Philadelphia City Council, February 08 2024
Highlight of Introductions:
Councilmember Landau introduced an ordinance that would place certain requirements on tax preparation businesses across the City. The legislation aims to improve transparency in transactions with clients.
Councilmember Harrity also reintroduced the "Displaced Contract Worker Protection" ordinance. The previous version of the legislation was passed by the Council at the end of last session but was pocket vetoed by former Mayor Jim Kenney. The legislation is aimed at protecting the jobs of workers during office to residential conversion. If passed, the legislation would apply to any building larger than 50,000 sq.ft. or with more than 50 residential units. It would further require:
If the building is sold or converted to a new use, owners and their contractors must re-hire some of the previously employed workers based on seniority; and
If the owner of the building switches contractors, all applicable service workers would have to be retained for a 90-day period.
Councilmember Driscoll also introduced an ordinance that would prohibit license plate flipping devices and increase the penalty ($2,000) for those actors that use these devices to violate the law.
Councilmember Thomas introduced a resolution recognizing the impact of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law and celebrating its recent expansion.
Councilmember Jones introduced a resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings examining witness relocation policies in the City of Philadelphia as well as discuss strategies on creating a housing rehabilitation and witness relocation program that will allow for higher rates of witness attendance and an increase in the closure rate of homicide cases.
Highlight of Final Passage:
The Council passed a resolution establishing the Kensington Caucus to represent a united legislative front in addressing the crisis in the Kensington area. The Kensington Caucus is led by Councilmember Lozada and includes Councilmembers Driscoll, Harrity, and Squilla. Councilmember Lozada underlined that this Caucus will be the vehicle to execute the Kensington Marshall Plan that will allow legislators "to determine what resources are on the ground, who is providing resources, how they are being delivered and what challenges the community faces."
Upcoming Council Hearings: