HEARD ON THE HILL: Tartaglione Rips Liquor Plan

State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Kensington) states it’s time to put GOP plans to change the Pennsylvania liquor system to rest. She said, “Pennsylvania taxpayers wouldn’t see the overstated revenue in the House plan. In a few years, beer distributors, small grocers, locally owned convenience stores and specialty wine shops will have gone the way of the stationary store and the corner hardware store, replaced by large corporations with no community connection and responsible only to shareholders.

‘With a stubbornly high unemployment rate, schools laying off thousands of employees, and the nation’s largest inventory of unsafe bridges, it’s hard to imagine that making liquor easier to buy is a priority.”

LOWERY BROWN HIRES NEW CHIEF

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-W. Phila.) has announced the hiring of John Jordan as her chief of staff for her Philadelphia constituent-services office.

Jordan joined the Brown’s staff on Jun. 17. He has over 20 years of advocacy, economic and community development experience. His most recent position was the director of civic engagement for the Pennsylvania NAACP.

CONSULTANT Eleanor Dezzi welcomes actress Niecey Nash to State Sen. Vincent Hughes’ fundraiser hosted by his wife Sheryl Lee Ralph, also an actress.

CLARKE LAUDS COOPERATION ON BUDGET

Council President Darrell L. Clarke hailed the collaboration between Administration officials and Council Members and staff as City Council gave final approval to the City’s 2014 budget.

“I am pleased the Administration and Council arrived at agreement over the Actual Value Initiative, which brings overdue fairness to thousands of Philadelphia homeowners whose property values were over assessed,” Clarke said. “However, many of us on Council remain concerned about the accuracy of the assessment process. We hope our legislation that would refine standards and increase transparency at the Office of Property Assessment will be signed by the Mayor and fully implemented by the Administration.”

Following a citywide reassessment of property values, Council lowered the property-tax rate from 9.771% to 1.34%. Eligible homeowners may subtract $30,000 from the assessed value of their primary residence and apply the new rate upon application and approval for the Homestead Exemption.

Council also approved measures that:

• allow qualifying homeowners who experience significant increases in property taxes to defer tax payments
• offer gentrification relief to longtime owner-occupants.

The President called on members of Council to participate in a real-time effort to monitor the implementation of property tax relief programs, the efficiency of the appeals process, and the performance of the Office of Property Assessment.

“The majority of homeowners will see tax relief under AVI, but only if they make an effort to find out what’s available to them,” Clarke said. “I encourage all Philadelphia homeowners to contact the Office of Property Assessment or their district Council Member to find out how to apply for relief options.”

Additional tax-relief measures will be announced in the coming months.

Council already had approved a set of measures that would provide more than $1 billion to the School District of Philadelphia, which includes approximately $74.5 million in new revenue in response to a request from SDP for $60 million on top of the Administration’s original FY2014 proposed budget.

City Council also restored and added funding for a number of public safety, employment, anti-recidivism and community wellness programs.

“Council is pleased to replenish the resources of offices and departments tasked with ensuring everyone gets a fair shot at opportunities to succeed and contribute to our great City,” Council Clarke said. “Whether you’re a family trying to pay the bills, a child who seeks quality education and recreational services, a former offender looking for a second chance, or a victim awaiting justice, Philadelphia wants you to be an asset to your neighborhood and your City.”

Clarke added: “I want to thank my 16 Council colleagues and our staff for their engagement in the budget process. Our preference for vehicles might occasionally differ but our destination remains the same: a safer, healthier, more prosperous Philadelphia.”

CITY COUNCIL President Darrell Clarke announces City Council exceeded School District of Phila.’s request for $60 million in emergency funding. Clarke said City Council has passed legislation that raises taxes on tobacco and with “improvements in tax collections” projected by Administration, he expects to deliver $74.4 million in new school funding. Photo by Rory McGlasson

BISHOP PRAISES CHILD-PROTECTION PACKAGE

State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D-W. Phila.) said she voted in favor of child-protection legislation that passed the State House. The bills modify child protective-services laws to improve child-abuse reporting procedures.

“Our goal as committee members is to pass meaningful legislation to protect our children,” said Bishop, Democratic chairwoman of the committee.

The bills now move to the Senate for consideration. Bishop said she expects the Senate to take up the legislation this fall.

BASS, COUNCIL OKAY GERMANTOWN BOARD

Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8^th Dist.), along with the full Council, passed a series of resolutions to approve the Board of Directors for the Germantown Special Services District. The Board will be responsible for preparing a five-year plan and budget for the operation of the Germantown Special Services District for consideration in Council this fall. This measure marks the reinstatement of a two-year defunct board and a large part of the Councilwoman’s effort to revitalize Germantown.

The seven board members are Matthew Canno, Joseph Corrigan, Barbara Hogue, Joseph Martin, Greg Piel, Mjenzi Traylor and Joseph Waldo. Additional nominations will be made this fall to round out a 15-member board.

DEMOLITION COMMITTEE PROVES ITS WORTH

The Special Investigative Committee examining city demolition procedures and operations in the wake of a deadly building collapse will continue hearings on Jul. 11, Aug. 1, and Aug. 13.

Based on the questions asked by committee members, the Special Investigative Committee may find its work going past its present jurisdiction. The committee members are Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4^th Dist.), chair; Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3^rd Dist.); Councilman Bobby Henon (6^th Dist.); Councilman at Large Jim Kenney; Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez (7^th Dist.); and President Darrell Clarke.

CITY COUNCIL PASSES ‘WOMEN ON BOARDS’ BILL

City Council has passed Councilwoman at Large Blondell Reynolds Brown’s “Women on Boards” bill. The legislation requires contractors seeking to do business with the City of Philadelphia to disclose certain demographic information including gender, race and geographic data of those serving as board members and executive staff.

“We cannot manage what we cannot measure. This bill will offer us the transparency needed to determine if a contractor values diversity in the workplace,” said the Councilwoman.

“It is a fact that when three or more women are at the table in executive positions, the content and tone of a meeting changes. Women bring a different, yet equally significant set of priorities to the table.”

The bill was a recommendation from a 2013 report produced and sponsored by Reynolds Brown and reported out of City Council Committee on Commerce & Economic Development.

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