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A street sign in Philly's "gayborhood." Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 

Future of LGBT Affairs and city planning in hands of voters Nov. 3

In addition, the ballot will also contain a city bond question asking voters whether the local government should borrow $155 million.

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The future of the Mayor's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs will be in hands of voters as a ballot question on the Nov. 3 elections as they will decide whether it becomes permanent or not. 

The ballot question reads as follows:

"Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs, headed by a Director of LGBT Affairs?"

Last May, City Council passed a bill, introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, to make the Mayor's Office of LGBT Affairs permanent. However, because it requires a change to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, it is now up for voters' consideration as a ballot question. The proposed amendment would add the Office of LGBT Affairs to the Administrative branch of city government.

The Office, created by Mayor Michael Nutter in 2008, was originally led by the late Gloria Casarez, who passed away in 2014. Currently Helen "Nellie" L. Fitzpatrick is the director. The office serves as a liaison between Philadelphia's LGBT communities and city government, to ensure that the interests of this diverse population is represented across policy areas and initiatives.

The second ballot question would reorganize the city’s planning, zoning, housing and development functions under a new Department of Planning and Development.

The question reads as follows:

“Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create a new Department of Planning and Development, headed by a Cabinet-level Director, to oversee the City's planning, zoning, development services and housing and community development functions; put the Historical Commission in the Charter and create a new Housing Advisory Board; and attach the City Planning Commission, Historical Commission, Art Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Housing Advisory Board to the new Department?”

This proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter would create a new Department of Planning and Development. The Department would be headed by the Director of Planning and Development who would be a member of the Mayor’s cabinet.

In addition, the ballot will also contain a city bond question asking voters whether the local government should borrow $155,965,000.00 to be spent for transit, streets, sanitation, municipal buildings, parks, recreation, museums, and economic and community development.

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