Bill To Create Jobs Commission Will Be On Philadelphia Ballot In May
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphians will be asked on the May ballot whether the home rule charter should be amended to create a Jobs Commission.
The Philadelphia unemployment rate, at last check, was stubbornly higher than the national average of nine percent.
The sponsor of the bill, Councilman Darrell Clarke (above), wants the commission to come up with specific recommendations within six months.
"We need to talk about how we as a government should invest our precious resources so that at the end of the day it creates a job," he said.
The legislation calls for a 17-member commission, with nine appointed by the mayor and eight appointed by the Council president.
Clarke envisions the commission's work to include job training, workforce development, education, licensing, and zoning.
"There have been numerous commissions throughout the time that I've been here, but nowhere does it talk about the end game, which is creating jobs for the citizens of Philadelphia."
Clarke says the Jobs Commission would examine "the best practices and methodologies for developing a comprehensive job creation strategy."
Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060.
