Today on The Republican Zone Drew Murray will speak with Jim Hasher who is Running for Philadelphia City Council. New episode goes live Feb 2nd at 4pm!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:05):
The Republican Zone is brought to youby Drew Murray in the afternoon, and
you were watching The Republican Zone onUSLA Media. My name is Drew Murray.
I am the host, and Iam here with my friend and fellow
City Council at Large Republican City Councilat Large running mate, Jim Hasher.
So, Jim, thank you forcoming on, glad to be here,
(00:26):
to be here this time. Sayyou're my friend this time six months ago.
I didn't even know Jim Hasher.We never met. We met the
first time, I guess the constatters. Yes, we did, when we
were both looking at for the Republicanendorsement for the special election. I think
we both thought we were probably gonnaget it. But the meeting did go
a little longer than I was comfortable, so I got a little nervous.
(00:48):
But so I ran in twenty nineteen. I knew I was running into twenty
twenty three. That was always actuallymy long goal. When did you decide,
okay, you ramer Congress before onea few a few years ago or
several sever or several years ago.Actually it'll be it'll be twenty nine years
this November. Oh wow, Andyou've never run since then? No,
(01:10):
No, that I was a wardleader during that period of time. I
served on the Athletic Commission during thatperiod of time, but never ran for
pub never ran for office again.Is that because your wife states he said,
you're not going to run for officeever again after that first raise.
Its a combination of things. Ithink, you know, I had five
boys. Let's say you had abasketball team. So I think it kind
of took a life of its own. And you know, I think that
(01:32):
timing is everything. And I thinkcoming back into this now was the kids
are grown, and you know exactly. I mean, it's it's hard.
I remember when I ran in twentynineteen, door in petitions when it which
are coming up soon in a coupleof weeks. My daughters were much younger.
Now they're teenagers. I don't thinkthey terrify leave the house. But
that I went to h and it'show hard signatures was. I went to
(01:52):
a six Ers game that night,and the only reason I went because we're
going to be in a box andI thought maybe there's one Republican I can
get a signature from. That wasthe only that I went. I was
exhausted both of my daughters grabbed meand we're crying, yes and there very
please don't go out again, daddy, Please don't go out again. So
now that they're older, it ismuch right. When did you decide,
Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna throwmy hat back in the ring? Was
(02:15):
it? Was it a year ago? Were you thinking about this a few
years ago? Well, I probablywill tell you that. Um it always
intrigued me for the last several years. But the deciding factor was the beginning
of the pandemic. Paying in smallbusiness, um, I just felt like
I was becoming hypocritical. I wasalways complaining about the bureaucracy in the hall,
(02:38):
I was always complaining about the healthDepartment in l and I and all
the problems we were facing being insmall business because of the pandemic. And
one day I woke up and said, Hey, instead of complaining about it,
let's do something about That's why youhave two businesses, right, you're
some real estate broker. I've beenMayfair section of northeast Philadelphia for about thirty
three years. There hasher reality hasbeen there. It's almost landmark there now.
(03:01):
And I also own a small restaurantbar up in the Northeast area Philadelphia
called Chimmy's Time Out. Okay,London Avenue right added over. So,
so you got hit by the pandemicprobably from two ways, yes, both
in the real estate market and obviouslyas a bar ow. That must have
been a tough, tough period,very much so. And there was a
(03:22):
lack of inconsistency the whole time.We were one day we were opened,
one day we were closed, oneday, we were allowed outside, one
day we were allowed inside, oneday we weren't allowed near the bar.
You know, it was never wewere never had a set situation that we
were involved with from continuously we werebeing told by you know, Ell and
(03:43):
I in City Hall and the healthDepartment what was best for our business,
instead of us being able to gothere once in a while and tell them
what was best for our business.I remember at one point bars and restaurants
were open and it was like aMonday they said, we're closing again,
and the bar owners, I knowand maybe maybe it's all bars, they
were like, we buy our foodon Sunday or Monday. Like if they
were going to do this, whydidn't they tell us on Saturday, Like
(04:04):
on Monday you're going to flou becausethey were you know, number one,
they're small business and many of themthey're already getting hit by the pandemic.
And then to buy a week's worthof food that you can't now use.
They were, they were devastated.Our post our post closing was the day
before Thanksgiving, if you can remember, it was Mark sixteen, twenty twenty,
(04:27):
and basically we got a phone callsomewhere around eleven twelve that morning saying,
hey, by the way, thisis going to be a short term
situation. We just don't want tooverload the hospitals. We just want to
do to basically calm things down.We're probably going to be back in this
swing of things within a week,well eighteen months later. We were never
back in exactly things. And againthere were some things that the city did
(04:49):
that was a necessity and had tobe done, and there was some things
they had they were cluled to someonewhat had to be done, and it
was inconsistent. You know, itwas some big box stores were open,
but the small busin this is Imean, we're not and and not in
defense of the city, but withthe state laid down some pretty harsh guidelines
too, I mean having to beable to eat something, to be able
(05:09):
to order a drink was ludicrous,like that was going to stop the pandemic.
Or coming in the door with amask one and taking off suit as
you could sit down. These werethings that we're insulting to our intelligence almost
that we had went through. Soduring that period of time, I started
to really say, hey, youknow what, um, my kids were
grown. UM. I felt thatthis was something I was deeply rooted in
(05:30):
the neighborhood. I'm the president ofthe Tarsdale Boys Club. I had a
business, I had a family inthe neighborhood. I raised my children there.
In my heart and hearts, Ireally think I could go down there
and do something good. And yourboard and raised fil Y Ryan guy right
raised my whole life. I stillhanging the same playground I did as a
kid. I know I am notI am not born and raised and phil
I think I think some ward leadersin Philadelphia, up in the northeast still
(05:53):
haven't forgiven me for not growing upand in the city of Philadephia. I
said, I can't. I can'tsaid, my parents society are living exactly
the way if I could have beena North Catholic or a Ryan guy.
I would actually I would, Isay everybody has a cross. That's right,
I said in the womb, Iknew I was going to Saint Joe's
Prep has cross advance. Right.So now you're on a campaign trail.
(06:15):
I know what I hear all thetime? What is what is the number
one issue? What is the numberone complaint of the city Philadelphia residents of
city Philadephia. Now what do youhear here in the most I think it's
no question that crime in the qualityof life is our number one issue.
I think that something that is inthe forefront of everything people talk about.
(06:36):
But I think what people forget thatit's related to our opioid epidemic problem in
some way. Um. I saidin many of the stumps that we go
out on and talk about that eightysix percent of these major crimes are caused
by a drug issue, or exactlyI draw connection of some type. Um.
Even our gun problems, with theseghost guns and things like that,
(06:57):
they're always reverts back somehoward to anothertwo. Our opioid problem and our fenyl
problem, and these drug wars andthese gang wars. It's all somehow drug
related. It is their gangs.I mean when when when three three people
are shot in in Mayfair, Yeah, that was obviously gun related, but
it was it was drug It wascaused by drugs. I think anything right
(07:18):
now you'll see has some level ofrelationship to a drug. And we don't
even use the word heroin anymore insome of these problems. This is all
fentyl. This is all, youknow, a territorial issue for you know,
um we are we are the fentylcapital of the world right here in
the city of Philadelphia. People travelto Philadelphia for the drugs, yes,
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I mean, you know, andit's it's become it's it's a it's a
public emergency, it's an epidemic.It's something that needs to be addressed immediately.
Whether hopefully we're both in counsel todiscuss this, but we need to
get off for s and get theHarrisburg and and to Washington. Let them
know, Hey, this isn't justa Philadelphia problem. This is a this
is a national problem that we justhappened to be the way being post exactly.
(08:01):
And I'd say it's gonna take federalon people say, you know,
what are gonna do it's the numberone. We need federal sit no question
about on him. As a municipallevel, Philly is obviously not perfect,
but we did not cause this problemwhere you're just we're just the capital of
it. Right now. You goto k and A. You know,
I've walked the streets of k andA. I say, any any politician
(08:22):
or someone like us want to bepolitician, should walk down the streets of
KNA. Because you would think Ilive in Center City. I say,
we're a couple of miles from CenterCity. I mean you would think you
were from walking in Center City.To walk in a KNA, you would
think you would literally gone to adifferent Yeah, it looks like a third
walk. Question about it's not nottwo miles from Center City, you would
think you literally went to a differentthird world nation. Drew I recently had
(08:46):
a situation where a gentleman came infrom New York. He was a boxing
promoter and he always wanted to dothe Rocky Tour. And during that period
of time, I said, okay, well one day we'll we'll jump in
and we'll do it. Well,we got about halfway through the hoy to
where he safe turned the car aroundit's a matter. This is a tough,
tough guy, this guy from Brooklyn. You know, this guy been
through it all. And he saidthat this is not normal. I'm like,
(09:09):
what do you mean? He goes, this is not how people referring
back to KNA, This is nothow people live or could have to live.
And you know, this is aguy coming from New York. So,
I mean, we're kind of entrenchedwith it. We see it every
day, and maybe we're not asalerted to it as somebody that's coming in
from the outside. We're on theinside looking in. They're on the outside
looking in. It's a whole differentlook, you know. And you know,
(09:31):
there are proposed solutions to to thisissue, and one of them is
probably the most controversial, is oursafe injection sites are What are your views
on safe injection sites? UM chieplyagainst safe injection sites not. I mean,
look, we all want to helpthis cause, but there's so many
better ways to go about it.I mean, we had out they had
(09:52):
allocated two hundred million dollars for thisepidemic. We need accountability and where that
money went, and and these arethis is money they could have went towards
the cure okay, not fueling theproblem. Sure, And I always say
that. I said, I don'twant to arrest drug users. I don't
want to arrest the addicts want toI want to arrest the drug dealers.
(10:13):
Absolutely. I think safe injection sitesI know they do. They normalize drug
use to an addict who is hopefullywe obviously we want to get these people
help. But when you normalize thedrug use, they think, oh,
I can go somewhere, I cando it safety. I understand the harm
adoption, and I and and Iget I believe these people who are in
favor of these sites aren't favor forthe right reason. They want to save
(10:39):
them today so we can help themtomorrow. But the sites they're not doing
that. There's not like if therewas maybe, well I probably would never
before because it does, it normalizesthe use, and it kills would it
would kill communities where drug dealers goingto go. If there's a safe injection
they're going to stand outside where wherethey're where their clients are, because it's
(11:00):
it's supplying demand that the demand isgoing to be at that safe injection site.
So you're going to bring drug dealersinto communities. True, it's a
two parts scenario too. When safeinjection sites were talked about several years ago,
fenwell wasn't on our radar. Nowwe can kill a guy with a
grand of salt, you know,and basically, um, you know,
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we're gonna let them walk into asafe injection site and basically play Russian roulette.
It's not going to happen. Itcan't happen. We don't have the
control over the substance to be ableto let them go in and and and
then do that. So therefore,the second part, which has always been
blowing my mind, Um, wereward people for free responsibility by being selling
this. But I mean, don'teven think these people that are bringing this
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product in love the fact that they'resafe in Jackson site. Do you think
they love the fact that, heyman, you know, this is a
safe place for these people to go. It encourages instead of deterrors. And
I think that that's something that weneed to get a hand alone. And
again, this is not just acity problem. The state needs to get
involved with this, The federal governmentneeds to get involved with it. We
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just happen to be a city inurban city. This is we're just the
center point of this problem. It'sunfortunate for the center point, but we
are but it needs to be correctedquickly. And I'm not saying we're going
this is going to be a We'regonna wave a magic one, this is
going to do tonight. We haveto take baby steps with this. And
I've said when I had just hadan interview the other day and I mentioned
about not fueling the problem by doingeverything we possibly can to educate our youth,
(12:33):
keep our rec centers state of theart and open to be we don't
fuel that problem. Okay, dealwith the problem at hand, but don't
fuel it, okay. And there'sour starting point, and making sure the
money that's allocated to fix that problemis spent the right way exactly. And
there has to be accountability. Wherewhere is the money going? And why
are we not not seeing any anyresults? And you know, I'll leave
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it kind of start to end onthis. With the safe in jection,
there is no such thing as safeher. And yeah, it may you
might be able to save this personto day, but if you're not trying
to get this person out of thatcycle of addiction, they're eventually going to
die from putting her in her armevery day, and look, these sites
are not going to be open twentyfour hours a day. So and with
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the fentinel, you're right, Imean, it's it's just a number one.
Could you know Harmon's gonna kill yourtime? But the fentanyl, it's
a meeting and you're telling these people, you're normalizing it, and it's making
them feel like, oh, ifI walk into a site and they're they're
telling me it's okay to do it, then then I'm not going to break
it out the site, right,And I am empathy. I believe addiction
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to disease. Not everyone believes that. I do. I think these people
want to get out of the cycle, but they're tracked. I mean,
it's like poverty, like no onewants to be poor, but if there's
no way out of it, it'syou know, it's sure it. And
guess what everyone is effective, there'sI don't think there's anyone if you walk
to anyone in Philadelphi, he said, do you know someone who has died
(14:00):
rum ediction? And and whether it'sdrug addiction or alcohol, you know,
yeah, someone knows someone who hasbeen who died because of the the rate
of addiction death or for the fatespecially now with fennel are staggering, are
staggering. It could be the numberone cause of death in America right now.
(14:22):
So guys are gonna exeed heart disease, which is incredible that we've not
taken a more stricter approach to getthis resolved. It's just amazing, and
it's sad. It's sad. Sowe're gonna We're gonna take a quick break.
You're listening to the Republican Zone onUSULA Media. Welcome back. You're
(15:15):
watching the Republican Zone on USULA Media. I'm here with my friend and fellow
running mate build up the City CouncilLarge running mate, Jim Hasher So again,
thanks for coming on, Jim.We touched on drug dealers, heroin
use safe injection sites. Let's talkabout some good stuff like number one,
(15:37):
we got a super Bowl coming up. I mean, you can't you can't
beat the Birds being in the SuperBowl again. I mean, we went
my entire life, almost my entirelife, from nineteen eighty to twenty eighteen
without a Super Bowl win. Ishould say we did go to the Super
Bowl. When was it Super Bowlbefore? It was in two thousand and
three, two when we lost.Yeah, so then and now like it
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feels like it was just yesterday thatwe were in the parade on the Parkway
and we're going back now. Asa bar owner, you just must be
like, wow, this is yes, it is incredible. I mean what
it's done for small business has beenincredible, not just the Eagles, but
with the Philly is going to theWorld Series. Is a back to back
exactly. You know, we're veryblessed here. I mean to have what
(16:18):
we have, And I just spoketo some of the other day saying not
just the bars, in the restaurants, but the hotels. Uh, you
know, people that are in theprinting business, people that are basically just
you know, every field that insmall business are benefiting from this. I
mean, people are happier, peopleare well, people go I went out
to a Young Republicans event last night. It was a Tuesday. You would
have thought, I think just peopleare excited. So they're like, I
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want to be out, I wantto be out with other people. I
want to be talking about the Eagles. And so a bar that on a
Tuesday night would probably be not crowdedat all, it's it's packed. And
I think we're gonna keep seeing Ithink I think this weekend people are going
to be excited going out. Obviouslythe day of the Super Bowl, it's
going to be it's going to beincredible. Uh and yeah, and we
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just had the Phillies. The Philliesprobably must have been a bigger boom,
because you have it's not just onegame. It's but we didn't get the
seven um and hey, I thinkwe might have another one in a few
months with Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Not only can only hope. The
trickle down effects is incredible and peoplethink, oh, it's just the actual
the restaurant or the bar, orit's actually the food vendor, it's the
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beer, beer vendor, it's theit's the drivers, it's the salesman that
sell the product. Everybody benefits fromthis and it's amazing. Hell, you
know, it works. It's justpeople are happier, the economy goes better
with it, it's just everything,and it's just a better feel for the
city. And it's a great boom, you know. Coming we're still seeing
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the effects of the pandemic. There'sstill some either in Center City, there's
still stores that have not open,not reopened so I think this is you
know, my local tavern, CherryStreet tavern was decimated during Great bar pandemic.
Great bar, great guys, greatowners. They're that bar is.
I've seen that they're packed every night. So I think you guys needed it.
(18:08):
The small business owners, the restaurantsto the bars, they needed this.
So this is the perfect time,sure, and thirty percent of our
businesses, especially small business to notreopen and to the pandemics. That was
a big jolt to the city.I mean, ninety percent of this country
is employed by companies with twenty employeesor less, and thirty percent of them
didn't real exactly the pandemics, Sowe took a bad shot here. So
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all these little things, like notthese little things, but the Phillies being
into the World Series, the Eaglesbeing in the Super Bowl, the Sixers
playing so well, it all helpsus snap back and maybe rebound a little
bit better. Now. It's good. I know Cherry Street is having an
issue staff. Are you seeing thatin your bar? Are you having trouble
hiring people? Is the turnover stillstill a problem. Yeah, I think
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I think probably up until about amonth ago, we were fighting for staff,
and I think that had to dowith the fact that, you know,
so many people found different careers.Sure, people on our industry,
in the service industry realized that,hey, this is going to be a
problem. They can't support their family, pay their student loans, especially these
younger these younger at the families.So I think they found other avenues.
(19:15):
So I think the service industry wasaffected by the pandemic because people want another
direction. But I think we're juststarting to feel as the economy may be
tightened up a little bit that people, you know, are coming back to
the service industry and are going tobe more a part of this. Now.
Are you seeing that you're having topay people more? Absolutely, which
is not necessarily like and that's nota problem. People always ask me,
Drew, or are you in favorof minimum wage? I said no,
(19:36):
I said, the market should determinein the wage. I said, just
look at where we are now.You know the market is determined in the
wage and the leverages is in theemployee. Absolutely, and yeah, and
it's the truth. I mean,the bottom line, the competition will will
make its own minimum wage exactly.That's what I say every time I said,
well, that's what happens you know, people are like, well,
we need fifteen dollar minimum wage.I said, I don't want people to
(19:56):
make fifteen dollars at that. Iwant people to make thirty. But I
don't want to dictate it because allthat's going to do is number one,
minimum wage will cause a little bitof inflation, It could cause it could
cause some unemployment because you know,most people probably already make minimum already make
that fifteen dollars an hour. Butthey're they're small businesses. Who you know,
(20:17):
what if they if they need twopeople, if they could hire two
people, but if you said aminimum wage of fifteen, they might not
be able to hire those two people. And it's a lot of part time
work. So but you know,let let the market determine the wage.
And I think we're seeing that nowin a good way. Yes, absolutely,
no question about it. I meanI think sometimes people when you talk
(20:40):
about minimum wage, you deter peoplefrom hiring because of it. So I
think, like you said, it'lltake its own course. I mean,
competition will make its own minimum wage. And I don't think you'll hear much
of an upward from people. Ithink, you know, if somebody does
their jobs, shows off for work, they're going to be paid according to
sure. Absolutely, And how abouton the supply side, are you on
in the bar, are you seeingprices starting to level off at all?
(21:03):
Is it still is it still increaseour eggs? Everyone talks about the eggs,
but you probably don't have that.It's funny we went through this wing
crisis where you know, that's rightthere, work the shortage of wings,
wings, and god forbid that shouldhappen during the Super Bowl. But we're
back to normal with that. Assoon as we go back to normal and
cheese calms down and chicken calms down, the state hits us with an increase
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and liquor. So we're never goingto get away from it, you know,
you know, as you know,we face some of the biggest syntaxes
in the world right here in thecity of Philadelphia. We have the liquor
tax, supposed to be a shortterm tax back to help the school district.
Many years are no such thing asa temporary tax now. And then
we had the sugar tax. Again, these are things that you know,
hopefully the money's allocating in the rightdirection with the sugar tax, with these
(21:48):
playgrounds, but again they ask wherethe accountability comes in again, but we
could hit hard every time we turnaround with something like this. You know,
I'm still waiting for us to goback to seven percent sales tax.
That the temporary eight we have todo it. It's it's only going to
be for a short term. Andthis was under Michael Nutter, right,
I think was a great it wasa good man. But I'm still waiting
for that temporary tax. But onyour real estate side, I tell people
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that we have the high our transfertax is it's ridiculous, and I don't
think most people realize that people getthe closing costs and I think they have
a sticker shock, but they don'trealize that if they just go over to
Bucks County, sure it's one percent, it's yeah, it's it's one and
one. And then Philadelphia because theones the state Philadelphia is one and it
is like Philly adds like three pointsix, right, it's it's it's two
(22:33):
point four five. And basically whathappens there is the buyer pays that two
point four five, the seller paysthat two point four five. But first
at home buyer, you know atwo hundred and forty six thousand dollars average
priced home. I mean, you'retalking about eight thousand dollars towards your settlement,
you know, and you don't realizeit, but we give these abatements
(22:53):
away, these three and ten yearabatements away like nothing. Which they've tightened
that up too. But if welimited the transfer taxs for first time home
buyers, we would entice people don'twant to stay here and maybe probably buy
a home here. And I thinkit's something that just having a small business
mindset to bring some of these discussionsfor helps and we talk about affordable housing,
(23:15):
you know, that's a huge barrieror an injury, having that that
huge transfer tax. It look,they cost Taxadelphia for a reason. Yeah.
It's like every time you turn around, there's another tax, and there's
one on the being proposed in citycouncil. I don't think it's going to
get any legs, but it's it'sthe wealth tax, yes, and it's
you know, you hear people say, well the rich can afford more tax's
(23:36):
it's not a big deal. Butyou know what number one? What is
what is their definition of wealth?Number number one? Um, I mean
I would probably get the wealth tax. I'd say, I know, I'm
not rich, I'm not wealthy.I only have two kids. I can't
imagine what five it's cost cost you. And it's every time you turn around,
it's they want another tax, theywant another tax. There's never enough
(23:59):
revenue. I mean, just lookat you know. Mayor Kenny said,
well, I'm not we're not raisingreal estate taxes. But when the values
of homes go up ten, fifteen, twenty thirty percent, you are raising
the taxes because you're not if you'renot changing the millage rate. You know,
I got hit with a forty percentincrease this year. Sure, I
mean it's it's insane and I'm luckyI can afford it, but there are
(24:21):
people can't afford it. And soyou know, again they look over and
I say, if I crossed CityLineAvenue, I'm paying a lot, a
lot less in taxes. You lookat these people that lived in Fishtown all
their lives and were affected by whathappened three miles from their home because the
assessments, you know, exactly roofbecause of Hell. The boom was in
North Liberties, Fishtown, Brewerytown,on all these places. I mean,
(24:44):
these are people that really felt theeffect of this. And you know,
Philadelphia is a city neighborhood. Yougo block by block here, what's happening
on one block may not be happeningone another. Uh. You know,
your house may not be as updatedas the house that papers are just assessed,
which I think is the big problemthere. But you know, when
you look at Philadelphia as as awhole, when you're a small businessman,
(25:04):
even even big business. Now lookat the tax structure. Use an document
see sales tax, business privilege tax, the syntax for the liquor tax,
the sugar tax, your regular realestate tax. I mean you can go
one and one and on your citywaste tax. The wate tax is one
of the highest in the in theUnited States, which also comes back if
(25:26):
you're a business owner as far asyour workman's compass. But you're penalized beer
that too. So forty six percentof what comes in that door is being
paid out not to the state orthe Fed, but to the state of
the city. It's it's it's it'sreally you know, it's incredible if you
think about it. And the problemwith the wage tax. Now, I
was hybrid before the people talked aboutworking hymrid, I work from home.
I'm on the road a lot,probably not to some of the you know,
(25:48):
you're probably as a real estate agent, you're probably in the car or
at the house more than you're inan actual office. So people are saying
now, like, Wow, Idon't have to go into the office every
day. Why am I paying thiswage tax? You know, I'm I'm
gonna stay at home. I'm gonnaI'm not going to come into the city
or oh, I can work fromfrom anywhere. Why don't I go to
a place that doesn't have a hugewage tax? I always used to.
(26:12):
I grew up in the main Line, so I sly when I crossed City
line avenue. When you cross cityline avenue, when you can pay only
three point one percent wage tax,you know, what's what's gonna prevent people
from from doing that? You know? And I know I've lived in the
city twenty years. When I firstmoved here, I thought I was going
to live here until my children turnedfive, and then I was going to
(26:33):
go back to the trunk to themain Line that, which is kind of
what what a lot of people didand a lot of my friends did.
I decided to stay, but youknow, I'm taking a huge if I
my office is a kind of jockey. If I actually lived out near there,
I would it. I'd probably saveten percent, yeah, a year
in question about it. And Ithink a lot of times when people come
(26:53):
and say, hey, I wantto buy a home, especially a first
time I own buyer, there's alwaysthat problem with the city wage. You
know, their parents re educating that. But now there's also the stigma crimes
it hached with that. So notonly are you going to basically pay higher
car insurance, you're going to payhigher city wage and all these other things,
but now you're gonna look over yourshoulder while you're pumping gas, or
(27:15):
whether your wife can go to thesupermarket and walk out into the park a
lot safely. So now it's acombination. Hey, if we're going to
retain people and we're gonna get peopleto come in, we're gonna have to
get creative what we would do,and it's things like possibly maybe waving the
transfer tax for first time home buyer. I think that's a great idea that
I think. It's just something thatI think that when you look at it
in the big picture, we'll allowthem so much more to put towards their
(27:37):
closing costs. And tore towards todown payment, and that carrot just may
be enough to dangle to say,I may want to give this a shot,
insturing the city. And look,we started this conversation with crime,
and you know, we're back intoit because it is. It is the
number one issue. And look,I live in Center City. I'm lucky
my neighborhood does not see the gunviolence in the crime that a lot of
(28:00):
communities do. But I will tellyou my neighborhood is not as safe as
it was when I moved in twentyyears ago. Five years ago, I
would have allowed my daughters to walkdown to Justina Street to hang out.
I mean this is when they wereyounger. Now I'm hesitant because they're there.
There's there, there's there's a homelessproblem that is just exploded in the
last few years. And these peopleneed mental they have natural health issues.
(28:22):
So I'm empathetic, but at thesame time that you know, they it
is dangerous for my children to walkalone by themselves. And I never felt
that way five years ago, tenyears ago, twenty years ago. And
it every it's everywhere. I mean, people don't look we're talking, We're
gonna be knocking on doors. Ina couple of weeks, A lot of
(28:42):
people are not going to open thosedoors because because they're scared. Everyone has
that. We all have the ringdoorbell, which is great because when crime
does happen, we have we haverecord of it. I know when when
something happened, I actually had apackage stool. I called the police,
I gave him the film and therewe caught the guy. So I never
thought it was going to happen.But um, but it's even even when
(29:06):
on more serious crimes, these ringdoorbells can can can help the police catch
people. But it's a sign thatwe're all a little scared. We're in
some cases, we're a lot scaredand justifiable. I mean, you know,
you look, I'll just look what'shappening. You know, every day
when you turn the news on,that's happening with the you know, people
getting shot and killed and mugged andcarjack Um. You know, we went
(29:26):
through this phase up in the Northeast, and I'm sure throughout the entire city,
but I've you know, directly affectedby it. Was these catalytic converter
stolen on a regular basis, AndI immediately thought, why doesn't the city
immediately jump on this, you know, try to do whatever they can.
Go to the state. Let's tryto get a level one felony for somebody
(29:47):
that act sure it feels I meanthe guy that's fencing it, the guy
that's buying it, and the cities. Well, really the state feeling one
that could pass that low. That'swhy it's called the United States of America.
Well, then we could also dothings like revote business purpose licenses for
cards that are sure. Absolutely allthese little things we can do, whether
it's an ordinance or not, andthen hold people accountable and maybe slow it
(30:07):
down, and then maybe lobby thestate hard enough to say, hey,
we need to build passed immediately.How send it? Boom pass it exactly?
Well, you're going to think twice, because if you steal that catalytic
converter, you're going to do timeexactly. Okay, it's a felony,
it's with you the rest of yourlife, and you're going to sit in
a jail for a little while tothink about what you just did. So
that's what I mean about having somebodywith a common sense approach being able to
(30:30):
go to Harrisburg and say we can'tdo this this way in Philadelphia anymore.
We're only we're limited to what wecan do. We need a state to
be involved with this. And theword common sense I use that in my
campaign. I hear you say ita lot, you know, I say
we need to bring common sense backinto the city Council and come this November,
I think there is going to becommon sense because it's going to be
(30:51):
you, and it's going to bemean. We're gonna get through. I
hope, so absolutely, you knowwhat I know. So so we are.
I come into the end more thana hunches. My wife says,
you know, it's it's yours andGimi, yeah, so and I agree,
let's keep it that way. That'sright. So thank you for coming
on. This was a great talk. We'll bring you back talk about yeah
now, yeah, we we didn't. We didn't. We missed a ton
(31:14):
of issue. We didn't even talkabout educations or or any of the issues
there. So thank you for comingon. You've been listening to you've been
watching the Republican Zone on USULA Media. I am Drew Murray, your host.
Thank you for watching
The Republican Zone is brought to youby Drew Murray in the afternoon, and
you were watching The Republican Zone onUSLA Media. My name is Drew Murray.
I am the host, and Iam here with my friend and fellow
City Council at Large Republican City Councilat Large running mate, Jim Hasher.
So, Jim, thank you forcoming on, glad to be here,
(00:26):
to be here this time. Sayyou're my friend this time six months ago.
I didn't even know Jim Hasher.We never met. We met the
first time, I guess the constatters. Yes, we did, when we
were both looking at for the Republicanendorsement for the special election. I think
we both thought we were probably gonnaget it. But the meeting did go
a little longer than I was comfortable, so I got a little nervous.
(00:48):
But so I ran in twenty nineteen. I knew I was running into twenty
twenty three. That was always actuallymy long goal. When did you decide,
okay, you ramer Congress before onea few a few years ago or
several sever or several years ago.Actually it'll be it'll be twenty nine years
this November. Oh wow, Andyou've never run since then? No,
(01:10):
No, that I was a wardleader during that period of time. I
served on the Athletic Commission during thatperiod of time, but never ran for
pub never ran for office again.Is that because your wife states he said,
you're not going to run for officeever again after that first raise.
Its a combination of things. Ithink, you know, I had five
boys. Let's say you had abasketball team. So I think it kind
of took a life of its own. And you know, I think that
(01:32):
timing is everything. And I thinkcoming back into this now was the kids
are grown, and you know exactly. I mean, it's it's hard.
I remember when I ran in twentynineteen, door in petitions when it which
are coming up soon in a coupleof weeks. My daughters were much younger.
Now they're teenagers. I don't thinkthey terrify leave the house. But
that I went to h and it'show hard signatures was. I went to
(01:52):
a six Ers game that night,and the only reason I went because we're
going to be in a box andI thought maybe there's one Republican I can
get a signature from. That wasthe only that I went. I was
exhausted both of my daughters grabbed meand we're crying, yes and there very
please don't go out again, daddy, Please don't go out again. So
now that they're older, it ismuch right. When did you decide,
Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna throwmy hat back in the ring? Was
(02:15):
it? Was it a year ago? Were you thinking about this a few
years ago? Well, I probablywill tell you that. Um it always
intrigued me for the last several years. But the deciding factor was the beginning
of the pandemic. Paying in smallbusiness, um, I just felt like
I was becoming hypocritical. I wasalways complaining about the bureaucracy in the hall,
(02:38):
I was always complaining about the healthDepartment in l and I and all
the problems we were facing being insmall business because of the pandemic. And
one day I woke up and said, Hey, instead of complaining about it,
let's do something about That's why youhave two businesses, right, you're
some real estate broker. I've beenMayfair section of northeast Philadelphia for about thirty
three years. There hasher reality hasbeen there. It's almost landmark there now.
(03:01):
And I also own a small restaurantbar up in the Northeast area Philadelphia
called Chimmy's Time Out. Okay,London Avenue right added over. So,
so you got hit by the pandemicprobably from two ways, yes, both
in the real estate market and obviouslyas a bar ow. That must have
been a tough, tough period,very much so. And there was a
(03:22):
lack of inconsistency the whole time.We were one day we were opened,
one day we were closed, oneday, we were allowed outside, one
day we were allowed inside, oneday we weren't allowed near the bar.
You know, it was never wewere never had a set situation that we
were involved with from continuously we werebeing told by you know, Ell and
(03:43):
I in City Hall and the healthDepartment what was best for our business,
instead of us being able to gothere once in a while and tell them
what was best for our business.I remember at one point bars and restaurants
were open and it was like aMonday they said, we're closing again,
and the bar owners, I knowand maybe maybe it's all bars, they
were like, we buy our foodon Sunday or Monday. Like if they
were going to do this, whydidn't they tell us on Saturday, Like
(04:04):
on Monday you're going to flou becausethey were you know, number one,
they're small business and many of themthey're already getting hit by the pandemic.
And then to buy a week's worthof food that you can't now use.
They were, they were devastated.Our post our post closing was the day
before Thanksgiving, if you can remember, it was Mark sixteen, twenty twenty,
(04:27):
and basically we got a phone callsomewhere around eleven twelve that morning saying,
hey, by the way, thisis going to be a short term
situation. We just don't want tooverload the hospitals. We just want to
do to basically calm things down.We're probably going to be back in this
swing of things within a week,well eighteen months later. We were never
back in exactly things. And againthere were some things that the city did
(04:49):
that was a necessity and had tobe done, and there was some things
they had they were cluled to someonewhat had to be done, and it
was inconsistent. You know, itwas some big box stores were open,
but the small busin this is Imean, we're not and and not in
defense of the city, but withthe state laid down some pretty harsh guidelines
too, I mean having to beable to eat something, to be able
(05:09):
to order a drink was ludicrous,like that was going to stop the pandemic.
Or coming in the door with amask one and taking off suit as
you could sit down. These werethings that we're insulting to our intelligence almost
that we had went through. Soduring that period of time, I started
to really say, hey, youknow what, um, my kids were
grown. UM. I felt thatthis was something I was deeply rooted in
(05:30):
the neighborhood. I'm the president ofthe Tarsdale Boys Club. I had a
business, I had a family inthe neighborhood. I raised my children there.
In my heart and hearts, Ireally think I could go down there
and do something good. And yourboard and raised fil Y Ryan guy right
raised my whole life. I stillhanging the same playground I did as a
kid. I know I am notI am not born and raised and phil
I think I think some ward leadersin Philadelphia, up in the northeast still
(05:53):
haven't forgiven me for not growing upand in the city of Philadephia. I
said, I can't. I can'tsaid, my parents society are living exactly
the way if I could have beena North Catholic or a Ryan guy.
I would actually I would, Isay everybody has a cross. That's right,
I said in the womb, Iknew I was going to Saint Joe's
Prep has cross advance. Right.So now you're on a campaign trail.
(06:15):
I know what I hear all thetime? What is what is the number
one issue? What is the numberone complaint of the city Philadelphia residents of
city Philadephia. Now what do youhear here in the most I think it's
no question that crime in the qualityof life is our number one issue.
I think that something that is inthe forefront of everything people talk about.
(06:36):
But I think what people forget thatit's related to our opioid epidemic problem in
some way. Um. I saidin many of the stumps that we go
out on and talk about that eightysix percent of these major crimes are caused
by a drug issue, or exactlyI draw connection of some type. Um.
Even our gun problems, with theseghost guns and things like that,
(06:57):
they're always reverts back somehoward to anothertwo. Our opioid problem and our fenyl
problem, and these drug wars andthese gang wars. It's all somehow drug
related. It is their gangs.I mean when when when three three people
are shot in in Mayfair, Yeah, that was obviously gun related, but
it was it was drug It wascaused by drugs. I think anything right
(07:18):
now you'll see has some level ofrelationship to a drug. And we don't
even use the word heroin anymore insome of these problems. This is all
fentyl. This is all, youknow, a territorial issue for you know,
um we are we are the fentylcapital of the world right here in
the city of Philadelphia. People travelto Philadelphia for the drugs, yes,
(07:38):
I mean, you know, andit's it's become it's it's a it's a
public emergency, it's an epidemic.It's something that needs to be addressed immediately.
Whether hopefully we're both in counsel todiscuss this, but we need to
get off for s and get theHarrisburg and and to Washington. Let them
know, Hey, this isn't justa Philadelphia problem. This is a this
is a national problem that we justhappened to be the way being post exactly.
(08:01):
And I'd say it's gonna take federalon people say, you know,
what are gonna do it's the numberone. We need federal sit no question
about on him. As a municipallevel, Philly is obviously not perfect,
but we did not cause this problemwhere you're just we're just the capital of
it. Right now. You goto k and A. You know,
I've walked the streets of k andA. I say, any any politician
(08:22):
or someone like us want to bepolitician, should walk down the streets of
KNA. Because you would think Ilive in Center City. I say,
we're a couple of miles from CenterCity. I mean you would think you
were from walking in Center City.To walk in a KNA, you would
think you would literally gone to adifferent Yeah, it looks like a third
walk. Question about it's not nottwo miles from Center City, you would
think you literally went to a differentthird world nation. Drew I recently had
(08:46):
a situation where a gentleman came infrom New York. He was a boxing
promoter and he always wanted to dothe Rocky Tour. And during that period
of time, I said, okay, well one day we'll we'll jump in
and we'll do it. Well,we got about halfway through the hoy to
where he safe turned the car aroundit's a matter. This is a tough,
tough guy, this guy from Brooklyn. You know, this guy been
through it all. And he saidthat this is not normal. I'm like,
(09:09):
what do you mean? He goes, this is not how people referring
back to KNA, This is nothow people live or could have to live.
And you know, this is aguy coming from New York. So,
I mean, we're kind of entrenchedwith it. We see it every
day, and maybe we're not asalerted to it as somebody that's coming in
from the outside. We're on theinside looking in. They're on the outside
looking in. It's a whole differentlook, you know. And you know,
(09:31):
there are proposed solutions to to thisissue, and one of them is
probably the most controversial, is oursafe injection sites are What are your views
on safe injection sites? UM chieplyagainst safe injection sites not. I mean,
look, we all want to helpthis cause, but there's so many
better ways to go about it.I mean, we had out they had
(09:52):
allocated two hundred million dollars for thisepidemic. We need accountability and where that
money went, and and these arethis is money they could have went towards
the cure okay, not fueling theproblem. Sure, And I always say
that. I said, I don'twant to arrest drug users. I don't
want to arrest the addicts want toI want to arrest the drug dealers.
(10:13):
Absolutely. I think safe injection sitesI know they do. They normalize drug
use to an addict who is hopefullywe obviously we want to get these people
help. But when you normalize thedrug use, they think, oh,
I can go somewhere, I cando it safety. I understand the harm
adoption, and I and and Iget I believe these people who are in
favor of these sites aren't favor forthe right reason. They want to save
(10:39):
them today so we can help themtomorrow. But the sites they're not doing
that. There's not like if therewas maybe, well I probably would never
before because it does, it normalizesthe use, and it kills would it
would kill communities where drug dealers goingto go. If there's a safe injection
they're going to stand outside where wherethey're where their clients are, because it's
(11:00):
it's supplying demand that the demand isgoing to be at that safe injection site.
So you're going to bring drug dealersinto communities. True, it's a
two parts scenario too. When safeinjection sites were talked about several years ago,
fenwell wasn't on our radar. Nowwe can kill a guy with a
grand of salt, you know,and basically, um, you know,
(11:22):
we're gonna let them walk into asafe injection site and basically play Russian roulette.
It's not going to happen. Itcan't happen. We don't have the
control over the substance to be ableto let them go in and and and
then do that. So therefore,the second part, which has always been
blowing my mind, Um, wereward people for free responsibility by being selling
this. But I mean, don'teven think these people that are bringing this
(11:45):
product in love the fact that they'resafe in Jackson site. Do you think
they love the fact that, heyman, you know, this is a
safe place for these people to go. It encourages instead of deterrors. And
I think that that's something that weneed to get a hand alone. And
again, this is not just acity problem. The state needs to get
involved with this, The federal governmentneeds to get involved with it. We
(12:07):
just happen to be a city inurban city. This is we're just the
center point of this problem. It'sunfortunate for the center point, but we
are but it needs to be correctedquickly. And I'm not saying we're going
this is going to be a We'regonna wave a magic one, this is
going to do tonight. We haveto take baby steps with this. And
I've said when I had just hadan interview the other day and I mentioned
about not fueling the problem by doingeverything we possibly can to educate our youth,
(12:33):
keep our rec centers state of theart and open to be we don't
fuel that problem. Okay, dealwith the problem at hand, but don't
fuel it, okay. And there'sour starting point, and making sure the
money that's allocated to fix that problemis spent the right way exactly. And
there has to be accountability. Wherewhere is the money going? And why
are we not not seeing any anyresults? And you know, I'll leave
(12:54):
it kind of start to end onthis. With the safe in jection,
there is no such thing as safeher. And yeah, it may you
might be able to save this personto day, but if you're not trying
to get this person out of thatcycle of addiction, they're eventually going to
die from putting her in her armevery day, and look, these sites
are not going to be open twentyfour hours a day. So and with
(13:16):
the fentinel, you're right, Imean, it's it's just a number one.
Could you know Harmon's gonna kill yourtime? But the fentanyl, it's
a meeting and you're telling these people, you're normalizing it, and it's making
them feel like, oh, ifI walk into a site and they're they're
telling me it's okay to do it, then then I'm not going to break
it out the site, right,And I am empathy. I believe addiction
(13:39):
to disease. Not everyone believes that. I do. I think these people
want to get out of the cycle, but they're tracked. I mean,
it's like poverty, like no onewants to be poor, but if there's
no way out of it, it'syou know, it's sure it. And
guess what everyone is effective, there'sI don't think there's anyone if you walk
to anyone in Philadelphi, he said, do you know someone who has died
(14:00):
rum ediction? And and whether it'sdrug addiction or alcohol, you know,
yeah, someone knows someone who hasbeen who died because of the the rate
of addiction death or for the fatespecially now with fennel are staggering, are
staggering. It could be the numberone cause of death in America right now.
(14:22):
So guys are gonna exeed heart disease, which is incredible that we've not
taken a more stricter approach to getthis resolved. It's just amazing, and
it's sad. It's sad. Sowe're gonna We're gonna take a quick break.
You're listening to the Republican Zone onUSULA Media. Welcome back. You're
(15:15):
watching the Republican Zone on USULA Media. I'm here with my friend and fellow
running mate build up the City CouncilLarge running mate, Jim Hasher So again,
thanks for coming on, Jim.We touched on drug dealers, heroin
use safe injection sites. Let's talkabout some good stuff like number one,
(15:37):
we got a super Bowl coming up. I mean, you can't you can't
beat the Birds being in the SuperBowl again. I mean, we went
my entire life, almost my entirelife, from nineteen eighty to twenty eighteen
without a Super Bowl win. Ishould say we did go to the Super
Bowl. When was it Super Bowlbefore? It was in two thousand and
three, two when we lost.Yeah, so then and now like it
(15:58):
feels like it was just yesterday thatwe were in the parade on the Parkway
and we're going back now. Asa bar owner, you just must be
like, wow, this is yes, it is incredible. I mean what
it's done for small business has beenincredible, not just the Eagles, but
with the Philly is going to theWorld Series. Is a back to back
exactly. You know, we're veryblessed here. I mean to have what
(16:18):
we have, And I just spoketo some of the other day saying not
just the bars, in the restaurants, but the hotels. Uh, you
know, people that are in theprinting business, people that are basically just
you know, every field that insmall business are benefiting from this. I
mean, people are happier, peopleare well, people go I went out
to a Young Republicans event last night. It was a Tuesday. You would
have thought, I think just peopleare excited. So they're like, I
(16:41):
want to be out, I wantto be out with other people. I
want to be talking about the Eagles. And so a bar that on a
Tuesday night would probably be not crowdedat all, it's it's packed. And
I think we're gonna keep seeing Ithink I think this weekend people are going
to be excited going out. Obviouslythe day of the Super Bowl, it's
going to be it's going to beincredible. Uh and yeah, and we
(17:02):
just had the Phillies. The Philliesprobably must have been a bigger boom,
because you have it's not just onegame. It's but we didn't get the
seven um and hey, I thinkwe might have another one in a few
months with Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Not only can only hope. The
trickle down effects is incredible and peoplethink, oh, it's just the actual
the restaurant or the bar, orit's actually the food vendor, it's the
(17:25):
beer, beer vendor, it's theit's the drivers, it's the salesman that
sell the product. Everybody benefits fromthis and it's amazing. Hell, you
know, it works. It's justpeople are happier, the economy goes better
with it, it's just everything,and it's just a better feel for the
city. And it's a great boom, you know. Coming we're still seeing
(17:45):
the effects of the pandemic. There'sstill some either in Center City, there's
still stores that have not open,not reopened so I think this is you
know, my local tavern, CherryStreet tavern was decimated during Great bar pandemic.
Great bar, great guys, greatowners. They're that bar is.
I've seen that they're packed every night. So I think you guys needed it.
(18:08):
The small business owners, the restaurantsto the bars, they needed this.
So this is the perfect time,sure, and thirty percent of our
businesses, especially small business to notreopen and to the pandemics. That was
a big jolt to the city.I mean, ninety percent of this country
is employed by companies with twenty employeesor less, and thirty percent of them
didn't real exactly the pandemics, Sowe took a bad shot here. So
(18:29):
all these little things, like notthese little things, but the Phillies being
into the World Series, the Eaglesbeing in the Super Bowl, the Sixers
playing so well, it all helpsus snap back and maybe rebound a little
bit better. Now. It's good. I know Cherry Street is having an
issue staff. Are you seeing thatin your bar? Are you having trouble
hiring people? Is the turnover stillstill a problem. Yeah, I think
(18:52):
I think probably up until about amonth ago, we were fighting for staff,
and I think that had to dowith the fact that, you know,
so many people found different careers.Sure, people on our industry,
in the service industry realized that,hey, this is going to be a
problem. They can't support their family, pay their student loans, especially these
younger these younger at the families.So I think they found other avenues.
(19:15):
So I think the service industry wasaffected by the pandemic because people want another
direction. But I think we're juststarting to feel as the economy may be
tightened up a little bit that people, you know, are coming back to
the service industry and are going tobe more a part of this. Now.
Are you seeing that you're having topay people more? Absolutely, which
is not necessarily like and that's nota problem. People always ask me,
Drew, or are you in favorof minimum wage? I said no,
(19:36):
I said, the market should determinein the wage. I said, just
look at where we are now.You know the market is determined in the
wage and the leverages is in theemployee. Absolutely, and yeah, and
it's the truth. I mean,the bottom line, the competition will will
make its own minimum wage exactly.That's what I say every time I said,
well, that's what happens you know, people are like, well,
we need fifteen dollar minimum wage.I said, I don't want people to
(19:56):
make fifteen dollars at that. Iwant people to make thirty. But I
don't want to dictate it because allthat's going to do is number one,
minimum wage will cause a little bitof inflation, It could cause it could
cause some unemployment because you know,most people probably already make minimum already make
that fifteen dollars an hour. Butthey're they're small businesses. Who you know,
(20:17):
what if they if they need twopeople, if they could hire two
people, but if you said aminimum wage of fifteen, they might not
be able to hire those two people. And it's a lot of part time
work. So but you know,let let the market determine the wage.
And I think we're seeing that nowin a good way. Yes, absolutely,
no question about it. I meanI think sometimes people when you talk
(20:40):
about minimum wage, you deter peoplefrom hiring because of it. So I
think, like you said, it'lltake its own course. I mean,
competition will make its own minimum wage. And I don't think you'll hear much
of an upward from people. Ithink, you know, if somebody does
their jobs, shows off for work, they're going to be paid according to
sure. Absolutely, And how abouton the supply side, are you on
in the bar, are you seeingprices starting to level off at all?
(21:03):
Is it still is it still increaseour eggs? Everyone talks about the eggs,
but you probably don't have that.It's funny we went through this wing
crisis where you know, that's rightthere, work the shortage of wings,
wings, and god forbid that shouldhappen during the Super Bowl. But we're
back to normal with that. Assoon as we go back to normal and
cheese calms down and chicken calms down, the state hits us with an increase
(21:25):
and liquor. So we're never goingto get away from it, you know,
you know, as you know,we face some of the biggest syntaxes
in the world right here in thecity of Philadelphia. We have the liquor
tax, supposed to be a shortterm tax back to help the school district.
Many years are no such thing asa temporary tax now. And then
we had the sugar tax. Again, these are things that you know,
hopefully the money's allocating in the rightdirection with the sugar tax, with these
(21:48):
playgrounds, but again they ask wherethe accountability comes in again, but we
could hit hard every time we turnaround with something like this. You know,
I'm still waiting for us to goback to seven percent sales tax.
That the temporary eight we have todo it. It's it's only going to
be for a short term. Andthis was under Michael Nutter, right,
I think was a great it wasa good man. But I'm still waiting
for that temporary tax. But onyour real estate side, I tell people
(22:10):
that we have the high our transfertax is it's ridiculous, and I don't
think most people realize that people getthe closing costs and I think they have
a sticker shock, but they don'trealize that if they just go over to
Bucks County, sure it's one percent, it's yeah, it's it's one and
one. And then Philadelphia because theones the state Philadelphia is one and it
is like Philly adds like three pointsix, right, it's it's it's two
(22:33):
point four five. And basically whathappens there is the buyer pays that two
point four five, the seller paysthat two point four five. But first
at home buyer, you know atwo hundred and forty six thousand dollars average
priced home. I mean, you'retalking about eight thousand dollars towards your settlement,
you know, and you don't realizeit, but we give these abatements
(22:53):
away, these three and ten yearabatements away like nothing. Which they've tightened
that up too. But if welimited the transfer taxs for first time home
buyers, we would entice people don'twant to stay here and maybe probably buy
a home here. And I thinkit's something that just having a small business
mindset to bring some of these discussionsfor helps and we talk about affordable housing,
(23:15):
you know, that's a huge barrieror an injury, having that that
huge transfer tax. It look,they cost Taxadelphia for a reason. Yeah.
It's like every time you turn around, there's another tax, and there's
one on the being proposed in citycouncil. I don't think it's going to
get any legs, but it's it'sthe wealth tax, yes, and it's
you know, you hear people say, well the rich can afford more tax's
(23:36):
it's not a big deal. Butyou know what number one? What is
what is their definition of wealth?Number number one? Um, I mean
I would probably get the wealth tax. I'd say, I know, I'm
not rich, I'm not wealthy.I only have two kids. I can't
imagine what five it's cost cost you. And it's every time you turn around,
it's they want another tax, theywant another tax. There's never enough
(23:59):
revenue. I mean, just lookat you know. Mayor Kenny said,
well, I'm not we're not raisingreal estate taxes. But when the values
of homes go up ten, fifteen, twenty thirty percent, you are raising
the taxes because you're not if you'renot changing the millage rate. You know,
I got hit with a forty percentincrease this year. Sure, I
mean it's it's insane and I'm luckyI can afford it, but there are
(24:21):
people can't afford it. And soyou know, again they look over and
I say, if I crossed CityLineAvenue, I'm paying a lot, a
lot less in taxes. You lookat these people that lived in Fishtown all
their lives and were affected by whathappened three miles from their home because the
assessments, you know, exactly roofbecause of Hell. The boom was in
North Liberties, Fishtown, Brewerytown,on all these places. I mean,
(24:44):
these are people that really felt theeffect of this. And you know,
Philadelphia is a city neighborhood. Yougo block by block here, what's happening
on one block may not be happeningone another. Uh. You know,
your house may not be as updatedas the house that papers are just assessed,
which I think is the big problemthere. But you know, when
you look at Philadelphia as as awhole, when you're a small businessman,
(25:04):
even even big business. Now lookat the tax structure. Use an document
see sales tax, business privilege tax, the syntax for the liquor tax,
the sugar tax, your regular realestate tax. I mean you can go
one and one and on your citywaste tax. The wate tax is one
of the highest in the in theUnited States, which also comes back if
(25:26):
you're a business owner as far asyour workman's compass. But you're penalized beer
that too. So forty six percentof what comes in that door is being
paid out not to the state orthe Fed, but to the state of
the city. It's it's it's it'sreally you know, it's incredible if you
think about it. And the problemwith the wage tax. Now, I
was hybrid before the people talked aboutworking hymrid, I work from home.
I'm on the road a lot,probably not to some of the you know,
(25:48):
you're probably as a real estate agent, you're probably in the car or
at the house more than you're inan actual office. So people are saying
now, like, Wow, Idon't have to go into the office every
day. Why am I paying thiswage tax? You know, I'm I'm
gonna stay at home. I'm gonnaI'm not going to come into the city
or oh, I can work fromfrom anywhere. Why don't I go to
a place that doesn't have a hugewage tax? I always used to.
(26:12):
I grew up in the main Line, so I sly when I crossed City
line avenue. When you cross cityline avenue, when you can pay only
three point one percent wage tax,you know, what's what's gonna prevent people
from from doing that? You know? And I know I've lived in the
city twenty years. When I firstmoved here, I thought I was going
to live here until my children turnedfive, and then I was going to
(26:33):
go back to the trunk to themain Line that, which is kind of
what what a lot of people didand a lot of my friends did.
I decided to stay, but youknow, I'm taking a huge if I
my office is a kind of jockey. If I actually lived out near there,
I would it. I'd probably saveten percent, yeah, a year
in question about it. And Ithink a lot of times when people come
(26:53):
and say, hey, I wantto buy a home, especially a first
time I own buyer, there's alwaysthat problem with the city wage. You
know, their parents re educating that. But now there's also the stigma crimes
it hached with that. So notonly are you going to basically pay higher
car insurance, you're going to payhigher city wage and all these other things,
but now you're gonna look over yourshoulder while you're pumping gas, or
(27:15):
whether your wife can go to thesupermarket and walk out into the park a
lot safely. So now it's acombination. Hey, if we're going to
retain people and we're gonna get peopleto come in, we're gonna have to
get creative what we would do,and it's things like possibly maybe waving the
transfer tax for first time home buyer. I think that's a great idea that
I think. It's just something thatI think that when you look at it
in the big picture, we'll allowthem so much more to put towards their
(27:37):
closing costs. And tore towards todown payment, and that carrot just may
be enough to dangle to say,I may want to give this a shot,
insturing the city. And look,we started this conversation with crime,
and you know, we're back intoit because it is. It is the
number one issue. And look,I live in Center City. I'm lucky
my neighborhood does not see the gunviolence in the crime that a lot of
(28:00):
communities do. But I will tellyou my neighborhood is not as safe as
it was when I moved in twentyyears ago. Five years ago, I
would have allowed my daughters to walkdown to Justina Street to hang out.
I mean this is when they wereyounger. Now I'm hesitant because they're there.
There's there, there's there's a homelessproblem that is just exploded in the
last few years. And these peopleneed mental they have natural health issues.
(28:22):
So I'm empathetic, but at thesame time that you know, they it
is dangerous for my children to walkalone by themselves. And I never felt
that way five years ago, tenyears ago, twenty years ago. And
it every it's everywhere. I mean, people don't look we're talking, We're
gonna be knocking on doors. Ina couple of weeks, A lot of
(28:42):
people are not going to open thosedoors because because they're scared. Everyone has
that. We all have the ringdoorbell, which is great because when crime
does happen, we have we haverecord of it. I know when when
something happened, I actually had apackage stool. I called the police,
I gave him the film and therewe caught the guy. So I never
thought it was going to happen.But um, but it's even even when
(29:06):
on more serious crimes, these ringdoorbells can can can help the police catch
people. But it's a sign thatwe're all a little scared. We're in
some cases, we're a lot scaredand justifiable. I mean, you know,
you look, I'll just look what'shappening. You know, every day
when you turn the news on,that's happening with the you know, people
getting shot and killed and mugged andcarjack Um. You know, we went
(29:26):
through this phase up in the Northeast, and I'm sure throughout the entire city,
but I've you know, directly affectedby it. Was these catalytic converter
stolen on a regular basis, AndI immediately thought, why doesn't the city
immediately jump on this, you know, try to do whatever they can.
Go to the state. Let's tryto get a level one felony for somebody
(29:47):
that act sure it feels I meanthe guy that's fencing it, the guy
that's buying it, and the cities. Well, really the state feeling one
that could pass that low. That'swhy it's called the United States of America.
Well, then we could also dothings like revote business purpose licenses for
cards that are sure. Absolutely allthese little things we can do, whether
it's an ordinance or not, andthen hold people accountable and maybe slow it
(30:07):
down, and then maybe lobby thestate hard enough to say, hey,
we need to build passed immediately.How send it? Boom pass it exactly?
Well, you're going to think twice, because if you steal that catalytic
converter, you're going to do timeexactly. Okay, it's a felony,
it's with you the rest of yourlife, and you're going to sit in
a jail for a little while tothink about what you just did. So
that's what I mean about having somebodywith a common sense approach being able to
(30:30):
go to Harrisburg and say we can'tdo this this way in Philadelphia anymore.
We're only we're limited to what wecan do. We need a state to
be involved with this. And theword common sense I use that in my
campaign. I hear you say ita lot, you know, I say
we need to bring common sense backinto the city Council and come this November,
I think there is going to becommon sense because it's going to be
(30:51):
you, and it's going to bemean. We're gonna get through. I
hope, so absolutely, you knowwhat I know. So so we are.
I come into the end more thana hunches. My wife says,
you know, it's it's yours andGimi, yeah, so and I agree,
let's keep it that way. That'sright. So thank you for coming
on. This was a great talk. We'll bring you back talk about yeah
now, yeah, we we didn't. We didn't. We missed a ton
(31:14):
of issue. We didn't even talkabout educations or or any of the issues
there. So thank you for comingon. You've been listening to you've been
watching the Republican Zone on USULA Media. I am Drew Murray, your host.
Thank you for watching
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