Mayor John Street announced yesterday that his administration will file a lawsuit against the state in order to take back control of on-street parking operations.
Street's action came after Governor Ed Rendell made a deal Monday with Speaker of the House of Representatives John Perzel (R-Phila.) and said he would support legislation allowing the Philadelphia Parking Authority's contract with the city to last another 10 years.
Rendell signed House Bill 1785 this week after the bill easily passed through both the House and the Senate last week. Sponsored by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks), the bill gives the right to manage parking to the PPA -- a state-run organization -- for another 10 years, with the provision that on-street parking net revenue up to $25 million goes into the city's general fund, and any revenue beyond that is directed to the Philadelphia School District.
The mayor cited the bill as an attack on his administration's ability to administer rules within city limits.
"Because of serious concerns about the impact of the bill on the principle of home rule, my [administration] intends to address that issue in the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Street wrote in an open letter to Rendell and Perzel.
Street spokeswoman Christine Ottow said the city's litigation tactics have yet to be determined, but "that's something the city's solicitors are determining. ... It's too early to say."
Rendell, however, believed the bill is in the best interest of all parties, and that the PPA is the best way for the city to administer parking.
"This agreement assures vitally important service will not be disrupted and resolves a dispute surrounding the Parking Authority with the best interest of the commonwealth in mind," Governor Rendell said in a press release. "We have all worked expeditiously to broker an agreement that is reasonable and fair to all interested parties."
Last week, Mayor Street strongly recommended that Rendell veto the bill, citing the inefficiency of the Parking Authority and the need for the city's central control over parking.
Rendell had tentatively agreed to veto the bill, and Street's administration was already preparing to take over management of parking on Feb. 16, the original contract's expiration date.
However, the governor changed some of the language in the bill and signed it into law, allowing the city to maintain control of police power and financial authority, while opting to give the Parking Authority continued control of on-street parking.
Despite Street's allegations that the bill will unfairly give too much power to the Parking Authority, Rendell asserted that changes to the bill left both sides with a more evenly distributed share of management.
"Senate Bill 279 suggested, however unintentionally, that the PPA had independent power to enforce parking regulations and affect the city's finances, which would have forced me to veto the bill," Rendell said. "This agreement adequately protects the city's police powers and financial authority."
Rendell also noted that the Parking Authority's continued control of on-street parking is the most efficient use of resources and lauded the potential for increased funding for the city school district.
Parking Authority Executive Director Joseph Egan acknowledged that the Parking Authority will continue its duties despite Street's suit and said that he refuses to become a part of the negative dialogue that surrounds the ongoing argument between Rendell and Street.
"I'm committed to being a strategic partner to the city," Egan said, if the two sides "can find some common ground."
