Dear Mayor Nutter:
It was a pleasure bumping into you on [date redacted] at [my employer’s event, redacted]. I spoke to you briefly as you made your way through the room, and asked you how much it costs to keep a single pool open. You replied that the cost is about $50,000.00: that’s a grand total of $3.1 million dollars for the 62 pools slated to be closed. I explained that I am a grant writer, and that I would do some work with regard to funding.
My preliminary research proved disappointing on one hand, and quite fruitful on the other. My foundation contacts told me that because the city doesn’t qualify as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, foundation funding is out of the question. A better bet, according to my contacts, would be to request assistance form local corporations.
Thus, I began to look at the earnings of some of the biggest corporations we host in Philadelphia, many of whom have obtained generous incentives to locate here. For example, in October of this year, Verizon brought in nearly $25 billion in revenue, a 31% increase (source). Comcast, who Philadelphia has blessed with a de facto monopoly on cable television, saw a 38% increase this year (source). So far as I know, Sunoco has never paid back the loans they obtained from the city for Welcome America (source): that’s at least $1.8 million, which could pay for 36 pools. Our sports teams also benefit from Philadelphia fans, who purchase tickets, souvenirs, and concessions at the games: they should be giving back as well. MORE
I am at your service,
Brendan Skwire