In my ongoing effort to keep track of every mention of a complete rebuild of city government in the news, by political officials and by the citizenry, I present the latest bit from a comment by Ray Murphy of Young Philly Politics:

I do think that the form of “strong mayor” government that 70 wants to protect has created a culture where most folks–Council, Controller, and media alike–are all a bit nervous to question the Mayor too aggressively on any topic. Because he wields so much power.

Perhaps a topic for another day, but a “City Charter convention” to talk through the function of the Charter some 50 plus years after its writing is necessary.

The controversy swirling around a judge’s decision to halt Mayor Nutter’s planned library closure has brought the “strong mayor” form of government into the spotlight.  The city’s charter basically puts all executive and administrative power into the hands of the mayor leaving City Council with certain oversight and legislative capabilities but no power to force the mayor to do anything or prevent him from actions.

That is, except for an ordinance passed in the 1980s over the veto of Mayor Wilson Goode gave City Council the power to deny the mayor permission to close or sell any city run facility.  (State Representative Mark Cohen explains the background of the “Capital Facilities Closure Act” sponsored by his late father, Councilman David Cohen.)

Continuing with the “strong mayor” form would definitely be on the table if such a “City Charter convention” were to happen.