Title
Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Jobs Commission; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The unemployment rate in Philadelphia as of September, 2010 was a staggering 10.2 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the unemployment rate in many of Philadelphia's neighborhoods far exceeds even that level. An unprecedented rise in long-term unemployment nationwide means that these rates are likely to remain high as the nation slowly recovers from a brutal recession; and
WHEREAS, The loss of a job and the inability to find employment are devastating experiences for the individual and his or her family, particularly at a time when the nation's safety net is increasingly shredded. Unemployment frequently leads to the inability to pay one's mortgage and the loss of one's home to foreclosure, contributing to the blighting of neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, The long-term vitality and attractiveness of Philadelphia as a place in which to live and do business depend upon having a diverse and ample supply of employment opportunities in the private sector, sufficient in number to provide jobs to current residents while attracting people to move here; and
WHEREAS, Growth in the supply of jobs would in turn lead to a critically needed expansion of the City's tax base, which would enable City government to provide essential services while retaining its commitment to responsible tax reduction; and
WHEREAS, City government and other public, quasi-public and non-profit organizations play essential roles in spurring the creation and retention of private sector jobs, but, without adequate coordination or attention to the unintended consequences of their policies, can also impede the growth of the private sector and our local economy; and
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