Building Industry Association Supports Bill for Legal Protections in Neighborhood Development

📆 11/14/2023 6:18 PM
📰 PhillyInquirer

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Politics News

Building Industry Association,Legal Protections,Neighborhood Groups

The Building Industry Association (BIA) has unexpectedly supported a bill that aims to provide legal protections for neighborhood groups involved in municipal development projects. The BIA president, Gary Jonas, testified in favor of the bill during a hearing, stating that the organization changed its position after the legislation was amended to only protect registered community organizations (RCOs) involved in the city's zoning process. The amended bill has passed the committee and will now proceed to the full Council. Its purpose is to discourage strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP suits).

The bill to secure legal protections for neighborhood groups in municipal development projects has gained an unexpected ally. The president of the Building Industry Association (BIA), Gary Jonas, testified in favor of the bill during a hearing on Tuesday. The BIA had initially opposed the bill, fearing it would increase development costs by enabling nuisance lawsuits.

However, they changed their position after the legislation was amended to provide protection only to registered community organizations (RCOs) involved in the city's zoning process. The amended bill unanimously passed the committee and will now proceed to the full Council. Its purpose is to discourage strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP suits) that aim to silence opposition or punish critics

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