Supergirl (TV Series)

Still I Rise (2021)

Kari Matchett: Councilwoman Jean Rankin

Quotes 

• Councilwoman Rankin : Supergirl, what a pleasant surprise. By the way, my daughter loves your PSAs.

  Supergirl : Oh.

  Councilwoman Rankin : She gets a kick out of that funny little green man.

  Supergirl : Just trying to make a positive impact on my community, which actually brings me to the purpose of my visit. Please consider voting no on the Orquoia deal.

  Councilwoman Rankin : Why in high heavens would I do that?

  Supergirl : Reverting the Ormfell back to its original purpose could give the recently unincarcerated people living there the support they need to get their lives back on track. Housing projects like this also benefit the community by reducing eviction rates...

  Councilwoman Rankin : That's exactly what I'm trying to do with Orquoia. Improve the community and the lives of everyone that lives there. A deal like this could inject the Heights with new money, growth, opportunity.

  Supergirl : That's exactly what affordable housing could do. Instead of investing in a corporation, you'd be investing in the people to create that change.

  Councilwoman Rankin : Do you know how many people are Orquoia employees? They add billions to the GDP each year. A business of this magnitude would increase property values in the Heights, bring better schools to the area, improve infrastructure...

  Supergirl : You're talking about gentrification, which prices out everyone who currently lives in the Heights.

  Councilwoman Rankin : I am talking about progress. I've spent years putting this deal together, and when it closes, it will be the largest community investment in the history of National City. You want me to sacrifice all that so a bunch of criminals can have a roof over their heads? Stick to leafy greens, Supergirl. Leave the politicking to me.

• Councilwoman Rankin : National City wants this deal. And if you couldn't tell from your little social media stunt, they don't want to hear from you.

  Supergirl : You're right. They don't need to hear from me anymore. But you should hear from the people you're planning to displace.

  Orlando Davis : People like me. Councilwoman, you don't know me. But I'm one of your constituents. My name is Orlando Davis. I spent the last two years at Van Kull Prison, and was one of the people counting on housing in the Ormfell. I've lived in National City my entire life with my little brother Joey. We lost our parents when I was 14. I quit school to take care of my brother. But there isn't a big market out there for dropouts, so the bills piled up. I made a stupid mistake and I've been paying the price ever since. But I'm not the only one who's paid it. See, I remember what it felt like to go to bed at night with my family nearby. To feel safe. To feel loved. But Joey doesn't. He's been in and out of the system his entire life, and I am so scared that he's gonna make the same mistakes that I have and I can't even be there to help him. Because what he needs is a home. He is not the only one. So I'm here today to ask you one thing: see us. All the people hoping to live in this building, when you're deciding whether to vote for this deal... you're voting on our lives, on our families. On my chance to give my brother some hope. So, please... see us.

• Councilwoman Rankin : After much deliberation, the council has decided... to rezone the Ormfell for affordable housing, effective immediately.

  Supergirl : [polite applause]  You did this.

  Orlando Davis : Joey's not gonna believe it.

  Supergirl : Hey, Councilwoman. You did the right thing. Thank you.

  Councilwoman Rankin : That little speech may have swayed the rest of the council, but not me. Now the Heights will be left to the criminals. I hope you're happy.

  Supergirl : The formerly incarcerated are members of the community, too, and your council agrees, they deserve a second chance.

• Sentinel : [using a flamethrower on her gauntlet to try and melt a sheet of ice]  Damn it.

  Brainiac-5 : The ice is too thick to penetrate.

  Councilwoman Rankin : There's a fire escape on the other side of the building.