City Council hears two hours of public testimony, closes hearings on ZCC proposals
Council heard from five panels consisting of about a dozen witnesses. Most spoke in favor of passing the draft, though several made specific recommendations for amendments.
A coalition of Southwest Philadelphia community associations sent more than a dozen representatives to the hearing, some of whom held up signs protesting a draft provision which would allow re-entry facilities, or halfway houses for former prisoners, in their community. The group characterized such facilities as “prisons,” and said they would be a detriment to the quality of life in Southwest Philadelphia.
According to the charter amendment which created the ZCC, Council now has 30 days to pass a resolution sending recommendations back to the Commission. Once that happens, the Commission has another 30 days to send a final report back to Council. ZCC executive director Eva Gladstein has said that the Commission plans to issue its final report by mid-November.
The ZCC will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, October 12th, at 8 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.
FULL STORY AND VIDEO TO FOLLOW
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