iradiophilly | News - PHL Council Passed Arts Office Resolution; Wolf Signs Alcohol-To-Go Bill; Woman Arrested in Hit-Run

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PHL Council Passed Arts Office Resolution; Wolf Signs Alcohol-To-Go Bill; Woman Arrested in Hit-Run

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 05/21/20 9:39 pm | updated: 05/21/20 9:39 pm

Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution during the stated meeting on Thursday, 5/21, asking the Kenney Administration to hold off on closing the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy until City Council has had a chance to complete its budget process. In Mayor Kenney's revised budget proposal delivered on May 1, the OACCE's budget is slashed to $0 and the office itself is slated to be eliminated. That final cuts could take place on June 1, however, City Council's budget hearings last until June 10 and any new budget doesn't take effect until July 1. Council wants to keep options open when evaluating this difficult budget, especially when it proposes to eliminate support for such a large economic segment. This resolution was proposed by Councilmember At-Large David Oh and co-sponsored by QuiÃ±ones-Sanchez, Squilla, Domb, Thomas, Gauthier, Parker, Green, Gilmore-Richardson, and Gym.

It states in summary, "Calling on the Kenney Administration to delay the elimination of the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, including its workforce, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the principal supporters for the City's $3.4 billion creative arts industry, generating annual tax revenue of $157 million, until Council completes the City's fiscal year 2021 Budget and Recovery Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic."

SIGN the Petition: Save the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy.

pic.twitter.com/AFxamZwNPe
— David Oh (@DavidOhPhilly) May 21, 2020

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill on Thursday that will allow certain restaurants and bar to sell alcohol-to-go. The bill overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the General Assembly. It takes effect immediately. "This new temporary rule creates more business for bars and restaurants when they need it, helps to meet customer demand and supports social distancing," Wolf said in a release from his office. "As we approach the holiday weekend, I encourage all Pennsylvanians to remember to drink responsibly." Establishments must have a valid restaurant or hotel liquor license and lost more than 25% of their average monthly total sales. They would be permitted to sell mixed drinks from 4 ounces up to 64 ounces for off-premises consumption. Drinks must be mixed on premises and contain spirits and mixers, no straight shots or premixed drinks. Drinks must be sold in a sealed container. If there is a hole for a straw or sipping, that must also be sealed. Sales of alcohol-to-go must stop by 11 p.m. A meal order is not required to purchase cocktails. This bill is meant to be a temporary measure to help restaurants and bars during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis and the mitigation period afterward. When a restaurant begins to operate at 60% capacity, it can longer sell drinks-to-go. Customers are reminded that these drinks are considered 'open containers' and can only be transported in the trunk of the car or in some other area not occupied by the driver or passengers. Other open container laws apply.

SEE: Act 21 HB 327 PN 3678

A Bucks County woman with a record of fleeing police was arrested at her home in the hit-and-run involving a Pennsylvania State Police motorcycle trooper in Philadelphia last weekend. 36-year-old Gabrielle Finch of Feasterville is charged with aggravated assault, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, fleeing police, simple assault, and related offenses. It happened on Saturday morning, 5/16, around 10:30 a.m. Trooper Jarrett Harvey tried to pull over Finch in the area of School House Lane in East Falls for traffic violations. She fled from the trooper, running several stop signs, and eventually knocked Harvey off of his motorcycle. He suffered a severe concussion. Finch was convicted in 2019 of fleeing from Lower Southampton police and sentenced to 12 months probation and a $500 fine. She also has prior DUIs including and open DUI case in Monroe County. "This defendant's actions are extremely serious and have endangered the life of Trooper Jarrett Harvey, who was very seriously injured," Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. "I wish Trooper Harvey a speedy and full recovery, and send heartfelt thanks on behalf of Philadelphians for the risk and harm he endured to prevent what could have been a catastrophe for others who were in the path of Finchâ€™s vehicle."