Cindy Bass' First Sit-Down Interview Post-Inauguration

Things are a little bit surreal for Cindy Bass right now.

The 8th District councilwoman, who was inaugurated Monday after a long year that included , a and, finally, an , sat in her fifth floor City Hall office Wednesday mulling how she got to her current spot.

"This is something that I've worked for for a really long time," she said during a sit-down interview in her office. "Serving people is something that has always been of interest to me, and here I am. And it feels great."

Bass, who grew up in North Philadelphia, said she had relied on the help of many others to become councilwoman. She has replaced Donna Reed Miller, who served the district for 16 years. (To read more about Miller's tenure, click , or .)

Her new job, she said, will require an adjustment. But Bass feels she's well equipped to handle it. She's worked as a staffer for various politicians—including Rep. Chaka Fattah—and said she has a good sense of what a transition into office entails.

To her, the most imporant thing right now is getting her office organized so that she's best able to serve her constituents.

Then she'll work on putting together her legislative agenda. Bass didn't go into specifics about what that agenda might entail but said she'll have a "hefty" legislative package that she'll hope to present during her first Council session.

She's also having a party to greet constituents Friday at a location at 5549 Germantown Ave. from 5 to 9 p.m.

Bass hopes to have similar events to greet residents around the district in the near future. That's partially because she .

She said she's working on finding space for one. But a small budget for the freshman legislator has worked against her on that front so far.

Bass plans to have office hours around the district at various locations like coffee shops as well to meet with residents and address their concerns. She'll post when she's doing that on Twitter.

"When you're out in Germantown, for some people, coming into Center City, it's a real stretch," Bass said. "If we can have something in the Northwest, it's easier."

There are other community initiatives that Bass plans to push in the coming months. She wants to set up a meeting with principals at schools throughout the district to talk to them about what she doesn't know about the schools.

And she also wants to set up a meeting with businesses from around the district so that she is able to hear their concerns.

She talked about a recent trip to Graterford Prison, where she met with inmates and talked with them about ways to keep young men from being incarcerated in the future.

"That was something that really left a mark," she said.

But for now, Bass is sort of trying to soak things in. She didn't coordinate a whole lot with Miller when she left—although she did say Miller stopped by her office to wish her well—but she made sure to enjoy her inauguration. And she Wednesday to open up the restaurant.

She hosted a party at her office after her inauguration as well.

"It was one of the most special days in my life besides giving birth to my daughter and getting married," she said of Monday. "It'll be something i never forget."