Last week, at the Radisson Plaza- Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter won a second term beating his opposing Republican candidate, Karen Brown by a 3-1 ratio, and his Independent candidate rival Wali “Diop” Rahman.
Rahman, Nutter’s Independent party competition who won 3% of the vote said that his campaign was “a victory for the people,” particularly “the historically oppressed black and Latino communities.”
The voter turnout in this year’s mayoral race decreased by 9.7% from last year’s 27.7% turnout when Nutter beat republican Al Taubenberger in 2007.
Olivia, Nutter’s teenage daughter, introduced her father to the crowd after his victorious defeat. The mayor wanted people to know that his victory was not to be celebrated with happiness but with intolerance. Mayor Nutter accepted his win with a progressive message to the crowd at the Radisson Hotel.
“It is with great pride and humility that I say thank you. Tonight is not a night for satisfaction but for impatience. We have in fact begun the renaissance of this great city, but we’re not done yet,” Nutter said.
As a second time mayor at age 54, Nutter had to lay-out goals for the future which his legacy has worked hard to maintain. Some of the goals include: improving the Philadelphia school system, boosting resident education levels, renovating the property-tax system, reducing black-on-black crime and creating more jobs.
Federal cutbacks resulted in $629 million in budget cuts this year. The problems of the city merely match the ones of the Philadelphia School District.
Students are of poverty level and low socio-economic status.Violence is another major issue in the Philadelphia schools. New appointments to the school reform, and property tax increase should help the Philadelphia School District.
New ways to seek relief for low-income property owners will be implemented next year.
The economic recession is frustrating most politicians and makes the plan to create more jobs more difficult. Nutter hopes to expand the Philadelphia Convention Center which, in turn, could create more jobs. Nutter hopes to see more African Americans and minorities owning more businesses.
“I want a hotel built in the city by a black company, owned by African Americans and other minorities,” Nutter said. “This is where you get into real economic participation. Working somewhere is great. Owning something is better.”
Dominique Perry is a fifth-year student majoring in professional studies with minors in journalism and studio art. She can be reached at DP633925@wcupa.edu.