Biography of Councilman Clarke

DARRELL L. CLARKE is a member of the Philadelphia City Council representing the Fifth Council District.  Neighborhoods within the Fifth District include North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, Lower Hunting Park, Ludlow, Yorktown, West Poplar, Fairhill, Brewerytown, Francisville, Spring Garden, Fairmount, Logan Square and Center City.

Clarke is presently the Chair of the Labor and Civil Service Committee and the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Licenses and Inspections.  He presently sits on the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, the Committee on Public Property and Public Works, the Committee on Public Safety, the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Streets and Services.

Since taking office, Councilman Clarke has worked proactively to improve public safety in Philadelphia.  Recently City Council passed Councilman Clarke's Gun Verification Bill that requires all applicants for a permit to carry a concealed weapon to report the guns could carry with such a permit.  Local authorities now have valuable information to investigate individuals who buy large numbers of guns to sell to those who cannot legally purchase them.  This legislation will help to stem the tide of numbers of illegal guns that flood Philadelphia's neighborhoods.

Councilman Clarke has also sponsored legislation to protect Philadelphia's youth.  City Council recently passed Councilman Clarke's ordinance prohibiting minors from purchasing box cutters.  Unfortunately, box cutters have become the weapon of choice for many of Philadelphia's school children.  Over one hundred were confiscated last year in Philadelphia's schools.  Councilman Clarke's legislation will help to insure that these weapons are not used to destroy the lives of any more of Philadelphia's children.  Councilman Clarke has also honored in City Council the work of the Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse in advocating for the safety of children.

Councilman Clarke has also advocated for improved facilities for organizations that advocate for children.  Last year, Councilman Clarke sponsored legislation that allowed the Children's Treatment Crisis Center to expand their facilities.  Councilman Clarke has also worked for expansion of a new Women's Christian Alliance headquarters and charter school on Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

Clarke is a committed advocate to improving neighborhood commercial corridors.  Councilman Clarke has introduced a number of Tax Increment Financing Districts to encourage the development in the neighborhoods of the Fifth District.  The Networks Tax Increment Financing District at 15th and Spring Garden Streets proposes to provide nearly 1500 full time jobs to renovate the vacant Smith Kline Beecham building into a telecommunications and Internet Center.  The Jump Street Tax Increment Financing District project plan amended by Councilman Clarke will allow for a new retail and entertainment complex at Broad and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.  This development will be the first of its kind in North Philadelphia and is will encourage development along Cecil B. Moore Avenue and throughout North Central Philadelphia.

Improving the quality of life in neighborhoods is an important legislative priority for Councilman Clarke.  Councilman Clarke held the first hearings in City Council about abandoned automobiles and sponsored several pieces of legislation to make it easier to remove abandoned automobiles from Philadelphia's streets.

To protect existing businesses in neighborhood commercial corridors, Councilman Clarke introduced Zoning Overlays for North Broad Street and Walnut Street.  These controls will protect the synergy of businesses in these important commercial corridors.  City Council also passed Councilman Clarke's legislation that regulated Sidewalk Cafés on Walnut Street.  Clarke has also held hearings promoting Philadelphia as a destination for e-commerce businesses.  This year, Rittenhouse Row honored Councilman Clarke with the Ambassador of the Year award for his leadership in promoting the Center City's retail and restaurant district.

Insuring that minority businesses receive the same opportunities as all of Philadelphia's businesses has been one of Councilman Clarke's top priorities.  Councilman Clarke has sponsored several initiatives to protect minority businesses in Philadelphia.  In a letter to Mayor John Street, Councilman Clarke, along with Councilwoman Miller and Councilman Goode, asked for participation goals of 50% in the development of new professional sports stadia.  Mayor Street and the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies met the challenge of the 50% participation goal.  Councilman Clarke's has also sponsored legislation that requires any agency that receives City funding to report on the numbers of minority businesses involved in City contracting.

Prior to his election, Councilman Clarke served as an experienced public servant in municipal government for nearly twenty years.  Initially hired by City Councilman John F. Street as a constituent service representative, during the later years of his employment with City Council, Clarke had sole responsibility for overseeing legislative, housing and economic development initiatives throughout the Fifth Council District.

During his tenure in and with his involvement, the City created three neighborhood Tax Increment Financing Districts to support retail, commercial and entertainment developments in the District, established a Keystone Opportunity Zone/High Tech Park adjacent to Temple University to spur economic development activity which capitalizes on the presence of Temple University, and served as a strong proponent of the North Philadelphia Empowerment Zone.  Clarke also played a pivotal role in creating more than 2,000 units of new affordable rental and for sale housing throughout the District and was one of the chief architects of Partners for Progress, the City's initiative that systematically targets neighborhoods for comprehensive City Services.

Clarke presently serves on the Fairmount Park Commission.  He is past president of the Fairmount Park Commission's Advisory Council and a former member of the Mayor's Action Council for Visitors.  He has served as the Ward Leader of the 32nd Ward for the past 12 years.

Darrell Clarke is a lifetime resident of North Philadelphia and a graduate of the public school system.  He has a daughter, Nicole, a recent graduate of Penn State University.