DROP Puts Pressure On Council Candidates

The pressure is building on Philadelphia city council incumbents who've signed up for the controversial DROP retirement plan but plan to run for re-election.

Link: How To Contact Council About DROP

The DROP plan was designed for police officers and firefighters, but some Philadelphia city council members have used it to collect retirement payments and a full city salary at the same time.

That part of the program hasn't played well with taxpayers, but incumbents rarely lose an election in Philadelphia.

At least, until this year.

DROP could be a factor in the Republican at-large race this fall and it could affect one well-recognized name.

Frank Rizzo, the son of the late mayor, is the lone Republican incumbent on council who is in the DROP program.

The GOP will almost certainly get two at-large seats when the voting is complete.

But there are several name candidates in the Republican field: lawyer David Oh, former mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger, and state representative Dennis O'brien.

If Rizzo finishes third or worse among GOP candidates, he is out.

And a group of reform-minded ward leaders, is planning on hammering Rizzo for joining DROP, promising to retire and then running for re-election.

In the meantime, plenty of feedback on Fox 29s My View editorial, calling on city council to vote to kill off the drop program.

John Lepore of South Philadelphia was angry enough to fire off an e-mail to council president Anna Verna, a DROP participant.

"It's time for you to step aside," he wrote.

Lepore bashed council's plan to further analyze the study showing DROP had cost the city $250 million over the past decade.

Among Democrats, the upset would have to occur in the primary in May.

But among GOP, the upset will likely come in the November general election.