Sam Katz Revives Idea Of Selling Philadelphia Airport And PGW
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Should cash-strapped Philadelphia City Hall sell off the airport or PGW? Those aren't new ideas, but a prominent political figure is giving them new life.
Former mayoral candidate Sam Katz now wears a new hat, as chairman of the PICA board, a state agency that signs off on the city's long-range budget. PICA approved the latest five year plan Tuesday (see related article), and after the vote Katz told reporters its time the city looks at selling off city assets to raise cash, "Divestiture of assets. We have to sell something."
When pressed for specifics, Katz mentioned a possible sale of the airport, and PGW, "Anything that's a non-essential municipal service would be a candidate."
"We need an airport, but it doesn't have to be delivered by a municipality. In fact, for the most part airline service is delivered by airlines."
Katz wants the PICA board to spend the next year examining better ways to resolve the city's key financial dilemmas, which are many.
Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn
