Councilman Jim Kenney feted on last day on job

JAMES KENNEY, on his last day as a member of City Council yesterday, received the royal treatment from his Council peers, many lauding him as a man who evolved during 23 years from a know-it-all to a compassionate leader.

Kenney, 56, who resigned and is expected to formally launch his bid for Philadelphia mayor next week, in turn praised his Council colleagues, thanking them for teaching him about the ways of government and of issues he knew little of before taking office, including gay rights.

Kenney, at times becoming emotional, received a bouquet of flowers, a standing ovation from the packed room and was ordered by his peers to deliver his remarks from Council President Darrell Clarke's high podium.

"You're never truly happy unless you're serving someone else. Unless you are helping someone else get their problems solved, get their issues dealt with," said Kenney, whose address was part political stump speech, part career summation.

While all 16 Council members had kind words for the former at-large Democratic councilman, Mark Squilla, a Democrat, and Brian O'Neill, a Republican, all but endorsed him during their speeches.

"I just want to be one of the first people to say I support you in your endeavor. I wish you the best of luck," Squilla said. "I know it's not an easy task for you to give up something you did for a long time, but I know it's your vision and your passion and I think the city will be better for it."

O'Neill, Council's Republican leader, made it clear that he'll cross party lines to back Kenney.

"We know he's smart, we know he's trustworthy, he works hard, he cares about those less fortunate. I don't know what else you can say about somebody who's striving for the highest office in this city," O'Neill said.

"I might not have said it four years ago, I might not have said it eight years ago, but I'll say it today - he's ready. I know we'll all miss him, but we all know, hopefully, that he's going to a better place - downstairs," O'Neill added, referring to the floor where the mayor's office is located.

In citing his legislative accomplishments, Kenney tipped his hat to key constituent groups that he'll need to win the May 19 primary.

First responders: "If you think about public service, if you think about fire fighters, police officers, prison guards, sheriffs, paramedics, people who are the emblematic example of public service . . . They will lose their life for you. In my career, I have tried to take on that persona, take on that attitude about public service."

Schools: "If waiting for Superman to fly in from Harrisburg is not going to be an option for us in the coming year, we have to figure out a way going forward to maximize our government services, maximize revenue, maximize the way we do things with our schools to make every school a center piece for our neighborhoods."

Immigrants: "The accomplishment I'm most proudest of is sensible immigration policy as it relates to city government," including ending the practice of police holding immigrants without warrants for the feds.

The poor: "There's no such thing as economic prosperity if it does not include economic prosperity for every single citizen in this town."

The little guy: "You always defend the underdog. Never let the bullies overcome."

The media: "I want to thank you for being professional and fair and for being knowledgable and doing your research . . . Thank you for your work. We do appreciate it even [though] sometimes we get a little mad and block you on Twitter."

Marijuana smokers: "This issue [of decriminalizing small amounts] was never ever about marijuana . . . It had to do with criminal records . . . I am very, very proud to say that since we've imposed this bill with the cooperation of the administration and the police department, the last two months we are down 90 percent in arrests."