The Inquirer staff reports:
Mayor Nutter today outlined hundreds of millions in budget cuts to close a $1 billion budget gap, and said many of the service cuts will remain in place even after the current economic downturn ends.
Almost immediately after he finished a speech and a press conference, city fire fighters announced a demonstration to protest cuts in their department.
The budget reductions, forced by the collapse of the stock market, drastically reduced tax revenue and a frozen capital market, will mean 220 layoffs, closing of 11 library branches, mothballing five engine and two ladder trucks and closing most city pools.
“I cannot over emphasize how serous things are that we would get to this point,” Nutter said.
The city faces the $1 billion budget gap over the next five years.
“It is personally painful to have to make the ultimate decision to lay people off,” he said. Many of the 220 will be library and recreation employees. Another 1,600 seasonal jobs will be eliminated, and 570 “contractual” jobs will be ended.
Five of the layoffs will be in the mayor's office, and "some" staff will see salaries cut by 3.75 to 5 percent.
No police officers or firefighters will be laid-off. But overtime will be reduced, and Nutter announced a host of other cost saving measures.
The business and wage tax reductions scheduled will be suspended until 2015, to save some $220 million. Wage tax cuts funded by casino revenue will continue.
To save additional funds, Nutter said all non-union employees “earning more than $50,000 will be required to take a five day furlough without pay" this year and next.
The library cuts were made in consultation with Free Library staff. Nutter said.
“I grew up in the Cobbs Creek branch library….I know the importance,” Nutter said
“One of the happiest days in my daughter Olivia’s life was when I took her to the Central branch to get her library card”
Many of the cuts Nutter announced "will be permanent" the mayor said. "I have no expectation that we will open the 11 libraries."
Although the $1 billion gap is less than 6 percent of the city's projected spending over the next five fiscal years, the structure of the city's budget sharply limits where Nutter can cut.
More than half of city spending is essentially non discretionary, going toward big-ticket items such as pension payments, debt service, and federally matched social services.
In effect, that forces virtually all the budget pain onto less than half the city government.
The cuts, however unavoidable they might be, seem likely to make it hard for Nutter to achieve some of the big goals he established for his administration when he took office in January, such as halving the dropout rate, doubling the college-degree attainment rate, and changing the tax structure to encourage job creation.
Nutter's team has also had precious little time - just two months - to draw up a completely new spending plan, all while fielding savings suggestions from Council members, union leaders, and other elected officials. Yesterday, City Controller Alan Butkovitz proposed selling the city health center at Broad and Lombard Streets for $6 million. Nutter said that won't save any money, because it would cost $7 million to move the offices elsewhere.
The instant response from the firefighters union - there will be a demonstration today at Engine 6 at 2600 Aramingo Ave. - may be an indication of other fights to come.
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
Posted by Nathan Gorenstein @ 3:27 PM
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120 comments
Good think they opened up the qualifications for food stamps, my mom is at risk of loosing her city job she has had for 13 years, oh wait, she still won't qualify for food stamps with my father's little pension he gets...way to take care of your dedicated city workers mayor...why don't you cut the $90,000 a year job of a council members worker that lies on her timesheets and gets paid for time not on the job, that was pushed under the rug nicely!!!
Seriously: no wants to pay more taxes, but where's the money to come from if there's no cuts in spending? Too many unions with too many perks and benefits, and the unions MUST start contributing towards healthcare like the rest of us. I'm not anti-union, I'm just realistic in a changed economy.
How would it cost $7M to move the city health center somewhere else? That is one expensive move!
That building is such a blight on the Ave of the arts and is prime development area (assuming the market for development got better).
i just want to know, why do the people have to suffer, the children especially. As a child i spent summers at public swimming pool, eating free lunches and staying out of trouble, also we spent alot of times at the library. Just saying without outlets and prevention for the children in the inner cities, get ready, its gonna be a hot summer!! Then no cops, no firemen this city will melt.
god bless Barack Nutter
This city will never sustain itself with half its working-age residents unemployed or incarcerated and most of the rest underemployed.
I don't live in the city (thank God), but I suppose cuts have to be made. I feel that closing the city pools will cause an increase in the crime rate (which is higher in the summer anyway). The pools give kids (and adults) a place to cool off during our hot summers. I'm afraid this cut is going to backfire (no pun intended).
The fat should be trimmmed, however nothing is mentioned of the extremely obese city council. Is Goode's aid still making over $80k for wash-washes?
I hope everyone realizes now that it is going to take that much longer for fireman to respond with these cuts.
Philly is a preview of Obamanomics. A dem controlled city for 60 years, a "soak the rich" tax policy, bloated entitlements and health care benefits, thug unions which control the politicians, leaders who promise "change" and "reform" but once elected do nothing. Welcome America to Obamanomics.
Don't worry, Obama's gonna save us!
This is unbelieveable Mayor Nutter. We elected you so that our city government would function in the way that benefits all citizens. Instead we find that it's "business as usual" for you. You stand by and do nothing about the behavior of city employees, those (I'm sure there are more than one) who file timesheets and don't show up for work. Those salaries could keep a library or a pool open. It's hard to believe an administrative assistant should earn $90,000 a year. You pass the buck to City Council to monitor their own. These people work for the citizens of Philadelphia and we expect you as the chief executuive to act on our behalf. Now you close fire houses?? I'll bet when the rich condo owners realize that those center city high rises are to be assigned to fire house almost in West Philly, you'll change your tune for them. No pools?? Oh Mike, we can't take this!!!
Its about time! City budget has been bloated for years resulting in overly excessive taxes. People need to stop looking at government for jobs and get out into the private sector. Get some money from the Unions too...they hurt employement in the city by scaring away employers.
this is a disgrace. an absolute disgrace.
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Non-union workers get pay cuts, while the biggest issue draining the city, bloated labor unions, remains unaffected. That makes a lot of sense.
Although I'm not happy with the need to cut services. I'm compeltely outgaged at the number of people in this city who seem to think that the government is responsible to raise your kids. Library cuts, ok don't buy that pack of smokes or case of beer and buy a book...used books work and aren't expensive at all. As for the other services that impact kids, please if as a parent you're involved you should be able to find a solution. As for snow removal, I can't say that won't be differicult to deal with. Hopefully, the number is reduced from 12 to say 5 inches. Most cars have enough ground clearence to handle that level. I would really like to see the Mayor layout the entire budget....revenues and expenses. I'm sure that if we held an election vote as to whether city council should be disbanned it would have won.
Nutter is doing what he has to do given THE MESS that BUSH is LEAVING this country in!!! STUFF ROLLS DOWNHILL!!! Those of you who VOTED FOR BUSH TWICE OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS are more to blame than EITHER BARACK OR MIKE!!! I will NEVER LET YOU FORGET THE IDIOT you put in the WHITE HOUSE who SET THE TABLE for our CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS!!! Don't start BLAMING THE BROTHAS for this mess!!!
phillygtown - What about the "brothas" that put Mayor Street in for 8 years? Typical blame game on Bush. You cut your own throat, I wont let you forget that.
A Faust -tell me about it. But for all of you quick to blame an Obama administration that hasn't even started, please note: These cuts are hurting the poor and middle class that you hate so much...not the rich. Do you really think the rich care anything about the libraries and public pools? And somehow I doubt the downtown firestation will ever be closed with all those high rises (rich or poor that's just dumb.) Nor will they take police away from downtown...not with all those wealthy folk. You can bet those cuts will come from Northeast Philly first. God...will my house ever sell so I can get the heck out of here????
People this the right thing to do. Just wait the private sector is going to be laying off more people. The credit crisis is bad, we are just seeing the effects of it. Mayor Nutter is making the moves that make sense. People have to understand that what happened in the credit markets has a rolling effect and Philly is not the only city to have this concern. Dont blame Nutter for something he could not control.
Steve V- The BROTHAS that put Street didn't assist in givin us the person who created and watched over WORST FINANCIAL CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION!!! Did you know that? R-E-A-D and you may learn something ya RACIST!!!
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In light of the extreme cuts proposed by Nutter during his press conference, I agree this is a disgrace. Politicians are so afraid to raise taxes or get funding from the state and national level that they will choose to "gut" services targeted to middle class people instead. none of the affected areas will be wealthy people. They wont stand for losing fire houses or paying to have old appliances taken away. I suspect that with the latest news about the economy not truly being addressed during the presidential campaign, we will be surprised to see Obama/Biden holding similar press conferences. 10 billion a month in Iraq... and 700 billion for thieving banks sure would save lot of swimming pools and libraries.
STEVE V- did you know that we are in THE WORST FINANCIAL CRISIS since the GREAT DEPRESSION? What Street did PALES in comparison. Guess CONSERVATISM let ya down.
The socialist experiment in Philly is coming to an end. It's over. There just isn't enough middle/upper income people in Philly to support all this big government: subsidized housing, welfare, health clinics, government programs, government employees. Ah, I'm so sorry. Now you need to be an adult, get a job, and stop relying on government for every single need.
And why is it always firefighters that have to be cut???
Here's hoping that one of the engine or ladder companies
being cut are the ones in the mayor's neighborhood.
Fat chance of that happening, I'm sure.
phillygtown - people are leaving the city because it is mismanaged on a local level. It has nothing to do with the federal goverment. High taxes drive people away and all that will be left is you with your UPPERCASE rants
It is a shame it's come to this. but i certainly don't blame the mayor. this just stinks.
Libraries are desperately needed. They hold the key to keeping kids off the streets. Send them to the Library after school and they will be safe and educated. Its a win win situation. Cut the salaries of some of the council workers
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i love that only non-union employees get the unpaid furlough. essentially, that means a paycut. what courage in standing up to the unions! the more things CHANGE, the more things stay the same. Enjoy continued democrat rule. LMFAO!
the world's economy is trashed, who thought we wouldn't be affected?
let be realistic please.
“I cannot over emphasize how serous things are that we would get to this point,” Nutter said.
Serious.
Learn to spellcheck!
there are cuts everywhere in every city. let's all thank our president's greed. Just stop living outside of your means and have your leaders held accountable.
& goode's aid is still employed? ridiculous
NYC s now seeing what happens after they rely too much on 'the rich' to overpay in taxes. Losing those high income jobs with the punitive and disproportionately high taxes in the long run hurts many times more than losing an average upper middle class job.
Hope and Change, already doing to us what the Dem Congress has done to the US since Jan 2007.
What a lot of people seem to have trouble comprehending is that when you have a budget deficit, there are two ways to fix it. You either reduce the money going out (cut spending) or reduce the money coming in (raise taxes). If the mayor said he was jacking the wage tax up to, say, 10 percent, people would be storming that building w/ Billy Penn on top with pitchforks and torches.
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phillygtown - I see you're resorting to the race card. Nice play. I'm just repeating your statements, but since I'm not black, I must be racist.
If a fine tuned company like Toyota cant sell cars (sales down 17%), what makes anyone think a rusty bucket like city government can work? Too bad about the pools closing. Oh, and i guess they are going to keep that wage tax vig in place.
when the city is cutting back on funds for the recreation department, why did it believe it was a good idea to have it hijack fairmount park? and eliminating police and firefighters but keeping the lying $90,000 embarassment to the city? disgusting.
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Okay, everyone who has brought up Councilman Goode aide is right. She should be fired from her job. But that would be only 90,000. Like it or not he had to make the cuts and no matter what he did we were going to complain. Actually the cuts he made makes sense when you think about it. Most of the pools in the city have went unused the past 2 or 3 summers because we could not afford to fill them. Closing them just makes sense. The libraries are the same things. Let's be real, children use the school library or the internet when doing research. People still go to the library but nowhere near the was they use to. Why not close some of the smaller branches that are basically empty most of the time? It could have been a lot worse. Say what you want, it could have been a hell of alot worse.
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As we know from much recent experience, everyone wants tax cuts, but no one wants service cuts. We also know that one person's "wasteful spending" is another's notion of essential services. Hopefully, as we examine the budget cuts proposed now and in the future, we will look calmly at the various possibilities, keeping in mind that our city has only 3/4 the number of people as when many of the current facilities were opened. After 9/11 President Bush didn't talk about sacrificing, he said, "Go shop." He started a war without the least suggestion that each American might have to sacrifice. Mayor Nutter and President-elect Obama need to help us see that, when there is a crisis, we have to pull together and share in the solution, starting, in the current circumstances by giving up some of our conveniences. We just need to be sure that the most vulnerable among us are not the ones who take it on the neck.
phillygtown - Actually, conservatism has never let me down one iota. It gives me the fortitude and restraint to stick to plans until completion. That goes for family, investments, my clients, and any other task that I choose to accept.
I don't understand the Dem bashing here. While you may not agree with the places in which Nutter is cutting services, if this were Street or Goode they probably would have responded by doubling the wage tax or something. The city has needed to cut the spending across the board a long time, and the fact he is saying this is not just a temporary fix is great news. When the economy picks back up, keeping this level of frugality will allow us to use the increased revenue to fix what truly ails us: completing the elimination of the wage tax.
I don't understand the Dem bashing here. While you may not agree with the places in which Nutter is cutting services, if this were Street or Goode they probably would have responded by doubling the wage tax or something. The city has needed to cut the spending across the board a long time, and the fact he is saying this is not just a temporary fix is great news. When the economy picks back up, keeping this level of frugality will allow us to use the increased revenue to fix what truly ails us: completing the elimination of the wage tax.
actually genius, this has nothing to do with Obama or his financial strategy, and more to do with the high cost of managing a city. Nutter inherited this mess. I guess Bloomberg can blame NY's troubles on Obama too, huh? Get real and get over Tuesday!
For all the ranting idiots on here, Nutter can't make City Council take a pay cut. He can only ask them to take voluntary ones. I'm sure he did so, and I'm sure they didn't like that.
Wake up and grow up people. This is just the beginning and it's a lot bigger and more complex than Mayor Nutter, President Bush, or President-elect Obama. The dollar and our economy are under attack and it will soon collapse. It is inevitable now due to hyper-inflation of the dollar and manipulation over the years by the private central banking families (Federal Reserve) and the globalist elites. It's economic terrorism. World government to issue a new world currency is on the horizon, maybe after a North American Union, and other European Union-type models. Begin looking outside the mainstream and think for yourselves. Don't let the propaganda lead you blindly into disaster. Best of luck. Go Eagles!!
Obama will pay for our mortgages, our gasoline and our living expenses. We don't have to worry about a Philly budget deficit. Obama will save us. He'll just tax those rich people who don't deserve all that money to pay for it. Rich people=anyone who has a job
This is what you all get! The same people blasting Nutter on this site are the same ones who voted him in LOL! This city is doomed, I am moving to DC!
By all accounts, the police department is top heavy, while being hard pressed and starved to find additional manpower for street duty. Special units are being stripped to the bone to beef up patrol and some crimes that had been otherwise suppressed in recent years are now starting to resurface as a result. The fire department is extremely short on paramedics. Many medics are working way too many hours causing a safety issue for the fire department and the general public. Do you want a tired medic working on your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather? Have you noticed how many cars these police and fire commanders have? How about department heads who are taking home city vehicles and using them for personal use. Some like to park a street or two away from their block. I guess they think their neighbors won't say anything, if they think we don't see them. how about fixing DHS. They have kids totally missing in the system. Maybe the city could save money by having everybody, from the managing director's office on down, give up their city cars, and start driving their own cars to work? Some of these people have two cars and drivers? Finally, our school sytem is one of the worst performing districts in the nation, and the city wants to close more libraries? How in the world can you expect companies to want to create jobs here if the incentives to invest in the community are just not as attractive as elsewhere? What are the children going to do when it's 98 degrees next summer, with too many pools closed? Everybody can't take their kids to pools or recreation centers in Montgomery and Delaware counties. If we have to do that, we'd might just as well move, and live out there. Local and state government should do for the people that which they can't do for themselves. Federal government should allow state and local government to function on their own. Have we forgotten how things were done in the past, Back in the days of Rizzo, Green, Goode, and Rendell?
Mat719, I agree with parts of your post, but wanted to inform you that most libraries in Phila Public Schools were closed a few years ago, so the public libraries are the only option for a large percentage of children. Not to mention, being in a library reading a book or surfing the net is better than hanging out in many neighborhoods.
I believe Mayor Nutter is just trying to clean up the mess Mayor Street made over the past eight years. Just give him a chance. I really believe he has good intentions.
WHY hasn't Mayor Nutter slashed and eliminated the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority? The RDA owns dubious amounts of property--much of it unknown thanks to unclear title to land and buildings. The RDA has not "redeveloped" ANYTHING in 2008, and their workers come out of the City budget, not the pithy amount of Federal grant money the City receives.
It's time to eliminate this department and put the land and buildings it owns up for sale to raise cash.
ELIMINATE THE RDA!!!
Another thought, the news reported the other night that the City has an $11 million phone bill this year. Maybe these employees who talk on the phone all day instead of work should be fired. $11 million dollars is outragous!
way to go mike closed the pools in north philly where poor young children could run the street and get themselves in trouble
what the ? is going on ?
Cuts sucks, but jack up taxes more and ALL the productive people will leave the city.
I work at one of the libraries that theyre going to close. It's an 100 year old Carnagie building, renovated just a few years ago. Many people who come there first time say it's one of the best looking libraries they're seen in the city. We're closing for the fact that, for one we close at 6pm and not 8pm, and also we're in between two other libraries. Take us out of the picture and it's about 20 city blocks between them. This will hit the quiet neighborhood, in which we're located, hard. We have some patrons who have gone to our library since they were 8 years old and they're in their 80s now! Our main patrons are school children. surrounded by many schools and daycares. Libraries are supposed to be a place for all people esp. children to better their minds, and to be a safe haven. As several people have said, it's bad enough the violence in this city is terrible, and our schools are suffering with some of the worst testing scores in the country...they're going to close 11 places that are important to the communities? 62 out of 73 pools will close. That's saying "go ahead kids, hang on the corners more now." Mayor Nutter and City Hall officials can't blame the deficit on just the economy, but they should be pointing the fingers at themselves as well. For years people have been stealing public funds for personal use and now many Philadelphias will have to pick up the pieces with higher taxes. Good job city hall...
This is just what the city needed, just see the vision. Closing pools can open up options such as private pools, where people pay for usage. Closed libraries can model after movie-rental chains. All I think of is ice cream trucks, how they ride through low-income areas and make good money everyday all summer long. The mayor should continue to cut from the budget more things that low-income neighborhoods get to create an anger that may get the residents to take back their community by reporting crime, investing/regulating in their pools and libraries.
Good thing he can soak the PA suburb and NJ people who work in the city for the city wage tax or he would be in deeper do-do. An those people can't even vote him out because they don't live in the city.
What is disgraceful is that he didn't go far enough. He didn't cut the Wage tax or the Business Priviledge (oxymoron) tax. He did not cut enough of the bloated budget. He should have closed all of the pools. That is not the role of government - to make sure you can swim in a poll for free. Libraries? Come on, I am sure they saw a lot of traffic. Not. Now he is crying for a Federal handout...uhhh sorry but your fellow Dem-controlled Congress only give that $$$ to Hnak Paulson and Friends.
You still don't want casino genorated income for the city?
and the beat goes on!!!
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You would know the real culprits if you stopped wasting your energies watching Phillies games and da Iggles every Sunday. Hint: fractional reserrve banking,federal reserve system, Bank of International Settlements, Hank Paulson, money as debt. Now go and Google away.
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Good Luck getting that 230 million Nutter says he will get from not cutting taxes!!! Good God! Don't you get it yet! This city lost how many residents and Jobs the last 60 years. The dot com boom skipped us while others cities prospered like NYU, Boston, DC etc.. What a Joke! We have ton of colleges and educated students leaving the area for other to cities to have careers. Give our children a chance to go to our great colleges and start offering school choice. Good Educations equals opportunity, self reliance and no need for huge government. Philly school district spends more per student then some private schools and some suburban schools. Please Mr. Nutter stop lying to your citizens and save this city before its to Late!!
I am confused--Wilson Goode's aid makes 90K for part time work and we are closing libraries?
I am one of the non-union employees that have been slapped in the face by this mayor, but I now get the backhand as well! I now get furloughed for 2 weeks without pay! Why are only some of the employees in the Mayor's office affected? Mayor, you recently gave pay raises to people in Deputy jobs who sit in their office all day long playing computer games, reading the paper, watching tv and talking on the phone! Yet, I, and many like me, come to work every day, work longer than eight hours without compensation, do not use sick time, genuinely care about doing a good job, and will be here working towards my pension long after you and all those constituting your bloated staff have left City government. It is dishonest to say that non-union employees gave up their bonus; NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE asked me to "give up" anything! Tell the truth; you made a unilateral decision to deny non-reps what the civilian unions received, in spite of the fact that traditionally this is what happens. By the way, the class of non-represented employees exists because the City wanted to have people that have to come to work in the event of a strike. And it is not a bonus; It was a financial award in lieu of a contract raise. Every employee in unions got something: Police Fire, School employees got raises. DC47 and DC33 got the financial award. Even this paper got it wrong; there is no such thing as an annual bonus for City employees. I ramble because I am that angry..................................and thoroughly disgusted!
Mob town mob rules - I was told by a fire person not to drive on my street or he and his mob would flip my truck with me in it - I think the place needs to grow up some and fast - we should have elected a business man to the mayor's job... and just wait and see what OB will do - much the same for he has the same exp. and the same problems...
Why is it non-union employees “earning more than $50,000 will be required to take a five day furlough without pay" this year and next. As Joe Biden said it time for all of us to pitch in and that means unions too. The auto workers union is killing the big 3 because it took so long for them to even give in to paying a portion of health care costs...now only the government can save them and they will because a union is involved. It's 2008 and time for the unions across America and in this city to realize that you can't get paid what you want, have your health benefits paid for and get a pension plan on top of that...ESPECIALLY when the pension plan is unfunded! Mayor Nutter there is plenty of fat in City Hall and its time for you to cut it (union or not). If there was ever a time to fix a flawed system its now. I just wonder is Barry and Nutter are up to the task.
We should drastically cut city services as well as bust up the unions. In the process we should lower the BPT to zero. If people want to work, great. If not, let them die of hunger.
Foot, so if a person wants to work, but can't find a job, we should let them die of hunger, great idea. Please post more. I hope you never find yourself out of a job.
So you mean to tell me the eliteracy rate of the children shall grow and crime shall continue to increase and the closing of firehouses will cause people to lose life,limb,property. And the future of loyal trusting city workers nolonger are going to have their jobs. Lord knows there has got to be a better way.
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR JOHN STREET: THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!! If you voted for John Street, DON'T YOU DARE COMPLAIN!!
And now those that work and pay taxes will suffer the consequences.
Too much waste in spending, too many citizens collecting welfare, too many college-educated people leaving the city and no incentives for big businesses to start up here because of the city's business privilege tax--we just lost GlaxoKlineSmith's headquarters in Philly.
This has nothing to do with unions--it's the idiots that some of you idiots voted in!
Note for ResponsibleAmerican contracts and the mob bosses who paid for someone campain even put up one of there own to split the vote to get this guy in - - your on it Barry and Nutter are NOT up to the task unless they wake up and cut there connections to the mob
Dartvader----I totally agree with you!!
I am so sick of going to work everyday, paying my taxes, barely getting by and I see people living in public-housing with satellite cable dishes and cars nicer than mine!
Wilson Goode Jr.: you make me sick!
"...all non-union employees "earning more than $50,000 will be required to take a five day furlough without pay" this year and next."
Are you kidding me? What kind of discrimination is that? Unions are the bane of this city. (that's a big word union members, this might help: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bane)
When will the citizens of this city wake up. This is your Democratic party which you continue to vote into office year after year. The more they let you down the easier it is for them to get re-elected. Just thing how bad it will be now that you that your Federal govt. is run by the same incompetent people.
Ralphy boy... If the city cut the BPT and otherwise made itself competitive, businesses would move here. There would be more jobs. The only people who would not find a job are (1) mentally challenged people and (2) people physically unable to work. You need to read some books. Try Mises, Hayek, and Paul, my friend.
Is there waste in City Government? Hell yes, but enough to fill the funding gap because of a NATIONAL financial crisis? Of course not. Nutter lost plenty of respect for his "response" to the Goode/Bryant debacle, but in reality there is nothing "official" that he can do, as it's a separate entity. The unions better be ready to pony up with givebacks or this city will disintegrate.
thank god somebody is downsizing the notoriously high demand Philadelphia unions who will stop your project if you dont have a plumber present if your electrician needs to flush the toilet.
thank god somebody is downsizing the notoriously high demand Philadelphia unions who will stop your project if you dont have a plumber present if your electrician needs to flush the toilet.
Obviously cuts are necessary but eliminating libraries and pools in an economic downtown when those are basically the only outlets for most of our youth - this is not going to work
thank god somebody is downsizing the notoriously high demand Philadelphia unions who will stop your project if you dont have a plumber present if your electrician needs to flush the toilet.
As a cost savings measure, how about we elimate the at-large city council members? 7 high paid positions and many staff and vehicles, etc.
Nutter inherited this mess of a city. JOHN STREET AND HIS CRONIES caused this but where is he now to shoulder the blame. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS have been living like fat cats for YEARS and there is NO ACCOUNTABILITY for them.
Sell sell sell!
well i guess the police job i applied for was a damm waste of time huh?
Foot, good response, I actually chuckled :) People tell me I read too much. Anyway, the realities are that many people are not receiving the K-12 education that will make them competitive in a global market. These are the people who are barely working or earning minimum wage. In my opinion, cutting services to the most vulnerable people will not help. Your comment about people starving is understandable based on your point about bpt, but please remember that people will rob and steal before they go hungry and starve.
I dont feel to bad because I voted for Fatah. Nutter had no comment about wilson Goode and his girlfriend cheating the city out of money. what is expected when the mayor turn his head on city officals like Wilson Goode cheat the city. Not one city worker spoke out about the fox investigation probably because that many of them are cheating the city itself. Now the city is broke and Nutter wants to speak out, do he know about prevention? some of this could be prevented by not allowing workers to cheat the city.
How much of a Cut will city council and their staff get????
Guess what? Then you work in a factory. Yeah, it sucks. Maybe you even work a second job. That sucks too. Then you teach your kid that working in a factory sucks. And working a second job and making ends meet sucks too. Then you teach your kid that he should stay in school and go to college. If the kid doesn't, then he works in the factory too. If he gets the education, then he pulls himself out. End the war on drugs and gut the market. Cut the BPT and get businesses to come here. Make those lazy f-kers compete with the Mexicans who stand outside stores every morning waiting for them to open.
The welfare state does not work. It never has. It never will. It gives politicians a job and it enables them to keep confiscating more money. It costs too much. It bankrupts the system. It contributes to a sense of entitlement. It discourages work.
Yes blame Barrack no reallylook in the mirrow white people put Bush in office no once but twice its easy to pull the lever when you didnt have your ancestors die for the right to vote just pll it he seems ok right white people now because you didnt do your homework for to elections everyonre must suffer i thOUGHT yOu wrere the superior race idiots come in all colors ps. Joe the plumber was once on welfare real talk fools
"eating free lunches" the one poster said, who pays for those lunches, they may be free to you, but there is not a lunch fairy bringing food around, those are our taxes helping you to have lunch, Nutter had to make some hard choices, we all will have to suck it up a little, a wiser man than me said, there are no free lunches.
This is a prime example of failed socialism. Philadelphia has one of the highest local tax rates in the area, why do you think the educated people and companies do not stay. Without the wealthy, educated people staying in the city, you have service cuts. Welcome to Obamanomics. Enjoy!!! :-)
1. The City tells the entire region to take SEPTA for the Phillies Parade and guess what SEPTA can't handle it.
2. The City spends thousands on the parade but can't afford to keep libraries open?
3. The list could go on and on and the common theme would be the City does not know what it is doing!
Mayor Nutter should fix this problem by doing what Obama plans to do... Tax the rich and spread the wealth. Maybe this way, we can keep open the libraries and pools. But that is impossible because everyone who even makes close to $250,000.00 already moved out of the City because the City is a JOKE! Concentrate on what really is important in life like education. Who cares if we didn't win a title in 25 years! By closing libraries the only thing we'll have to look forward too are the parades! Instead of being a world class city, we're sinking lower and lower!
Al Taylor, first of all, it really helps when you put punctuation between sentences. This way, people can understand what you are saying without having a headache. Second of all, my ancestors died for everyone's right to vote for their representation. It was something called the Revolutionary War. Not sure if you ever heard of it! And then if you count every war since then too. Finally, if you really did your homework about the elections, you would know 56 million Americans DID NOT vote for Obama, compared to 63 million for Obama! So yes, a lot of Americans do not like Obama.
Al Taylor, first of all, it really helps when you put punctuation between sentences. This way, people can understand what you are saying without having a headache. Second of all, my ancestors died for everyone's right to vote for their representation. It was something called the Revolutionary War. Not sure if you ever heard of it! And then if you count every war since then too. Finally, if you really did your homework about the elections, you would know 56 million Americans DID NOT vote for Obama, compared to 63 million for Obama! So yes, a lot of Americans do not like Obama.
What will happen to the Dept. of Human Services? Should we start expecting a few more Danieal Kelly cases now?
Foot, you know what, its good to disagree without being disagreeable. I'll stand by my comment, that we as a city and society owes it to provide services to those who may not be in a position to provide it themselves. Understand, every library the city close is reducing one's chance for employment. Think about it, if I cannot afford a computer or internet access, the only ontlet I have to look for a job or apply to many jobs is the internet offered in the librarys. Foot, you commented that people should work in factories; what factories? Have you missed the economic slowdown, have you missed the big three car companies calling for a bailout. Believe you me, many people would love to have a factory job, they are simply not there. Anyway, thanks for the discussion.
AliBaba Street and his Forty Democrats drained the city coffers, so now we must suffer.
First, let's face facts - this mess is a result of John Street, not Bush. When Street took over, the city had an operating budget, thanks to Rendell and the tough stance he took with the city unions. Street gave all of that back and then some to the unions in the first few years.
Also, if a un-politically connected person had to assess the situation, there would be relatively simple solution to of this budget crisis. Jobs of people like Latrice Bryant and any other political patronage job would be cut immediately (ie- the DRPA and other overpaid city jobs at the school board, city council, PGW, the list goes on and on). There is so much wasteful spending in this city its ridiculous. Yet, we need to cut things that keep our children off of streets. Its backwards - we need to invest in our future - which our are children - not takeaway services from them. This city sucks because our school system is a joke, our department of recreation is a joke, and our public library is a joke! I don't blame Nutter or Obama, as this issue is stated with Street and his pay to play politics. But if Nutter wants my respect, he should start slashing in-house before cutting services like libraries and rec centers, and he needs to stand up to the city unions!
Cut pension payments...that's what the airlines did...CUT.spending, go chapter 11
Obviously, this deficit was inherited and something's had to be done. The budget cuts affect everyone, including the Mayor, himself. The cuts, in my view, are a necessary evil.
Nutter is brilliant. Had he made the pool cuts in the middle of June and said they were permanent, he would be running up to Billy Penn's hat and begging Billy Penn to helph im find the money for pools! Best solution is to ask local foundations to help pick up tab for pools as you have to pay lifeguards. And start asking now instead of the middle of June when a mob is running for your bald scalp!
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You want to make cuts??? Start with the city's Council (and 'Aides' like Bryant) and work your way UP...
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Some one warned me about coming to philly once i came out of the military.well i grew up here and have family and friends here. i was once proud of the city that loves you back.Now i'am certain that i was mistaken. closing libraries,closing fire houses and reducing the hours or overtime for the policemen and women? what's that all about.
as for the budget crisis, we donot need another sports stadium, and neither do the city need people who get paid for nothing nothing than spend money they didn't earn. want to cut spending, start with the people in city hall etc, remember the children will remember what happens today, pray that they dont' act out thier or teach thier own children to act in this manner such as the way the city has disrepected the people by taking away thier places of value libraries for starters. libraries today ,churches tommrrow.from the city of brotherly love
If the impounded all the bicycles and bicyclists that are breaking the laws and made them pay a fine to get them back the budget might not look so bad. Just look to Montreal to find parking spaces for bicycles with meters on them. Why can mopeds and scooters and "hogs" be fastened for free on the sidewalk with out a ticket? I have lived in PHiladelphia for over 20 years. I take a walk and do not feel safe on the sidewalks because of the bicycles. Yet there are no consequences for this blatant entitlement to privlege. Guess they get "bonuses" for their behavior too! Perhaps if they were fined for running red lights, passing without a lane, driving on the sidewalk, and had parking meters perhaps it would be a more fair way to raise money. How about the motorized bikes parking in lots or buying parking permits? The same goes for people walking their dogs off leash, and not picking up. Enforce the laws for everyone.
Jct: There’s nothing wrong with small denomination municipal or California State IOUs if anyone can pay their taxes with them. When Argentina’s government workers were faced with cuts, their unions talked 6 state governments into paying them with small-denomination state bonds which could be used to pay for state services and taxes by everyone.
When the local currency is pegged to the Time Standard of Money (how many dollars per unskilled hour child labor) Hours earned locally can be intertraded with other timebanks globally! In 1999, I paid for 39/40 nights in Europe with an IOU for a night back in Canada worth 5 Hours. U.N. Millennium Declaration UNILETS Resolution C6 to governments is for a time-based currency to restructure the global financial architecture.
See http://youtube.com/kingofthepaupers
Too bad California IOUs won’t be accepted in payment for state taxes and services like state bonds were in Argentina. Too bad California IOUs will be denominated too big to use as local currency. Too bad Argentina people were smart enough to avoid the tent-cities catastrophe and California people are too stupid to follow their example.
If they make IOUs legal tender, I'll take back every joke I ever made about Girlieman Governor Musclehead if he engineers the California state currency lifeboat.
But Philadelphia has an Equal Dollars system that could save them so they might be even stupider.
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