It’s time for a
little City Council shakeup
Philadelphians will elect a full 17-member City Council on Tuesday, with 10 chosen at the district level and seven at-large.
In the unique at-large contest, Democrats and Republicans nominate five candidates apiece. The Education Party and the Socialist Workers Party have each nominated a candidate.
While citizens can vote for only five candidates, the top seven vote-getters will be elected to ensure minority-party representation.
The Times invited all Council candidates to fill out a questionnaire and provide supporting materials for their candidacy.
After deliberating, we are endorsing incumbent Councilmen Jim Kenney, Frank Rizzo and David Cohen and challengers Jamie McDermott and Jack Kelly.
The choice was difficult, as challengers David Oh and Juan Ramos, along with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, all made strong cases.
At the district level, we are endorsing incumbent Democrats Frank DiCicco, Joan Krajewski and Marian Tasco and Democratic challenger Robert McCarthy.
Councilman Darrell Clarke (D-5th dist.) is unopposed, while the opponent of Councilman Rick Mariano (D-7th dist.) died last week.
Kenney was ahead of the curve in making recommendations to reform Section 8 housing woes. He wants preferences for senior citizens and veterans and a limit of one voucher per block.
He is genuinely concerned about the city’s population loss and wants better public schools, lower taxes and upscale housing construction so Philadelphia can maintain current residents and attract new ones.
He was the first public official to ask that the city include private and parochial school students in a new college-scholarship program geared toward public school students.
He tries to stay on top of neighborhood issues by sending aides to community meetings in the Northeast and elsewhere.
Rizzo and his office provide outstanding constituent services. Besides fielding calls at his City Hall office, he has opened district offices in Rhawnhurst and South Philadelphia. The councilman also attends or assigns staff to attend every appeal hearing in front of the Board of Revision of Taxes.
In terms of legislation, Rizzo was the one who authored the bill that will bring cameras to several Roosevelt Boulevard intersections to crack down on motorists running red lights.
The ageless Cohen is fighting to dramatically lower the wage tax for low-income earners. The Democrat serves as a watchdog for taxpayers in matters involving public funds used to enrich private individuals.
McDermott, a former assistant district attorney and executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, would be a terrific addition to Council. We endorsed him in 1999, too.
During the campaign, he has called for the creation of six neighborhood nuisance courts throughout the city to address quality-of-life crimes on weekends.
Like Kenney, he believes there should be only one Section 8 property per block. He’s promised to work with the Northeast-based Citizens Advisory Committee to implement reforms.
In terms of taxes, he is committed to fighting to lower the wage tax to 3.5 percent.
Kelly, of Somerton, would be the first Northeast resident to serve as an at-large Council member since 1975.
He has experience, having represented the 7th Councilmanic District from 1988-91. Back then, he fought against the tax increases proposed by Mayor Wilson Goode and blasted Schools Superintendent Connie Clayton for her claim that Northeast residents were “historically privileged.”
If elected again, he would fight for a lower wage tax, additional manpower in Northeast police divisions, and possible oversight of the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
At the district level, DiCicco (D-1st dist.) battled Mayor John Street when he tried to stop wage tax cuts. His bill to provide tax abatements has resulted in new housing construction and the rehabilitation of existing properties.
In the next term, he wants to abolish the Board of Revision of Taxes so there can be an independent appeal and assessment process when it comes to property taxes.
Krajewski (D-6th dist.) and her office created the popular Community Life Improvement Program, which cracks down on slovenly property owners. The program has been such a success that it has expanded to other areas of the city.
The residents of the 6th district have been able to count on solid constituent services since Krajewski was elected in 1979.
Her opponent, Vandy Parks, has run a strong door-to-door campaign. He has heard countless complaints about Section 8 and other issues.
Tasco (D-9th dist.) has worked closely with the Lawncrest Community Association on zoning issues and will be a key factor as local business people try to strengthen the Rising Sun Avenue commercial corridor.
McCarthy gets the nod over six-term Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.).
As a former police officer, he would bring a unique perspective to Council. In his 29 years on the force, he’s dealt with business owners, community groups and citizens to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.
O’Neill has a solid record of using zoning to keep his district arguably the nicest of any in the city. He is a believer in lower wage taxes and property tax reform. He and his staff are available to meet with constituents every Monday night.
But he has clashed with the Greater Bustleton Civic League, stood in the way of a proposed car dealership at Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, and delayed new housing at a site near Bustleton and Haldeman avenues. ••