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Mayor Nutter's Statement

Mayor Nutter released the following statement on the collapse of the deal to sell PGW: "This decision by the Philadelphia City Council is a big mistake and represents a massive failure in leadership for our city and our citizens. It is unfortunate for Philadelphia that City Council could not make a public decision in this important matter following public hearings and an up-or-down vote. . . .

Mayor Nutter released the following statement on the collapse of the deal to sell PGW:

"This decision by the Philadelphia City Council is a big mistake and represents a massive failure in leadership for our city and our citizens. It is unfortunate for Philadelphia that City Council could not make a public decision in this important matter following public hearings and an up-or-down vote. . . .

"The citizens of our city, the customers of PGW, and our own city workers will feel the negative effects of this terrible indecision for years to come, and ultimately will regret that City Council chose to end a legitimate debate on this issue even before it started.

"The eyes of the city, state, and our country, if not the world, are on Philadelphia and looking at how we conduct business, how we treat good companies like UIL and how we handle big decisions.

"The roles and responsibilities of each branch of our government, in a transaction such as this, are clearly set forth in the Home Rule Charter, and unfortunately, in this instance, City Council failed to represent our own vested employees, all of its constituents, and the larger city interests.

"Rather, it allowed small-minded, parochial, and often petty issues and interests to get in the way of larger, broader, and more innovative opportunities to move forward on behalf of all of our citizens, who deserved the chance to see, hear, and learn more about an incredible proposal to transform PGW into a true national, if not international, leader in providing energy services. . . .

"PGW still needs support and investment, and now that City Council has made its decision to do nothing, it is imperative and vitally urgent that Council President Clarke release his public-private partnership plan in full detail so that the citizen taxpayers and ratepayers can understand his plan for PGW and its future. I look forward to reading that plan soon."

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