"Absolutely," Welcome America executive director Melanie Johnson said at the time about repaying the city for expenses associated with the July Fourth parade, concert, and fireworks on the Parkway. "We're just like everybody else."
Not really, as it turns out.
In an interview this week, Johnson - who works for the Nutter administration as the city representative and as such is responsible for overseeing the new parade policy - said the $300,000 had not been repaid, and would not be.
Welcome America, Johnson said, is different from other nonprofit groups that sponsor signature city events, such as this weekend's gay-pride parade, the annual Steuben Day Parade, and the Mummers Parade.
"When it comes to the Fourth of July, it's not just a city event, but a national event celebrating the birth of our nation," she said.
Doug Oliver, the mayor's spokesman, agreed.
Oliver explained that given Philadelphia's budget troubles in early 2009, "the thinking was we can't be giving these services for free, and at that point, that had to be the case across the board."
The administration later reassessed its decision, and it concluded it should in fact financially support Welcome America because "all eyes are on our city on the Fourth of July to see how America's birthplace is celebrating America's birthday," Oliver said. "That's no small thing.
"The bottom line from our perspective," he continued, "is Welcome America deserves special consideration because it is the city's event."
Consequently, City Hall will also cover expenses for city services related to this year's Welcome America celebration, an 11-day festival that begins June 25.
