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Mayor Jim Kenney's FY24 Budget Address
Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Council President Darrell Clarke and members of City Council for the invitation to speak today.
I am happy to be back in this chamber as we kick off the annual process of creating our City's budget.
The last time I gave this speech in person was March 5th, 2020.
Only 17 days later, COVID-19 shut down our city and changed our lives dramatically.
Looking around me this morning and thinking about the uncertainty and the seismic, sudden changes we have navigated together since 2020, I am overwhelmed with admiration for our city, its residents and public servants, and my fellow city leaders.
We have lived and led through history.
Together we have navigated and continue to lead our City through a global pandemic, a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice, and a national crisis of gun violence that is causing heartbreak and pain for too many families and communities across Philadelphia.
I look forward to working with this esteemed body of elected leaders to adopt a budget that reflects our commitments to equity and progress, and also prioritizes sustainability and financial stability... so that our city is ready for any challenges and all the opportunities that the future holds.
I also want to take this moment to recognize and thank Council President Clarke, who has served in this role for the entirety of our Administration and has been a valued colleague for much longer than that.
Darrell and I spent a lot of time after I was elected envisioning what we could accomplish during my time in office.
Things like community schools and better funding for public education, affordable housing, and new jobs.
I'm so proud of what we've achieved. Thank you.
Together with all of City Council we will build on our success, and finish with energy, momentum, and a strong foundation for our city's next chapter.
As we begin the budget process, I want to acknowledge the months of ...
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