The rift between Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and City Council President Darrell Clarke on the issue of the city’s sanctuary status, which means local police won’t cooperate with federal immigration officers aiming to detain undocumented immigrants, appears to have been manufactured by the tabloid media. A letter sent yesterday by Mr. Clarke to a Pennsylvania State Representative makes clear his support for Philadelphia as a sanctuary city. However, a routine observer of City Council who was present when Mr. Clarke made the comments which serves as the catalyst for the hysteria, said the remarks were rooted in fiscal responsibility and a concern for sustainability, not dissent.
The Principal of Thompson Media Man Communications Mr. Vincent Thompson is the host of 900am-WURD’s ‘City Council Live’ broadcast, which is heard most Thursdays on the AM dial or via smartphone app. He told Techbook Online – speaking as independent political analyst rather than an employee of the radio station – in a Tuesday morning exclusive interview that Mr. Clarke, as per his job, is worried solely about budgeting matters and whether Philadelphia is in the position to withstand a draining of dollars, the amount yet unknown. Indeed, two clouds of uncertainty loom over the big city: a forthcoming state budget where a $3 billion deficit exist, and a threat from President Donald Trump to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities.
“Philadelphia receives about $500 million in federal funding,” said Mr. Thompson, who argued that Mr. Clarke, maybe the second most powerful Democrat in the City, would be naive not to have a ‘Plan B’ for if, or when, Mr. Trump gets his way.
But assessing whether Philadelphia can afford to be along-term sanctuary city isn’t the same as Mr. Clarke caving into pressure suggested the broadcast personality, which is what local media has asserted. In one Philadelphia publication, the writings read in part:
“When we have an elected official – in a powerful position, no less –publicly indicating that they’d be willing to bend, that puts the other side squarely on the path to victory. They’d be foolish not to keep pushing, having already successfully pulled off half of the divide-and-conquer strategy.”
Mr. Clarke pushed back against the “misleading headlines” by releasing a statement last week saying he’s not at-odds with the Mayor’s agenda, but he must balance his solidarity with his fiduciary obligations to taxpayers. In his Monday letter addressed to Rep. Martina White who introduced a HB1558 which would establish criminal and economic sanctions against any sanctuary city in Pennsylvania, Mr. Clarke was unequivocal in his support for Philadelphia’s status.
“I support Philadelphia’s sanctuary city status because every American – regardless of immigration or documented status – deserves due process,” the letter read in part.
Mr. Thompson said Republicans on City Council have voted “NO” on sanctuary city legislations, but none are expected to introduce bills to go against the Mayor. In fact, Mr. David Oh also expressed concern with Rep. White’s bill, saying it would have dire implications for Philadelphia. Last month the Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution, introduced by Mr. Oh, which opposed the language in HB1558.
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