PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – On two fronts some serious political movement.

Sources in the U.S. Senate tell KYW Newsradio that Republican Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania and his Democratic counterpart Joe Manchin of West Virginia, think they may have the votes to try and pass the legislation to intensify gun background checks that was recently defeated in the Senate.

The bill, a first effort at gun control bipartisanship went down because of a lack of Democratic votes.

Back home, with businessman Tom Knox vowing to spend as much money as necessary to become mayor (see related story), all eyes are turning to the other potential candidates who have not committed yet to the 2015 race. They include Councilmen Bill Green and Jim Kenney, Council President Darrell Clarke and State Senator Tony Williams.

The council members, under the city charter, have to quit council to run. The mayoral primary is two years off, but in a four or five way race, early fundraising — even for current campaign committees — can make a difference.

One interesting side show: millionaire Knox and Councilman Green are good friends. Sources report it is doubtful they would oppose each other.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — City officials are throwing in the towel on a two-year effort to rein in rogue tow truck operators who haul away cars that are parked perfectly legally. Now they’re trying a new approach, given initial approval in a city council committee.

It was two years ago that Council passed, and the mayor signed into law, Councilman Jim Kenney’s original plan. It said that a police officer must write out a ticket before a private tow truck operator could take away a vehicle. Kenney now admits that plan didn’t work, because it often took too long for an officer to arrive.

“And I don’t blame them,” Kenney says. “They’ve got a big job to do in this city and ticketing cars is not and should not be at the top of their to-do list.”

So now there’s plan B, approved Tuesday in committee, in which the tow truck operator would need only to take a photograph showing the vehicle parked illegally on or off the street in order to tow it.

The photo would serve as proof that the vehicle deserved to be towed if the owner disputes it.

The measure, which has the support of the Philadelphia Police Department, now goes to the full council for a final vote.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – School Reform Commission could pick a new superintendent from its two finalists any day now. And City Council members are weighing in on the process.

Pedro Martinez and Dr. William Hite have finished their quick round of interviews with school staff, parents and lawmakers. It’s the School Reform Commission’s decision, but City Council Education Committee chair Jannie Blackwell says Hite appears to have the edge.

“I think that the general consensus opinion was that Dr. Hite was preferred because he had been a teacher, a principal and worked his way all the way up. And they feel that he would have the empathy, the understanding and the hands-on experience to do the job.”

Councilman Jim Kenney criticized the School Reform Commission for giving Council only one day’s notice to meet the finalists. “Any indication that they’re looking for our support and help and guidance is lost in that translation.”

Kenney said he would have liked more prep time. “I want to thank the SRC for their Saturday notice of the Sunday meeting with one of the finalists, and the Monday meeting with one of the finalists that I didn’t see ’til Monday.”

And Councilman Denny O’Brien criticized what he called council’s “drive-by” meetings with the finalists.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Mobile, solar-powered cameras may be the answer a long-running Philadelphia problem: the illegal dumping of trash.

The camera program came up at a city council committee hearing Friday convened on the vexing issue of illegal trash dumping. Deputy Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams testified that nabbing the culprits is difficult.

“For us to do that, we either need to catch them, or we need to go through the trash and get an address. Unfortunately, the violators have gotten smarter. They’ve stopped placing addresses into the waste, because they know they’re doing it illegally.”

To combat this issue, the Nutter Administration has begun using high resolution, solar powered mobile cameras dispatched to locations where dumping is a constant problem. Williams said the cameras can clearly pick out the license plate — even at night.

“That’s why we believe mobile cameras are an effective tool. Then we’re able to identify people as they’re in the act, and that evidence can be used to either issue a violation or — if it’s severe enough — we can go through criminal procedures.”

The number and location of the cameras are not being divulged. Still, only 99 citations for illegal dumping have been issued by the city since the start of 2009. At the hearing, City Councilman Jim Kenney proposed another idea: hiring prison inmates at $10 an hour to clean up illegally dumped trash.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A Philadelphia city councilman is proposing to eliminate a layer of bureaucratic red tape when your car is towed in error and you want to get the towing fees back.

Under the “Live Stop” program, police will impound vehicles when drivers they have pulled over lack proper registration.

But Councilman Jim Kenney says if the car is seized in error, the owner has to go to Traffic Court to get the fine rescinded, then go to another agency — the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication — to get the towing fee back.

(Councilman Jim Kenney. File photo)

So, Kenney (right) has introduced a measure to simplify that.

“This is just eliminating another level of bureaucratic hearing that people have to go through,” Kenney tells KYW Newsradio.  “When we’ve wronged them, they shouldn’t have to go to Traffic Court and the BAA.”

Kenney says many of the Live Stop errors involve college students with out-of-state registrations.  His measure would allow someone whose Live Stop fine is rescinded to simply be reimbursed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority — without having to go to the BAA.

The measure will be debated in committee.

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A new movie has sparked more outrage over the impact on bullying in America.

The film “Bully” is graphic and controversial. Radnor Township Police Superintendent Bill Colarulo says he believes that the movie should be seen by all students, teachers and parents and that the behavior, at any degree, is not acceptable.

“I think we’re just in the early stages now of addressing how serious the problem of bullying is and people have to realize that it is a crime. It’s not a rite of passage. It’s not something that everybody goes through. It should not exist. It’s everybody’s responsibility – school teachers, bus drivers, neighbors who see it going on, we have to all take a stand”.

Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney is trying to raise money to make sure as many kids see it as possible. The problem he says is epidemic.

“There are a group of kids that are bullied and a group of kids that are the bullies. In the middle are the decent regular kids, who see it and know it’s wrong. I think in each individual school we should develop a culture of a family that people, kids, leaders and the school so they can step up. Not physically intervene, but to put their arm around that person, put them at their lunch table, encourage them, talk to them.”

Listen to extended interview:

[audio_link url="http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/d0/dA/d9/dO/10A9O_3.MP3" name="VOR" artist="Larry Kane" ]

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia City Council plans a hearing on whether Verizon is moving quickly enough in bringing its “Fios” fiber-optic cable service into the city’s lower income neighborhoods.

Calling for the hearing is councilman Jim Kenney, who says he has information that Verizon is not honoring its Fios buildout plan agreed upon three years ago with City Council.

“We’ve had information coming from inside the company that says they may not be following what they committed to do when we granted the franchise,” Kenney said today.

Specifically, Kenney is concerned that lower-income neighborhoods are low on Verizon’s priority list.

“We were happy to have competition with our current major cable provider, Comcast.  But we want to make sure that every neighborhood in the city is getting built out with the Fios, and not just neighborhoods that can afford to pay the fees,” he said.

A spokesman for Verizon says the firm will “gladly” provide Council with whatever information it can under the terms of the 2009 franchise agreement.  He said the Fios buildout already reaches about one-third of all city households, and Verizon remains committed to its plan for complete citywide coverage by 2016.

The spokesman says Verizon has already deployed to different parts of the city, regardless of income level.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Mayor Nutter’s budget experts were in the hot seat today as Philadelphia City Council opened hearings on Nutter’s plan to revamp the way property assessments are calculated in the city.

One of the issues facing Council is that the new citywide reassessments are not yet complete.  And Rob Dubow, the mayor’s finance director, admitted not knowing with certainty the total of property taxes that would come in under the new system.

The mayor’s target is around $500 million to the city and more than that to the school district, but Councilman Bill Green said it could end up at least double that.

(Green:)  “That is, a billion to a billion-four, compared to 491 million dollars.”
(Dubow:)  “Again, we don’t know where its going to come out.  It could be more than that, it could be less than that.”

Councilman-at-large Jim Kenney wanted to know what to tell residents who fear a doubling of property taxes as the mayor’s plan is put into place:

“These are folks who aren’t needy when it comes to city services, and are paying $4,000 now and could potentially be paying $8,000 next year.  How do I keep them living here?” Kenney asked.  “Why would they want to live here?”

“We want to put smoothing and a homestead exemption in place to help with that sticker shock,” Dubow replied.

Dubow said the mayor will phase in any increases over three years, and hopes for state approval of homestead exemptions to ease any property tax hit to homeowners.

Kenney called for an outright cap on “what we’re going to whack people with.”

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Today brings the start of two months of Philadelphia City Council hearings on Mayor Nutter’s new budget, and the process could get heated over Nutter’s plan to overhaul property assessments, while bringing in $90-million extra to the Philadelphia School District.

“AVI is going to be a major issue,” says City Councilman Bill Greenlee, referring to the Actual Value Initiative, the new property assessment system that the mayor wants put in place in the coming year.

Nutter has also set revenue targets at $90-million more than current levels, to benefit the school district.

City Councilman Jim Kenney says, “AVI is the Sword of Damocles hanging over everything.”

Councilman Curtis Jones, who is among those who oppose linking the school district funding to AVI, says “They are two distinct and separate issues. And, to combine them would be somewhat problematic.”

AVI is billed as a more fair assessment system, and 10th district Councilman Brian O’Neill says that’s why the debate over it needs to be separate from the school funding issue. “You can’t try to sell fairness in an unfair way.”

Others say linking the $90-million to AVI constitutes a back door tax increase. That’s a concern for Greenlee, who says, “The perception is going to be that a lot of people are getting a tax increase.”

Nutter fends off reporters’ questions about that claim.

“Stop asking me that question, because I’m not going to engage in an esoteric, theoretical debate.”

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Mayor Nutter plans to close out the year by wielding his veto pen, nixing a plan for a large ‘wall wrap’ advertisement on a Center City building.

Mayor Nutter says he will veto a measure passed by Council two weeks ago that would allow a large ad to wrap around a building near 6th and Callowhill (see story). Nutter calls it spot zoning and says it could jeopardize federal mass transit funding, because of its proximity to the Ben Franklin Bridge.

“I am going to veto the bill and I’m asking as many City Council members as possible, just in terms of the opinion of what is at risk, to support that veto. We need a more comprehensive policy around issues related to ‘wall wraps’ and that kind of advertising,” Nutter said.

The wall wrap bill did pass by 12 votes, enough to override the veto, but it is unclear if the sponsor, Councilman Frank DiCicco, will call for an override at Council’s last session on Thursday.

DiCicco could not be reached for comment. Nutter will also exercise a ‘pocket veto’ on Jim Kenney’s bill that would have given condo owners a $200-a-year tax credit if their building does not use Streets Department trash collection. Nutter calls that ‘inappropriate.’ His aides estimate it would cost the city $6 million a year.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia firefighters, upset about the mayor’s plan to transfer paramedics, took their case to City Council today.

“Anything you could do, we would greatly appreciate,” said Bill Gault, head of Firefighters Local 22, in a personal plea to City Council members to intervene in the mass transfer of paramedics among the city’s firehouses.

“The citizens are going to suffer while we’re learning new locals, new ERs, new partners, new systems,” Gault said.

Councilman Jim Kenney, whose father was a Philadelphia firefighter, has already asked the mayor and aides about the transfers.

“They said they have a clear rationale for doing it and they would explain it, and I’ll wait for their report,” Kenney told KYW Newsradio this morning.

The mass transfers are expected to take effect next month.  Philadelphia deputy fire commissioner Ernest Hargett says the move is the result of a lawsuit filed by paramedics two years ago which, in turn, prompted shift changes.

———-

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – City officials are trying to find a way to keep pedestrians from walking in the street around the fenced-off Dilworth Plaza during the renovation project there (see related story).

On the west side of City Hall, the construction fencing goes right along the curbline.  And even though the signs read “Sidewalk Closed,” some pedestrians used to cutting through the plaza are choosing to walk in the street along the southwest corner.

City councilman Jim Kenney says he has talked with the mayor’s office about improving safety there.

“We have to consider people’s methods of moving around and taking the shortest routes, and trying to keep them safe,” Kenney told KYW Newsradio today.  “God forbid somebody gets hit with a car, they’re going to wind up suing the city on top of being injured.”

Pedestrian Joe Riches, who chose to walk legally on the sidewalk instead of taking the shortcut in the street, explained why.

“I don’t want to get run over,” he said, “and there’s really not enough room on the side, I think, to safely do it.”

For now, police officers are stationed along the plaza, directing people not to walk in the street.

———-

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

National Sandwich Day came earlier this month, and that prompted Primo’s Hoagies to stage a hoagie making contest, and Councilman Jim Kenney read the winning entry on the floor of City Council, “Hot capicola, home-style turkey breast, thinly sliced pepperoni, hot pepper cheese and mozzarella.”

At which point Council members were given samples of the winning hoagie, and Councilman Bill Green, who often battles Kenney on weightier issues, offered Kenney thanks, “I want to congratulate him on the extremely substantive important speech that he just gave.”

And Kenney shot right back, “I would just caution Councilman Green to chew his hoagie thoroughly so he doesn’t choke.”

Reported by City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

City Council’s Finance Committee approved and sent to the full Council two pieces of business tax reform.  The first, sponsored by councilmembers Bill Green and Maria Quinones Sanchez, would give businesses an exemption on the first $100,000 of receipts.   That would cover both the gross receipts and net income portions of the tax.

And manufacturers based in the city would only pay taxes on goods that they sell within the city.

Pete Windle, president of Windle Mechanical Solutions in Northeast Philadelphia, was among the business owners who told the committee that they’re currently hurt by being based within the city limits.

“The current business tax structure puts us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors outside the city who do not have to pay that high rate of tax,” he said.

The other bill, sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney, gives a two-year tax rebate to all new businesses located in the city.

(Joe Mahoney. Source: Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce)

Joe Mahoney (right), executive vice president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, says both bills send a message to firms that might want to move here.

“For companies looking to locate here, they see the direction going the right way,” Mahoney told KYW Newsradio today.

Mayor Nutter has agreed to support both bills after they were tweaked, including a phased-in implementation of the first measure.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

Two plans are before Council’s Finance Committee. One, sponsored by Bill Green and Maria Quinones Sanchez, would give businesses an exemption on the first $100,000 of receipts. That would cover both the gross receipts and net income portions of the tax.

Green says the changes would greatly help small businesses. “We can’t afford not to reduce our business tax burden. We are one of only four major cities in the country that has a net income tax at all.”

Under the same plan, manufacturers based in the city would only pay taxes on goods that they sell within the city, which is how firms based outside the city are currently taxed. Green says that would level the playing field.

“That means that our manufacturers are no longer at a competitive disadvantage when competing across the country and worldwide.”

A similar effort last year failed to move out of committee in the face of opposition from the Nutter Administration. Also on tap: Councilman Jim Kenney’s proposal to give a two-year tax rebate to all new businesses located in the city.

Reported by City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

The city is required to offer trash pickup once a week to all buildings. However, for many condos that is not enough. So, instead they end up using private services with residents footing the bill.

Councilman Jim Kenney is now proposing giving those residents a $200-a-year property tax credit to offset that cost.

“This is an issue of basic equity and fairness. When you can’t pick it up mechanically by the city, they should at least be reimbursed or given credit for that out-of-pocket cost that they have to bear,” Kenney said.

However, the mayor’s spokesman, Mark McDonald, said it is the condo residents’ choice to live in a building where once-a-week collection is not sufficient.

“If that’s not enough, under city regulation, they then can and must sign up for private service to supplement the city service,” McDonald said.

McDonald added that Kenney’s bill would cost the cash-strapped government upwards of $6 million a year.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

Councilman Jim Kenney says legitimate insurance investigators have complained to him that accident report information is being misused because just about anyone can access the reports at the city’s Records Department.

“I don’t think they should even have access to them. His information is personal information as a result of an accident on the streets of Philadelphia.”

Kenney also believes some accident victims are then getting calls from scam artists.

“They use that then to make calls to folks and entice them to go get physical therapy at a chiropractor that they are choosing.”

Kenney has introduced a bill which basically shuts down the access. It would require the Records Department to keep accident report personal information private for two months following the incident. A council committee will debate the idea later this fall.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

The city’s parking tax was raised three years ago, from 15 percent to 20 percent.  The parking industry this year aggressively lobbied City Council for relief, and today it came.

By a 12-5 vote, the lawmakers approved Councilman Jim Kenney’s bill to gradually roll back the parking tax to 17 percent, starting in 2014.

“Because they pay 25 dollars out of every 100 dollars they raise in taxes — what other industry pays that?’ Kenney said today, defending the measure.

But Mayor Nutter says rolling back the parking tax will cost the city $24 million over five years — something he argues that Philadelphia can’t afford.

“I don’t know why the parking industry is so special that they should be getting action taken on reducing their (tax) rates now,” the mayor said.

The parking industry argues that the lost revenue could be reclaimed simply by having city auditors going after rogue parking lot operators who don’t pay taxes.

A mayoral veto of the measure is expected, though Nutter refused to confirm that.  The 12-vote approval would potentially be enough to override a veto.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

By law, City Council has only until September 9th to redistrict, based on census numbers that show a significant population shift in Philadelphia, from the west to the east (see previous story).

“We have four or five districts that lost population and four or five districts that gained population,” notes councilman-at-large Jim Kenney.  “It’s a numbers game.  We would like to have the districts as contiguous and compact as possible; it’s not always possible.”

Council will take testimony from residents on Tuesday, August 16th, although Councilwoman Marian Tasco isn’t sure how much the public cares.

“There are interest groups that care, but I don’t see a massive onslaught of people who are saying, ‘Let me draw the lines,’ ” she told KYW Newsradio today.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez is fighting to unify boundaries for a primarily Latino district.

“I don’t think we’re going to get the perfect maps — I don’t think that’s the goal,” she told KYW Newsradio today.  “But I think that there’s enough data to show us where we need to be going.”

If councilmembers miss the September 9th deadline, their paychecks would be withheld until the task is done. The last time this was done, ten years ago, lawmakers went four months without pay.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

According to sources, the agreement includes a hike in property taxes by 3.85 percent for one year, a permanent raise of the Center City and University City parking rates by 50-cents, and an additional $10-million from its $50-million emergency fund.

Mayor Nutter’s proposed “soda tax” is not included in the agreement.

Nutter held a late evening press conference reacting to City’s Council school district bail out plan.

“I think that ultimately the students of this city are certainly the beneficiaries of a lot of hard work and effort by our administration and certainly city council. This is the kind of effort that we need to demonstrate, not only on the ground, our support for public education, but also when working with our partners in Harrisburg.”

The Mayor says the $53 million that will be raised by the proposed property tax hike and parking increases will help restore critical school services, such as bus transportation and reduced class sizes. But not all key programs will be restored.

“There may be some things that don’t get funding. And one of those things is accelerated schools,” said Nutter

Nutter says the funding voted on by City Council may not cover the program.

Dr. Arlene Ackerman also spoke with reporters.

“The district started with zero this morning, we’re now at 53 (million), so there’s no way I’m going to say that I’m disappointed.”

Reported by Ben Bowens, CBSPhilly.com; Mike Dunn and Cherri Gregg, KYW Newsradio

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

But Council members are openly questioning Ackerman’s spending priorities.

Ackerman wants the money to cover one-sixth of the school district’s massive deficit (see related story), and City Council faces a difficult choice of raising part of that cash through either a soda tax or a property tax hike (another related story).

Some Council members, including Jim Kenney and Bill Green, grilled Ackerman on why there is already money for some pet programs like a brief summer program called “Slam” ($24 million) although she needs a similar amount of new money ($21 million) in order to lower class sizes.

“Obviously, class size is important,” Ackerman told Green.

(Green:) “But the question is, is it more important to you than Slam, and Saturday attendance?  And if not, shouldn’t it be?”

(Ackerman:) “It’s number two on the list.”

After about five hours of testimony and discussion, and without any consensus among councilmembers on how to solve the funding dilemma, a resumption of the hearing was scheduled for next week.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau chief Mike Dunn

[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

Councilman Jim Kenney (right) says he won’t divulge the names of the restaurants, but he says he’s heard of several that deduct the three-percent processing fee charged by credit card companies directly out of the money specified by customers for a tip.

“If I’m leaving an 18, 20-percent tip,” says Kenney, “I expect that to go into the pocket of the person who waited on me, not three percent skimmed off the top to go to the owner of the restaurant.”

Kenney is introducing a measure in City Council that would prohibit any employer from taking a credit card fee out of a gratuity.  The bill will be debated in committee.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau chief Mike Dunn
[listicle id=55129 show_title=true]

It’s a proposed bill that would impose a one-year moratorium on construction of buildings, additions or roof decks higher than two-stories.

Tiffany Green (photo, center) is with the group, Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze, “we’re not saying we’re against new development. What we’re saying is respect our communities.”

She says low-income neighbors are stressed out, when upscale builders want to put up three story homes on two-story blocks. “It seems like the only area being targeted are low income and distressed communities to keep it uniform.”

The Nutter administration and some neighborhood leaders feel the moratorium would stifle development, depress property values, and interfere with public investment in the neighborhood.

The President of the Point Breeze Community Development Coalition, Claudia Sherrod, says disputes in the Breeze are best dealt with by the individuals affected. “Let the community – block by block – deal with the three-story issue, as they deem necessary.”

Councilmen Jim Kenney recalls Queen Village neighbors went through similar gentrification issues in the 1970′s.

Reported By Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio.
[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

Following the mayor’s speech to City Council this morning (see related story), Councilman Frank Rizzo called the mayor’s budget “a first draft,” and he expects Nutter to wind up blaming Governor Corbett for the final result.

“The strategy to have this budget before the governor’s budget is orchestrated,” says Rizzo, a Republican.  “I think that what you see today will not be what we get at the end of the day.”

Corbett gives his state budget address next Tuesday.  He’s putting the final touches on it now, and is expected to detail cutbacks across the Commonwealth to plug a projected $4-billion deficit.

Councilman Jim Kenney, a Democrat, says Philadelphia should brace itself.

“If you look at the governor’s situation, it’s a dire one.  He has Republican majorities in the House and Senate, so he gets pretty much what he’s asking for.”

Kenney would like Nutter to adjust his proposal once state funding levels are known, so that Council has time to digest the numbers and pass its version of the budget by the end of May.

Councilman Frank DiCicco agrees that it will take days if not weeks to sift through the implications of Corbett’s state budget, and the General Assembly may not adopt a budget until midsummer.  Councilwoman Marian Tasco points out that Council must pass its version of a budget before the end of May.

“So we have to move forward and make adjustments as we need to,” Tasco admits.  The city’s fiscal year begins July 1st.

In a follow-up interview with Mayor Nutter on the timing question, he said everyone deserved to know his priorities now.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060.

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

By a 10-to-7 vote, Council approved a plan authored by Councilman Jim Kenney that would have the Parking Authority get involved in the rotation system to dispatch tow trucks to scenes of accidents.

Kenney says this will end gouging. “Where (towers) race to accident scenes, hook people’s cars, take them to body shops and auction them off, or hold their cars hostage for exorbitant fees: these are the horror stories we get from people. I’ve seen invoices where they charge 7-or-8-hundred dollars for the storage of an automobile.”

Under this plan, the cars would have to be taken to Parking Authority lots — not those of the towers. But the operators say the income lost will drive them out of business.

Joseph Parente of the Philadelphia Independent Towers and Salvers Association, says they’ll challenge this in court.

“Immediately, as soon as we can get the attorney on the phone. We’re going to lose revenues. They’re going to try to control everything that we do. Our jobs are being taken away from us. — our work.”

The measure now goes to the mayor. Aides say it is under review.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060