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==Philadelphia City Council==
==Philadelphia City Council==


Kenney was elected to his first term in 1991 when he was just 32 years old. During his time on [[Philadelphia City Council|Philadelphia's City Council]], Kenney served as Chairman of the Council Committee on Labor and Civil Service. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Committee on the Environment, and Committee on Law and Government, and was a member of the Committee on Public Safety, Technology and Information Services, Public Property and Public Works, Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, Public Health and Human Services, and the Legislative Oversight Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phila.gov/CityCouncil/JamesKenney.html |title=James F. Kenney – Councilman-At-Large |accessdate=February 15, 2010 |date=February 15, 2010 |work=City of Philadelphia official website |publisher=City Council, City of Philadelphia }}</ref>
Kenney was elected to his first term in 1991 when he was just 32 years old. During his time on [[Philadelphia City Council|Philadelphia's City Council]], Kenney served as Chairman of the Council Committee on Labor and Civil Service. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Committee on the Environment, and Committee on Law and Government, and was a member of the Committee on Public Safety, Technology and Information Services, Public Property and Public Works, Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, Public Health and Human Services, and the Legislative Oversight Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phila.gov/CityCouncil/JamesKenney.html |title=James F. Kenney – Councilman-At-Large |accessdate=February 15, 2010 |date=February 15, 2010 |work=City of Philadelphia official website |publisher=City Council, City of Philadelphia }}</ref> In his early days as a councilman, he supported heavy handed policing tactics, stating that police should use "pepper spray" and "clubs on the head".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vPwYqlNiwU |title=Worried}}</ref>

In 2010, Kenney sided with the local firefighters' union when Mayor Nutter took action to remove the collective bargaining rights of paramedics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-10-08/news/24979815_1_plrb-ruling-paramedics-mayor-nutter|title=Kenney vs. Nutter on Paramedics|accessdate=May 24, 2015 |date=October 8, 2010 |work=Philly.com |publisher=Philly.com }}</ref>
In 2010, Kenney sided with the local firefighters' union when Mayor Nutter took action to remove the collective bargaining rights of paramedics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-10-08/news/24979815_1_plrb-ruling-paramedics-mayor-nutter|title=Kenney vs. Nutter on Paramedics|accessdate=May 24, 2015 |date=October 8, 2010 |work=Philly.com |publisher=Philly.com }}</ref>


Revision as of 10:24, 20 July 2020

Jim Kenney
99th Mayor of Philadelphia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2016
Preceded byMichael Nutter
Member of the Philadelphia City Council
from the at-large district
In office
January 6, 1992 – January 29, 2015
Preceded byGeorge Burrell
Succeeded byHelen Gym
Personal details
Born
James Francis Kenney

(1958-08-07) August 7, 1958 (age 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationLa Salle University (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

James Francis Kenney (born August 7, 1958) is an American politician who is the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia. He was elected on November 3, 2015, defeating his Republican rival Melissa Murray Bailey after winning the crowded Democratic primary by a landslide on May 19.[1]

Before he became mayor, Kenney was a member of the Philadelphia City Council for 23 years, serving as a Councilman at Large from January 1992 until January 29, 2015, when he resigned to run for mayor.[1][2][3]

Kenney was re-elected to a second term as mayor on November 5, 2019. His term will expire in 2024.

Early life

Kenney grew up the oldest of four in the Whitman neighborhood of South Philadelphia. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a homemaker. His parents both worked second jobs to put Jim and his four siblings through private Catholic schools. In high school, Kenney was a newspaper deliveryman and busboy.[4] Kenney graduated from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in 1976 and in 1980 received a political science bachelor's degree from La Salle University.[3] He was the first in his family to graduate from college.

City Councilman Jim Kenney in 2009

Philadelphia City Council

Kenney was elected to his first term in 1991 when he was just 32 years old. During his time on Philadelphia's City Council, Kenney served as Chairman of the Council Committee on Labor and Civil Service. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Committee on the Environment, and Committee on Law and Government, and was a member of the Committee on Public Safety, Technology and Information Services, Public Property and Public Works, Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, Public Health and Human Services, and the Legislative Oversight Committee.[5] In his early days as a councilman, he supported heavy handed policing tactics, stating that police should use "pepper spray" and "clubs on the head".[6] In 2010, Kenney sided with the local firefighters' union when Mayor Nutter took action to remove the collective bargaining rights of paramedics.[7]

In 2014, Kenney successfully introduced legislation that ended arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill replaced incarceration with the requirement to pay a fine. In advocating for the bill, Kenney had cited the disproportionate effect of arrests for small amounts of marijuana on African-Americans.[8] Philadelphia became the largest city in the country to decriminalize pot.[9]

Kenney garnered criticism from local and national economic commentators when he proposed bonus pension payments, distributing funds when pension plans exceed target returns in any given year even though solvency depends on retaining above-average earnings to prepare for years with below-average earnings.[10][11]

While on the Philadelphia City Council, Kenney worked as a consultant at Vitetta Architects and Engineers, served on the Independence Blue Cross board, and was an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania.[12] He gave up these positions when he was elected mayor in 2015.

Mayor of Philadelphia

Elections

Main articles: 2015 Philadelphia mayoral election and 2019 Philadelphia mayoral election

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term due to the home-rule charter's two-term limit. Registered Democrats hold a formidable 7-to-1 ratio hè also won over registered Republicans in Philadelphia, giving Democratic candidates a distinct advantage in citywide elections. The mayoral primary elections were held on May 19, 2015. Kenney won the primary in a landslide with 55.83% of the vote, defeating a crowded field of five other Democratic candidates, including Anthony H. Williams and former District Attorney Lynn Abraham. Republican Melissa Murray Bailey, a business executive, ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. Kenney won a whopping 85.1% of the vote.[13] Kenney was inaugurated as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia on January 4, 2016.

The 2019 Philadelphia mayoral election was held on November 5, 2019. Kenney, first elected in 2015, was reelected. The Democratic primary was held on May 21, 2019 and defeated former City Controller Alan Butkovitz and Pennsylvania State Senate member Anthony Hardy Williams with 67% of the vote.[14] On November 5th, 2019, Kenney won re-election and defeated Billy Ciancaglini, a Philadelphia defense attorney and fellow La Salle grad, in the general election.[15] Kenney received more than 80% of the vote in the general election.[16]

Education

Sugary drinks tax

Main article: Sugary drink tax § Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kenney proposed a citywide soda tax that would raise the price of soda at three cents per ounce, originally with the intent to raise money for universal pre-k.[17] At the time, it was the biggest soda tax proposal in the United States. Kenney promoted using tax revenue to fund universal pre-K, jobs, and development projects, which he expected would raise $400 million over five years, all the while reducing sugar intake by decreasing the demand for sugary beverages[18] Kenney's soda tax proposal was brought to the national spotlight and divided key members of the Democratic Party. The idea of a soda tax quickly became a national issue. Candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election gave their take. Senator Bernie Sanders said that the tax would hurt the poor.[19] Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, said that she was "very supportive" of the idea.[20] The lobbying organization American Beverage Association took a stand against Kenney's proposal. The trade organization, funded by soda companies and distributors, ran local television, radio, and newspaper advertisements against the idea, claiming that the tax would disproportionately hurt the poor. The American Heart Association, on the other hand, has supported Kenney's efforts. On June 16, 2016, the soda tax passed with a 13–4 vote from City Council. The initial proposal of three cents per ounce was lowered to 1.5 cents per ounce. The tax was implemented at the start of the 2017 calendar year.[21]

Jim Kenney (left) with then Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (right) in a Philadelphia factory
Response

After the tax took effect, Kenney said retailers' price gouging blamed on the tax and charging the tax on items not subject to it was "wrong" and "misleading".[22] In February 2017, soda manufacturers and retailers announced sales declines of 30–50% in Philadelphia and announced layoffs for March. The city called the predicted layoffs "fear-mongering". While the tax was projected to raise about $2.7 million in its first month, far below the estimate of $7.6 million per month, the city expected that figure to rise.[23]

In March 2017, Pepsi announced plans to lay off between 80 and 100 employees, and blamed this on the tax. The city stated the program had created 251 jobs, mostly full-time pre-K teaching positions and said the soda industry was "holding hostage the jobs of hard-working people in their battle to overturn the tax. Pepsi reported nearly $35 billion in gross income and $6 billion in profit last year.... The idea that they can afford to do that but 'must lay off workers' should make every Philadelphian very skeptical of whether these layoffs are actually due to the tax." The layoffs would occur at plants in Philadelphia and Wilmington which are run as independent businesses.[24]

In May 2019, the University of Pennsylvania released a study describing the aftermath of the soda tax, two years later. Total volume sales of taxed beverages in Philadelphia decreased by 1.3 billion ounces (from 2.475 billion to 1.214 billion) or by 51.0% after tax implementation. Volume sales in the Pennsylvania border zip codes, however, increased by 308.2 million ounces (from 713.1 million to 1.021 billion), offsetting 24.4% of the decrease in Philadelphia's sales volume.[25]

The sugary drinks tax became an issue in the 2019 mayoral election, with the American Beverage Association spending $521,196 to run advertisements opposing Kenney's reelection.[26]

Local control

In October 2017, Mayor Kenney announced that the city was taking back control of its public schools after sixteen years of state control. In an address to City Council, Kenney outlined the end of the state-dominated School Reform Commission and a path to local control of the Philadelphia School District by July 1, 2018.[27]

Opioid epidemic

Kenney created The Mayor's Task Force to Combat the Opioid Epidemic in Philadelphia in 2016. The committee concluded its work and presented a final proposal in May 2017.[28]

In June of that year, Kenney and U.S. Representative Bob Brady negotiated a deal with Conrail, the company that owns abandoned train tracks in Kensington that became a well-known area for open-air heroin use, to clean up the property.[29]

Kenny at an urban national wildlife refuge event in 2016
Supervised injection sites

Kenney is considering opening supervised injection sites within the city. On January 23, 2018, Philadelphia's Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley, announced he wants the city to establish one or more in the city. He cited Vancouver, stating overdose deaths have been reduced, as has the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.[30]

Other city officials differ. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross has publicly stated he is "totally adamant against" the idea, but has an open mind and a lot of questions. Kenney has also said he supports the recommendation. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro disagrees that the sites are an effective path to treatment and suggested changes would be needed in both state and federal laws in order for such sites to operate legally.[31][32]

Climate change

Despite President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the Paris Climate Agreement, Kenney has committed the City of Philadelphia to reduce air pollution and city-wide emissions with specific projects aimed at reforming their respective transit and buildings sectors, areas which are typically responsible for 80 percent total of all citywide emissions and over which mayors have significant authority.[33]

Opposition to Donald Trump

Before and after Donald Trump's election as United States President in 2016, Kenney has taken a vocal stand against Trump and his policies. Kenney has maintained that Philadelphia will continue to act as a sanctuary city despite threats that cities would stop receiving federal funding.[34] Trump said, "Here in Philadelphia, murder has been steady — I mean — just terribly increasing."[35]

Kenney, along with Democratic colleagues Representative Dwight Evans, Senator Bob Casey Jr., Councilwoman Helen Gym, and Governor Tom Wolf, joined protesters at Philadelphia International Airport after Trump signed Executive Order 13769 to ban travel from seven majority-Muslim countries.[36]

On October 23, 2019, Kenney endorsed Elizabeth Warren for President in 2020.[37]

Removal of statue

In response to protests over the killing of George Floyd, Kenney had the Center City statue of Frank Rizzo removed.[38]

Other activities

Feuds

Kenney is known for his outspoken feuds and reports on public figures or groups who attack his legislative agenda, image, or the city of Philadelphia. Kenney has been known as a candid and opinionated councilman and mayor, particularly on social media platforms like Twitter.[39]

Archdiocese

Kenney has engaged in numerous feuds with the leadership of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Kenney mobilized numerous gay rights legislation during his time in the Philadelphia City Council, many of which were criticized by Catholic leaders in the city. Notably, Kenney joined the debate over the abrupt firing of a beloved faculty member at Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion who came out as gay. In a Philadelphia Inquirer story, Kenney accused the "cowardly men" in the Archdiocese of orchestrating the firing: "If you're a church official and you feel that strongly that this woman and her partner are such a threat to society, stand up and say so," Kenney told the paper.[40] In a 2014 tweet, Kenney stated, "The Arch [sic] don't care about people. It's about image and money. Pope Francis needs to kick some ass here!"[41]

Sports talk radio

Philadelphia sports radio host Howard Eskin has used his talk show to blast Kenney and his authorization of the sugary drinks tax. In April 2017, Kenney appeared on Eskin's radio station, 94.1 WIP, to contend his claims and promote the 2017 NFL draft in Philly. Kenney attacked Eskin, saying, "Here's what I don't understand about Eskin. First of all, he's in that prime spot of 8–10 a.m. on Saturday mornings...I mean like, it's like the show should be called 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping.' Cause no one hears it."[42] Kenney also jokingly said that he would handle things differently with Eskin if he weren't mayor. "If we were regular people sitting at a bar and he was doing that to me, there would be a consequence," Kenney said. "But because I am an elected official, I can't do it."[43]

Chris Christie

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys fan, has frequently slammed the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the Cowboys' biggest rivals. In early 2017, Christie called Philadelphia fans "angry, awful people" and said Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, "is not safe for civilized people." Kenney went on a local sports talk radio program to respond to Christie's claims. "He's got the biggest 'L' on his forehead of anybody in the country," Kenney said on SportsRadio 94.1. "He ran for president for one hot-mess minute and then when that was over he was moon-dogging Trump thinking he was going to get a big job," Kenney said. "Now I think he's just bitter and has got nowhere to go. Who's going to hire him? I just think he's just done," Kenney said. "Bullies always lose, and he's a bully."[44]

Personal life

Kenney has two adult-aged children, Nora and Brendan, with his former wife Maureen. Kenney and Maureen separated in 2010.[45] They formally divorced in 2018.[46]

As of December 2019, Kenney is engaged to Letitia Santarelli.[46] Santarelli was the head coach of the St. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic School girls basketball team, taking the school to the state championship. The couple started dating in 2015.[47] Kenney first made his relationship with Santarelli public when she accompanied him to Iceland as part of a cultural exchange to mark the first-ever direct flights between Reykjavik and Philadelphia in 2017.[48]

Kenney was an annual participant in Philadelphia's Mummers Parade.[49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hepp, Chris (May 20, 2015). "Landslide: Kenney romps in Philly mayor's race". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Spinelli, Dan (January 29, 2015). "Jim Kenney resigns from City Council, eyes mayoral bid". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Blumenthal, Jeff (January 27, 2015). "Jim Kenney to resign from City Council; mayoral bid looms". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Kenney for Philadelphia". Kenney for Philadelphia. November 3, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  5. ^ "James F. Kenney – Councilman-At-Large". City of Philadelphia official website. City Council, City of Philadelphia. February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  6. ^ "Worried".
  7. ^ "Kenney vs. Nutter on Paramedics". Philly.com. Philly.com. October 8, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Small Amount of Marijuana Is Not Worth an Arrest". Metro. Metro. January 21, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Philadelphia becomes largest US city to decriminalize marijuana". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Why Would Anyone Follow Detroit's Pension Plan?". Bloomberg View. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "City Council side jobs: All the totally legal ways Philly's electeds supplement income". Billypenn.com. May 31, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "Philadelphia primary election results 2019", Philadelphia Inquirer, May 21, 2019
  15. ^ Brennan, Chris (February 15, 2019). "Philadelphia Republicans call a 'do-over' in mayoral endorsement". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  16. ^ 2019 "Pennsylvania general election results", WHYY, November 5, 2019
  17. ^ Bittman, Mark (May 25, 2016). "Taxing Sugar to Fund a City" – via NYTimes.com.
  18. ^ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  19. ^ Sanders, Bernie (April 24, 2016). "Bernie Sanders Op-Ed: A Soda Tax Would Hurt Philly's Poor". Phillymag.com. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  20. ^ Wright, David (April 21, 2016). "Clinton 'very supportive' of Philadelphia soda tax - CNNPolitics.com". Cnn.com. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Philadelphia soda tax: How City Council voted, and why". Billypenn.com. June 17, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  22. ^ Retailers Blame Soda Tax; Mayor Kenney Responds With Harsh Words, CBS News Philadelphia, January 10, 2017
  23. ^ Julia Terruso (2017). "Soda companies, supermarkets report 30-50 pct. sales drop from soda tax" Philly.com, February 21, 2017.
  24. ^ Pepsi to lay off 80 to 100, blames soda tax , Philadelphia Inquirer, March 1, 2017
  25. ^ LaVito, Angelica (May 14, 2019). "Sugary drink sales in Philadelphia fall 38% after city adopted soda tax, study finds". CNBC. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  26. ^ Brennan, Chris. "Jim Kenney wins Democratic primary for mayor". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 16, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Graham, Kristen A. "Mayor to seize control of Philly schools - and pay for them". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 21, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Combating the opioid epidemic - Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  29. ^ Izaguirre, Anthony (June 15, 2017). "Philadelphia, Conrail Move to Clear Out Open-Air Drug Market". US News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Philadelphia backs safe injection sites to curb opioid overdose deaths". Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  31. ^ "Philadelphia Officials Announce Support For Safe Injection Sites". January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  32. ^ Allyn, Bobby (October 10, 2018). "'Come And Arrest Me': Former Pa. Governor Defies Justice Department On Safe Injection". National Public Radio. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  33. ^ "Philadelphia Named Winner in Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge | Office of Sustainability". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  34. ^ Whelan, Aubrey; Matza, Michael; Nadolny, Tricia (January 25, 2017). "Kenney says Philly will remain a sanctuary city despite Trump's order to pull funds". The Philadelphia Inquirer.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ Dent, Mark (January 26, 2017). "Donald Trump falsely tells GOP Philly homicides are 'terribly increasing'". PolitiFact.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ "Kenney, Wolf, Casey and Brady join demonstrators at PHL following Trump's executive order". January 28, 2017.
  37. ^ "Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Endorses Elizabeth Warren for President". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  38. ^ https://www.inquirer.com/news/frank-rizzo-statue-remove-philadelphia-jim-kenney-george-floyd-20200603.html
  39. ^ "Outspoken Councilman Throws Hat in Mayoral Race Ring". 10 Philadelphia. February 4, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ Brennan, Chris (July 10, 2015). "Kenney calls archdiocese leaders 'cowardly' after teacher firing". The Inquirer | Daily News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015.
  41. ^ "Jim Kenney's Long War with the Archdiocese – Philadelphia Magazine". July 9, 2015.
  42. ^ "Jim Kenney roasts Howard Eskin: 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping'". April 27, 2017.
  43. ^ "'Is WIP still a sports station?' Jim Kenney rips Howard Eskin on Philly soda tax".
  44. ^ "Philly Mayor Jim Kenney strikes back at Chris Christie for Eagles, Phillies comments".
  45. ^ "Philly Clout: Kenney's wife hired, fired?".
  46. ^ a b Walsh, Scott Collins (January 27, 2020). "Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is engaged". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  47. ^ "Meet Mayor Kenney's Secret Girlfriend". June 5, 2017.
  48. ^ "Philadelphia: Meet your new unofficial first lady".
  49. ^ Spikol, Liz (March 22, 2015). "Jim Kenney Profile: The Face of New Philadelphia? | Citified". Phillymag.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Philadelphia
2016–present 		Incumbent

Template:Pennsylvania cities and mayors of 100,000 population

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