A Vision for One Philadelphia
A Vibrant, Healthy City Can Be Achieved with Smart, Fair Taxes and Strategic Spending to Improve Quality of Life.
From Southwest Philadelphia to the Great Northeast, Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods, reflecting hundreds of nationalities and races and from all income levels. As diverse as we are, we are still One Philadelphia — each of us seeking to improve our quality of life in a vibrant, safe and healthy city. One Philadelphia envisions a city that strengthens families and neighborhoods by providing opportunities for good jobs, access to health care, affordable housing, safe and clean streets, and rich cultural experiences for all residents.
read entire Vision Statement
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CITY COUNCIL TESTIMONY – APRIL 16, 2008
Testimony of Helen Gym (pdf)
Testimony of Stan Shapiro (pdf)
IN THE NEWS
What would David think?
By Jonathan Stein
Daily News Editorial
February 25, 2008
IT'S OUR MONEY. . .DAMN IT!
Letter to City Council President Anna C. Verna regarding Buget Procedures (PDF)
February 21, 2008
Honorable Anna C. Verna
President of City Council
Room 405 City Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290
Re: City Council Budget Procedures
Dear Council President Verna,
One Philadelphia seeks to assure that the City budget is one that promotes human rights for all Philadelphia. But for all Philadelphians to be heard in the debate over the budget, we urge that Council adjust the usual budget process. We're writing to suggest two changes that we believe are important.
First, we ask that the public be allowed to testify on Department budget requests immediately after the heads of those Departments. In the past, public testimony has been restricted to single dates on each of the operating, capital and school district budgets. Historically, these dates have often been far removed from the dates on which relevant department heads testified. The result has been that residents have often given their input without first being present to hear what department heads have said, and without hearing the questions that Council members have posed to them. Thus, due to no fault of their own, witnesses have had a hard time being responsive to specific issues of concern to Council members. Furthermore, witness testimony has often been given so late in the process that it is too late to ask Department heads to return for the purpose of responding to issues that those witnesses raise.
This year's budget schedule reflects the same weaknesses as have historically been present.
Secondly, we ask that Council bring the budget hearings to the neighborhoods on a series of Saturday afternoons and/or weekday evenings. Many ordinary residents simply cannot come to Council hearings that take place during the day, or even at night, in Council's center city location. These neighborhood residents are often most impacted by Council's decisions on service Department budgets. Their voices should be heard.
Agreeing to these suggestions would undoubtedly extend the budget season. But, under the Charter, Council need not pass budget bills until the end of May. Currently Council's schedule calls for its hearings on the City budget to end on April 16. Clearly, there is room for extended hearings without jeopardizing any deadlines.
We appreciate your attention to this matter, and would be happy to meet with you if you would find it helpful.
Sincerely,
One Philadelphia
By: Stanley Shapiro
Coordinator
Endorsing organizations: ACT-UP, AFSCME District Council 47, Aids Policy Project, Asian Americans United, Clean Water Action, Coalition of Trade Union Women (CLUW), Jewish Labor Committee, Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, Neighborhood Interfaith Movement, Neighborhood Networks, Parents United for Public Education (PUPE), Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Philly for Change, Prevention Point, Proyecto Sol, SEIU District 1199P, Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN)
News
Stimulus package needs reworking
By Jonathan Stein read article>>
Low Taxes Are No Guarantee of Business Development; In Fact, the Opposite Is True In Many Cases read more>>
Testimony was presented in 2005 before Philadelphia City Council by individuals and organizations supporting the position of One Philadelphia that the proposed tax breaks are not the right policy for the City at this time. Following are links to statements presented at City Council.
Jonathan Stein, General Council Community Legal Services, Inc. (PDF 95KB)
Tom Cronin, President AFSCME District Council 47 (PDF 42KB)
Stanley Shapiro, Coordinator One Philadelphia (PDF 51KB)
Rosemary Cubas testimony on April 13, 2005 (PDF 14KB)
You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF documents. Click on the image below if you need the reader.
The Price Is Wrong: Getting the Market Right for Working Families in Philadelphia
Report from the Brookings Institute
click here to read
This report examines how the poor are also victimized by any number of public and private policies and schemes that keep them rooted in poverty.
Eliminating the Business Privilege Tax Could Move Philadelphia in the Wrong Direction
Imagine living in a city with lots of high paying jobs, clean and safe streets, efficient and affordable public transit, amazing cultural centers, quality health care -- and no taxes.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But it doesn't sound too different from the argument of those seeking elimination of the city’s Business Privilege Tax (BPT); tax cut proponents argue that by eliminating the BPT, we can have the Philadelphia we’ve always wanted. Employers attracted by the tax elimination will flock to our city to set up shop, and businesses that are already here will thrive, pumping money into our local economy.
But that’s a simplistic view of what tax cuts will mean to Philadelphians. Lowering or eliminating taxes on businesses means either raising taxes or higher tax assessments on property owners, having less money for the services that make our city livable and dynamic – or both. When we cut services like trash removal, public safety, education, and transportation, we’re left with a city where no business in its right mind would want to set up shop. If property taxes rise, many hard working Philadelphians may struggle to keep their homes and businesses will pay more for their property or rent.
Eliminating Business Taxes is Drastic and Will Devastate City Services That Businesses and Residents Depend On.
Bills pending in City Council would eliminate the Business Privilege Tax (BPT) between 2006 and 2017. According to Mayor John Street, the loss of revenue from those tax cuts would eventually cost the city over $200 million per year, and between $1 and $3 billion over the next decade. In its final report, The Tax Reform Commission (TRC) itself estimated that its entire package of reforms would lead to a net income loss at least until 2010 – assuming the tax reform plan would actually work to stimulate growth beyond that:
“After working closely with the City Departments of Finance and Revenue, the Commission estimates that its recommendations would result in a net revenue loss of $192.4 million to the City’s general fund over the life of the City’s fiscal year 2004-2008 Five-Year Financial Plan,
and $142.4 million for fiscal year 2009 (assuming the City would otherwise have continued only incremental tax reductions that year).”
Read entire statement (PDF 205kb). Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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