Authorizing the Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to conduct hearings on the challenges faced by the City's ethnic and cultural parades, and what measures the City can take to ensure that these important traditions are preserved.

WHEREAS

, Philadelphia's budget crisis has significantly raised the cost of conducting ethnic and cultural parades; and

WHEREAS

, All of the City's parades, including the Mummers Parade, St. Patrick's Day Parade, Columbus Day Parade, Puerto Rican Day Parade, and Pulaski Day Parade, are volunteer driven events and may have difficulty covering these additional costs; and

WHEREAS

, Many of Philadelphia's ethnic and cultural parades may be in jeopardy of cancellation in the coming years; and

WHEREAS

, These parades are a vital and important part of Philadelphia's culture and the City government should make every effort to ensure their continued success; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That the Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs is authorized to hold hearings to investigate how the new costs are affecting Philadelphia's ethnic and cultural parades and what measures can be taken to ensure their survival.

End