PhillyTablet Inquirer Daily News
Mobile
Home Delivery
philly.com
email
font size
comments
3
options
 
Thursday, July 30, 2009

Mayor Nutter At Budget Rally: "We Need Money."

Mayor Nutter is now leading a City Hall rally called to talk about looming layoffs and service cuts if state lawmakers don't approve the city's budget requests.  Nutter took the stage in the City Hall courtyard with Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Fraternal Order of Police president John McNesby and other officials.

The crowd chanted "no budget cuts," when Nutter came to the podium. "I agree with you," the mayor replied.

Nutter wants state lawmakers to approve a temporary 1-cent increase to the city sales tax and changes to how the city pays into the pension fund. Without those approvals, the city will have a $700 million hole to fill over the next five years.

"It's a relatively straightforward request," Nutter told a crowd of hundreds, mostly social service advocates. "We're not asking the Commonwealth, we're not asking the General Assembly, we're not asking the governor for a dime."

Harrisburg legislators, who are locked in a month-long state budget impasse, have been slow to move on the requests. After weeks of quietly lobbying in Harrisburg, Nutter is going public today with his demands.

"We are hopeful for timely action, but as much hope and faith that we have, we cannot run a government solely on hope," Nutter said. "We need money."

Click here for a story in today's Daily News about what might happen with the city's budget if the General Assembly doesn't approve the city's requests.
Posted by Catherine Lucey & Chris Brennan @ 2:28 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:05 PM, 07/30/2009
    You have money. The city just won't collect the overdue property taxes of $425 million owed for more than a year at sheriff sale, no matter how valuable the property, and won't collect the $1 billion in forfeit bail. The state taxpayers can't afford for Philly to be like this anymore. Along with the abuses perpetrated by Council, the taxpayers are just saying NO: http://www.stoppataxhike.com/
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:55 PM, 07/30/2009
    Why cut cops and Firemen when it is DHS social services that are not being re-inbursed by the State? Shouldn't that be on the top of list? Doomsday should cut DHS or Prisons or Courts because the State should be paying 100% of these County services anyway...better choices in the days of doom. (Is Superman being held captive?)
    — Clark_Kent_SuperHero
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:25 PM, 07/30/2009
    Cuts should start at the top! Mayor Nutter, cut your salary! Cut City Council's salaries; cut their aides' salaries. Jeff Cole already proved that one can make 80k and do NOTHING! Cut the Police Commissioner's salary, the Fire Commissioner's salary, City Controllers' salaries. It's amazing how Street was criticized so harshly, but our city was NEVER in such a mess! The same with Governor Rendell: how dare he cash his paycheck knowing that so many state workers have worked and will not receive a paycheck? Yet, they all get on tv and plead for money they claim the city doesn't have. Stop taking from the little man and take from the top man!!!! This city has alot of money, it's just being mismanaged!
    — lovelygrl


3 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
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.
 Follow Chris on Twitter

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
 Follow Dave on Twitter.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
 Follow Catherine on Twitter

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.
 Follow Jan on Twitter



Share your tips

Catherine Lucey
luceyc@phillynews.com

Chris Brennan
brennac@phillynews.com

Jan Ransom
Ransomj@phillynews.com
Advertise Here