Many Citizens Gave Two Minute Testimonials at the Budget Workshops

As part of the four citizen bugdet workshops being held this month, participants are being a chance to record two-minute videos (un edited) to give Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter advice on how to balance the budget. Out of the more than 400 people who turned out to the first workshop on Thursday, Feb 12 in Northeast Philadelphia, 50 people went into one of three rooms labeled “video testimonial” to give a mayor a piece of their mind.

I ran one of the cameras, and had everyone from a candidate running for office who felt we shouldn’t close a single library until the city collects outstanding debt, a firefighter who says if the mayor cuts anymore companies (i.e. engine company) that it would put citizens in real danger, and a Rec Dept staffer who made the case that her department offers important pre-school and afterschool programs that help keep kids out of trouble.

To see nearly all of the video testimonials go to the PlanPhilly website where you can click on any of the first four videos to see them. Each video has between 10-15 people on each. If you gave a video and don’t see it, don’t be alarmed. It will eventually get posted.

The next citizen workshop is Wednesday, Feb. 18 Mastery Charter School, Pickett Campus, 5700 Wayne Ave. Registration begins at 6:00pm.