Mayor Parker Fills Key Administration Roles

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) - On Wednesday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker revealed the selection of multiple top-tier municipal officials, such as a newly appointed director for immigrant affairs, a behavioral health commissioner, and an established individual heading the Human Relations Commission.

The role responsible for immigration matters has remained unfilled since January, despite the incoming administration in Washington increasing pressure on immigrants, with Parker facing questions about whether the city should continue being a sanctuary area. She stated she was looking for the ideal person and ultimately selected Charlie Ellison, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Philadelphia regional office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

"Each day, immigrants provide remarkable contributions to our city in areas such as public safety, healthcare, improving our standard of living, constructing our homes, maintaining the movement of our city, fostering growth, success, cleanliness, and sustainability, and as some might put it, completing the work," stated Ellison.

The mayor appointed someone to fill the position of commissioner at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), a role that remained unfilled for over a year, promoting the department's Crisis Services Director, Kehinde Solanke. Solanke has been employed with the department for two decades.

Parker additionally revealed the selection of ex-NBC10 news presenter Renee Chenault Fattah as the head of the Human Relations Commission and the Equal Housing Commission.

"Mayor Parker has clearly communicated to me that the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission is a high priority for her," stated Fattah, who is married to the fallen former Congressman Chakah Fattah. He is also a seasoned lawyer.

The mayor named Donna Stephans as the acting head of diversity, equity, and inclusion, taking over from Brandee Anderson, who held the position for just under a year. Anderson was among three individuals allegedly dismissed following an odd situation where a city worker accidentally shared a photo with someone else via a dating application. This event resulted in empty roles for the LGBTQ affairs director and the deputy chief of staff. These positions remain unfilled. Anderson stated to The Philadelphia Inquirer that she was wrongfully terminated for bringing the issue to light.

Altogether, the mayor revealed 10 new hires, whose combined compensation amounts to approximately $2.7 million:

— Kehinde Solanke, Commissioner of DBHIDS | $236,000

— Renee Chenault Fattah, executive director of the Commission on Human Relations and the Commission on Fair Housing | $170,000

— Charlie Ellison, Director, Office of Immigrant Affairs | $135,000

- Donna Jackson Stephans, acting Chief for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | $180,000

— Greg Phillips, Chief Operating Officer, Philadelphia International Airport | $264,704

— Elizabeth Lankanau, Director, Office of Sustainability | $155,000

— Cydney Irving-Dasent, Chief Prevention Officer for Children and Family Support Services, Office of Children and Families | $172,500

— Leah Uko, media spokesperson and assistant communication director, City Hall | $150,000

— Nicole Morris, Deputy Director of the Office of Human Resources | $162,000

— Mark Dodd, Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Development | $170,000

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