New mayor takes his city by the hand

There were young and old, black and white, little kids from Fairmount and high school students from West Philadelphia. Retired folks, stay-at-home moms, working-class and middle-class people, too. They all turned out for an open house at City Hall - and the chance to meet Mayor Nutter on his first full day in office.

"I definitely believe it's a new day, and I think he is definitely about change - positive change," said Brenda Clark, a retired federal worker from Hunting Park, as she surveyed the thousands of people waiting in line outside City Hall yesterday. "You can't see how long the line is."

In many ways, it seemed a historic occasion - average citizens waiting in line for up to two hours to take advantage of the populist gesture of hoisting open the doors of City Hall at the dawn of a new administration.

And it was an unusually happy time. There were Mummers, jazz musicians, a choir. And lots of food: Tastykakes, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies. And steaming hot chocolate.

Even the weather cooperated.

"I told him that I knew I voted for the right person," said Frances Quitman, 60, of Southwest Philadelphia, as she left the grand Conversation Hall, where rock-star Nutter pressed the flesh under the watchful eye of a statue of George Washington.

"I think he's really cool," said Indee Phillpotts, a third grader from Fairmount.

Alexander Bakken, another third grader from Fairmount, eagerly accepted the new mayor's autograph - and a promise.

"I wanted to talk to him about the pollution in the city, because I am really concerned about it. He said, 'I'm going to work on that,' " said Alexander, who attended the reception with his mother.

Even as the open house was supposed to be winding down at 8 p.m., the line kept growing around the perimeter of City Hall's plaza. So Nutter stayed on, shaking hands for about two hours more and turning the four-hour reception into a six-hour event.

Robert and Marilyn Lambert, early Nutter supporters from West Mount Airy, wanted to show they were still with him.

"Everyone knows the problems are huge," said Marilyn Lambert, 70, a retired La Salle University professor. "But he's got the spirit, and he's been able to hold people together."

George Whitlock, 68, who brought his 3-year-old granddaughter, said he hoped Nutter could do something about the violence in the city.

"This is the first time I ever had to worry about going out the door to the store," said Whitlock, of West Mount Airy.

But there was optimism, too.

Boxing great Joe Frazier said he told Nutter to give him a call if he needs any help.

"I think he'll do fine," said Frazier, who drew his own crowd of well-wishers at the reception.

Audrey Hood, a retired teacher's aide from East Falls, said the new mayor needed to know that people would be there for him.

"The whole city has to stand behind him," she said.

And Joan Bauer, 73, a retired administrative assistant who lives in Center City, noted that the city doesn't have a winning sports team - so it's about time for a winning elected official.

"I have great hopes, and I hope people will stick with him," she said of Nutter. "Every time I heard him or saw him . . . I just thought, 'This man means it.' "