by KYW's Mike Dunn
Philadelphia City Council has given an initial okay to portions of Mayor Nutter's controversial budget cutting plan -- but not before some lawmakers complained bitterly about cuts to libraries, swimming pools, and fire engine companies on which they had no vote.
The session got heated as some councilmembers including Frank DiCicco (above) criticized the mayor for, in their view, not providing City Council with sufficient data to explain the closure of the 11 libraries, 68 pools, five fire engine companies and two ladder companies (see previous story).
Councilman Bill Green mocked the mayor's "new day, new way" campaign slogan:
"We're talking about respect for this body (City Council), openness, accountability, new day, new way of operating. That's what we expect."
Green and others wanted to delay voting until more information arrived. But Councilman Jim Kenney argued that would only make the city's fiscal woes worse:
"This is a tsunami. It's coming. And unless we do something to prepare for it, we're going to get blown over by it."
The six bills approved raise some city fees and suspend planned tax cuts.
City Council also approved an unrelated measure that will raise the rates at parking meters in center city and University City from $1.00 to $2.00 per hour. Those additional revenues go to the School District.
Final votes on all the measures could come in early December.
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