A Libertarian candidate for an at-large seat on Philadelphia City Council made his position on one issue perfectly clear Friday afternoon.
Richard Tamaccio, better known as Nikki Allen Poe, held a rally calling for the end of the Philadelphia Parking Authority outside the PPA's violations branch on Filbert Street. While Poe said most people understand that they should pay a ticket for a parking violation if the fine goes to support essential services, he called some PPA practices abusive.
Using a microphone, Poe and other speakers railed against the organization, then invited those in the crowd to take the mic and tell horror stories about dealing with the PPA.
Calvin Brown, a city resident whose car was booted on Thursday, said he must pay $6,478 in fines from tickets more than 25 years old before he can drive again. Brown, who has a fixed income, said he would not be driving his car anytime soon.
Germantown resident Paul Glover, the Green Party candidate for Pennsylvania governor, said he'd like to see cars abolished from the Center City area altogether.
Poe, who would also like to video Philadelphia police to increase accountability, said that since the start of his campaign he's been seeing more of the civil affairs officers who attend protests than of his own family. The officers cracked a smile when he said surveillance of the police didn't apply to them, that they were "gentlemanly and ladylike."
But Poe, who's also a comedian, said "the issues aren't funny." He strongly supports the decriminalization of marijuana and is currently in his fifth month of a one-year probation. Poe was arrested last year at a pro-legalization rally.
Poe encouraged the small crowd to vote May 20, but acknowledged that his election would be a long shot. He said he and his following "will continue to be critics of City Council" regardless.
This story is reported through a newsgathering partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org.
