►
Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, February 14, 2019:
Councilman Allan Domb (At Large) makes remarks before the final vote on Bill No. 180943.
Read the bill: http://bit.ly/2S0QN9K
A
Council
president,
I
have
some
concerns
regarding
this
bill
that
I
just
wanted
to
share
as
a
city
that
already
places
a
high
burden
on
businesses.
We
cannot
continue
to
dictate
how
entrepreneurs
choose
to
operate
their
businesses
and
as
a
city,
we
do
need
to
be
careful
to
pass
bills
that
are
specific
to
our
city,
because
the
effect
could
be
to
push
businesses
over
the
county
line
in
New
Jersey.
This
type
of
bill
is
statewide.
Application.
A
I
also
understand
that
we
cannot
make
everyone
happy,
but
our
decisions
are
based
on
what's
best
for
the
city
as
a
whole
and
I.
This
bill
not
only
affects
businesses
like
blue
stone
and
sweet
green.
It
places
an
even
larger
burden
on
small
business
owners
across
the
entire
city,
who
take
a
huge
risk
to
create
their
business
model.
I
do
applaud
Councilman,
Greenlee
and
I
understand
his
effort
toward
fairness
and
his
goal
for
this
bill.
I
just
wish
there
was
some
middle
ground
we
could
reach
that
could
address.
A
A
Amazon
called
the
Commerce
Department
and
advised
them
several
times
and
said
they
were
considering
bringing
the
Amazon
go
concept
to
Philadelphia,
but
this
bill
would
prevent
that.
This
is
a
store
that
would
have
approximately
200
jobs,
and,
although
only
a
few
of
these
exist
nationally
Amazon
has
made
a
recent
announcement
that
they're
expecting
to
have
300
of
these
Amazon
Go
stores.
In
the
next
few
years,
they
explicitly
told
our
Commerce
Department
that
this
bill
would
preclude
them
from
coming
chains
like
sweet,
green
and
blue
stone.
A
Lane
may
not
open
any
more
stores
here
and
could
potentially
decide
to
leave
losing
jobs.
Other
chains
are
experimenting
with
this
concept
nationwide
and
may
choose
to
pursue
it
and
not
expand
in
Philadelphia
for
businesses
that
value
innovation
and
technology
Philadelphia
may
not
look
as
attractive.
We
may
be
able
to
estimate
the
impact
of
not
bringing
Amazon.
We
may
go
here,
but
we
can
only
guess
how
many
other
businesses
may
expand
cash
businesses
historically
do
not
report
all
of
their
sales.
A
We
will
experience
the
loss
of
revenue
through
unreported
income
store
owners
who
accept
cash,
seem
to
have
a
nightly
shortage
due
to
cash
errors
that
occur
just
from
making
change
and
on
the
flip
side,
sweet,
green
and
blue
stone
reported
higher
sales
and
profits
because
of
this
model,
which
theoretically,
could
have
a
small
positive
impact
on
the
city's
sales
tax.
It's
the
cash
only
stores
in
the
city.
That
really
are
the
challenge
to
ensure
all
taxes
owed
to
the
city
are
paid
to
the
city.
A
We
want
everyone
to
pay
their
fair
share,
which
then
loaded
lowers
the
overall
burden.
Cashless
business
operators
state
that
not
having
cash
on
site,
reduces
the
incidence
of
armed
robberies
and
ensures
a
safer
environment
for
patrons
and
employees.
A
reduction
in
crime
is
a
major
benefit
to
all
of
us.
I
also
do
not
believe
the
government
should
dictate
how
entrepreneurs
have
to
operate
their
business
long
term.
The
core.
A
This
issue
is
for
us
to
start
teaching
financial
literacy
pre-k
to
12
and
teaching
it
everywhere
in
Philadelphia
and
while
I
do
understand
and
I
would
like
to
see
that
people
who
don't
have
credit
cards
be
able
to
shop
there
I'm
trying
to
figure
out
if
there
was
some
middle
ground
that
we
could
achieve.
I
totally
understand
all
the
issues
and
I
have
empathy
for
the
issues
but
I'm
concerned
about
the
loss
of
business
taxes
for
the
city,
jobs
and
the
messaging.