City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier addressed ongoing gun violence Thursday. PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia officials are continuing to call on Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney to declare a citywide gun violence emergency as the number of homicides in 2021 continues to climb.City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and Councilmember Jamie Gautier issued a call for further action from the mayor's office in a letter sent Thursday. "Philadelphia is being held hostage by gun violence," the letter begins as they state that nearly 1,300 Philadelphians have been shot and 309 have been murdered, as of July 21. "If nothing changes, the city is on pace to eclipse more than 550 homicides in 2021 – a devastating record high," the.