Welcome to the NEW Philadelphia LP e-newsletter!
We wanted to create a way to keep in touch with our members between meetings and spread the word on Libertarian ideas. Look for monthly news on the Philly LP, articles on current events, and activism and events listings. Have a suggestion? Send it along: Vice-chair@lpphilly.org! We want the newsletter to fit the interests and needs of our members.

How to Fix Mayor Nutter's Budget Problem
by Anthony Perrella II and Nicole Koenitzer
Here are some ideas for Mayor Nutter to consider on how to fix the budget and avoid raising taxes. Fundamental to these ideas are an increased reliance on private individuals and a breakaway from government hand outs.

Trash collection - Reducing frequency of collection is a health hazard. We need to keep our city clean to keep residents and attract visitors. Contracting city trash collection to private companies would reduce costs through increased competition. Use and expand volunteer programs to clean neglected areas.

Libraries - Seek funding via charitable donations and use volunteer staff. Close lesser-used branches and consolidate.

Police and fireman - These are essential services protecting the safety of residents and visitors and should not be cut. A legitimate function of city government.

Fairmount park - Privatize maintenance of the park, fund with charitable donations, and make use of volunteers. Philadelphia wants to be a premier green city and should have plenty of people willing to help out. This would give residents greater incentive to take care of and use the parks and bolster community engagement.

Recreation - Best served by community volunteers and charitable donations. When residents are taxed less, they'll have more money to donate and time to contribute in ways they best see fit.

Raising the sales tax is a bad idea, particulary during the economic downturn. Businesses in the city will lose sales, especially in big ticket items (hello, Delaware). Make the city friendlier to people coming into the city to shop by lowering meter rates and ticketing less aggressively.

Many City Departments operate like, well Government Agencies, if they can't be moved completely out of government, then the City should look at ways of contracting out their function. If the Mayor cannot follow through on that, and in the case of core functions that can't be contracted out, productivity measures need to be put in place, and senior bureacrats in those departments need to be accountable for the performance of their departments. Trimming the fat from innefficient agencies could yield a significant savings without loss of any service actually provided by the city.

The city needs to make some difficult decisions in order to keep the budget balanced and not further burden already strapped tax-payers. Reducing the size and scope of city services would be a start.

Libertarian
Minded Events:

09.12.09 March on Washington
Where: Freedom Plaza, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
When: Saturday, September 12th 9:00AM
Short Desicription: The Tea Party Movement Goes to Capitol Hill
More Info: 912dc.org

Lpphilly Monthly Meeting
Where: 17th and Sansom
When: Tuesday, August, 18 - 8:00PM (Every 3rd Tuesday)
Short Desicription: Get involved, volunteer, or meet up with fellow libertarians and conservative minded folk.
More Info: lpphilly.org

Pennsylvania Recess Rally
Where: Various Philadelphia Locations
When: Saturday, August, 22 - 12:00PM
Short Desicription: "If you believe your liberty, your hard earned money and your way of life is under attack through dangerous healthcare legislation currently being proposed, get to your local Representative office."
More Info: recessrally.com

If you attend a local event, send a review along to Vice-chair@lpphilly.org.

Event Review:
Democracy Unplugged Healthcare Forum featuring LP Philly Chair
by Nicole Koenitzer
John made a heroic decision to step up in this panel discussion. He was three against one yet upheld Libertarian principles. There were a surprising number of core American hardworking citizen in the audience who really understood the LP stance and were interested in hearing more. Although many people in the audience were very much into the government take over of health care, posing very difficult questions to John, he stood his ground in a mature, logical way.