11/04/2002 Tax Reform Compact (Ed Goppelt)

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11/04/2002 Tax Reform Compact (Ed Goppelt)

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Joshua Sevin Welcomes the Press
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Joshua Sevin Welcomes the Press
2002/11/04 Sevin and Mark Kahn, both of Young Involved Philadelphians organized today's event. YIP is afraid that the Commission may become a big waste of time so they're asking pols who are serious about tax reform to sign onto their Tax Reform Commission Compact lest the Commission become yet another avenue to do nothing at the taxpayers' expense.

I am told Sevin did a good job of moderating a difficult debate between Union Boss Pat Gillespie and Inky Investigative Reporter Nathan Gorenstein.

Crowd in Front of Stewart Miller's Home
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Crowd in Front of Stewart Miller's Home
2002/11/04 This was an insiders' event, no question. Of the 20 people present at the event 2-3 were members of the public, 3 were politicians, and the 15 or so others were "the usual suspects" from Philadlephia's politcal class. No matter, though: the event got great press coverage. NBC-10 TV, WRTI, KYW and Jimmy Tayoun's Public Record were all present. The event was held in front of Queen Village Resident Stewart Millers home at 752 S. 3rd St. Mr. Miller received a 90% increase in his property tax for 2003.

Councilmanic Conveyance
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Councilmanic Conveyance
2002/11/04

Press Car
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Press Car
2002/11/04 This car appears to belong to a reporter for Jimmy Tayoun's Public Record newspaper. Tayoun's paper has a circulation of 30,000 and covers Philadelphia's political class.

Jonathan Saidel:
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Jonathan Saidel: "I'm very proud of these young people here."
2002/11/04 City Controller Saidel has been an energetic advocate for the Land Value Tax which he says wouldn't penalize people for fixing up their homes the way Philadelphia's current property tax does.

Brett Mandel & Matthew Bailey
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Brett Mandel & Matthew Bailey
2002/11/04 Mandel is head of the Controller's Financial and Policy Analysis Unit where Bailey also works. Last year, Mandel's unit released a sweeping indictment of Philadelphia's crazy patchwork quilt of taxes, The Tax Structure Report.

Frank DiCicco:
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Frank DiCicco: "We want something different than what was done the past half century"
2002/11/04 DiCicco is Councilman for South Philadelphia's 1st District. He has been out front on the property tax issue: sponsoring legislation to freeze taxes (Bills 020490 and 020491) where they are, holding community meetings, and encouraging residents to appeal their property assessments.

Blondell Reynolds Brown:
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Blondell Reynolds Brown: "I stand in full and complete support of the Tax Reform Commission."
2002/11/04 Reynolds Brown is an at-large Councilperson.