A fascinating story out of Philadelphia: Tour guides are suing the city in response to a law, signed by Mayor Michael Nutter, that requires guides to pass a history test and get a license before leading tours in Philly's downtown historic district, which contains many of the sites associated with the nation's founding.
City officials say they are trying to protect the history that brings millions of tourists to Philadelphia and generates billions of dollars in revenue every year. They don't want anyone leaving town believing that Ben Franklin stands atop City Hall (it's William Penn) or that homes were once taxed based on how wide they were.
"Tourism is a major part of our local economy," said Douglas Oliver, a spokesman for the mayor. "It is reasonable to ensure that tourists are getting accurate information."
The tests will start being required in October. Washington, New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., have similar laws regulating tour guides.
The litigious guides see this as a First Amendment issue; city government, meanwhile, is casting itself as the protector of a proud historical legacy. I don't like the idea of anybody "owning" history, so here's where I come down: Create a test and certification system with prominent badges for guides who fulfill the requirements. Tour operators can brag in their promotional materials if their employees are certified. Guidebooks will learn about the system, advise tourists to use the city-certified services, and soon business to the fraudulent tours will decrease. None of that would infringe upon the non-certified guides' rights to conduct their business. Consumers should know what they're purchasing, though.
--Dana Goldstein
