The saga of this post continues. Turns out the Nutter folks sent an early draft of his speech. Below the jump is the correct one -- though, again, those who were there say Nutter departed from this script a lot.
CARDINAL RIGALI, REV. CAMPBELL, RABBI COHEN. MY LIFE HAS BEEN MULTI-FAITH FOR A LONG TIME.
WELCOME MAYOR RAVENSTAHL AND ALLEGHANY COUNTY EXEC DAN ONORATO, OUR FRIENDS TO THE WEST.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH CAMILLE BARNETT TODAY. HER HUSBAND JAMES BARNETT WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING UP TO PHILADELPHIA FROM DC. HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW. MY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION AND I WILL ATTEND.
HONORABLE JUDGE MCKEE, GOVERNOR RENDELL, SENATOR CASEY, SENATOR SPECTER, CONGRESSMAN BRADY, CONGRESSMAN FATTAH, CONGRESSWOMAN SCHWARTZ, CONGRESSMAN MURPHY, SPEAKER O’BRIEN AND OUR HARRISBURG DELEGATION, MAYOR GREEN, MAYOR GOODE, MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, ALL OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, MY FELLOW PHILADELPHIANS:
LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING MAYOR JOHN F. STREET FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY AS A TEACHER, AS AN ACTIVIST, AS A COUNCILMAN, AND AS OUR MAYOR. WE WISH HIM THE BEST OF SUCCESS WITH HIS NEW CAREER AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE FIVE CANDIDATES WHO PARTICIPATED IN LAST YEAR’S MAYOR’S RACE – CONGRESSMAN FATTAH, CONGRESSMAN BRADY, REPRESENTATIVE EVANS, TOM KNOX AND AL TAUBENBERGER.
I THINK ALL OF US MADE PHILADELPHIA PROUD.
I WANT TO THANK MY FORMER STAFF MEMBERS IN CITY COUNCIL, MY GREAT CAMPAIGN AND TRANSITION STAFF AND THE THOUSANDS OF INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HELPED US.
FINALLY I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL WELCOME TO MY FAMILY. TO MY WIFE LISA, OUR DAUGHTER OLIVIA, MY SON CHRISTIAN, CHRISTIAN’S MOTHER, MY SISTER RENEE, MY MOM, MY DAD. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS FOUNDATIONS OF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND I WOULDN’T BE HERE TODAY WERE IT NOT FOR ALL OF YOU. I AM SO PROUD THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS MOMENT.
TODAY MARKS A NEW BEGINNING –
A BEGINNING OF HOPE
A REBIRTH OF OPTIMISM AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT TURNING OUR GREAT POTENTIAL INTO ASTOUNDING REALITY.
FOR SOME TIME NOW I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT PHILADELPHIA CAN BE. BUT THE TIME FOR JUST TALKING HAS ENDED. NOW WE NEED TO TURN OUR GOOD INTENTIONS INTO POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
TODAY WE BEGIN TO TAKE ACTION.
TODAY WE BEGIN TO WRITE A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA. [PAUSE]
FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE LET OTHERS TELL THE STORY OF OUR GREAT CITY.
WELL WHATEVER HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE PAST IS OLD NEWS. TODAY WE START ON A NEW JOURNEY, FUELED BY DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND THE EXPECTATION OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
NOW, WE FIND OURSELVES ON THE BRINK OF GREAT CHANGE AND WE STAND AT THE EDGE OF GREATNESS. THIS TRULY IS A UNIQUE MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY BECAUSE WE CAN NOW CHOOSE OUR OWN DESTINY.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO THAT HAS HELD US BACK FOR TOO LONG.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO TRY NEW IDEAS, NEW APPROACHES, NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE A SHARED COMMITMENT TO RETURNING PHILADELPHIA TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS A GREAT AMERICAN CITY.
THE NEXT CHAPTER IN PHILADELPHIA’S HISTORY HAS YET TO BE WRITTEN – WE GET TO WRITE IT OURSELVES.
AND WE ARE LIMITED ONLY BY OUR CAPACITY FOR HOPE, OUR CAPABILITY FOR PROBLEM SOLVING AND OUR COLLECTIVE WILLINGNESS FOR SACRIFICE AND PERSEVERANCE.
A RENEWAL OF PHILADELPHIA WILL REQUIRE GREAT CHANGE AND GREAT CHANGE MUST BEGIN WITH BOLD ACTION.
IT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF BOLD ACTION THAT, BEGINNING TODAY, I WILL ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS THAT FACES US…CRIME.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS MORE DEVASTATING TO THE SOUL OF PHILADELPHIA THAN THE KILLINGS AND SHOOTINGS THAT TAKE PLACE DAILY ON OUR STREETS.
WE HAD 392 HOMICIDES IN 2007. AND WHILE THAT NUMBER IS LOWER THAN IN 2006 IT IS NOWHERE NEAR ACCEPTABLE.
PHILADELPHIA SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF SAFE CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. LOOK AT NEW YORK. IN 1990 THEY HAD OVER 2,200 MURDERS. LAST YEAR THEY HAD 494. IF NEW YORK CAN HAVE SUCH A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN THEIR MURDER RATE THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT SET SIMILAR GOALS FOR PHILADELPHIA TO DRIVE DOWN OUR HOMICIDE RATE. WE MUST CUT OUR HOMICIDE RATE BY 50% OVER THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS.
WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE MENTALITY OF THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH CARRYING AND USING ILLEGAL WEAPONS ON OUR STREETS. TODAY.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
TO THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF THIS CITY --- I SAY WE ARE THE GREAT MAJORITY.
TO THE LAW BREAKERS --- I SAY YOU ARE A SMALL MINORITY.
THIS IS OUR CITY, NOT YOURS.
AND WE’RE TAKING OUR CITY BACK.
AND I’M NOT PLAYING. [PAUSE]
I HAVE ASKED POLICE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO DEVELOP A NEW COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGY FOR PHILADELPHIA.
WE NEED OUR POLICE OFFICERS WALKING THE BEAT OR RIDING BICYCLES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY SERVE, GETTING TO KNOW THE CITIZENS THAT THEY ARE PROTECTING, PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE NEED YOU TO RESPECT AND PROTECT OUR POLICE AS THESE PROFESSIONALS RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY TO PROTECT ALL OF US.
WE NEED OUR PEOPLE AND OUR POLICE TO COME TOGETHER IN A SHARED EFFORT TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE.
TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN PLAY IN THE STREETS,
TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY,
TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR SENIORS TO GO TO CHURCH OR VISIT A FRIEND.
BUT TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFE, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT POLICING – IT’S ABOUT RESPECT.
IT’S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER AND THAT WE SUCCEED OR FAIL TOGETHER.
IT HAS TO DO WITH US STANDING SIDE BY SIDE, WITH A SHARED SENSE OF HOPE, A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE AND A SHARED WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE TO ACHIEVE THE GREAT THINGS THIS CITY IS CAPABLE OF.
ROBERT KENNEDY ONCE SAID: “EACH TIME A MAN STANDS UP FOR AN IDEAL, OR ACTS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OTHERS, OR STRIKES OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE, HE SENDS FORTH A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE, AND CROSSING EACH OTHER FROM A MILLION DIFFERENT CENTERS OF ENERGY AND DARING, THOSE RIPPLES BUILD A CURRENT THAT CAN SWEEP DOWN THE MIGHTIEST WALLS OF OPPRESSION AND RESISTANCE.”
I WANT EVERY ONE OF YOU TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO HELP YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
TO SEND FORTH YOUR OWN TINY RIPPLES OF HOPE.
MENTOR A CHILD.
VOLUNTEER IN A SCHOOL OR A HOMELESS SHELTER.
JOIN YOUR LOCAL TOWN WATCH.
OR SIMPLY JUST SAY HELLO TO SOMEONE WALKING DOWN THE STREET.
BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUAL RIPPLES CREATE WAVES. AND THOSE WAVES OF HOPE WILL CREATE REAL CHANGE IN OUR CITY.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS TO PLAY OUR OWN ROLE. GOVERNMENT CANNOT MANDATE THAT WE BE GOOD CITIZENS… PARENTS…GOOD NEIGHBORS. IT CANNOT FORCE US TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.
GOVERNMENT CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
THE PEOPLE OF PHILADELPHIA NEED TO KNOW THAT JUST AS ETHICS WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF MY CAMPAIGN, ETHICS WILL BE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
THERE IS NOTHING GOVERNMENT DOES THAT CANNOT BE DONE ETHICALLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
I HAVE BEGUN THAT PROCESS ALREADY BY APPOINTING AN EXPERIENCED TEAM OF ETHICS AND INTEGRITY OFFICERS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO OPEN OUR GOVERNMENT FOR ALL OF US. THIS WILL BE A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES ALL OF US, NOT A FEW.
IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT TOMORROW AFTERNOON I WILL BE HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE AT YOUR CITY HALL. I AM INVITING PHILADELPHIANS AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO JOIN ME ON MY FIRST FULL DAY AS MAYOR OF OUR GREAT CITY AND I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME. WE WILL HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURS OF THE BUILDING AND I WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET EVERYONE WHO COMES BY TO VISIT.
I WANT PHILADELPHIANS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN TAKING THIS CITY FORWARD.
IN ADDITION TO ASKING FOR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AMONG PHILADELPHIANS, OUR CITY CAN NOT FLOURISH WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES, WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THINK ABOUT IT.
LOOK AT THE ARRAY OF POLITICAL POWER AND TALENT ON THIS STAGE AND OUT IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY – THESE LEADERS REALLY CARE ABOUT US.
I WOULD PUT OUR POLITICAL TEAM UP AGAINST ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTRY.
YES, THERE ARE HURDLES IN OUR PATH, CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO OVERCOME.
BUT THERE IS NO OBSTACLE SO LARGE, NO TASK SO DIFFICULT, NO CHALLENGE SO GREAT THAT WE CANNOT SUCCEED IF WE WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP.
MARTIN LUTHER KING ONCE SAID THAT, “THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.”
I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME IS TRUE FOR GREAT AMERICAN CITIES.
THAT OUR TRUE NATURE, OUR INTRINSIC CHARACTER, OUR ULTIMATE MEASURE IS REVEALED AT TIMES OF GREAT CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT PHILADELPHIA IS MORE THAN EQUAL TO THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. THEY ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE. WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, AND WE KNOW HOW TO FIX THEM.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CUT THE CRIME RATE WE NEED TO GIVE EX-OFFENDERS JOBS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE JOBS WE NEED TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES CREATE THEM. AND THAT SHOULDN’T BE SO DIFFICULT.
o WE ARE PERFECTLY SITUATED BETWEEN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON D.C.
o FORTY PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION LIVES WITHIN A DAY’S DRIVE OF PHILADELPHIA.
o WE HAVE 83 OF THE FINEST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD.
o WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST PARK SYSTEMS IN AMERICA.
o AND WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
HOWEVER IF WE ARE GOING TO CAPITALIZE UPON THESE NATURAL ADVANTAGES WE DO NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
WE NEED FUNDAMENTAL REFORM OF OUR CITY’S ZONING CODE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO REDUCE TAXES, SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE, AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR COMPANIES TO FUNCTION HERE.
WE MUST PROTECT THE FISCAL HEALTH THIS CITY, CONTROL OUR COSTS, STABILIZE THE PENSION FUND AND COME TO GRIPS WITH DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES IN HEALTH CARE EXPENSES.
WE MUST PROVIDE FOR A FAIR AND REASONABLE CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, BUT THE CONTRACT MUST ALSO BE FAIR AND REASONABLE TO THE TAX PAYERS WHO PAY THE TAB.
WE SHOULD BE THE #1 GREEN CITY IN AMERICA.
WE MUST CELEBRATE OUR GROWING ART AND CULTURE COMMUNITY AND SHOW THE WORLD OUR TREASURES.
WE NEED TO DO ALL OF THIS AND MORE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE NEED TO OFFER BUSINESS A SKILLED, EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
UNFORTUNATELY IN PHILADELPHIA ONLY 18% OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A 4-YEAR BACHELOR’S DEGREE. THAT RANKS US 92ND OUT OF THE TOP 100 CITIES.
AND SO I CHALLENGE ALL OF US TO SET A GOAL FOR OURSELVES:
TO DOUBLE OUR COLLEGE DEGREE ATTAINMENT RATE OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS.
IF PORTLAND AND SEATTLE AND OAKLAND AND DOZENS OF OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN HAVE OVER A THIRD OF THEIR POPULATION WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREES, THEN SO CAN WE IN PHILADELPHIA. OUR CITY AND REGION SHOULD BE AN EDUCATION MECCA OF THE UNITED STATES.
TO DO THIS WE NEED TO COMMIT OUR RESOURCES – BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE - TO HELPING THOSE WHO STARTED COLLEGE BUT DID NOT FINISH, SOME 73,000 PHILADELPHIANS. WE NEED TO HELP THEM COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION.
I AM ASKING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY, OUR REGION’S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE COLLEGE COMPLETION A PRIORITY.
AND IF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EVER GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN COLLEGE, LET ALONE EARN A DEGREE, THEN THEY MUST GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO LOWERING THE 45% DROPOUT RATE THAT PLAGUES OUR CITY DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AND THAT WE MUST
SEEK TO CUT IN HALF OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.
GOVERNOR RENDELL AND I HAVE MADE A MUTUAL COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION FOR OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
WE HAVE MADE THIS COMMITMENT BECAUSE IT IS AN ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE, AN EDUCATIONAL IMPERATIVE – IT’S A MORAL IMPERATIVE.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF CHANGES THAT WILL CREATE A NEW PHILADELPHIA.
A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN CRIME.
A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE DROPOUT RATE.
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COLLEGE GRADUATES LIVING HERE.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF HOPE, SACRIFICE, COMMITMENT AND INVESTMENT THAT CAN MOVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OUT OF POVERTY AND ON TO A BETTER LIFE.
I AM TALKING ABOUT CITIZENS CREATING A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT.
I AM TALKING ABOUT A NEW PHILADELPHIA.
NOW IS THE TIME. THIS IS THE PLACE.
AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN - A NEW PHILADELPHIA. [PAUSE]
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
AND TO WORK
AND TO BE SAFE.
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
WHERE BUSINESSES CAN INVEST AND TOURISTS CAN COME TO VISIT.
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
WHERE PEOPLE NO LONGER SEE HANDGUNS AS THE FIRST, LAST AND ONLY RESPONSE TO A CONFLICT.
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
THAT ATTRACTS RESIDENTS, MANY WHO WERE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY AND MANY WHO WERE NOT.
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
WHERE WE RESPECT EACH OTHER ENOUGH TO KEEP OUR CITY STREETS CLEAN.
A NEW PHILADELPHIA –
WHERE EVERYONE GETS TO PARTICIPATE IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
THAT’S THE PHILADELPHIA THAT I’M GOING TO BE MAYOR OF.
AND THAT’S THE VISION OF A NEW PHILADELPHIA I’M ASKING ALL OF US TO EMBRACE AND MAKE A REALITY.
TODAY WE MAKE CHANGE AND REFORM REAL.
TODAY, WE BEGIN THE RENAISSANCE OF A GREAT AMERICAN CITY.
TODAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE NEW PHILADELPHIA.
GOD BLESS YOU --- GOD BLESS THIS CITY --- AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THANK YOU.