3 new Philadelphia Council members forgo city car

Of the six new members of Philadelphia City Council, only three will take a city vehicle.

Instead of staking a city car, Councilman Bobby Henon said he decided to purchase his own vehicle.

“It’s a personal preference. I don’t begrudge any council member that decided to take a car,” he said. “I’m fortunate enough to have my own personal car and, in this economic climate and times, I’ve very happy with my personal car that I am using right now.”

Council members Mark Squilla and Cindy Bass will also provide their own transportation.

Councilmen Kenyatta Johnson David Oh and Dennis O’Brien are taking city cars. Oh said he will share it with his staffers.

“My office and I serve the entire city from the far Northeast to South Philadelphia,” he said. “The car is a city asset, to go to meetings and attend events on behalf of the public interest.”

Close to two-thirds of council members use city cars.

Due to an editing error, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson was misidentified in an earlier version of this story.