Philly council hears more public testimony on city budget

Members of Philadelphia City Council listened to the public Monday as testimony on the city’s budget plan was winding down.

 

Julie Foster of the Morris Park Restoration Association was one of those who made the trip to City Hall. Saying the parks need more money even though the city budget is very tight, she offered an example of problems in the system.

“Papa Park is where our students experience teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership, but due to a lack of funding, our basketball hoops have no hoops, and our soccer nets have no nets,” Foster said.

Frank Cervone of the Support Center for Child Advocates said the organization needs more money to deal with young victims of crime and neglect.

“Over the past decade, in almost every year, our public funding has gone down, our caseloads are high and rising,” he said. “Our costs, like everyone’s, are up and the challenges to our work are dramatic.”

Council members, who say they’re sympathetic to the pleas for funding, say the money just isn’t available to address those requests.