OCD Public Meeting – Tues, 1/25 at 7PM, the Bourse

[The Mollusk]

The Old City Distric wants people in the community to come out for a discussion of Old City and The Old City District.

The Bourse at Independence Mall
111 S. Independence Mall East
Tuesday, January 25, 7:00 pm

http://oldcitydistrict.com/node/1348

[GeorgeCosenza]

This meeting left me with more questions than answers.

Why do the businesses in Old City need to pay $1 million in additional taxes for this "Old City District" group? To date all I see them do is sweep the sidewalks occasionally. A reputable business would be sweeping it's own sidewalk. At most three people at $30k a year would gladly do it. Where does the other $900,000 go?

Also the district has been declining in performance since Graham Copeland took over for Cynthia Philo. My calls and emails asking about trash, graffiti, closed streets, things I thought OCD would help, go unanswered frequently now. Graham Copeland, Director of OCD, makes $150,000 of salary to occasionally answer phones and write checks to Center City District for sweeping Old City's Sidewalks?

Perhaps the most disturbing news I gathered from the meeting is Graham and the OCD asked Avram Hornick to join their board. Avram who brought Old City some of the biggest problem bars is now on the OCD Board. It appears OCD is determined to make the Philadelphia Magazine "What the hell happened to Old City" article into a reality.

This abusive tax on businesses needs to be eliminated and the OCD disolved.

Thanks for the meeting, it was an eye opener in a nightmare type way. It's time to DROP OCD and Drop DiCicco while we're at it. He taught them well how to strip taxpayers of money with his DROP follies.

[CountFunkula]

I have to admit - I was pretty puzzled by the whole thing. It was hard to hear anything and the stuff that I heard wasn't telling me much.

[Alley]

I was unable to attend. Thanks for the update.

[nanos203]

This meeting left me with more questions than answers.

I agree.

Why do the businesses in Old City need to pay $1 million in additional taxes for this "Old City District" group? To date all I see them do is sweep the sidewalks occasionally. A reputable business would be sweeping it's own sidewalk. At most three people at $30k a year would gladly do it. Where does the other $900,000 go?

The OCD budget, as posted on their website, totals $670k.

Also the district has been declining in performance since Graham Copeland took over for Cynthia Philo. My calls and emails asking about trash, graffiti, closed streets, things I thought OCD would help, go unanswered frequently now. Graham Copeland, Director of OCD, makes $150,000 of salary to occasionally answer phones and write checks to Center City District for sweeping Old City's Sidewalks?

I couldn't disagree more with your evaluation of Graham's performance. Graham is much more involved with businesses than Cythia ever was. Cynthia was a politician and was brilliant at smoke and mirrors with no real interest in actually doing anything. In contrast, Graham actually wants the OCD to more. His heart is in the right place but at the end of the day he's at the mercy of the directions provided by the 20-person board of directors.

Perhaps the most disturbing news I gathered from the meeting is Graham and the OCD asked Avram Hornick to join their board. Avram who brought Old City some of the biggest problem bars is now on the OCD Board. It appears OCD is determined to make the Philadelphia Magazine "What the hell happened to Old City" article into a reality.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. There's more than one way to approach a problem. Keep an open mind.

This abusive tax on businesses needs to be eliminated and the OCD disolved.

Thanks for the meeting, it was an eye opener in a nightmare type way. It's time to DROP OCD and Drop DiCicco while we're at it. He taught them well how to strip taxpayers of money with his DROP follies.

I agree that the OCD needs to step up or step out. They didn't make a compelling case at the meeting but I'm hopeful that they are finally headed in a better direction now that Cynthia is gone.

[dartmo]

I agree.



The OCD budget, as posted on their website, totals $670k.

I've got no pony in this race, but on the surface, almost $200k in admin and expenses on a budget of $670k seems a bit high no?