Local Attorney Wants Council To Allow Public To Comment On More At Meetings

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A local attorney who fought City Hall and won still has more fight left in him, much to City Council's chagrin.

Darrell Zaslow (at podium in photo) of the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia took his battle all the way to the State Supreme Court arguing that City Council should open the floor for public comment at its regular meetings.

Council argued that comment at committee hearings is sufficient. But the high court disagreed and ruled in favor of Zaslow last month. Now Zaslow has exercised his right to speak at Council for two straight weeks and he is not satisfied even with the new procedures.

Council so far is only allowing comment on bills up for final passage.

"By restricting the public comment to only matters of concern which are in front of you today, and not matters of concern which the public may feel is important, I believe you are in violation yet of the (state) Sunshine Act," said Zaslow.

And he implied that if Council doesn't revise the rules, he may wage another legal battle.

Reported By Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio.

In:
• Philadelphia City Council