Mr. Jim Kenney and Mr. Darrell Clarke will interact on a consistent basis, particularly as it relates to the City’s budget.
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Mr. Darrell Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President, wouldn’t go as far as to say his relationship with Mr. Jim Kenney, the City’s newly elected Mayor, will be better than his was with Mr. Michael A. Nutter, but it will certainly “be different.”
“Jim Kenney has a different personality… his perspective on things is different from Mayor Nutter’s,” Mr. Clarke, who was sworn in today along with a host of elected officials, said on stage at the Academy of Music after this morning’s inauguration came to an end.
(From L to R): Mr. Jim Kenney, Philadelphia’s 99th Mayor, stands next to Mr. Darrell Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President, during the 2016 inauguration at the Academy of Music. Photo Credit: TBO Stock – ©2016
What Mr. Clarke is looking forward to most in the upcoming years is that he and Mr. Kenney, a South Philadelphia-born career politician, will have a “true partnership,” and they will interact on a “consistent basis.”
For example, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Kenney have already begun talks about working together early on in the year as it relates to the budget, ensuring there’s as much consensus on it as possible before it’s presented to the City Council.
“I will show you the respect you’ve earned as independent elected officials,” Mr. Kenney, who began his political career in constituent services, said today to the members of City Council.
Another example of the type of partnership the two will have can be found in a trip they took months ago outside the City to look at successful school models.
“That’s never been done before,” Mr. Clarke said proudly, pledging he and Mr. Kenney will continue to collaboratively focus on policy that moves the City forward.
Several policy initiatives were hinted at by Mr. Clarke, including one related to energy that will bring up to 10,000 jobs into Philadelphia and another which would overhaul of the City’s criminal justice system, but Mr. Clarke remained tight-lipped on the details of both, telling the press only to “stay tuned.”
Mr. Kenney also didn’t dive to deep into policy goals, but did give an overview on his agenda: expanding pre-K, developing community schools and instituting community policing.
He also provided the guiding value for his term as the City’s chief executive: “delivering efficient and effective services to everyone in Philadelphia.”
“Government functions properly when it’s accessible and accountable to the people it serves,” said Mr. Kenney.
As far what Mr. Kenney’s thoughts are on working with the City Council President, well his words mimicked Mr. Clarke’s: “We will be partners.”
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Keep a look out in January 2016 for an NPR Music documentary starring Grammy Award-Winner Mr. Christian McBride and co-starring Mr. Christopher “Flood the Drummer” Norris.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™