Editing Wilson Goode (section)

== First Term ==

Goode's inauguration as Philadelphia's first African American mayor in January 1984 marked a historic milestone. His initial focus on neighborhood development, city services, and economic opportunity reflected priorities developed through his community organizing background. The administration pursued job training, housing development, and business attraction while maintaining fiscal stability inherited from predecessor Bill Green.<ref name="goode"/>

The May 13, 1985 confrontation with MOVE, a radical group that had fortified a row house in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, transformed Goode's mayoralty. After failed negotiations and a gun battle, police dropped an explosive device on the roof, igniting a fire that killed eleven people, including five children, and destroyed an entire city block. Goode's decision-making during the crisis and his administration's handling of the aftermath generated intense criticism. Investigations found failures at multiple levels while assigning ultimate responsibility to the mayor who authorized the bombing.<ref name="goode"/>