Jim Kenney

Jim Kenney
99th Mayor of Philadelphia
Assumed office
January 4, 2016
Preceded by Michael Nutter
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the At-Large District
In office
January 6, 1992 – January 29, 2015
Preceded by George Burrell
Succeeded by Helen Gym
Personal details
Born James Francis Kenney
(1958-08-07) August 7, 1958
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater La Salle University (BA)
Website Government website

James Francis Kenney (born August 7, 1958) is an American politician who is the 99th and current 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]

Early life

Jim 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.

Jim Kenney, 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 2010, Kenney sided with the local firefighters' union when Mayor Nutter took action to remove the collective bargaining rights of paramedics.[6]

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.[7] Philadelphia became the largest city in the country to decriminalize pot.[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[11] He gave up these positions when he was elected Mayor in 2015.

Mayor of Philadelphia

2015 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 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.[12] Kenney was inaugurated as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia on January 4, 2016.

Education

Sugary drinks tax

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.[13] 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[14] 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.[15] Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, said that she was "very supportive" of the idea.[16] 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.[17]

Response

After the tax took effect, Kenney said it was "wrong" and "misleading" for businesses to pass the tax on to their customers in the form of higher soda prices.[18] In February 2017, soda manufacturers and retailers announced sales declines of 30–50% in Philadelphia and announced job cuts and layoffs, while the tax was projected to raise about $2.7 million per month, far below the estimate of $7.6 million per month. Kenney characterized the layoffs as evidence of greed among manufacturers.[19]

In March 2017, Pepsi announced plans to lay off between 80 and 100 employees, and blamed this on the tax. The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted city spokeswoman Lauren Hitt as saying, "The soda industry sunk to a new low today... They are literally 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." However, the same article countered Hitt's comment about Pepsi's $6 billion in profit by reporting, "The layoffs will occur at plants in North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and Wilmington. The plants are run as independent businesses required to report profits and losses to the company."[20]

Local control

In October 2017, Mayor Kenney announce that the city is 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.[21]

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.[22]

In June of that year, Kenney and U.S. Representative Bob Brady negotiated a deal with Conrail, the company that owns the property, to clean up abandoned train tracks in Kensington that became a well-known area for open-air heroine use.[23]

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

Opposition to Donald Trump

Before and after Donald Trump's election as United States President in 2016, Kenney has taken a vocal stand against President 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.[24] Kenney has also contended claims about Philadelphia's murder rate, which has been steadily decreasing and remaining stagnant in some instances. Trump said, "Here in Philadelphia, murder has been steady — I mean — just terribly increasing."[25]

Kenney, along with Democratic colleagues Dwight Evans, Bob Casey, Jr., Helen Gym, and Tom Wolf, joined protesters at Philadelphia International Airport after Trump signed Executive Order 13769 to ban travel from seven majority-Muslim countries.[26]

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.[27]

Archdiocese

Although a graduate of two Catholic schools — St. Joe's Prep and La Salle — 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.[28] 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!"[29]

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 network, 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."[30] 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."[31]

Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys fan, has frequently slammed the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the Cowboy's biggest rivals. In early 2017, Christie hastily generalized Philadelphia fans, calling them "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."[32]

Personal life

Kenney has two adult-aged children, Nora and Brendan, with his wife Maureen. Kenney and Maureen have been separated since 2010.[33]

Kenney was an annual participant in Philadelphia's Mummers Parade.[34]

Kenney first made his relationship with Letitia 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.[35] 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.[36]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hepp, Chris (2015-05-20). "Landslide: Kenney romps in Philly mayor's race". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  2. ↑ Spinelli, Dan (2015-01-29). "Jim Kenney resigns from City Council, eyes mayoral bid". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  3. 1 2 Blumenthal, Jeff (2015-01-27). "Jim Kenney to resign from City Council; mayoral bid looms". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  4. ↑ "Kenney for Philadelphia". Kenney for Philadelphia. 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  5. ↑ "James F. Kenney – Councilman-At-Large". City of Philadelphia official website. City Council, City of Philadelphia. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  6. ↑ "Kenney vs. Nutter on Paramedics". Philly.com. Philly.com. 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  7. ↑ "Small Amount of Marijuana Is Not Worth an Arrest". Metro. Metro. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Philadelphia becomes largest US city to decriminalize marijuana". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Why Would Anyone Follow Detroit's Pension Plan?". Bloomberg View. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  10. ↑ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  11. ↑ "City Council side jobs: All the totally legal ways Philly's electeds supplement income". Billypenn.com. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  12. ↑ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  13. ↑ Bittman, Mark (25 May 2016). "Taxing Sugar to Fund a City" – via NYTimes.com.
  14. ↑ "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  15. ↑ Sanders, Bernie (2016-04-24). "Bernie Sanders Op-Ed: A Soda Tax Would Hurt Philly's Poor". Phillymag.com. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  16. ↑ Wright, David (2016-04-21). "Clinton 'very supportive' of Philadelphia soda tax - CNNPolitics.com". Cnn.com. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  17. ↑ "Philadelphia soda tax: How City Council voted, and why". Billypenn.com. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  18. ↑ Retailers Blame Soda Tax; Mayor Kenney Responds With Harsh Words, CBS News Philadelphia, January 10, 2017
  19. ↑ Julia Terruso (2017). "Soda companies, supermarkets report 30-50 pct. sales drop from soda tax" Philly.com, 21 Feb 2017.
  20. ↑ Pepsi to lay off 80 to 100, blames soda tax , Philadelphia Inquirer, March 1, 2017
  21. ↑ http://www.philly.com/philly/education/mayor-to-seize-control-philly-schools-and-promise-to-pay-for-them-20171102.html
  22. ↑ http://dbhids.org/opioid
  23. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania/articles/2017-06-15/philadelphia-conrail-move-to-clear-out-open-air-drug-market
  24. ↑ "Kenney says Philly will remain a sanctuary city despite Trump's order to pull funds".
  25. ↑ "Donald Trump falsely tells GOP Philly homicides are 'terribl".
  26. ↑ "Kenney, Wolf, Casey and Brady join demonstrators at PHL following Trump's executive order". 28 January 2017.
  27. ↑ "Outspoken Councilman Throws Hat in Mayoral Race Ring".
  28. ↑ "Kenney calls archdiocese leaders 'cowardly' after teacher firing".
  29. ↑ "Jim Kenney's Long War with the Archdiocese – Philadelphia Magazine". 9 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Jim Kenney roasts Howard Eskin: 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping'". 27 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "'Is WIP still a sports station?' Jim Kenney rips Howard Eskin on Philly soda tax".
  32. ↑ "Philly Mayor Jim Kenney strikes back at Chris Christie for Eagles, Phillies comments".
  33. ↑ "Philly Clout: Kenney's wife hired, fired?".
  34. ↑ http://www.phillymag.com/citified/2015/03/22/jim-kenney-progressive-candidate-mayor/
  35. ↑ "Philadelphia: Meet your new unofficial first lady".
  36. ↑ "Meet Mayor Kenney's Secret Girlfriend". 5 June 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael Nutter		 Mayor of Philadelphia
2016–present		 Incumbent


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