Bill Could Make Businesses Responsible For Customers' Behavior
by Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia City Council Committee has advanced a bill that would expand the definition of nuisance businesses to include their customers' behavior.
The bill would give the Department of Licenses and Inspections the power to order a business to cease operations if it was repeatedly cited for nuisance behavior.
The bill identifies 11 activities– from loitering to prostitution–as nuisance behavior that the owner of a business where it takes place can be held responsible for. Other nuisance behaviors include excessive noise, litter on sidewalks, public urination or defecation, and gambling.
If a business owner is cited for the behaviors three times in 60 days, or 7 times in a year, the city can issue a cease operations order unless the owner takes remedial action.
The bill's sponsor Cindy Bass says these problems are unheard of in some neighborhoods but common in others, those with an abundance of small stores known as "stop and go's."
"The behavior that we face by some of our businesses is truly outrageous," said Bass.
"Young men take advantage of merchants and force them to passively participate in their criminal activity," said Councilman Curtis Jones
Businesses split over the bill. Some testified in support but Benjamin Rowe of the Baltimore Avenue business association, who found the bill too sweeping.
"I can't support a bill that leaves me three bags of Cheetos away from losing my business license," said Rowe.
The committee unanimously recommended the bill to the full council.
