Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Jason Grant, Inquirer Staff Writer
Page: B4

KENNEY DEDICATES HOTLINE TO MARIJUANA-ARREST STORIES

Pick up that cellphone and make a call.

Tell how being arrested for a small bit of marijuana in Philadelphia
has changed your life.

That's the latest request from City Councilman James Kenney as he
continues to pound on Mayor Nutter to sign into law a measure that
would make possessing a small amount of pot punishable by only a $25
fine, with no arrest.

Since Tuesday, Kenney's staff has been handing out fliers promoting
the at large councilman's new marijuana-arrest hotline, which
encourages callers to leave a detailed message and, "if possible,
please include information about the loss of job opportunities or
schooling opportunities."

Kenney's staffers said they have been showing up in a municipal
courtroom and at legal clinics to advertise the hotline.

Between Tuesday, when the line opened, and Thursday afternoon, 10
people have left messages, they said. Each would get a call back by
Thursday's end, said Chris Goy, Kenney's policy director. He said all
told of being arrested after Kenney's bill was approved June 19.

The bill, which Council approved by 13-3, calls for people caught with
30 grams or less of pot - about an ounce - to be issued a citation and
fined. But the measure cannot become law before September unless the
mayor signs. Nutter has said he is weighing the criminal-justice
implications of it.

Kenney, a Democrat who is considering a 2015 mayoral bid, has been
pressing Nutter to sign. In a letter made public Tuesday, he noted
that 264 citizens had reportedly been arrested since Council approved
the bill, and argued that "every day Mayor Nutter fails to act, more
young people will be ... jailed for a minimal offense."

On Thursday, during an interview, Kenney said of his new hotline, "I
want people ... to talk about their situations. [And] I want the
mayor, who seems to be a bit detached from the regular people on the
street, to see what he's allowing to happen."

Mark McDonald, the mayor's spokesman, responded briskly Thursday to
the councilman's increasing rhetoric:

"The first thing I would recommend is maybe he [Kenney] should urge
people to not walk the streets carrying pot."

He called Kenney's bill "legislation a particular Council member, who
does not have a very extensive history of legislative victories, is
attempting to promote as he tries to figure out if he has the
resources and vision to run for mayor."

The hotline number: 267-570-3726.
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