Heard in the Hall

its worth noting that the state ethics code will not allow ramos to lobby city council for a year.

I'm unaware of any bills he was involved in that "provided homeowner protections." Ramos is very much a member of the crew on Council that favored Street's pets' wish to have little regular oversight on finances and performance. Hence, Universal Companies is far behind on it's planned projects -- the Royal Theater is still crumbling, "Bainbridge West" is unfinished, no clauses in the redevelopment contract on a time to finish or the property deeded by the RDA must revert back to the city, etc.

Ramos is a member of the group of people Nutter must fight to build a viable property tax base. Instead of pay to play for property and pet projects in exchange for a nonproperty tax producing dead zone, there must be a recognition that Ramos never had that the city schools, police, public works, need prompt collection of property taxes at sheriff sale.

Fighting the collection of over $500 million in overdue property taxes doesn't "protect homeowners." It just delays the inevitable and cheats nonvoting school children of decent education on par with the region.

Ramos is a big government advocate, a tax and spend liberal in the extreme, who feels that the "rich" and "business" should pay for the rest of the city without contributing anything.

While the paper harps on getting the PPA to give more money to schools for a few more million, the city could get hundreds of millions in overdue taxes to the schools if Ramos, Street, and the crew didn't fight what every other municipality accepts must happen -- we fund the city using property tax collection, not borrowing, not federal and state funds.

We have the base, so long as we stop allowing so many entities to not pay property taxes.

I'm unaware of any bills he was involved in that "provided homeowner protections." Ramos is very much a member of the crew on Council that favored Street's pets' wish to have little regular oversight on finances and performance. Hence, Universal Companies is far behind on it's planned projects -- the Royal Theater is crumbling, far from being "preserved" and "reused", "Bainbridge West" is unfinished and those lots and empty properties drag surrounding values down, no clauses in the redevelopment contract on a time to finish or the property deeded by the RDA must revert back to the city, etc. Far from fulfilling "urban renewal" groups like this that Ramos has championed are government sponsored and funded low performing, politically generous sources of the need for NTI.

Ramos is a member of the group of people Nutter must fight to build a viable property tax base. Instead of pay to play for property and pet projects in exchange for a nonproperty tax producing dead zone, there must be a recognition that Ramos never had that the city schools, police, public works, need prompt collection of property taxes. Ramos pretends not to understand that foreclosure occurs in the city to collect overdue liens owed the taxpayer. This creates higher taxes for those who do pay.

Fighting the collection of over $500 million in overdue property taxes doesn't "protect homeowners." It just delays the inevitable and cheats nonvoting school children of decent education on par with the region.

Ramos is a big government advocate, a tax and spend liberal in the extreme, who feels that the "rich" and "business" should pay for the rest of the city without having everyone contribute something of the cost of their footprint. This includes support of the BPT and wage tax, driving out jobs. Yet he calls for the "creation" of jobs by government when jobs are created by business, usually small ones.

In an effort to create a docile, easy block of voters that doesn't expect much, PHA properties pay no property tax, nothing toward schools, yet house 80,000 people. Certain RDA properties pay no property taxes, and certain pet nonprofits that no longer qualify for exemption are still listed as not having to pay.

Other properties need immediate reassessment because they pay a tiny amount of real value. Vacant lots need to be assessed for the same amount, not less than lived in structures, or it makes a benefit out of doing nothing with the lot versus building. Ditto vacant properties. Ramos wants, along with his likeminded peers, to get cheap votes by subverting fair, blind, objective property tax assessment, and overdue property tax collection. But doing this creates a mass of unsustainable, high need citizens who are victimized by schools and government that can't afford to do what it promises.

While the paper harps on getting the state run PPA to give more money to schools for a few more million, the city could get hundreds of millions in overdue taxes to the schools if Ramos, Street, and the crew didn't fight what every other municipality accepts must happen -- we fund the city using property tax collection, not borrowing, not relying only on federal and state funds.

Ramos believes that certain people should live for free, own valuable assets, and contribute as little as possible to the city. The city is not going to survive by being a "donut" of low income owners and renters in a thriving metropolitan area that produces jobs and taxes just outside our borders.

Ramos and his peers have no idea what good municipal finance involves, though his glad handing skills are still fairly keen.

Ramos will be good so long as his duties involve nothing to do with municipal finances.

Ramos thinks that if you are already here, you have a "right" to stay without having to pay anything for that "right."

A more realistic view is that people have to pay their way the real market costs of living in a great city. If jobs are not here that people can earn their way with, then the most practical solution is not government funded reeducation, rent abatement, tax forgiveness, free and super low cost housing, etc. The most practical solution is for people to go to where the jobs are that fit their skills.

Housing a huge cadre of poor in the inner city hurts them more than helps them, but Ramos and friends can't afford to have those votes leave.

An end of an era. For the first time in almost 30 years we have no hispanic representation for the ENTIRE city of Philadelphia.

An end of an era. For the first time in almost 30 years we have no hispanic representation for the ENTIRE city of Philadelphia.

Maria Quinones Sanchez will be representing the 7th Council District beginning Jan. 7.

Read it again. FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. 7th district is the 7th district.

A very quick google search found Bravo Group's website and its list of clients (http://www.bravogroup.cc/pa-clients.html). In addition to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Bravo Group represents WMS Gaming (www.wms.com), which: "Manufactures lottery terminals and slot machines. Includes product, sales, and service data, where to play, and corporate information."

Considering Juan Ramos was defeated in the primary election but immediately used his lame duck status to introduce zoning legislation on behalf of Sugarhouse Casino (http://www.planphilly.com/node/1542), I have to wonder if Juan Ramos got his job because he will work tirelessly on behalf of Philadelphia's non-profit clients like the Academy of Natural Sciences? Or because he did the gambling industry a solid and will trade his close-knowledge of Philadelphia's local government for the benefit of their gambling industry client? How can we know? Will Philly News stay on top of the revolving-door activities of government officials after they leave office?

Good Point. I thought he would stay in Government or maybe go back to doing the labor thing. I hope he stays active, hes been philly's latino activist for quite a while. Those from the barrio's of North Philly know the difference they experienced from Councilman Ortiz and Concelejar Juan F. Ramos.