Tussle Over Credit For New Regulations After Center City Building Collapse
Tragedy can lead to legislative change. And that, in turn, can lead to politicians tripping over one another in the rush to claim credit.
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Tragedy can lead to legislative change. And that, in turn, can lead to politicians tripping over one another in the rush to claim credit.
The new rule comes in the wake of last year's building collapse on Market Street that killed six people.
The children have put together a video inviting the first lady to the program's big finish on August 13th, at Vogt Recreation Center.
Ambassador Sulunteh was critical of Mayor Nutter, specifically the mayor's claim that the some in the Liberian community have spread misinformation about the fire department's response time.
The program, started last year by Councilman Bobby Henon, is being expanded to ten targeted recreation centers, one in each councilmanic district.
Pope Francis has come out saying he is strongly against the legalization of recreational drugs.
The bill's sponsor, Councilman Jim Kenney, estimates that the new marijuana policy could save the police department and the courts $4 million a year.
Council president Darrell Clarke said an additional $30 million would serve as a stopgap in case Harrisburg approves a city tax on cigarettes.
Much to Mayor Nutter's chagrin, his controversial plan to sell the Philadelphia Gas Works will not be introduced before City Council adjourns for the summer season.
Philadelphia school district officials are warning of dire consequences if the city and state don't quickly come through with millions in new funding.
Drexel paid $25 million for the school building, which the district closed last June.
The largest city workers union -- which has been without a contract for five years -- is asking City Council to delay passage of the budget until the union works out a deal with the Mayor Michael Nutter.
The School District of Philadelphia's plan to sell a shuttered high school to Drexel University appears to be a go, and that would mean an infusion of cash for the schools next week as officials struggle to pay the bills by month's end.
But the lawmakers voiced frustration at how the school district conducts its business.
A City Council committee has approved a bill that gives new powers to the city's health department to identify and shut down operations that dispense prescription drugs without medical necessity.
The airport workers were unhappy because the mayor's executive order raising their wages does not apply to contracts currently in force, and that means the raises won't come until the contracts are amended or renewed.
The bill, authored by Councilman Jim Kenney, would make possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana -- about an ounce -- a simple "code violation," punishable only by a $25 fine.
Council president Darrell Clarke (photo) says the meetings didn't fall under the requirements of the state's Sushine Laws. The head of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition begs to differ.
"Peco management should be ashamed," said resident Marla Rosenberg. Peco filed a loss claim for $750,000. The city's total liability is capped at $500,000.
City Council president Darrell Clarke says the school district's immediate need for $35 million by month's end is a "self-inflicted wound" because the district, in his view, dragged its feet on selling old, shuttered buildings.
At a Council hearing this morning, school district COO Fran Burns said seven of the 27 buildings have buyers, and the rest are not likely to bring in as much as had been hoped.
Mayor Nutter wants to sell the city-owned utility to a Connecticut firm called UIL for $1.86 billion.
Councilman-at-large David Oh says there are plenty of dimes and nickels tucked away in corners of Mayor Michael Nutter's budget proposal.
Jennifer Schultz, of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, testified that the new assessment system known as "AVI" (Actual Value Initiative) left many homeowners confused and scared.
In Philadelphia today, three candidates are vying to fill the City Council seat made vacant when at-large Councilman Bill Green resigned to become chairman of the School Reform Commission.
