Kenney, a Democrat first elected in 2015, did not mince words early Tuesday after Monday’s shooting outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art that left two police officers injured during a free concert and fireworks display. “The weather was beautiful, the concert was beautiful, but we live in America and we have the Second Amendment and we have the Supreme Court of the United States telling everybody they can carry a gun wherever they want,” Kenney told reporters just after midnight while standing with Philly police officers outside Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where the officers were recovering. “We have to understand what this country is right now,” the mayor said. Kenney said he is so troubled by gun violence marring the city’s events that he no longer appreciates them, not even the 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 mayor and I can enjoy some things.” Mayor Jime Kenney — who was up for a second term in 2019 — has already received calls to resign following his comments. Getty Images for MoveOn Pressed by a reporter, Kenney repeated his remarks, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Asked if he was looking forward to leaving office, the mayor replied: “Yes, actually.” What was a “relaxed, chill day” in the City of Brotherly Love took a dramatic turn when someone opened fire at the public event, Kenney said. “We had a beautiful day out there, except for some goons … who has a gun and probably shouldn’t have.” The injured officers, who suffered head and shoulder injuries, have since been treated and released from the hospital, Kenney tweeted early Tuesday. “We’ll 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’re fighting an uphill battle,” Kenney said. “We’re calling on lawmakers to help us stop the flow of guns into our city.” Kenney said he is determined to find an answer to combat gun violence in the city that has contributed to 267 homicides since Monday — a 5 percent decrease from the same period in 2021, according to Philadelphia police data. A record 562 people were killed in the city last year. “Our traditions cannot and will not be destroyed by the scourge of gun violence,” Kenney tweeted. “I love this city and as mayor, I want nothing more than to help solve this problem and keep our residents and visitors safe.” Reaction to Kenney’s comments came quickly — with at least one person suggesting he resign. “I know you’d probably have a couple, but shoot it together for the cameras,” read one reply. “Or just quit, you obviously don’t care anymore.” Others took the opportunity to take shots at Kenney, arguing that he had united both Democrats and Republicans in the city in calling for his resignation. Kenney said he “waits for something bad to happen all the time.” NurPhoto via Getty Images “I can’t wait for you to finally be able to enjoy things,” joked one reviewer. A message seeking comment from Kenney’s office was not immediately returned early Tuesday. “Proud to serve as the Mayor of Philadelphia,” his Twitter bio reads. No arrests had been made in the officer-involved shootings as of early Tuesday, Philadelphia police told The Post. Meanwhile, a New Jersey man said he would never attend a large public gathering again. “The barricades came down,” Blake Miller told CBS Philadelphia of the chaos after the shootings. “It was just a mad dash from every direction. From this experience that happened today, I will no longer go to crowded, large areas, especially during the Fourth. I will never take my kids anywhere to a crowded event like this.”
