PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council members voted Thursday in favor of an amendment to change the Philadelphia home rule charter to create a public safety director position.
The new job would pay $265,000 per year.
Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration has been at odds with Council President Darrell Clark, who authored the legislation. They disagree about whether the new job would improve public safety.
Prior to the vote, council members heard from two people opposing the position.
Marta Gutenberg questioned whether the new public safety director would lessen crime in Philadelphia.
“My fear is that the kind of internal wrangling that stops Philadelphia, at so many levels, will just be worsened by appointing such a position,” Gutenberg said.
She said what has been shown to work is community members patrolling their own streets.
“I urge Council to use whatever money they were planning to spend on this new position to support the real public safety that has emerged from individuals,” she said.
Obona Hagins also opposes the idea. He described his childhood, growing up with gun violence in Philadelphia, starting with the death of his father when he was 2 years old.
“A chief public safety officer sounds good. It looks good on paper. But it seems to me that this is more smoke and mirrors to fool the people into thinking that something is really being done in regards to public safety,” he said.
Hagins says there are already people in city government tasked with ensuring public safety.
“You really need to stop introducing these bills and resolutions that absolve you from your work and your responsibility,” he said.
“I don't think this resolution should be passed. Instead, the committee on gun violence and the committees that deal with this should get in a room and figure out how to solve these problems.”
He also questioned whether the city was using its resources wisely.
“Your guys are getting paid enough. You have more than enough time and energy to take pictures and all this other kind of stuff. But what about dealing with the issues of this city? What about stopping the crime and the violence?”
Following the vote to amend the charter, City Council members then voted 13-0 to put it on the ballot in May.