Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th District) introduced Thursday a bill to repeal the 10-year tax abatement, a resolution to examine the influx of rogue, unregulated recovery homes, and a resolution to look at the impact environmental health disparities have on the City of Philadelphia.
Said Councilwoman Bass about her tax abatement legislation: “Our City has changed since the tax abatements first came into existence, and our priorities have now shifted to providing funding and resources for our schools that are desperately needed. Right now, we have schools that can’t stay open if it’s too hot outside or if it rains too much, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“We need new school buildings, renovations on existing schools, and much more. Returning to the traditional property tax structure is going to help us reach that goal.”
The bill will now head to committee.
Council passed Bass’ resolutions calling on the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to examine the proliferation of unlicensed and unhelpful recovery homes around Philadelphia, and to explore the impact that pollutants and environmental health disparities have on Philadelphia communities.
Bass represents the zip code with one of the highest rates of particulate matter in the nation, and the zip code with some of the highest rates of child asthma hospitalization in Philadelphia.
Both resolutions were passed out of Council Thursday and will receive their respective hearings in the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
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Councilwoman Cindy Bass represents the 8th Council District, which includes Germantown, Mt. Airy, Nicetown, Tioga, Chestnut Hill, portions of Logan, Olney, Feltonville and West Oak Lane. She is Chair of Council’s committees on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Public Health and Human Services.
