Council OKs Electric Factory billboard bill, skateboarder bill
The Electric Factory may soon have a flashy billboard.
Council OKs Electric Factory billboard bill, skateboarder bill
Jan Ransom
The Electric Factory may soon have a flashy billboard.
City Council passed Thursday a controversial bill sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla that would allow for a digital billboard on the building at 7th and Callowhill streets, near the Vine Street Expressway. Some of the revenue generated from the billboard would go toward programs at three nearby schools as part of a community-benefits agreement.
The bill passed 16-1, with Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. voting against it.
Several community groups argued that the bill would change the character of the neighborhood, but representatives from the schools that would receive the money said it would go a long way to restore core educational programs.
If this debate seems somewhat familiar that’s because it is.
Former Councilman Frank DiCicco tried to place a wall-wrap billboard on the same building. Nutter squashed that bill, and said it would violate federal and state laws because it was within 600 feet of a highway and could lead to a 10-percent reduction in federal funding. Nutter will likely veto the bill again, in which Council would need 12 votes to override a veto.
Myron Berman, the building's owner, took the fight to court after he was cited for erecting illegal wall-wrap signs 13 years ago.
Under the Squilla proposal, 20 percent of the revenues would be used to create the Center City North Improvement Fund, said consultant Jeff Hornstein. Hornstein said that the billboard would generate roughly $2.5 million annually, of which the fund would get $500,000, with 75 percent divided evenly among Home & School Associations at Spring Garden, Kearny and McCall elementary schools. The remaining 25 percent would be split among civic associations.
Council also approved a bill sponsored by Councilman David Oh on behalf of the Nutter administration that would expand the city's ban and up the penalties on skateboarding, biking and rollerblading to include public property like areas around the Municipal Services Building, City Hall and LOVE Park.
The bill passed 12-4 with Council members Goode, Cindy Bass, Jannie Blackwell and Kenyatta Johnson voted against the bill. Councilman Jim Kenney was not present for the vote.
Under the measure violators could be fined $1,000 and serve 30 days in jail. A group of skateboarders returned to Council Thursday and said that the bill with its changes was much better but still the penalties are too harsh.
Even though the representatives from the skateboarding community were opposed to the legislation - I thought that they showed a lot of class by apologizing to the veterans present for the actions of some skateboarders that have damaged war memorials.— mikmars1- 1000 dollar fine and 30 days in jail for skateboarding? you know, I live out in the west, where there is a publicly funded and built skatepark every few blocks. the east coast is completely backwards.— Ryan
- No; you're just uninformed.
We have skateparks, and the city is building another one right now near the Art Museum. This bill just tries to prevent people from destroying public property (especially historic properties--which we have a lot of) with skateboards, bikes, and rollerblades, as they are doing now.
You should get your facts before calling names.— Tatt2 - There are plenty - but not enough - skateboard parks here - the issue is mainly that some skateboarders have damaged plaques and other fixtures at the Vietman veteran memorial. People are rightly upset that folks care more about enjoying themselves than whether or not they damage a memorial to folks that have given their lives for their country. This doesn't outlaw skating - just increases the penalty for damaging public art or memorials. I still am on the fence about this bill - but don't exaggerate about its extent.— mikmars1
- How much federal highway money will we lose? How much room do our prisons have for skateboarders?— T
- You can't fix property taxes or fund the pension fund but it's a priority to pass a skateboarding bill? Hacks.— moonhowler
- What disturbs me the most about the digital sign deal is the precedent it sets. How much $$$ will it take. Just promise money for (name your cause) and get a bill created to support it.— followthemoney
- Wasn't there two people shot because they dissed the sixers, why is the city putting skateboarders in jail for 30 days? Take away their boards, that is enough of a punishment. Have them do community service.— flavious27
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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