Host of bills unveiled on City Council's first day back

AFTER ONE OF Philadelphia's century-old water mains breaks sending millions of gallons of water cascading through residential streets, over cars and into basements, what happens after the deluge recedes?

Often, it's a horror story in slow motion for property owners, who've complained about the city being slow to restore utility services and tight fisted about paying for damages.

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell yesterday recalled that after upwards of 10 million gallons of water soaked North 52nd Street, between Wyalusing and Westminster avenues, one of her constituents was offered $450 for her soggy new car.

"Who are they to make that kind of decision? How can you give a person $450 for a brand new car?" asked Blackwell, who introduced a bill calling for public hearings to address how the city handles the aftermath of main breaks.

The bill also would require annual inspections of all pipes over 100 years old and would remove the city's liability cap, which Blackwell said was $2,000 per per person.

"We have to have hearings to talk about what happens when problems in the city occur and how people should be treated," Blackwell said after the meeting.

John Digiulio, spokesman for the Philadelphia Water Department, said the cap was actually $500,000 per main-break incident, from which all claimants are paid.

He declined to comment on the bill because he said he had not yet received a copy.

Blackwell's legislation was among a handful of bills introduced during Council's first meeting since the end of summer recess.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced a bill to combat street peddling by minors; Councilman Kenyatta Johnson introduced a bill that would increase funding to an affordable housing program by $2 million; and Councilman Mark Squilla introduced a bill that would mandate that single-occupancy restrooms be gender-neutral in establishments that are open to the public.

Brown's bill would impose fines of $300 on adults responsible for minors who peddle goods or solicit money in the streets, a practice which the councilwoman called "dangerous to both children and motorists alike."

While the current fine is $100, police have not issued a single violation since 2007, when they were given discretion to do so, Brown said.

"Given that information, it is clear we must re-ignite this dialogue and work with the police department to achieve a paradigm shift in their policies regarding street peddling," Brown said. "Doing nothing is not acceptable."

Johnson's bill would increase funding for the Housing Trust Fund by $2 million this fiscal year.

The money would come from real estate taxes on properties with tax abatements that have expired, and would be used by EnergyFIT Philly, a program that works to preserve affordable housing through the coordination of home repair and energy services.

"The 10-year tax abatement has brought forth the largest real estate boom in decades, so it is only fair that we use a portion of the revenue created by this wave of development to maintain a level of affordability," Johnson said.

Only establishments that have single-use bathrooms would be effected by Squilla's bill, which he introduced on behalf of Mayor Nutter's administration.

The bill would require that bathrooms now labeled "Men" and "Women" would have to be re-labeled indicting that anyone can use them.

"It's making it comfortable for everyone, whether you're a transgender person, whether you're a straight person or a gay person," Squilla said.

"This bill, which expands and strengthens gender-identity protections, is an important step in the support of our LGBT community and reinforces Philadelphia's role as a leader on LGBT issues across the country," Nutter said.