It was one of the most memorable lines of Mayor Nutter’s inaugural address.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the renaissance period of Philadelphia got started about a half-hour ago,” he proclaimed, to thunderous applause.
Gov. Rendell — who was sitting about 20 feet away — clapped along with everyone else, but his eyebrows briefly furrowed at the line.
After all, many would argue that Philadelphia’s renaissance got started sometime after then-Mayor Rendell took office in 1992. Remember the fawning profiles in the national press? The sobriquet “America’s Mayor,” bestowed by none other than Vice President Al Gore? The resurgence of Center City and the dramatic turnaround in Philadelphia’s fiscal standing?
Rendell sure remembers.
So when asked about Nutter’s “renaissance” remark minutes after the inaugural ceremony ended last Monday, Rendell sought to subtly remind folks that his tenure wasn’t so shabby.
“Well, we’ll just chalk that up to poetic license,” Rendell said when asked how he liked the remark.
Rendell approved of the rest of Nutter’s address, saying it set the right tone and appropriately reminded residents that government couldn’t solve the city’s ills on its own.
Comments (6)
Rendell is such a good Philly man. I have always supported him.
Posted by KEM | January 12, 2008 1:38 AM
Posted on January 12, 2008 01:38
Ed Rendell was a wonderful Mayor and is a darn good Governor. However, at some point, he's going to have to take some responsibility for hand-picking a successor who turned out to be corrupt and ineffectual.
Posted by Truthbetold | January 12, 2008 8:07 AM
Posted on January 12, 2008 08:07
Rendell does deserve credit for starting philly's renaissance. He also deserves criticism for not following through. Let's hope Nutter gets it right.
Posted by Anonymous | January 14, 2008 1:41 PM
Posted on January 14, 2008 13:41
Rendell does deserve credit for starting philly's renaissance. He also deserves criticism for not following through. Let's hope Nutter gets it right.
Posted by Anonymous | January 14, 2008 1:45 PM
Posted on January 14, 2008 13:45
Like Ed Rendell or not, you have to appreciate the tenacity of the man. His singular determination brought about a Center City "renaissance" that was later stalled by the subsequent city administration. My memory of Ed Rendell will always be the image of him standing in the pouring rain to greet potential voters after a Manayunk Canal Day Parade during his first run for Governor.
Posted by Tom from Lawndale | January 15, 2008 6:40 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 06:40
Like Ed Rendell or not, you have to appreciate the tenacity of the man. His singular determination brought about a Center City "renaissance" that was later stalled by the subsequent city administration. My memory of Ed Rendell will always be the image of him standing in the pouring rain to greet potential voters after a Manayunk Canal Day Parade during his first run for Governor.
Posted by Tom from Lawndale | January 15, 2008 6:40 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 06:40