►
Description
Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown's farewell remarks.
The Counncilmember did not seek re-election in 2019 and is retiring at the and of this term after 20 years and a member of Philadelphia City Council.
A
A
Somebody
said
life
is
truly
arrived,
we're
all
strapped
in
and
no
one
can
stop
it.
When
the
doctor's
flaps
are
behind
she's
ripping
our
ticket
and
away,
we
go
as
we
make
each
passage
from
youth
to
adulthood
to
careers
to
maturity.
Sometimes
we
put
our
arms
up
and
scream.
Sometimes
we
just
hang
on
to
that
bar
in
front
of
us,
but
the
ride
is
the
thing.
A
Just
as
the
earth
experiences
spring,
then
summer
fall
and
finally
winter
this
afternoon,
I'll
take
a
few
minutes
to
speak
about
how
our
own
career
cycle
has
its
seasons,
who
we
become
the
young
people
we
nurture
and
the
work
we
do
in
the
spring
and
summer
time
of
our
careers
contribute
to
the
making
of
our
harvests
or
our
legacy
in
the
fall
of
our
lives.
We
reap
what
we
sow.
I
want
to
speak
about
the
spring
and
summer
seasons
of
my
career.
A
My
mother
would
be
disappointed
if
I
didn't
seize
the
moment
to
say
thank
you
can't
thank
everybody
in
the
universe.
Time
won't
permit.
I
am
going
to
highlight
a
couple
of
my
proudest
accomplishments
and
I
will
offer
a
few
nuggets
of
advice
to
the
class
of
2020
and,
lastly,
I
will
share
with
you
my
vision
for
my
future.
Thank
you
to
our
mayor,
James
F
Kennedy
with
my
colleagues
for
16
years
on
the
Philadelphia
City
Council.
A
We
shared
issues
that
we
cared
about
and
together
co-sponsor
major
pieces
of
legislation,
namely
the
hate
crimes
bill
and
the
LGBT
Commission
and
others
to
my
Islanders
councilman,
Curtis,
Jones
and
Councilwoman
Maria,
canola
and
Sanchez.
We
formed
a
special
bond.
It's
been
cultivated
and
has
lasted
over
15
years.
Thank
you
to
president
Clark
and
members
of
this
legislative
body.
We
collectively
share
the
belief
that
we're
here
on
earth
to
do
good
for
others.
We
get
up
every
morning
determined
to
change
the
corner
of
the
world
we
occupy.
A
We
believe
that
when
smart
people
sit
around
the
caucus
table
or
presidents
table,
we
believe
firmly
that
we
can
solve
complex
problems
that
are
gripping
our
city.
We
accept
the
harsh
reality
that
we
can
give
our
city
the
best
we
got
and
it
will
never
be
enough,
but
we
have
to
give
the
city
the
best
we
got
anyway,
mother
Teresa.
Thank
you
to
all
my
colleagues
know
that
I
have
valued
you
even
when
we
disagreed
having
hard
discussions
is
what
we
do
well.
A
Anyone
can
steer
this
ship,
but
it
takes
a
real
leader
to
chart
the
course
we're
17
members
in
this
body
that
everyday
are
trying
to
chart
the
course
for
our
city.
Nothing
I
can
do
nothing.
I
can
say
can
be
said
without
first
acknowledging
my
mom
a
widow
at
age
37,
she
was
left
to
raise
seven
children
alone.
As
the
oldest
she
taught
me
at
age,
22
that
Blondell,
it
will
never
be
about
you.
She
made
it
clear
that
looking
out
for
my
siblings,
for
me
was
never
an
option.
A
It
was
required
because
of
her
values
that
she
modeled
resilience,
discipline,
hard
work,
strength
and
a
very
persuasive
insistence.
I
would
have
made
different
career
choices.
All
of
you
know
my
story
about
the
Peace
Corps
when
I
wanted
to
not
come
back
home
because
I'd
signed
up
for
the
Peace
Corps,
because
I
actually
had
a
job
and
I
called
home
to
tell
my
mother,
I
won't
be
coming
back
home.
Okay,
my
master's
degree
I
want
to
go
to
Africa
and
help
children.
A
That's
what
it
was.
A
deadpan
silence.
My
mother
said
Africa,
you
have
three
sisters
in
college
and
three
siblings
to
go.
Your
Peace
Corps
would
be
right
back
here
in
Philadelphia,
and
so
as
an
obedient
23
year
old,
I
packed
my
bags
and
I
came
back
home
because
her
belief
always
was
that
education
was
our
ticket
out
and
she
expected
me
to
help
every
single
one
of
my
siblings
to
graduate
from
college.
She
worked
three
jobs
and
I
joined
her
scrubbing
people's
floors,
Thank
You
Councilwoman
Sanchez
for
that
bill.
A
So,
in
her
absence,
I
have
to
acknowledge
her.
By
saying
she
taught
me
that
you
have
to
work
hard,
every
single
dance,
back,
no
handouts
for
nobody.
Thank
you
for
my
daughter,
the
joy
of
my
life,
because
she
picked
up
something
called
discipline
and
hard
work.
She
just
passed
her
second
law,
school
exam
and
she's
home
studying
for
contracts
to
my
sisters
and
my
brothers
brother,
who
is
live
stream.
A
If
my
sisters
are
doing
what
I
ask
them
to
do,
the
gift
I've
had
of
my
siblings
is
that
they
have
been
there
and
offered
me
tissues
during
those
tough
times.
Even
while
they
remain
completely
perplexed.
That
I
would
change
my
career
choice
to
participate
in
the
unforgiving
world
of
electoral
politics
to
the
village,
moms
and
girlfriends.
Thank
you
for
the
values
and
philosophy
we
share
and
trying
to
be
present
for
our
and
each
other's
children.
A
A
My
staff
also
known
as
my
work
family,
two-thirds
of
whom
were
here
today,
while
I
am
proud
of
my
many
legislative
achievement,
achievements,
devotion
of
each
one
of
you
that
helped
elevate
our
mission
as
Jason
Lewis,
my
former
PR
manager,
said,
and
now
PR
guru
for
a
major
marketing
firm
in
the
city
used
to
say
Councilwoman.
You
have
a
talent
Factory
for
young
professionals.
A
A
First,
the
visionary
mayor,
John,
F
Street,
and
to
those
confidence
around
him
who
made
a
huge
difference
during
my
freshman
term.
As
a
newcomer
in
this
city
council,
the
comrade
I
started
with
W
Wilson
good
junior.
We
shared
an
unshakeable
fidelity
during
our
time
together
in
City.
Council
I
remain
eternally
grateful
to
Wilson
for
his
friendship
and
for
his
teachings.
He
remains
my
guru
and
God
posts
on
the
issue
of
leveling
the
playing
field
for
business
opportunities
for
MBE
and
WBE
s
in
our
city.
A
Over
the
last
20
years,
I
have
traveled
and
covered
most
of
the
141
square,
miles
of
our
city
from
old
city
and
councilman
schoolers
district
to
mantua,
my
home
base
and
Councilwoman
Blackwell's
district
to
the
upper
Roxboro
and
wind
field,
where
I
now
live
in
councilman,
Curtiss,
Jones
district,
so
Chestnut
Hill,
where
I
travel
during
campaigns
and
Councilwoman
Bass's
district
to
Fair,
Hill
and
Councilwoman
Maria
quinones
Sanchez
district,
both
during
and
not
during
campaign
time
and
then
to
my
soror
counselor
mr.
L
Parker,
the
50th
Ward,
where
that
Ward
leader
gave
me
a
chance.
A
My
staff
and
I
have
tried
to
honor
my
passion
seeking
to
help
and
uplift
families
and
advocate
for
the
underprivileged
and
those
who
are
surviving
on
the
edge
of
life
to
those
thousands
of
large
and
small
contributors
who
supported
my
five
consecutive
successful
campaigns
and
to
the
old
school
dance
party.
Steering
committee
led
by
my
sister
Pandora
Woods
one
year
she
raised
$30,000
on
a
$30
ticket,
took
care
of
all
of
my
expenses
for
Election
Day
note
and
all
of
those
races.
A
I
was
always
out
financed
right,
David,
but
one
thing
we
all
knew
for
sure.
You
cannot
outwork
Blondell
Reynolds
Brown.
What
a
privilege
it
has
been
to
serve
those
hundreds
of
thousands
of
citizens
who
praised
and
rewarded
our
good
work
to
african-american
women
who
vote
in
higher
numbers
than
any
other
voting
bloc.
Thank
you
for
always
sharing
and
hearing
my
story.
Thank
you
more
for
the
recognition
of
my
work
product
and
my
work
ethic.
A
Thank
you
to
the
handful
of
those
new
political
allies
that
deepened
your
reach
to
me
financially
and
emotionally
doing
that
rainy
season.
Thank
you
for
the
umbrellas
that
you
offered.
You
were
the
unexpected
angel
who
looked
at
my
heart,
looked
at
my
work
product
and
my
value
as
a
contributing
member
of
City
Council.
It
was
you,
president,
Clark
and
others
who
look
beyond
that
rainy
season
and
behind
the
news
accounts.
Accepting
that
I
too
was
not
perfect
guiding
me
to
take
strategic
steps
towards
rebuilding
my
campaign.
A
A
My
mom
has
a
stage
a
lot
of
stage
passages
and
one
of
them
when
I
came
in
one
day
and
she
said
I
am
so
glad
I,
don't
hear
your
name
on
KYW
anymore
and
then
she
said
nothing
good
or
bad
lasts
forever.
Implicit
in
that
passage
is
the
notion
that
adversity
is
not
the
permanent
condition
of
who
we
are
love.
Life's
challenges
are
not
supposed
to
paralyze
us;
instead,
they
should
be
designed
to
teach
us
discernment.
In
fact,
adversity
is
our
greatest
teacher.
A
Therefore,
we
must
realize
that
those
who
wrestle
with
us
always
will
strengthen
us
and
strengthen
our
nerves
and
better
help
us
sharpen
our
skills.
My
mind
reminded
my
siblings
me
and
now
her
grandchildren
that
we
learn
from
our
victories.
In
fact,
when
we
are
pushed
tormented,
make
mistakes
feel
defeated.
We
acquire
greater
knowledge
because
we
know
who
we
are
and
what
we're
made
of.
What's
my
lesson,
mr.
president,
to
bless
and
that
from
that
experience,
for
me,
Helen
Keller
says
it
best:
character
cannot
be
developed
in
ease
and
quiet.
A
Only
through
experience
of
trial
and
suffering
can
the
soul
be
strengthened.
Ambition
inspired
and
success
achieved,
in
quote
my
interpretation
even
in
the
desert,
even
the
desert
blooms
after
the
storm,
when
you
think
of
my
work
in
City
Council
and
some
of
my
greatest
accomplishments
mention
the
mayor's
Commission
for
women.
Now
we're
32
cities
in
the
country
that
had
that
mentioned
the
LGBTQ
Commission,
that
was
our
work,
mention
the
Youth
Commission.
While
we
could
feel
satisfied
with
the
work
we
have
done,
my
still
proudest
legislative
victory
is
the
creation
of
the
Children's
Fund.
A
Councilman
Jones
would
remember
that
it
took
us
two
years
to
find
that
non
vote
right,
a
love
that
we
drew
attention
nationally
and
recognition
from
the
White
House.
Her
first
lady
Michelle
Obama
came
to
speak
about
our
bill
once
it
was
passed.
What
is
my
mess
to
incoming
counsel
electives?
Allow
me
to
put
my
former
teacher
hat
on
and
share.
Some
advice
be
advised
that
individuals
do
not
get
to
eight
votes
alone.
Build
alliances,
insist
on
collaborations,
look
for
the
win-win
this
mr.
or
and
seek
the
end
right.
A
Councilman
Sanchez
do
not
get
stuck
on
stupid
with
your
arrogance,
humility
and
your
achievements
is
always
more
attractive.
Secondly,
recognize
that
campaigns
like
life
or
a
constant
daily
audition
make
sure
you
are
dressed
for
the
audition.
While
we
are
not
perfect
human
beings,
we
must
remember
that
decency
when
disagreeing
and
the
words
you
use
do
matter.
If
that
were
not,
so
it
would
not
matter
how
we
raise
our
children.
A
Thirdly,
I
will
caution
all
incoming
members
to
remember
that
our
city
cannot
function
by
the
government
structure
alone
for
Philadelphia
to
grow
and
thrive.
We
must
recognize
and
have
the
sensibilities
and
the
respect
to
value
all
of
our
sectors,
including
our
business
community.
Even
when
we
disagree,
we
my
personal
opinion.
We
have
to
respect
the
role
that
they
serve
in
our
city,
the
relationship
between
our
city,
government
and
business
matters,
and
if
that
were
not
so,
the
recent
tax
abatement
debate
would
not
be
on
a
personal
note.
A
A
And
if
someone
called
me,
while
I
had
her
in
the
car
she
used
to
tell
me
mommy,
you
was
they
allow
me
to
get
back
to
I'm,
trying
to
spend
a
few
minutes
with
my
daughter
live
in
the
present
with
your
children.
My
charge
to
this
council
is
that
we
have
lots
of
unfinished
business
tackle,
be
still
in
equities
that
persist
with
MBE
WBE
in
city
contracts.
I
triple-checked
my
data
yesterday
to
learn
that
as
of
May,
twenty
nineteen
philadelphia
still
has
only
a
two
point.
A
Five
percent
rate
for
black
owned
businesses
continue
to
be
an
outspoken
critic,
continue
to
be
a
broken
record
on
any
and
all
issues
impacting
women,
reminding
the
end
of
all
that
women
had
the
capacity
we
had
the
breadth
and
the
depth
to
do.
The
work
required
to
break
barriers
continue
to
be
a
pathway
for
younger
women
to
dream
dreams
and
then
encourage
them
to
work
hard
to
make
those
dreams
come
true,
wrap.
Your
arms
are
very
young
women
and
young
people.
The
rewards
are
immeasurable.
I
can
testify
as
I
close
I
found.
A
This
passage
from
Napoleon
Bonaparte.
Nothing
is
more
difficult
and
therefore
more
precious
than
to
be
able
to
decide
the
process
a
year
ago
was
a
lot
of
second-guessing
a
lot
of
serious
soul-searching
of
who
I
am
where
I
am
and
what
time
it
is.
My
decision
to
step
off
the
center
stage
for
the
2019
election
cycle
allowed
me
to
make
this
decision
on
my
own
terms.
It
was
my
choice
to
leave
center
stage
and
learn
and
grow
in
other
ways
and,
while
I
know,
there's
never
a
perfect
time.
It's
the
right
time.
A
For
me,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
the
myopic
view
of
my
life,
as
viewed
by
others,
will
not
stand
taller
than
a
panoramic
view.
I
have
for
my
future
a
stand
that
the
most
plentiful
commodity
on
earth
is
free
advice,
usually
critical
advice
and
often
hostile
and
uninformed
advice,
but
I
will
dare
to
imagine
a
new
chapter
written
by
me.
Blondell
Reynolds
Brown,
the
voices
I
hear
and
choose
to
follow,
belong
to
God
and
my
inner
spirit
I
choose
not
to
allow
the
fear
of
the
ship.
A
Stop
me
from
making
the
ship
I
did
hear
the
different
drummer
of
Henry
David
Thoreau's
metaphor.
So,
while
I've
worked
with
exceptional
professionals
across
government
under
multiple
administration,
my
City
Council
experience
tells
me
that
I
can
still
do
more
on
the
outside,
because
they
have
a
sense
of
what's
required
and
what
the
view
looks
like
from
the
inside.
A
Lastly,
I
thank
God
for
the
discernment
and
clarity
as
I
weigh
many
factors
in
the
preparation
for
my
decision,
which
I
haven't
had
it
had
in
him
multiple
times,
not
the
end
of
my
career,
just
saying,
but
here's
what
I
know
I
do
not
want
to
be
one
of
those
women
who
was
glad
I
did
or
one
of
those
people
who
wished
I
had
the
best
inheritance
I
can
leave
my
daughter,
Brielle
and
her
cousins
is
an
example
of
how
to
live
a
full
and
meaningful
life.
I
want
my
daughter
to
tell
her
children.
A
Not
only
did
her
mother
stands
for
something
while
serving
twenty
years,
but
with
humility
and
hard
work.
I
acted
on
it,
councilman
Tom,
you've
heard
me
say
this
many
times.
I
do
not
want
to
get
to
the
end
of
my
career
or
the
end
of
my
life
and
only
have
lived
the
length
of
it.
I
want
to
have
lived
a
wisp
of
it
as
well,
and
it
takes
a
little
bit
of
courage
to
do
that.
Thank
you.
A
Mom
therefore
come
December
31st,
2019
I
will
exit
the
stage
of
the
full
office
city
council
and
start
the
fourth
act
or
the
fourth
quarter.
Football
players
who
love
football
of
my
career
remember,
while
summer
was
great
that
time
has
passed
in
the
fall,
the
focus
is
less
on
doing
and
allowing
and
reaping
the
benefits
of
what
we
have
sowed
during
the
spring
and
summer
seasons.