DN Editorial: Ideas for the lame-duck caucus
THIS JANUARY, Philadelphia City Council says goodbye to six members. That's a lot of turnover for a legislative body that evolves about as frequently as the British monarchy. It's also an opportunity for some positive change.
THIS JANUARY, Philadelphia City Council says goodbye to six members. That's a lot of turnover for a legislative body that evolves about as frequently as the British monarchy. It's also an opportunity for some positive change.
But change doesn't have to wait until the new year. As lame ducks, the six departing members - Anna Verna, Jack Kelly, Frank DiCicco, Donna Reed Miller, Frank Rizzo and Joan Krajewski - have a unique opportunity, to forget about the political pressures getting elected or of keeping their political cronies happy.
With a few exceptions, these six may not have often been reformers. But now's their chance to make some trouble . . . and leave Council better than when they found it:
Violate councilmanic prerogative. Councilmanic prerogative - which discourages one member from writing legislation about development in another's district - isn't a rule. It's a tradition. This makes members kings and queens in their own districts, and prevents Council from taking a citywide perspective on development.
The solution? Break tradition! Show your colleagues how easily it can be done, and make the case that it's in the public interest.
You can also pass zoning reform, which will give Council members less sway over zoning in their districts.
Fix campaign-finance laws. Now, they favor incumbents because they set limits annually, instead of by election cycle. Challengers often don't know whether they're running four years before an election. As a lame duck, you don't need to worry about protecting incumbents anymore. Fix it!
Propose term limits. Council members stay on the job an average of more than 15 years, longer than lawmakers in all other major U.S. cities. This breeds stagnation. Put a stop to it - you don't have to worry about your job-for-life anymore.
Repeal the bill that made cost-of-living raises automatic for elected officials. Before that passed, Council had to defend its raises in public for everyone to see. Wouldn't you enjoy watching those hearings as a former Council member?
Reject city cars. Hold a joint news conference admitting that Council members never should have had them in the first place. Ride SEPTA for the next month.
Make Council accountable for its budget. Pass a law that requires Council to hold hearings about its own operating budget. You're the only city department that doesn't have to answer to anyone on the money you spend.
Abolish DROP. We know this will be hard, since all six of you enrolled in the controversial pension program and will collect a combined $2.1 million from it. But you can wash away some of the sour taste that payday will leave by ending what must be the least popular government program in the city.
Create your own revolution. This list is just the beginning. We encourage you to think of your own ways to leave a legacy.