Council committee advances paired bills to strengthen enforcement against 'nuisance' stores selling paraphernalia

The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Licenses and Inspections advanced two related ordinances on Wednesday aimed at tightening enforcement against so-called nuisance businesses that sell drug paraphernalia and other unregulated substances.

Councilmember Catherine Gilmore Richardson, majority leader and sponsor of both measures, told the committee the bills are aimed at businesses “that apply for permits as grocery or convenience stores, but are actually selling drug paraphernalia next to expired and untouched grocery items.” She told the panel the legislation responds to businesses that change LLC names or ownership to avoid penalties and to clarify enforcement authority across city departments.

The measures under consideration were: bill 250708, described in testimony as an ordinance amending subcode A of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code (building construction/occupancy code) to revise penalties tied to stop-work and cease-operation orders; and bill 250709, described as an amendment to Section 9-4403 of the Philadelphia Code (enforcement) to ensure nuisance-business enforcement continues when business ownership or corporate form changes.

Why it matters: Councilmembers and neighborhood groups said clustered smoke shops and…