WHEREAS, In the past year, the unemployment rate has increased to nearly 6 percent nationally and close to 8 percent in the Philadelphia area; and
WHEREAS, Several large employers, including Mid Atlantic AAA, Kmart, Tower Records and Cigna have reduced their work force in Philadelphia and/or relocated to other states; and
WHEREAS, Many small employers have been forced to close their businesses or have suffered significant decreases in sales and revenue; and
WHEREAS, Many of Philadelphia’s commercial corridors are plagued by vacant stores, and neighborhoods suffer with vacant industrial buildings and warehouses, reflecting the loss of jobs in the City; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has experienced the largest percentage population decrease in the last 10 years of all major Cities, attributable in part to residents leaving the area for employment opportunities elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, The high unemployment rate has had serious consequences for the City and its residents, including a record number of property foreclosures and bankruptcy filings; and
WHEREAS, Government, education and industry leaders must act wisely and expeditiously to stem the flow of jobs from our area and to create greater employment opportunities for the City’s residents; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Labor and Civil Service is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to examine and investigate the high number of unemployed people in Philadelphia and the effects this has on their families, viability of business, commerce and the City’s declining population base and to recommend polices, programs and practices that are intended to help reverse this trend; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, That in connection with such hearings the Committee is authorized to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.
End