Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is so exasperated by ongoing gun violence that he says he’s looking forward to leaving office after two cops were shot during the city’s July Fourth festivities.
Kenney, a Democrat who was first elected in 2015, didn’t hold back when he spoke early Tuesday morning about the shooting outside the Philadelphia Art Museum on Monday, which left two police officers hurt during a free concert and fireworks show.
“The weather was beautiful and the concert was beautiful, but we live in America, and we have the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court of the United States telling everyone they can carry a gun wherever they want,” Kenney told reporters just after midnight while standing with top Philly police officials outside Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where the officers were recovering.
“We have to come to grips with what this country is about right now,” the mayor said.
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Kenney said he’s so worried by gun violence marring city events that he no longer appreciates them, or even holidays.
“I don’t enjoy the Fourth of July, I don’t enjoy the Democratic National Convention, I didn’t enjoy the NFL draft — I’m waiting for something bad to happen all the time,” he said. “So I’ll be happy when I’m not here — when I’m not the mayor and I can enjoy some stuff.”
Pressed by a reporter, Kenney doubled down on his remarks, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Asked if he’s looking forward to leaving office, the mayor responded, “Yeah.”
In a statement released midday Tuesday, Kenney said he spoke out of “frustration” at the press conference.
Kenney said, “Let me be clear: I’m very thankful to be mayor of this great city and to the people who chose me to lead.” “I care a lot about the safety of our citizens and the future of our city, which is why I’m upset with how I said what I thought last night. I gave the people of Philadelphia the impression that I don’t care, which couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Someone opened fire at the public event, and what had been a “chill day” in the City of Brotherly Love took a dramatic turn, Kenney said at the press conference.
“It was a beautiful day, but some idiot with a guy who probably shouldn’t have had it ruined it for us.”
The wounded officers, who had graze wounds to the head and shoulder, have since been treated and released from a hospital, Kenney tweeted early Tuesday.
“We will continue to do everything we can to combat our city’s gun violence – including taking a record number of guns off the streets – but we are fighting an uphill battle,” Kenney said. “We are pleading with lawmakers to help us stop the flow of guns into our city.”
Kenney said he’s determined to find an answer to combat the city’s gun violence that has contributed to 267 homicides as of Monday — a 5% decrease from the same time in 2021, according to Philadelphia police data. A record 562 people were killed in the city last year.
“The scourge of gun violence cannot and will not destroy our traditions,” Kenney said in a tweet. “I love this city, and as mayor, the only thing I want more than anything else is to help solve this problem and keep everyone safe.”
Kenney’s comments were quickly met with backlash, and at least one person called for him to step down. In his Twitter bio, he says that he is “proud to serve” as the mayor of Philadelphia.
“I know you’d probably had a couple but pull it together for the cameras,” one reply read. “Or just resign, obvious your heart’s not into it anymore.”
Others used the chance to criticize Kenney, saying that he had gotten both Democrats and Republicans in the city to call for his resignation at the same time.
“I can’t wait until you can finally enjoy things,” said a critic.
Kenney’s office did not respond right away to a message sent early Tuesday asking for a comment.
“Proud to serve as Philadelphia’s mayor,” his Twitter bio reads.
No arrests in the cops’ shooting have been as of early Tuesday, Philadelphia police told The Post.
Meanwhile, a New Jersey man said he’ll never again attend a large public gathering.
Blake Miller told CBS Philadelphia that after the shots were fired, the barricades were being knocked down. “Everyone was running around like crazy. From what I’ve learned today, I won’t go to big, crowded places again, especially on the Fourth of July. I’ll never take my kids to a big event like that again.”
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