Phila. parade organizers will be billed for city costs

Organizers of Philadelphia’s many ethnic parades went to city hall yesterday to learn how much they will have to pay to cover any city costs.

Organizers of Philadelphia’s many ethnic parades went to city hall yesterday to learn how much they will have to pay to cover any city costs.

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[audio: 100125TMPARADE.mp3]

Representatives of everything from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to the Puerto Rican Day Parade met with top Nutter administration officials to discuss the policy change that mandates event organizers cover any costs incurred by the city. Michael Bradley runs the St. Patty’s Parade. He says they are fund-raising all year to cover the costs of a one day event and that shouldn’t be the case.

Bradley: Philadelphia wants to be seen as a world-class city  we want to recruit Democratic and national conventions here we want to have a World Cup and we also want to have the Olympics. We look cheap some times doing that nickel and dimming people, like charging for a podium.

Members of city council are trying to find other ways to cover the city’s costs. But Mayor Michael Nutter says the city’s budget problems will have to be the priority.