Thank you very much. I'd just like to make one or two very brief comments. I've really enjoyed working with Councilman Nutter. Councilman Nutter is a supremely bright young man who has a wonderful future in this city. I confess, for a long time, I did everything I could to keep him out of that job 'cause I was for Ann Land, you know. (Laughter.)
And I guess the day might come when -- well, I guess the day did come when somebody was trying to get you out and then I had a chance to be there for you, but that's a part of, you know, what this system is all about. And, you know, the one thing that we needed in this city is leaders, and a part of our 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business responsibility as folks who are in leadership position is to work with people, work with young people who, you know, have leadership potential, who want to do a good job. It's not our job to slow 'em down or to hold 'em back. It would have been no more appropriate for me to slow him down or hold him back than it would have been for Lou Blackwell to slow me down and hold me back. I couldn't do that. You know, and sometimes he did have moments of frustration, and we would talk about it. And sometimes he would write the letter to the mayor anyway, you know. But, you know, I have enjoyed working with him. He, as I said, has a bright future in this city. I wish him well, and he is among the people whose memory I will cherish in having had this experience. So I look forward to a continued working relationship. I might not be in this body but I'm sure I'll have something to say about something and probably will give you a call. Councilwoman Clark. Councilwoman Clark, as long as we've been on this Council, we've been through a lot. We've helped each other 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business bury our family members. It's what you do. You bury family members, you go to weddings. You know, you share in virtually all of these experiences. And the truth of matter is when you're the President of City Council, you have an obligation that goes above and beyond the obligation that you have just as a fellow member. People call you, they have to talk about things, they just have to talk, they want to talk, they want to know what's going on. And, you know, you can't imagine the number of hours that you spend working with people, working with members, you know talking to them about -- sometimes it's a personal thing, you know. And Gussie and I have had so discussions over such long period of time that it's difficult to quantify the kind of love and respect that you generate for people when you see them on a regular basis and when you see them in these trying situations. Councilwoman Clark, you will always be a friend of mine. I have cherished our relationship. The thing I like about -- one of 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business the things I like about you -- it's certainly not the only thing, but one of the things I like about you is your capacity to be honest, notwithstanding any potential difficulty, because I don't think you can have a true, honest relationship with people if you're not truthful. And you have always been truthful with me, and I appreciate that, and I have tried to respond in kind, and I think the mutual relationship that we have developed has been beneficial to me, and I'll be forever appreciative of that. Councilman DiCicco. I actually do remember those shoes, Councilman DiCicco. You didn't know about the suit, but we did talk about the suit. I made the mayor make me a promise that if we both came back in our respective positions that we would wear these red suits. He said it in a moment of laughter in one of our meetings, and then I reminded him and he was shocked. I have to tell you -- I said this publicly and I'll say it again, there are very few members of City Council that I have seen who have come on the scene and who have had the kind of responsibility that you have had in your district 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business with all of the development that has been planned and has taken place. I've seen this man in meetings in his district in Center City and he represents the east side of the district of Center City, and I have the west side, and I've seen him have to confront very difficult issues.
I mean, people have a tremendous amount of concern, and I've seen him conduct himself in a way that I would have believed would have been typical of somebody with a lot more experience. He has matured very, very quickly as a member of this Council. I also think he has a bright future and, I look forward to a continuing relationship with Councilman DiCicco as well. Councilman Rizzo, I appreciate your kind remarks. As you know, your father and I were friends. And I was -- I was interested when you came on this Council, you know, to see how it is we would be able to work together. And I had the, as you know, the occasion to have many a conversation with your father. I hasten to point out that your father was -- endorsed me for Council President just 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business prior to his death. And, you know, I felt you know I felt, in all candor, I think probably two of the most misunderstood people, politicians in this city in the last 25 years have been Frank Rizzo and Milton Street -- not John Street, Milton street. And, you know, having come to know you over these last years and to talk with you and to work with you and to -- kind of relating that all to your family and the relationship that we developed has been a nice thing. It's been very pleasant. You have always been respectful; I appreciate that. You send me more constituent service requests from people in my district than any other person on this Council. )
And that's because you work very, very hard for the citizens of this city. I appreciate that. I know the people in the city and around the city appreciate it. You know, I appreciate your kind remarks and look forward to continuing to work with you as well Councilman Kenney. Thank you very much for those kind words. 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business There are people in this room right now who think you're my enemy and they think I'm your enemy. I don't know why they would think that. We aren't in this business to necessarily agree with people, we don't have to agree with each other to have a certain sense of mutual respect and understanding. I think you have made a great contribution to this Council. I have not seen a person with more passion and determination to make a difference in neighborhoods and people. And, you, know when you've been around as long as I've been around, sometimes the people you think are going to be your biggest detractors end up being your best friends, you know. And it's not my judgment to pass judgment on how other people conduct their political affairs and what positions they take. And I think sometimes people want to make more out of our differences than really is justified. But I can remember time when Senator Fumo and I -- you're "a Fumocrat." (Laughter.)
I can remember times 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business when Senator Fumo and I were on the phone discussing things right here in this chamber, things that were important to this city, and people think somehow that he's trying to line you up to be against me. It's amazing the assumptions that people make. I have been astounded by it. I mean, people come to me and say, Well, you know Jim Kenny's going to be against you. You know, and that's totally unfair. It really is unfair. See, I think during the course of our consideration of all of what we do in this Council, people have an obligation to vote their conscience, people have an obligation to do what's in the best interest of this city. They do not have an obligation to be for or against anything because of any one person. And I think that you have been fair to me. I think that you have been a productive member of this Council. I think you have a bright political future in this city. I do not believe that you are a mortal enemy of mine. I think that there are probably -- we probably agree on more things than anybody would ever give us credit for. 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business And I thank you for your contributions and I thank you for your support and I wish you Godspeed. Councilwoman Tasco. See, I told you that Gas Commission was a lot of work. I told you and you didn't believe me, right? ). It's okay, it really is okay. And I guess it's okay because I, like you, believe that we are entitled to our political opinions. I mean, that's -- that's what this is all about. This is a tough business, and people have a right to exercise their own judgment in any way they want. And I will tell you, you know, I think in situations like that, where people exercise their right, you know what we have to do? I have to go over there and get Darryl and our people and we have to run and win. We can't whine. I don't have any right to hold, you know, inevitable, you know, lifetime grudges about all of that. I mean, we have to run, you have to hold on to your job. And you and some other people 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business challenged me, and that's all right. And you know that throughout -- even during the time when we were running in the election, we didn't have a whole lot of cross words about any of that. You know, I believe that every tough election I have ever had prepares me for the next one. And I'm a better politician, I'm a better elected official, I'm a better public servant because of the challenges that I have had. You know, I have enjoyed working with you very the last years, particularly when I ran and became the council president with your support, for which I am always very, very grateful, and I say that on a regular basis. And I just want you to know that I only wish you the best. You know, all of that, and my judgment is just a part of the give-and-take and the rough-and-tumble of politics. And, you know, I think I'm only the better for it. And I thank you for all of what you have done, all of your contributions on this Council, and I certainly look forward to continuing to work with you. Councilwoman Miller. They all 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business underestimate you, Councilwoman. They all think that because you're quiet, because you don't make a lot of noise and because you're not real boisterous that you can be pushed around politically. They will learn, they will see. You know, you got here, you got here because you're a hard-working, dedicated community activist, and you will stay here because you have done a good job in this Council and because you will go back out to your district and tell people what you have done, and you will win. Councilwoman Krajewski. K. I get real emotional when I think about not being here with you, and I guess it's because in these 19 years, it's just very, very hard to quantify the very, very positive relationship that we've had. You know, they don't know what we do, people don't know what we do.
I say, "What's going on J.K.? I don't want nothing, I just want to find out how you're doing." Right? And then once you find out that I don't want nothing, it's okay, we can talk. (Laughter.)
But you know how much I love you and you know how much I appreciate your work in your district. You see, I believe that this Council needs a variety of different views. I think if everybody on this Council thought the way I thought or if everybody thought the way Ortiz thinks or the way Rizzo or Schwartz or anybody thinks, I think if everybody thought the same, we wouldn't be a very good council because we wouldn't provide the quality and the representation that the citizens of this city are entitled to. And you have come here and you represent a constituency, and those people are depending on you. And sometimes the people that you represent push you in a direction that's different from the direction that the people that 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business I represent are pushing me in. I have seen that. That has had nothing whatsoever to do with our ability to work together, and I appreciate that. I appreciate everything that you've done here and I look forward to, as always, to a continuing relationship with you as I leave and consider future service. Councilman Ortiz. Councilman Ortiz has set himself up somewhat as the conscience of City Council, and sometimes we know exactly what he's doing. Sometimes he makes those speeches because he thinks we need to hear it 'cause he thinks, notwithstanding the fact that we might be doing what we're going to do, he wants to make sure that he and the people that he represents are heard. You know, in legislative bodies, you have a saying that the minority -- the majority will have its way but the minority must have its say. And over the years, I've appreciated your contributions. We haven't always agreed. Most of the time our differences are a matter of degree and not a matter of who's right or who's wrong. But I thank you for your support over the years. You have always been helpful, you have 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business always been there whenever I have asked you to do anything. I don't ask a whole lot of Councilmembers except that you come regularly, work hard, and vote your conscious. But there have been times. And I appreciate your support. Councilman Mariano. You got a gun on you today? I understand I got to find out whether you strapped or what. (Laughter.)
I remember when Rick decided that he was going to run. As a matter of fact, I remember when you were on the Council payroll and then you were off the Council payroll and then you had to get back on the Council payroll in anticipating, you know -- you remember all that, right? Jim Kenny is laughing. But, you know, Councilman McIlhatton (ph.) is my friend, and I did not try to help you; I tried to help him. But then you became a member, and membership has its privileges. And also, leadership has its responsibilities, and I had a responsibility to work with you as a member of this Council. And I tried to do that. And, you know, when you're young and 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business you're off the street, you don't always have an opportunity to hang around. You see, while Councilman Kenny had the privilege and the opportunity to work in a legislative office for a number of years, and Councilman Nutter actually worked as a member of staff in City Council, and Councilwoman Miller worked for a legislator, Councilman Mariano was wiring buildings. I mean, he had a short tenure as a person and a staff member, but he didn't have the experience coming here as a Councilmember that some other people had. But yet and still, he's made a credible contribution to this Council. The diversity of views in this Council is very important, and I certainly appreciate his contribution and wish him well. Now Councilwoman Blackwell. Councilwoman Blackwell was probably the most seasoned new member of City Council that I have ever seen. And, you know, Jannie has her areas, and we love her and we appreciate everything that she does and, she's not going to ever let you forget. And you know what she's going to do? 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business She's going to test the privileges of membership too 'cause she's going to make sure that she is heard and she's going to make sure that she exercises every single prerogative that she's entitled to. And there's nothing wrong with that. And, you know, she has kept us here in the middle of the night a little bit, and there's nothing wrong with that.
She says till quarter to 3, that's great. But you know how much I love you and your husband, Lou, and your entire family. And I wish you well and am pleased and proud to have had an opportunity to work you in this Council. We've been here much too long, Madame Chairperson. And if it's nothing further, I'm through. (Laughter.) 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Councilwoman, I thought I was supposed to come up there and you were supposed to come down here.
Yeah, but you can't move the adoption of the resolution until you say some good things about me. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Mr. President, I'm really well prepared today to say a few nice things about you. I know that it is a bittersweet day for you. And I want to say that in 1979, a brash young man was elected to City Council. And in the time that has passed, I have learned to know him. What I have since seen is someone who has emerged as a leader. 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business Leadership is wisdom and courage and a carelessness of self which means, of course, that leaders from time to time must put their own careers at risk in order to do what is right. Easy to say, tough to do; echoed by many and practiced by few. As we praise John Street today, let us never forget the single quality that makes him unique. He understands what it is to be a great leader. A leader knows that more important than the bill that is proposed is the bill that is passed. A leader knows that his adversaries are not always his enemies. A leader knows how to make the process of democracy work and loves the workings of democracy. A leader knows not only to count votes but also how to make the votes count. A leader knows that his words are his weapons, but his word is also his bond. Mr. President, Philadelphia is a better place for your leadership and the hard work done by you and members of this Council. I have also seen John Street, the person. I possess neither the eloquence of diction, nor the poetry of imagination, nor the brilliance of metaphor to 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business explain what it is that you have taught this Council. But having said that, I observed from you to be proud and unbending in failure but humble in success. To learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep. To reach into the future, yet never neglect the past. That nothing lasts forever. Victory is often the prelude to defeat and failure is often the precursor of triumph. Together, we have learned much from you as Councilpeople and simply as people. Thousands of years ago, a great poet wrote, "one must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been." We, your colleagues in this Council can look at you and say the day indeed has been splendid. Mr. President, it has always been my contention that going through life, if we can make five true friends, then God has been extremely good to us. Recently, I had lost a very, very dear friend of mine. And when he was dying, he said, "You know, Ann, you always said that and I never knew exactly what you meant." He was someone of prominence but people forgot him in 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business time of need. I want you to know, Mr. President, that I will always value your friendship and I will always consider you a true friend. I want to thank you, not only on my behalf but on behalf of the citizens of this city and the members of this Council, for all of the hard work and how much we have benefitted from your leadership. May God bless you always, you and your family. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
With the permission of the body, a brief response from the Chair. Councilwoman Verna has been the Majority Leader of this Council during the entire time of my council presidency. And she's not a very aggressive person publicly, but there are very few decisions that have been made in this Council that she wasn't a part of. You know, people have -- people give have given the mayor and have given the Council President a lot of credit, and most of the time, I think it's true and accepted graciously, but 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business people don't give the leadership of this Council and the Councilmembers enough credit. I am telling you, Councilwoman Verna has been as much a part of the decision-making process around here as I could imagine because no one person can run this Council, no one person can run this Council. Councilwoman Verna has been there, Councilwoman Clark has been there, Councilman O'Neill has been there; I said that in my resignation letter. But I will tell you, Councilwoman Verna is a person of great wisdom. She is a person of grace and dignity. And she is a person that I could always call day or night and say, Ann, what about this? And what do you think we should be doing? How should we be handling all of the responsibility of making sure this Council contributed to the well-being of this city? An throughout it all, she knows that I appreciate everything that she's done. I appreciate it because she's done it both in her leadership capacity and a friend. . And she's been a friend, and you know, I have to be very careful because I'll start to you-know-what, and I 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business don't want to do that anymore here today. But I love you, Ann. I appreciate everything you do. You know, you're like family to me because of much what we have gone through, and I appreciate very much everything. And I certainly thank you for those very kind remarks.
All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it, the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion.
Mr. President, at this time, we would like to offer you something.
We're just wishing you Godspeed on your journey. Do you want to open one of these boxes, please. Some people have taken this in a very peculiar way. And we have something for Naomi. 12/17/98 STATED - Special Order of Business Gussie, these are yours. Gussie, do you want to make a presentation to Naomi, please. (Council President Street opens up gifts.)
May I ask Mr. McBride to come up to the podium, please. He has a presentation to make. (Mr. McBride comes forward.)
Council President Street, on behalf of all your friends at PECO Energy Company, I'd like to present you with a photograph of our tower lights that reads, "Best Wishes, Council President John Street." And this is for all that you have done for the citizens of Philadelphia and for the citizens in the region as a whole. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
If anybody wants to know what a saint looks like. (Laughter.)
Just imagine being 12/17/98 STATED - Adjournment married to John Street with all of his energy. The man is a total insomniac. You know, when everybody else is safely asleep, John Street is up calling you on the phone. And so, Naomi, for all that you have been doing, for the calm demeanor that you have, what would John Street be without you? Goodness gracious, he's like overdosed on caffeine with you. But we love you for the calming influence that you are and for what you've done for him for us. Please take these yellow roses and know that we carry you in our hearts and prayer. Thank you. (Applause.)
If there's nothing further, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion.
Thank you. It won't be the same without you. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, January 14, 1999. (Duly seconded.) 12/17/98 STATED - Adjournment
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. This Council stands approved. (Adjourned at 2:30 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 17, 1998, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter