A federal judge is considering a lawsuit by the Cradle of Liberty Council against the city, which in 2007 decided to charge the Scouts chapter $200,000 annually for its use of a city building at 22nd and Winter streets. The group, which occupied the building rent-free for 80 years, refused to pay and is challenging its eviction. It is still in the building.
PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia’s regional Boy Scouts’ council celebrated its 100th anniversary yesterday and promised a year full of service to raise awareness about the past century of good deeds and young leaders.
Still fighting a 3-year-old eviction notice given by the city in federal court after local leaders decided the group shouldn’t be housed in a public building over its own brand of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the Cradle of Liberty Council is hoping for a positive year.
“Our focus particularly this year of celebrating is serving kids and letting families and youth know how we are always for creating young men,” said Council President Thomas Harrington, who began as a volunteer scout leader in inner-city Chicago 28 years ago. “Sometimes these legal matters get in the way of our priorities.”
Harrington, who took over just five weeks ago, said the Scouts, which claim 33,800 members in Philadelphia and 31,000 in Delaware and Montgomery counties, teaches boys how to become tolerant and responsible young men. Some city leaders took issue with allowing the organization to remain in a city building on North 22nd Street rent-free after their policy toward gay scout leaders came to light.
Harrington said the policy excludes discussing sexuality at all. “Most of our kids are Cub Scouts, 7, 8, 9 years old,” he said. “It isn’t even a topic. So as an organization ... if someone is making an issue of their sexuality, it is inappropriate.”
