'This is our city and we're taking it back'

Newly inaugurated mayor lays out dramatic goals

By Patrick Kerkstra and Marcia Gelbart

Inquirer Staff Writers

For just a moment, his voice cracked and tears came to his eyes. Then Michael Nutter gathered himself, swore the oath of mayor, turned to the crowd, and presented his vision for a "new Philadelphia."

"Today marks a new beginning, a beginning of hope, a sense of optimism and renewal for the city," said Nutter, who yesterday became the city's 98th mayor.

As if to make his point, Nutter offered three breathtakingly ambitious goals for his administration: Cut the homicide rate by 30 percent to 50 percent within five years; halve the city's staggeringly high student dropout rate; and double the number of four-year college degrees awarded to Philadelphians.

Then, in his first act as mayor, Nutter declared a crime emergency, which requires his new police commissioner to deliver a plan of action by month's end.

It was a dramatic start for a mayor who promised dramatic change.

"We now find ourselves on the brink of greatness and the great opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the city, the region, the country, the world, that Philadelphia is on the way back," Nutter declared.

". . . Ladies and gentlemen, the renaissance period of Philadelphia got started about a half-hour ago."

That line and others were greeted with thunderous applause by the 2,200 people attending yesterday morning's ceremony inside the Academy of Music. Among those looking on were four former mayors - John Street, Gov. Rendell, W. Wilson Goode Sr. and William J. Green 3d. At Nutter's side were his wife, Lisa, and children, Olivia and Christian.

City Council's 17 members, as well as new city judges and other newly elected officials, were also sworn in yesterday, but Nutter was the star.

And he did not disappoint, with an address that offered both promise and challenge for Philadelphians.

In terms of crime, he offered his administration as a bulwark.

"We are going to change the mentality of those that think it is OK to run our streets with illegal weapons and use them at random whenever they want," he said. ". . . This is our city and we're taking it back, every day, every block, every neighborhood, everywhere in Philadelphia, because I've had enough and I'm not playing around about it."

He asked Philadelphians to do their part as well.

"I want every one of you to stand up for what you believe in," he said. "I want every one of you to take personal responsibility for looking out for someone else in our community. Mentor a child. Volunteer at a rec center. Go to a homeless center. Work with a town watch in a neighborhood. Or how about this: How about just say 'Hello' to someone you see walking down the street."

He also offered thanks to his staff members, who could have been forgiven if they had passed on his candidacy when it was announced 18 months ago. Nutter, a four-term councilman, was widely considered a long shot for the office. But his message of clean government and a crackdown on crime caught fire, and led to his victories in the primary and then in November.

"At the beginning, it may not have been looking too promising," Nutter said as he thanked his campaign staff from the stage, "but you hung in there."

Leaving the academy, he walked hand-in-hand with his wife up the middle of Broad Street to City Hall, followed by dozens of supporters and greeted by cheering citizens along the way.

Then, inside a jammed room in City Hall, Nutter began the work of mayor.

First, his cabinet and senior aides were sworn in by Common Pleas Court President Judge Darnell Jones in an unusual public ceremony. The unprecedented oaths symbolized Nutter's desire to strengthen public trust in government.

"You will be proud of every person who works in this government. Every day. You will never be embarrassed," Nutter promised.

Nutter then set in motion his anticrime strategy, signing an executive order that declares a crime emergency in the city, something he pledged to do during the campaign.

The order allows Nutter to take extraordinary actions to control crime, such as banning sidewalk gatherings in selected neighborhoods and setting stricter curfews. However, he stopped short of any new restrictions and instead used the order to require his police commissioner, Charles H. Ramsey, to develop a safety plan by Jan. 30.

In addition, Nutter set about formally beginning his government, signing a second executive order creating the post of chief integrity officer and a third establishing three deputy mayor positions.

Speaking to reporters, Nutter offered no specifics on how he would achieve his plan to make the streets of Philadelphia safer. Nor did he offer details on cutting the dropout rate or increasing degree attainment. But when asked if he expected the public and the media to judge his administration by its progress toward those goals, he answered with an emphatic yes.

For now at least, it seems Nutter will be aided by City Council in his efforts.

"Sometimes there will be disagreements between the mayor and Council, but our focus must always be on the common good," Council President Anna C. Verna said in remarks after she was reelected to her post.

Nutter's first full day as mayor begins with a funeral. He will be in Washington this morning for services for James Barnett, the husband of new Managing Director Camille Cates Barnett, who was killed last week in a car accident.

But the mayor will be back in time to throw open the doors to City Hall for a reception open to all.

Starting at 4 p.m., there will be drum and dance squads, Mummers, choirs and performers in the City Hall courtyard.

"It's your City Hall, and I want people to come in and enjoy it. It's your government," Nutter said as the news conference yesterday wound down.

"I'm going to go do some other stuff right now. I'm going to work."