Michael Nutter
Michael Anthony Nutter (born June 29, 1957) is an American politician and academic who served as the 98th mayor of Philadelphia from 2008 to 2016.[1][2] A lifelong resident of the city, Nutter graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and spent nearly 15 years as a member of the Philadelphia City Council before his election as mayor in 2007.[2][3] During his two terms, Nutter prioritized crime reduction through aggressive policing strategies, including expanded stop-and-frisk practices and initiatives like PhillyRising based on broken windows theory, resulting in murders dropping from 391 in 2007 to 331 in 2012 and overall violent crime declining by 15.8 percent since 2008.[4] He also addressed fiscal challenges by implementing furloughs, layoffs, and pension reforms amid a $100 million deficit, achieving a $147 million surplus by 2012 and upgrading the city's credit rating to A category.[4][2] Nutter's administration stood out for its incorruptibility, with no major public corruption scandals linked to him or his inner circle, bolstered by strong ethics enforcement that led to dozens of arrests and significant savings.[5] Nutter advocated personal responsibility on social issues, notably criticizing absentee fathers in black communities, and supported gun control measures while launching efforts to curb violence among young black men.[4] His tenure saw population growth, including among millennials, and infrastructure improvements like added bike lanes, though policies such as stop-and-frisk faced criticism for civil liberties concerns.[2][4] After leaving office, Nutter joined Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs as the David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs.[3]