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Senate votes bill giving Phila. mayor power over PHA

The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a bill that would give Philadelphia's mayor more power and influence over the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a bill that would give Philadelphia's mayor more power and influence over the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

Senate Bill 1174 was approved, 49-0, in a Monday vote and heads to the House Urban Affairs committee.

The bill would increase the size of the housing authority's board of commissioners from five to nine and give the office of the mayor the authority to appoint all of its members. Among the cosponsors are Sen. Gene Yaw, a Republican from Bradford County, and Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen, a Philadelphia Democrat.

Mayor Nutter has pushed for the legislative changes, which are seen as a critical overhaul of the housing authority.

The federal government took control of the state agency in March after revelations of massive overspending on outside lawyers and the secret settlement of three sexual-harassment complaints against former executive director Carl R. Greene. - Jennifer Lin