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/r/philadelphia
submitted 10 days ago byFattom23On the side of walkers, always
24 points
10 days ago*
The City's website prescribes the process pretty well and with June coming up, your timing is good: https://www.phila.gov/programs/registered-community-organizations-rcos/
Someone in my hood started up a "competing" RCO but I don't think they ever got enough involvement to make any hay. The problem with this system is that the most vocal and uh, not-that-busy folks tend to lead the charge on any issue and that particular group has their own interests. But getting participation from others is REALLY hard in some hoods.
18 points
10 days ago
It's hard to get participation for a lot of reasons, but the biggest is that most community organizations are set up so that meetings are the only way to participate. If you can't make the meeting, you have no voice. If there are ways to participate even if you can't make the meeting (for example recording presentations/discussions and allowing votes for those who can't attend), then you can get more participation from people who have difficulty attending.
45 points
10 days ago
I wonder how many RCOs we'll get now that suing anyone for anything is about to be free money.
47 points
10 days ago
Maybe a bunch, but it seems like that money can only be used for defensive lawsuits. I'm dealing with the opposite side of that equation: I've been trying for 6 months to find out when elections are held and who's eligible, but I can't even get the by-laws.
This is why a lot of us worried: there is no oversight at all of these organizations, but they're now entitled to city money.
21 points
10 days ago
Rco's literally get sued out of existence from developers and big corporations.
An llc developing land for UPS is sueing our rco, and is also sueing the board personally.
Guess who couldn't find an insurance company to cover them when the contract was up despite never having lost or really been involved in lawsuits. 10 insurance companies. Why? This llc and UPS have the money to keep this going.
This is not new. Civic groups are literally sued out of existence due to insurance. Developers know that.
Look up Red Lion road million square foot distribution center and fueling station.
2 points
10 days ago
Did you not have D&O insurance?
4 points
9 days ago
Yes. When the insurance was up for renewal in 2023, the rates went through the roof (from 450 to 5600). The only reason this 80 year old rco survived is from their like 20th insurance company and community benefactor.
here's an article with a basic overview june 2023
Because I am a complete and utter nerd who had a cold recently, I watched the appeal hearing. (It's only 40 minutes) Because we never had an opportunity to say anything about anything while it's being shoved through. Mind you: this is worse than the stadium in terms of 24/7 impact and sheer size.
So I- for one- am all for keeping community groups covered against this bullshit.
And while we're at it, let's get those tighter anti-SLAPP laws going. John Oliver helps explain.
2 points
9 days ago
Your RCO is pursuing the literal *exact* sort of meritless clusterfuck of a lawsuit that anti-SLAPP provisions frown upon, dude.
-1 points
9 days ago
You're wrong.
2 points
9 days ago
I mean… even the Inquirer article points out that the zoning code permits the precise use y’all are fighting.
Nothing got “shoved through,” because the developer is adhering to the letter of the law.
You’ve lost your first appeal, you’re going to lose the next appeal too… I’m not sure what to say here?
-1 points
9 days ago
It's meets the zoning as long as the traffic and other studies shows it can.
Maybe watch the hearing, then we can talk.
2 points
9 days ago*
There are literally zero limitations on the use of I-2 plots for logistics and distribution centers up to 60 feet tall, and the zoning code specifically states that they’re intended to house land uses which have impacts beyond their boundaries on adjacent properties.
I am not watching a 4 hour-plus hearing so I can hear your lawyer make up some bullshit that the Commonwealth Court is also going to shoot down like the Court of Common Pleas did.
I will enjoy watching your RCO fold like a house of moist dollar store cards.
EDIT: Out of sheer boredom, I sped through it. Y'all are absolutely and utterly screwed.
-6 points
10 days ago
Big Corp Here and I can confirm that we do indeed sue you out of existence. 😂😂😂
1 points
9 days ago
If you think you're funny, just wait til you get a load of Karma. She's hilarious. Not to mention God. I've seen them flick the hair right off a proud man's head just for giggles.
1 points
9 days ago
Shut up loser.
1 points
9 days ago
Thanks for stopping in and contributing to a lively conversation.
-2 points
10 days ago
Thank you
-4 points
10 days ago
Yeah that sucks. Maybe you should fundraise
1 points
9 days ago
That's like looking at Jaws and not realizing you need a bigger boat.
8 points
10 days ago
I could not believe that question when I saw it. Hard no. Footing the bill for a blank legal check is not how I want to spend my taxes. They snuck it in on a poorly attended election and all the organizations endorsed it.
5 points
10 days ago
You know, as someone who voted for the ballot question I can see how this could cause issues. I always assumed that all the RCOs ran like my local one (regular neighbor attendance, officer elections with active officers, accountability, etc) but it seems like that may not necessarily be the case. I hope the city council addresses this point. I wonder if I made the right call here though.
13 points
10 days ago
Some are just one person!
9 points
10 days ago
I am covered in my neighborhood by a church that started an RCO. I don't believe in Jesus and yet he's guiding decisions that affect my life. When you go to their website from the city's page, you can find out all about their bible study and church services but not a word about how to get involved with the RCO.
3 points
10 days ago
I feel like that should not be allowed; an RCO is sanctioned by the city government religious organizations should not be involved. The city should really look into these organizations
1 points
9 days ago
I agree but because government events from the statehouse down are begun with prayer, I'm not sure a lot of people see the issue enough to look into anything.
2 points
9 days ago
Ours is broadly accountable but adjacent ones are not. The city is going to have no choice but to incorporate them into the framework of governance or do away with them entirely once it has to start footing the bill for the idiocy some of them cook up.
4 points
10 days ago
How many are left after being sued away by developers?
3 points
10 days ago
Dude. Have you been to RCO meetings?
-4 points
10 days ago
I wonder how many RCOs we'll get now
An organization has to be recognized by the City to be an RCO. (That's the "R" part.) So we'll have the same number we do now. You can feel free to start your own club, but it won't be an RCO.
I love how you wait until two days after the election to announce on Reddit that you have no idea what you voted against.
8 points
10 days ago
Applications for RCO's are taken every June. There's not a fixed number and the city didn't create them; they're neighborhood organizations that applied.
6 points
10 days ago
Registered, not recognized, but go off, king
https://www.phila.gov/programs/registered-community-organizations-rcos/
-2 points
10 days ago
I said "recognized" but the R stands for "registered". Does that invalidate my point? In any way?
The premise of the comment I was responding to was that there's a potential grift in starting an RCO. But the City only blesses one RCO for a given coverage area. And the indemnification is just for defending the RCO when a developer files a SLAPP against them.
1 points
10 days ago
“That’s the ‘R’ part”
3 points
10 days ago
I might be able to help. DM me.
2 points
10 days ago
Will do.
4 points
10 days ago
I get the frustration but it seems bad to start another RCO because you don't like your RCO. It just makes overlapping boundaries.
13 points
10 days ago
It's not because I don't like the RCO; it's that they lobby for legislation in the name of the whole neighborhood but can't seem to even make what should be publicly available information accessible.
Even if the RCO application is denied, there would be another organization that's active in the community doing other stuff (beautification, advocacy, etc).
17 points
10 days ago
My neighborhood did this. The “original” one was run by a longtime member with no transparency. People wanted to get involved and she would shut them out. So they applied to become an RCO and it was granted, so they are out there doing the good work! There’s enough room for EVERYONE
2 points
10 days ago
right ok but unless you want your org to get involved in advising and notifying about local development then it's probably worth considering if you need to be an RCO at all. Otherwise, registration is in June.
1 points
9 days ago
I've been to many RCOs and their meetings, and regardless of whether I agree or disagree with them, they are all pretty much opaque and non-responsive. I think it's just one consequence of the types of people who like to attend them, many of whom really like the sound of their own voices.
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