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Afterwards I braved the crowds to meet him. But I was so awe-struck that when I
asked him to autograph my program, I accidentally walked off with his remarks,
which he had mistakenly handed to me!
The pages of his speech were covered with his pencil markings, reminding
himself to emphasize certain words and phrases as he spoke most notably the
we in we the people.
Today I want to talk about how WE the people of Greater Harrisburg all benefit
from the Citys accomplishments, how we all have a stake in its successes, and
how we all must share in its challenges.
I believe that NOW is the time for the wider community to contribute decisively to
our capital citys ongoing recovery.
What lessons can history offer us in this regard? A historical understanding of the
workings of government can help us see the possibilities even in the midst of
controversy.
The Constitution remains a contested document today, just as it was 230 years
ago. As Jones told us, it was intended to be a living document, something for
future generations to improve and amend.
In 1787, the great political controversy was between Federalists who advocated
for a strong central government, and more radical voices who were concerned
about the consolidation of power and so opposed the Constitutions ratification.
In graduate school I published a prize-winning essay on how the Antifederalists,
as they were called, came to terms with a plan for a union they believed was
simply too strong.
The Antifederalists were among Americas earliest grass-roots political activists.
Some of them rallied people in the streets, to demand a pathway for
amendments.
Some of them believed that it would only take a new Presidents good
administration to counteract the Constitutions defects. Others put their trust in
leaders like Thomas Jefferson, who famously said that Half a loaf is better than
no bread. Though amendments were needed, they could be put in place later,
after the states had adopted the Constitution.
And thats exactly what happened. Three years after the Constitution was ratified,
three years after Americas Great Experiment of a democratic republic began,
Congress adopted the Bill of Rights. Thanks to these amendments, many of the
Now that the accounting has been done, my commitment to true transparency
and responsible civic planning dictates that we the people must come to terms
with this deficit without delay.
Ultimately, I believe I was elected to ensure that Harrisburg never again falls prey
to the mistakes of the past never again spends irresponsibly without a means
of paying its bills and never again postpones hard truths by putting a financial
burden on future generations.
The GOOD NEWS this morning is that it is NOT TOO LATE for corrective action.
Last year I described the state of our city as resilient. Ever resourceful, we
remain engaged and up to the challenges that confront us. In a word, the state
of our great capital city today in 2015 is can-do!
If we come together in the face of adversity, we CAN solve this crisis! It will
require continued sacrifice, straight talk, and collective action. But it can be
done!
It is, therefore, with unrelenting optimism that I offer this three-point plan to
secure our future:
First, we must amend the Strong Plan to raise the Local Services Tax from $1
per week to $3. This is the fairest tax increase we can propose because it will
not burden the working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, or the unemployed.
Recent changes to Act 47 allow distressed municipalities to petition the court for
an LST increase, and we must take advantage of this additional revenue stream
immediately. It should bring in over four million dollars annually.
To all the employers in this room, heres what you can do: help me convey the
message to each and every worker within the City limits that Harrisburgs
recovery - and indeed the regions stability - requires this additional sacrifice of
just $2 more per week. Thats less than a cup of coffee at the Hilton or even the
Sunday Patriot News.
Second, we must continue to invest in and improve the Citys sanitation services.
That is the one revenue source for the City which is currently out-performing
expectations and has room for growth.
By expanding sanitation operations, we, as a City, will be able to build capacity in
much-needed neighborhood services. Adequately staffing sanitation will allow
more pot-holes to be filled, trees to be trimmed, and parks to be maintained. In
fact, sanitation is the one area of the budget that can afford to see new hiring in
2016.
By rejecting privatization and rethinking what it means to be a clean and green
city, we can simultaneously reduce general fund obligations and also save for
much needed long-term capital improvements like a new public works facility.
The sanitation fund, if carefully managed, can even serve as a low-interest
means of lending to the general fund, which will help the city become ever more
self-sufficient in the future.
Again, to all the City businesses in this room, here is what you can do: if you are
currently using an unauthorized private hauler or know a company that does,
please help us transition these accounts back to the Citys sanitation
department. This includes, I am sorry to say, CREDCs own Front Street offices,
along with over 350 other large accounts that are right now defying City
ordinances and draining much needed revenues from the system.
I appeal to every City business to support our recovery. Rather than contesting
trash rates or suing the City, we need business owners to recognize that by
increasing your recycling, which is free, you can essentially control your costs.
That is exactly what the School District has done. After years without a recycling
program, the Citys rates adopted in 2013 have spurred them into action, and
taxpayers are benefiting from the results.
Finally, as a can-do city, Harrisburg is full of ideas. I am pleased to report this
morning that, through the comprehensive plans engagement strategy, the public
has already voiced over 842 specific suggestions on how to make our City
better.
Just like the Antifederalists who mobilized ordinary citizens to push for a Bill of
Rights, WE need to harness the vox populi and engage the public directly, as we
work for amendments in the Strong Plans recovery process.
To this end, my third proposal to move the city forward is to shift to Home Rule.
Next year I will introduce an ordinance in City Council to begin the process by
placing on the ballot the question of establishing a government study
commission. We need to transfer basic authority back from the state to the
municipality. It will take time but the discussion must start now because,
ultimately, Home Rule is Harrisburgs only real way out of Act 47.
These three bold, clear initiatives will get the Strong Plan back on track. And lest
you think it cannot be done, let me tell you why I believe it can!
Time and again over the past year, even when it seemed impossible, our Citys
can-do spirit has triumphed.
Take the 14th Street sinkhole. When the estimates came in that remediation
would cost millions of dollars, the City never lost hope.
First, we organized and hosted a Sinkhole Summit, which prompted the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to change their policies regarding sinkhole
eligibility.
Then we worked tirelessly for many months to apply for a Federal Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Grant.
Less than two weeks ago, against all odds, the City received a letter from the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency informing us that our application
has been ranked #1 in the State.
Cooperation with Dauphin County on this effort continues. And, while there is no
guarantee of funding, by never giving up we have revealed our determined and
compassionate character as a City.
Now thats can-do.
Even as we were receiving the good news about our sinkhole mitigation
application, the City also won a decisive, game-changing ruling from our newly
established mercantile license and tax appeals board.
The Board thoughtfully weighed all the evidence in its first appeals case, and
then voted unanimously to revoke the license of a nuisance business. Another
problem business simply shut down with the threat of City action pending.
This important ruling, issued just a few days ago, will continue to have a
measurable ripple effect throughout the community. It is helping us at last clean
up problem businesses that detract from our Citys quality of life.
I say - Can do!
In another example, we recognize that we have to make Harrisburg more
conducive to responsible development projects. Over the past year, my
administration has worked successfully to pass a tax abatement program. Our
carefully crafted plan will serve as a model for other Pennsylvania municipalities.
The bill that City Council passed in May after months of debate contains
provisions for job creation, the hiring of City residents, and the participation of
minority businesses, as well as protections for organized labor while also
providing up to ten years of full abatement of new taxes on improvements to
The moral of the story is when other cities said we cant, Harrisburg said cando!
We persevere.
I bet no one in this room thought wed be able to lower parking rates. But the
City pushed to lower rates by a dollar from 5-7 pm on weeknights, and offer a 4hour coupon code for free parking on Saturdays.
We bet that rates could be lowered and meter income would increase. And to
date, we are winning that wager.
Meter revenues are currently one of the bright spots for the parking system. The
City hasnt had to spend a penny of its guarantee, while we have brought a small
measure of relief to hundreds of parkers every month since April including
festival-goers this past Kipona weekend.
Dave Black, admit it! When I first suggested using hotel tax dollars to backstop
the parking system and lower meter rates, you thought I was crazy. Now what do
you say?
Can-do.
Last year, we promised to ensure all City festivals were budgeted in a
transparent manner by bringing them on the books instead of paying for them
through off-budget T&A accounts, as had been the practice for decades.
We also pledged that the festivals would not become a burden on taxpayers. Im
very grateful to the corporate donors who have helped us raise the necessary
funds to make this a reality.
Lets take a moment to thank leading sponsors such as Highmark, PHFA, and
Pinnacle Health, which have stepped forward repeatedly to support the City in its
time of recovery.
They show others what we can do together.
Big changes require a spirit of collaboration.
A year ago we had an insurance lobbyist as the Chief Recovery Officer for the
Harrisburg School District a man who had essentially given up on students
making any measurable academic progress.
This year, working closely with Senator Rob Teplitz, Representative Patty Kim,
begin to address the many years of negative findings that had been piling up
against his department.
She responded that Harrisburg had been so mismanaged that nothing could ever
make up for the past. Yet Roy slowly went to work to address the historic
problems, one by one.
Just two weeks ago, Yolanda was the first to call and congratulate the City on
securing a new HUD grant for 3.7 million dollars to combat lead poisoning and
develop a healthy home initiative. That is as much funding as was received by far
bigger cities like New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In fact, Harrisburg is by
far the smallest municipality to win this highly competitive award.
Then, there is the story of Ms. Layla Abdullah. Through the Citys Home
Improvement Program, her home has been fully renovated with a new furnace,
new electrical systems, a new roof, and new plumbing. New sidewalks are
outside her house and the abandoned building next door has been demolished.
Shes seen the Citys can-do spirit first hand.
Ms. Abdullah is here today, to thank the City for a job well done. Lets thank her
in return.
Slowly but surely, our economy continues to improve. The average sales price of
a house in Harrisburg has jumped by over $10,000 in the past year alone. As
confidence builds, more and more businesses are expanding.
Chef Obi and Nicole Linton started Soul Burrito out of a food truck, which had so
many hundreds of thousands of miles on it you wouldnt believe it could still run.
They later expanded to the business incubator of the Broad Street Market, where
they perfected their recipes. Now, they have opened a full-scale restaurant on
Walnut Street with plans to continue to grow their business by offering city-wide
delivery.
Lets recognize this extraordinary couples can-do spirit and commitment to
building their business right here in Harrisburg!
When Ivan Black saw a building in Midtown Harrisburg that had been one of
those nuisance businesses the City helped shut down, he saw new
possibilities. He wanted to be part of the neighborhoods revitalization and has
established a bright, brilliant fitness studio in a building that once trafficked in
anything but a healthy lifestyle.
Ivan, we wish you continued success with Next Step Performance and thank you
for investing your time and unlimited can-do energy in Harrisburg.
This past Labor Day weekend, Brian Labine and Francine Walker, moved their