PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia voters will see a number of charter change questions on the May primary ballot, including two that would remove gender-specific language.
Voters will be asked to change both the city's Home Rule Charter and Educational Supplement to remove all gendered language. The charter was already altered to remove specific gendered nouns, such as "councilman" and "councilmanic."
Now voters will be asked to decide whether "policemen" and "firemen" go, as well the pronouns "he," "him" and "his" in sections about the mayor and other city officials.
"Words matter, and can have unintended consequences, such as implying that all police officers and firefighters are men," said Councilmember Cherelle Parker, who sponsored the bills.
Parker also sponsored a referendum to make the Fair Housing Commission a permanent part of city government. It's been around for 60 years, but only under the auspices of the mayor.
These questions will join one about the revamping of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on the ballot. That makes more questions on the ballot than candidates at the moment, as the Election Board waits for state House and Senate districts to be finalized so candidates can begin circulating petitions.
Council also passed a bill that will require developers to prepare rodent control plans before any demolition, rehab or new construction with excavation. The bill was introduced after several instances in which rats, driven from construction sites, infested neighboring properties.
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