Monday, October 25, 2004

CITY COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH SEPTA

The Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities will meet today at 2:00pm, assuming people can get through the "Clinton-lock" due to today's rally in support of U.S. Sen. John Forbes Kerry (D-Mass./Ted Kennedy's back pocket). The long-time Liberal back-bencher turned presidential wannabe will be joined by former President Bill Clinton (head for the hills, ladies) at Love Park this afternoon. Naturally, there's no mention of any SEPTA related detours around the area on the SEPTA web site, as Howard Bender reported that several streets in and around Center City are closed off. Back to the hearing...

The hearing will deal with Council resolution 040821, a resolution "authorizing the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings on the importance of public transportation to the Philadelphia and the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, to evaluate the need for increased dedicated state funding for public transit, and to review strategies to enhance coordinated and comprehensive transportation policy and planning."

Somehow, I have a feeling that Fearless Leader, or at the very least one of the Rotating Resumes at 1234 Market will make a public appearance to promote the "coalition of the parrots" known as "Save Transit". It wouldn't bother me at all if some council members use this hearing as an opportunity to take a few shots at SEPTA.

Oh, and the chairman of this committee? One Councilman Michael Nutter (D-4th), who may not exactly be on Fearless Leader's holiday greeting card list after the fiasco involving the restoration of the 15 to trolley service...

Assuming the system isn't gridlocked because of the aforementioned rally, we will attempt to report on this hearing...

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