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The Bicycle Coalition, which promotes bicycle and pedestrian safety, issued a statement in opposition to the tax cut, saying it would increase motor vehicle usage at a time when people should be getting back onto public transit and utilizing active transportation.

There could be enough support in City Council to pass the bill. But at the Wednesday council hearing, Mayor Kenneys administration also stated its opposition. Finance Director Rob Dubow said the proposal was too costly and would require scrapping across-the-board business tax cuts or cutting city services.

He also expressed doubts the savings would trickle down to workers.

Reducing the parking tax rate will most likely simply increase profits for parking lot owners and

operators, he said. The owners could choose to reallocate those profits by reducing fees for drivers or increasing wages and benefits for parking lot workers, but this bill does not guarantee that outcome.

Parkers office did not respond to specific critiques of the bill, but issued a general statement reiterating the labor potential of her legislation.

Advocacy is one of the most essential parts of the budget process. I deeply respect it, and I look forward to hearing all perspectives, she said. I am unapologetic about advocating for the interests of workers, and I will remain unwavering in my support in ensuring all workers make family-sustaining wages.

Separately, Parker has also proposed blunting the direct impact to city revenues by using pandemic recovery funds to cover the cost. But Gym shot back in a statement saying that the city simply faced more pressing uses for those funds.

All over the city, people are calling for help, Gym wrote. I believe these historic relief funds should be used to keep people in their homes, stop the gun violence crisis, and bring recovery to our small businesses.

Original post:
Philly progressives, urbanists blast $130 million cut to city parking tax - WHYY