Nutter To Merge Fairmount Park Commission And Rec. Dept.?
This just in over the transom:
Mayor Nutter will participate in a ceremonial bill signing of legislation, introduced by Councilmembers Reynolds Brown and Clarke and passed by City Council, proposing a Charter Change to merge the Department of Recreation and the Fairmount Park Commission. On November 4th voters will be asked: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to merge the powers and duties of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation into a newly-created Department of Parks and Recreation, to establish a new Commission on Parks and Recreation, and to provide for its powers and duties?
Well, with your help, he will. Wonky as it may be, this is kind of a big deal, and a drastic move to boot. What do you think?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
What would this mean? Less attention to Fairmount Park? More money? Someone tell me please!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Kinda shocked that Philebrity is in favor of this one.
Basically, here’s the story:
Darrell Clarke one day was pissed that he couldn’t get a lawn cut on a baseball field because it was handled by the Fairmount Park Commission and not the Rec Dept (or the other way around, I’m not sure). In return, he proposed a bill that would do something that hasn’t been done in over 100 years; The City of Philadelphia would be in control of the Fairmount Park Commission.
The reason the city doesn’t know is because it allowed an independent commission to handle the parks and, in return, the city has benefited a lot. If Nutter signs this bill (and I’m sure there are going to be protesters to try and stop this), the city would control it.
Considering all the budget problems and such, I have no idea why the hell Nutter would sign this now. This is just a terrible idea… why? Just… why?
The last line of defense are voters to defeat this. I’m actually shocked that, 21 days before the election, that a new ballot question can be put on the ballot. I smell corruption…
October 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
EDIT: Sorry, didn’t mean to say “Philebrity in favor of this”! MY MISTAKE!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@Larry: Yeah, Larr, thanks for the edit. To be clear, we don’t know what the hell is up with this. It’s a drastic move, feels like it’s getting shoved onto the ballot at the last minute, and with no clear explanation of what benefit this would be to the city.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The Rec Department cuts the lawn on the baseball field, even if the field is in the middle of the park. The Commission cius the lawn around the ball field. Seem redundant? The Rec department answers to the Mayor’s office. The Commission are appointed by judges. Seems reasonable to consolidate.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Sorry for the typos. Sentance two should read “The Commission cuts the lawn…”
October 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
maybe they can poison or castrate some geese in that park. it gotten to the point where you can’t bike through anymore without stopping to avoid them
October 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
On paper, it sounds like a good idea to consolidate the two, but the reality is that it can easily create corruption in city hall. They still need to explain how people would be appointed to this commission or if it all comes under the current Rec Department.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Backup there commenters.
The legislation was passed this past spring after working with the Philadelphia Parks Alliance many other stakeholders for almost 2 years to make sure that all possible concerns are addressed (not 21 days before the election).
In the end, the merger is going to mean more efficient use of money, better services, a more open and transparent process for selecting Park commissioners and rules about the selling and leasing of park land, which have never existed before.
Check out http://www.philaparks.org for fact sheets and whatnot.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Don’t be seduced mcknappers and others. This is a dangerous piece of legislation which is likely to result in the disappearance of the park. Remember that the forefathers designed the Commission nominating process (giving it to the judges) so that it might act as a checks-and-balance against the Mayor and City Council which if times got tough might opt to sell parkland for quick cash.
WARNING: Times are now tough.
Note that Council passed this legislation in a way that allows a simple majority vote of Council to allow for the sale or lease of parkland. Has anyone heard of Council perogative?!!!!? The unwritten rule is that if one district council member wants to sell land in his/her district all councilmembers (so that they don’t have someone stand in THEIR way) vote to support them. That means, it will only take ONE member of council to dispose of parkland.
This is DANGEROUS!!!
Another quick point. The so-called budget increase meant to demonstrate the Mayor’s support for the park? Well, that just got slashed with the budget cuts AND given the budget crisis it is likely that the park will actually be worse off budgetarily than it was before the so-called increase.
This is DANGEROUS!
If you care about the park, you’d call your councilmembers right now and tell them to promise you that this will NOT go on the ballot in November.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Supporters of public parks are supporters of this bill. So is Committee of Seventy which focuses on reduction of government corruption, among other things.
See here: http://www.seventy.org/Elections_Philadelphia_Ballot_Questions.aspx
October 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I would much rather have the appointment of the Park comissioner happen in an open and transparent manner than appointed by a judge behind closed doors. City Council has always been involved in the control of Fairmount Park land, now there will be more community involvement, as well as funding.
Also:
Citizens’ Assembly on Park Reform
With Mayor Nutter
Monday, October 20th, 6 – 7:30pm
Friends Select School, 1651 Benjamin Franklin Parkway