COUNCIL OKs VIADUCT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

FOR MORE than 40 years, Cecilia Yep and George Moy, both in their 80s and co-founders of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp., fought for their community's survival.

They saved the Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School when the Vine Street Expressway was expanded. They stopped a baseball stadium and later a planned casino.

But the voices of Yep and Moy didn't stop the City Council Rules Committee from approving the proposed Callowhill Reading Viaduct Neighborhood Improvement District. The NID would increase property taxes by an additional 7 percent to pay for cleaning and lighting the area.

Despite Councilman Frank DiCicco's insistence that the money raised by the new tax won't pay to maintain a proposed park atop the Reading Viaduct, an abandoned railroad trestle, the opposition wasn't budging.

"That's where the money's going to go to," Yep insisted.

NID opponents and supporters sat on opposite sides of Council chambers yesterday.

The NID will encompass an area from 8th to 13th, and Vine to Spring Garden.

"We had no knowledge, nor were we properly informed in the planning of the NID, nor were we considered in the process," Yep said. "That's why this is an unjust and unfair tax. It is taxation without representation."

Philip Browndeis, a resident, also spoke out against the NID.

"The conflict in our neighborhood began when a tiny group of loft-dwelling elitists decided to treat longtime residents and Asian business owners as though they were guests in their own neighborhood," Browndeis said.

NID supporters included Paul Levy, CEO of the Center City District; Matthew Pestronk, developer of the Goldtex building, a new apartment building under development; and Robert Cheetham, owner of a software company.

The bill goes to the full Council next Thursday. Property owners have 45 days to send letters of opposition to the city clerk.

"If the majority of the people are really against it, you can kill it," said Councilman Jim Kenney.