It has been and properly seconded that Resolution No. 990041 be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and Resolution No. 990041 stands approved. Councilman Nutter, did you want to be recognized?
Today, we have a special presentation under our special order of business. Today, we honor Councilwoman Augusta Clark, a longtime Councilperson who has put her heart and soul into the matters of this HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK body. Gussie, you have been a true lady and a wonderful friend, whose class, charm, and winning smile have made you a very popular figure here in Council. As an able Majority Whip, Gussie worked closely with me on many important issues, always willing to share her invaluable experience and expertise. Her clever quips and one-liners have caused all of us to laugh on occasion. To me, she is one of the finest public servants that I have been privileged to know. I will always hold her in high regard as a positive reflection of this outstanding Council. Gussie, today, we wish you well. I bid you much success and offer this tribute. You have always been a decent and fair leader, one whose influence and abiding respect will linger in these halls long after you are gone from here. Know that this will always be your home and that you are always welcome to come back at any time. And I assure you that Council will never be the same without you. However, I pray HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK that God will bless you with continued good health and much happiness. We're all going to miss you very much.
And at this time, I would ask my colleagues Councilwoman Tasco and all of the other Councilmembers to please come forward to make a presentation to our dear colleague, Augusta Clark. (All Councilmembers come forward.)
Councilwoman? Let's make room for Gussie; she hasn't left yet.
This is, indeed, a very sad day for us. We have this resolution for you, Gussie, and then after this resolution, we are going to return to our seats, and everybody has something good to say about you.
So we're standing here today to give you a resolution because you have given so many through the years. We are real pleased as your colleagues to present this HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK resolution that begins by saying: Whereas, Augusta Clark, born in Alabama and raised in West Virginia, came to City Council in 1980, after earning a business degree from West Virginia State College, a master's degree from Drexel University, and a JD from Temple University School of Law; and. . .
Whereas, Councilwoman Clark came into government during a tumultuous time of struggle, change, and reform. She joined the fray as a consistent advocate for education and chaired the Education Committee for a dozen years. . .
And during that time, she became increasingly convinced that economic development was directly linked to equal rights, and fought for justice for women, people of color, and even for whole neighborhoods; and. . .
My friend. And whereas, Mrs. Clark currently serves as the Majority Whip, a position which has enabled her to manage and steer legislation and policy through her leadership role among her colleagues. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK
In addition, she chairs the Committee on Public Property and Public Works, and is an active participant in other major committees of this Council; and. . .
Whereas, for her continuing commitment to the best possible quality of life for all of the citizens of this city, the Councilwoman has received awards and tributes far too numerous to list.
They include two honorary doctorate degrees, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Service, the Drexel University Centennial Medal, the Finer Womanhood Award of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, and many others.
Additionally, in spite of her legislative responsibilities, Councilwoman Clark has still found the time and energy to devote to numerous civic and social organizations, all of which have benefitted from her skill and experience; and. . .
Whereas, during her long tenure as a legislator in this City Council,, Councilwoman Augusta Clark has become something of a legend. She may correct our grammar or our HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK manners or our point of view, she may be a loving friend in social situations or a truly fierce warrior in the promulgation of a position.
She may use the bully pulpit for cajole or struggle, but make no mistake, she is the most dedicated and committed legislator and she loves Philadelphia in an active and involved way, thus making it a better, more humanistic and more compassionate place for all of us; and. . .
Whereas, Augusta Alexander Clark has brought enormous pride to her family, benefit to her city, and distinction to this Council. We are saddened by her decision to retire.
And, yet, we know that the Good Lord is not done with her yet, and we expect to see her in these halls and elsewhere, involved as ever, doing the good work for which she is so well known and highly respected. Now, therefore. . .
. . . resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia that we hereby pay tribute to our colleague and friend, HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK the Honorable Augusta A. Gussie Clark.
And we thank her for her years of friendship, sensitivity, wit, and wisdom, and we publicly recognize her contributions to her city and to her community.
And finally resolved that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Councilwoman Augusta A. Clark as evidence of the highest esteem and sincere affection of this legislative body. Certification that this is a true and correct copy of the original resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, on the 16th day of December, 1999. It is signed by Anna Verna, President of City Council, introduced by Marian B. Tasco, and it is signed by all Members of City Council. We love you, Gussie, and we'll miss you. (Applause.)
Councilwoman Clark, I think that some of our colleagues would like to express their feelings about you, so maybe they could all take their seats and be recognized. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK
Thank you, Madam President. I'm sure that this will only be the first in a long line of speakers. I have clearly learned a great deal from Councilwoman Clark -- or as we often referred to her as, Gussie -- both here on the floor in the Council and outside of this body, at numerous meetings and activities, and sometimes literally in her living room, where anytime you go over Councilwoman Clark's house, after hello, the first thing she says is, You want something to eat, you want something to drink? Notwithstanding her leaving us here today, I assume that those privileges still extend to all of us as we come by. In terms of her legislative activities and just kind of floor management and committee activity, I will never forget the first time I heard the Councilwoman, in the course of some debate or some argument on the floor, make the HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK point to someone that the speech of the day was a difference between free speech and cheap talk. That is one of the better ones. She has some others, some which we may not be able to repeat here today. But I have enjoyed working with her and knowing her prior to my time here in City Council, but the last eight years have really been great. And I just want to say thank you for everything.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to let everyone in on the secret here. Gussie's actually my cousin on my mother's side. (Laughter.)
My mother's maiden name was Clark, spelled the same. And Gussie didn't want to tell anybody that 'cause everybody would figure we would always vote the same. And I've been known to lose my temper -- not in public, not that I would ever do that. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK But many times in private, while most of the people in Council are afraid to talk to me when that happens, well, that's why Gussie is always the one to come to me to say, Rick, stop it. Rick, calm down. So I asked Gussie today, who does this after she leaves? 'cause I think she had some kind of deal with my mother. And I found out recently that her father was a coal miner from West Virginia. And my grandfather was a coal miner from Shamokin, Pennsylvania, so beside being related, we have that in common. So I don't know who that job goes to, who gets to talk to me off the record -- that was Gussie's job, but I will miss her like the best friend I ever had in Council. So Gussie, you know, please come around. And like Councilman Nutter, I like the food and the free drinks, so I'll be over to your house too. Thank you. Thanks for being here.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
I go back with HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK Gussie to years before City Council, before either of us were in this body. And one things that is something that is not known is that we also share fraternity or sororities. I am a Zeta Phi Beta. Everybody doesn't know that, but I am a member of the Zeta Phi Beta fraternity of the University of Puerto Rico. But Gussie has always be been a person that has spoken her mind. As they say in Puerto Rico (Councilman speaks in Spanish) -- I'll translate it later for the stenographer. But it says that her words are her armaments. She uses the English language like very few people have ever done and very few people have ever used it in this Council. When she speaks, it truly paints pictures of the ideas that she wants to express. I am very glad to have called her my friend. She has graced us with her presence and her language and her words. And I want to thank her for our friendship. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK President. Not too long ago, I met a man who was a friend of my parents', and he said to me, I hated the way your parents raised, it used to drive me crazy. And I said, Well, why is that? And he said, Because your parents let you express your opinion on anything you wanted to at the dinner table, at parties with adults. Whether it was sports or religion or politics, they let you speak your mind. And I'll tell ya, sometimes at dinner at my house, it got a little loud, it got a little angry, and it got a little crazy. But for the past eight years, I have felt at times that I was sitting across the dinner table from my sister or my father or my mother, who all entered and joined into the fray. And I think during the course of my lifetime in that house Cantrell Street, I think I sharpened my debating skills and my wit and my ability to have that interaction. And I love arguing with you. You are one of the finest persons who I have ever had the privilege of arguing with. And I don't know what you're going to do to me now; you're going to HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK leave me just with Mr. Cohen. (Laughter.)
He'll be the only one left that I have to go tete-a-tete. But seriously, one of the things that I have admired about you, in addition to your kindness and friendship and class, is your commitment to what you do. There have been times that I've sat in here and I've seen you try to hide that inhaler as you've sat and chaired a committee hearing. As a matter of fact, the other day, we were doing a public property committee pretty late, and you had on a little help with a tank and some oxygen. And I know you've struggled with some illness and problems, but you're always there, you always come to work, you drag yourself in because you're committed to what you do. And I think all of us have learned a great example from you, both in style and class and in commitment to your job. And I tell you what, I think you're a beautiful person inside and out I'm, and going to miss you terribly.
Thank you. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you. Gussie, twenty years ago, you and I about this time were having private meetings with Councilman Cohen and some others that had just been elected, trying to discuss how we were going to overthrow the Council leadership at the time and -(Laughter.)
Little did we know that they were in the process of overthrowing themselves. We went through some hard times together, but you had come here a different color, a different gender, a different party; you're at large, I'm a district; you're a little shorter than me. And now I see no differences when we talk, when we -- and it's developed over the years. And I think it's a tribute to your personality and your ability to deal with people, you're a people person. And I know you championed education for most of your time here, but you would have been a HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK great teacher, because teachers are instinctive in dealing with people. And if you could win me over to your side, you could win any student, believe me. But the one thing that I'd like to say finally is that it is usually asked of people by wiser types, philosophers, Would you rather be liked or respected and? How people respond to that or learn that you usually have to make a choice. And some people never get liked or respected, but at least they usually see that you have to go in one direction or the other. I think the greatest tribute that I can think of in terms of Gussie Clark is that she managed to find a way to be liked and respected. And I thank you on behalf of my constituents for giving yourself to this city for twenty years. Thanks, Gussie.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. It's hard in a few minutes to discuss what Gussie Clark means as a personal friend, as HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK well as a member of this body. I've never known anyone with the clarity of language that she has, and it's matched by the deep compassion and feeling and the intensity of that feeling for human values of all kinds. She's been a champion at every level. And one of the greatest achievements I think she leaves in this last year of her service is the comparison between the first year of her service, when women in City Council were hardly ever recognized as being worthy of holding a position, and she leaves in a year which, I think, is going to find her final achievement in that the next Council will have all of its leadership positions filled by women. And I think that's an enormous achievement for everyone, and I think Gussie's contribution in Council has enabled Council to achieve that height. Thank you, Gussie, for every personal and principled position that you've taken, and you've always done that. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Madam HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK President. First of all, I would like to welcome Councilman Mariano to the Clarke family. (Laughter.)
We're having a reunion next summer, so we'll look forward to seeing you there. Councilwoman, I'd just like to say that late last year, as the newest member of Council, I had to make a decision as to whether or not I was going to run for office and join this illustrious body. And as you sit down and strategize, you talk about a lot of things, you talk about your ability to raise money, you talk about your ability to put together an organization, and you talk about endorsements. But I think the one thing at a kind of put me over the hump was of that name recognition issue. Because of you, all right, because of you, 'cause, as you know, I have been called your son on many occasion, you know. And I think because of that, I made a decision to run. And I want to say that as a result of that, I have a mission and a task because the HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK Clark name in this Council has meant a lot to a lot of people throughout the years. So I just want to say that I will do my best -- maybe not for 20 years -- but I will do best to continue the Clark name and the fine work that you've done to the best of my ability. So I want to say thank you for all of the help that you've given me over the years as a as a staff member, and thank you for your blessings once I got elected. Thank you so much.
Councilwoman Clark, Gussie, I had the privilege of coming in here with you 20 years ago. And, indeed, it was a privilege. You made it enjoyable. I'll miss your sense of fairness and honesty, and your fair opinions. And I also believe that when you can (inaudible) with a smile rather than a frown, it's a compliment. And I compliment you and I surely am going to miss you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK Longstreth.
Gussie, can you hear me? (Laughter.) (Councilman Thacher sings "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" to Councilwoman Clark. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. When I think back over the years, I must say the two things that I remember most about Gussie were, one, we were in the caucus room and we were using it for a Black Elected Officials meeting back then, and Lou was chairman of the Black Elected Officials and Black Ward Leaders. And I worked to hard, I got my little donuts out, you know, I tried to be such a good wife and a good aide. I got my donuts out, I got my hot chocolate out and I got tea, and we got the coffee out. And then I met Gussie Clark, and she wanted tea with fresh lemon. So that was my initial reaction. So then I learned that when you HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK have tea with Gussie, you've got to have fresh lemon. And the second thing I remember was a meeting with George Schwartz, former president George Schwartz. And he George Schwartz looked at Gussie and asked her to take notes. I think she will remember. Gussie said, "I don't take minutes and I don't do windows." Do you remember that? (Laughter.)
So we learned immediately that this was a woman who knew who she is and knew who she was and who didn't take any of the foolishness. Those are my first recollections. And I will say that over the years, having succeeded Lou and having been able to sit in his seat, although a new member. It made a real big difference to me to be the recipient of friendship due to their positive relationship. Gussie mentioned it today, how close she and Lou are and have been, and how much he supported her and how she never forgot it, and certainly has tried to be a friend to me and she. Has finally, I make two final points. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK I always, and I always tell Gussie this. Gussie Clark is the only person who could come in a room at the end of a hearing, take two seconds, and lead the debate, figure out what's going on and just take over. She really, really has that wit, charm, and the command of the language and all that has been said about her. And lastly, AKA. I tell you, Gussie, if she's going away to an AKA conference, if it lasts a month, she wears her colors every day that month. She is a serious sorority sister. And with that, we say we love you, thank you for the friendship, thanks for all that you meant to me and to this body. God bless you and Godspeed.
Thank you, Madam President. I would just like to thank Councilwoman Clark for being helpful to me, for being willing to share information freely, to reach out. I remember, after I won the primary in 1995, one of HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK the first Councilpeople that called me was Councilwoman Clark, and I thought it was just, you know, just a little polite courtesy call. But she truly meant that she wanted to be of service and wanted help me. I want to thank her for extending that hand to me and reaching out and touching for the last four years. I knew her a little teeny bit before I came to Council. And my mom -- she worked with a group that my mother belongs to, and then when she realized that that was my mother, she said, Oh, that's the family that people say I look alike. So Gussie and my mother kind of look alike. And I do want to thank you. I think you're an inspiration to others, you're a good role model, and I just thank you, thank you, and we'll miss you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
Thank you, Madam President. Like a young boy going to school for the first time, in 1996, when I entered the HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK Council caucus room, I was very frightened. And although I had come to know many of the people in this room and have known and them for a number of years, and I know I could have depended on them for their advice, the one person I remember distinctly is looking across that huge caucus table was Gussie. She has this smile and a little bit of a twinkle in her eye, that I looked at her and was very reassured at that moment in time that there was somebody special in that room that I knew that I could depend on. It was kind of like a parental or a motherly look on your face. And ever since that time, when I came into these chambers and I tried to express myself, a little bit frightened about whether my vocabulary or my grammar was correct -- by the way you really made me feel insecure the first time I heard you speak, totally insecure, 'cause you've mastered the English language perfectly. I would always look to my right, and you normally sit on the edge of your chair and would look at me in a way and checking me out to make certain that whatever it was I was about to say was correct. And I appreciate you for that. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK And I am more happy today than ever that I refused to give up this seat because I had sat behind you I've because I never would been able to see your face. But I want to thank you for always being there. You have from time to time come across the room to talk to me about some of the issues. And I think I have the distinct honor, among all the colleagues here, to say that while you were gentle with everyone, I recall the time that you came here, got my left arm and twisted it behind my back to convince me on how I should vote on a bill. But thank you and good luck to you on whatever you decide to do in the future. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Gussie, I'd like to first thank you for making this Council and the City of Philadelphia a better place for everybody to live in. And I've truly enjoyed working with you for the last four HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK years, and I'd like to wish you and your family a very, very happy and healthy retirement. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you very much. And to my colleagues, I will be brief. But I would just like to say that, Gussie, you and I have been together a long time. We were a part of the Bill Gray team. And in 1979, when she decided to run for City Council, we all gathered in that famous dining room, with some fried chicken, to plan the strategy for her campaign. I want to say thank you for the wonderful work you've done in the last 20 years you've been in Council, representing all of the constituents of the City. You always tell me when I talk about my district, you say, But I have the entire city, and you remind me that you represent 1.5 million people. And I echo all of the other comments that have been made. HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK Two points I want to make. We've been in a lot of wars together. And there was one famous battle at her house where she had to calm me down, we'll always laugh about that. And I will always remember out all the many, many funny things you've said, the serious comments you've made, I will always remember the "trust me" speech that she gave in the Council caucus room relative to the Kvaerner project about how saying "trust me" is like the little boy telling the young girl when he's trying to. . . (Laughter.)
. . . Take care of business, trust me, trying to get over, trust me. That will always be a part of my remembrance of you. You've always teased me about being with the wrong sorority. You said we made a mistake you, but we are friendly sisters because you and I represent all of the sororities as we served in this Council. So we will miss you. You have been a great mentor because besides just knowing all of the technicalities of Council, you have taught me HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK the nuances, the behind the scenes, the little things you need to know as you legislate, negotiate, and interact with my colleagues. So I want to thank you so much for your leadership. And with that, Madam President, I'd like to present to you this gift from all of your colleagues, and say thank you for your service. And a good voyage in your next endeavor. We know you'll be around. (Applause.)
I would also like to say there's a little card here that we had done for Councilwoman Clark, and we'd like all of our colleagues to sign it first, and then other staff members of Council, and we invite the press to sign the card also to say farewell to Gussie Clark.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark. (Councilwoman Clark comes forward.)
Thank you. Madam President and my esteemed colleagues, while we were voting, I wrote a HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK speech, and I don't usually write a speech, but I was a little bit nerves because today is a day we've been looking forward to, and yet, I have this tangle of emotions. I'm experiencing conflicting emotions. This is my last City Council meeting, ending 20 years of service to a city which I adopted as my own when I came here, a green country girl, fresh from West Virginia, bound and determined to make good here in this big city. I am happy because I believe today that Philadelphia is a very, very different town from the one I inherited in January of 1980. " Then I freely and frankly admitted that I could not solve all of the City's problems, but I vowed out loud to open the windows and doors and turn on the lights so that the citizens could see into and evaluate what local government does. Then, more than 8 out of 10 Philadelphians did not know even 3 members of City Council by name or by sight. We promised to publicly state what HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK local government ought to do; then citizens could judge us on how well we did our jobs. Education was in deep trouble. Libraries were more closed than opened. Police community relations were at an all-time low point. Jobs, economic development, community revitalization, and investment in human capital remained to be tackled by us as a legislative body that cared about citizens. I have long been associated with public education, having chaired that committee for twelve years. For the last eight years, I chaired the Council Committee on Public Property and Public Works. This committee has subject matter jurisdiction over cable TV, in addition to all of the buildings and cars that the City has and typewriters and computers and all of the, quote, property. In addition, I sought to speak up and speak out for those persons who have been left out. I've advocated for men and women, for minorities and small-business owners in the way the City contracts are allocated. Neighborhoods suffering from neglect HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK and planned obsolescence have had a vocal spokesperson in me. While I've sat here, the Convention Center was built, after much, much talking. I-95 was opened so that Philadelphians could efficiently use it. While schools have steadily improved, although much remains to be done. East of Market Street, the Avenue of the Arts, north and south, just to name a few. All these memories and more flood my thoughts today and make me smile with pride. But who knew that I would be leaving my seat with my colleagues, and that it would raise such a serious lump in my throat. Men and women with whom I have worked for such a noble cause for so long, and against whom I have struggled so diligently. People who seem so different prove what all of us know instinctively, and that is our similarities are greater than our differences. Some of us are tall, some are short, some are thin, some are fat, some are white, some are black, some male, some female, but essentially HONORING OF AUGUSTA CLARK what with we all our is God's creation into whom He put a spark of divinity. Each of us is made in God's image out of the best that He had. And we struggled to trying to represent our people the best that we could. And so, we are different. But our differences or cosmetic. Our similarities are systemic. And we can't walk away from them, we can't paint them over. One of the things that I hope I'm leaving behind as I leave this chamber today is a respect for the other person's point of view. And all those "Gussieisms" look for them in my book and buy a few copies, 'cause I need the money. I leave this body, I take each of you with me locked in my memory, deep in my heart. Our shared love for this city of brotherly love and sisterly effectiveness will link us inextricably forever. Thanks for the memories, and God bless you. )
We have to do ADJOURNMENT one last formal act, and I would ask my colleagues to please stay. I would just like to recognize Councilwoman Clark for a motion to adjourn. That's her last duty, and we will take a vote immediately after the motion is made.
Madam President, I move that Council be adjourned sine die, which means to a date not yet determined.
All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The motion is carried and Council will stand adjourned. (Adjourned at 1:33 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, December 16, 1999, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter