Well, Philadelphia finally has a mayor worthy of itself. It's been a while. I want to take up this space and opportunity to congratulate and praise Mayor Michael Nutter.

I briefly met our new mayor in 1994, when I was an aide to 1st District Councilman Joe Vignola. If I remember correctly, the 4th District office was sandwiched between the 1st and Blackwell's district. But it wasn't until some time later, when I was attending a 21st Ward Community Council dinner, that I started to like Michael Nutter. I was invited to speak before the 21st Ward.

I was 25 and nervous as hell and I think it showed that night. When I was finished, Michael was kind enough to shoot me a complement and make a joke that helped ease my anxiety. Over the course of my years with the Human Relations Commission, I'd work with his office often in Roxborough, Manayunk and East Falls.