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City Councilman Frank DiCicco

By Gwen Shaffer (shaffer@citypaper.net)

Frank DiCicco is currently serving his second four-year term representing City Council's First District. A lifelong resident of South Philly, he began his career in public service as a committeeman in 1965 and has worked in government ever since. DiCicco, 56, is one of council's several "Fumocrats" - so-called because they are protégés of powerful state Sen. Vince Fumo.

While DiCicco has fostered close ties with community groups in his district, much of the legislation he sponsors is pro-business. He has used his posts as chair of the Streets and Services Committee and vice chair of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to usher through bills reforming Philadelphia's tax policies. Often DiCicco speaks of the need to make it easier for developers and others to do business in Philadelphia. He has worked to encourage economic development in his own district, including efforts to realize projects such as the development of Penn's Landing and the revitalization of the area near the now-defunct Mt. Sinai Hospital in South Philadelphia.

In 1972, his connections landed him a job at Philadelphia Traffic Court, where he spent the next 14 years directing various divisions - the Scofflaw and Enforcement Units, Courts, and Violations and Cashiers. After leaving Traffic Court in 1986, DiCicco became a budget analyst for the Pennsylvania State Senate. That position allowed him to gain fiscal experience and to work closely with Fumo. The financial skills he honed as a budget analyst also helped DiCicco get a job in the Philadelphia controller's office in 1990. There he investigated waste and abuse and supervised the auditing and surveillance functions of the department. In 1993, DiCicco briefly returned to Traffic Court as Administrator, before winning elected office.

DiCicco has said he believes that a strong community starts with civic involvement. Towards that end, he founded the Italian Market Civic Association and co-founded Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods in 1991, along with Fumo. The neighborhood cleanup organization had been funded for years almost entirely with grants secured by Fumo from Pennsylvania's Community Revitalization Program. In 1998, however, the organization raised more than $1 million in anonymous donations. And on its tax forms for the following year, Citizens Alliance reported receiving $5.6 million from unnamed contributors. DiCicco resigned as head of the group's board soon after the media began pressing for an explanation of who has been writing the checks. Editor's Note: The tax forms Gwen refers to are IRS Form 990s,an annual financial statement all non-profits are required to file. Citizens Alliance's filings are available for 1999 and for 1998. See also Gwen's stories of Feb 24, 2000 and April 13 regarding Citizens Alliance's attempt to duck a state audit.

The councilman serves on numerous boards including Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the Walnut Street Theatre, the Reading Terminal Market, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Board, Penn's Landing Corporation, Fund for Philadelphia, and Jefferson Square Community Development Corporation. Like a true product of South Philly, DiCicco is a Mummer and is presently a member of the board of the Mummer's Museum.

Perhaps no local legislator received more attention this past session than DiCicco. Television cameras captured a fired up DiCicco railing against drunk revelers who trashed South Street on Fat Tuesday. Sidewalk vendors packed council chambers to successfully block regulations proposed by DiCicco. Newspapers mentioned his role in creating a dog run in Columbus Park, his cautious attitude toward Mayor Street's blight plan, his support of outdoor advertising, and the mediating he did in a failed effort to help restaurants and health advocates reach agreement on a proposed smoking ban.

But DiCicco's face truly dominated City Council earlier this summer when he insisted on pushing through an amendment to Philadelphia's zoning appeals process. The legislation - aimed at paralyzing anti-billboard activists/ - was publicly opposed by more than 100 civic and community groups. Even after DiCicco finally decided against calling for a floor vote on the bill June 14, he promised to return to council in the Fall with another version.

Both of DiCicco's two adult sons live in Philadelphia. Chris is an attorney and member of the SEPTA board. Frank DiCicco, Jr. is a dentist.