January 24: Council back in session, passes RCO bill | Snow day for SEPTA employees | Blatstein bargains with community | Australian company builds Navy Yard HQ | Flu shot map
Good morning, Streeters!
City Council is back in session. At the top of the to-do list is legislation being pushed forward by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown to require annual day-care center certification, which would include property safety assessments. Councilman Curtis Jones is pushing for a hearing on structural safety throughout the city, and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson wants CSX to answer questions about its maintenance procedures and the recent train derailment.
Council also passed a bill that will adjust the zoning regulations for Registered Community Organizations, which PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey reminds us, has been the most contentious aspect of the city’s two-year-old zoning code.
Snow wasn’t the only thing causing train delays and cancelations Wednesday. More than 320 SEPTA vehicle operators, including 20 percent of all train engineers and conductors, did not report for work. SEPTA canceled 91 of 742 trains, and on-time performance fell to 50 percent.
Bart Blatstein has gotten a group of community organizations to agree not to oppose his Provence casino proposal in exchange for commitments, improvement plans and financial contributions to the community. Under the agreement, Blatstein will contribute $300,000 a year, raising to $450,000 after five years to a nonprofit controlled by a five-member board.
An Australian energy-efficiency company will open its US headquarters in the Navy Yard, creating 125 jobs and a $10 million investment in its facility. The Navy Yard currently has 130 companies and 10,000 employees.
Still need a flu shot but not sure where to go? This map can help. For the plannerly, the map also speaks to the power of open data, mapping and collaborating with other cities.
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