Title
Amending Title 20 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Officers and Employees," by adding a new Chapter to prohibit certain persons that deal in real estate from employment or appointment to positions that can affect title to City owned real estate, including penalties, definitions and other related items; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia owns over 10,000 parcels of vacant real estate, according to the Philly Land Bank Alliance; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Land Bank will soon be fully operational, allowing a more expeditious turnover of vacant property back to productive use; and
WHEREAS, Presently, at least five different City agencies, commissions or boards have control over disposition of City owned unused and/or underutilized vacant properties; and
WHEREAS, The persons who sit on the City boards, commissions and agencies have enormous power in the real estate market, since they can decide what properties to sell, whom to sell it to, and at what price; and
WHEREAS, In order to incentivize quick development of these vacant and blighted properties, many parcels, or groups of parcels, can and will be sold for a minimal or reduced amount of money, oftentimes at less than the fair market value; and
WHEREAS, Individuals that have ownership interests or who deal in real estate development ventures could reap substantial financial benefits by having insider knowledge from members of the decision making City entities, which would enable these real estate developers to purchase vacant properties at a discount from the various City boards, commissions and agencies; and
WHEREAS, In order to avoid any appearance of impropriety, the City should insure that no individual or family member connected to the real estate development industry holds a decision making position on any City board, commission or agency that can dispose of these vacant properties; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY O...
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