Archive: October, 2008
First, epic commenter CleanupPhilly says we should think about selling some rec centers:
First, there was a blog post on Heard in the Hall that the Recreation Department is drawing up a list of recreation centers and playgrounds for possible closure. The same blog post seemed to imply that staff positions are also being cut. Now, we have a comment from an "It's Our Money" reader and city employee that seems to back up those reports.
Here it is:
Link: Budget confab bars reporters
Nutter presented reporters with an opinion written by City Solicitor Shelley Smith, which advised him that he could hold a private session as long as the group was not "deliberating or voting on agency business."
The state Sunshine Act says that official action or deliberation by a government agency must take place in an open meeting if a quorum of the agency's members attends. Nine members of Council equal a quorum. More than nine members were present yesterday.
Philadelphia is not alone facing the fiscal crisis
But Philadelphia is not the only city making tough choices. Most other major cities are in the same financial boat and are stalling on capital projects, making service cuts - and, in some cases, laying off workers.
* Last week, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced plans to cut over 900 jobs and add six unpaid days to the calendar for city workers due to a $469 million shortfall for the current fiscal year.
First, here is Brett Mandel's take:
Chamber of Commerce President David L. Cohen
Governor Ed Rendell recently froze parole
Also: Cops vs. Judges: Should we suspend paroles? [It's Our Money]
And: Bury rancor, not another police officer [Daily News]
