1st District hopefuls debate issues for Council run

The four candidates seeking to succeed Councilman Frank DiCicco in representing the 1st Councilmanic District tried to define themselves last night as the outsider, the reformer, the neighborhood guy and the innovator.

Debating the issues at the Arch Street Friends House, at 4th and Arch streets, were: Vern Anastasio, an attorney and founder of the Bella Vista United Civic Association; Joe Grace, who served as communications director for Mayor Street and then as executive director for CeaseFire Pennsylvania, a gun-control group; Mark Squilla, a systems analyst for the state Auditor General's Office and president of the Whitman Council, a South Philly community group; and Jeff Hornstein, who is on leave from his job as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union.

DiCicco had originally planned to seek re-election in the district, which stretches along the Delaware River, covering parts of South Philadelphia, Queen Village, Society Hill, Old City, Northern Liberties and Fishtown. But public pressure over his participation in the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan retirement perk (DROP) proved too much and he announced plans to retire last month.

Last night's event - sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and the Daily News and moderated by Daily News editorial page editor Sandy Shea - kicked off with a question about the biggest problem facing the district. Anastasio cited the culture of entitlement in City Hall, Squilla the lack of jobs, and both Grace and Hornstein spoke about the limited development along the waterfront.

"Our waterfront is awful and should be amazing," Hornstein said. "We have an underperforming casino on one end and the world's only waterfront Walmart on the other end."

On the future of casinos in the city, the candidates were largely in agreement. Asked if the city should consider a second casino and if it should go in the 1st District, all candidates said no to another casino in the district. Only Squilla said he'd consider another casino citywide.

In a discussion on the city's underfunded pension fund, the candidates had different ideas on how to tackle the problem. Anastasio said many city workers would consider putting more into the program, Hornstein said the city should invest some of the fund in local initiatives, and Squilla and Grace said the concept of 401(k)-style plans for new hires should be considered.

"We'll spend next year $660 million out of the general fund to shore up unfunded pension liabilities. That means money that can't be spent on neighborhood libraries. It means money we can't spend on swimming pools," Grace said.

In closing statements, Anastasio sought to frame himself as an independent outsider, saying he would "be nobody's councilman but yours." Meanwhile, Grace said he would be a candidate of ethics and integrity, Hornstein said he would seek tax reforms and job creation, and Squilla said he'd work with all the neighborhoods.

"My passion is communities, my passion is for the people of the district. I think I'm the only person here today who can work with all individuals," Squilla said.

With five members retiring and several more seats competitive, the next Council will have the most new members since 1991, when seven new legislators were elected. Many are calling this the most significant Council election in a generation.