COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA THE INVESTITURE OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL INAUGURATION OF THE MAYOR and THE INVESTITURE OF: MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY JUDGE OF TRAFFIC COURT CITY COMMISSIONERS SHERIFF REGISTER OF WILLS CLERK OF QUARTER SESSIONS COURT Monday Morning, January the Third Two Thousand ten o'clock a.m. The Academy of Music Broad and Locust Streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 P R O C E E D I N G S (10 o'clock a.m.) ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the investiture of Members of Council, the organization of City Council, the inauguration of the Honorable John F. Street as Mayor, and the investiture of Members of the Judiciary, Clerk of Quarter Sessions Court, City Commissioners, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and Judge of Traffic Court. At this time, we ask that you turn off all pagers and cellular phones for the remainder of the ceremony. Thank you. Please remain in your seats for our musical selection, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," performed by the Ebenezer Seventh Day Adventist Choir and the Presentation of Colors. ("The Battle Hymn of the Republic" performed by Ebenezer Seventh Day Adventist Choir.) (Applause.) ANNOUNCER: And now, ladies and gentlemen, please stand and bow your heads for the invocation given by His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilaqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia. HIS EMINENCE ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILAQUA: Let us pray. All-powerful God, Lord of all ages, at the beginning of this historic new year, we offer You thanks and praise for all Your gifts. In this great nation, You have blessed us with life, dignity, and freedom, gifts which were so clearly appreciated and articulated by our founding fathers in the City of Brotherly Love. Today, Lord, once more, we come before You to ask that You pour forth upon our city, upon our citizens, upon our civic leaders, and particularly upon our new mayor, John Street, a profound sense of gratitude for these gifts and a desire to ensure that all people of our city are secure in the blessings of life, dignity, and freedom. We ask that You grant Mayor Street and all of us the wisdom to recognize the needs of all, compassion to reach out to the poor, the weak, the lonely, and the stranger, and a thirst for justice and peace, so that in all matters, we may do Your will. We pray that You will break down all barriers of prejudice and mistrust so that all women and men, girls and boys will live in harmony, security, and charity, recognizing one another as sisters and brothers. Lord, You make all things new. Grant the Mayor and us Your vision that we may see the approach of a new millennium as an opportunity to learn from our mistakes, to mend what has been torn by our human weakness, and to look to the future with hope for ourselves and our children. By Your presence and with Your merciful assistance, may we, with the Mayor and civic leaders, build anew this great city to be a home where all people live in prosperity, peace, and brotherly love. We ask all these things in Your great name. Amen. ALL: Amen. ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the singing of our National Anthem by the Girard Academic Music Program Concert Choir. (National Anthem performed by the Girard Academic Music Program Concert Choir.) ANNOUNCER: Please be seated as we call to the podium City Council President Anna C. Verna. (Applause.)
Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you, thank you, and good morning. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural proceedings for the investiture of City Council Members, the inauguration of the Mayor, and the induction of the judiciary and elected officials. Special guests joining us on stage today are: His Eminence Anthony Bevilaqua; Bishop Philip Ralph Cousin; Rabbi Solomon Isaacson; Mayor Edward G. Rendell and former Mayors W. Wilson Goode, Sr., William J. Green, and Mrs. Carmella Rizzo, the wife of the late mayor Frank Rizzo; Members of Philadelphia's Congressional Delegation, Robert W. Borsky, Chaka Fattah, and Bob Brady; Auditor General Robert Casey Jr.; Michael A. Mehan, Esquire; The President Judge of Common Pleas Court, the Honorable Alex Bonavitacola; The President Judge of Municipal Court, the Honorable Louis J. Presenza; The President Judge of Traffic Court, the Honorable Frank J. Little; Common Pleas Court Judge Gwendolyn Bright; And members of the Inaugural Committee. I wish to acknowledge the first ladies of our city, the Honorable Midge Rendell and Mrs. Naomi Post. I also wish to recognize my husband, Sevi Verna. I ask Councilwomen Krajewski, Miller, and Brown to make presentations of flowers to the individuals. (Flowers presented to Mrs. Rendell, Mrs. Post-Street, and Mr. Verna.)
Before going forth with our official proceedings, it is my pleasure to recognize the longtime service of Councilwoman Augusta Clark. Councilwoman Clark served in this Council from January 7, 1980 to today. We shall recall her tenure with great affection. And at this time, I ask Councilwoman Blackwell to present her with a small token of our appreciation. (Applause.)
Mayorselect of Council, this being the day fixed by the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter for the organization of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the hour has arrived and we will now proceed with the organization of Council and the investiture of Council Members. The first order of business will be the election of a temporary Chairperson. Nominations are now in order, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I nominate Councilwoman Blackwell.
Are there any further nominations? (No further nominations.)
Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
Madam President, I move that the nominations be closed.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
All in favor of the motion, say aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it and the nominations are closed. At this time, Councilwoman Blackwell has been duly elected temporary Chairperson, and to her, I relinquish this gavel. (Applause.)
Thank you. As the first order of business, I appoint Ms. Marie Hauser temporary Clerk. The next order of business is the filing of the certificates of election. The Clerk will call the roll. I direct the Clerk to call the roll beginning with the Councilpersons-at-large in alphabetical order, and then to proceed with the District Councilpersons in order of their district, beginning with the First District.
Present. Councilwoman Blackwell, a quorum of the members-elect is present. And I have in my possession certificates of election signed by the Honorable Jacqueline Allen, acting Chairwoman, the Honorable Matthew Carrafiello, acting Commissioner, and the Honorable Webster Keogh, acting Commissioner, acting as the County Board of Elections in Philadelphia, indicating their election of November 2, 1999, for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
The investiture of Members of Council will now proceed. The members-elect will rise to take the oath of office, which will be administered by the Honorable Alex Bonavitacola, the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. (Applause.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Will each member about to be sworn place your left hand on the Bible, raise your right hand, and repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Thank you. (Applause.)
The next order of business is the election of a President of City Council for the City of Philadelphia to serve for four years, commencing January 3, 2000. Nominations are now in order. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
I proudly nominate, and with great honor, Anna C. Verna. (Applause.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Are there any further nominations? (No further nominations.)
Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
All in favor will say aye. Those opposed, nay? There being no further nominations, all in those favor of the election of the Honorable Anna C. Verna as President of City Council will say aye. Those opposed, nay? The ayes have it. However, the temporary Clerk will call the roll.
The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. Councilwoman Verna, having been unanimously chosen by the Members of Council, I declare that Councilwoman Verna is the duly elected President of this body to serve for four years. (Applause.)
I appoint Councilman Kenney, Councilman Goode, Councilman Rizzo, and Councilwoman Krajewski to escort Council President Verna to the roster. Joining the Council President will be her husband, Severino Verna. Judge Bonavitacola will administer the oath of office to President Verna. JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Please repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Congratulations.
It is my pleasure to present to you the President of City Council, the Honorable Anna C. Verna. (Applause.)
I want to take this opportunity to thank Councilwoman Blackwell, the temporary Chair, for conducting the first order of business of Council. As I look out to this beautiful gathering of constituents, colleagues, friends, and family, I am reminded of the first time I sat on this stage. It was a realization of the American dream, a dream that hard work, determination, and drive would allow me to succeed. I hope that same dream is alive today in the minds of our young people who are with us here this morning. I think today of my family, especially my father, who believed that every job is a self-portrait of the person and to autograph your work with excellence. He also taught me that character was the measure of a person, that your word is your bond, and never to forget that the price of success is hard work. I also want to thank my husband, Sevi, and how he provides encouragement and support -- not periodically, but daily, not for a short time but for a lifetime. I wish to publicly thank him for helping me to achieve all that I have. I think of my friends and how they have shaped and influenced me throughout my life. I think of my colleagues and I am grateful for their support in reelecting me President of this great legislative body. Last year, we broke ground by electing the first woman president. Ah, but today we've made history -(Applause.)
Today, today, we are making history by having three women in the top leadership positions of this City Council. (Applause.)
To all my colleagues, I repeat this pledge: Your trust in me will be justified by my total commitment to the important work of this City Council as an independent and coequal arm of our city government. Today, we inherit a can-do legacy by Ed Rendell and John Street that brought us from the brink of bankruptcy to a future filled with optimism. As we continue down the road of fiscal stability, we must avoid the temptation of spending money we do not have. Nevertheless, we must pursue policies that will encourage economic growth and residential development. We must make Philadelphia more than a great place to visit; we must make it a wonderful place to live. (Applause.)
Philadelphia has often been called "The City of Neighborhoods," and certainly with good reason. Each community boasts of its own uniqueness, its own character, its diversity, and its own charm. We must now dedicate ourselves to the rebirth of our neighborhoods. Neighborhood businesses must be a vital part of the fabric of this city. A year ago, I said, As people, indeed as a city, we shall all prosper or we shall all fail together." Many in this city have prospered, but there are those who still await the fruits of economic renewal. We must all move ahead; no one can be left behind. (Applause.)
In moving forward, public education may well be the single most important issue this Council will face in the next four years. Our educational system must ensure that there is an opportunity for every child in this city to benefit from a quality education that will provide the means for a successful future. We must discard what does not work, keep that which does, and be creative and visionary in charting a new course for public education. We must be open to every educational model and use that which is most successful. Parents and teachers demand excellence -- and we shall have it. To accept anything less will be failure. In making difficult choices, I have often said the City Hall tower is not made of ivory to shield our deliberations. We must forsake our personal and political priorities in favor of people priorities. We must be upbeat and confident as we face the challenges that are presented to us. The road ahead is not an easy one. It may well have obstacles of all shapes and sizes, but acting together, not only will we survive, Philadelphia will prevail. Today, we have hope, and hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. I thank you, and may God bless you all. (Applause.)
Thank you. The next order of business is the election of the Chief Clerk of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. Nominations are now in order, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Are there any further nominations? (No further nominations.)
Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the nominations be closed. All in favor of the motion will say aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it and the motion is carried. There being no further nominations, all in favor of the election of Mrs. Marie Hauser as Chief Clerk of Council will say aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. However, the Clerk will call the roll.
For the record, Councilwoman Miller is voting aye again. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. Ms. Hauser, having received a unanimous vote of the Members of Council, I now declare Ms. Marie Hauser duly elected Chief Clerk of this City Council. (Applause.)
Council Members Nutter and Kenney will escort Ms. Hauser to the rostrum. Judge Bonavitacola will administer the oath of office of Ms. Hauser. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Congratulations.
At this time, I will name the officers of City Council. Please be advised that at a meeting of the Democratic Members of Council, the Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell was elected Majority Leader, and the Honorable Marian B. Tasco was elected Majority Whip of the City Council of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
Also be advised that at a meeting of the Republican Members of the Council, the Honorable Brian J. O'Neill was elected Minority Leader of Council. (Applause.)
The next order of business is the introduction of a resolution concerning the rules of government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer the following resolution.
The Chief Clerk will read the title of the resolution.
A resolution to provide rules for the government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move that the rules, as set forth in this resolution, be adopted as the temporary rules of the Council until the permanent rules are adopted.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
All in favor of the motion will say aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it and the motion is carried. The rules contained in this resolution have been adopted temporarily. The resolution will be referred to the Committee of the Whole for a public hearing and a public meeting. The organization of the Council of the City of Philadelphia and the investiture of the City Council Members are complete, in accordance with the provisions of the Home Rule Charter. The Council is honored by the presence of Bishop Philip Ralph Cousin, Bishop of the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I ask you all to please stand, and I invite Bishop Cousin to lead us in prepare. (All stand.)
O, God, we live and move. Thou, who art the ground and source of our being. Joyfully, we gather on this date, thanking You for the privileges which are ours in this city and in this nation to serve this city through persons who have been elected, who have been placed upon the stage of administration to tend to the affairs of the common good of our citizenry. We pray for those into whose hands the government has fallen. We ask, O, Master, that You will keep them worthy of the sacred trust and the honors which You have bestowed upon them. We especially pray for Your servant John Street. Preserve him from selfish indifference, which would dishonor the past and disregard the future. Keep alive in him the passion to defend and to enrich those values which have been bought and paid for by the tears and sacrifices of our parents and our foreparents. Enable him to serve this city and its constituents faithfully, always seeking to bring the best leadership to bear and facing the issues and concerns which would divide and destroy us. Keep his mind clear, his judgment keen, his heart brave, and his sense of justice unerring. We place him and the members who will administer the affairs of government in Your hands, and we pray that You will always guide and use them to Your glory and for the common good of all of the citizens of Philadelphia. In all that is right and just and holy, we ask it. Amen. ALL: Amen.
Thank you, Bishop Cousin. You may all now be seated.
At this time, I invite the GAMP Choir to perform a musical selection, "The Greatest Love of All." ("The Greatest Love of All" performed by the GAMP Choir.)
We will now proceed with the induction of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, a moment, I guess, we've all been waiting for, huh? The Chair appoints Councilwoman Miller, Councilman DiCicco, Councilman O'Neill, and Councilman Clarke to escort the Honorable John F. Street, Mayor-elect of the City of Philadelphia rostrum. The Chair invites Mayor-elect Street's wife, Naomi Post-Street, to join him at the rostrum. (Standing ovation.)
The Chief Clerk will read the certificate of election of the Honorable John F. Street as Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
John F. Street, at an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected the Mayor of the City and County of Philadelphia for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
Judge Bonavitacola will administer the oath of office to the Mayor. (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Congratulations. (Standing ovation.)
Members of City Council, Reverend Clergy, elected officials, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinct honor to present to you His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, the Honorable John F. Street. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you. Thank you very much. I would just like -- can we just present those flowers to Sevi just one more time, to Sevi, the flowers? What a wonderful gesture. (Laughter.)
Oh, thank you very much. To God be the glory, great things he has done. (Applause.)
Thank you so much, thank you, thank you. Members of City Council, elected officials, honored guests, distinguished clergy, and fellow Philadelphians, as the new millennium dawns, Philadelphia is surely on the threshold of an exciting renaissance. Let us begin today by acknowledging the men and women whose hard work helped make this promising future possible. Every Philadelphian owes Mayor Ed Rendell -Mayor Ed Rendell, stand up, Ed, stand up. (Standing ovation.)
Thank you. Mayor Ed Rendell and Midge Rendell, his lovely wife, they're a partnership, and Midge Rendell, and Midge. (Applause.)
As well as the scores of men and women who worked in his government a debt of gratitude for the leadership they provided during some of our city's most trying years. With unparalleled perseverance, Mayor Rendell made the hard choices and difficult decisions that have put this city on the path of progress. No less significant was the role played by City Council. During the past eight years, Council was the Mayor's legislative partner, as envisioned by the framers of our City Charter. I congratulate Council President Verna and the entire City Council and staff for their contribution to the revitalization of our great city. I congratulate -(Applause.)
Thank you, thank you. I congratulate Council President Verna on her reelection to the presidency of City Council. Thank you, Council President Verna. How are you, Madam President? (Applause.)
And as Council President, I worked in partnership with Mayor Rendell. We met every week to share advice and insights. I remember Ed used to say, "The good news is, we're in a meeting; the bad news is, it's 7 o'clock in the morning." (Laughter.)
Well, Council President Verna and I have agreed that we will do the same thing -- we will meet every week to consider the very special responsibility that we have in providing leadership to our great city. A very special salute goes to Councilwoman Augusta Clark, who is leaving City Council after twenty years of dedicated service. Councilwoman Clark, Councilwoman Augusta Clark. (Applause.)
I congratulate those who have been elected to City Council for the first time. You are embarking on a most exciting journey and a challenging one. Over the course of my years of public service, I have come to believe that Council membership is perhaps the most difficult public office one can hold. You are on the front lines in dealing with the everyday problems and concerns of people in our neighborhoods. And given the infinite demands and limited resources, Council Members face an inevitable stream of difficult choices. Sometimes your best efforts will be totally overlooked, casually minimized, completely misunderstood, or simply distorted. But balanced against that, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference for your neighborhoods and for your city. Toward that end today, I extend my hand in friendship partnership with every member of this City Council, to the other elected officials -- Democrat, Republican, including our hard working congressional delegation and Governor Ridge and business, labor and community leaders across our city and state. And I might tell you that, parenthetically, I received as I sat here a phone call from Governor Ridge, who was kind and gracious enough to express his congratulations to me on this great day for us here in this city and has joined in our commitment to work together to the best interests of people, not only in this city but around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And I thank him for that. Thank you. (Applause.)
In politics, as in life, there are seasons. The election season is over -- thank God. (Laughter.)
Now it is time to govern. And to do that successfully, we must work together in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. To the other newly elected officials who are here today, we must all work together if our city and region are to thrive. To the judges, the row offices, and to the members of City Council, as well as their families and their friends, I offer my sincere congratulations. To those who voted for other names on the ballot, I guarantee you this: you may not have been my supporter, but I will be your mayor, I will be your mayor. (Applause.)
I also want to acknowledge those who have held this office before me, at least a couple of them. Mayor Green and Mayor Goode, thank you very much for being here. Thank you, thank you. (Applause.)
And Carmella Rizzo, who is the wife of former Mayor Rizzo. Thank you. (Applause.)
Mayor Rizzo, by the way, will always be very special to me in that one of his last official acts as a candidate for mayor in this city was to endorse my candidacy for the presidency of the City Council of Philadelphia in July of 1991, and I thank him for that. Thank you. (Applause.)
And, finally, I want to thank my wife, Naomi, and the other members of my family. (Applause.)
And the other members of my family for their indulgence, patience, and support, especially over the last year. I might say, parenthetically, when I got involved in this, my brother told me that, "It's just a four-year thing, it's just -just a four-year thing." We live in a great city and region rich in diversity. Women and men from all walks of life who, regardless of our differences, are all intertwined in both our history and in our future. This administration recognizes that our diversity represents a competitive cultural and economic advantage, one that will make us better prepared to address and to capitalize on the opportunities that we enjoy. Our challenge is to put aside the artificial boundaries and the barriers that separate us, and concentrate on our common needs. I view the responsibility to govern as a shared responsibility. To that end, we have already launched perhaps the most ambitious and inclusive transition process in this city's modern history, with more than 800 business, labor, civic, religious, and community leaders providing input on the structure of a new government. In addition, in the weeks ahead, we shall schedule a series of Town Hall meetings across the city, where I can hear directly from you, the citizens of Philadelphia. All of us share a vision of a better Philadelphia, but as a world-class city with a vibrant, flourishing economy supported by lower taxes, enhanced City services, and a fiscally sound and responsible government. We must make clear that here in this great city, we see no conflict between being business-friendly and labor-friendly, no conflict. (Applause.)
We believe in good wages because they create economic growth, and we are proud of our growing status as a destination for tourism and convention business in this city, and we will enhance this status this summer by hosting the most successful Republican National Convention in the history of this country. (Applause.)
And we assure you that Philadelphia will continue to offer the amenities expected in a world-class city, including the Avenue of the Arts North and South, the Constitution Center, and other great public projects. (Applause.)
And we will explore all reasonable strategies for developing sports complexes for our professional football and baseball franchises. World-class cities deserve world-class facilities. (Applause.)
But our economic development strategy must extend beyond the focus on hospitality. We must begin to develop specific strategies to support small businesses, to buttress existing industries, and to develop new industries to undergird to Philadelphia's economic future. For example, health care is one of the most important cornerstones of our economy as well as an essential city service. We must work to create a healthier community. We must remain vigilant in the struggle against an AIDS crisis that continues to take too many innocent lives and devastate too many families. The Philadelphia region is more dependent on health-care services as a percentage of its local economy than any other metropolitan area in the nation. With our medical schools, hospitals, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and other health-related organizations, we have one of the greatest concentrations of health and medical expertise in the world. Thus, we as a city are vulnerable to changes in the health-care industry but also blessed with a foundation upon which to build a vision of enormous opportunity. This administration will work with the State and the private sector to protect jobs and grow our economy by developing new industries to capitalize on our region's enormous health-care assets. Our region's expertise provides Philadelphia an excellent opportunity to become the biotechnology version of the Silicon Valley. (Applause.)
Thank you. We all share a vision of a better Philadelphia, a better Philadelphia with strong neighborhoods free from blight, vacant houses, trash-strewn lots, and abandoned cars. (Applause.)
Clean, safe streets are essential to strong neighborhoods, and strong neighborhoods are the heart of our city. (Applause.)
And although we will make the revitalization of our neighborhoods our highest priority, we will never surrender to the false choice between improving our Center City area or improving our neighborhoods; we must do both in this city. (Applause.)
So our goal is to stabilize neighborhoods and help them maintain their strength. We want to stabilize our marginal neighborhoods so that they will become stable and healthy, and we want to work in our deteriorating neighborhoods to reverse the decline that we have seen over the years. In the past year, I have spoken of the need to aggressively attract the -- attack the cancer of blight and abandonment that destroys the character of a block in a neighborhood. The City has more than 30,000 vacant lots and at least 20,000 abandoned buildings. At best, they are eyesores; at worst, they are magnets for drugs and crime. We will develop a strategic vision and a public apparatus for confronting the effects of 50 years of population decline. I will launch an all-out systemic effort to remove blighted buildings and reclaim the overgrown, polluted lots that dot our city. We will turn a negative into a positive and work with neighborhoods residents, political leaders, and local businesses to return this land to useful purposes. I will also personally lead an effort to rid our city, once and for all, of the abandoned cars that have become symbols of neighborhood neglect in communities across Philadelphia. (Applause.)
In the coming weeks, I will ask the City Council to make an unprecedented $250 million downpayment on this accelerated war on blight. We will transform the symbols of decay into harbingers of hope. We also share a vision of a better Philadelphia, with neighborhoods liberated from the plague of drugs and violence. For the sake of our children, families and future -(Applause.)
Thank you. We also must continue to be vigilant in the war on guns, drugs, and violent crime. (Applause.)
We have made progress in recent years by adding police and stepping up their presence in our neighborhoods. Statistics show that we have reduced the incidence of violent crime. But to the woman who has been sexually harassed and abused, to the children who have been molested and maimed, to the families whose loved ones have been senselessly slain, and to the communities terrorized by gun-toting drug dealers, these improved statistics are of little comfort. We will challenge community leaders to join in the fight against crime. We will challenge the parents whose children are participating in criminal activity to support us -- to support us in our fight against crime. (Applause.)
We will double the number of undercover narcotics officers in our neighborhoods. And we will join with officials from surrounding communities and members of the legislature to develop a new State law making it a felony to transport illegal drugs across a county line. (Applause.)
We will crack down on anyone who comes to our city for that purpose and dry up a lucrative market for the dealers they patronize. And let me be clear: we will vigorously enforce existing laws and consider any new step to stem the flow of illegal weapons in our city, including litigation against gun manufacturers and dealers who knowingly profiteer off the violence on our streets. (Applause.)
Thank you. Working in partnership with our great District Attorney, Lynne Abraham, the courts and other regional and national criminaljustice entities, we will better coordinate our crime-fighting efforts while expanding Operation Sunrise to not only concentrate on high-crime areas, but to ensure that once criminal activities are shut down, they never, ever return. (Applause.)
We cannot stop our fight against crime and violence until we are the safest city in America. (Applause.)
We share a vision of a better Philadelphia, where every public school can graduate students who are prepared to seize the opportunities on the horizon of the new millennium. If we are to achieve -(Applause.)
Thank you. If we are to achieve our goals for our economy and our neighborhoods, we must begin by focussing on the quality of education in our public schools. The Greater Philadelphia First Corporation -(Applause.)
The Greater Philadelphia First Corporation was right when it called better schools "a moral and economic imperative for our city." Every child in Philadelphia must have the opportunity for the education needed to succeed. The 21st century is upon us. This is an information and technology age. The demands on our children for knowledge will be unprecedented. Our city's future economic success will depend, in large measure, on our ability to supply a skilled, trained workforce. Still, too many of our school children today attend overcrowded classes in rundown buildings with outmoded equipment and under-trained and underpaid teachers. (Applause.)
And too many of our school children have no opportunity to receive quality preschool, after-school, and summer school help that would give them the fighting chance they deserve to receive the quality of education they need. (Applause.)
Yes, we have made some progress, as reflected in the rising test scores and higher graduation rates, but we must demand more, more in the way of accountability for our students, teachers, administrators, and parents. And make no mistake, our financially strapped School District needs more money. (Applause.)
At a time when demands for quality education are growing, the Philadelphia School District is hurdling toward a fiscal catastrophe. Despite years of crosscutting, this chronically underfunded school system struggles to survive. Philadelphia simply cannot succeed if our school system fails. We cannot retain and attract businesses, we cannot retain and attract families. And in a larger sense, any community that fails its children can never call itself a success. To that end -(Applause.)
Thank you. To that end, we have designated the year 2000 as "The Year of the Child." (Applause.)
And we will focus attention in all areas of government on our commitment to the most vulnerable among us -our children. (Applause.)
Thank you. So today, I respectfully invite Governor Ridge and the leaders of the legislature to join me in a face-to-face summit at their earliest opportunity to explore possible solutions to our local and statewide education funding crisis. Although we may not yet agree on how to achieve such solutions, we must start in good faith by acknowledging the problem and searching for answers we can all embrace. The most important challenge for our city's political leadership is making sure that all views will be heard, respected, and fully considered, even if it's a minority or a controversial view. In a democracy, the majority will always have its way, but the minority must always have its say. I have long held the view that every person in every neighborhood is important. From South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia, to the Great Northeast, from North Philadelphia, from Fishtown to West Mt. Airy, your voice will be heard. (Applause.)
Thank you. Over twenty years ago, I stood in a small cafe at 29th and Ridge and first announced my candidacy for public office. I had no money and no visible political support. I did, however, have a fundamental determination to make a difference in the lives of people in this city. But even in my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined that I would be standing here today as your mayor. (Applause.)
Thank you. I am truly humbled by the opportunity afforded me this day and excited about this great challenge. Now that you have given me the awesome responsibility to lead, I ask in return for your ideas, I ask for your cooperation and prayers so that Philadelphia, in this new century, will continue to grow and thrive and fulfill its destiny as a world-class city, a place of hope and opportunity for all our people, a better Philadelphia. Thank you very much. Thank you. (Standing ovation.)
Again, congratulations, Mr. Mayor. Joining us today to celebrate the inauguration of Mayor John F. Street is the Ebenezer Seventh Day Adventist Choir. They're from Mayor Street's church. In honor of Mayor Street, the choir shall sing "We Shall Behold Him." ("We Shall Behold Him" performed by Ebenezer Seventh Day Adventist Choir.) (Applause.)
How very, very beautiful. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Amen. Amen, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen. (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair invites the newly elected officials to take the oath of office in the presence of Council, the Mayor and other dignitaries. The Chair invites the newly elected judges and retention judges of the Common Pleas Court Common Pleas to stand and take the oath of office. The Clerk will read the certificates of election for the retention and newly elected judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
Philadelphia, November the 2nd, 1999, office of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia: Norman Ackerman, Ida K. Chen, Gene D. Cohen, Mary D. Colins, Nicholas M. D'Alessandro, Pamela Pryor Dembe, James J. Fitzgerald, III, Jane Cutler Greenspan, Sheldon C. Jelin, Kathryn Streeter Lewis, Edward E. Russell, Petrese B. Tucker, You are duly retained in the Office of Judge of Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County for a ten-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000. (Applause.)
At an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County for a ten-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000. (Applause.)
Judge Bonavitacola will administer the oath of office. JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Please take your Bibles in your left hand, raise your right hand, and please repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Thank you. (Applause.)
The Chair now invites the newly elected judges and the retention judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia to stand and take the oath of office. The Clerk will please read the certificate of election for the newly elected judges and the retention judges of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia.
At an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly retained in the office of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Sandy L.V. Byrd, Richard Gordon, Glenda C. Hill -
Linda F. Anderson, Thomas F. Gehret, Jimmie Moore, Frank Palumbo. (Applause.)
You were duly elected Judge of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County for a six-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000. (Applause.)
James M. DeLeon, Seamus T. McCaffery, William A. Meehan, Jr., Harvey W. Robbins, Alan K. Silberstein, Felice Rowley Stack, At an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly retained in the Office of the Judge of Municipal Court of Philadelphia County for a six-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000. (Applause.)
President Judge of Municipal Court, the Honorable Louis J. Presenza, will administer the oath of office. JUDGE PRESENZA: Excuse my back. You want to place your left hand on the Bible, please. Raise your right hand, repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE PRESENZA: Congratulations.
The Chair now invites the newly elected Judge of Traffic Court, Bill Adams, to stand and take the oath of office. (Applause.)
The Clerk will please read the certificate of election for the Judge of Traffic Court.
At an election held November 2, 1999, Bill Adams, you were duly elected Judge of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia County for a six-year term, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
The oath of office will now be administered by the Honorable Frank J. Little, the President Judge of Traffic Court. (Applause.) JUDGE LITTLE: Bill Adams, repeat -your hand is on the Bible and you're right hand is on -- you've had that for about a week now, haven't you? (Laughter.) (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE LITTLE: Good luck to you, Judge. JUDGE ADAMS: Thank you. (Applause.)
The Chair now invites the City Commissioners to stand as their names are called. They are: Margaret Tartaglione -(Applause.)
Alexander Talmadge, and Joseph Duda. (Applause.)
The Chief Clerk will read the certificates of election for the City Commissioners.
Margaret Tartaglione, Alexander Z. Talmadge, Joseph J. Duda, at an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected City Commissioners for the City and County of Philadelphia County for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
Judge Bonavitacola will administer the oath of office. JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Please raise your right hands and repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Congratulations. (Applause.)
The Chair invites the Sheriff of Philadelphia of Philadelphia, John D. Green, to stand and take the oath of office. (Applause.)
The Clerk will please read the certificate of election for the City of Philadelphia.
At an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected Sheriff of the City and Count of Philadelphia County for a term of four years, commencing the first year of January, AD 2000.
The Honorable Gwendolyn Bright, Judge of the Court of the Court Common Pleas, will administer the oath of office. (Applause.) JUDGE BRIGHT: Sheriff John D. Green, repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BRIGHT: Congratulations, Judge. (Applause.)
The Chair now invites Ronald R. Donatucci, Register of Wills, to stand to take his oath of office. (Applause.)
The Clerk will read the certificate of election for the Register of Wills.
At an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected Register of Wills for the City and County of Philadelphia County for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
Judge Presenza will administer the oath of office and Judge Bonavitacola? We're getting two judges, huh? Okay.
They want to make sure I do the job right. JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: You have unimpeachable witnesses. (Laughter.) (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE BONAVITACOLA: Congratulations.
The Chair now invites Vivian T. Miller, Clerk of Quarter Sessions Court, to stand and take her oath of office. The Clerk will please read the certificate of election for the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.
Vivian T. Miller, at an election held November 2, 1999, you were duly elected Clerk of Quarter Sessions for Philadelphia County for a term of four years, commencing the first Monday of January, AD 2000.
Judge Louis J. Presenza will administer the oath of office. (Applause.) JUDGE PRESENZA: Place your right hand on the Bible. Indeed a pleasure. Just repeat after me. . . (Oath of office administered.) JUDGE PRESENZA: Congratulations. (Applause.)
For our final musical selection today, the GAMP Choir will sing "I Believe I Can Fly." (Applause.) ("I Believe I Can Fly" performed by the GAMP Choir.) (Applause.)
Really beautiful. As we conclude the ceremony, I want to thank the Chair, the Honorable Robert A. Brady, who served as the Honorary Committee Chairman, and all of -(Applause.)
And all of the members of the Inaugural Committee for their hard work for today's ceremony. I also want to thank our clergy members for being with us and offering their prayers for us and for our city. At this time, I would like you all to stand for a prayer to be delivered by Rabbi Solomon Isaacson. Following Rabbi Isaacson's remarks, I ask that you be seated for the conclusion of the session.
If all of you remember -- excuse me. If all of you remember the last election, I'd like to ask all of you to be seated for a moment. Thank you. (Mayor Street gives Rabbi Isaacson bouquet of flowers.) (Laughter.)
You know, this is the reason on Tuesday, the day of the primary, I flew back from Jerusalem, and I brought John -- I ran to Broad and Olney, where he was -
Taking a lot of pictures. And I brought him a string straight from the city of Jerusalem and the holy city of Bethlehem, a red string. And he was wearing it on election night, when he raised his hand with Bob Feldman, and the newspapers took a picture of it. And since then, I've had a demand on red string. So if there's anybody here who sells fabric or string, be prepared. (Laughter.)
For those of you that know me personally in City Council and the Mayor, I want to take the liberty of, number one, thanking Ed for everything that he's given us, to me as his rabbi, the most important, to me as a citizen, in this wonderful, great city of ours, the City of Philadelphia. He has put -(Applause.)
He has put the City of Philadelphia not only back on the map, but he has put it at the top of the map. (Applause.)
You know, till now, he was known as "The America's Mayor." Now he can only be known as "The Rabbi's Mayor." (Laughter.)
But as you all know, behind every successful man, and of course, is Midge, and I'd like to really thank her for allowing the City to have Ed for so many years, and we give him back -- only till the year 2001, when he begins to campaign for governor. (Applause.)
And proud as I am to have been known as "The District Attorney's Rabbi" and "The Mayor's Rabbi," I will be more proud to be known, with God's help, as "The Governor's Rabbi." (Applause.)
I told Naomi last night that I would speak about her. Probably the most difficult part of a mayor's wife's job would be the time that he has to campaign. There's very little time that he has for her because he's busy, out trying to get votes and to win. I'd like to thank her for allowing John the opportunity and now enabling him to be able to run our city for the next eight years. (Applause.)
God bless you, Naomi and all of you ladies. The theme of my prayer today comes with a story, a story of a gentleman who was sitting in his home when it began to rain like in the time of Noah. And the people, his neighbors, came to get him out, and he said, "Don't worry, I pray three times a day" -- he was an Orthodox Jew. "I pray three times a day, and God will not let me down, he will rescue me." And then, before you know it, the water rises to the top of his house. And a boat comes along, and he says, "Jump in." "Don't worry, God won't let me down." And then, before you know it, the water was over the house and now he's drowning in the water, and a helicopter comes. He says, "Don't worry, God won't let me down." And, of course, he dies. He goes up to heaven, runs over to the Almighty and says, "God, how could you do this to me?" God said, "I sent three different people to help you." (Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen. . . Ladies and gentlemen, the Almighty heard our prayers in our time of need in 1992, and he sent us Moses -- I mean Ed. (Laughter.)
And now, in the year 2000, Joshua, also known as "John F. Street" -(Applause.)
-- is now going to lead us into the Promised Land. But the Promised Land can only be because Joshua didn't go by himself; he went along with people who believed in him -(Applause.)
-- people who trusted him and people who supported him. I ask all of you now to rise. (All rise.)
We ask you, Almighty God, not to forget us. We promise to not only keep You in our hearts and in our minds, but also make You proud by our deeds. Almighty, we are Your children. O, Father in heaven, we ask You to bless us with the priestly blessing that God commanded Moses to command Aaron to bless his people, his children. May the Lord bless thee and keep thee. May the Lord make His continents to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. May the Lord lift up his continents upon thee and give thee peace. For a length of days and years of life and peace shall they add to thee. The Lord shall keep all of you from all evil, and He shall protect you forever. And at the end of the priestly blessing, it says that "You should put My name" -- and that means that if we use constantly God's name and we realize that there is a superior being above watching over us, we should always ask Him for His guidance and for His help. Amen. ALL: Amen.
Thank you very much, and I appreciate your tolerance. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, thank you. Kindly be seated, please. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Tuesday, January 25, 2000.
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. This Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, January 25, 2000. Thank you all so very, very much. (Applause.) (Adjourned at 12:05 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Monday, January 3, 2000, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: INVESTITURE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS INAUGURATION OF THE MAYOR INVESTITURE OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter