Clarke to council: 'You're in for one heck of a ride'

City Council held its first regular meeting of 2012 Thursday with more than half its members new in their jobs - and with jobs and the economy dominating their legislative agendas.

The new Democratic leadership team began rolling out its strategy of finding innovative ways to raise money for the city, including Council President Darrell L. Clarke's bill to sell advertising on public property.

Meanwhile, Councilman Bill Green introduced a package of bills to ensure city residents are hired to work jobs generated by city contracts or subsidies. Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. put forth a bill to expand an existing tax credit for creating new employment in the city.

Green cited federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data that puts the city's unemployment at 10.9 percent, while the surrounding counties range from 5.9 to 7 percent.

"We need to create jobs," he said. "That involves totally redoing our tax structure and it involves spending city dollars on city residents whenever possible."

Six new jobs were created in Council during last year's elections, when voters picked the largest freshman class in 20 years. Chambers were unusually packed Thursday with people who had come to see new configuration finally seated.

Mingling in the crowd was powerful union leader John J. Dougherty, who was a behind-the-scenes backer of Clarke for Council president.

Dougherty protégé Bobby Henon also was among a freshman class that includes fellow Democrats Cindy Bass, Kenyatta Johnson and Mark Squilla; and Republicans Dennis O'Brien and David Oh, the body's first Asian-American.

Unlike four years ago, when then-rookie Bill Green put forth a bill to ban elected officials from the controversial DROP pension perk - a move veteran colleagues saw as impertinent, at best - this year's crop did not make an immediate splash.

In the caucus room before the meeting, Clarke welcomed his colleagues, new and old.

"Guys, you're in for one heck of a ride," he said.

Clarke assumed the presidency from Anna C. Verna, who retired last year. The members also selected a new majority leader, majority whip and newly created deputy majority whip.

Clarke said he was still getting used to all the changes.

"I've been here for 12 years . . . but standing up at the big chair is always different," he said. "There's actually a little more going on up there than I anticipated."