Reply to comment

Hauling these dirty Philly pols out into the light is a great start, but Philadelphia government is incapable of reforming itself. They have zero shame. Over $100mm later, we still have DROP after all.

The only solution is the State steps in to defend taxpayers here in the city. Clip the wings of this corrupt third world style machine. State law trumps city council. We are citizens of PA. Most people in Philly have little love for Corbett. He seems to write off Philly. But if he defended taxpayers here with the same energy he defends natural gas companies, he would win reelection in a landslide. He needs less than a third of the vote in the city- the third of the city that pays taxes and/or owns property, cares about improving their neighborhoods, and is constantly being screwed by this city government. With AVI coming up, that group of the screwed is growing dramatically.

Here's a simple good government agenda that only the most hardened Philly machine pol would oppose:

1. The city should not be able to increase property taxes (or any other tax) until it:
a) collects 80% of outstanding property taxes from deadbeats and
b) sells at least 75% of the PRA inventory.
In both cases, only a pure auction is acceptable. No councilmatic prerogative or involvement by council whatsoever. Any councilman who has given away low-cost land to his buddies and then exempting them from paying taxes should be prosecuted as the criminal he/she is.

Unfortunately, since Philly's political establishment historically choses Sheriffs that are basically (borderline) criminals themselves, the Sheriffs office would need to become a non-elected position appointed by the state.

2. City council should have their pensions frozen. No more accruing new benefits. Council should never have been allowed to vote on their own pension. Nor should they be able to approve on new pension sweeteners until they fund fully the multi-billion dollar liability they have already incurred. Letting venal Philadelphia politicians give out favors today without accounting for their cost, expecting taxpayers 30 years from now to make good, is a guaranteed path to bankruptcy.

3. Minority contract set-asides should be banned as a matter of state law. Whatever their original merit, they serve no useful or just purpose anymore. Especially in Philly they have become a vehicle for fraud by politically connected grifters ripping off the taxpayers (ie. Milton Street).

The only solution is for the state to step in. Otherwise, the global story will blow over and this same fetid regime will resort to their old tricks. Nutter seemed like a decent guy, honest at least. But he's apparently a feckless puppet and has done almost nothing to improve the city. Regardless of what you think of the governor, he is the only hope for reform. If only some of the decent Philly democrats (eg Sen Stack) would team up with him, a lot could get done here.