John,
I am full of mixed emotions today as I write this to let you know that I am officially stepping down as your Councilmember At-Large. It has been six of the most memorable years of my career.
If you missed it in this morning’s Philadelphia Inquirer, Sean Walsh sat down with me to talk through my years of service to the city and my future plans.
As a business leader, a former Assistant District Attorney, a former legislative staffer, and an advocate for those with Autism, I know my past experiences were vital to shaping my service as your Councilmember. And my experience as your Councilmember will undoubtedly shape my next endeavor.
My time on City Council afforded me the opportunity to attend events across the City and support community causes. I got to hear first-hand from my constituents about the issues impacting your everyday lives.
 And then I got to take all of those experiences and put them into action by passing legislation that works for you. Because of you, I’ve been able to introduce or pass legislation that:
- Addresses crime and gun violence by recruiting high-quality resident and non-resident police cadets to address the policing shortage, and ensuring body armor purchases are reported to prevent senseless tragedies from ever occurring;
- Tackles our city’s 25% poverty rate by investing in small businesses AND cutting the wage tax through city budget proposals; and
- Eases the current economic pain by bringing back affordable housing options like legalizing single-room residences for those on a marginal income.
And I know there is a lot more work to do — we need leaders who show us how we can get things done, together. I love this city and it’s been a pride and joy to serve you these past six years.
As I close this chapter on the City Council, I’m looking forward to the next: Stay tuned for my big announcement tomorrow, John.
I’m glad to know you’re on my team as I take this next big step.
— Derek
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