(PHILADELPHIA) September 13, 2018 – In February 2018, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced Resolution No. 180082 “Urging the Philadelphia Parking Authority to Recognize the Martin Luther King Day Holiday as a Non-Ticketing Day.” 11 Councilmembers co-sponsored the bill which unanimously passed.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority Board has indicated that it intends to apply the same standard of enforcement as it does on the other recognized non-ticketing holidays to Martin Luther King Day. Other non-ticketing holidays include New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Philadelphia Parking Authority Executive Director Scott Petri stated, “We, at the PPA, are proud that we are part of a City and County that leads the nation in volunteerism on MLK Day. Many of our employees take the day to serve. We understand how important this day of volunteerism is to communities throughout Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is glad to help ease the concerns of all those who volunteer their time on Martin Luther King Day.”
“The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King is indispensable to the current legal, cultural and moral landscape of this country and the service that is paid forward every year in his memory has become a hallmark of our City. I am thankful to the PPA Board for moving the needle on my resolution to recognize MLK Day as a non-ticketed holiday in Philadelphia,” said Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. “It is imperative that we recognize and celebrate renowned African-Americans in the social landscape of Philadelphia, weaving in the stories and legacies they have left behind to inspire future generations. We must make certain that we are also adding memorials and formal observances of those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of others, and most importantly, those that are historically underserved and have been left out.”
Philadelphia’s annual celebration of this holiday is one of the most monumental MLK Day events in the United States. The Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day event is considered one of the largest MLK events in the nation, with over 150,000 volunteers participating in 1,800 service projects in 2018 alone.
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Photo: Philadelphia Parking Authority
