The removal came after years of debate and delay that led activists to question whether Kenney, who in his early political career espoused tough-on-crime positions that would have sat well with Rizzo, was truly invested in removing the statue.
The statue long presented a political minefield for Kenney, who ran for mayor with a coalition that included support from white voters in his native South Philadelphia who adore Rizzo, from members of the African American political powerhouse Northwest Coalition, and from progressives who saw the statue as a monument to racism.
“Dialogue won’t be started and finished over a few days and a few hundred signatures,” Kenney said at the time.after white supremacists clashed with counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., over the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.to receive a request to relocate public art By then, former Gov. Ed Rendell, who was mayor when the statue was installed on New Year’s Day 1999 after ain three weeks. They amounted to a mix of Rizzo defenders and detractors, some saying he was a strong mayor who deserved a statue and others painting him as a racist whose effigy should be dumped into the Delaware River.as part of a planned renovation of Paine Plaza. But it had not filed a formal request to the Art Commission, and no timeline was spelled out.
“Of all the issues on my scale of important things to do, this is not even in the top 100,” Kenney replied on Aug. 7, 2018.until at least 2020 or 2021, waiting for the Paine Plaza renovation to get started. The mayor attributed that to finances, saying it would cost the city an extra $200,000 to remove and store the statue ahead of the renovation.
But on Tuesday, Kenney simply bypassed the 2018 directive and ordered the statue taken down “because of the unprecedented emergency circumstances.”In 1991, a 32-year-old Jim Kenney was elected to City Council for the first time, and a 70-year-old Frank Rizzo died while running for mayor for the fourth time.
“We now have discussions, ironically, about no longer allowing police officers to use pepper gas,” he said. “I mean, come on. You can’t use flashlights, you can’t use the clubs on the head, you can’t shoot anybody.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UC Irvine protest: Newport Beach mayor claps back at Irvine mayor's tweet over 'violent scenario'The UC Irvine administration asked for law enforcement agencies from neighboring cities to respond to a pro-Palestinian protest Wednesday.
Read more »
Mayor pro tempore appointed to serve for “worst mayor in America” during corruption investigationHenyard, who was not present at the board meeting, is expected to veto the plan.
Read more »
Dolton, Illinois trustees appoint mayor pro tempore amid scandals involving mayorDolton, Illinois trustees appoint mayor pro tempore amid scandals
Read more »
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard vetoes hiring of former Chicago Mayor Lori LightfootSeveral residents were locked out of Village Hall due to lack of seats, and many of them chanted “hey hey, ho ho, Tiffany has got to go” as they beat on drums and pots and pans outside …
Read more »
Kelly Rizzo pays tribute to late husband Bob Saget on his birthdayLoved ones took to Instagram to honor his memory with a heartfelt tribute.
Read more »
Kelly Rizzo pays tribute to late husband Bob Saget on his birthdayLoved ones took to Instagram to honor his memory with a heartfelt tribute.
Read more »