City Council Passes Major Legislation In End-Of-Year Session
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Relief for car owners who fear rogue towing operations: Philadelphia city council passed a bill on Thursday making it harder to tow without cause.
Towing operators showed up in force to try to dissuade the bill's sponsor, Maria Quinones Sanchez, but she could not be moved.
"This is a consumer bill, and I most importantly get elected by people to protect people. We can't let people's cars get stolen," she said.
Even opponents like tow operator Lew Blum admit that safeguards are needed.
"I humbly come before you to offer an apology on behalf of the Philadelphia parking lots and driveway enforcement. We are deeply sorry for the turmoil and inconvenience the Philadelphia citizens have experienced," said Blum.
The bill requires that a car be ticketed before it can be towed, to assure it really was parked illegally and not towed arbitrarily.
Sanchez did agree to a 30-day delay, so the bill won't take effect till after the holidays.
Council passed more than 60 other bills, including three that set up a charter change referendum.
Voters will be asked in the spring to let the city move from awarding contracts to the "lowest responsible bidder" to the "best value."
The Kenney administration insists best value can be made as quantifiable as lowest bid but some council members had to be convinced.
The bill's sponsor, Bobby Henon, lobbied through most of the unusually long session to get the needed votes and defended the bill.
"The process is open and transparent at every single turn," Henon said.
