PRINTER'S NO. 1386
No. 58 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY PETRONE, WOGAN, SCHULER, DEMPSEY, MANDERINO,
STURLA, STETLER, McNALLY, THOMAS, KIRKLAND, TIGUE, VAN HORNE,
FICHTER, ROBINSON, JAMES, HARLEY, TRELLO, MIHALICH, MELIO,
ULIANA, CURRY, HENNESSEY, LEDERER, M. N. WRIGHT, SANTONI,
ACOSTA, J. TAYLOR, JOSEPHS, ROONEY AND HERSHEY,
APRIL 19, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 19, 1993
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Urban Affairs Committee to investigate the
2 Philadelphia Housing Authority and other housing authorities
3 as deemed necessary.
4 WHEREAS, All of the citizens of this Commonwealth are
5 entitled to safe, sanitary and decent housing; and
6 WHEREAS, Housing authorities were created to fulfill this
7 need for our economically disadvantaged citizens; and
8 WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has been
9 the subject of mismanagement for a number of years resulting in
10 poor or nonexistent maintenance in occupied units and the
11 closure of other neglected units, all this coming at a time when
12 the need for housing amongst poor persons and the homeless has
13 never been greater; and
14 WHEREAS, This pattern has been repeated in several other
15 locations in this Commonwealth; and
16 WHEREAS, The Department of Housing and Urban Development has
1 put the PHA in virtual receivership in an attempt to reverse the
2 years of mismanagement, incompetence and neglect; therefore be
3 it
4 RESOLVED, That the Urban Affairs Committee conduct a thorough
5 investigation of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and such
6 other authorities as it deems appropriate; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
8 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
9 necessary in this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under the
10 hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to appear
11 before the committee and to answer questions touching matters
12 properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce
13 such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems
14 necessary. The subpoenas may be served upon any person and shall
15 have the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts of
16 this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects or refuses
17 to testify before the committee or to produce any books, papers,
18 records or documents shall be subject to the penalties provided
19 by the laws of this Commonwealth in such case. Each member of
20 the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
21 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
22 it further
23 RESOLVED, That the committee make a report of its findings
24 and recommendations to the full house not later than September
25 1, 1994.
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