Title
Urging the Philadelphia Parking Authority to Recognize the Martin Luther King Day Holiday as a Non-Ticketing Day.
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a civil rights icon and a champion of systematic change throughout our country and the world. His unwavering dedication to achieving justice for all is one of the many highlights of his distinguished legacy, which continues to be relevant and celebrated today. His vision for replacing state sanctioned violence with love and compassion allowed him to emerge as the leader of the non-violent civil and human rights movement. Throughout his life, his personal example, organizing prowess and perseverance in the face of adversity successfully influenced local, state and national policy, eliminating barriers that stripped racial and ethnic minorities of their basic rights; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. moved the hearts of many around the country, so much so that he and the movement he inspired altered the legal landscape of the nation. The Civil Rights Act, passed in 1964, barred discrimination in education, employment, public facilities, and federally-assisted programs, and established the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC). The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensured that all American citizens, regardless of race, have the right to vote, and prohibits the use of discriminatory practices which had prevented non-whites from voting. Both laws represent a milestone in the centuries long struggle for civil rights, and were influenced by the many speeches, marches, and protests Dr. King led; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was fatefully assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time he was shot, he was working on several campaigns for economic justice, including standing with sanitation workers fighting on behalf of organized labor. He died a servant to all mankind and a steadfast warrior of justice; and
WHEREAS, President Ronald Regan signed the King Holiday Bill into law in 1983, which officially recognized the third Monday of January - Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) - as a national holiday dedicated to the legacy of Dr. King; and
WHEREAS, MLK Day is celebrated as a federal holiday across the country. States, schools, and companies allow their respective constituencies the day off so that they might continue the tradition of service Martin Luther King established; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service organizes thousands of Philadelphians to participate in service and civil engagement within the tri-state area. So many citizens participate that the MLK Day event in Philadelphia is considered one of the largest in the nation, with over 150,000 volunteers participating in 1,800 projects in 2018 alone; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) has established a set list of holidays that they honor by not issuing parking tickets. These holidays include New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. In an effort to give people peace of mind, the PPA refrains from issuing any tickets on these holidays; and
WHEREAS, MLK Day is a national holiday in which the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is commemorated by engaging in service and civil rights issues. Philadelphians should be able to freely participate in MLK Day service and recognition activities without worrying about getting ticketed, fined, booted or towed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby urge the Philadelphia Parking Authority to recognize the Martin Luther King Day Holiday as a Non-Ticketing Day.