Feds want duck boats moved for security

A request to move Philadelphia’s duck-boats load zone is meeting some resistance. The move is being driven by the need to preserve national security.

A request to move Philadelphia’s duck-boats load zone is meeting some resistance. The move is being driven by the need to preserve national security.

Listen:
[audio: 090903tmboat.mp3]

Currently the “duck” boats, the amphibious trucks, which take tourists on tours through Philadelphia and on the Delaware River park on Sixth Street across from the Federal Courthouse. Federal officials have petitioned the city to move the vehicles citing security concerns. City Councilman Frank DiCicco represents the downtown historic district. He says the negotiations to establish parking zones for tourists buses and other vendors took a long time to hammer out.

So, it’s frustrating to me after having done all that work, staff and everything else involved  saying we’re going to have to undo two and a half years of work and we’re going to move the ducks

DiCicco says the city has sent a request to the U.S. District Court asking for specific reasons why the duck boats are a security threat. Calls to the court have not been returned.