I hope voters will elect a similar person to replace him.Īnd while I’m personally indifferent to the exits of Cherelle Parker and Allan Domb, I can’t deny their presence in City Hall. With so many polarizing figures on City Council, we’ll miss how practical, chill and effective “No-Drama Derek” Green was. Over the years, his approaches to citywide problems were both business-savvy (such as advocating for a public bank and wage-tax cuts) and on the side of social justice ( proposing and passing an anti-discrimination bill that would enforce tougher consequences on businesses that violate the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance). Green was sort of the ideal at-large elected: He avoided controversy and focused on getting shit done. The departure of two-term Councilmember-at-large Derek Green is another significant loss. For what it’s worth, this major void should remind voters of the importance of electing another diverse, anti-establishment voice - one with a track record of succeeding in spite of what’s politically trendy with her elected peers. (She opposed the soda tax, was the only one in City Hall who called on now-disgraced former City Councilmember Bobby Henon to resign, and has supported cutting the business tax.) With her departure, there are no Latinos on City Council. For nearly four terms - all won without the support of the Democratic establishment - she’s proven that you can be electable without compromising your principles. But they had all carved out specific niches in the city’s legislative body. I was a big fan of some of those who resigned and didn’t tend to agree with others. The coming infusion of new Councilmembers will certainly change the dynamic in City Hall. The resignations just before City Council resumes also allow for a quick special election (just called by Council President Darrell Clarke) to fill the the open district seats, ensuring two fresh faces in office before next year’s primary. I certainly can’t recall so many elected city officials resigning to run for Philly mayor all at once. (Domb, per his camp, is still exploring doing the same.)Īt first glance, this is exciting news. And three of them - Green, Quiñones-Sánchez and Parker - have declared bids to run for mayor.
So far, Councilmembers-at-large Allan Domb and Derek Green and District Councilmembers Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and Cherelle Parker have all stepped away from at least two terms in City Hall. The mass exodus of City Councilmembers resigning before this Thursday’s return to session has been epic. Former members of City Council, from left, Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, Allan Domb, Cherelle Parker and Derek Green / Photographs by Jared Piper/PHLCouncil
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