Philadelphia City Council To Debate Giving Yet Another Contract To PPA
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A city councilman says he has a way to reign in unlicensed contractors in Philadelphia: have Parking Authority officers check for business licenses while they're out writing parking tickets.
Councilman Jim Kenney says legitimate contractors are hurt by scores of fly-by-night contractors who don't bother to get the proper permits or licenses. And he says Licenses and Inspections doesn't have the manpower to go out and check for the paperwork.
So Kenney has introduced a bill that would have Parking Authority officers do the checking:
"All they say is, 'can I see your contractor's license?' 'I don't have one, I don't know what that is.' 'OK, no problem.' (The officer) goes to the back of the truck, takes down the license number. That generates an address and a name of who owns the truck. That is turned over to L-and-I and (the) Revenue (Department), and they pursue them."
Kenney's bill will be debated in committee. He denies that this is an inappropriate expansion of the Parking Authority's powers.
This past week City Council approved another Kenney bill that allows the Authority to oversee the dispatch of private tow trucks to accidents.
Reported By Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio.
