|
FRANK RIZZO was elected Philadelphia Councilman-at-Large in 1995 in his initial venture into politics, and was re-elected in 1999, 2003, and again in 2007. A Republican, he is the Minority Whip in Philadelphia City Council.
As the namesake of his famous father, a former Police Commissioner and Mayor, Frank Rizzo is no stranger to political life.
Before elective office, Rizzo spent 32 years with the PECO Energy Co., where he went from a lineman to an executive position as Manager of Public and City Affairs. His PECO career was marked by his ability to cut red tape and to service the neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Constituent service has been a hallmark of Rizzo’s office that encompasses all councilmanic districts. So far, he has dealt with over 36,000 issues.
Further, Rizzo serves on the following City Council Committees: Appropriations; Disabled and the Handicapped; Education; Environment; Ethics; Public Property and Public Works; Public Safety; Technology and Information Systems; and the Committee of the Whole.
Rizzo is very active in the Community, serving as a member of the Boards of Directors of the African-American Museum in Philadelphia; the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Self-Help Movement, Inc.; Art in City Hall; the Children’s Miracle Network; the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust; and the Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia; as well as a member of the Citizens’ for Fire Prevention Committee and the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxicab and Limousine Advisory Committee. Rizzo is a Past Vice President of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
As a Councilman, Frank Rizzo helped lead the successful effort to effect Wage and Business Tax reductions, with the objective of eventually eliminating them; has introduced Ethics legislation regulating Lobbyists, banning Gifts, prohibiting Nepotism, and regulating Outside Employment (in accord with the Committee of Seventy’s “Ethics Challenge”), as well as refining Campaign Finance Reform to tie contribution limits to election cycles and to restrict the time for solicitation of campaign contributions; authored Property Tax Deferral legislation to provide needed financial relief to home-owners; and has regularly opposed “Patchwork Economic Development” (KOZs, KOIZs, TIFs, Tax Abatements, Economic Empowerment Zones, etc.).
Rizzo has initiated hearings that resulted in the correction of technical problems with Police and Fire Emergency Radio; introduced Red Light Camera legislation to make our intersections safer (reducing red light camera running by 90%); instigated hearings on the design, safety, and enforcement problems of Roosevelt Boulevard; has been a major supporter of the Surveillance Camera Program to help deter and detect crime; initiated a Rotational Towing System to improve safety by regulating tow truck operators; has been the lead councilperson in support of the “Live Stop” Program; successfully advocated over ten years that the State accept it’s responsibilities to patrol State highways in the City of Philadelphia (freeing up 75 Philadelphia Police officers to fight crime elsewhere in the City: a value of $10 million); and initiated hearings on Philadelphia’s emergency preparedness for natural and terrorist incidents; been a lead advocate of Community Policing.
Further, Rizzo helped lead opposition to proposed SEPTA service cuts; supported efforts to reform our public schools—especially, Early Childhood Education initiatives—while helping to find additional monies to ameliorate the Philadelphia School District’s funding crisis; authored legislation regulating dumpsters; and is developing legislation to provide annual cost-of-living adjustments for City pensions.
Rizzo’s knowledge of the City also gained him prominence as a host on WWDB 96.5 FM Talk Radio, where he was particularly known for his “Rizzo to the Rescue” segments, in which he solved problems of his listening audience. He later moved his program to WPEN 950 AM; but in 2006 moved again to WWDB 860 AM where he co-hosts a show with Senator Bob Rovner on Saturdays from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
The 65-year-old Rizzo was born and raised in Philadelphia, attending Norwood Academy and Bishop McDevitt High School. He served six years in the Naval Reserve. He is married to Deborah M. Rizzo, and lives in the Northwest section of the City. |
