-- by Councilman Rick Mariano. And again, the Chair recognizes the Clerk to call the roll.
The ayes are 11; the City Council - 1/5/04 nays are 6. (Applause and cheers.)
All of council having voted, the Resolutions for City Council pass. (Applause.)
The next order of business is the election of a President of City Council. Nominations are now in order. The Chair recognizes -- And let the Chair take the prerogative of saying, I doubt we'll have debate on this issue, as we did on the last. And we had this discussion at the same meeting we referred to earlier. (Applause.)
Excuse that little aside that I just couldn't resist saying. Nominations are now in order. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam Chair. City Council - 1/5/04 At this time I proudly and with great honor nominate Anna C. Verna for President. (Applause.)
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you. Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter. City Council - 1/5/04
The Chair notes there is... There being no further nominations... VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: Boo.
...with a majority of Members having voted. The Chair also notes that we have one nay vote and we have 16 aye votes. The temporary Clerk will still call the roll.
Councilman DiCicco. City Council - 1/5/04 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
The ayes are 16; the nays are 1. Councilwoman Verna, having been duly chosen by the Members of Council, I declare that Councilwoman Anna Verna is the duly elected President of this body. (Applause and cheers.)
I appoint Councilman Kenney, Councilman Nutter, Councilman Rizzo and Councilwoman Tasco to escort Council President Verna to the rostrum. Joining her will be her husband, Sevy Verna. Judge Frederica Massiah-Jackson will administer the oath to President Verna. (Applause.)
City Council - 1/5/04 Please repeat after me. I do solemnly swear...
...that I will support, obey, and defend...
...the Constitution of the United States...
...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
...and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter....
City Council - 1/5/04 ...and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.
...and I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.
It is my pleasure to present to you the President of City Council, the Honorable Anna C. Verna. (Applause and clears.)
Thank you all so very much. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. And again, thank you for joining us on this very important City Council - 1/5/04 occasion. We are here because the good citizens of Philadelphia elected us. And today we take an oath to perform the duties of our offices with fidelity. To the clergy, we ask for your continued prayers for our City and its leaders. To the family and friends of those elected, we especially thank you for your support and guidance, because it is you who make the greatest sacrifice. And finally, I offer a special acknowledgment to my husband Sevy. (Applause.) Sev, you have really have provided me with support and encouragement not periodically but daily, not for a short time but for a lifetime. And I thank you.
This morning, we continue a tradition that dates back three centuries. Our venue has changed to this City Council - 1/5/04 beautiful new Kimmel Center. But what remains unchanged is our commitment to representative government. It is common to use the individual pronoun I, me, and mine in describing our mission as elected officials. However, nothing... nothing could be further from the truth. Elected officials don't belong to -- Elective offices don't belong to individuals. Individuals hold them in trust for the common good. In 1951 in Philadelphia we adopted a Home Rule Charter, that guides us today, as it has for the past half century. The Charter's message is quite clear and simple. It says there are three branches of government. A few moments ago the Members of City Council took an oath of office to act as an independent branch of government, ideally working in partnership with the Mayor for the common good, while exercising our own judgments on what is best for the City. City Council - 1/5/04 To my colleagues I say, it is our bound duty to preserve the integrity and independence of this Council. We owe it to the citizens who elected us and the framers of the Charter, who saw the need and wisdom in granting us this sacred trust. Today Philadelphia faces many challenges. We have a responsibility to this generation and future generations to improve our schools, our neighborhoods, and our economy. Public education problems are not unique to Philadelphia. Every urban city is grappling with the same issues. However, the response of Philadelphia has, indeed, been unique. We supported an unprecedented change to the status quo in public education, and the governance of our schools has been radically transformed. As a result, in 2002 City Council appropriated an additional $45 million grant from our General Fund in perpetuity, tremendously increasing the City's annual City Council - 1/5/04 financial commitment to the School District. This Council will continue to take revolutionary steps to improve the public education of Philadelphia's children. We must also continue to rebuild our neighborhoods, remembering revitalization depends on the support of hard-working residents, shaping the future of their communities. We stand here today secure in the knowledge that our successes are only a reflection of the community organizations we represent. In addition to focusing on our residential communities, we must be aware of our business community. The businesses in this City and their employees are much more than contributors to our tax base. They are an integral part of the fabric of Philadelphia. Their needs are our needs, and we must listen to them. We must take greater City Council - 1/5/04 advantage of our strategic location in the Northeastern United States. Our message must be: Philadelphia is a prime place for business. While recruiting new business, we must retain those companies that have called Philadelphia their home for generations. I am truly excited about the businesses that have chosen to locate in the revitalized neighborhoods. It is imperative to encourage the effort and enterprise of those who want to establish business in Philadelphia. Although we face fiscal constraints, it will be more detrimental to our City to ignore the realities of a local economy. As members of City Council, we enact legislation to serve the best interests of our citizens. Legislation may be the subject of great debate, as you can see, but the final objective must always be a better Philadelphia, a better Philadelphia. I am confident... (Applause.) City Council - 1/5/04
I am confident that we are united in this goal. It is within our reach, with the help of God, and the collaboration of each other. May God bless Philadelphia. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Thank you. If I may... I also -- And I'm so sorry, Senator. Senator Tina Tartaglione is also joining us, and we welcome her. Welcome. (Applause and cheers.)
Thank you. The next order of business is the election of the Chief Clerk of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. Nominations are now in order, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I nominate Mrs. Patricia Rafferty. City Council - 1/5/04
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Are there any further nominations? (No response.)
Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I move the nominations be closed.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the nominations be closed. All in favor of the motion will City Council - 1/5/04 signify by saying "aye." (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the motion is carried. There being no further nominations, all in favor of the election of Mrs. Patricia Rafferty as Chief Clerk of Council will please say "aye." (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it. However, the Clerk will please call the roll.
Mrs. Rafferty, having received a unanimous vote of the Members of Council -(Applause.)
-- I now declare Mrs. Rafferty as our Chief Clerk. Council Members Kelly and Ramos will escort Mrs. Rafferty to the rostrum. Judge Massiah-Jackson will administer the oath of office to Mrs. Rafferty.
Repeat after me. I do solemnly swear... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): I do City Council - 1/5/04 solemnly swear...
...that I will support, obey, and defend... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...that I will support, obey, and defend...
...the Constitution of the United States... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...the Constitution of the United States...
...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
...and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.
...and that I will discharge the duties of my office... MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...and City Council - 1/5/04 I will discharge the duties of my office...
...with fidelity. MRS. RAFFERTY (CHIEF CLERK): ...with fidelity. (Applause.)
Please be advised that at a meeting of the Democratic Members of Council, the Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell was elected majority leader and the Honorable Marian B. Tasco was elected majority whip of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
Also be advised that at a meeting of the Republican members of the Council, the Honorable Brian J. O'Neill was elected minority leader of the Council of the City Philadelphia, and the Honorable Frank Rizzo was elected minority whip of the City Council of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
The City Council - 1/5/04 organization of the Council of the City of Philadelphia and the investiture of the City Council Members are complete, in accordance with the provisions of the Home Rule Charter. The Council is honored by the presence of Bishop Ernest Morris, President of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. I ask you to please rise, as I invite Bishop Morris to lead us in prayer.
God is smart. What a very fitting time for prayer. May I say good morning to each and every one of us and to our fine Mayor, John Street; and to our President of City Council, Anna Verna; and to our City Council Members; to our judges; to our elected officials. If you bow your heads in prayer before us this morning, to say, good morning, Father. We your children want to thank you for the gift of life. May we thank you also for the blessings of living in this section of the world, the United City Council - 1/5/04 States of America. We acknowledge that all good and blessed gifts come down from you. We thank you for this day. We thank you for this occasion. We thank you for the men and women who have been placed in leadership of our City: Our Mayor, John Street; President of the City Council, Anna Verna; the City Council Members; the judges; and the other City officials. We pray that you will continue to endow them with mortal strength, the power of integrity. May they continue the dignity of their office, representing our City as our elected officials. Give to them continued wisdom, as they deal with the complex problems of public safety, restoring poor and downtrodden communities, homelessness, employment, joblessness, education, better schools, health, and safety issues. Continue to give to them the compassion for fairness for all the neighborhoods. Give to them the City Council - 1/5/04 cooperation of other City and state officials and the citizenry. We pray for their health, a special prayer for their families, their strength, as you guide them through these years ahead. We, the citizens of this great City of Philadelphia, pledge our full cooperation in helping to make our City a better city, a City whose future is bright and wholesome in raising our children to work, to play, and to live. May you continue blessings upon our great Mayor, our highest elected official. Lead, guard, and direct him. Be to him the kind of God that would encourage him to be the kind of servant of the people of this City that will bring honor not just to the citizens of Philadelphia but honor to your precious name. Bless him, and do for him what you did for the old patriarch Abraham. Make him a blessing to your people. We pray that from this day, this memorial day of this session, that each one City Council - 1/5/04 of these elected officials will be the kind of servants that every citizen of this City will be proud that they have elected them. We ask these blessings in the greatest name, the blessed name of the savior of this world, Christ Jesus. Amen.
Amen. Thank you, Bishop Morris. Will everyone please be seated. At this time I invite the Philadelphia Boys Choir to perform America the Beautiful. (Singing of America the Beautiful.) (Applause.)
Aren't they wonderful? We will now proceed with the induction of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. The Chair appoints Councilwoman City Council - 1/5/04 Miller, Councilwoman Krajewski, Councilman O'Neill, and Councilman Clarke to escort the Honorable John F. Street, Mayor-elect of the City of Philadelphia, to the rostrum. The Chair also invites Mayor-elect Street's wife, Naomi Post, to join him at the rostrum. May we have an escort. (Applause.)
The Chief Clerk will read the certificate of election of the Honorable John F. Street as Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
John F. Street, at an election held November 4, 2003, you were duly elected the Mayor of the City and County of Philadelphia, for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2004.
Thank you. The Honorable Russell Nigro, Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will administer the oath of office to the Mayor. JUSTICE NIGRO: I, John F. Street... City Council - 1/5/04
I, John F. Street... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...do solemnly swear...
...do solemnly swear... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...that I will support, obey, and defend...
...that I will support, obey, and defend... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...the Constitution of the United States...
...the Constitution of the United States... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
...the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter....
...and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. JUSTICE NIGRO: ...and that I will discharge...
...and that I will City Council - 1/5/04 discharge.... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...the duties of my office...
...and I will discharge the duties of my office... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...as the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia...
...as the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia... JUSTICE NIGRO: ..to the best of my ability...
..to the best of my ability... JUSTICE NIGRO: ...and with fidelity...
...so help me God. (Applause.) JUSTICE NIGRO: Congratulations. (Standing ovation.)
Members of City Council, Reverend Clergy, elected City Council - 1/5/04 officials, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinct honor to present to you His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, the Honorable John F. Street. (Applause.) (Standing ovation.)
Thank you. Thank you so much. At this time I have a surprise announcement to make: I'm having a great day. (Applause.)
I'm having a great day, and I have no complaints. Before I proceed with my formal remarks, which are prepared -- And they needed to be prepared because you'd be here forever -- I'd like City Council - 1/5/04 to mention just a couple of folks who are not with us here today that were very special to me. For the first time in my political career, I will not have with me Councilman Thatcher Longstreth. (Applause.)
Civic leader and good friend, entrepreneur, Bill Rouse. They're not here today. (Applause.)