PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thursday was the final meeting of Philadelphia City Council’s four-year term and the last one presided over by Council President Darrell Clarke.
The unusually long session included the passage of more than 130 bills and resolutions, as well as many heartfelt goodbyes to Clarke, who is retiring.
“I’m just overwhelmed with the love that’s being shown,” Clarke said.
Clarke has worked in City Council for more than 40 years — 20 as a council member and 12 as council president — so his departure will have as large an impact on council as it does on him personally.
Every council member showered him with praise and gifts, including an official NASCAR racing suit to indulge his love of the sport.
Mayor Jim Kenney made a rare appearance to say goodbye and thanked Clarke for his partnership.
“We had our differences but we never had them in public and we worked it out and we moved forward,” Kenney said.
Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker also spoke, noting how Clarke had increased council’s power during his tenure.
“He took the council to another level that people had never imagined,” she said.
Clarke said he had no immediate plans for retirement but promised to remain available.
“I appreciate so much having been given this opportunity and I thank you all and love you all,” he said.
Beyond the farewells, council passed a hefty agenda, ranging from honorary resolutions to the most controversial bill requiring employers that open new businesses to hire workers who were laid off when the previous business closed.
Another bill passed was one that bars hospitals from sending undocumented patients back to their home countries.
Because of the timing of these bills, Kenney has to sign them all for them to become law.