An evening question and answer session with city officials about Philadelphia’s business license fees drew several dozen people Wednesday evening to a bar in Old City, bloggers among them.

KYW’s Robin Culverwell reports the session at National Mechanics came in response to complaints about large business fees for small business owners.

David Dorman is the Compliance Director for the city Revenue Department:

“There’s no bloggers tax.”

The tone was civil, the beer was cold, and the issue at hand – definitely hot. Small business owners, including Jeff DiMasi, say how business taxes are applied to them is unfair, especially if someone earns money for a short time in the city and has to fork over $300 for a “business privilege tax.”

“They need to completely rethink how they look at it.”

All agree change will take time, and fellow small business owner Gloria Bell knows that:

“The fact that they called this meeting tonight, they’re willing to come out, they’re willing to take questions of any kind is a positive step forward.”

City officials say for starters, they’re listening.