Philly Mayor Jim Kenney Rolls Back His Comments on July 4th Shooting (Unpublished)
Source: KiddNation / Kidd Nation[/caption]
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is highlighted in the spotlight once again, but this time he may have revealed a bit too much.
Philadelphia and Wawa's 4th of July celebrations on the Ben Franklin Parkway were sullied after shootings occurred in the middle of the night.
The seemingly random shooting didn't claim the lives of any civilians in the area. Fortunately, only two people were injured in the shooting frenzy. 13-year veteran police officer Sergio Diggs was grazed in the forehead and 17-year veteran police officer John Foster was grazed on the shoulder. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 since have posted a bounty of $20,000 for the identity of those involved in the very public shooting. There have been no arrests made for the time being.
On Tuesday morning, Jim Kenney addressed the media on the shooting just outside Jefferson University Hospital, where the two police officers were being treated.
Mayor Jim Kenney said the following.
NBC News - Jim Kenney Conference
I’m concerned every single day.
There’s not an event or a day where I don’t lay on my back and look at the ceiling and worry about stuff, so everything we have in the city for the last seven years, I worry about.
I don’t enjoy 4th of July. I don’t enjoy the Democratic National Convention. I didn’t enjoy the NFL draft. I’m waiting for something bad to happen all the time. So I’ll be happy when I’m not here, when I’m not mayor and I can enjoy some stuff."
Later in the day, Mayor Kenney clarified his comments in an official statement.
I’d also like to clarify some of the comments I made at the press briefing last night at Jefferson Hospital. In a late-night, overwhelming moment of frustration, I said I was looking forward to no longer being mayor.
Let me be clear, I’m incredibly grateful to be mayor of this great city and for the people who elected me to lead.
Cities and city leaders across the country have felt the impacts of the pandemic and the escalating gun violence epidemic for years now. There has been so much tragedy in this country of late, and many of us are dealing with the trauma and our feelings of frustration, anger, and deep sadness about the issues plaguing our society.
I ran for Mayor with the goal of helping every Philadelphian reach their potential. As mayor, I feel personally responsible for the well-being of every Philadelphian, and it’s a weight I carry with me every day—every waking moment. And I know that far too many residents worry daily about their safety and their loved ones too.
Since the original statement Jim Kenney has seen support and criticism from fellow collogues.
Former Governor Ed Rendell spoke with sympathy for Kenney. “When I was mayor, I remember saying a number of times ‘this is hopeless, we can’t turn the city around. What am I killing myself for?” Rendell explained. “But I woke up the next morning and I was determined to go battle and try to change things.”
Others were not so empathic towards Kenney's "moment of frustration", representatives are even demanding that he resign. “I think the mayor’s comments were asinine. I told him that if you can feel this way imagine how Philadelphians who don’t have the ability to check out feel,” said City Councilmember Cherelle Parker. Pennsylvania state Rep. Amen Brown said, “He showed who he is. If it wasn’t in him he wouldn’t have said it so that’s how he feels and this is how I feel."
Mayor Jim Kenney is going to have another press conference later on Wednesday afternoon. It will serve as an update to the 4th of July shootings, but as history shows the conference could also serve as another chance to clarify his comments.
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