Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Taxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents at Philadelphia town hall urge council to prioritize schools, oppose new rideshare and utility taxes
Summary
Residents at a Germantown budget town hall pressed Philadelphia City Council members to prioritize school funding and mental-health services over proposed taxes on rideshares, utilities and downtown beautification, and asked officials for clearer enforcement and equity plans.
Residents at a Philadelphia City budget town-hall in Germantown pressed council members to rethink revenue and spending priorities, arguing new taxes would fall hardest on working and elderly residents while schools and mental-health services remain underfunded.
"Why why are we trying to tax the people of Philadelphia when these companies are experiencing record profits in the stock market?" asked Davon Gaskins, a lifelong North Philadelphia resident, criticizing a proposed rideshare levy and higher attorney fees and urging the city to "charge the companies more." Gaskins also called for a long-term local alliance to steer development and singled out delays on neighborhood projects such as the Schuler playground.
Jerica Henry, CEO of financial-education firm Essential Solutions, told the council she was puzzled that roughly $179,000,000 was proposed for parks and recreation rather than boosting school or mental-health investments. "If we want the violence to go down, we need to properly educate our youth," Henry said, urging financial literacy in schools as a core curriculum.
Other residents echoed those concerns. Lola, a 9th District resident, said utility and rideshare levies would squeeze elders and working families, noting an example of a Roxborough resident receiving a $500 gas bill while relying on supplemental support. Eddie, president of the Baynton Hill Neighbors Association, asked where new enforcement funding appears in the operating budget; council staff said enforcement efforts are handled by Clean and Green and sanitation and promised to relay more detail to the administration.
Council leaders did not adopt new taxes during the town-hall event. Staff took contact information and pledged follow-up meetings on specific permits and enforcement questions. The town hall closed with council officers thanking organizers and residents for attending.
The town-hall was presented as part of the council's budget outreach; no formal vote or ordinance was taken at the session.
