City Council Hearing Scheduled On Bills Needed For Construction Of The City's Second Casino
A hearing is scheduled in Philadelphia City Council, today, on the bills that are needed for construction of the city's second casino.
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A hearing is scheduled in Philadelphia City Council, today, on the bills that are needed for construction of the city's second casino.
It appears that one of the Republican council-at-large seats will change hands.
Ann Schwartzman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, says a coalition has put together the "Prisoner Re-Entry Network" online, to help with the transition.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has endorsed four city council candidates, including an independent candidate running for one of seven at-large seats.
Philadelphia's second casino -- still on the drawing board -- would be allowed a larger building and bigger signs, under a bill introduced in city council this week.
Councilman Bill Greenlee introduced the bill after a Temple University study found that thousands of low-wage workers, each week, are shortchanged.
Two of the major items on council's agenda are related in an odd sort of way. One is schools, the other is prisons - or, specifically, the House of Correction, a crumbling, ninety-year-old structure on State Road.
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is refusing to answer questions about the theft over the weekend of her city-issued vehicle.
A new study puts a long-standing and controversial Philadelphia City Council tradition under the microscope.
It could lead to more digital billboards, though fewer outdoor signboards overall.
Councilman Mark Squilla, whose district includes the Gallery shopping mall, says final passage of the Gallery renovation measures was a long time coming.
A couple of dozen protesters, in matching red T-shirts, stood outside Council chambers, some holding signs calling on Comcast to "pay (its) fair share."
Included is a side deal that guarantees higher wages for baggage handlers and other employees of private contractors at PHL.
Sixth District councilman Bobby Henon, whose district includes the land that the city intends to buy, originally planned to call the measure up for a vote, but then changed his mind.
City Council on Wednesday gave initial approval to a school district bailout that falls short of what school officials wanted.
The developer, RAL Companies, says the plans are preliminary, but their attorney (at right in photo) told the committee that whatever form the project takes, its impact will be tremendous.
The university is asking Council to create a "Temple Vending District," ensuring that students have an opportunity to make purchases at the burgeoning food truck scene, but not to the point of choking off pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
City Council opposes Mayor Nutter's plan to raise property taxes by nearly ten percent, and seems headed for providing only $70-80 million of the requested $103 million.
The lawmakers seem intent on trimming the school district's $103-million request to about $80 million, but how they'll raise even that amount is very unclear.
The plan includes a huge city tax break for the owner, worth $55 million.
Rental of rooms or entire homes through web sites like Airbnb is currently illegal in Philadelphia, because the zoning code doesn't allow it.
They were getting a less-than-warm reception.
Helen Gym, Allan Domb, and Derek Green edged out incumbents Ed Neilson and Wilson Goode Jr. for nominations. Kenyatta Johnson and Maria Quiñones-Sánchez survived district challenges.
Philadelphia Planning Commission members were impressed by the detail and the commitment of the development group.
Deputy city commissioner Fred Voigt estimated turnout as of 5pm in the 30-percent range.
