Skip to content
Politics
Link copied to clipboard

Nutter asks business to fight for school funding

Mayor Nutter, with a nod to the candidates running to succeed him, on Thursday laid out for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce a seven-year history of measured accomplishments and continuing challenges.

Mayor Michael Nutter delivers his final State of the City address in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.
Mayor Michael Nutter delivers his final State of the City address in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.Read moreMEAGHAN POGUE / Staff Photographer

Mayor Nutter, with a nod to the candidates running to succeed him, on Thursday laid out for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce a seven-year history of measured accomplishments and continuing challenges.

Nutter's walk-on music - "Run This Town" by Jay-Z and Rihanna - served as a reminder that he holds the office for an additional 11 months.

The two-term mayor used his final annual chamber address to tout economic development, citing $8.5 billion in construction projects completed, underway, or announced in the last year.

He looked forward to the planned visit of Pope Francis in September for the World Meeting of Families, and the city's pending bid to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

And he laid out what he called the "fundamental" continuing challenges for city government - public safety, education, economic development, fiscal management, and ethics and integrity.

"These challenges are long-term, deeply rooted, and interconnected," Nutter said. "There are no easy solutions or quick fixes. And worse, they depress the potential of our city and its people."

Nutter urged the chamber members to get involved by fighting for "fair and full education funding," providing summer internship and job training programs, and hiring "returning citizens" released from incarceration.

He called on the next mayor to build coalitions among businesses, neighborhoods, politicians, and nonprofits.

He started his speech with a shout-out to City Councilman James F. Kenney, who resigned Thursday to launch a not-yet-announced bid for mayor.

"Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best," Nutter said, drawing chuckles from the crowd.

During his speech, Nutter noted that the May 19 primary was just 110 days away. Later, he said it was too soon to say whether he would endorse a candidate.

"I'm just going to let it play out," Nutter said. "We'll see what happens as we get closer to election day. But they need to get it on."

215-854-5973 @byChrisBrennan