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City Council


City Hall
Philadelphia , PA 19107
Neighborhood: Center City
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Style: Help us make this site useful-- to citizens and the city.  When posting, be as concrete as possible, whether your review is positive or negative. Try to include:

-Date and details of experience.
-Was your situation resolved?
-What do you wish someone had told you before you dealt with the department?
-If the city offered to correct the situation, what would you tell them they’d have to do?

Use your real name if you can.  (Or let us know how to reach you.)  We follow up on many of the reviews posted here to write stories. Also, the city often asks us to help them reach people to resolve their problem.

Complaints about specific employees should be directed to their departments. We reserve the right to edit or remove profane, abusive, or unhelpful reviews.

Have a suggestion for how to make City Howl better? Call the hotline at (215) 854 5307 or email dmerrell@philly.com.
48 User reviews | Post a review
Reviews
06:56 AM, 09/28/2009
Complete lack of respect
This group represents one of the primary reasons Philadelphia continues its decline and why Mayor Nutter has been unable to enact serious changes that would change that. There are too many members of City Council, which is the first issue, and they are completely beholden to the unions and machine politics. They exhibit no courage to do what is right for Philadelphia in terms of enacting real reform or improving our prospects to add new jobs; to reduce government red tape; to extract patronage from the system; to really make Philadelphia a world-class city! It is unfortunately that the citizens of Philadelphia keep electing people that actually do them harm.
Posted by StewieforPresident
07:57 AM, 09/28/2009
joke
If this bunch got any dumber ...they'd be in Washington
Posted by fbpdplt
08:36 AM, 09/28/2009
Complete lack of respect
What can I say. StewieforPresident covered my thoughts in his post. Perhaps a city referendum calling for fewer city council members, and a total realignment of their base. This city council is absolutely useless.
Posted by misterpond
08:53 AM, 09/28/2009
Dumb content and happy
A group more interested in protecting their jobs than protecting the heath of the City. Makes one shiver to think that this is the crew we have elected to steer Philadelphia through one of the most difficult financial difficulties. Key stone cops laced with venality and myopic self interest vision.
Posted by BillE
08:58 AM, 09/28/2009
Too many hands in the pot
City council is way too large for a city of this size. I've emailed many of my council persons over the years, and have heard almost nothing back. They are fairly non-responsive, and while they enact good quality of life legislation from time to time. Those laws are never enforced. There supposedly a law against noise pollution (cars with giant subwoofers in them), nothing ever happens to them. What about fining parents for truancy? I bet those fines are never collected. Cell phones? I never see any drivers ever pulled over for cell phone use. I see more drivers than ever talking on their cell phones. Council you have some decent laws on the books. But, there's absolutely no follow through. So? One star out of five for being overpaid, over-employed, and totally useless.
Posted by gtown_teach
09:16 AM, 09/28/2009
Legislative Body
gtown_teach: It is up to the administration to enforce the laws. City Council prevented a 19% property tax this year, stopped libraries from closing, is holding the administration accountable as is there job, and passed the laws you mention above. Your anger is misplaced. Tell the administration to enforce the law.
Posted by Sylvia Jones
11:42 AM, 09/28/2009
City Council?
Why would anyone rate them above 1, while the Mayor negotiated with the state all summer about the budget,these clowns took a 2 month VACATION!!!When asked about voting on the DOOMSDAY budget,passed on voting or scheduling a SPECIAL SESSION to look it over, it would shorten their vacation. What a joke these bums are....
Posted by Dadair1
12:13 PM, 09/28/2009
Total Lack of Vison and Leadership
How can this body receive anything more than one star. They have demonstrated a complete lack of leadership, an acceptance of criminal behavior and total disregard for the dire financial consequences facing the city and region. They fiddle while Philly burns, except for 3 months in the summer when they have off.
Posted by lance71
12:13 PM, 09/28/2009
Waste of City Funds
They are not worth the money we spend on them. All they have shown over the past few years is that they are more interested in securing their monies than the well-being of the people they represent. They spend more time bickering like schoolchildren than addressing the real issues. There are too many members for a city this size, and should be reduced drastically. As a matter of fact, a clean slate would be more appealing than keeping ANY of them.
Posted by phlyfumblr
02:35 PM, 09/28/2009
Cut out all the at-large members and put in place term limits
The at large members are a waste of skin. I especially love how proud Greenlea was of passing an ordinance preventing texting while walking, driving, etc. How's that working out, there, Greenlea? Cause from where I'm watching, there are people texting all the time while driving, walking, or biking. And council members like Blackwell and Goode aren't even mentionable in the same breath as "public servant". The only public they serve is the one they see in the mirror. So many of these idiots are living off of their family name and the good will that those names have generated (most of which was probably not really due to much, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt).
Posted by jhchang
03:04 PM, 09/28/2009
Re: Legislative Body
Sylvia Jones, We needed a raise in our property taxes, and we need council to reform themselves as well as the BRT. Of course it won't happen, but I spoke my piece. Oh, and council could definitely push the administration to enforce laws, or they could reach out to their constituents to see if their laws are being enforced. I don't buy that their hands are constantly tied. Since there are no term limits on their office (many have been in office for years), they should be able to get more accomplished than a two term mayor...
Posted by gtown_teach
03:13 PM, 09/28/2009
Harrisburg to the rescue
Harrisburg rescued Philly once again. Philly cannot operate with the current line up in City Hall. Just look at the last 10 years. They STINK! It is only getting worse. Philly is going down like the Titanic, Harrisburg just put a patch on the gapping hole bleeding the citizens of Philly and City Council is 99.9% to blame. Their pockets are fat, they have the best job in the nation. What a joke.
Posted by ZOSO
03:29 PM, 09/28/2009
This aspect of government needs a total overhaul
I am by no means a political expert, but I do know that the overall interests of City Council are more focused on themselves and their counterparts than on the City of Philadelphia's citizens. If they were smart they would cancel the DROP program, take a good look at how unbelievable all of their benefits really are, and make some changes. This part of city government needs a lot of help.
Posted by The Rox
03:58 AM, 09/29/2009
Bad Reality Show..shoot for the Stars
They should all be put off the island asap. Although the fear is that the replacements could be worst. How about a STAR SEARCH. Instead of getting what we get, SEARCH FOR THE MOST TALENTED PHILADELPHIANS...and recruit them!
Posted by Clark_Kent_SuperHero
05:35 AM, 09/29/2009
need overhaul
city council is a big laugh they have the longest vacation in the country then they have retierment that last one day and then to come to work and get a second pention they should have a term limit i have a councilman im not going to mention but you will know who he is he dose nothing north of springgarden st his distric should be broken up and we should have a council man for north of springgarden st like i said there should be a term limit they get spolied to long in office but the people of this city just sits back and let kidergarten council run this city no wonder people are leaving
Posted by fjw
12:46 PM, 09/29/2009
Throw Them Out!!!
city council is there only for them selfs and all the political cornies they have working for the city.
Posted by news1234
02:08 PM, 09/29/2009
Another Joke
The city of philadelphia has 500,000 less people living here now(2009)then it did in 1960 but city council is larger than ever why?Because they answer to themselves and nobody else.Come election day they throw a little street money to the people and get voted back in.The system needs revamping.
Posted by slotr55
02:38 PM, 09/29/2009
Useless and inefective
I live in a section of the city basically ignored by city council. Even when Nutter was our council rep unless you knew somebody asking a council member for help was a joke.I think a 2 term limit of 2 years each should be imposed and then maybe we could see some change.
Posted by bobg1812
10:16 PM, 09/29/2009
Corruption & Waste Personified
This group pays no attention to what the voters want and do what is in their own interest. I've tried to contact my Council member many times via email over the past year or 2 and got ABSOLUTELY no response. We need to reduce the size of council and implement term limits.
Posted by Taxpaying Voter
11:28 PM, 09/29/2009
Awful
Complete embarrassment. The BRT is a corrupt mess, council's response was to shirk its duties and hope people forgot. they have no rules about porking your employees, they are overpaid. they should double the number of council members and double their salaries. they haven't met a tax they didn't like or a tough issue they'd like to address. who keeps electing these jokers? oh wait, there's never a choice, the choice has been made for us.
Posted by dreinterests
08:45 AM, 09/30/2009
Term Limits
Is there a way to get a referendum on the ballot for city council term limits? Who knows how to do that type of thing?
Posted by misterpond
09:52 AM, 09/30/2009
Better than a circus
With city council president and other creepo politicians attending a going away party for Fumo the Felon its no wonder Philly is a cesspool of corruption...a national disgrace.
Posted by cheneyissatan
06:29 AM, 10/03/2009
Italian Job -Raining on Our Parade Bus us to NY NY
Anna Verna must be dysfunctional to let this slip. Remember the no rain date fiasco several years ago. The annual committee of premier "so called Am-Italian leaders" once again prove they are only interested in themselves and not the parade honoring italian roots. Stu's column research shows that New York is serious (five star report *****). Philly must be a bunch of jokers. Contract out for the parade to NY or rent buses and go to NY next year instead of staying home in Philly. No ehthic Italain parade (Zero Stars)
Posted by Clark_Kent_SuperHero
09:59 PM, 10/08/2009
Mayor did a switch or Roo- You Fools
You voted to have no real estate tax increases. Now the Mayor has the right to raise proerty assessments and if you got it, Tax Revenues will rise as the Finance Director raises all assessed values. Let's see how smart Counicl is now, the mayor just made a FOOL of you all!!!!!
Posted by Clark_Kent_SuperHero
09:37 AM, 10/22/2009
Negative scale missing
They collectively and individually rate a -5; but 1 is the lowest I can go.
Posted by joedog
12:16 PM, 10/22/2009
Reform City Council to Save the City
The ONLY way this city will have any chance of surviving is to reform City Council: a. no more party delegation. -that would save big money on Primary elections that we know what the outcome would be -no more large sums of money being spent campaigning. b. TERM LIMITS -With TERM LIMITS, an elected public servant no longer will worry about keeping his/her job. Maybe they'll actually SERVE the city residents and do what would be best for ALL of the residents, not just their cronies. The political favoritism is so deep-seated, it goes all the way down to the lowest city employee not worrying about doing their job correctly because he/she knows somebody higher up.
Posted by keapitreal
06:41 PM, 10/24/2009
Time for a change
If you don't vote don't complain does not work with the city hall mafia that is our city council a complete disgrace how could anybody defend them.They may do some small good but it is outweighed by their arrogance and waste. At best they will succeed in bankrupting Philadelphia once again
Posted by bobg1812
07:39 PM, 10/24/2009
G-town Teach correct
Sylvia Jones...you may be dismayed to read today's paper, and check this: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/online_extras/44184787.html#detail it is an online calculator that will show you how much your property taxes are indeed going to rise, and you'll wish it were 19%. Back to g-town, I won't go on about all the specific instances, but the clearest message city council gave was when they discovered the loophole and (not all members) they would retire for one day, collect an avalanche of retirement cash, and return to work the next day, unretired. A complete and utter lack of giving a damn about Philadelphia!
Posted by bleudogman
10:09 AM, 11/25/2009
Failure to deal with change
The issues the City has are directly attributable to the City's leadership's failure to deal with change. It is really that simple.
Posted by NickFromGermantown
07:32 PM, 12/02/2009
Vote them out
Between 1900 and 1950 the Republicans ruled the roost. 50 years in rule they were as corrupt as they come. Well we have had 50 years of the Democrats and they are now the same. Time to vote them out. Council is the worst of the bunch. Everyone took cuts but them. They take responsibility for nothing they seem to only cast blame. Y'all have been there a long time. Couldn't see this coming. Time to vote them out.
Posted by geewiz
05:05 PM, 12/25/2009
Inmates running the asylum
Philadelphia City Council is made up of criminals looking to enrich themselves on the backs of local citizens.
Posted by TJones
07:19 PM, 01/26/2010
RDA and City Council
I Read your article on PlanPhilly (http://www.planphilly.com/node/9323) about RDA's streamlining of the sales process. The whole system is so politically flawed and corrupt that there is no way RDA will ever sell all those properties until City government is cleaned up. An example - I've had a neighboring shell property contracted since January of last year - an have yet to settle - reason - Council Woman Tasco's office - they are looking for "political contributions" before giving neighborhood consent for a duplex variance - historically the propertyy was always a duplex but since it's been vacant for so long, the use expired and needs to be reinstated. I went to L&I, was refused, went to ZBA, denied again, now I'm going to Court of Common Pleas - wasting a lot of personal $ and taxpayer $. The crazy part is how naive I was about the whole situation. I actually thought that me wanting to buy a vacant disaster would be welcomed - I thought purchasing a property with my own $, rehabbing it, and generating $ for the city in form of personal and property taxes. I can't believe the struggle I've had and that there is no one interested in helping. I would love to know what you think about my issue and how I need to proceed.
Posted by bxk225
10:21 PM, 02/05/2010
Watch the Budget
Council does not care one iota about the city budget. They only care about political contributions. Watch the questions they ask and you will be able to tell who is funding them. Vote them out.
Posted by geewiz
05:50 PM, 02/21/2010
Hey bxk225
If Council is trying to shake you down,you should go to the FBI.
Posted by geewiz
09:04 AM, 03/29/2010
Council synonymous with thieves
About time, the council and mayor got off the backs of "taxpaying citizens" only. No new property tax - no new reassessments. Correct the d**n appraisals. Collect monies owed - get rid of council members who only need 9mos a year to lead us into financial ruin and need only retire 1 day to collect thousands. How does an elected official retire when they are voted in for a limited time? How does an ordinary citized collect 4-1/2% on monies contributed?
Posted by hilite98
11:12 AM, 04/08/2010
Term Limits, PLEASE!
Where else can you get a 'free ride' job for life and give yourself both your own raises and pensions without any oversight? Talk about a group of nothings picking our pockets every year. Why can't the state oversee the 'actions' of this group? They need to be answerable to someone. Obviously, our voters lack the competence to make them answerable for anything. This is one major reason to consider leaving this city.
Posted by Just Some Guy33
08:06 AM, 04/27/2010
They ignore the solutions
Why is it that when taxpayers propose viable solutions, City Council just ignores them, and wastes time on proposing legislation that is useless (like the soda tax) or only targets people who already pay (like raising property taxes). Why should those who pay enough (like the Northeast) have to pay more, while other areas of the city don't pay enough for their share of services, or the tax-abatement group that CONTINUES to pay NO TAX? If City Council needs a place to start REAL REFORM, here it is. Why do they just ignore it?
Posted by dee99999
06:43 PM, 04/30/2010
Useless Employees
They want to raise taxes and impose new taxes but they continue to employ useless people like latricia byrant in Goode's office. They really need to trim the the fat or more like hack the fat especially off the bugets of city council people offices and why do we have councilmen at large?
Posted by bridesburgresident
11:35 AM, 07/18/2010
Public safety
You in council have to stop this mayor from cutting cops and firemen. What the h*ll is wrong with you people??
Posted by hititwheretheyaint
08:24 PM, 08/26/2010
Where is there justice and how do i get it?
On April 21, 2010 a Cherry Hill, Nj dentist, Dr. George Edward Rankin,IV, took tenants property and refuses to give it back after multiple attempts to reclaim property. The Philadelphia Sheriffs Dept was called and they said it was a police matter, so the Philadelphia Police was called. An officer arrived (eating a sandwich and never even got out of his car) and said call Sheriffs Dept, who again said call the police dept. The police responded again and the officer then called his supervisor who said it was a police matter. This is a case of theft... The officer then walked to the corner to look at the situation and then said he really didn't want to get involved. So he handed me a piece of paper and said to call later and get a report number and then left the scene. No arrest or anything was done by the Philadelphia Police Dept. Why do we pay taxes to support a legal system that does not serve the community and uphold the law. Sincerely, Marty Edwards Keith Mendenhall
Posted by martye
08:05 PM, 09/01/2010
View from the burbs
I worked in the city for 26 years and have seen a big transformation in some things while others never change. No change - the “temporary” city wage tax is still there and is driving smart people out of the city and corruption is the norm. Big change - I have seen an exodus of skilled, educated and productive people leave the city while those remaining in certain areas seem to be the dregs of society – gun fights, crime, poor school performance, mile long criminal records, drugs, blighted housing full of freeloaders, etc. Keep in mind who votes for City Council and what’s in it for all and you can see why things are the way they are. If the Federal and state government ever stopped subsidizing the city, Philadelphia would make Detroit look like paradise. The city needs to find a way to get rid of the nonproductive residents and to replace them with working people with brains. Good luck on that one. It is much easier to just leave.
Posted by Fillzee
10:07 PM, 11/27/2010
Embarrassing
Latrice Bryant--Wilson Goodes aid--$90,000.00 per year...my tax dollars hard at work. Philadelphia council--bloated, inefficient and overpaid.
Posted by ohboy
07:31 PM, 03/25/2011
private property rights
City council recently passed bill#100213 which denies private property owners their right to promptly remove illegally parked vehicles from their properties. Cars must be ticketed first on private property before they can be towed. I recently had a 4 hour wait to get a ticket from already overburdened police force. Just another thoughtless bill passed!!!
Posted by jbeast1996
03:23 PM, 04/07/2011
City contracts awarded to drug dealer
The city has awarded contracts in Jannie Blackwell's district to a community organization M.C.I.C. (Mantua Community Involvement Committee) who's president and CEO has and is currently in court for burglary, theft and receiving stolen property. Arressted 10 times in 9 years and has been a blight on our neighborhood by letting his properties decay to get more funds from the city. How is this possible?
Posted by MantuaJason
10:22 AM, 12/10/2011
Public Schools and bad legislation
Instead of passing stupid ordinances that no one cares about, you can tackle the Public Schools. Don't think any of you have the guts for that. Until this is done our great city will be second class. For this you get the lowest star.
Posted by geewiz
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