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City Council will hear a presentation on Wednesday from the Historical Commission asking for a 22.6% increase in funding and a 20% increase in staffing. Even right-minded solid citizens who support the nomination of Spruce Hill as a local historic district should disapprove of this absurd request. Owing to serious budget shortfalls, the city will be cutting all manner of vital services -- from police, fire, and trash collection to recreation programs that keep kids on the playgrounds and off the street corners. How, in all conscience, can they even consider raising the appropriations for this function?
And, if you think what this Commission does is somehow important, take a look at the photo of Sigel Street in South Philly. Believe it or not, the busted up bricks on this half-block long dead-end alley, lined by commercial garages, are protected by the Historical Commission. One result was that the Water Dept was denied a permit to open the street and install new water and sewer lines when every other block in the vicinity got them.
You can email everyone in City Council in one fell swoop and urge them to deny the PHC an increase -- or to decrease their appropriation and use the money where it will actually do people some good. Just click here [EMAIL PROTECTED] and whatever email message you write will be dispatched privately to each member of City Council and the Mayor. (And, if you think that the PHC should get money to regulate the outside of people's homes, while L&I is cut back on resources to help ensure the safety of residents, there's nothing to stop you from using the above email facility to say that, too).
Al Krigman
(PS -- please forgive me if you get a duplicate of this message.)
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