aye. 23 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 24 Lozada. 25 COUNCILWOMAN LOZADA: Aye. 75 1 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 2 O'Neill. 3 COUNCILMAN O'NEILL: Aye. 4 CHIEF CLERK: O'Rourke. 5 COUNCILMAN O'ROURKE: Aye. 6 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 7 Phillips. 8 COUNCILMAN PHILLIPS: Aye. 9 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 10 Squilla. 11 COUNCILMAN SQUILLA: Aye. 12 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 13 Thomas. 14 COUNCILMAN THOMAS: Aye. 15 CHIEF CLERK: Councilmember 16 Young. 17 COUNCILMAN YOUNG: Aye. 18 CHIEF CLERK: Council 19 President Johnson. 20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 21 Aye. 22 The ayes are 17. The nays 23 are 0. Mr. Decker, having received a 24 unanimous vote of the members of City 25 Council, I now declare Mr. Michael 76 1 Decker duly-elected Chief Clerk of 2 this City Council. 3 (Applause.) 4 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 5 Councilmember Gauthier and 6 Councilmember O'Neill will escort 7 Mr. Decker to the rostrum. The oath 8 of office will be administered by the 9 Honorable Timika Lane, Judge of the 10 Pennsylvania Superior Court. 11 Let's give Mr. Decker another 12 round of applause, y'all. Mike keeps 13 the oil moving in City Council. 14 (Applause.) 15 JUDGE LANE: All right. 16 Place your left hand on the Bible. 17 Raise your right hand and repeat 18 after me. 19 (Oath of office 20 administered.) 21 JUDGE LANE: Congratulations. 22 (Applause.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 24 At this time, I want to ask for the 25 Leadership team to please stand when 77 1 your name is called. I will name the 2 officers of City Council. 3 For the major -- please be 4 advised that by a vote of the 5 democratic members of City Council, 6 the Honorable Katherine Gilmore 7 Richardson was elected Majority 8 Leader, the Honorable Isaiah Thomas 9 was elected Majority Whip, and the 10 Honorable Cindy Bass was elected 11 Majority Deputy Whip of the City 12 Council of Philadelphia. 13 (Applause.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Also, be advised that by a vote of 16 the members of the Council from the 17 Working Families party, the Honorable 18 Kendra Brooks was elected Minority 19 Leader and the Honorable Nicholas 20 O'Rourke was elected Minority Whip of 21 the City Council of Philadelphia. 22 (Applause.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 24 Let's please give them a real big 25 round of applause. 78 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 The next order of business is the 4 introduction of the resolution 5 concerning the rules of government of 6 the Council of the City of 7 Philadelphia. And the Chair 8 recognizes Councilmember Gauthier. 9 COUNCILWOMAN GAUTHIER: Thank 10 you, Mr. President. I offer the 11 following resolution. 12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 13 And the Chief Clerk will read the 14 title of the resolution. 15 CHIEF CLERK: A resolution to 16 provide rules for the government of 17 the Council of the City of 18 Philadelphia. 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 The Chair recognizes Councilmember 21 O'Rourke. 22 COUNCILMAN O'ROURKE: Thank 23 you, Mr. President. I move that the 24 rules, as set forth in this 25 resolution, be adopted as the 79 1 temporary rules of the Council until 2 the permanent rules are adopted. 3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 4 The Chair thanks the Councilmember. 5 The Chair recognizes 6 Councilmember Thomas. 7 COUNCILMAN THOMAS: Thank 8 you, Council President. I second the 9 motion. 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 All in favor of the motion will 12 signify by saying aye. 13 (Aye.) 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Those opposed say nay. 16 (No response.) 17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 18 The ayes have it and the motion is 19 carried. The rules contained in this 20 resolution have been adopted 21 temporarily. The resolution will be 22 placed on the Final Passage Calendar 23 for consideration at our next session 24 of Council. 25 The organization of the 80 1 Council of the City of Philadelphia 2 and investiture of the City 3 Councilmembers are complete, in 4 accordance with the provisions of the 5 Home Rule Charter. 6 The Council is honored by the 7 presence -- and most of y'all may or 8 may not know, I'm Baptist Catholic by 9 way of St. Monica's Parish in South 10 Philadelphia -- so I am honored to 11 ask for Father Joseph Kelley of 12 St. Monica Roman Catholic Church to 13 please come up and offer us and lead 14 us in prayer. 15 REVEREND KELLEY: In the name 16 of the Father and of the Son and of 17 the Holy Spirit. Amen. 18 Almighty God, we ask your 19 blessing upon our good friend, my 20 good friend, Council President 21 Kenyatta Johnson. We call your 22 blessing down upon his wonderful wife 23 Dawn and his children. 24 As he takes on this great 25 ministry for the City of 81 1 Philadelphia, a city that which bears 2 the name of love, a city that we 3 love, we ask that you continue to 4 endow him with a spirit of wisdom, 5 understanding, counsel, fortitude, 6 knowledge and fear of the Lord. 7 We ask that he serve our 8 entire city as well as he served us, 9 his constituents, in the 2nd 10 Councilmanic District. As a man of 11 great faith, we know that he will 12 embrace and love all the people of 13 our great city, people of diverse 14 religions, people who profess no 15 religion, people of all races, creeds 16 and backgrounds. For we are all 17 united in one common goal. 18 As Christians, we believe as 19 the Bible says that if we were to 20 describe God in any way, shape or 21 form, we would say simply that God is 22 love. As Council President Kenyatta 23 Johnson leads us to work together 24 through our differences and come 25 together in the love that we know we 82 1 have for each other, we will come to 2 know love more deeply and in that, 3 come to know God. We ask this in 4 Jesus's name. Amen. 5 (Amen.) 6 (Applause.) 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 8 Thank you, Father Kelley. 9 At this time, I invite the 10 Monumental Baptist Church Choir to 11 perform "For Every Mountain." The 12 choir is directed by Minister Gary 13 Taylor. 14 Can we give them a round of 15 applause please. 16 (Applause.) 17 (Monumental Baptist Church 18 Choir performs.) 19 (Applause.) 20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 21 We thank Monumental Baptist Church 22 Choir for that beautiful and 23 inspiring performance. 24 Now, at this time I would 25 like to introduce another one of my 83 1 spiritual big brothers who calls and 2 checks on me from time to time 3 without a lot of fanfare, just an 4 all-around great gentleman. So I'm 5 going to call up Mr. Alyn E. Waller, 6 Senior Pastor of Enon Baptist Church 7 before we proceed with the induction 8 of the Mayor of the City of 9 Philadelphia. 10 Pastor Waller, come on up, 11 Big Bro. 12 REVEREND WALLER: Let's bow 13 our heads. 14 Eternal God our Father, God 15 of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of 16 Harriet, God of Simone, the God of 17 Cherelle, God of Martin, Malcolm and 18 Medgar, God, we thank you for this 19 day. We thank you for allowing us to 20 gather as we celebrate history. We 21 thank you for allowing us to gather 22 to exercise our franchise in 23 democracy. We thank you for the gift 24 of your daughter to give leadership 25 to this great city. 84 1 Lord, I begin praying first 2 for Langston. I pray, oh God, that 3 Langston not lose a mother while we 4 gain a Mayor. I pray that you cover 5 him, that you make his way easy and 6 that you develop him, oh God. Give 7 him friends that will understand the 8 uniqueness of his position and help 9 him more to grow into the man you 10 designed him to be. 11 And then, God, I pray for our 12 new Mayor. I pray, God, that you 13 would surround her with people that 14 love her, people that respect her, 15 people that will evidence those 16 truths by telling her the truth, by 17 bringing the best of themselves to 18 her service. That I pray, oh God, 19 for those who dawned this stage, that 20 they will engage in political 21 discourse that will lead to the 22 edification of our community, that we 23 would be the City of Brotherly Love 24 and Sisterly Affection. 25 And then, God, I thank you 85 1 for this woman of God, this woman 2 that you've raised for such a time as 3 this. I thank you for her 4 uniqueness. I thank you for her 5 ability to lead. I thank you for her 6 grit and her grace. 7 I pray, oh God, that you 8 ground her with wisdom. Help her to 9 balance all the demands that will be 10 placed on her. Help her, Lord, to 11 shine but also help, Lord, to lead. 12 Then, God, I thank you. I thank you 13 for what you've already done for us. 14 And I thank you for what's yet to 15 come. 16 I thank you for a crime rate 17 that's going to go down. I thank you 18 for the child that's going to be 19 educated. I thank you, God, for the 20 things that will happen in this 21 Administration. And then, God, I 22 pray that you give her holy boldness 23 to lead everybody but not be ashamed 24 of addressing the particular needs of 25 her Black people who are in this 86 1 City, oh God, where we uniquely find 2 ourselves in a country that we 3 started as slaves but we just keep 4 coming. And for that, God, we are 5 grateful. 6 And then, God, we thank you 7 for what we will experience. We 8 thank you that better days are ahead 9 for Philadelphia because Cherelle 10 Parker is about to sit in the seat. 11 And we thank you that you're going to 12 use her mightily. And then, God, I 13 thank you for the privilege of seeing 14 it and I thank you for the privilege 15 of exercising, the privilege of 16 prayer and asking your protection 17 over her. 18 And, God, as I get ready to 19 take my seat, I pray this prayer in 20 the name significant to me. I pray 21 this prayer in the name of one who 22 was dead but is alive forever more. 23 I pray this prayer in the name of a 24 Palestinian Jew named Jesus. 25 I pray this prayer and I 87 1 thank you, God, for the victory 2 through Christ our Lord. Let every 3 heart say Amen. 4 (Amen.) 5 REVEREND WALLER: Amen. 6 (Amen.) 7 REVEREND WALLER: And Amen. 8 (Amen.) 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 Thank you, Reverend Waller. 12 Will everyone please be 13 seated as you already are. 14 At this time, I invite the 15 Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Mass 16 Choir to perform "God is Able." The 17 choir is directed by the fabulous and 18 outstanding Dr. Cassandra Jones. 19 (Enon Tabernacle Baptist Mass 20 Choir performs.) 21 (Applause.) 22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 23 want to thank Enon Tabernacle Baptist 24 Church Mass Choir for that 25 outstanding performance. Let's give 88 1 them another round of applause. 2 (Applause.) 3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 4 And now I have the great opportunity 5 to invite Emmy-award winning actress 6 and activist Ms. Cheryl Lee Ralph to 7 offer a poem in the celebration of 8 the inauguration of Mayor Cherelle L. 9 Parker. Let's give her a real big 10 round of applause, y'all. 11 (Applause.) 12 MS. RALPH: In this, the 13 great city of Philadelphia. In years 14 passed where the enslaved ran, 15 walked, groveled came here in search 16 of freedom. 17 Today in memory of those 18 ancestors, let us not forget that we 19 are witnessing history. The 20 occasion, the inauguration of the 21 first female Mayor of the City of 22 Philadelphia. A poem written by none 23 other than me. And the sister, the 24 City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly 25 Affection there beats a heart where 89 1 history weaves. Birthing an unlikely 2 trailblazer among golden leaves. Her 3 path, a tale of strength untold. The 4 first female, a Mayor so bold. 5 Through cobblestone streets 6 and echoing City Halls, she shattered 7 ceilings scaled some mighty walls. 8 Her voice, a deep melody resilience 9 in rhyme. A beacon for change, 10 transcending time. With grace she 11 danced in the steel face of doubt. 12 In every step, a legacy laid out. A 13 symphony of progress, notes pure and 14 clear. A melody that silenced the 15 whispers of fear. 16 In heritage rich where 17 painful shadows persist. She is 18 painting futures with a color named 19 Resist. A canvas to be transformed 20 by her guiding hand. A portrait of 21 hope, a woman determined to take a 22 stand. North, south, northeast and 23 west, she spoke of unity. A city 24 tapestry anew, stitching dreams for 25 every color, every shade and every 90 1 hue. 2 Her mayoral throne, a symbol 3 profound, breaking barriers as the 4 walls, oh, they will come down. The 5 City of Philadelphia will echo her 6 historic name, a testament of courage 7 forever a flame. In the animals of 8 time, her story will be etched. 9 Philadelphia's first female Mayor, a 10 Black queen firmly stretched, the 11 Honorable Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. 12 (Applause.) 13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 14 Can we give Sheryl Lee Ralph another 15 big round of applause for that great 16 poem. 17 (Applause.) 18 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 19 We will now proceed with the 20 induction of the Mayor of the City of 21 Philadelphia. The Chair appoints 22 Councilmember Phillips, Councilmember 23 Landau, Councilmember Gilmore 24 Richardson and Councilmember Driscoll 25 to escort the Honorable Cherelle L. 91 1 Parker, Mayor of the City of 2 Philadelphia, to the rostrum. The 3 Mayor will be joined at the podium by 4 Philadelphia -- come on up, 5 Ms. Marcia. Ms. Marcia Fudge, come 6 on up, please. 7 So also joining Cherelle at 8 the rostrum are Bill Mullins, Darryl 9 Parker, Tonyelle Cook-Artis, Gladys 10 James, Wylene Tryste, Brenda Rivera, 11 Nafeeka Wakeel and Yasmin Everett. 12 SECRETARY FUDGE: Good 13 afternoon. I know it's a whole lot 14 of people in here. Good afternoon. 15 (Good afternoon.) 16 SECRETARY FUDGE: God is 17 good. We need to be excited today 18 about what's going on right now. My 19 name is Marcia Fudge. I am a former 20 Mayor. And it is my singular and 21 high honor to have been asked to 22 administer the oath of office to my 23 friend and to whom I know who will be 24 the greatest Mayor the City of 25 Philadelphia has ever seen. 92 1 And to her family having been 2 a Mayor, it is not easy. People say 3 it's lonely at the bottom. It's 4 lonely at the top. So stay with her, 5 have her back. 6 (Oath of office 7 administered.) 8 SECRETARY FUDGE: 9 Congratulations, Mayor. 10 (Standing ovation.) 11 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 12 We were also joined by Commonwealth 13 Court Judge who hails from South 14 Philadelphia, Ms. Lydia Kirkland. 15 The Chief Clerk will read the 16 certificate of election of the 17 Honorable Cherelle L. Parker as Mayor 18 of the City of Philadelphia. 19 CHIEF CLERK: Cherelle L. 20 Parker, at an election held November 21 7, 2023 you were duly-elected Mayor 22 of the City of Philadelphia for a 23 four-year term, commencing the first 24 Monday of January 2024. 25 (Applause.) 93 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 2 Members of City Council, reverend 3 clergy, elected officials, 4 distinguished guests, ladies and 5 gentlemen, I have the distinct honor 6 to present to you, Her Honor, the 7 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 8 the Honorable Cherelle L. Parker. 9 (Applause.) 10 MAYOR PARKER: To be standing 11 here with my family and friends and 12 my village, including when South -- 13 Council President Kenyatta gave her 14 props for being from South Philly. 15 But, Mr. President, in 2005 she was 16 in Harrisburg swearing Cherelle 17 Parker in. And I'm referring to none 18 other than my good friend, Senior 19 Municipal Court Judge here in our 20 great City of Philadelphia, Lydia 21 Kirkland. Give her a huge round of 22 applause. 23 (Applause.) 24 MAYOR PARKER: To have my 25 oath of office administered today by 94 1 none other than the Honorable Marcia 2 L. Fudge, you need to know that she 3 was so humble when she just came up 4 here. But I was two years young in 5 this dynamic sisterhood called Delta 6 Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. when she 7 became our 21st National President. 8 And for my sorors who are in the 9 audience and also my Divine Nine 10 brothers and sisters, you know how 11 sacred this moment is for me right 12 now to have her here with me. 13 You heard her mention that 14 she was a former Mayor. Yeah, but as 15 usual, what she didn't tell you is 16 that she was the first female and the 17 first African American Mayor of 18 Warrensville Heights, Ohio. She's 19 the former Congresswoman from the 20 11th District, and she is currently 21 the 18th Secretary of the United 22 States Department of Housing and 23 Urban Development, but she's here 24 today in our own right. Did I say it 25 right? 95 1 SECRETARY FUDGE: (Nodded 2 affirmatively). 3 MAYOR PARKER: This is 4 surreal. I could never have imagined 5 this. Thank you, Jesus. 6 Soror Sheryl Lee Ralph, where 7 are you? Thank you. You cut your 8 vacation short to be here. You could 9 have been in Hollywood right now, but 10 you chose to be here. And I want you 11 to know that I'm grateful. 12 Let me start by thanking my 13 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for 14 whom all things are possible. And 15 for those of you who know me and you 16 know my life, you know that's not a 17 line for me. I wouldn't be standing 18 here today were it not for the grace 19 and mercy of God. It is with that in 20 mind that I say Happy New Year to 21 you, the great City of Philadelphia. 22 To our Council President 23 Johnson, newly-elected Council 24 President Johnson, it sounds good 25 when we say it. Say Council 96 1 President Johnson. 2 (Council President Johnson.) 3 MAYOR PARKER: This is going 4 to work out well, Mr. President. We 5 know how to do this thing called call 6 and response, so we're going to be 7 able to get a whole lot done together 8 as partners. Give our Council 9 President a huge round of applause. 10 (Applause.) 11 MAYOR PARKER: To him and to 12 all our members of City Council, the 13 leadership and all of the members who 14 were elected, to our faith leaders 15 who are present, all of our role 16 officers, thank you so very much for 17 being here and congratulations to 18 each of you. 19 I also want to say to our 20 former Mayors who are here, some 21 here, some could not be here. Former 22 Mayor Green, Mayor Goode is here. 23 Trailblazing, trendsetting, history- 24 making, first Black Mayor of the City 25 of Philadelphia W. Wilson Goode is 97 1 here. I want to acknowledge Mayor 2 Rendell. 3 And to Mayor John F. Street, 4 who made the Neighborhood 5 Transformation Initiative a thing 6 people will never forget. Mayor 7 Nutter could not be here, but he 8 visited me yesterday. 9 And to my good friend, the 10 99th Mayor of the City of 11 Philadelphia. A gentleman who made 12 improving parks, rec centers and 13 libraries his number one priority, 14 but he also understood that if we 15 would give 3- and 4-year-olds 16 throughout the City of Philadelphia 17 access to the opportunity to get an 18 early childhood education that by the 19 time they got into kindergarten when 20 they were 5 years old, they would be 21 prepared to compete with children who 22 had come from more privileged 23 families. 24 So when people ask you about 25 his legacy, I want you to tell them 98 1 about Mayor Jim Kenney's effort to 2 educate our children. And not just 3 through Rebuild, but through 4 Philadelphia PHLpreK. Give him a 5 round of applause please. 6 (Applause.) 7 MAYOR PARKER: Give it up for 8 Mr. Mayor. I see Senator, our U.S. 9 Senator Casey is here. Our 10 Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis is 11 here and Congress members Evans, 12 Boyle and Scanlon are here along with 13 Speaker McClinton and members of the 14 Pennsylvania General Assembly are 15 here, along with the Judiciary -- and 16 I'm not sure if it's true, but 17 someone told me that we have Mayor 18 Eric Adams from New York City here. 19 Is Mayor Eric Adams here somewhere? 20 Wherever you are, hello, Mr. Mayor. 21 I need to stop right here for 22 a second and he's not expecting this. 23 But I have to give credit where 24 credit is due. The gentleman who 25 served as a Councilmember for the 5th 99 1 District along with our Council 2 President who I often referred to as 3 my big brother, Council President 4 Darrell Clarke, I want you to know 5 that our working together was not 6 something that a whole lot of people 7 ever expected us to do. 8 They wanted us to stay caught 9 up in the past because Council 10 President Johnson, he's got this 11 thing planted in my brain right now 12 about a new day. You've been talking 13 about a new day. And when he and I 14 started working together, people 15 thought we were going to get up in 16 the antiquated, outdated, territorial 17 tribal warfare that was donned 18 against Bill Gray and Black people 19 just fighting each other for no darn 20 reason at all. 21 And we got a chance to work 22 together when you were President and 23 I was a member of the Pennsylvania 24 General Assembly. We did some 25 amazing work for the City of 100 1 Philadelphia and we laid a strong 2 foundation that we would later build 3 on. And I want to give credit where 4 credit is due and say, Big Bro, I 5 wouldn't be here standing today on 6 this strong legacy were it not for 7 you. Give Darrell Clarke a huge 8 round of applause. Thank you. 9 (Applause.) 10 MAYOR PARKER: Thank you. 11 It's well-deserved. Thank you. 12 I want to thank each of our 13 elected officials for being here. 14 The reason why it was important for 15 me to go through that list is because 16 for those of you who will take a 17 stroll back mentally and remember the 18 Primary Election and General 19 Election, I kept talking about a 20 thing that a lot of people were 21 laughing at me about. It was called 22 intergovernmental cooperation and 23 planning. 24 And I was saying to people 25 that if it was God's will and they 101 1 gave me access to the opportunity to 2 become Mayor of this City of 3 Philadelphia, that I alone wouldn't 4 be able to solve the complex issues 5 that were facing us, but instead we 6 would have to have an 7 intergovernmental cooperation and 8 planning arrangement at every branch 9 of government. 10 Now, I hope Philadelphia -- 11 because I'm going to talk about this 12 in a second, that you understand what 13 we just did. You just saw the 14 Secretary for the United States 15 Housing and Urban Development here in 16 her own right, but she's here. You 17 just saw and heard me mention our 18 Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, our 19 United States Senator Bob Casey, our 20 Congressional Delegation is here. 21 Moneybags Appropriations Chairmen in 22 both House in the Pennsylvania 23 General Assembly, Jordan Harris on 24 the House side, and my good friend 25 and my brother and my therapist State 102 1 Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic 2 Appropriations Chairman on the Senate 3 side. And then you got the lady who 4 keeps all of the order and keeps the 5 structure going, our Speaker of the 6 House Joanna McClinton. 7 If we missed this opportunity 8 to deliver in a meaningful way for 9 the City of Philadelphia not just for 10 the next four years but the work that 11 we do now, it should be a foundation 12 for the future. Our children should 13 be saying in every neighborhood that 14 they go to, wow, we saw on a video 15 where they don't even do videos, they 16 streamed it, whatever they do for 17 this day in the future, and you know 18 some of the things that they talked 19 about they got done. 20 Council President Johnson, to 21 every leader whose name I just 22 mentioned, if we don't get -- I'm not 23 talking about incremental change. 24 I'm talking about bold transformative 25 steps that when people walk outside 103 1 of their houses, they can touch, see 2 and feel the results of our labor. 3 (Applause.) 4 MAYOR PARKER: If they don't 5 see it, it's on us. I want to 6 congratulate each and every member 7 who was sworn in today. Your victory 8 in a new term that begins today. 9 I want to stop now and thank 10 Philadelphians for giving me a chance 11 to earn their support and for 12 believing in me and my vision for the 13 future of our city. When I started 14 on this campaign, I wasn't going to 15 say it. But I'm going to tell. 16 Don't get mad. Sincere or Aren are 17 hollering at me somewhere. 18 When I started out on this 19 campaign, I want you to know that you 20 crisscross the City and you talk to 21 different constituencies, and 22 sometimes you will talk to people and 23 primarily the group will be based on 24 race, a Black group or a White group 25 or a Latino group or it will be a 104 1 low-to-moderate income, it will be a 2 wealthy community or a working-class 3 community. 4 And we had some experts who 5 came to try to offer our little 6 scrappy campaign some advice because 7 we weren't the biggest candidate in 8 the field. And they said, well, what 9 you should do is you should tell her 10 that if she wants to win when she 11 goes to the Northeast, she should 12 talk like this (lowers voice), and 13 her message should be about that. 14 And so, what about when she 15 comes back home to the home base in 16 North Philadelphia and she's Uptown 17 sitting in the hairdresser or the 18 barbershop in West Philadelphia or in 19 South Philadelphia, what am I 20 supposed to do? I couldn't do 21 anything, Philadelphia, but affirm 22 not through words. But I had to 23 affirm through my actions that I was 24 going to stay true to who I am, my 25 story, my life. 105 1 (Applause.) 2 MAYOR PARKER: That I wasn't 3 going to try to put on an image that 4 Cherelle Parker is a bastion of 5 perfection and that if you would just 6 vote for me, everything in our city 7 would change. Because I'm standing 8 on the shoulders of a people who 9 prayed for me in the midst of it all, 10 I could only be here because you, the 11 people of our great City of 12 Philadelphia from all walks of life 13 who picked up what I put down when I 14 said I won't allow race, class, 15 socioeconomic status, zip code, 16 religion, sexual orientation or 17 identity, that I would not allow any 18 of that to change my message to you 19 and/or who I am. 20 So on today while I do stand 21 here as the 100th Mayor of the City 22 of Philadelphia, sixth largest city, 23 birthplace of democracy, I want you 24 to know that I only get the 25 opportunity to meet this moment 106 1 because of each and every one of you. 2 And for that, I am extremely 3 grateful. Philadelphia, thank you 4 for allowing me to be me. It's 5 something that I'll never forget. 6 (Applause.) 7 MAYOR PARKER: When I start 8 talking about my background, y'all 9 remember probably one of the first 10 intros people were asking me, you 11 know, we don't really see people 12 doing that a whole lot, like why -- 13 you've been elected for X number of 14 years. I've never heard you -- I 15 never thought you had a life that was 16 oh so difficult, Cherelle. I mean, 17 you've never said anything out loud 18 like that before. Like, why haven't 19 you shared it. 20 Well, you know, where I come 21 from, you do what you do. But I 22 don't want any unnecessary sorrow or 23 sympathy for me. I don't want 24 anybody lowering their expectations, 25 because you know that life for me 107 1 ain't been no crystal stair so I just 2 didn't talk about it a whole lot. 3 But because I've shared it, I 4 hope that everyone in this City will 5 see something of themselves in me and 6 that you will have confidence and 7 that you will absorb a certain amount 8 of grace that I know I get from you 9 that confidence and grace that will 10 help me lead our city. And I hope 11 that will you help you help move our 12 city forward. 13 I want to say this to my 14 young prince, another thing people 15 didn't want me to say out loud, my 16 young prince, my son, my only child. 17 Guess what, I told our First Lady 18 that as soon as he held the Bible, he 19 said, Mom -- he's so over this. He 20 said, can I leave now. He's probably 21 with Council President Johnson's 22 children right now. 23 But wherever you are, 24 Langston, if you're under the sound 25 of my voice and you can hear me, I 108 1 want you to know that Mommy and Daddy 2 love you more than anything else in 3 this world. People were so shocked 4 when they learned that my former 5 husband and I worked extremely hard 6 together co-parenting our son. And 7 they expected me to just whisper 8 about it or walk with my head held 9 down and not my shoulders back. 10 But I just said after I 11 talked to people, you don't know how 12 many people, other folks like me it 13 is out there because people were 14 coming up to me, Cherelle, I know 15 it's possible right now, I think I'm 16 going to pick up the phone and call 17 y'all. I mean, y'all got along so 18 well, I told him don't be getting no 19 fancy-pancy ideas. But we do work 20 well in co-parenting our son. 21 Langston, we love you. I 22 don't care what Mommy does in her 23 professional life. Our most 24 important role, Ben Mullins and I, is 25 as your mother and father. And we 109 1 won't allow anything to get in the 2 way of that. No career, no job, no 3 service, nothing will take away from 4 our bond and nothing will ever take 5 me away from you nor your father. We 6 love you. 7 (Applause.) 8 MAYOR PARKER: I want to 9 start on my message today by saying 10 to each of you that by every 11 statistic imaginable, I am not 12 supposed to be standing here today. 13 Why? Because it is true for those of 14 you who read it, I, Cherelle Parker, 15 was a child who most people thought 16 would never succeed and they really 17 did almost have me thinking the same 18 thing. 19 So right now lots of people 20 have been asking me how do you feel. 21 And I've been telling them there are 22 no words that I can explain the mix 23 of emotions that I am feeling during 24 this historic moment. I can only 25 tell you that I have a deep-rooted 110 1 sense of gratitude permeating in my 2 heart and in my spirit since the 3 people of our great City have given 4 me access to this opportunity to 5 serve them in a manner and a role 6 that many thought would be 7 impossible, you know, out of reach 8 for someone like me. 9 Cherelle, what do you mean? 10 I mean, I want to say it loud that I 11 was born to a single teenage mother 12 without my biological father present 13 in my life. My grandparents raised 14 me. Mommy, a domestic worker, a 15 domestic worker from Manning, South 16 Carolina. Daddy, a disabled Navy 17 veteran from Accomack County, 18 Virginia who received public 19 assistance. 20 You heard me on the trail 21 talk about that colored money in 22 books. Some people whispered to me, 23 well, what does she mean when she 24 says the public money -- it means 25 that my grandmother and my 111 1 grandfather were on public 2 assistance, that they had to receive 3 food stamps and cash assistance to 4 take care of me. 5 I want you to know that were 6 it not for their resilience, their 7 stick-to-itiveness I wouldn't be 8 here. I want to say to my family, to 9 my community that brought me up, who 10 believed in me, they believed in the 11 power of education and they believed 12 that it could change a life. 13 They saw some things in me, 14 and this is important when we look at 15 the state of affairs in our city 16 right now and what our young people 17 are facing on a daily basis because 18 some people act like they are all 19 growing up in Cosby-like families and 20 that is not the reality. I was the 21 first college graduate in my family 22 graduating from Lincoln University. 23 (Applause.) 24 MAYOR PARKER: I was the 25 first graduate of an Ivy League 112 1 institution acquiring a Master's 2 Degree from the University of 3 Pennsylvania. 4 (Applause.) 5 MAYOR PARKER: Then I went on 6 to a career as a Certified Secondary 7 English teacher. And for all the 8 English teachers or teachers in 9 general who are in the audience, 10 don't forget to let people know how 11 hard you work. Let them know you are 12 NTE-passed and Praxis-passed 13 teachers, and you are doing extremely 14 hard work in our classrooms. 15 I say all of this to let you 16 know that two quotes, two quotes are 17 the foundation of the work that 18 you've seen me do throughout my 19 career. And if you when you walked 20 in you looked on your seat, if you 21 got a book that was an action plan on 22 the back of your seat, raise your 23 hand so I can see if they gave out 24 the action plans. 25 (Hands raised.) 113 1 MAYOR PARKER: Okay. I want 2 you all to think about sister, 3 Dr. Maya Angelou and a quote that she 4 was often stating as she traveled 5 across the country. She said that in 6 life, "People will forget what you 7 said, people will forget what you 8 did, but people will never forget how 9 you made them feel." 10 The second quote comes from 11 one of my favorite civil rights 12 activist in office and it's none 13 other than the brilliant James 14 Baldwin. And I truly think, and I 15 want you to think about this through 16 the lens of Philadelphians, and what 17 they think about those of us who are 18 here on this stage who are elected 19 and who work in government and they 20 see us putting our hands on Bibles 21 and getting sworn in. But they go 22 back into their neighborhoods and 23 they're thinking about these promises 24 that we made and they say, what about 25 me, I don't see it. 114 1 And so, James Baldwin, he was 2 often quoted in stating when people 3 said that they supported civil rights 4 but he hadn't seen it, he would say, 5 "I can't believe what you say because 6 I see what you do." "I can't believe 7 what you say because I see what you 8 do." 9 Now, I want you to let those 10 two sink in and to hear from my mouth 11 to your ears, that I cannot do this 12 alone. I did not get to this stage 13 by myself. I believe that right now 14 and at this very moment, and I mean 15 this with all my heart and spirit, 16 there's a block party going on in 17 heaven right now. And my ancestors 18 are saying right now, even my mother 19 and my father -- took a lot of hours 20 of therapy to say my biological 21 father -- they are saying, my single 22 teenage mother and him, thank you God 23 for being a vehicle that allowed us 24 to bring Cherelle in the world. He 25 even used them. 115 1 My grandmother and my 2 grandfather are listening. And Daddy 3 is saying, Mary Mason, don't you talk 4 so long. Some people, they don't 5 even know, the young people don't 6 even know who Mary Mason is. But 7 Daddy, that was my grandfather's 8 nickname for me. And my Great-aunt 9 Vi and my Great-grandmother Big Merk, 10 31st and Lehigh, they are all saying, 11 she may not have thought that it was 12 fair, but all of our hard work, the 13 fruits of our labor, look at what 14 it's yielding right now. 15 But this is what she better 16 not ever do because we'll come down 17 from the heavens and touch her. If 18 she ever thinks that any title she 19 acquires, any academic credential she 20 assumes, any professional development 21 that she gets, any ounce of power 22 that she gets, if she begins to get 23 caught up in reading the headlines 24 and getting used to people calling 25 her Madam Mayor and feeling a tad bit 116 1 haughty, we will touch her and remind 2 her that the gifts that have been 3 placed in you are not simply for you 4 and your own personal advancement, 5 but you are to use them to motivate, 6 inspire and encourage others and make 7 a difference in the lives of the 8 people of our great City. 9 It is with this in mind that 10 I want to make sure that I talk about 11 what I promised to the people of the 12 City of Philadelphia. I want to 13 acknowledge that promise, but I also 14 want to acknowledge the shoulders who 15 I stand on, other women in this City 16 who blazed the path before me, who 17 showed me the way. 18 I couldn't make a promise 19 like that which I am about to refer 20 to had it not been for a lady named 21 Augusta Alexander Clark, Gussie 22 Clark. If I hadn't saw brawler by 23 the name of Joan Krajewski, fighting 24 for quality of life. And what about 25 Roxanne Jones and the C. Delores 117 1 Tucker, and the first woman President 2 of the City Council of Philadelphia 3 Anna C. Verna. I am not here but for 4 their years of efforts, their years 5 of fight, their years of service. 6 And I want to give credit where 7 credit is due because I stand on 8 their shoulders. 9 We lost Dr. Constance E. 10 Clayton, who was the Superintendent 11 of the schools when I was in the 12 School District of Philadelphia. And 13 she taught us that we, Philadelphia's 14 children, were capable of anything if 15 we received a high-quality, 16 first-class education. My mentor, 17 the one and only, the Boss Lady, 18 Vincent Hughes would call her the 19 Boss with the Hot Sauce. I'm 20 referring to none other than 21 Councilwoman Marian Tasco. 22 (Applause.) 23 MAYOR PARKER: Thank you. 24 Who raised me politically and 25 governmentally and showed me the way 118 1 to reach this historic moment. I am 2 here but for my beloved Boss Lady. I 3 stand on the shoulders of those 4 women. 5 And I've got to say about 6 this gentleman, let me stop here and 7 say this about this gentleman. You 8 hear me talk about intergovernmental 9 cooperation and working in a 10 bipartisan manner. I'm not sure if 11 Republican State Senator Ward is here 12 or Leader Pittman or Leader Cutler or 13 any of my Republican friends from 14 Harrisburg are here. 15 But I want you to know that I 16 would not have known the value and 17 why it was so essential for a 18 Democrat from Philadelphia to have a 19 relationship with a Republican who 20 may have come from rural Pennsylvania 21 had it not been for a guy who when he 22 got elected, I was 8 years old, he 23 was tall and thin and had a whole lot 24 of hair. He is now our Congressman 25 Dwight Evans. Give him a huge round 119 1 of applause. 2 (Applause.) 3 MAYOR PARKER: Dwight was the 4 one who made me run for the 5 Statehouse. I wasn't interested. I 6 said, who wants to go to Harrisburg. 7 And Marian Tasco supported him and he 8 told me to go to Harrisburg, if you 9 remember, and learn how to be a 10 legislator. Thank you so very much, 11 Dwight. It is some of the greatest 12 value and professional development 13 that I have ever added to my career. 14 And to you, I want to say thank you. 15 You all are familiar with 16 Sonia Sanchez, the great poet. And 17 she had a poem called Love Colored 18 with an Iron Lace, and that is who 19 these women are and Dwight Evans is 20 to me. It is because of them and 21 because of their faith in me and your 22 faith in me that I am standing here 23 today. 24 However, my Aunt Brenda is 25 here. I don't know where she is. 120 1 She said to me, so you are about to 2 do something special and become the 3 first woman, the 100th Mayor, and the 4 first little Black girl from the 1900 5 block of Pittville Street to become 6 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 7 And she says, well, what are you 8 going to do when even before you get 9 started? There are naysayers who 10 doubt the ability to turn the 11 challenges that this City is facing 12 around. What are you going to do 13 when you are trying to move forward 14 and proffer solutions, but all some 15 folks seem to want to do is wallow in 16 all that is wrong and discuss all of 17 our woes as if where we are now is 18 where we will have to be, what are 19 you going to do when that happens? 20 I made sure that I said to 21 Aunt Brenda, and I want you all to 22 hold on with me here, when you hear 23 me begin talking about implementing 24 the action plan that you have a 25 tangible copy of, the reason why you 121 1 have a copy of it is because it's a 2 commitment to you, and that means I'm 3 going to get it done because we gave 4 our word. And when we are working to 5 implement the goals that are included 6 in that plan and you hear some people 7 doubting us before we even get 8 started, I want you to say to them, 9 Don't throw shade on my Philly shine. 10 And the reason why this is important 11 is because sometimes we forget who we 12 are. With all of our greatness, we 13 forget what a mighty city that we 14 really are. 15 And so, I want to say that 16 that promise that I made to people 17 here in our City of Philadelphia, 18 that when I swore this oath as 19 Philadelphia's 100th Mayor, first 20 woman to hold the office in 341 21 years, that I will do so with 22 humility, with respect for the 99 who 23 came before me and with the solemn 24 process that if we work together, 25 Council President Johnson, members of 122 1 this body along with each and every 2 one of you, we would make 3 Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, 4 greenest, big city in the nation with 5 economic opportunity for all. 6 I delivered that vision to 7 you, members of this audience, 8 residents in our great City of 9 Philadelphia. You responded in the 10 affirmative. And for that, I want 11 you to know I'm grateful. I know 12 it's a tall order, but we don't want 13 people doing what I call becoming 14 expert AOPs. You know them because 15 you have them in your own lives. 16 These are expert articulators of 17 problems. 18 They can go around and around 19 and around in a circle telling you 20 about a problem, but they are very, 21 very, very short on delivering 22 solutions. They will -- it's a 23 thing. They will begin to remind us 24 that, yes, it's true, a quarter of 25 our citizens are living in poverty, 123 1 that despite the progress in lowering 2 the number of homicides, we still 3 have far too many senseless 4 shootings, too much gun violence and 5 too many illegal guns on the streets 6 of Philadelphia. 7 We know that our 8 neighborhoods, they too have been 9 struggling under lots of blight, 10 illegal trash-dumping and nuisances 11 that in essence degrade the quality 12 of life and enjoyment of our blocks 13 and of our communities at large. But 14 I'm here to mention to each of you 15 today is that we are going to be 16 laser-focused on developing and 17 implementing solutions to address our 18 challenges and we're going to solve 19 them for the people of our city. 20 Because guess what you 21 deserve to see, and this is going to 22 sound like a novel idea. You deserve 23 to see your tax dollars at work in 24 your neighborhoods. And the way that 25 you can all see, touch and feel, you 124 1 deserve policies that come from the 2 ground up with the community involved 3 in every step of the way. 4 Gone are the days where we 5 spend our time and energy focused on 6 people, places and things that 7 encourage us to wallow in our woes. 8 Hear me, we will not feed into that. 9 As you heard me say we are proud 10 Philadelphians, and I hope you have 11 watched what we have been putting 12 down recently. 13 If you pick up that action 14 plan, you will also know that in 15 recent weeks we have assembled a team 16 of Cabinet members for my 17 Administration. And if you put them 18 together, this group of men and 19 women, they are bright, they are 20 sharp, they are focused and they all 21 share one common denominator. Guess 22 what they have in common. They all 23 have a can-do spirit. They have a 24 how spirit. They have a we must rid 25 our city of this culture of no in 125 1 everything that we are trying to 2 achieve. 3 I want to make sure people 4 know this. Nobody should ever come 5 to me and tell me, Cherelle, I don't 6 understand why we are changing the 7 way we sharpen the pencils. We've 8 been sharpening the pencils this way 9 for 35 years. And I sharpen 10 10 pencils a day using the rotary pencil 11 sharpener and this is the only way we 12 know how to sharpen pencils here in 13 the City of Philadelphia. I want you 14 to know that you will have lost my 15 attention. 16 (Applause.) 17 MAYOR PARKER: We must have a 18 mindset of how are we going to do 19 what I call GTY, how are we going to 20 get to yes. The first way to get to 21 yes is by doing this: You assemble a 22 team of public servants with national 23 reputations as experts in their 24 field, from policing and public 25 safety and organizational management 126 1 and finance and economics and so many 2 other areas. 3 And I'm proud that we've 4 appointed strong leaders with strong 5 ties and experience in the City of 6 Philadelphia. Someone said it's 7 interesting that a lot of these 8 people have lived here and worked 9 here already. I said, well, we 10 looked nationally. We just happened 11 to come up with the best, 12 most-qualified and connected 13 candidates who don't need a GPS to 14 make it to 52nd and Market Street. 15 They know how to get there. There is 16 so much work to be done and we cannot 17 wait to get started. 18 Public safety. In our first 19 100 days included in that plan, my 20 Administration will announce specific 21 plans to increase the number of 22 Philadelphia police officers on our 23 streets, listen, with the focus on 24 community policing citywide. Stop, 25 Cherelle, why is this important? In 127 1 every neighborhood in the City of 2 Philadelphia, remember Maya's quote. 3 We can't get angry because people who 4 live and work and own a business in 5 our city have told us on many 6 occasions that they don't feel safe 7 in their neighborhood and we can't be 8 angry at them because they have 9 publicly expressed to us how they 10 feel. 11 But this is what we can do. 12 We can tell them that we have a right 13 to do our best to work on rebuilding 14 trust between our police department 15 and communities who have a reason not 16 to trust, but to figure out by having 17 officers engaged in community 18 policing, walking the beat, riding 19 the bikes. Officers there as 20 guardians and not warriors, getting 21 to know the people that they are 22 sworn to protect and serve. 23 Listen, they're there because 24 they're making sure things are okay 25 on your commercial corridor or at 128 1 your rec center. They are there to 2 build proactive relationships with 3 you. And I didn't change my message 4 no matter where I went in the City. 5 And you know what, we can have both. 6 We can have community policing and 7 strengthen those police and community 8 relationships. And we can have 9 accountability at the same time where 10 we have zero tolerance for any misuse 11 and/or abuse of authority under the 12 Parker Administration for any law 13 enforcement official who does not 14 follow the rules. 15 Cherelle, how are you going 16 to do it? We heard you talk about 17 community policing. I'm also going 18 to declare a public safety emergency. 19 Yes, I am. 20 (Applause.) 21 MAYOR PARKER: We are going 22 to expeditiously get every available 23 resource into neighborhoods, listen, 24 struggle from scourges of crime, gun 25 violence, drugs and addiction. I 129 1 want you to know this: On a personal 2 note, nothing was more frustrating 3 for me on this campaign trail when I 4 was working to earn your support than 5 someone who said to me, Cherelle, we 6 think you lack compassion when you 7 talk about cleaning up the open air 8 drug markets that had existed in our 9 city. When you have talked about we 10 have to do that now, you don't sound 11 very compassionate. 12 I want to say to each of you 13 that our Police Commissioner Kevin 14 Bethel, he's going to deliver plans 15 for those crises and other crimes 16 like car theft, shoplifting, yes, 17 that retail theft and the illegal use 18 of ATVs that diminish our quality of 19 life. We're going to use a holistic 20 approach to end in our city the 21 crime, particularly the 22 quality-of-life crimes that we have 23 seen increase. But we are going to 24 have a holistic approach to 25 addressing public health and safety 130 1 in our city. 2 We're going to stay focused 3 on what you heard me refer to as the 4 PIE, prevention, intervention and 5 enforcement. But I want you to know 6 I'm not going to be afraid to make 7 those tough decisions. And if 8 somebody tells you that we think she 9 lacks compassion because she wants to 10 be too aggressive in cleaning the 11 open air dug market, you tell them to 12 think about whether or not they would 13 want their mother, father, sister, 14 brother or loved one on the streets 15 openly using intravenous drugs in 16 front of kids who have to walk by and 17 go to school, business owners who are 18 trying to survive and people in the 19 community who are saying, please just 20 don't forget about us. 21 We're going to have a 22 data-driven and research-based 23 approach that is put together by the 24 best law enforcement and public 25 health professionals that we can 131 1 find. But I want you to know 2 everybody is not going to be happy 3 when we make some of these decisions. 4 We're going to make our city safe for 5 the people who live here, who work 6 here and who come into our city from 7 the suburbs and from across the 8 country and from across the world. 9 Everybody's talking about 10 2026 and are you ready. If we don't 11 get our own house in order before a 12 company comes in, if we don't address 13 public safety, we won't be ready to 14 receive anybody in 2026. I want the 15 world to know that I am fully 16 committed to ending this sense of 17 lawlessness and bringing order back 18 to our city and a sense of 19 lawfulness. End lawlessness. Bring 20 order back and a sense of lawfulness 21 right here in our city. 22 We know that we can do it 23 when we partner with the community, 24 the partnerships come from the ground 25 up, but there has to be, there has to 132 1 be a sense that residents who live in 2 the City of Philadelphia no matter 3 their zip code deserve to have a high 4 quality of life in their 5 neighborhoods. 6 (Applause.) 7 MAYOR PARKER: I believe, 8 yes, I do believe that everybody 9 deserves that. Clean and green. If 10 you want to irk my nerves, let me 11 hear you call our city Filthadelphia. 12 We will launch a new approach to 13 addressing quality-of-life issues 14 like illegal short-dumping, cleaning 15 up litter and graffiti, fixing 16 potholes and removing abandoned cars. 17 And y'all know we're not 18 playing because guess what, with 19 those abandoned cars and tractor 20 trailers, we're going to be calling 21 our friends at the Philadelphia 22 Parking Authority. So that 23 intergovernmental collaboration that 24 we talk about, when you call us and 25 you get mad because a car has been 133 1 parked on your block and weeds are 2 growing through the car, it's been 3 there, there's no tags, and you get 4 frustrated that we, the 5 Councilmembers, those who are elected 6 to public office can't get it moved 7 fast enough, we are going to have 8 partnerships. 9 And, Mayor John Street, you 10 should be proud because if there was 11 anything that I know people 12 remembered from your tenure in your 13 office, they will say we will never 14 forget Mayor Street removing all of 15 those abandoned cars from the City of 16 Philadelphia neighborhoods. So we're 17 going to have our clean and green 18 initiatives. And when we do that, 19 abandon car removal will be a part of 20 it. 21 But we are also going to 22 expand a successful neighborhood- 23 based commercial corridor cleaning 24 program called PHL Taking Care of 25 Business. Yeah, I'm really, really 134 1 excited and proud about that. We're 2 going to organize government in the 3 community and businesses to 4 collaboratively clean up our 5 neighborhoods, beautify our streets 6 and work towards a more sustainable 7 future all with an eye towards 8 environmental justice for underserved 9 and underresourced communities. 10 Now, on housing, we are going 11 to create a one-front-door 12 opportunity for residents to access 13 all City-run home improvement 14 programs in one place at one time 15 through one application. We will 16 develop a vision of what I refer to 17 as affordable luxury, that is, 18 affordable homes with high-end 19 fixtures for homeowners and renters. 20 We're going to preserve and 21 build more affordable housing. And I 22 talked about a goal of building 23 30,000 more units of housing. And 24 we're going to provide more support 25 for small businesses. Now, we're 135 1 going to also do this and you -- no, 2 that's something to be excited about. 3 (Applause.) 4 MAYOR PARKER: Because what 5 I'm about to say next, some people 6 are going to say, is this really 7 going to get done. We've already 8 started this. We're going to order a 9 top-to-bottom review of the City's 10 Land Bank to better understand the 11 challenges of developing vacant and 12 City-owned property. And we're going 13 to work to improve that process. 14 If you're like me, I think 15 it's unconscionable that we can have 16 City-owned land and talk about having 17 an affordable housing complex. We 18 have to do what I've learned how to 19 do, bring everybody to the table at 20 one time. That means we have to call 21 our state partners and say, please 22 bring PHFA to the table. Call our 23 federal partners and say, please 24 bring HUD to the table. We need our 25 Office of Planning and Development at 136 1 the table and every office associated 2 with the City. 3 And we have to be intentional 4 about ensuring that the same ole 5 actors who have gotten an opportunity 6 to develop these very own properties 7 and build wealth by developing these 8 properties in the Land Bank, that 9 long-term owner-occupants, 10 particularly Black and Brown people 11 who live in neighborhoods throughout 12 our city, they too deserve access to 13 the opportunity to become developers 14 and build wealth in their City. 15 (Applause.) 16 MAYOR PARKER: It's not an 17 either-or. If we work together, it's 18 an and. We'll need the Building 19 Trades. We will again need all of 20 our federal, state and local partners 21 and we're going to need the best and 22 the brightest housing counseling 23 agencies. And quite frankly, members 24 of the development community who are 25 interested and make a solemn 137 1 commitment that they do want to be a 2 part of growing the future of 3 Philadelphia. 4 Next, we want to talk about 5 economic opportunity. People have 6 often asked me how and why do you 7 think you'll stand in a day. I'm 8 standing because my education and my 9 village and my training helped to put 10 me on a path to self-sufficiency. We 11 want all people on a path to self- 12 sufficiency here in the City of 13 Philadelphia, but they can't do that 14 without access to an economic 15 opportunity, a career, learning new 16 skills so that they can earn a living 17 wage, have health care, earn 18 retirement security and take care of 19 their families. And I want each and 20 every one of you who are here today 21 to know that we can't do that without 22 the business community. 23 I've been so frustrated over 24 the past few years at times when I've 25 seen this us versus them attitude as 138 1 it relates to businesses as if 2 Philadelphia doesn't need businesses 3 open here in our city. When you take 4 a look at our revenue that we 5 generate to pay bills here in the 6 City of Philadelphia and you realize 7 what a significant contribution wage, 8 business privilege and net profits 9 tax bring here in the City of 10 Philadelphia, you know we need to do 11 what I'm about to state for the 12 record. 13 We're going to -- within our 14 first 100 days, we're going to 15 announce our PHL Open for Business 16 Initiative that is going to do, and I 17 hope you get this, exactly what the 18 Council President noted in his 19 remarks. We're going to reduce the 20 red tape that it takes and how it 21 makes it harder to do business here 22 in our city, by requiring every 23 department to submit to my office a 24 list of the unnecessary permits and 25 regulations that we can eliminate so 139 1 that we can make it easier for you to 2 do business here in the City of 3 Philadelphia. 4 (Applause.) 5 MAYOR PARKER: So while I've 6 seen a lot of people over the years 7 stand up and give great speeches, 8 I've always been a tangible-based 9 outcome person. On day 1, we want 10 the business community to know that 11 Philadelphia is officially open for 12 business. We are open for business 13 here in the City of Philadelphia. 14 This is also something that 15 we're going to do. We're going to 16 eliminate the college degree 17 requirements for many City of 18 Philadelphia jobs so that people with 19 real-lived life experiences, that 20 they can lend their expertise toward 21 making our city better and open the 22 door for those good-paying job 23 opportunities, listen, right here in 24 the City of Philadelphia government. 25 We can do that now. 140 1 We've done that. We've 2 started to do that already here in 3 the City of Philadelphia for some 4 employment opportunities, but we must 5 do that across the board. We can 6 follow in the footsteps of Maryland 7 along with our great Commonwealth and 8 our Governor Josh Shapiro. But we 9 want to make sure that we remove any 10 barriers to access to opportunities 11 that don't allow our people to be put 12 on a path to self-sufficiency. 13 We are really excited about 14 this agenda. We're excited about 15 under economic opportunity having 16 something that we never had in the 17 City of Philadelphia before. People 18 seem to have us focused on measuring 19 these numbers in diversity, equity 20 and inclusion. And a lady name Della 21 Clarke and a guy named Harold Epps 22 are beating me over the head all of 23 the time saying, if you don't make it 24 somebody's job to monitor the success 25 of minority-owned businesses, we will 141 1 never be able to advance and make the 2 case for the capital that we need, 3 because it's not another program. 4 It's access to capital to move these 5 businesses along. 6 So we're going to be focused 7 on minority business success. We 8 will have a direct appointment to the 9 Office of the Mayor, and we will 10 convene our business roundtable. And 11 we're going to bring together local, 12 state and federal officials along 13 with our business leaders who have a 14 stake in the economic success of our 15 city so that we can tap into the 16 intellectual resources of 17 Philadelphia and truly try to create 18 economic opportunities for everyone. 19 As it relates to education, I 20 sat on a campaign trail, and I mean 21 this wholeheartedly, we're going to 22 develop a comprehensive strategy to 23 provide meaningful out-of-school 24 programs and job opportunities for 25 students outside of regular school 142 1 hours. 2 We're going to prepare 3 strategy for school building 4 modernization and work closely with 5 the School District on its own plan 6 for school facilities. Listen, you 7 heard me say I'm a teacher. Our 8 children have the same right to come 9 to school and receive a 21st century 10 education in a clean, modern school 11 building with state-of-the-art 12 facilities and equipment as does any 13 other child anywhere in this 14 Commonwealth. 15 And I don't care if they go 16 to a traditional public or charter or 17 parochial school. Well, we know what 18 our obligation is to traditional 19 public schools. It won't be an us 20 versus them. We're going to be 21 focused on building quality seats and 22 we're going to be focused on 23 listening to the people who are doing 24 the work on a daily basis who are in 25 our classrooms. Our teachers, our 143 1 administrators, the people on the 2 ground up so that they can provide us 3 with guidance and instruction on what 4 we need to give them in the classroom 5 so that we can be successful. 6 Why is this important? 7 Because that's the only way we're 8 going to be able to keep our schools 9 open from 7:30 in the morning to 10 6:00 p.m. at night year-round. I 11 want you to imagine the academic 12 enrichment programs and the job 13 programs, the workforce development, 14 again the Building Trades. If we're 15 building new schools, training our 16 children to build those schools, if 17 we're building new houses, affordable 18 units on market rate, how about 19 training our young people to be 20 prepared for those opportunities. 21 We have exceptional colleges 22 and universities, so that high school 23 graduates are ready to enter the 24 workforce. If we don't find a way to 25 have this out-of-school-time 144 1 training, we're going to miss a great 2 opportunity to train our next 3 generation of leaders. What does the 4 longer hours mean? It means that 5 parents who are working, they don't 6 have to worry about trying to juggle 7 childcare and earn a living to 8 support their family at the same 9 time. 10 They don't have to feel 11 guilty about I want to take these 12 hours of overtime, but I need to get 13 to school to pick up my child at the 14 same time. We're going to do 15 outreach, allowing my team and I to 16 hear directly from those teachers and 17 counselors and those principals on 18 how to best attract, retain and how 19 to support them. 20 And we're going to seek out 21 committed citizens, and I want you to 22 hear me clearly, to serve our 23 students as members of the School 24 Board. Someone said, Cherelle, 25 you're shouting that out loud but 145 1 they don't get paid. It's one of the 2 most important acts of public service 3 that you could ever contribute to the 4 City of Philadelphia. And we just 5 need more people to consider having 6 access to the opportunity and not 7 only those people who can afford to 8 sort of mount some kind of campaign. 9 We need those of you who are 10 in this audience and Philadelphians 11 from across this City who have a 12 passion and some academic and 13 educational experience and real-life 14 lived experience as it relates to 15 public education to want to be able 16 to help us with this effort. 17 The final issue that I want 18 to talk to you all about is something 19 that I mentioned that I wasn't sure a 20 lot of people understood. I like 21 things to be organized. And I have 22 never seen here in the City of 23 Philadelphia an organized structure 24 that allowed the Administration to 25 work directly with the business 146 1 community, the faith-based community 2 and the intergovernmental community. 3 We will be establishing three 4 roundtables and these three 5 roundtables will each have working 6 groups, subject matter experts, for 7 example, the growth and life sciences 8 and biotech, institutions of higher 9 learning, our Chambers of Commerce, 10 workforce development training 11 programs. We want to bring all of 12 these entities together. 13 The people who will be 14 announced very shortly who have been 15 selected to become a part of the 16 Mayor's business roundtable we will 17 announce them shortly, but we are 18 going to lean on this group of 19 individuals along with the business 20 community at large to help us solicit 21 and develop better ideas for how City 22 Hall can serve all of the different 23 constituencies and needs of our 24 diverse city. 25 Let me be clear again, these 147 1 roundtables will have active vehicles 2 to make and implement new policy in 3 this City. So we want your ideas on 4 how we can be more successful. We 5 hope you will listen to our cause for 6 your leadership to participate and 7 that you will definitely respond. 8 I want you to know that I 9 know this is a lot that we've 10 promised. All this we promise, we do 11 and more. And I believe in a city 12 government that our people can see, 13 touch and feel with visible actions 14 helping people at the neighborhood 15 level, we want a government that can 16 scale impact, take a solid program, 17 expand what works, tweak what doesn't 18 and serve more Philadelphians. 19 We want a revival a few 20 blocks from here at City Hall, a City 21 Hall that brings out the best of 22 Philly with a more efficient 23 government, one that hears people, is 24 an employer of choice and relies on 25 intergovernmental collaboration to 148 1 bring more resources to our city. 2 There will no longer be a 3 tale of two cities in Philadelphia. 4 We are going to close the gap between 5 the haves and the have-nots. We're 6 going to put people on the path of 7 self-sufficiency. And what we're 8 going to do is work on giving people 9 the ability to take care of 10 themselves. 11 On this day I'm asking you to 12 help me again. You helped me get 13 here and stand before you today 14 during this history-making moment. 15 And I don't want you to judge me 16 solely by what I'm about to say, but 17 I need your help one more time. I 18 pronounce that I'm not superwoman. I 19 can't do this alone. We need each 20 and every one of you to be engaged. 21 When you get a call from your 22 City government asking you to serve 23 on a committee or on a board, 24 especially when it comes time for us 25 to get into neighborhoods and we talk 149 1 about having our faith-based 2 roundtables, conduct our information 3 meetings about educational and 4 employment opportunities with the 5 City of Philadelphia, we need those 6 blocks organized and we need you 7 engaged. And it's going to take all 8 of us, the entire City. 9 With that being said, 10 Philadelphia, I want people of you 11 every race, class, socioeconomic 12 status and gender, every religion all 13 coming together. I know you will 14 join me. I have all of the hope in 15 the world that you will join me. I 16 hope you've been feeling a sense of 17 renewed energy. 18 People have said it to me, 19 Cherelle, we feel something that we 20 haven't felt in the City of 21 Philadelphia in a very, very, very 22 long time. And I said to them, thank 23 you. But if you don't want that 24 feeling to go away, you got to make 25 sure you're willing to roll up your 150 1 sleeves and go to work with us. 2 Philadelphia, I thank you so 3 very much for this opportunity. I 4 want you all to say this with me. 5 Now, you've heard it referenced 6 today. The vision was safer, 7 cleaner, greener with access to 8 economic opportunity for all. But if 9 we all work together, I said that we 10 would be working to build one Philly, 11 a city united. But it's not real 12 unless you say it with me. 13 Everybody put your 1s in the 14 air. Let me hear you all say, One 15 Philly, a united city. 16 (One Philly, a united city.) 17 MAYOR PARKER: I love you, 18 Philly, and together we're going to 19 get to work. Thank you. 20 (Standing ovation.) 21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 22 Let's give the next 100th Mayor of 23 the City of Philadelphia another real 24 big round of applause please. 25 (Applause.) 151 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 2 So we have a couple of housekeeping 3 items. We're not done just yet. I 4 want to take a moment to acknowledge 5 Mayor Shawyn Paterson who traveled 6 from -- Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard 7 of Mt. Vernon, New York, who is head 8 of the African American Mayors 9 Association who came here today to 10 support Mayor Cherelle Parker. Can 11 we give him a round of applause. 12 (Applause.) 13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 14 want to also circle back and 15 acknowledge again and thank the 16 Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, past 17 National President of Delta Sigma 18 Theta Sorority, Inc., former Mayor, 19 former Congresswoman and current 20 Secretary of the United States 21 Department of Housing and Urban 22 Development for taking time out of 23 her schedule and being here today. 24 Let's give her another round of 25 applause. 152 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 At this time, I want to remind Bible- 4 holders to please follow the program. 5 We will swear in the retention judges 6 of the Common Pleas Court. Next, 7 followed by newly-elected judges of 8 the Common Pleas Court. 9 If you are participating in 10 this part of the program, please make 11 your way to the stage alongside the 12 aisle on the right side of the venue 13 as you face the stage and follow the 14 signs for further direction. 15 But next we have another 16 performance by Enon Baptist Choir. 17 Let's give them a round of applause. 18 (Applause.) 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 And they will be performing "Even 21 me." 22 (Enon Tabernacle Baptist 23 Church Mass Choir performs.) 24 (Applause.) 25 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 153 1 want to thank the Enon Tabernacle 2 Baptist Church Mass Choir for that 3 performance. 4 At this time, I now invite 5 Archbishop Nelson Perez of the 6 Archdiocese of Philadelphia to offer 7 a prayer for our city. 8 ARCHBISHOP PEREZ: Together 9 let us pray. 10 A good and loving God. We, 11 the people of the City of 12 Philadelphia, come before you to 13 bless your name and ask your favor 14 upon us. We bless and praise you, 15 Almighty God, for the new government 16 leadership in our city, especially 17 for our new Mayor Cherelle Parker. 18 With the longstanding values 19 of religious tolerance, cultural 20 pluralism, liberty of conscious of 21 William Penn who stands on top of 22 City Hall, will be the hallmark of 23 our Administration as they have 24 guided the City from its beginning to 25 its presence. 154 1 We ask you, Almighty God, 2 with this new year and a new Mayor 3 and those who will govern with her to 4 bring peace to our streets and end to 5 violence in our neighborhoods. May 6 the poor, the unsheltered, the 7 marginalized be provided the services 8 they need to live with dignity. 9 May good order, justice and 10 regard for all the rights of all 11 become the common project of those 12 who govern and those who are 13 governed. May all in this City have 14 hope and a future filled with great 15 promise. We make this prayer with 16 every confidence of the nearness of 17 God to all people. Amen. 18 (Amen.) 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 Give Archbishop Perez a round of 21 applause. 22 (Applause.) 23 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 24 just want to remind everyone to 25 please keep your voices down because 155 1 we are still officiating and 2 swearing-in of other elected 3 officials. 4 At this time, Chair now 5 invites the newly-elected officials 6 to take the oath of office in the 7 presence of City Council, the Mayor 8 and other dignitaries. Would the 9 retention judges of the Common Pleas 10 Court please rise and take the oath 11 of office. The Clerk will read the 12 certificates of elections for the 13 retention judges for the Commonwealth 14 of the Court of Common Pleas. 15 CHIEF CLERK: Jacqueline F. 16 Allen, Giovanni O. Campbell, Anne 17 Marie B. Coyle, Ramy I. Djerassi, Joe 18 Fernandes, Holly J. Ford, J. Scott 19 O'Keefe, Paula A. Patrick, Sierra 20 Thomas Street and Nina Wright 21 Padilla, at an election held November 22 7, 2023, you were duly retained Judge 23 of the Common Pleas of Philadelphia 24 County for a ten-year term, 25 commencing the first Monday of 156 1 January 2024. 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 The Honorable Nina Wright Padilla, 4 President Judge of the Common Pleas 5 Court of Philadelphia will administer 6 the oath of office. 7 JUDGE WRIGHT PADILLA: Thank 8 you. Please place your left hand on 9 the Bible and raise your right hand 10 and repeat after me. 11 (Oath of office 12 administered.) 13 JUDGE WRIGHT PADILLA: 14 Felicidades. Congratulations. 15 (Applause.) 16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 17 Congratulations, everyone. 18 The Chair now invites the 19 newly-elected judges of the Common 20 Pleas Court to please rise and take 21 the oath of office. The Clerk will 22 read the certificates of election for 23 the newly-elected judges of the Court 24 of Common Pleas. 25 CHIEF CLERK: Jessica Brown, 157 1 James J. Eisenhower, Damaris Garcia, 2 Chesley Lightsey, Brian J. 3 McLaughlin, John Padova, Elvin P. 4 Ross, Rajinderpal Singh Sandher, 5 Natasha Taylor-Smith, Caroline 6 Turner, Tamika Washington, Samantha 7 J. Williams and Kay Yu, at an 8 election held November 7, 2023 you 9 were duly-elected Judge of the Court 10 of Common Pleas for the Philadelphia 11 County for a ten-year term, 12 commencing the first Monday of 13 January 2024. 14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 15 Judge Nina Padilla Wright will 16 administer the oath of office. 17 JUDGE WRIGHT PADILLA: Thank 18 you. Please excuse my back. Please 19 place your left hand on the Bible. 20 Raise your right hand and repeat 21 after me. 22 (Oath of office 23 administered.) 24 JUDGE WRIGHT PADILLA: 25 Felicidades. Congratulations. 158 1 (Applause.) 2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 3 Congratulations, everyone. 4 At this time, I will remind 5 Bible-holders that we will swear in 6 the retention judges of the Municipal 7 Court. Next, followed by the 8 newly-elected judges of the Municipal 9 Court. 10 If you are participating in 11 these parts of the program, please 12 make your way to the stage along the 13 aisle on the right side of the venue 14 as you face the stage and follow the 15 signs for further direction. 16 The Chair now invites the 17 retention judges of the Municipal 18 Court of Philadelphia to stand and 19 take the oath of office. The Clerk 20 will please read the certificate of 21 election for the retention judges of 22 the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. 23 CHIEF CLERK: Marissa 24 Brumbach, William A. Meehan, Jr., 25 Bradley K. Moss, David C. Shuter, 159 1 Karen Yvette Simmons and Marvin Louis 2 Williams, at an election held 3 November 7, 2023 you were duly 4 retained Judge of the Municipal Court 5 of Philadelphia County for a six-year 6 term, commencing the first Monday of 7 January 2024. 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 9 The Honorable Patrick Dugan, 10 President Judge of the Philadelphia 11 Municipal Court will administer the 12 oath of office. 13 JUDGE DUGAN: Yes, we're 14 going to wait for a Bible-holder 15 please. Chaz, Chaz Simmons, we need 16 you. 17 Give Chaz a round of 18 applause. 19 (Applause.) 20 JUDGE DUGAN: Judges, place 21 your left hand on the Bible. Raise 22 your right hand and repeat after me. 23 (Oath of office 24 administered.) 25 JUDGE DUGAN: 160 1 Congratulations. 2 (Applause.) 3 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 4 Congratulations. 5 The Chair now invites the 6 newly-elected judges of the Municipal 7 Court of Philadelphia to stand and 8 take the oath of office. The Clerk 9 will please read the certificates of 10 election for the newly-elected judges 11 of the Municipal Court of 12 Philadelphia. 13 CHIEF CLERK: Colleen 14 McIntyre Osborne and Barbara Susan 15 Thomson, at an election held November 16 7, 2023, you were duly-elected Judge 17 of the Municipal Court of 18 Philadelphia for a six-year term, 19 commencing the first Monday of 20 January 2024. 21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 22 The Honorable Judge Dugan will 23 administer the oath of office. 24 JUDGE DUGAN: Place your left 25 hand on the Bible. Raise your right 161 1 hand and repeat after me. 2 (Oath of office 3 administered.) 4 JUDGE DUGAN: 5 Congratulations. 6 (Applause.) 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 8 At this time, I will remind 9 Bible-holders that we will swear in 10 the City Commissioners next, followed 11 by the Sheriff, the City Controller 12 and the Register of Wills in that 13 order. 14 If you are participating in 15 these parts of the program, please 16 make your way to the stage along the 17 aisle on the right side of the venue 18 as you face the stage and follow the 19 signs for further direction. Thank 20 you. 21 The Chair now invites the 22 City Commissioners to stand as their 23 names are called. They are Lisa M. 24 Deeley, Omar Sabir and Seth 25 Bluesteen -- Bluestein. The Chief 162 1 Clerk will read the certificates of 2 election for the City Commissioners. 3 CHIEF CLERK: Lisa M. Deeley, 4 Omar Sabir and Seth Bluestein, at an 5 election held November 7, 2023 you 6 were duly-elected City Commissioners 7 of Philadelphia County for a term of 8 four years, commencing the first 9 Monday of January 2024. 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 The Carolyn H. Nichols, Judge of 12 Pennsylvania Superior Court, will 13 administer the oath of office. 14 JUDGE NICHOLS: Good 15 afternoon. Everybody ready? 16 (Yes.) 17 JUDGE NICHOLS: All right. 18 Place your left hand on the Holy 19 Book. Raise your right hand and 20 repeat after me. 21 (Oath of office 22 administered.) 23 JUDGE NICHOLS: 24 Congratulations. 25 (Applause.) 163 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 2 Congratulations. 3 The Chair invites the newly- 4 elected Sheriff of Philadelphia, 5 Rochelle Bilal, to stand and take the 6 oath of office. The Clerk will 7 please read the certificate of 8 election for the Sheriff of 9 Philadelphia. 10 CHIEF CLERK: Rochelle Bilal, 11 at an election held November 7, 2023 12 you were duly-elected Sheriff of the 13 City of Philadelphia for a four-year 14 term, commencing the first Monday of 15 January 2024. 16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 17 Judge Nichols will administer the 18 oath of office. 19 JUDGE NICHOLS: All ready? 20 (Yes.) 21 JUDGE NICHOLS: All right. 22 Place your left hand on book of 23 choice, the Holy Book. Raise your 24 right hand and repeat after me. 25 (Oath of office 164 1 administered.) 2 JUDGE NICHOLS: 3 Congratulations. 4 (Applause.) 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 6 Congratulations, Sheriff. 7 The Chair now invites Christy 8 Brady, City Controller, to stand to 9 take her oath of office. The Chief 10 Clerk will read the certificate of 11 election for the City Controller. 12 CHIEF CLERK: Christy Brady, 13 at an election held November 7, 2023, 14 you were duly-elected City Controller 15 of the City of Philadelphia for a 16 four-year term, commencing the first 17 Monday of January 2024. 18 JUDGE NICHOLS: Everybody 19 ready? 20 (Yes.) 21 JUDGE NICHOLS: All right. 22 Place your left hand on the Bible. 23 Raise your right hand and repeat 24 after me. 25 (Oath of office 165 1 administered.) 2 JUDGE NICHOLS: 3 Congratulations. 4 (Applause.) 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 6 Congratulations. 7 The Chair now invites John 8 Sabatina, Register of Wills, to stand 9 and take the oath of office. The 10 Chief Clerk will read the 11 certification of election for the 12 Register of Wills. That's actually 13 John Sabatina, Sr. 14 CHIEF CLERK: John Sabatina, 15 Sr., at an election held November 7, 16 2023, you were duly-elected Register 17 of Wills of the City of Philadelphia 18 for a four-year term, commencing the 19 first Monday of January 2024. 20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 21 The oath of office will be 22 administered to the Register of Wills 23 by his son, the Honorable John 24 Sabatina, Jr., Judge of the Common 25 Pleas Court of Philadelphia. 166 1 JUDGE SABATINA: Thank you. 2 Thank you. Please place your left 3 hand on the Bible. Raise your right 4 and repeat after me. 5 (Oath of office 6 administered.) 7 JUDGE SABATINA: 8 Congratulations. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 Congratulations. And also, 12 congratulations to all of the newly- 13 elected officials today. 14 At this time, we have a 15 special musical presentation for our 16 newly-elected Mayor. In honor of 17 Mayor Parker's historic win as the 18 first woman Mayor of the City of 19 Philadelphia, we invited the 20 Philadelphia Girls Choir to perform a 21 special mel -- melody musical 22 arrangement. In the past, the 23 Philadelphia Boys Choir has always 24 performed at previous inaugurations. 25 This will be the first time 167 1 the Philadelphia Girls Choir is 2 joining us, and we felt the choir's 3 inaugural performance before the 4 first female Mayor of our city. 5 Please join me in welcoming the 6 Philadelphia Girl's Choir to perform 7 "Rise up & Stand For Something," 8 arranged by Dr. Tony Hall, Adjunct 9 Music Instructor at Cheyney and 10 Lincoln Universities and Philadelphia 11 Girl's Choir Music Director Nathan 12 Wadley. The choir is being directed 13 this morning by Associate Music 14 Director Laura Harmon. 15 Let's give these young ladies 16 a real big round of applause. 17 (Applause.) 18 (Philadelphia Girls Choir 19 performs.) 20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 21 Let's give them a real big round of 22 applause, y'all. That's our future. 23 (Applause.) 24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 25 At this time, the Chair now invites 168 1 Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, 2 Presiding Bishop and President of the 3 Philadelphia Council of Clergy to 4 give a final prayer. I ask all 5 members and guests to please stand 6 for the benediction. 7 ARCHBISHOP FLOYD PALMER: Let 8 us bow our heads. 9 It is because of your mercy, 10 God, that we are not consumed. They 11 are new, every morning great is your 12 faithfulness. For this day ordained 13 by you that we are here to witness, 14 we thank you. 15 We ask continued protection 16 and wisdom over our beloved Mayor. 17 Our elected members of City Council 18 along with its leader, the Council 19 President, all of the judges to 20 maintain fairness and to exact 21 justice with mercy. 22 For all of the other elected 23 officials, our Sheriff, our Register 24 of Wills, our City Commissioners and 25 our Controller, we thank you for them 169 1 and their oath and public pledge to 2 serve with fidelity. Now, God, we 3 have spent our time well. We thank 4 you for this moment in history and we 5 give you praise. 6 May the Lord bless you and 7 keep you. May the Lord make his face 8 to shine upon you and be gracious 9 unto you. May the Lord lift his 10 countenance upon you and give you 11 peace. May the Lord preserve you 12 from all evil if you're going out and 13 you're coming in, in your rising and 14 in your setting so that goodness and 15 mercy will follow on the days of your 16 life. And for that we say God bless 17 you. In the name of the Father, our 18 creator, in the name of the Son, 19 Jesus, my Savior whom I live, move 20 and have my being. In the name of 21 the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost 22 that covers and keep us. Amen, amen 23 and amen. God bless you. 24 (Amen.) 25 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 170 1 Thank you, Archbishop, for your 2 inspiring words. Can everyone please 3 be seated. 4 Our final musical selection 5 today is the Monumental Baptist 6 Church Choir who will perform 7 "America the Beautiful." The choir 8 is directed by Minister Gary Taylor. 9 (Monumental Baptist Church 10 Choir performs.) 11 (Applause.) 12 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I 13 don't think I've heard that one 14 before. Remind me of Marvin Gaye. 15 Let's give them another round of 16 applause please, the Monumental 17 Baptist Church Choir. 18 (Applause.) 19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 20 As we conclude the ceremony, I want 21 to thank the Inaugural Committees, 22 specifically Wendy Prescott as well 23 as Mary Ellen. I want to give them a 24 shout-out for taking the lead and 25 organizing this event and for 171 1 everyone who participated in making 2 this day a success. 3 I want to also ask for -- say 4 I want to personally just say 5 congratulations to all my colleagues. 6 Let's give them a round of applause 7 for being re-elected for their 8 election. 9 (Applause.) 10 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 11 And also, let's give our Mayor 12 Cherelle Parker another round of 13 applause. 14 (Applause.) 15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 16 The Chair now recognizes Majority 17 Leader Councilmember Katherine 18 Gilmore Richardson. 19 COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 20 RICHARDSON: Thank you, 21 Mr. President. I move that Council 22 stand adjourned until Thursday, 23 January 25th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 24 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Second. 25 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 172 1 Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass. 2 COUNCILWOMAN BASS: Thank 3 you, Mr. President. I second the 4 motion. 5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 6 It has been moved and properly 7 seconded that the Council stand 8 adjourned until Thursday, January 9 25th of 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 10 All in favor, let it be known 11 by saying aye. 12 (Aye.) 13 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 14 Those opposed? 15 (No response.) 16 COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: 17 The ayes have it, and this Council 18 stands adjourned until Thursday, 19 January 25th of 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 20 Thank you very much. And 21 congratulations, everyone. 22 (Applause.) 23 (Stated Meeting adjourned at 24 2:15 p.m.) 25 173 1 C E R T I F I C A T I O N 2 I, hereby certify that the proceedings 3 and evidence noted are contained fully and 4 accurately in the stenographic notes taken by 5 me in the foregoing matter, and that this is 6 a correct transcript of the same. 7 8 9 10 11 __________________________________ 12 TANEHA CARROLL Court Reporter - Notary Public 13 14 15 16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this 19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction 20 of the same by any means, unless under the 21 direct control and/or supervision of the 22 certifying reporter.) 23 24 25 ..Body ..End