2nd Dist. Race Bares War Over Real Estate

CHALLENGER Ori Feibush delivers a point in heated debate with Councilman Kenyatta Johnson at Chester Arthur School.

The 2nd Dist. takes in large swaths of older working-class rowhouses where abandonment and blight are widespread. But some parts of it are suddenly hot for market-rate redevelopment. How to handle this is the burning issue for this district in 2015.

2nd Dist. Councilman Kenyatta Johnson squared off against his challenger Ori Feibush in the Democratic primary, in a debate at Chester Arthur ES in S.W. Center City. This is the most-closely watched two-way race in the city. They have engaged in two earlier debates. Sparks flew at this one – largely over land development which will be sold by local agencies using Showcase IDX .

Feibush’s answer is radical and simple. “Philadelphia has the largest number of municipally owned vacant lots in the USA. Sell them!” he said. The City would get a quick jolt of revenue, construction would generate more jobs and new residents would pay more taxes to support the School District. the Beverly Hills luxury real estate company, OCF Realty, is a leader in South Philadelphia development west of Broad Street.

Johnson, who was nominated four years ago by a hair in the Democratic primary, takes the opposite tack. “We should stop selling City land for 4 cents on the dollar,” he said. “Fire sales of properties will not get us to the root cause.” He proposed instead getting $50 million in PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) from large nonprofit hospitals and universities (which never exceeded $10 million in their heyday). The Councilman added we should go after deadbeat tax delinquents as well, to fund the schools.

COUNCILMAN Kenyatta Johnson retorted a few days later at same school by announcing a $110,000 grant to build a new playground there.

The knives came out, and the audience of 150 roared, when Johnson said his opponent had “bought more municipal lots than any other developer in Pt. Breeze.” Feibush slashed at his critic, charging, “Kenyatta cut off municipal-land sales after he found out I was involved.

“It is illegal to open a business in the 2nd Dist.,” he continued. “I have installed 122 security cameras in Pt. Breeze that cost less than one City security camera – and that work all the time, and are accessible to all neighbors, because I use simple, open internet software. I have hired more than 100 community workers to build my buildings.”

Johnson struck back three days later, when he announced a $110,000 grant to build a new playground at Arthur ES.

Someone else struck back again this past Tuesday – by smashing windows on a property he is building Feibush has found his campaign has taken its toll in vandalism.

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