City businesses that discriminate could lose license under Council bill
Businesses that discriminate against patrons or employees could lose their licenses under a bill introduced Thursday in Council. The bill, authored by Councilman Derek Green, ties a business' license to its compliance with the city's Fair Practice Ordinance, which provides widespread protection against discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces.
Businesses that discriminate against patrons or employees could lose their licenses under a bill introduced Thursday in Council.
The bill, authored by Councilman Derek Green, ties a business' license to its compliance with the city's Fair Practice Ordinance, which provides widespread protection against discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces.
Currently, a business can face fines and penalties of up to $2,000 if it violates the ordinance but cannot lose its license over discriminatory behavior.
Sparked by issues of racial discrimination at bars and restaurants in the city's "gayborhood," the bill would allow the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to revoke or deny commercial licenses if discrimination complaints are filed through the Office of Human Relations.
"There's no reason why a business violating the Fair Practice Ordinance should be able to operate in the City of Philadelphia," Green said.
A business that becomes the subject of a complaint would not lose its license automatically. That decision would be at the discretion of L&I, which follows a lengthy process for revocation.
Under another bill proposed Thursday, City Hall would no longer have to award contracts to the lowest bidders.
The city wants permission to consider additional criteria, including a contractor's past performance and whether a bidder has a pattern of going over initial bids. The city could also consider whether the business is minority-, woman-, or disabled-owned and its history of meeting diversity goals in hiring.
Rebecca Rhynhart, chief administrative officer for the city, said most governments have already switched to "value-based" procurement, prompted by contractors who started gaming the low-bid system.
"Right now we have to award to the lowest bidder, but that gets problematic when a firm bids low so they win and then they submit a change order for much higher than we would have paid in the first place," she said.
Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. wants to put surveillance cameras in every commercial corridor in the city over the next three years.
His resolution calls on the Commerce Department and police to develop a plan to install cameras in 100 highly commercial areas.
Jones estimated the cost would be $300,000 per year, over three years.
215-854-5506@juliaterruso