PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council overwhelmingly approved a resolution Thursday condemning President Donald Trump for portraying himself and behaving, like a king. Council also introduced a set of bills expanding the meanings of nuisance businesses.
The resolution references a White House post of the commander-in-chief wearing a crown, with the words, “Long Live The King,” and attempts to bypass Congress and the courts to dissolve federal agencies. Sponsor Jaime Gauthier notes that as the birthplace of American democracy, it’s important for Philadelphia to object.
“I think we have to be very loud and clear: This is wrong, this is dangerous,” she said. “A democracy is not something we just get to have. It’s something we have to protect.”
The resolution passed 15-to-one, with the council’s lone Republican voting no. Though purely symbolic, Gauthier hopes the resolution leads to something substantive.
“There’s so much going on right now that is dangerous to the people who live in this country but also dangerous for our democracy and I think we all have to come together and fight against it together and I’m hopeful people will be inspired by the resolution that we did,” she said.
City Council introduces bills expanding the definition and enforcement of nuisance businesses
Also happening at City Hall Thursday, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Cindy Bass stepped up her crusade against nuisance businesses, introducing two bills that would expand definitions and enforcement.
One of the bills would add “illegal tobacco sales” to the list of behaviors that could get a business classified as a nuisance. The other would require that any business that violates state tobacco laws to post signs that say they are not authorized to sell tobacco products.
Bass says she introduced the bills to send a message.
“Businesses that flout state tobacco regulations are not just engaging in minor infractions but in behaviors that threaten public health and safety,” she said. “Illegal tobacco sales disproportionately affect young people and vulnerable communities, particularly African American and Latino communities.”
Also at this week’s session, Councilman Isaiah Thomas introduced a bill to put speed cameras on the streets around seven schools, to make travel safer for students. As part of the plan, the cameras would be active during the hours when school zone lights are flashing.
All the bills will get committee hearings before a full council vote.