Resolution 100587

..Title Authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold a public hearing to investigate and determine the cause of the ongoing problems with the rotational towing program in the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, On January 3, 2008, Mayor John F. Street signed into law Bill # 070556 amending Bill #040595, a bill originally sponsored by Councilman Rizzo and co-sponsored by fifteen other Council members and which established a system of rotational towing; and WHEREAS, Following close to a year-long delay, the rotational towing program was finally implemented; and WHEREAS, On Monday, July 19, 2010, while responding to a motor vehicle accident scene, a tow truck driver was shot allegedly by a rival tow truck driver; and WHEREAS, In the days following the July 19th shooting, other violence erupted involving several competing towing companies; and WHEREAS, Such violent acts endanger the residents and visitors alike in the City of Philadelphia and their safety and welfare are paramount; and WHEREAS, The rotational towing program, as implemented, has serious problems that must be eliminated enabling the program to run more efficiently, effectively, and safely; and WHEREAS, It is critical that the problems be resolved to avoid the possibility of further outbreaks of violence among some owners and/or operators of tow trucks doing business in the City of Philadelphia. NOW BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it authorizes City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold a public hearing to investigate and determine the cause of ongoing problems with the rotational towing program in the City of Philadelphia. ..End