Fire department supporters came out in force last night in North East Philly

Philadelphia’s fourth town hall meeting on the budget cuts was a feisty event with Mayor Michael Nutter having to verbally spar with a large contingent of fire department supporters.  There were a few dozen residents all holding bright yellow signs that read “No Fire Department Cutbacks.” One resident sarcastically told the mayor that if he was going to cut fire services, he better keep the pools open because if there was a fire they are going to need the water for bucket brigades. This was the fourth of eight planned public meetings to discuss the city’s recently announced budget cuts.

Town Hall meeting at the John Perzel Community Center

In addition to protests over the fire department cuts, residents continue to critisize the city’s plan to close library branches.  One resident complained that with the closing of one branch it could mean a four year old child having to walk two miles to the nearest library. To that, the mayor as he repeated alot last night said he is not happy about any of the cuts that he has ordered but with the city facing a $108 million dollar budget gap in just the next seven months that citizens have to accept that the city cannot continue to provide all the services that we’re accustomed too.

Mayor Nutter broke format from past meetings by speaking at times in the center of the auditorium (driving the TV News crews crazy after setting up for podium shots)

Mayor Nutter has been tweaking his style after each town hall meeting. Last night he used his wireless mic to walk nearly in the center of the large auditorium. That allowed him to be up close with people, but leaving his cabinet directors where they were lined up at a table that now seemed invisible to the crowd. But he also started the meeting differently by asking three of his cabinet directors to address the crowd to explain the cuts in their departments. The three last night were the Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson, and Library Director Siobhan Reardon. This worked well in helping people put names and faces together. Probably the most entertaining moments at each one of these meetings is about 20 minutes into each one the mayor introduces the majority of his cabinet one-by-one. The end result feels like a high school popularity contest with some folks getting little to no applause, or booed in the case of the library director, and big cheers for Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

The event held by the city is meant both to explain how Mayor Nutter came up with his budget cut plan that includes closing five engine companies and two ladder companies. Other reductions planned are the closing of 11 library branches, most of the city’s 68 pools.

More than 400 people turned out filling every seat at the John Perzel Community Center (see map) making last night’s town hall meeting the most heavily attended of the four meetings held to date. There are four one with the next scheduled for tonight at 7pm at the Roxborough Memorial Hospital located on 5800 Ridge Avenue. (see map)

One final note. At each meeting the Managing Director Camille Barnett asks citizens to fill out a form that ask you to allocate 100 points to various city departments. This has the effect of forcing citizens to step in the mayor’s shoes and have to make the same tough decisions he’s making.
The City’s website has results tallied for first three town hall meetings. Most people give the most points to the police department and fewest points to tax cuts. Check it out.