Mayor Kenney makes first address to Phila. Chamber of Commerce

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney addressed the city's chamber of commerce Tuesday with his game plan for the upcoming year. And with the Democratic National Convention months away, business leaders were all ears.

It was Mayor Kenney's first annual address to the ultimate assembly of Philadelphia's movers and shakers - the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

The event is big for Kenney, being an opportunity to lay out a game plan and thrill the crowd with promises of tax reform and mutual cooperation.

Kenney told those in attendance, "For too long this address was essentially seen as the mayor's 'To Do list' for the business community. But if Philadelphia is to succeed, the relationship between government and business cannot be based on a list of demands."

The mayor says City Hall will continue modernizing and reaching out to keep business from fleeing.

"Our administration is committed to helping existing businesses grow, and stay here through reform to L&I, improved online serves, better small business support and increased coordination around big events," he said.

But what about this week's announcement that Cardone Industries is moving nearly 1,400 jobs from its brakes division out of Northeast Philadelphia and down to Mexico? The mayor chose not to mention that, and stuck to his positive tone.

Kenney said, "There will be 10 new hotels, and many more new jobs coming to Philadelphia over the next two years."

So far, so good, as the well-connected seem to like Kenney's style.

Rob Wonderling from the Chamber of Commerce tells us, "Mayor Kenney is carrying over the same approach to when he was candidate Kenney, and that is to be highly collaborative, to listen to all perspectives."

But Kenney has been mayor less than two months, and there are land mines out there. Quietly, contract talks continue with the city's unions, and Kenney will present his first budget to City Council early next month.