Well, Mayor Nutter seems to be settling into City Hall well. And our new council members have been thoroughly briefed and readied for governance (check out this story here). Councilwoman Tasco is our new majority leader and Councilman Clarke is the new majority whip.

Yea! It's a new day!

Now we have to wait a couple more weeks for Mayor Nutter's first budget before things can really get going. In the meantime, I'd hope Council could take care of some house-keeping matters, and pass a few bills on lingering issues from the Street administration.

So, off the top of my head...ready, set go:

• City health centers--Street promised money for more staff so that there could be extended hours. But he didn't do anything about it,. While the new Mayor is getting next year's budget ready, can Council spend the health center money from last year? (this is a Philly for Change concern too.)
  
  
• Housing units for people in emergency shelter. Again, Street promised this, money should be there, can Council help spend it? (another PFC issue.)
  
  
• Recycling. Let's go. Single-stream. I believe Councilwoman Blondelle Reynolds-Brown already put together a bill, or at least some info on using Recycle Bank so that the city could make money off recycling. This is such a no-brainer, and it's embarrassing and annoying that we can't all recycle at home, or in public places. If Council can pass that a bill that makes us money or at least comes close to breaking even on expanded recycling programs, I'd imagine Mayor Nutter would be ok with signing a bill even before the budget address. (Don't forget Christine Knapp from PennFuture's great recycling 411 post here.

All three could be possibly be done without waiting for a new budget, create jobs, address pressing needs, and contribute to the city's sustainability. Other housekeeping matters you think Council should address?

[oh one more, we have not written about this much, but the DRPA and PATCO have been talking a lot about building a light-rail line on the waterfront with new service in NJ as well. Big deal, really smart, great for the city.

While Council is waiting for a budget, maybe they could set up a hearing on this?

It'd be great to get more info--especially the economic development benefits. Hearings are mostly cost-free and a hearing on this matter would help jazz up the Guv, the state and federal congressional delegations, and local civic and business leaders--all of whom need to be bought in it's really gonna happen. Any volunteers on Council?]