Stated Meeting, October 17, 2005

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA MEMORIAL SERVICE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN 1914-2005 Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, October 17, 2005, 2:10 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED-MILLER COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS-BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 OPENING REMARKS: Council President Anna C. Verna INVOCATION: Reverend Isaac Miller Church of the Advocate TRIBUTE: Cantor Stephen Friedman Temple Sinai INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION: Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell READING OF RESOLUTION: Patricia Rafferty Chief Clerk INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKERS: Council President Anna C. Verna ADJOURNMENT: Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco GUEST SPEAKERS: Congressman Robert Brady Mayor John F. Street Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco Councilman Brian J. O'Neill Councilman Michael A. Nutter Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr. Councilman Juan F. Ramos Representative Mark B. Cohen Sherrie Cohen, Esquire Angel L. Ortiz Patrick Eiding, President, AFL-CIO Burt Seigel, Executive Director (Jewish Community Relations Council) Jonathan Stein, Esquire, (Community Legal Services) Stanley Shapiro, Esquire Christie Balka, Executive Director (Bread and Roses) Honorable Denis Cohen Judge, Court of Common Pleas Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen P R O C E E D I N G S

May I have everyone's attention, please. Thank you. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. Council members will please come to order. Members will take their seats and visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. I respectfully request that all cell phones please be turned off. I have convened this special session of Council to celebrate the life and mourn the death of our dear friend and colleague, Councilman David Cohen. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife Florence and his family, and we thank you for being with us today. To give our invocation this afternoon, the Chair welcomes the Reverend Isaac Miller of the Church of the Advocate. He is here today at the request of the Cohen family. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Would you please approach the podium. At this time, I would ask all members and guests to please rise. REV. MILLER: May we bow our heads. We thank you, dear God, for this day on which we recall your servant, our brother, David Cohen. We thank you for giving him to us, his family, and friends. We knew David as companion, friend, and colleague. From this chamber, we knew David as a tireless champion of the left and the least. We thank you, dear God, for his family sharing him with the whole of the city and beyond. We thank you for his family's support, especially that of Florence, his life companion. We trust, dear God, that this tireless champion, this passionate advocate of your compassion and justice, now rests with you. Having known David's example, we pray for his family ourselves and his Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen colleagues here, that we know your comfort and that we never rest until your vision for us, your vision for this city, and your vision for all human kind is fulfilled. All this we pray, all this we ask in your holy name. Amen. (Chorus of "amen.")

The Chair thanks Reverend Miller for his very touching invocation. How appropriate it is that we gather in these chambers today to memorialize David Cohen. It was in this very room that he spent over 30 years of his life, fighting for the little people, and oftentimes, I may say, fighting with us. (Laughter.)

I am certain that all members of Council, past and present, who have served with David, can recall an issue about which David was passionate. That issue then became a bill, the merits of which David shared with us, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen privately asking for our vote, and publicly in a lengthy hearing or a lengthy speech during a Council session. Often his bills became law. And if they didn't, he never let those of us who did not vote for his bill ever, ever forget it. (Laughter.)

I still remember certain bills that he would quote, and I'm sure that many of you also can recall that. We certainly will miss David. Although his voice has been silenced, his spirit will live on in this chamber for many, many years to come. So, our dear friend, we pray that God will grant you eternal peace. I now call upon Cantor Stephen Friedman from Temple Sinai for a tribute to Councilman Cohen. Cantor. Thank you. CANTOR FRIEDMAN: Councilman Cohen passed away on the eve of Roshashana, the Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Jewish new year, a time when we believe our very lives hang in the balance. The classic prayer, baroshashana, frames our uncertainty through vivid imagery. Who shall live and who shall die, who in the fullness of years and who before, who by fire, who by water, who by hunger, who by thirst, who shall be poor, who shall be rich, who shall be brought low, and who uplifted. David Cohen was blessed with fullness of years, and through his life enriched and uplifted the citizens of Philadelphia. (Singing in Yiddish.) CANTOR FRIEDMAN: The Book of Psalms contain basic truths and insights which have served to comfort people of faith in times of trouble and distress, as well as to inspire them in moments of joy and celebration. In Psalm 112, the Psalmist captures the essence of what a good life is all about. (Singing in Yiddish.) CANTOR FRIEDMAN: He will be remembered with fondness and with honor, his Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen goodness rewarded by God.

Thank you, Cantor Freedman. That was truly lovely. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, for a motion on a resolution, to present it, regarding Councilman Cohen.

Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended, in order to permit the immediate consideration of this resolution at the time of introduction.

Second.

It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration of this resolution at the time of its introduction. All in favor will please indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")

Those opposed? Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the motion carries. For those of you who are standing, this is going to be rather lengthy. There are ample seats up in the balcony. We would certainly be more than happy to have one of the sergeant-at-arms escort you up to the fifth floor, so that you would be certainly a lot more comfortable sitting up in the balcony. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I have one resolution.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the resolution in its entirety.

A resolution mourning the death and honoring the memory of David Cohen. Whereas, David Cohen was 90 years old, when on October 3, 2005, God in his Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen wisdom took him from his our midst. This city, commonwealth and country have lost a true friend and wonderful gentleman. And whereas, Mr. Cohen hails from a family that immigrated to Philadelphia from the Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century. David Cohen was bright, but a terrible paperhanger. So his six older siblings decided to send him to the University of Pennsylvania at age 16, rather than have him working in their wallpaper business. In 1937, David Cohen graduated first in his class from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law at age 23. He moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a lawyer in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal rural electrification administration. Mr. Cohen's desire to help the little people and his liberal views were formed in this first job. He wanted to make Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen government more relevant to all. And whereas, in 1943 David Cohen was drafted in the United States Army. He courageously served in New Guinea during World War II. Upon his return, he married Florence Herzog in 1946 and they lived in New York City. In 1952, the Cohen's returned to the Ogontz section of Philadelphia to raise their growing family. By their example, they taught their four children the values of integrity, hard work, equality for all, and a belief in public service. And whereas, Mr. Cohen entered Democratic politics in the city as a committeeman in the fourth ward in 1952. He worked on the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson. In 1965 he took up the cause of racial bias in voter registration in Mississippi and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen In that same year Mr. Cohen was elected ward leader in the 17th ward; and in 1967, he was elected Councilman from the Eighth District, serving the northwest section of Philadelphia. Mr. Cohen resigned his Council seat for an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1971, but he was elected back into a city Council at-large seat in 1979, a position which he held until his death. And whereas, Councilman David Cohen's principles, always strong, served him well in life and in City Council. Together with his wife Florence, they championed the causes of senior citizens, environmentalists and the poor. There was no issue too burdensome for Councilman Cohen, if it meant serving his constituents. And whereas, a good and true legend has left us, we, his colleagues, fondly recall the hours we spent with him and the words of wisdom he imparted. We will miss him and we will forever Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen remember him in our hearts and minds, and in the lasting history of our city. Now, therefore, resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby mourn the death and celebrate the life of the Honorable David Cohen. To his wife, Florence; his children: Mark, Denis, Sherrie and Judy; and his grandchildren, we extend our most profound condolences. Resolved, an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Florence Cohen, as evidence of the sincere respect of this legislative body. This is a true and correct copy of the original resolution adopted by Council of the City of Philadelphia on the 17th day of October 2005, introduced and signed by all members of City Council.

Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion on the resolution.

Thank you, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Madam President. I move that this resolution be adopted by a standing vote of all Council members.

Second.

Thank you. All those voting in favor of the resolution will do so by a standing vote. (All members of City Council stood.)

This resolution has been unanimously adopted. At this time I call Congressman Robert Brady to the podium, to say a few words about Councilman Cohen. CONGRESSMAN BRADY: Thank you, Council President. And good afternoon to all the elected officials, all the administration people, all the friends of David and his family. It's my honor, my pleasure to be here. Brings back a lot of memories, being here. I haven't been here for 25 years. I don't think I stepped foot in this room, after working here for many decades. Good Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen memories; bad memories. Well, they're all good memories; no bad memories. Educational memories. Throwing out Santa Claus. Married with two children. Have to be on T.V. throwing out Santa Claus. Thank you, Council lady Krajewski. (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: And as I was in here walking around, saying hello to a couple friends, Councilman DiCicco said, I don't know why we're here. Dave is going to walk in here next Thursday. Anybody out there doubt that? I don't doubt it. But again, it's my pleasure to be here. I look over, and I see our Mayor. I had the distinct pleasure of bodily throwing him out of here. (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: You came a long way, sir. (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: I taught you well. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: But I promise I will be brief. And the next line our Mayor will say when he speaks. It's just my pleasure to be here. You know, David Cohen was an icon. He was a fighter for the people who couldn't fight for themselves. Everybody knew that. You're going to hear a whole lot of people going to talk about that. But I've got to talk about a personal relationship I had with David Cohen for thirty years. Some twenty-six, -seven years ago, I had a -- a sergeant-at-arms had to walk over there where Wilson Good is sitting right now and Blondell Reynolds-Brown, and separate David Cohen and Lou Johanson from a fistfight. Do you remember that, Council President?

Yes, I remember that. CONGRESSMAN BRADY: Had to separate the two of them. I said, boy, what a feisty, elderly gentleman this is. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: And that was 20, 30 years ago. And he never stopped, you know. And God bless him. But as a politician -- And that's what I am. You know, you can have a lot of titles, but you're always a politician. David Cohen was a mentor of mine and somebody who I went from time to time, maybe too many times, for advice. And as his staff will tell you, I always went to him. I never made him come to me because of the respect that I had for him. When I had aspirations to try to sit in one of these seats as a Council person, I went to him. And he told me as a ward leader, which he was in the 17th ward, that he would support me. And supporting me meant that I may beat him. Naturally, I didn't, but it still meant that. And he stood by me and he supported me in that effort. When I went for Chairman, he was one of my staunch supporters that stood by me and Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen supported me all through and stayed with me and helped me along those lines. When I aspired to be a Congressman, I sat and talked to him. I didn't know whether I wanted to do this. And he pushed me, and pushed me to do that. And he was knowledgeable. He told me what he learned. And, you know, when I met with Councilman Cohen, I never spoke. I always listened because I didn't have to let him know what I knew. I had to find out what he knew. And I took his advice. You know, from time to time we have elections. And David was a ward leader. And David always... always, always -- and I need to say this so a lot of people out here can hear me... always supported the endorsed Democratic ticket.

That's true. CONGRESSMAN BRADY: Never, never did he ever, ever sway from supporting the endorsed Democratic ticket. Now, to get him to agree on the Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen endorsed Democratic ticket was a completely different story, but he always supported the Democratic ticket which I really, really truly, as the party chairman, do appreciate. You know, we take ourselves too seriously. Had a conversation with Council lady Tasco on the way up, and lost a good friend. We're losing too many good friends. And I lost too many good mentors, of the Buddy Cianfranis of the world, the Norman Loudenschlagers, God knows the Lou Blackwells, the Roxanne Jones, the Dave Richardson's and now the David Cohens. Can you imagine what the table's like up there? They're all sitting around that table. They're deciding our fate down here, without question. But we lose too many people, and we probably take ourselves a little bit too seriously. It's just a chance to reflect on people and people that have made an impact in the city. And no one, no one has made an impact like David Cohen has. No one has been Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen a fighter for the people who couldn't fight for themselves and fight for every one of us in here. And you always knew where he stood. There's not going to be another David Cohen that's ever going to be around in this town again that I can think of. At least it won't happen in my lifetime. To his family, to his lovely wife Florence, who was by his side every step of the way, and he was by your side every step of the way, you knew how much he adored you and how much you adored him. And when you saw you, you saw him. When you saw him, you saw you. And as for many, many years, that's to your credit. To his daughters who he sheltered, rightfully so, and wanted to keep you away from this arena of politics, you know... And we had a lot of discussions about that. He talked to me about my daughter, to do the same in return, which I did do. To Mark, he loved and he was so proud of your work ethic, everything that you Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen did up in the state house, the hours you put in. I think you probably without question put more hours than any state representative in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was so proud of you. Denis, I say over and over again, he called me. He said, I have a young son that you never knew, you never met, probably don't know about him. He's not like me. He's not like the Cohens. He's different. He's a real nice guy. He's not egotistical. (Laughter.) CONGRESSMAN BRADY: He said, he would make a great judge. And he fought for that, and he saw that happen. And he saw Mark happen. And he was blessed to do that. And he told me time and time again that he was blessed to do that. So, I mean... I mean, I lost a good friend. And these are secret weapons that a lot of you don't know about my relationships with some of these people that I mentioned, and hopefully won't have to mention again because that means that you won't be here. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen And I want you all to stay around a long time. But I lost a good friend in David Cohen. I lost a good mentor. I'm going to miss him a whole lot, more than probably anybody could ever know, because he always told me what I had to do, how I had to do it, and the way I had to do it, and most important -- and most important -- he always supported what I've done and always supported what the Democratic party did, sometimes whether it was right or whether it was wrong or whether it was easy or whether it was hard. So, I got a piece of my heart taken away, and I don't think it can ever get replaced. So again, thank you all to the family. God bless you. God bless you for doing what you're doing. And I am not too far away. I've had many conversations with all of yous. I want to continue to have more. Thank you all and God bless you. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (Applause.)

Thank you, Congressman. Our next speaker is Mayor John F. Street.

Thank you, Madam President, members of City Council, and Congressman, other elected officials, and distinguish ladies and gentlemen that are gathered here today. And of course, to the family of the late, great Councilman David Cohen. It is indeed a special privilege to be here today. And I promise I'll be brief, no matter how long it takes. (Laughter.)

It's my special line. Congressman, thank you so very much. I apologize for being late, but I was out in Joan Krajewski territory, out in the Northeast. We had a wonderful meeting with the Northeast Chamber of Commerce. And I was coming back, and I was reflecting a little bit on the service. And Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen I talked to Florence last week, and I was at the memorial service, and I actually did a KYW message on Councilman Cohen, and talked about he was a man of great intellect, he was a man of substance. And I thought to myself, I'd like to focus on two things. One, we're hear today because we want to honor a person who lived a life of service. And for Councilman Cohen and his family, he did a wonderful, wonderful job. But I think we'd like to think that there are young people out there. There are people who live in every neighborhood. There are thousands of children in our public school system who really could take a great message from the life of Councilman Cohen. And I'd like to say to the teachers and the administrators because I'd like for our teachers in our public school system and some of our community people, let's not forget Councilman Cohen, and to talk a little bit about him in the classes and to talk a little bit about him when they're standing Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen out talking to young people. And I'm fond of saying, the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life that fails to fulfill its and potential. Councilman Cohen, as much as anybody that I have ever seen, lived a life that was full of purpose and reached a high degree of its potential, because Councilman Cohen, unlike many other people, he was driven by his ideals. He was driven -- What's that noise? Does anybody hear that noise? Am I the only one hearing that noise? Is anything, President, we can do about that? What is that noise?

I don't know. VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: Metal detector.

Pardon me? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: Metal detector.

It's a metal detector? Is that what it is? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: Yeah. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

Anybody else hear that noise? Am I the only one? Is it, like, like getting on your nerves, too? I'm saying, what's that noise there, right? (Laughter.)

Well, I guess we'll just have -- That's probably now part of the new crowd noise that we have to deal with. I lost a moment there. Councilman Cohen really lived a life that was full of purpose and potential. The thing that I would say to our young people is, find out, submit, stand for something, mean something. If you want to be Michaelangelo and do what Michaelangelo did or Martin Luther King and do what he did, find something, be about something. There are too many people who are on the corners, they're in bars, they're in places where they have hang out, and they don't stand for anything. There's nothing. There's no driving force in their lives. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Councilman Cohen the driving force in his life. He stood for something. He meant something, and he was unwilling to compromise it unless he thought the compromise was fair. And he drove a hard bargain. You liked to deal with Councilman Cohen. He drove a hard bargain. And it was never for him. It was never for him. I never ever, except for salaries of his staff... (Laughter.)

Except for salaries for his staff, right, Council President?

I agree.

Except for salaries for his staff. Let me tell you something: Cohen's got the best paid staff in the world. (Laughter.)

He's got the best paid staff in his world. And he was relentless. After a while you just said, give him the money. (Laughter.)

Get out of here, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen David. They can have the money. (Laughter.)

But other than that, he never asked for anything for himself. Cohen didn't want anything for himself. As long as he could have Florence right there with him, he was not worried about anything else. He never ever, ever -- I sat on this floor with him for 19 years. And he worried about utilities. If Councilman Cohen were alive today, he would be making a speech about the ripoff that is happening in this country as a result of the utility problem. (Sustained applause.)

He worried. He worried about the minimum wage, he worried about utilities, he worried about the senior citizen discount. Actually, I don't think Councilman Cohen thought anybody should pay, really. (Laughter.)

Well, actually not. That's a little bit unfair. But Councilman Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Cohen believed that people shouldn't have to make ugly choices between heating and eating. He believed that in the greatest country of all the world and this industrialized society that we have, that people shouldn't have to worry about their utilities. And he lived a meaningful life and everything was important to him. Everything was important. There was no -- There were no unimportant issues. There were no unimportant people. There were no unimportant problems that folks had in the community that Cohen wasn't interested in resolving. And he would come here, and he would tirelessly and relentlessly apply himself to that problem, no matter what it was. And he didn't care who was against him. He didn't care who was for it. Cohen was capable of being... He was capable of initiating a one-person boycott. (Laughter.)

I imagine he's Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen probably boycotting something right now. I'm not buying any more gas for $3 a gallon. Because Cohen had his standards. He had lines. He had things that he would do and things that he wouldn't do. Too many people don't have any standards. Cohen had standards. Cohen... Congressman Blackwell used to say to me that he really liked Councilman Longstreth. I always liked Councilman Longstreth, too. I particularly liked him because he always liked me. We always like people who like us. But Congressman Blackwell used to say that he liked Thatcher Longstreth because Thatcher Longstreth understood his mission. He was from the business community. He wasn't confused about that. And he used to always say that David Cohen represented little people, poor people, and he wasn't confused about that. And so, there are huge lessons in the life of Councilman Cohen. And I hope that among all the members of his family -Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Florence, of course, is the leader -- that someone will take and will create, write this story up, and somebody will put it in a position, because the Councilman David Cohen story ought to be a part of the archives of this city. I've actually started thinking a little bit about archives, and went on a web site. Do you know that we have -- There's a web site that contains all the archives of various administrations. We as a city don't do a very good job of cataloging our history. But somebody ought to catalog Councilman Cohen's history. They ought to be part of the archives. I recommend to Council President and to the members of City Council that Council archives be created, and that we go back and try to -- try to lay out the work of great members of City Council. You know, there's a story that's told, and I sometimes tell it when I'm giving speeches. This Mayor was in his office one day, and he heard somebody on the other side Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen of the door banging on the door, you know, saying, and I want to talk to the Mayor, and I don't want to talk to anybody lower than the Mayor. And he opened the door and said, Miss, there is no one lower than the Mayor. (Laughter.)

Well, with all due respect to that story, in the City of Philadelphia, it's a Council person. You know that. It's the Council person. In the City of Philadelphia people can get to, you know, Clarke, Tasco, Verna and Nutter and Krajewski. They can get to the Blackwells of the world. They don't feel like they can always get to the Mayor because we're big. And being a member of the City Council is a noble responsibility. It is a great work that Council has to do. And Councilman Cohen did it with an ease and with a facility and with a degree of dedication and determination that we'd like to see replicated in all of our members. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen I'd like to, before I close, mention four quick things. Now, you know I've told you the story that Cohen said that I had reduced the City Council to less than a rubber stamp. You remember that. I actually put it in my thing. Cohen was really very unhappy this day. And I was up there where the Council President is. And he says, and you have reduced this Council to less than a rubber stamp. He was, like, way up here. But there's some other things about... things that Councilman Cohen I'd like to point out. Now, Florence I don't want anybody to be offended. Where did Dave get those shoes? (Laughter.)

I want to know about the shoes. Have you all noticed the shoes Councilman Cohen used to wear? Councilman Cohen wore some shoes that were unlike any shoes that I had ever seen before. And I point that out -- Charley, I Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen see you laughing right there. Councilman Cohen ordered those shoes, didn't he? And no one -- You could not buy those shoes in any kind of a store. I would like to know where I could possibly get those shoes. (Laughter.)

I'd like to be able to get a pair of those shoes because they tell me -- I was thinking maybe if I could walk in those shoes or some like it, then maybe I might be able to get to 90, and be in as great a shape as Councilman Cohen. But I one time went up to his office, and I asked him -- He actually gave me this information once. Florence, you remember. And I lost it. I actually looked at the shoes and decided, I could never wear those shoes. I was just too young to wear those shoes. (Laughter.)

But I'm thinking about maybe it might be time for me to get a pair of those shoes, because they actually Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen look like the most comfortable shoes in the world. They had to be comfortable because they didn't look like much. Those shoes had to be, like, very, very comfortable. But they also -- they also said a lot about Councilman Cohen, because I think in the 20, 30 years that he was on City Council he probably only ever had two pair. (Laughter.)

How many, Florence, did he have?

Maybe two. (Laughter.)

Maybe two. I think he had one pair of those shoes for about 15 years. And I finally asked him, I said, David, do these shoes ever wear out? And he just kind of laughed and said something about, well, he didn't care very much about the shoes. Cohen was so busy doing his job that he didn't worry much about those other things. Councilman Cohen was a fighter. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Now, all you all remember... Do you remember the fight that we had on the floor of City Council when Rafferty and I were out here? And we were... Anybody remember that? (Hands raised in the audience.)

You probably forgot all about that, right? Well, but what you all don't know is, that on that same day another fight took place. Anybody remember that? Another fight took place. Because I used to sit, I think, where Councilman DiCicco was sitting. Anybody remember who sat next to me? Anybody remember who sat next to me right there? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)

Who? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)

No.

I think you sat where Jim Kenney sits.

No, no, no, no, no. I didn't sit there.

I think Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen that's the way it was.

No. No. That's -When I first came here, I was a back bencher. I was not on the front row.

Well, are you talking about when you first came or the day of the fight?

No. I'm talking about -- I'm talking about when I first came.

Oh.

I sat... I sat... Was it Blondell? Well, who sat... And that was Blackwell that sat next to me.

Right here.

Blackwell sat where Jannie sits.

Well, who sat where Councilman Ramos is sitting? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)

Lou Johanson sat there.

No, he didn't. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

Yeah. I remember.

Sat where... No.

Well, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'm now trying to figure out where I was sitting on the fight that we had during Abscam.

You sat, if my memory serves me -- And I think there are other people around here who can attest to it. You sat where Councilman Kenney sits. Lou Blackwell was sitting where Jannie Blackwell sits, and Dave Cohen was in the seat that he has occupied.

Cohen was sitting -Lou Johanson and Cohen were sitting right back there where -

Lou Johanson, I believe, sat where either Blondell or Wilson Goode is sitting.

That's right. And Cohen sat right next to him. You know how I know Cohen sat right next to him? Because Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Lou Johanson got up and grabbed Councilman Cohen -- Anybody remember that -- grabbed Councilman Cohen. And weren't the two of them sitting on that back row? They were sitting right on the back row. VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)

And Cohen sat right next to him. And Cohen sat right next to him. VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.) (Laughter and applause.)

My point is that Councilman Cohen and Lou Johanson were back there on the floor fighting. That's my point. My point is that they were back there on the floor fighting, but they never got any attention for their fight. They never got any attention because all the attention was placed on this little corner over here. And I think that was a little unfair. But Councilman Cohen was handling himself in that little fight. And Lou Johanson reached up and Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen grabbed him. And Cohen's chair went back. And I remember seeing the legs went back. And the two of them fell off of the chair. And all I remember is that Cohen landed on top. (Laughter.)

Councilman Cohen landed on top. But Councilman Cohen was a wonderful man. He had a great sense of humor. We will never forget all of his work on City Council, his political work. We won't forget the work that did he in neighborhoods, and the work that he did on behalf of people who were largely under represented and whose issues in many cases would never ever have come to the floor of this Council in a way as represented by Councilman David Cohen. And so, to the members of the family, we appreciate very much the support that you gave him, the support that you gave the City of Philadelphia. It is our hope that his memory and your life will continue to grow and there will be warm memories. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen But I can tell you as a part of the political establishment of this city, we will never forget him and we will do everything we can to keep his memory alive. And at this time I'd like for Florence to come forward. We have a little token of our appreciation, which will be brought to this podium by none other than Chief of Staff Joyce Wilkerson who spent many, many years working here in the City Council of Philadelphia. (Applause.)

It's a bowl.

Patriots' bowl.

Can we get over here some place where we can get some photographs, Florence. (Applause.)

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We will now hear from Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.

Thank you, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Madam President. As has been said, Councilman David Cohen will never be forgotten and can never be replaced. One of my most vivid memories is his fighting for a position as tenaciously, as everyone has said, for legislation. But in spite of the fact of giving me his opinion and telling me how he felt about an issue, he always said, Jannie, do what you think is right. And having been around a few years now on my own, I always, whenever I meet new elected officials, tell them, listen to the people who elected you and always do what you think is right. So, we'll always remember that, and that will always be part of my life and my memories of David Cohen. Finally, he was very active all over the city and in my district as well. He was an honorary member of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and the Paul Robson National Campaign to, quote, Restore House Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen and Preserve a Legacy. And certainly we thank him for his life. We thank him for his commitment. And we say to this family, God bless you. We're very sorry. Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you. Our next speaker is Councilwoman Marian Tasco.

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, colleagues, to the Cohen family, elected officials, appointed officials, friends who gather this afternoon, as we reflect on the life and times of our friend, David Cohen, I will miss his spirited speeches and debates on behalf of the people and the issues affecting our city. In fact, it will be his voice that I will think of as we close each session. As it is our protocol, Madam President will ask, are there any speeches on behalf of the majority? And I will be waiting for David's Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen response. Madam President, I would like to be heard. In this regard, I am reflecting on how David Cohen would like to be heard concerning Daily News columnist Jill Porter's recent articles about term limits for Council members. In her column, Miss Porter discussed the frailties of former Councilman Thatcher Longstreth and our recently deceased David. She argued that City Council needs term limits because these two men stayed in City Council too long. As support for her argument, she stated that David's ideals never faltered but he did, and that his speeches rambled, his points meandered puzzlingly. Well, if David could be heard, he would point out that his speeches were no different than those of his younger colleagues who sometimes -(Laughter.)

-- who sometimes became emotionally attached to an Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen issue which they are advocating. As Miss Porter and others focused on his age, they seemed to forget that David's ideals, fighting for the little people, never faltered. And his passion for these ideals were the essence of his speeches, debates and calling to public service. While some of us did roll our eyes will David spoke and persisted in an argument of speech, this response was not based on David's age. It is no different than the responses we make when a Council member offers a position that we disagree with. If David could be heard, he would say that he persisted in his arguments and speeches because he had the scars of working hard and helping the thousands of citizens of Philadelphia who sought his assistance with one problem or another. Whether it was the fight for item pricing, lower gas rates, the senior citizens' discount, the fight against the proposed trash to steam plant, the right of workers for a fair labor contract or an Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen employee who had been unfairly terminated, these citizens did not see David's frailties but a powerful and tireless advocate they believed in and trusted to never give up the fight. If David could be heard, David would never be a proponent for term limits. His response would mirror that of Councilman Kenney's. Term limits are called elections. David trusted the voters to know who had served them and those who did not, in spite of what the media and others thought should happen. I believe that if David had lived to run for reelection, the citizens, in spite of his frailties would have reelected him because of the outstanding public service that he and his office provided to constituents, constituents who are more aware of what is going on in the political arena than the media and others might believe. All one has to do is talk with the people, as David often did. He went everywhere and spoke to everyone, and he Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen listened. So, each Thursday I will reflect and wish that I could hear, Madam President, I would like to be heard, from David Cohen one more time as he makes a passionate argument or speech. Some may call his statements as rambling or meandering points. However, his colleagues, friends and most importantly his constituents knew he was advocating on their behalf because he had their interest at heart and in the end would win for them. This City, the state, this country, this world has lost a citizen of the highest order. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Councilman Brian O'Neill.

Thank you, Madam President. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

You're welcome.

It will be shorter if I'm up here. And I can look at David sitting there, because I still have a hard time thinking of this body without him in that chair. But he was a special man. Probably over 26 years no one disagreed with him more or had him disagree with them more than myself. But it was always a good fight. He probably won more than I did in the early days. I probably won more than he did in the later days. But as David would say, when John Dean coined the term, the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, that was our friend David. He never flinched from his ideals. He wasn't so much for the left as for the left out. And I can say that many times I wished I were on his side, because he was a true champion of his causes. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen People said at his funeral service that David didn't need a poll. David didn't look at a poll. Well, David didn't need a poll. David was so fixed on the constituency that he represented, so sure of what the issue was -- And as I think of David -- And I can never call him Dave. I don't think too many other people could either around here. I wonder if it was because David Cohen saw everything in terms of Goliath. And he could instinctively pick the side David would be on with his slingshot. And he'd come in here every week with a slingshot. It didn't matter how big the opposition was, how big a defeat he was going to take if he lost. Never mattered to him. And he could speak as well and defend a position and argue a position as well as anyone I have ever seen anywhere. The Mayor mentioned archives. I wish we could archive David's speeches and send them to Washington to the Democratic Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen wing of the Democratic party, because people say to me, did... Are you going to give a speech and kind of give it the Republican rebuttal? Well, there really isn't a Republican rebuttal when it comes to David Cohen. You see, David was as upset with some or all of his colleagues as much as he was upset with the Republicans on Council, because he was upset with people that disagreed with him, because in his heart his cause was the right one. And if you disagreed with him. It wasn't a party affiliation. He might have said that, talking about Republicans, but he came right back and said he was even more ashamed of people of his own party. But it was a joy to be with him. And when you get to know his family, see his family, you know that that feisty, argumentative, tear them apart little guy, was totally different with his family. And you also know that because... And I'm sure I speak for all of us... While Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen we could argue with him in a meeting in the Council President's office or in the caucus room or out here on the floor, David was a perfect gentleman everywhere else. You wouldn't think you ever had an argument with him. He was just a perfect gentleman. He was funny. He was easy to talk to. And he left the legislative stuff here. And he was a person out there that anyone would enjoy being with. So, I feel very lucky to have served with him for 26 years and learned an awful lot from him. And it's one thing to disagree with somebody; but, boy, I wish I was on his side an awful lot or had him on my side may even be a better way of looking at it. But David, we'll all miss you, Republicans, Democrats. And I believe you're already up there with God in heaven. And hopefully the angels with you are from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. Thank you. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (Laughter and applause.)

Thank you. We will now hear from Councilman Michael Nutter.

Thank you, Madam President. To Florence and the family, to all the elected officials, and certainly Congressman Brady, Mayor Street, and all of our distinguished guests. I will be uncharacteristically short. A good friend of mine, Perry Segal, gave me a poster one time which is now in my office. It's a quote from Martin Nemuller. And whenever I read it, I always think of David, given his impact that he's had on all of us, both in this chamber and throughout the body politic. I want to read that into the record and then make one other comment about our colleague. The quote is: In Germany they came first for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a tried unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. And then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. Councilman Cohen always spoke up. And one of the things that we can all do in either listening to that quote or thinking about his service is to remind all of us, certainly in public service but in any walk of life, it's always appropriate to speak up. And he lived that every day of his life. That was one of the things I admired the most about him. And as Councilman O'Neill said and others have said, you'd always rather be on Councilman Cohen's side because you really knew that you were in a fight if you were on the other side, which in many instances was not a lot of fun. And I've had a couple of Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen those experiences. There were many wonderful moments certainly during my time and even before when I was here as a staff person. And a lot of recollections of just funny moments. One that comes to mind is, we were up very late one night on a very serious matter. And some members may recall that Councilman Cohen fell into a virtually uncontrollable laughter spell over in his seat. I think it had something to do with Councilman Frank DiCicco. I never -- I could never figure out what was so funny, but he laughed so long and so loud that it infected the rest of us, and we were all laughing during that moment. But probably the best time and the biggest laugh I ever had with the Councilman was in his office. And he was describing his intensity about whatever the position or issue of the day was, but he shared with me what really drove him to try, as I think Mayor Street laid out, what drove him to Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen drive such a hard bargain on whatever the issue was. And it really came down to Florence because he told me that in the early years -and maybe it continued on -- and he mentioned it at the Bread and Roses event just a few weeks back -- that when he would come home every night, as he came in the door, Florence would ask, Dave, what did you sell out on today? (Laughter.)

And I just really can't imagine... And we all know Florence. And so, I mean, I now better understand why Councilman Cohen drove such a hard bargain. It may have been about the issue, but I think having to face Florence may have been one of the driving forces. I respect his work and his work ethic, learned a great deal from him, will miss him tremendously. And we've all been better to have had the experience with him. Thank you, Florence and the family Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen so much. (Applause.)

We will now hear from Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown.

Thank you, Madam President. To Mr. Mayor, Chairman Brady, my colleagues, family and friends: I, too, have reflected enormously on the loss of our colleague and what lessons I can take from his life. And there are two highlights I wish to share. The moment in time is spring '03. The place is Chestnut Hill, Germantown Avenue. The time is 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock midnight or sometime thereafter at a campaign stop, and two candidates are left, councilman Cohen and myself. And during that time, he remarked how he had observed that in many places oftentimes there were only two left. And he therein gave me the ultimate compliment wherein he said -- And he never called me Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Councilwoman. He always called me Blondell, which I appreciated. His comment was, you know, you're kind of like me. You are a tireless campaigner. And so, in that he assured me that with my continued hard work and continued to be with him late at night as the last two, we would both return to City Council. So the lessen in that is to be that, a tireless campaigner, prepared to speak to your issues. And then secondly, my last conversation with your dad, your husband, was the summer, August '05, wherein I called him to give them a heads up and alert him to the parks bill that Councilman Clarke and I had introduced, and wanted to enlist his support. Now, what we know about Councilman Cohen is, you don't make a call unprepared. You better be over prepared for the direct interrogation that follows. And he missed the point because I called only to give him a heads up, not to be Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen yet questioned on why we believed this was a good way to go. Lessen learned. Be overly prepared when you are about to have a conversation of any type of any issue with our former colleague, Councilman Cohen. He was a teacher of the legislative process. He was a teacher of the Roberts Rules of Order. He knew them like his name. He was a teacher of the language in the Charter. He also knew that like his name. And so, from that we've lost a great teacher of politics, of government, of public service. I'm glad I had a chance to have five years with him. Thank you. (Applause.)

At this time I would like to thank Mayor Street and Congressman Brady for having joined us for the service. They both have to leave for another very important commitment. And again, I want to thank both of you for attending. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen (Applause.)

Our next speaker is Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr.

Thank you, Madam President. I'll speak very briefly on Councilman Cohen on a theme that he often had, the last laugh. I choose to remember Councilman David Cohen as pictured in one of the most recent snapshots of him, winning a veto override for his wage tax cut for the poor. During my time here, I never seen him more satisfied. And I was actually happy for him. While he didn't always smile so brightly on this Council floor, he always seemed to have the last laugh. Councilman Cohen was not afraid to stand on his own in this Council. Like many of us, he had to stand at times on the opposite side of our colleagues. But no one stood alone like Cohen. And each time he stood strong. He could argue against all 16 colleagues, one by one, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen and never reconsider his position. And as a vote was being taken, he knew he'd have the last laugh. He might just see us in court. (Laughter.)

Allow me to share one personal memory. The day after the primary election in 2003, the Councilman and I shared a laugh together. David Cohen called me to congratulate me on my second place finish behind Councilwoman Brown, and only 52 votes in front of him. At age 88, Cohen received 8,000 more votes than the next incumbent, 30,000 more votes than the top challenger, and 40,000 more votes than any other challenger. At age 88, he was being nominated for an eighth term. In his last general election, he would still be the second highest vote getter in this Council, in full defiance of any thought of term limits. But David Cohen called me on that day after the primary election to Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen congratulate me on edging him out by 52 votes. He said to me, Wilson, I want you to know I am very proud to now be the third African American Council person at large. (Laughter.)

It was one of the best laughs that we shared, but in a strange way I wasn't sure that he was entirely joking. I could imagine that at some point in which he disagreed with both me and Blondell, he might actually assert him in this Council as the third African American at large. Once again, he would have the last laugh. And that's what I'm going to miss the brother. Thank you.

Thank you. (Applause.)

Our next speaker is Councilman Juan Ramos.

Thank you, Madam President. Fellow colleagues, Philadelphians, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Florence and family, around 35 years ago, right around this time in October, I remember very clearly a member of City Council walked into an office in North Philadelphia around Franklin and Oxford Street. And he came up to the second floor. The office had been firebombed a few days before. It was in bad shape. And he comes up to that second floor to visit a group of militant Puerto Rican youth. And I happened to be one of them. And he walked in. And I looked at him. I said, this guy looks familiar. And he says, my name is David Cohen. I'm a Councilman. He says, I want to -- I come up here to tell you that I read the news. And I just want to see how you guys are doing. And we said, well, have a seat. And then he says, what are you guys into? He said, what do you believe in? And he stayed with us for at least two hours, just asking a whole lot of questions. Why are you going about things this way? Why do Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen you think this way? And you know, by the way, you know, I believe a lot of the things that you guys stand for. I served in this Council sitting behind David Cohen only for 18 months. And his gentleness, although at times he was not all that gentle with some of my fellow colleagues, but there was a gentleness about him that I picked up 35 years ago. In 1979 when David Cohen goes back into City Council, he just shows up at this neighborhood conference that I'm a part of. And he was not on the agenda. He was not -- You know, he was not scheduled to speak. And he comes up to me, and he says to me, Juan, I need to speak at this conference. And I said, how come you're waiting until the last minute to want to speak? He says, I only saw this the other day, but I need to speak. And I said, fine, I said, but you've got to be careful with making a political speech here. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen He said, okay. So, I introduced David. And he went on to give this speech about how people needed to vote for him, to bring him back into the City Council. (Laughter.)

Then he looked at me. He says, Juan, can you translate some of this? So I translated. Then in January of last year, I come to City Council, and I land up sitting behind David Cohen. And David in his first address to me referred to me as Councilman Rojas. And I said, okay. Then the second time he addressed me, Councilman Rojas. And I did not know -- I did not know how to correct him. I could not correct him. So he kept on calling me Councilman Rojas for a while. And I didn't know if it was just that I brought memories of -- not that I was a good baseball player, but I thought maybe he was just thought of Cookie Rojas in 1961, the Phillies. Or that he Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen might have been thinking of my lifetime friend, Wilfredo Rojas. And he had me confused. It went on for a couple months, and I became Councilman Rojas. So I don't know what to do. One day he does his Councilman Rojas thing on me. And I say to him, in respect to the comments of Councilman Shapiro... (Laughter.)

And he looked back. And he said, I heard you Juan. He never called me Councilman Rojas again. (Laughter.)

David asked me to co-sponsor his wage tax cut for the working poor. He said, Juan, will you co-sponsor with me? I said, sure. And when we... And when we prevailed with the override of the Mayor's veto, he turned around to me and said, thank Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen you, Juan. And it made my short -- you know, my short time with David very, very meaningful. Sometimes I would hear people grumble, and I would get offended on a personal level because how can you grumble with the elder statesman. You know, we're supposed to put up with the elder statesmen at all times. I wanted to introduce a resolution that I'm going to introduce this coming Thursday. And I think -- And the guy that I have thought to co-sponsor that resolution was David. And it was behind the killing of a Puerto Rican nationalist in Puerto Rico about a month ago. And I said, if there's one person in this Council that could probably understand probably even some of the details of the belief of this one person that was killed by the F.B.I. in Puerto Rico, it's probably Councilman Cohen. And I got the news from the Council Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen President that he had passed. I will miss him. And I probably will also have the distinct bragging right to say that in those 20 months that I sat behind David Cohen and that I've met with, and he called me to his office about a number of things, that I did not get to get into an argument with Councilman Cohen. So David, thank you for the great memories. And I know you look out for all of us as we continue to deliberate, and I hope in your name many, many days to come. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)

You're welcome. (Applause.)

I invite State Representative Mark Cohen to the podium. STATE REPRESENTATIVE COHEN: Thank you very much. Council President Verna, Majority Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Leader Blackwell, Majority Whip Tasco, Minority Leader O'Neill, Minority Whip Rizzo, members of the City Council, family, friends, community leaders, Council staff, employees of the City of Philadelphia, and other governmental units, and citizens of Philadelphia in general, it is deeply gratifying to be with you today to celebrate the life and accomplishments and goals of David Cohen. Cookie Rojas could not be here today. ) STATE REPRESENTATIVE COHEN: But he was, Councilman, one of my father's favorite baseball players. And he would take Denis and I to baseball games in the early 1960's. And they had twinight doubleheaders then. And my brother and I liked the twinight doubleheaders. And then, one day we did a twinight doubleheader that went into extra innings, and we thought that was real great. And then a year or so later we had a Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen twinight doubleheader in which both games went into extra innings. And finally around -- My father kept saying, have you had enough baseball yet? And finally about or o'clock in the morning as the second game was still going on in extra innings, Denis and I decided we had enough baseball and we left. And his life in many ways seems to be like that twinight doubleheader. It went on and on and on. It has been widely said that no one's achievments are his or hers alone. This is especially true in a governmental system of checks and balances, where making new things happen can be very difficult. Councilman David Cohen got a lot done, and many of his colleagues, friends, supporters, advisors and helpers in this room played a key role in the record he achieved and the life that he led. David Cohen knew that life was about choices, about time, money and the goals to be pursued. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen He viewed college education as more important than new cars, new clothes or new toys. He saw listening to people and figuring out ways to help them as more important than figuring out the stock market. He saw viewing people as individual persons was more important than trying to figure out what category they belonged in. He thought activism was a better choice than passivity and full examination of alternatives a better strategy than merely accepting whatever recommendation was given. The core of his life was the recognition of the common humanity of every person. He saw people on the basis of what they did, not on the basis of their most conspicuous characteristic. He knew that Florence Cohen was an outstanding public servant and not, quote unquote, just his wife. He knew the community leaders could be of any occupation. He knew that wisdom was often unaccompanied by extensive formal education. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen He was, as we all know, rather skeptical of authority. When a doctor would tell him he was okay in a doctor's specialty, David Cohen would grill him intensely. Are you saying that because you think I will die of something else first? He wanted to know. I may not die of something else first, he would say, and I want to make sure I'm not going to die of your disease. ) STATE REPRESENTATIVE COHEN: His longevity was due to successful conquering of numerous diseases, not to any genetic immunity from disease. As a Councilman, he followed the lessons of his life. He saw choices where others did not. He saved the city scores of millions of dollars by getting rid of our fallout shelter program, and many millions more by getting rid of our longstanding incinerators. billion over time from the large trash to steam Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen incinerator, in both construction and long-term operating costs, and countless millions more by killing the unwanted Germantown expressway in his first term.

The issue is not bigger government or smaller government, he would say. The issue is better government. His opposition to extensive and needed projects also freed up land for development to create jobs and tax revenues for many years to come. His intense interest in helping those who needed help the most should not obscure his strong identification with middle class Philadelphia. He believed the community groups were pillars of livable communities, and he did all that he could to strengthen them. His lists of victories won, including mandatory retirement in the City of Philadelphia, reducing air pollution, expanding libraries, parks, recreation centers, and school funding, banning the giving away of free cigarettes, and directing Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen that the pension funds of the City of Philadelphia divest itself from tobacco company stocks. He worked successfully for the City Council to keep control over Charter amendments by killing the proposal for Charter Revision Commission. He kept alive the educational experiment that became Philadelphia's first charter school. He patiently negotiated the details of the Center City Special Services District, the prototype for a number of other special service districts. He encouraged volunteerism in schools, parks and communities, and he felt that the sense of ownership and pride that volunteerism helped create was far more important than any savings to the city budget. From the very beginning of his first Council term, he constantly tried to recruit good people. His current staff -- will they please stand -- consists of, in alphabetical Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen order... Ellen Berkowitz, Doc Brown, Marlene Goss, Bill Greenlee, Robert Jaffe, Lynn Ricker, Charles Taylor, and Verna Tyner. ) STATE REPRESENTATIVE COHEN: Because of that team's excellence in constituent service, calls continue to pour in to that office in the two weeks after David Cohen's death. Voters in Philadelphia do not accept death as an excuse. ) STATE REPRESENTATIVE COHEN: They need help with various problems, and they know that Councilman Cohen's office has people who can help them. These are highly skilled and dedicated people who would be a great asset to the City Council as a whole or to individual Council persons or to many city departments and private sector employers. David Cohen has left city government with all Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen star team of employees who are great resources for this city's future. In the fall of 1966, my father would drive me to the University of Pennsylvania campus on Sunday nights, where I was a college freshman living in the dorms. We would talk about his recent election as Democratic leader of the 17th ward and about the work I was doing as a political science major. One of my assignments as a freshman political science student was to interview Philadelphia City Council members then in office. And I told him that many seemed worn out and lacking in ideas as to how to solve Philadelphia's many problems. I urged him to run for the vacant seat in the 8th Council District. And I helped put up posters and write campaign literature and distribute sample ballots to committee people throughout northwest Philadelphia for him. I clearly remember my excitement on Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen the primary and general election eves. But I had no idea that his initial election as Councilman for the 8th District would have the lasting consequences that it did. S. Senator Joseph S. S. Senator Hugh Scott was the honorary campaign chairman for his Republican opponent was perhaps a sign of the race's ultimate significance. S. Senators then lived in the 8th Council District in Chestnut Hill. The City Council he entered in 1968 was the last all-male City Council in Philadelphia's history. Ann Verna was there as aide to her father, newly elected Councilman and former magistrate William Cibotti.

10 of the 17 Councilmen were freshmen, an all-time high since the Democratic sweep, led by Joseph Clark in 1951. City Council then was under staffed, under involved and under appreciated. Only three of the Council members were African American, and two of the three, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen future Clerk of Courts Edgar C. Campbell and future Judge, Charles Durham, were freshmen. The third black Councilman then, Thomas MacIntosh, died the day after my father did, after one of the longest careers in city government ever. City Council has come a long way since David Cohen entered in 1968, and each of you have been an important part of that. I'm sure he would want you to continue to try, as he did, to live up to Leon Sullivan's words of praise after City Council passed bills that my father had pushed with other Council members, guaranteeing 60 days' notice for mass layoffs, setting up affirmative action programs for city contracts, and divesting city pension funds from companies doing business in South Africa. City Council, the Reverend Leon Sullivan said, at a prayer breakfast in the early 1980's is, quote, the best legislative body in the free world. The best legislative body in the free world. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Councilman David Cohen would want you to do everything you possibly can to make that statement a long-term prophecy. Thank you, dad, for all you have done for all of us. Thank you, City Council members, fellow citizens and friends, for all your support and for all your efforts to make Philadelphia's future even better than its often glorious past. )

Our next speaker is Councilman Cohen's daughter, Sherrie Cohen, Esquire.

It is wonderful being here today in these chambers to celebrate the life of my father, Councilman David Cohen, who died two weeks ago today. We, the family, are very grateful to City Council for holding today's special meeting in his honor. My father loved nothing more than being a Philadelphia city Council person. He would always introduce himself to people by Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen saying I am a politician, but not a traditional one. I am a Council person for the people. My father voted as if our lives depended upon it. In considering any issue, bill or resolution, he would ask, is it good for poor people? Is it good for working people? Is it good for people of color? Is it good for women? Is it good for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered people? Is it good for seniors? Based on that question alone, he would make his decision. His loyalty on the issues of the day was simply to the people, not to political power brokers, not to mayors, not to fellow ward leaders, not to fellow Council members. At times, my father stood alone in these chambers, yet he was not truly alone. He knew that you, the people, the activists, organizers, advocates, his fellow trouble makers, were buy his side. So today, we also celebrate you, everyone who has worked with him over the years. For my father could not have been Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen such a powerful voice, had powerful activist communities not been by his side. The walls of these chambers will forever echo with his powerful voice, a voice of outrage against man's inhumanity, against poverty in the midst of plenty, against needless human suffering, a voice of compassion and love that the poorest among us, the most victimized, the most vulnerable be given the same opportunity as you and I, to live out their lives in dignity and fulfill their dreams. My father loved Philadelphia so much. I recall attending a City Council hearing on the crisis of domestic violence a few years ago. His voice rang out. For Philadelphia to be a great city, it must be not only a city where the outer face of its neighborhoods are transformed but also one where the inner life of its people are transformed. I want Philadelphia to be the city which puts an end to domestic violence, he proclaimed. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen A woman in the audience later showed me a note she wrote. It read, David Cohen for President. I want to share with you how my father consoled me a few days before he died. I was crying quietly in his hospital room. Though his ayes were closed, he felt the heaviness of my heart. And he said, don't cry, Sherrie. The world is over populated. Everyone has to go sometime to make way for others. My dear father, you with the twinkle in your eye, you have now left us, and you have left your beloved city more humane because you were here. You were never one to look backward. You looked only to the future. And you have blazed a frail for us all to follow together. May the phrase, what would David Cohen do but be our guide. As long as we fight injustice, as long as we serve the common interest, as long as we continue my father's legacy, and be feisty, fierce, fearless and ferocious as was he, David Cohen Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen will always be by our side. (Applause.)

Thank you Our next speaker is the Honorable Angel Ortiz.

Thank you, Madam Chair -- the Mayor and Congressman have left -- and my former colleagues. David Cohen loved this body. He loved City Council. He was jealous of its power. That's why he admonished John Street when he said that he had made us less than a rubber stamp. He fought to make this body an equal part of government, an equal partner. And he called this hall, this great room, the people's room. Not our room but the people's room. He said, we represent the people, not the corporate interests, not the big power brokers, not the individuals with money. We are here to make sure that government -- government -- answers to the Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen rights of the people, those that have no voice, those that have no great lawyers, those individuals that sit in the hallway, hat in hand, waiting in lines to make their wishes known. And he believed, as a Democratic, in government. He didn't believe in little government. He believed in government, in making government work for the people. When a body sits and gives great corporate interests like Wal-Mart tax write-offs, pieces of land, he knows that government at that time is not working for the people. And he knew what to do at that time. (Applause.)

When he saw banks giving loans and being part of the great tragedy of apartheid, and he saw that when I first got into City Council I put a little stamp of Nelson Mandella on my desk. And he fought against the banking interests of this city. And they invaded our offices, telling us, don't you understand Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen that this will drive business away? And David said, the business that supports slavery and apartheid do not need to do business in Philadelphia, a message that very few at that time were willing to adhere to that. Very few were willing to stand up for that. Gays and lesbians... I remember when we were just a few in this Council that stood up. Now when we present an issue of gays and lesbian rights, everybody stands up, everybody is there. But it did not come without a struggle. It did not come without leadership. It did not come without that voice that was willing to stand by itself and say, this is wrong. And that's what he loved about City Council because this is where the people came, the homeless, the union workers, the individuals that were looking for someone to stand up and say, you are not alone. That's why David was never alone, because he knew that he had the people. And Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen we as a people, and we as officials, and we as political individuals have to understand that we have to make government respond and work for the people. We cannot make Philadelphia a city of the have and the have nots. We cannot make Philadelphia a city where only buildings get built that are worth a hundred or five hundred thousand dollars and P.H.A. homes. We got to make homes in the City of Philadelphia that are affordable to the working class. And we've got to make Philadelphians build those homes in Philadelphia. And we got to make Philadelphia -(Applause.)

-- and Philadelphians build the next Convention Center in Philadelphia. And we got to make sure that each and every one of us is there when that happens, because that pays honor to the memory of David Cohen. And we have to make sure that what Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Wal-Mart does not come in and expand in Philadelphia. (Applause.)

And that will stand for the legacy of Dave Cohen. Those are the things that Dave Cohen fights about. Those are the things Dave Cohen stood for, and those are the things I cherish about him. And he loved -- He loved this body. Make it do honor to him. Thank you. (Applause.)

Our next speaker is Patrick Eiding, President of the AFL-CIO.

Madam President, Council members, family members and friends, David Cohen. Let me just say that I am personally pleased and honored to be here before the Council members to remember -- and the public -- to remember the good friend in Councilman David Cohen. We in the labor movement, as has Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen been referred to here many times today, very affectionately refer to Councilman Cohen as the friend of little people, the speaker of the working people. And that happens to be us. As President of the Labor Council here in Philadelphia, I want to thank him and Florence for all they've done for the working people in this city. And when I say working people, I'm not just talking about organized labor. I'm talking about all working people, because he's done so much for us and he worked so hard for us. But because of a problem out of town that one of my vice presidents, Thomas Paine Cronin, couldn't be here today -- And Tom is a personal friend of the Cohen family. And I felt that it was only fitting, because he speaks from the Council Executive Committee, and he speaks as President of his Council, that only be fitting that I would read his statement. David Cohen's death is a loss for Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen the labor movement in Philadelphia. It's a loss for poor people, for minorities, for progressive politics, and for the working class of our city. It's a loss for everyone, really, because the causes championed by David Cohen were causes in the long and short run made this and continue to make it a decent and more just society. If you read through some of the obituaries that have appeared since David Cohen died early this month, there isn't a great deal said about his ties to organized labor. In fact, David Cohen and his wife Florence met as organizers for the United Federal Workers Union in the 1930's. His subsequent career as a fighter for civil rights, workers' rights and the environment, and a whole host of progressive political issues, comes out of that early connection to the labor movement. David Cohen was not just a lawyer. He was a people's lawyer. What a difference. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Privilege can field any number of sycophants whenever it chooses. Power has an army of lawyers at its disposal. David Cohen was on the other side of the barricades. Mr. Cohen understood that privilege is rapacious and destructive and that will endlessly speak to expand its prerogatives unless confronted and challenged. He rose to that challenge. When you think about it, David Cohen could have been many things or anything, really. He was talented, intelligent and energetic. He could have been a corporate owner or the owner of a flourishing business. He could easily have devoted his days to enriching himself. Instead, he lent his considerable energies to fighting the powers that be. So, for instance, in the early 1950's, a period of political hysteria that makes the run-up to the Iraq war seem tame, if not congenial, Mr. Cohen served as the attorney for the United Electrical Workers, Local 107. The UE was one of the CIO's most Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen militant unions, and as a direct consequence was one of the first to fall victim to McCarthy bate-biting. It took guts to stand up to McCarthyism. It was not only the time David Cohen did so, but also took principle. David Cohen was not for sale and he would never be intimidated. Others will cite his efforts on behalf of civil rights, civil liberties and the environment, and against imperialist war. While I join in saluting his memory for all those and more, it is his aid and assistance to organized labor that we in District Council 47 recall most vividly and with gratitude. Government employees are a favorite scapegoat for reactionary and self-seeking politicians of both parties.

In the late '80s and early '90s our union, along with others, representing city employees, came to be portrayed by certain politicians and by the corporate media as somehow responsible for Philadelphia's fiscal Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen problems, and by extension its cultural and demographic decline. Like the anti-communism of the '50s, the demagoguery that proved palatable to many otherwise liberal minds, it didn't fool David Cohen. In the darkest days of that period, he was one of the few real friends that municipal workers had on Philadelphia City Council. There certainly was no glory in it for him. But he could see the scorn poured on firemen, trash truck drivers and social workers for exactly what it was and is, the politics of class privilege. David Cohen had integrity, he had passion, and he had courage. He understood how powerful privilege is. He knew what it could and would do to strike down its opponents. And that knowledge guided him to one small victory and then the next. More people are in his debt than could ever possibly know it. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Speaking for myself, as well as District Council 47, I would like to say that we'll miss not only the results of his activism and his leadership, but just as importantly its example. I would just like to say, I'm reading that for Tom Cronin. And I'm sure that I don't do the justice that he could do with it, because I know how strongly he felt for the Councilman. But I will say that when I read that, that I think I echo pretty much everybody in the labor movement how they felt about this very strong Council person who fought so strongly for us. We want to thank him for all did, and thank his family for allowing him to do that for us. Thank you. )

Our next speaker is Burt Seigel, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Welcome. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

Thank you, Madam President. I'd also like to thank the members of Council and of the Cohen family for affording me the opportunity to be part of this moving memorial for David. A number of years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing David for a Jewish history project at the Feinstein Center at Temple University. The interviews probably should have taken no more than 15 hours, but by the 40th or so -- Those of you who know David, not surprised -- we had barely scratched the surface. David reminisced and reflected on a long career of public service. It was a lesson in history, in Philadelphia politics, but most of all in moral courage. Interviewing him gave me insight in what motivated him. David was a man who realized that the world could only be a better place if we made it happen, and that it certainly wouldn't happen by itself. And Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen he devoted so much of himself to that end. The interviews contained a good bit of humor as well. At one point, he said to me, you know, Burt, the rich don't really need lawyers. They always find a way to get what they want anyhow; it's the poor who need the lawyers to fight for them. And fight for them he did, up until the very end. As we had heard a little bit earlier from Cantor Friedman, in Judaism we're taught that on Yom Kippur, God decides who will live and who will die in the coming year. There is also the belief that when someone is a pretty decent and moral person, he or she is given the remainder of the year to continue his or her work on earth. When David Cohen was taken from us shortly before Yom Kippur, it was no surprise to many of us that it came at that time of the year, for David was still continuing his work until his strength gave out. And I believe that God wanted to give him every moment to complete his important tasks. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen I don't imagine David would have considered himself a very religious man, but his life's work, his pursuit of justice, his being a champion of those in need and the powerless, his being a thorn in the side of those who had power but did not always use it justly was so very much in keeping what his faith taught him. David's righteous indignation when he saw injustice, when he saw poverty, when he saw bigotry and prejudice, was in fact very much like the righteous indignation of the Biblical prophets, of Micah, of Jeremiah of Isaiah. And like these Hebrew prophets, David did not always take the easy or popular paths. They, too, challenged the powerful and the too comfortable. And they, too, like David, was sometimes told that no one was listening to them, and to sit down and to be quiet. But those who are gathered here today know so well how much we would have lost if David had ever heeded the words of Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen the naysayers. He was such a constant voice for what was right for our city and our nation that we sometimes probably took him for granted. But for so many of us, David was our compass and our conscience. And that voice, sometimes a whisper, but more often than not, a loud shout to remind us of what was right, stay plays in my ears. He will shortly be missed by us all, but the best way to honor his memory is not what we say here today, but what we do tomorrow and next week, and in the next year, and in all the years to come. (Applause.)

We are taught it is not our responsibility to complete the task of repairing this world, but we cannot refrain from that task either. After all, if we ever did, what would David say to us? Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Mr. Seigel. We will now from Jonathan Stein, Esquire, member of the Community Legal Services. Mr. Stein.

Thank you, Council President Verna, and members of City Council, for your thoughtfulness in making this memorial service happen here today. David's dedication to the poor and powerless was his shining light. Over the many decades of his life he was an extraordinary inspiration and our conscience. Today, whether conservative or liberal or mainstream, some seem ill at ease or restrained from being loyal friends and advocates for the powerless and the dispossessed. David did not take polls, nor did he take direction from editorial pages. Rather, he consulted his heart, and his own conscience for the principles of justice and fairness that guided his actions. In the beginning of the recent tax Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen debates, where the working poor were largely invisible, David confided in me that he had felt remiss that in all his years since the 1930's he had ignored the issue of the regressive wage tax impact on the working poor, something that contributes to the truism that the poor pay more. So, at the age of 88, David took up a new cause, a wage tax cut for the working poor, believing that progressivity and fairness was the essence of tax reform. Even though the Tax Reform Commission had voted down this idea 14 to 1, David, along with a wonderful support from a large majority of this City Council, passed an ordinance to at last establish a wage tax break for the working poor. This was but one milestone in the legacy of David Cohen. He inspired us all during his long life. My fervent hope is that he will continue to inspire us far into this new century. Thank you. (Applause.) Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

We will now hear from Stanley Shapiro, Esquire.

Hi, folks. I worked here 22 years. I very rarely got to speak extemporaneously to this body because so often I could just sit back, relax, and hear David exclaim my thoughts. He's not here to do that any more. I've kind of feared this day for over 20 years, never really thinking that it was going to come, it was going to happen. Not that it was easy working for David. I remember in 1979 -- No. It's 1981. Those years do run together. I found out that there was going to be a technical staff on City Council. And I came to the Councilman and asked him if he could help me out possibly to get a place there. I had been on the staff of Community Legal Services for a number of years, and thought that it would be a good time to see what the inside of government was like, rather than always being on the outside hammering in. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen David wanted to know why he hadn't seen me lately. I had worked in his campaign in 1979, but since then he had seen me more with certain Councilmen of very strong rhetorical gifts, Councilman Street, because I was working on some housing issues with him. Councilman Cohen wanted to know, because he was very practical and very specific in all things, he wanted to know if I came to work for Council, would he ever get to see me. And I said, well, I thought that that was likely, if he had work for me to do. But actually, I thought, as somebody kind of inclined to the left in political things, that I would be working a lot more with Councilman Street and some others. Turned out that there was no one who was more steadfast, no one who was more strong, no one who was more reliable, no one who was more insistent in carrying out the progressive agenda than David. And there was no one else that you Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen could ever go to that would epitomize that dedication the way he did. And I've got to say, over the years, although I always technically was on the staff of -- the technical staff of City Council, working for the President's office, Somehow people got me confused with somebody on Councilman Cohen's staff. And that was always a proud thing when I hear it, and something which I will treasure. I now have the difficulty of getting up every morning and wanting to have the same kind of thought that I always had for the last 24 or 25 years. And that is, what would Councilman Cohen think of this idea or that idea. I can't wait to talk to him about it. And many of us, I'm sure, have that same notion, because he was always so open. He was always so willing and interested in hearing from, not just talking to, other people who had ideas that he found interesting or that he thought he could communicate with. You would not necessarily know that Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen on the floor because he was giving his piece so often. And it wasn't necessarily an indication of dialogue. But when he was alone with one or more of people he thought his friends, he could stay with them forever. He would engage in a dialogue. He would be interested in their most boring comments, and you would always feel that you were able to make your point of view heard, listened to, and often three, four or five weeks later when you least expected it, acted on. So, this is a horrible loss. But his memory will absolutely -- and his example -- live with all of us for a long time. Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you, Stan. At this time the Chief Clerk will read a condolence resolution from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

Whereas, Councilman David Cohen, an extraordinary father, uncle, brother, grandfather and friend moved from labor to reward on Monday, October 3,, 2005; And whereas, Philadelphia County and the State of Pennsylvania has suffered an extremely great loss. Councilman David Cohen was good to Philadelphia, as Philadelphia was good to Councilman David Cohen. He was a white man with a colorblind heart and a colorblind commitment. He lived it every day. In light of his legacy, I strongly urge members of the City Council, the Democratic City Committee, the Mayor, and all ward leaders of the City of Philadelphia not to replicate him because you can not. He was one of a kind. Now, therefore, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, by and through the Honorable W. Curtis Thomas, stands at ease in its celebration of the life of Councilman David Cohen, and directs that a copy of this Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen resolution, sponsored by State Representative W. Curtis Thomas, be presented to the family of Councilman David Cohen.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Christie Balka, Executive Director of Bread and Roses.

It's been said that David Cohen was the patron saint of lost causes, never mind that he won more than his share. There's a deeper truth at work here, I think. Dave understood that causes, whether won or lost, are about people. He steadfastly refused to give up on people who are neither rich nor powerful. by conventional standards, but have fierce hopes and dreams. Whether he sought them out or they sought him out, Dave would do whatever it took to guide them through the political process. The popularity of their issues, their previous political experience or lack Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen of it, their racial, ethnic, religious backgrounds, gender or sexual orientation made no difference. He cared only about people and the justice of their causes. I met Dave during his first race for City Council in 1967. I was 11 years old. And my father and I canvassed the neighborhood, distributing David's campaign materials. He was my hero then. But my real connection to him developed after I became Director of Bread and Roses Community Fund which provides grants and technical assistance to grass roots social justice groups in Philadelphia. Dave and Florence were regular contributors, and I often referred our grantees to Dave's office, especially when they were interested in creating any sort of city-wide change. Initially I marveled at how patiently he listened to their problems and helped them develop solutions. And then I came to understand this as the norm. Last winter when Bread and Roses was Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen considering giving Florence and Dave the annual Paul Robson Award, we consulted with a number of our grantees. They responded with incredible enthusiasm. Many of them saw Dave not just as a politician who was responsive to their concerns, but as a true ally and friend who felt they could always count on. In the last few months, I've heard a lot of stories about how David extended himself to do things for which there was little public recognition, the promise of few votes and no campaign contributions, simply because they were the right things to do. One person told me -- and I'm quoting here -- I remember David coming out on a very cold January night when we were holding an around the clock event at City Hall to free Nelson Mandella. He came several times and spoke with the crowd and with individuals. He could have comfortably come out after work and gone home to his warm house, but he didn't. He was there with us into the night. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Another said, oh, he helps our union out a lot. And she recalled him attending every single rally that janitors held several years ago as part of an effort to organize Center City office buildings. She also remembered some really cold weather. S. Senator from Pennsylvania resign from leadership, after that Senator compared gay sex to incest. Dave went out of his way to do things for groups that others were all too willing to write off, people on death row, workers exposed to toxic substances, homeless people, high school students, survivors of medical experiments in prison, neighborhood activists, environmentalists, labor and consumer groups, immigrants and others. Indeed, Philadelphians know about the accomplishments of many of these groups because of work they did in partnership with Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Dave and his excellent staff. When I arrived at Dave's funeral two weeks ago, a formerly homeless activist got in line behind me and said, who's going to fight for us now? Well, she needn't worry. Dave not only fought for others; he showed others how to fight for themselves. He knew that regardless of whether a cause is won or lost, people develop new skills, insights, connections in the process, and this equips them for an even better fight the next time around. And I think the media have pointed out how much he relished a good fight.

Anyway, this may be why he was able to work so patiently over the years with so many groups of people who have little, except for hopes and dreams, and how he was able to develop in them a sense of their own power. Last week one of Bread and Roses grantees wrote to me that Dave and his staff -- and again I'm quoting -- Dave and his staff treated me in the groups I've Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen worked with as having ultimate strength, ultimate vision, and therefore ultimate voice in City Hall. One way we can keep Dave's memory alive is by refusing, by absolutely refusing to give up on people who are neither rich nor powerful in any conventional sense, but whose causes are just. Imagine his surprise at finding himself in the majority. )

Our final speaker is the Judge of the Court of Common Please, Denis Cohen. Denis. JUDGE COHEN: Thank you. Madam President, members of City Council, distinguished guests. This is an open letter to my dad. I guess you can call it part two. Two weeks and a couple of hours have passed. It's hard to imagine, after all the years as a giant your family and a giant in Philadelphia, you are no longer with us as you were. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Many beautiful columns have been written. One of the most touching to me was by Claude Lewis. Noting that you died of heart failure, he poetically concluded that your heart gave way because you used so much. I think you actually lived as long as you did precisely because you used your heart so much. You taught me, the family, your employees, all the constituents you helped, and the rest of Philadelphia what love is and how to love. Even though you worked 24/7, you always had time for me. You could be in a Council session, meeting with the Mayor, the Council President, but if I called you made a point to find time to talk. At any time if I had an issue or a problem, you were always able to work with me as soon as possible, with a never ending supply of patience, love and support, whether you were sick or well. You gave me your wisdom, insights and assistance that was perfect for who I am. Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen Every time I was not feeling well, you were there to comfort me, even if you were much sicker. When I was in the hospital after this most recent Labor Day weekend, you, dad, sick as you were, insisted on coming to see me, although I told you not to. When you came to visit, I could tell how uncomfortable and ill you were. And at no point in your life did you ever ask me or anyone or expect a thank you, an acknowledgment, or anything else in return. Your act of love, your act from the heart was satisfaction enough. And your love for me was duplicated by your love for my wonderful siblings, Mark, Sherrie and Judy. Many of my cousins consider you, their uncle Dave, to be their second father for all your loving kindness to them. I. Was truly touched by one of your comments as you, in retrospect, lay dying in your hospital bed several weeks ago. You noted that you had many victories and Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen accomplishments in your life. But your true legacy, you said, was not that, but your family. You wanted your family to continue to work together with each other and to take care of each other. What a proud and devoted father you've been. I remember the first time you tried to impart that wisdom. I was six and my brother Mark was eight. That's my brother, Mark, the State Rep. We just had a typical brotherly argument for that age. And you, dad said it was important that we work together and we take care of each other. At age six I thought it sounded like pie in the sky, but that is precisely what has happened. When you were referring to your family back in the hospital, I wondered if you're really including Philadelphians and all of mankind as part of an extended family, if you will. Your life was dedicated to making sure that everyone's humanity was respected Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen and people were supported, especially those in need. You provided a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and political empowerment to the politically powerless, all of it from your heart. In the early '60s you risked your life by going to perhaps the most racist county in the entire south to uncover instances of suppression of voter rights suffered by African Americans. In the 1950's, you risked your career by being the first Philadelphia lawyer to confront the McCarthy witch hunt, by representing a Philadelphia man at the McCarthy hearings and recruiting other Philadelphia lawyers to do the same.

Throughout your career in City Council, you always stood up and fought for the person or groups of citizens in need of help, in need of hope and in need of power, regardless of the political cost or the perceived likelihood of success. It is clear to me that you were driven by your heart, Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen your love for people. I know, dad, that other than helping your family, there was nothing you loved better than helping a constituent who needed help, no matter who or what it was, whether it meant going to the police roundhouse at 8th and Race Street late at night to speak for a just arrested constituent at a bail hearing, or whether it was calling the head of the Philadelphia Gas Works in the middle of the night when the constituent's gas was turned off, and then you stayed up for an hour or two to make follow-up phone calls to PGW to make sure the gas was turned on. And despite all your big issues you've worked on, nothing gave you more satisfaction -- no matter was too unimportant or too inconvenient if it mattered to someone else. Your heart was too big for anything to be too small. And I know, dad, that your illness in the last several months caused you so much pain regarding your youngest grandchild, my four-year-old son Daniel, especially given Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen the tragedy into which he was born, the passing of his mommy soon thereafter. I know that you desperately wanted to be there for him, as you have been for everyone else. Thus, when you would see him in the last several months or when I would tell you then and at the hospital that, Daniel, I love you, I would see the tears well up in your eyes. You wanted your big heart to last a little bit longer for him. But dad, your heart endured, and has as much use as anyone could have ever dreamed. You have taught your family and so many others about living from the heart. It is now up to the rest of us to carry on, and to carry out your lessons. Dad, I love you, Daniel loves you, and your whole family loves you. ) JUDGE COHEN: And finally, since I am the last speaker on behalf of the entire Cohen family, we want to thank the esteemed Council President, the esteemed 16 members of Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen City Council, the very distinguished speakers, and the distinguished guests for participating in this memorial for my father. And I want to let you all know that we're having refreshments. I understand it's in the Council caucus room.

Very light refreshments. JUDGE COHEN: Very light refreshments. Don't expect any prime ribs. We've having very light refreshments in the Council caucus room. And the family and City Council, if I may speak for City Council for a moment, welcomes you to join us. Again, thank you very much. (Applause.)

The Chair now recognizes Susan Watts for a final musical tribute.

I will sing the Yiddish song, If I Have the Strength, I Will Go Into the Streets and Proclaim Peace. (Applause.) Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen

Thank you. I thank all of you for attending the service today. As Judge Cohen indicated, light refreshments will be served in the caucus room which is directly across the corridor. This concludes our session for today, with my recognizing Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.

Madam President, I move that we stand adjourned until Thursday, October the 20th at 10:00 a.m.

Second.

It has been moved and seconded. All in favor will please indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and Council will stand adjourned Memorial Service - Councilman Cohen until Thursday, October 20th at 10:00 a.m. Thank you all very much. (Memorial service concluded at 4:20 p.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the memorial service of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on October 17, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)