Ultimate Job Interview with Philadelphia Mayoral Candidate Cherelle Parker

The Philadelphia Citizen hosts a series of free public events where a panel of questioners with expertise in hiring - along with audience members like you! - interview our 2023 mayoral candidates, using a job description created by the people of Philadelphia! Our sixth candidate in the series: Former Councilmember Cherelle Parker
Learn more about Cherelle Parker for mayor: cherelleparker.com/
Read the citizen-generated mayoral job description: thephiladelphiacitizen.org/le...
The Ultimate Job Interview is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute, the Wyncote Foundation, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, among others. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.
This project is also made possible by the support of Diversified Search Group. We also thank our event partner, Fitler Club, and media partner, WURD Radio.
Thumbnail photo by Sabina Pierce
Video by Creative Outfit creativeoutfit.com/

[@garbagefestival9133]

She went to jail and came out to run for mayor. That takes balls. Nobody even says anything on this. 10 years in Harrisburg?! Why isn’t anyone showing this off. That’s pure philly right there. The outsiders are all jabronies

[@mingchen8323]

WE need a mayor who can improve our public education , public safety, and revitalize our economy.

[@pattyquinn8111]

This happened a few years ago. At the time, Cherelle Parker was Councilwoman and East Oak Lane, where I live, was a constituency of hers. There is a vacant lot at a small, narrow intersection in East Oak Lane, apparently owned by a man acquainted with Parker in some way. Close to the intersection are an elementary school and its playground, a church, East Oak Lane Public Library, and a fire house. The intersection is zoned for single family houses on lots, a residential neighborhood. The man who owns the vacant lot wanted to build an apartment house on the lot, and he needed a zoning variance to do that. Parker tried to force a zoning variance so that he could build it. When I say “force,” I mean she hit a wall of unanimous opposition from East Oak Lane constituents. There is a reason why that intersection is zoned as it is. An apartment house would create traffic too heavy for that intersection and those streets. It would also put at risk for traffic injury children walking to and from the school, the playground, the library, and home. It would delay fire trucks and ambulances heading to emergencies. Parker knew it. As I said, we fought the variance, for the better part of a year. Parker would not relent. She would not meet with us. She did not respond when constituents contacted her about it. When the woman who was president of our civic association did reach her on the phone, Parker was disrespectful to her. The fight played out primarily on the East Oak Lane Next Door site and two Zoom calls, without Parker participating. We didn’t have the costly team of lawyers and engineers that Parker and the lot owner had. We won. Zoning officials sided with us, as was clear, that intersection couldn’t support the project the lot owner wanted to put there. This situation gave us a preview of how Parker would treat the whole city of constituents if she were to become mayor. IMO she cannot be trusted with the power of the mayor’s office. The lot owner was claiming that the apartment building would be “low rent” housing for seniors. One person on Next Door checked into that and found that the rents would have been the going rate for rents in that neighborhood. Also, the lot owner claimed that there were no lots anywhere else in the entire city where he could build that apartment building. That is just not true. The whole situation reeked of dishonesty. Since Parker has been campaigning for mayor, I’ve seen other actions of hers that concern me. Many of her donors and supporters have been involved in the pay-to-play rot that has done so much harm to the city. That tells me that Parker already is awash in it, and she would double down on it as mayor. Also, she sells herself as a champion of Black communities. She once called out Alan Domb for, as she said, “the way you treat the Black communities.” We can tell you from experience how she treated our Black community in this zoning variance matter. Not good.

[@user-bw9ep5rq3e]

I'm a former constituent of Parker's and it isn't just that I support another candidate. I haven't decided yet, but I am actively worried about Parker winning and becoming mayor. Having her as Councilwoman wasn't a good experience. And if she wins, she'll double down on the pay-to-play status quo that has done so much harm to the city. She's endorsed and funded by that pay-to-play crowd.

[@harrowgateguy]

fighting crime means giving youth a future they don’t want to risk by committing crime by giving every child who completes K through 12 in a Philadelphia public school free tuition at community college of Philadelphia

[@mingchen8323]

carjacking, shop lifting/ looting ( several stores closed in my neighborhood), Gun violence, trash dumping, messy in Kensington ave , delayed police response to traffic accident, poor public education, delayed response or no response to shop lifting . How could you address all this issue in the city of Philadelphia?

[@luismarrero1819]

Don’t forget she is in favor of STOP & FRISK , no way we going back to the days of RIZZO

[@joannek6267]

Why are none of her competitors reminding voters about her DUI conviction upheld by the PA Supreme Court and her drinking problem?

[@raul568]

MS. PARKER..THE RIGHT WOMAN FOR THE MAYOR..JOB.. INTELLIGENT, FAIR, LOVE'S PHILLY, LOVE'S THE PEOPLE.. STRONG, AND DIRECT TO THE POINT: CRIME CONTROL, JOBS, HOUSING, POLICING, UNITY, EDUCATION, BETTER WAY OF LIFE..FOR EVERY PHILLY CITIZEN..

[@pattyquinn8111]

She is far from fair. I know that from experience with her. Parker will do what benefits Parker. She is bought and paid for by the building trades crowd and the pay-to-play crowd. She's going to double down on that rot that's already done so much harm to the city. Anyone who lives in and adjacent to the area where the stadium is proposed, I suggest that they especially brace themselves. She has no respect for the communities and neighborhoods of the city. Intelligent, yes she is, but she has no integrity. It's what she'll do with her intelligence that worries me.

[@user-lh5ut8wy8k]

When she said that none of the previous mayor's didn't look like her. She wasn't talking about race ,she was referring to the fact that they were all men.

[@garbagefestival9133]

She is way overlooked. I think she’s innocent and means well. Anyone that can stay on point can do it. The rest are in it for fame or ego. I’d get behind this person.

[@visualizecreate2530]

Stop and frisk though 😦😦😦😦

[@southwesttickets8356]

She talkin a whole bunch of nothin this city in trouble if she wins 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@sabdullah8076]

Voting for shopRite guy seems like voting a local business mogul right in.. big business only looking out for Gentrifiers and HOa's... at lease Parker will fight for Philadelphians..what did shoprite guy give yall except free turkeys? Boi got enuf to fund a school😐

[@gloriadulan-wilson1076]

A closet T-rump - and Philly certainly does not need that

[@pattyquinn8111]

I'm a former constituent of Parker's. Fight for Philadelphians? No. I can tell you from firsthand experience that she can't be trusted with power and that Parker will do what benefits Parker. She tried to play loose and fast with zoning for a project for an acquaintance of hers that would have caused real hurt. When I say "real hurt," I mean interfering with fire trucks rushing to get to a fire, among other problems. Parker knew it. She considers herself unaccountable to constituents, and that's how she'll treat the whole city of constituents. She is bought and paid for by the pay-to-play crowd that's brought us the rot that's done so much harm to the city. I'm a lifelong Democrat. This is painful for me. David Oh is no gem, either.

[@paulac.3411]

2 mayors on that picture wall that was black..is she blind too.

[@sabdullah8076]

She meant being a woman

[@gloriadulan-wilson1076]

I am so proud of Mayor-to-be Cherelle Parker. She has vision, energy, clarity, and courage. I definitely appreciate her pride in and confidence for what can be accomplished in Philadelphia. I think she'll make an exemplary Mayor. I am not pleased with the manner and tone directed at her by former mayor Michael Nutter. I think Ms. Parker has poise, vision, and brings a vast level of experience to the table that wlll benefit all areas of Philly - but more importantly those who have been historically looked over during the past administrations. The fact that she wanted the future police officers to live in the city is very important because they then have more at stake to ensure the safety of the community. No hit and run. Relate and rehabilitat. Michael Nutter needed not debate her, he asked her the question, courtesy would have been to have allowed her to complete her statement. I know he's supporting Rhynhart - so maybe this is why there is such an adversarial tenor on his part. SMH She did a fantastic job in answering the questions and has an excellent track record. The moderator should have required Nutter to stop interrupting. Kudos to Cherelle for maintaining her cool!!

[@ajanderson2285]

The shop rite guy didn't talk enough, she's talking too much lol

[@gloriadulan-wilson1076]

She is really trying to do something most political figures don't do: EDUCATE, INFORM, MOTIVATE, AND INCENTIVIZE - you want a mayor who COMMUNICATES WITH YOU.

[@ajanderson2285]

@@gloriadulan-wilson1076 JUST AN OBSERVATION

[@dman357]

THis woman will talk her self right out of being elected. She talks to much and is to emotional. Sit down Parker.

[@ashara1na]

I said the same thing but look

[@robertgallagher7574]

I I remember back in the seventies we had police officers walking the beat in our streets it kept us a little safe back then but it's not doing it now because yous are not funding the police enough to them to hire any more police officers I think you should have the police officers once again in our streets all over our city not not just in certain neighborhoods

[@phillynurse9492]

Too much talking I can’t 😅

[@nayaslilbigsituation5847]

I don't like what she did to Philadelphia public schools what made her think it was ok to have elementary school age children have a school start time of 730 am. She don't know what we want or need she never steps foot in our neighborhoods to help improve or ask how we feel or what could be done . She hasn't said one word about the crime that's been out of control. I'm sorry but she's not getting my vote

[@FatButta]

Defund the police!!!!!!

[@joannek6267]

"Yous people?"

[@flyboyzz46]

Crime Number one thing Stop & frisk