Perzel Makes Grab at Philadelphia International Airport

Perzel Makes Grab at Philadelphia International
Airport 
Daily Pennsylvanian, PA

March 03, 2004 

 
As Mayor John Street is preparing the city for the
announcement of major budget cuts this month, his
office has begun to explore alternate means of
bringing in revenue.

One of those options could be the sale of the
Philadelphia International Airport to the state
government.

However, Street is not ready to relinquish control of
the Philadelphia airport just yet, despite plans by
Speaker of the House of Representatives John Perzel
(R-Phila.) to continue to bring some of the city's
assets under state control.

Perzel has been a big supporter of a state purchase of
the airport and recently won a battle with Street over
control of the Philadelphia Parking Authority -- the
organization that regulates on-street parking in the
city.

Street is set to make his budget announcement on March
18.

At a press conference last week, the mayor recognized
that selling the airport is an option but has not yet
endorsed the idea.

"He is supportive of regionalizing the airport,"
Street spokeswoman Christine Ottow said. "He's not in
favor of simply a takeover plan for sheer patronage
purposes ... just to give the Republicans jobs," she
added.

If the state were to gain control of the airport, the
city would likely receive monetary compensation but
would lose control over the power to fill job
vacancies.

However, Ottow said that there are no current plans to
develop a proposal and that the airport will most
likely stay under the control of the city.

"There really aren't any current plans in the works,"
Ottow said, noting that there has been talk of
regionalizing the airport since Governor Ed Rendell
was mayor in the 1990s but that there has never been
any action taken.

Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips said the governor has
had no discussions with Street or Perzel.

Philips did say that the governor "is willing to look
at any proposal" concerning the city but also
acknowledged that a proposal "would have to have a
significant upside for the city."

She also said that the proposal would have to include
fair representation for the community members and
those from outlying areas.

Ottow made it clear that Street brought up the idea
last week -- before Perzel began openly discussing the
idea.

The plan might not be beneficial for the city in any
case, Ottow said, considering that the airport "is
doing really well at this time."

Ottow recognized the expansion of the airport --
including a new parking garage -- and representation
by new commercial airlines as contributing factors to
the airport's positive growth.  

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