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Friday, July 10, 2009
CouncilWatch: Week 3

Even before we did our weekly summer check-in, PhillyClout saw a lot of Council members in the building this week, because the nine members huddled Wednesday to discuss how to handle a recent cost-of-living raise they received on June 30.

Of course, we didn’t get much quality time together because they met behind closed doors, despite the fact that a quorum of members were present. So yesterday we went door to door for the third week in a row both to see who was in the building and to give members an opportunity to talk about their work.

We confirmed that in City Hall yesterday were W. Wilson Goode Jr., Jim Kenney, Curtis Jones Jr., Jack Kelly, Bill Green, Janie Blackwell and Bill Greenlee.

Blondell Reynolds Brown reached out to us by phone from outside the building, as did Brian O’Neill who was out in Denver, CO. for a National League of Cities meeting.

Joan Krajewski, Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, Marion Tasco, Frank Rizzo, Frank DiCicco, Janie Blackwell, Darrell Clarke, Donna Reed Miller and Anna Verna were not in their offices when we stopped by.

Here’s what some of the members told us they were working on.:

W. Wilson Goode Jr. was in his office, working on “enforcement legislation” for a minimum wage bill that was passed by Council last year and went into effect last week.

Jim Kenney was in his office, drafting legislation that will add requirements on rental housing licenses.

Curtis Jones Jr. was in his office preparing for a meeting with a national group that works for cost-effective ways to divert people with drug, mental health or other issues from criminal proceedings to community courts.

Janie Blackwell was gearing up for a Health fair for the homeless on Dilworth Plaza today.

Jack Kelly said he’s working on a number of pieces of legislation over the summer, including continuing his effort to make Philadelphia a no-kill city at animal shelters.

Blondell Reynolds Brown told us she’s working on plans for a children’s walk/run next year to push back against childhood obesity and to celebrate Earth Day.

Brian O’Neill said he was preparing for meetings at the National League of Cities session, and was looking forward to a speech by the White House Director of Urban Affairs Aldolfo Carrion.

Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 7:00 AM  Permalink | 4 comments
Comments   
Posted 07:55 AM, 07/10/2009
CleanupPhilly
This doesn't sound like most in Council are doing much of anything that needs doing -- there are state and federal agencies that enforce the minimum wage. It's a federal law. Having a healthcare for the homeless fair is nice, but it's not really the role of a council rep, as is the case with a children's walk and run. Council has pressing issues that it just continues to ignore that the city must address, such as the actual value initiative and changing the millage, so legislation needs to be written to do that, fixing collections in the city for property taxes and forfeit bail, and other revenue matters. They just don't have the luxury of making their summers a "staycation."
Posted 08:17 AM, 07/10/2009
Smokey
Council fiddles while Philly burns.
Comment removed.
Posted 10:52 AM, 07/10/2009
tinah
Deeply concerned about the ways Black men and boys are mistreated by Police in Philly neighborhoods. Tired of seeing stop & frisk go unchecked. Is anyone in Council working to help improve relations between urban youth, the law and police, or is this a job for someone else?
4 comments
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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brennac@phillynews.com
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