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October 16, 2002
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBER OF
CITY COUINCIL OF PHILADELPHIA:
I am returning herewith, unsigned, Bills 020482 and 020484. Council passed these bills at it session on October 2, 2002.
These measures would make changes and additions to the Philadelphia Code regarding Educational Housing Districts. The original legislation creating the regulations for Eductional Housing Districts was passed by City Council last spring - the legislation outlined various requirements and prohibitions relating to students living within established "Educational Housing Districts," and placed additional burdens on the universities where those students reside. The Administration opposed the original legislation, objecting to its vicarious liability for colleges and universities, and emphasizing that if the legislation were to become law, it would stifle thei mportant efforts made by the City, in partnership with members of the business community and representatives from local universities, to retain those students who call Philadelphia home during their college years. Further it was my position that enforcing existing laws and regulations can go a long way towards solving many of the problems the bill was designed to address.
The tow bills being returned today do address some of my Administration's original concerns with the initial legislation - specifically, Bill 020482 removes the vicarious liability provisions that would have placed the responsibility for student misconduct upon the student's university. However, the bills continue to place a disproportionate and excessive burden on the universities, the landlords that rent to students and the City. I continue to believe that enforcement of existing measures can help toa ddress many of the problems created by disruptive students.
Enforcement of these measures is a problem. It is not clear how some of the requirements placed upon the inversities and the City are to be carried out in a pract...
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