Philly’s resign-to-run rule will remain as City Council does an about-face | Council roundup

Resign-to-run lives, after all.

Philadelphia’s longstanding rule requiring elected officials to quit their job in order to run for higher office will likely remain in place after a City Council member on Thursday moved to repeal legislation that lawmakers overwhelmingly passed just one month ago.

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, a Democrat who represents the city at-large, introduced a measure to repeal his own legislation that would have allowed elected city officials, except the mayor, to run for state or federal offices without resigning.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker had signed the legislation earlier this month, and it was poised to appear on the May primary election ballot, when voters would have had the opportunity to weigh in via a ballot question. If a majority of voters approved, the change would take effect.

But Thomas said Thursday that he lost confidence voters would OK the measure.

“I thought that the version we were producing previously was going to be considered a happy compromise,” he said. “And that’s not necessarily the reception that we’ve gotten back.”

Thomas added: “We want to go back to the drawing board.”

Here’s what happened during Thursday’s Council meeting.

So much for that: The repeal legislation that Thomas introduced Thursday marks the beginning of the end for a more than yearlong process that would have been the third time voters weighed in on resign-to-run. Two previous attempts to get rid of the rule failed at the ballot box.

» READ MORE: What is Philly’s resign-to-run rule?

But Thomas had said he was hopeful that voters would approve this version, which was narrower than past attempts to repeal the rule entirely because, under Thomas’ proposed change, Council members running for mayor would still be required to resign.

Last month, Council passed the original legislation 15-1, with Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., a Democrat from North Philadelphia, casting the only no vote.

Council will vote on the repeal legislation in the coming weeks.

Thomas said he may try again in the future to reform the rule, but said it’s not likely to happen this calendar year. Every member of Council is up for reelection next year.

Let the lobbying begin: Just days after Parker unveiled a plan to tax rideshare services at $1-per-ride, Uber made its presence in City Hall known — and its position crystal clear.

Multiple representatives from the rideshare giant and the lobbyists they work with milled about before City Council’s session Thursday. They were handing out materials to Council members arguing that the tax would harm both drivers and the riders who use the service to get to work or access healthcare.

The mayor’s plan aims to increase revenue for the School District of Philadelphia, which is facing a $300 million deficit that officials say will result in cuts to staff and programs.

» READ MORE: Some Council members are skeptical of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $1 rideshare tax proposal

Council members are already skeptical. Several said this week that they worry the fee will hike costs for people who rely on Uber or Lyft to get to work, and would have a disproportionate affect on low-income residents.

The administration says not so. Finance Director Rob Dubow argued that the tax is progressive in that wealthier people would pay a higher share because they are more likely to use rideshare.

But Uber disagrees. The company sent a letter to Dubow Thursday, saying his statement “require[s] a critical re-evaluation of basic tax principles and the lived reality of hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians.”

They argue the fee is regressive, because a flat fee would represent a higher percentage of earnings for a low-income resident compared to someone who makes more money.

Prison oversight board established: A more than two-years-long process to establish a new oversight structure for the Philadelphia Prisons culminated Thursday with a vote to establish the responsibilities of the city’s new Office of Prison Oversight and a related board made up of community members.

The creation of the board was enabled last year after voters approved an amendment to the Home Rule Charter via a ballot question. This legislation outlined the office’s powers and duties, including conducting investigations, audits, and reviews.

ICE and the election: In a continuation of its efforts to oppose the Trump administration, Council voted Thursday to hold a hearing on Philadelphia’s election safety plans. The legislation cites the “potential deployment” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to polling locations.

» READ MORE: Council President Kenyatta Johnson says Philadelphia can’t sit out Trump’s immigration fight anymore

The Trump administration has said it is not planning immigration operations at polling places. However, the president has said Republicans should “nationalize” elections and “take over the voting in at least 15 places.”

The kids weigh in: That was one of two dozen second-grade students from South Philadelphia’s Fanny Jackson Coppin School, who paraded into Council Thursday to testify to members.

They were asking lawmakers to support pending legislation that would prohibit the city from continuing its longstanding practice of hauling trash to Chester, where it is incinerated. The children said burning trash pollutes the air in Chester and contributes to negative health outcomes for the city’s residents.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who authored the legislation, placed the bill on hold earlier this year after failing to gain enough support from members and amid opposition from Parker’s administration.

The kids got a standing ovation.

Staff writer Jillian Kramer contributed to this article.