Former Mayors Street, Rendell Share Thoughts on Nutter

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

Mayor Michael Nutter delivered his budget address to city council on Thursday -- calling for temporary sales and property tax hikes. Two former Philadelphia mayors weighed in on how the rookie is handling the situation.

KYW's Mike Dunn reports that Nutter threw down the gauntlet with city worker unions, and that gets a thumbs up from a man who also challenged the unions as mayor: Governor Rendell.

Ed Rendell eked concessions out of the municipal worker unions during the city's last major financial crisis in the early 90s.  So its 'been there, done that' for Rendell as he watched Mayor Nutter's challenge to the unions now.

Nutter wants concessions from those unions on pensions and health care benefits, and now-Governor Rendell concurs:

"The city health care costs are way out of whack, and those have to come down dramatically. And something has to happen about pensions. And we're hopeful that we can do something in Harrisburg not only for Philadelphia but to help every city in the Commonwealth with their pension costs."

As for Nutter's approach to boost property and sales taxes temporarily, Rendell says Nutter has no choice.

KYW's Steve Tawa reports that one person in council chambers for Mayor Nutter's budget address spent time on both the 4th and 2nd floors at City Call - as council president, and mayor.

John Street brought his Temple University urban politics class to view city government in action. He says Mayor Nutter is making some serious judgments on taxes and spending:

"He's basically saying we can't cut services anymore and these taxes are appropriate. The most important thing he has to do is make sure that residents and taxpayers understand that he's done everything possible to reduce the cost of government and reorganize government so it's as efficient as it could be."

How about the symbolic move to have council members give up their city vehicles? Street says it could backfire:

"Where you don't start walking backwards in efforts to get votes he needs for some pretty heavy lifting that will have to be done in this budget."