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Recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the extraordinary career of W. Wilson Goode, Jr., distinguished four-term member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000-2016.
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WHEREAS, W. Wilson Goode, Jr., served honorably in the Philadelphia City Council for sixteen years. During his tenure, Councilman Goode was an unrelenting advocate for economic justice, community development and equal opportunity for all in the City of Philadelphia and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode has been a lifelong resident of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed Graduate Studies in Policy Design and Delivery at Harvard Kennedy School; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode worked tirelessly to pass meaningful legislation to improve the lives and economic opportunities for people of color and for all Philadelphians struggling financially; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode’s tenure in City Council included major strides forward with some of the most groundbreaking progressive legislation ever introduced in Council, including an increase in employment preferences for City residents; establishment of fair wage standards; setting diversity goals for City contracts; encouragement of fair lending and community reinvestment goals for banks; enactment of tax credits to help businesses create jobs and invest in neighborhoods; reformation of campaign contribution limits; and increased funding for the School District of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode’s longtime service as Chair of Council’s Committee on Commerce and Economic Development was a continuation of his neighborhood economic development work at the Commerce Department from 1992 to 1999; and
WHEREAS, In Committee hearings, Councilman Goode was a formidable and relentless seeker of the truth, particularly during annual budget hearings - always prepared with research, and tirelessly dedicated to promoting real, measurable, and lasting progress toward fair and equitable distribution of the City’s contracting opportunities; and
WHEREAS, In January 2016, Councilman Goode continued his service to the public through his appointment as the Senior Policy Advisor to the President of the City Council of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode was a founding member of Local Progress, a national municipal policy network created in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr.’s service to Philadelphia has been recognized with numerous awards and acknowledgements including, but not limited to: recipient of a National Achievement Award from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in 2006; recipient of the 2013 Community Development Champion Award from the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations; the 2015 Pennsylvania Working Families Legislator of the Year Award; and, in 2017, he was named Advocate of the Year by the City of Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Goode has announced his retirement from City Council; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize, honor and celebrate the extraordinary career of W. Wilson Goode, Jr., distinguished member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000-2016 and a dedicated public servant.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to W. Wilson Goode, Jr., to honor his legacy and show our appreciation for what he has done for the City of Philadelphia.
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