Points to Ponder Index

Seniors Should Take Control

If there is ever a moment when Philadelphia’s long term residents should take control of their government it is now. Pennsylvania has the second oldest group of residents in this nation (next to Florida) and they are about to get hit on the head one more time by our mayor and his financial advisors.

It’s not bad enough that this city’s political machine has systematically driven many of the tax paying manufacturing businesses out of the city over the last 30 years (look out the window of the R7 or R8 on your next trip into center city) and then followed that up with sweetheart 10 year tax abatements on so-called new construction that often gives the wealthiest the lowest taxes in the city for extended periods.

Then we have the lackluster tax collection process that leaves half a billion in uncollected taxes on the books for years claiming they are uncollectible.  A check of who owes them is often eye-opening. Many are those holding elected and appointed offices or running recognized active businesses.

Then we have the already disproportionate way property assessments have been done for years. The so called remedy is a major reassessment of all property to “Actual Value” that will be the most massive increase in taxes in this city in its history if carried out in the manner suggested.

One of the reasons why this city has lost only 600,000 residents and not more in the last 30 years is because in some neighborhoods taxes are low enough that people on fixed incomes can afford to stay.  Seniors are most likely voters and that group should unify and demand that some kind of fair grandfathering of assessments and real estate taxes (which has been done elsewhere) must be the first priority before the reckless plan of Mayor Nutter even starts.

Jim Foster, Editor