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Apparently even Councilman Jim Kenney, an ardent defender of the historic preservation concept, now recognizes that the process as currently practiced by the Historical Commission is severely flawed. He opposes Jannie Blackwell's Bill 040003 but tried to introduce one of his own, the intent of which was to look into the kinds of issues to which the opponents of HD have been raising. Here's the story from this morning's Inquirer.
Al Krigman
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Two in Council at odds over bill
The majority leader tabled a rival's resolution, saying it undermines her proposal on historic preservation. By Angela Couloumbis Inquirer Staff Writer The divide among Democrats on City Council was placed on prominent display yesterday when Majority Leader Jannie L. Blackwell exercised her political muscle to squash a resolution championed by one of her opponents on Council. Yesterday's squabble began when Councilman James F. Kenney tried to introduce a resolution authorizing Council's Legislative Oversight Committee - which he chairs - to hold public hearings on the city's historic preservation code. Blackwell called the move "offensive" to her efforts to hold hearings on a bill she introduced earlier this year that would transfer authority to designate historic districts from the Philadelphia Historical Commission to City Council. That bill has been enormously controversial among preservationists, some of whom believe Blackwell's legislation will politicize the preservation process in a city filled with historic treasures. Mayor Street yesterday also expressed reservations about the bill, saying he had "some concerns about the concept." Such concerns, Kenney said, are among the reasons he introduced his resolution yesterday. The public hearings, the councilman said, would give the city the opportunity to examine the role of the Historical Commission and how it has evolved since Council created it in 1955. But Blackwell, who represents large swaths of West Philadelphia, said her bill would also be debated in a public hearing, during which people could express concerns. She maintained that Kenney's resolution would serve only to undermine her legislation, as well as "the process, the charter, and the rules of Council." "For one of my colleagues to say... that he or she wants to introduce a resolution and undermine our process, and undermine my leadership, and my interest, and my concern for my district, is offensive and is unconscionable," Blackwell said. "I've never heard of it, and I've been here forever," she added. So she tabled Kenney's resolution - with the consent of 10 other Council members - and made a few pointed remarks while she was at it. "I hope my colleague realizes that he is [elected] at-large," said Blackwell, adding that that includes the Third District, which she represents. To which Kenney countered: "And by the way, I did run in the last election citywide... and I did quite well, as a matter of fact." After the hearing, Kenney said he drafted his resolution because of the number of e-mails, letters and phone calls he had received from constituents concerned about Blackwell's bill. Among other things, the legislation would exempt any property that is part of the city's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative from being considered by the Historical Commission. "That's a lot of property," said Kenney, who contends Blackwell's bill is bad legislation. The councilman said he believed that Blackwell's move to squash his resolution would effectively silence public debate on an issue that is critical to the city. "I think it's a sad day in here when a chair of a committee can't get a hearing - a simple, nonbinding resolution hearing," Kenney said. "That's where we're going to, that's what we'll have to live with. But it's not serving the public's interest at all, having fought and stifled an idea because they didn't like the subject matter." Councilman Michael A. Nutter, who is aligned with the six opposition members, put it this way: "I thought our jobs were based on getting as much information as possible and creating a broader understanding of how things work." Others said the dispute simply underscored the tensions among the new alliances on Council. Kenney said he still intended to hold hearings on the issue, even if he had to rent a room in City Hall to do so. Told about that yesterday, Blackwell said: "He can hold it in the middle of Broad Street if he wants, but he can't hold it under the auspices of City Council." |
