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Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mayor posts armed guard outside budget meeting, Inquirer, Daily News challenge session in court

Mayor Nutter and 16 of 17 City Council members are meeting behind closed doors on the 14th floor of the Municipal Services Building, apparently to discuss the city's budget crisis. The press has not been allowed to enter, and an armed security is stationed outside of the meeting room. An attorney representing the Inquirer and the Daily News is now filing paperwork objecting to the meeting, which the newspapers believe is a violation of state open meetings laws.

On Oct. 23, the last time Mayor Nutter and a quorum of council met at a closed meeting, City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith wrote a letter outlining the city's view that the meetings were not required to be open to the public.

Asked if she felt the meeting was a legal one, Council President Anna Verna replied: "We're being told it is."

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

Posted by Patrick Kerkstra @ 4:35 PM  Permalink | 9 comments
Comments   
Posted 06:57 PM, 11/05/2008
hawk
Democrats in action. Politburo mentality. Just wait until January when they are running the country. Within 4 years, a hammer and sickle will replace the stars on the flag
Posted 06:57 PM, 11/05/2008
hawk
Democrats in action. Politburo mentality. Just wait until January when they are running the country. Within 4 years, a hammer and sickle will replace the stars on the flag
Posted 06:58 PM, 11/05/2008
Nutburgers
Bad idea. News coverage influences opinions of elected officials, and it doesn't have to be biased to do so. The indisputable fact is that Nutter and the council are discussing a non-litigative, non-personnel matter behind closed doors when they're not allowed to. They wouldn't have to take public comment if it was open, just make it a workshop, but AT LEAST open the doors. Residents/readers should wonder, "What do they have to hide?"
Comment removed.
Posted 07:22 PM, 11/05/2008
tonyS
Only when there's something to hide, do people hide. I always thought that it was OUR government. Maybe they're in there watching a slide presentation of Goode & Bryant (the non-couple) and their vacation pictures.
Posted 07:44 PM, 11/05/2008
scars73
Wait you mean Nutter found time to hold a meeting between all of his Phillies celebrating and dj'ing for Obama????
Comment removed.
Posted 07:49 PM, 11/05/2008
Ahmady
So much for Mr. Reformer Mayor Nutter....now all those who thought he was so different see that he's just like the rest
Comment removed.
9 comments
About Inquirer City Hall Staff
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff Shields, Marcia Gelbart, and Patrick Kerkstra take you inside Philadelphia's City Hall.
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