Papal weekend workers could catch a break says Nutter

Many people heading to work in Philadelphia during the papal visit will have to enter security zones just to get to their job.  

The city is promising to make it easier. 

Mayor Michael Nutter wouldn’t get into specifics as he ended an rally at a downtown hotel designed to bring more people into town for the papal visit.

“Just had a meeting with the secret service,” Nutter said.  “We will have some special provisions for businesses that will be open on Saturday and Sunday who have to get through magnetometer areas.”

The mayor would not be specific about what the special provisions will mean, but the city has been doing everything it can to encourage businesses to stay open for the big weekend.

Businesses have been asking the city to cut down on the hassles employees have to navigate on the way to work.

Areas near the Ben Franklin Parkway and Independence Mall are looking at the most inconvenience, especially once security fencing starts to go up.  Since it can’t go up overnight, some workers will have to begin filing through checkpoints even before Pope Francis arrives.  And cars will have to move from certain parking spots a week before his arrival to clear the way for fencing.