PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In addition to candidates, Philadelphia voters will see two questions on their ballots in Tuesday's election. Both are expected to pass easily.
The first question would create a Department of Aviation, freeing Philadelphia International Airport from the oversight of the Commerce Department, thus allowing it to faster execute contracts, grants and other documents.
Shane Doud, the airport's government affairs director, said creating the department would eliminate red tape that's cumbersome and unnecessary.
"You have a skilled group of folks down at the airport who understand the on-the-ground benefits of some of these changes, who understand the issues," he said, adding passengers will benefit from a nimbler process.
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The second question would give preference points for city jobs to graduates of the School District's Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools. City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson has been trying to get this on the ballot since she was elected three years ago.
It ran into opposition, stoked by her own colleague, David Oh, who created the false impression it would harm an existing preference for veterans. Richardson perservered.
"I would not give up on this," she said. "I'm passionate about our city's young people and it was important for me to provide them with a pathway to a wonderful, family-supporting and sustaining career with the City of Philadelphia."
Richardson said it will also help the city with its serious short-staffing problem. She added CTE graduates get more than 1,000 hours of training in their fields, so they show up ready on day one.
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