Keystone Politics - Philadelphia

Philly Sees Another Parking Tax Increase

RobHop — Tue, 1 Jul 2008 09:53:02 -0400

Just in time for the sky-high cost of gas, there’s another price hike for many drivers to deal with: Philadelphia’s parking tax has gone up.

The five-percent increase means you’ll be paying an extra 50 cents on a $10 bill.

The city parking authority’s Rick Dixon says it’s not just in their garages where you’ll be digging for more change:

“Anywhere you pay a fee to an operator to park your vehicles, it’s subject to the parking tax. So whether it’s a valet parking operation, a parking garage, or a parking lot — all of those are subject to the parking tax.”
Full Article and Source

Philly Program Seeks School Supplies for Homeless Children

RobHop — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:34:06 -0400

The United Way of southeastern Pennsylvania has launched a program to collect school supplies for homeless children in the region.

The Stuff the Bus program collects thousands of school supplies for homeless kids in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, so that each child has a book bag to start school with in September. Joe DiVincenzo is vice president of marketing and communications with the United Way:

“The smiles on their faces, the excitement. It’s one less thing that they have to worry about when the school year starts. These kids have a tremendous handicap. When the day is over, they’re either going back out on the street or to a shelter.” read more »

Philly Council weighs options for spending "windfall"

RobHop — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:29:22 -0400

Bill Green thinks the city should invest a windfall from a new pension bond in infrastructure. Curtis Jones Jr. wants a new light-rail line to shuttle people from Center City to the Philadelphia Zoo. Maria Quiñones Sánchez is foursquare behind a property tax based on full market valuation.

Those stands were just a few aired yesterday by City Council’s new members when they spoke at a roundtable event sponsored by Lambda Alpha International, a 78-year-old organization of “individuals who have made notable contributions to the study and ethical practice of land use,” according to the group’s Web site. read more »

Court divides on tobacco rulings

RobHop — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:35:17 -0400

A Philadelphia ordinance banning the sale of cigars and single cigarettes used by illegal drug-takers was partly thrown out and partly upheld yesterday by a divided appeals court.

The Commonwealth Court majority invalidated a January 2007 ban on flavored tobacco products and on cigarettes sold individually or in pairs, making them likely to be used for drugs. read more »

Nation's Tallest Building Proposed for Philadelphia

Greg Palmer — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:42:58 -0400

City officials and residents of Center City’s Logan Square neighborhood will have the summer to wrangle over a proposed 1,500-foot skyscraper – it would be the nation’s tallest – that would be built at 18th and Arch Streets.

Councilman Darrell L. Clarke introduced a bill yesterday to change zoning at the site to allow for the American Commerce Center, a soaring complex of office space, hotel rooms, retail and entertainment. The building would edge out Chicago’s Sears Tower, which reaches 1,451 feet, as the tallest building in the United States. read more »

Councilman to Revive Plan to Ban Foie Gras

RobHop — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:18:34 -0400

Our friends at KYW Newsradio 1060 bring us some news of a tasty treat that might not fly in Philly:

Philadelphia city council adjourns for the summer after Thursday’s session, and awaiting them when they return in the fall will be a potential hot potato — whether to ban the duck-liver delicacy foie gras. read more »

Fumo Ally Will Testify for Prosecution

Greg Palmer — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:49:33 -0400

A longtime confidant of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo’s pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion and, in a move that could get him a break at sentencing, agreed to testify as a prosecution witness during Fumo’s corruption trial.

Howard J. Cain, 59, a political strategist and veteran of more than 80 campaigns, admitted that he had neither filed a federal tax return since 1991 nor paid any federal taxes on more than $1 million of income from 1997 through 2006.

His defense lawyer, Peter J. Scuderi, said that it had been a “difficult decision” for Cain to cooperate against Fumo, but that he had “sworn to tell the truth” as a cooperating witness. read more »

Nutter's honeymoon may end as city union contracts expire

RobHop — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:07:44 -0400

It is a political rite of passage and every new mayor confronts it – negotiating contracts with Philadelphia’s four municipal unions just months after taking office.

Ed Rendell used chaos to his advantage in 1992. With the city’s finances collapsing, Rendell swung a deal that froze wages while cutting holidays, some starting salaries and contributions to union health-care plans.

John Street faced a stronger economy in 2000 and unions holding a serious bargaining chip – the Republican National Convention was due to start just after the contracts expired and a strike would draw national attention. The unions got increases in wages and health benefits. read more »

Rep. Murphy: More Amtrak service in Bucks

RobHop — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:09:30 -0400

With highways clogged and gas prices soaring, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.) sees Amtrak as a commuting option for his Bucks County constituents who work in New York.

Amtrak, however, does not share Murphy’s view.

The financially strapped national railroad sees its limited Northeast Corridor seats as best utilized by full-fare spot travelers, not daily commuters paying discounted monthly rates.

Yesterday, those philosophies were set on a possible collision course when Murphy amended a funding bill to force Amtrak to consider increasing stops and lowering fares for riders using Bucks County’s only Amtrak station. read more »

Inquirer and Daily News Owner Misses Debt Payment

Greg Palmer — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 07:02:45 -0400

The owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News has missed a June 1 interest payment on $85 million of loans and is in talks with lenders for relief, according to a report released Thursday by a debt ratings agency.

Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC did not maintain the necessary senior debt-to-cash flow ratio _ which can happen when cash flow shrinks _ required by its senior lenders, according to Standard and Poor’s Leveraged Commentary and Data unit. read more »