Calling upon the National Park Service to ensure equitable economic participation in opportunities arising from the Liberty Bell Pavilion project and the appropriate memorializing of the eight human beings of African descent held in bondage at that site.

WHEREAS, The federal government is spending $12 million to build the new Liberty Bell Pavilion near Sixth and Market Streets; and

WHEREAS, Historically, Philadelphia has often witnessed the routine exclusion of minority businesses and workers from entrepreneurial and employment opportunities generated by public tax dollars; and

WHEREAS, The issue of equitable economic participation in the Liberty Bell project represents added significance in light of the travesty at the site; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the moral implications of this issue, there are tangible economic consequences to inadequately addressing this issue; and

WHEREAS, Research by the Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress has shown that Philadelphia is currently doing three times as well in attracting African-American visitors than the national average; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau alone has booked more than $600 million worth of African-American convention business for the City since 1987; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Council calls upon the National Park Service to ensure equitable economic participation in opportunities arising from the Liberty Bell Pavilion project and the appropriate memorializing of the eight human beings of African descent held in bondage at this site.

End