City Controller Christy Brady spoke at last week’s East Torresdale Civic Association meeting.
Brady, a 30-year veteran of the office, was elected in a 2023 special election to replace Rebecca Rhynhart, who resigned to run for mayor. She is seeking a full four-year term this year.
Brady, a Fox Chase resident, talked about receiving a tip from a man that some property owners were illegally claiming the city’s Homestead Exemption, which is intended for a homeowner’s primary residence. After an investigation, the controller’s office estimated that illegitimate homestead exemptions could cost the city and School District of Philadelphia $11.4 million annually if the city did not strengthen its verification process for property ownership.
Brady encouraged people to sign up for the office’s Municipal Money Matters newsletter at controller.phila.gov.
In her time in office, she has issued reports on unsafe and imminently dangerous properties and the bidding process for the sometimes illegal awarding of contracts using a nonprofit exemption.
She has also worked with city agencies to pay election poll workers in a more timely manner. Workers now receive pay less than two weeks after an election rather than two months afterward.
Going forward, Brady wants to ensure that the city is more transparent in its home valuation process.
Brady was joined at the meeting by First Deputy Controller/chief of staff Bill Rubin and community affairs liaison Jill Henon.
Henon, who previously worked for former state Sen. Jimmy Dillon, is at Hayes Playground, 9945 President St., every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through June, to handle property tax/rent rebate issues. Henon can be reached at 215-686-7888 or jill.henon@phila.gov.
• Riverview Wellness Village, the recovery housing program at 7979 State Road in Holmesburg, has seen 59 patients. Twelve have left.
• Members mentioned that IAFF Local 22, the firefighters and paramedics union, is working to move its headquarters to the Lincoln Technical Institute property at 9191 Torresdale Ave. Lincoln Tech will be moving to Bucks County.
• Police Officer Chalie Squares represented the 8th Police District.
• East Torresdale Civic Association will meet on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at All Saints’ Torresdale Episcopal Church, 9601 Frankford Ave. The guest will be Bianca Garcia, of the city Office of Emergency Management. ••
