Man pictured on the left accuses the mayor of neglecting the black community

Last night’s town hall meeting was North Philly’s chance to weigh in on Mayor Michael Nutter’s budget cuts. The event was at Benjamin Franklin High School on N. Broad St. and Spring Garden St. (see map), and residents took advantage of having the mayor’s ear to chronicle the bleak living conditions in North Philadelphia. People described how they felt that cops treated them with little respect, that it’s becoming more dangerous for teachers in the inner-city schools, and not enough is being done to create jobs.

Last night’s town hall meeting had the lowest turnout of the six, with about 200 people. But this one had the biggest turnout among black residents. About a third of the crowd were African-Americans.

Pro African and African-American rights The Uhuru Movement used last night's meeting make a statement

The town hall meeting was also targeted by the Uhuru Movement, which according to statements made last night, view government as part of the machinery of institutionalized racism. About 12 speakers had very similar accusations that Mayor Nutter himself is a criminal for letting blacks continue to live in society plagued with racial inequities.

There were still a number of citizens who protested the mayor’s plan to close some libraries, deactivate several fire engine companies and close most of the city’s swimming pools. Brian McBride, who heads the Local22 of the Firefighters union, asked Fire Commission Lloyd Ayers that if the city had not forced him to cut his budget by $10.5 million, would he still have thought about closing the fire engine companies? Ayers didn’t really answer him, and instead restated the obvious that he was asked to reduce his budget and that’s what he did. The fire union believes the city has wanted to reduce fire fighting crews and is using the budget gap as a convenient excuse to move ahead with it.

At each of the town hall meetings, there are always some folks who really have thought about ways the city could save money. My favorite was a man who said police officers should be allowed to testify by phone in court hearings. He said, he had heard that in some cases, witnesses can offer testimony by phone. This suggestion is aimed at reducing police overtime. The mayor said it was a good suggestion but said the city has no control over the procedures of judges and the the D.A.’s office.

There are two more planned town hall meetings. The next one is Tuesday, Dec 16th at the Kingsessing Recreation Center, 5100 Chester Ave. (see map)

Picture gallery from last night’s meeting at Benjamin Franklin High School.

Paper sign in an area near the auditorium

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The over sized room made turnout appear light

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Man holds a map showing vacant lots in his Francisville neighborhood

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Photos of celebrated alumni from Benjamin Franklin H.S. From left to right. James Shiller, John Chaney, Augustus Baxter, Ernest Bundy, Rev. Roland Jones. Last picture had no name inscribed in the frame or the name tag fell off

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Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Andrew Altman looking tired, next to him is Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler