Philadelphia, June 16, 2017 – Councilman Derek S. Green (At-Large), Commerce Director Harold T. Epps, and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia President and CEO Rob Wonderling — the three co-chairs of the Special Committee on Regulatory Review and Reform — announced on Friday the business and policy leaders who also will offer their service in an effort to streamline the City’s regulatory environment and enhance Philadelphia’s economy.
At an announcement in City Hall, Council President Darrell L. Clarke thanked the Special Committee members for volunteering their time and expertise toward City Council’s mission of creating a fair and clear business environment for businesses and workers alike, which ultimately will benefit taxpayers.
“When this initiative was announced earlier this year, I invited Philadelphia businesses to partner with us to clean up the Philadelphia Code. The team that we have assembled is exactly what we need to do this work in service to achieving our shared goals of more family-sustaining jobs and strong local economies in each and every neighborhood,” Council President Clarke said. “I thank the Special Committee members for stepping up to make Philadelphia an even more attractive place to work and grow businesses.”
Councilman Green said: “As a former small business owner myself, I appreciate the contribution of time, energy, and experience being made by these volunteers to help improve our City. Poverty is the number one issue facing Philadelphia, and the best way to reduce it is by gaining jobs and growing businesses here in the City. With these members of the Special Committee, we can begin the work of reforming regulations that might unintentionally be limiting the growth of businesses in Philadelphia.”
Commerce Director Epps added: “As someone who spent most of his career in the private sector, I am familiar with both the frustrations of businesses when it comes to regulations, and the necessary role that good regulation has in our community. We need to support business owners – large and small. I look forward to working with my fellow Special Committee members to examine Philadelphia’s current regulations and identify meaningful solutions.”
“The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia is looking forward to working with Councilman Green, Commerce Director Epps, members of City Council, and business leaders across Philadelphia on this Committee to examine burdensome and outdated regulations,” Chamber President Wonderling said. “While we might have some differences of opinion, we are all committed to working in a collaborative and respectful way toward sensible regulatory reforms that will move our City forward.”
Three other legislators will join Councilman Green in service on the Special Committee: Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez (7th District), Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), and Councilman Al Taubenberger (At Large), who previously served as the President of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. They will be joined by Saleem Chapman, Policy and Advocacy Manager for the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN).
The Special Committee is rounded out by Philadelphia business leaders who will serve as co-chairs of six subcommittees:
- Saba Tedla, Owner, Booker’s Restaurant: Food & Hospitality Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Luz Cardenas, Partner, Cardenas-Grant Communications: Professional Services Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Marcus Iannozzi, Principal, Message Agency: Professional Services Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Laurie Actman, COO, Penn Center for Innovation: Start-up Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Chet Riddick, President & CEO, Alpha Enterprise Group: Manufacturing Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Anuj Gupta, General Manager: Reading Terminal Market: Small Business Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Michael Brown, CEO, Environmental Construction Services: Real Estate Subcommittee Co-Chair
The Special Committee on Regulatory Review and Reform will commence its work over the summer.
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Councilman Derek S. Green, Esquire is currently serving his first term as an At-Large member of Philadelphia City Council. Green is Chair of Council’s Committee on the Disabled and Persons with Special Needs. More information at www.phlcouncil.com/DerekGreen
