The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia called on the incoming mayor and his administration to make fighting violent crime their number one priority.
With his inauguration just days away, Michael Nutter said he is ready to go.
In his final hours at the roundhouse, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson talked about violent crime as well. He emphasized, one more time, that the department under his leadership has been successful in cutting the crime rate.
Johnson said the number of shootings declined by 13-and-a-half percent with 270 fewer shootings in Philadelphia last year and homicides down by 14, just over 3 percent.
After six years at the top, Johnson retires Monday after 43 years on the force. Outsider Charles Ramsey takes over the moment Michael Nutter is sworn-in as Philadelphia's new mayor.
Meanwhile, Mayor-elect Nutter is inviting citizens to join him at City Hall next Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. for an open house reception on his first full day in office.
"City Hall belongs to all Philadelphians. Making real progress will take all of us working together," said Mayor-elect Michael Nutter. "I hope that, under my administration, this is a place where the public feels welcome and visits often."
City Hall's four portals will be filled with light and entertainment as the sounds of more than a hundred youth performers welcome visitors.