| Notes |
With his election to Council, Oh became the first Asian-American elected to political office in Philadelphia.[3] He was re-elected to a second term and sworn-in on January 4, 2016. He serves on the following Council Committee's: Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy (Chairman); Finance; Appropriations; Law & Government; Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs; Streets; Education; Public Property; Commerce & Economic Development; and Transportation & Public Utilities. Oh serves on Council's Leadership as Minority Whip.[12]
As one of his primary issues, Oh has focused on the economic development of Philadelphia and the further creation of jobs and opportunities for those in the City.
Oh has made efforts to engage in the global economy by the increase of trade, tourism, overseas investment, and exports from the city. He traveled to South Korea on trade-missions at his own expense. While there, he met with dignitaries and the executives of large companies such as Hyundai-Rotem, Samsung Electronics, Korean Air, and Asiana Airlines in order to encourage them to establish or expand their businesses in Philadelphia,
In his first term Oh held hearings examining the ways in which Philadelphia could become more globally competitive, implement successful models of vocational and career training into public schools and Philadelphia Community College, train and expand its workforce, adopt global best practices in public education, and attract employers by improving city services and reducing and simplifying taxes that discourage investment.
Oh has also been a major advocate for the deepening of the Delaware River to accommodate larger ships, allocating funds to modernize and expand the Philadelphia International Airport, examining opportunities regarding natural gas, increasing live venue entertainment and high-end retail shopping in Center City, increasing tourism and international conventions, the development and preservation of national treasures, historic areas and museums, establishing a “smart city/smart aging” initiative, and the development of creative/innovative sections in the City’s commercial corridors to transition Philadelphia into a 24-hour city.
Oh introduced bills to reform public education, reduce the city wage tax by $100 million over 11 years, collect delinquent taxes more efficiently, reform Philadelphia's troubled pension system and address pension debt, and create an International Trade and Investment Fund. Among the laws created by Oh are Philadelphia's veterans hiring tax credit which provides a $15,000 tax credit over 3 years to employers who hire returning veterans and protection for working mothers against firing or harassment for pumping breast milk at the work place and requiring a reasonable accommodation wherever practical. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oh#Political_career) |