Resolution 250781
Authorizing the committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the potential establishment of the Office of Freedmen Affairs within the City of Philadelphia.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Ogbonna Hagins, fourth-generation chattel slavery survivor. Today's agenda includes multiple Land Bank redevelopment authority dispositions, several resolutions authorizing the transfer of public land without any requirement for a constitutional impact review. These actions continue a pattern that has affected historically continuous American Freedmen neighborhoods. That is why Resolution 250781 is necessary. It crea…”
Mr. Hagins · Stated Meeting, June 11, 2026 · Jun 11, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“Ogbonna Hagins, fourth generation chattel slavery survivor. I rise in support of this effort to move Philadelphia towards a $25 an hour wage. For too long, working people have watched the cost of living rise while wages have failed to keep up. A full-time job should not leave a person struggling to survive. This proposal represents the type of aggressive economic intervention our city needs. Putting more money direct…”
Mr. Hagins · Stated Meeting, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues, listening audience. I'm proud of the members in this body. Y'all are fired up and ready to go. From everything, seeing you on national TV speaking to the fact that they removed the exhibit down at 6th Street for the slaves that the founder of this nation owned. You standing up for this body locally deserves a round Stated Meeting voices that I've heard, from the speeches of the M…”
Councilman Jones · Stated Meeting, January 29, 2026 · Jan 29, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“Good afternoon, honorable members of City Council, distinguished guests and fellow citizens. My name is Sonya Peck. I'm the Education Director of Philadelphia Reparations Coalition and I am here to speak on behalf of something that's very, very, very important to us, and I thank you for the opportunity for granting me the privilege to speak on a matter that reaches into the very heart of our city's history and into t…”
Ms. Peck · Stated Meeting, December 11, 2025 · Dec 11, 2025 · official transcript, this passage
“Good morning. My name is Ogbonna Hagins, 4th generation chattel slavery survivor, and the president of the Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen. Philadelphia's Procurement and Public Safety Programs are constitutionally suspect because they perpetuate the badges and incidents of slavery by collapsing -- by collapsing generalized terms that don't apply to the descendants of slavery. The city's own…”
Mr. Hagins · Stated Meeting, December 4, 2025 · Dec 4, 2025 · official transcript, this passage
“Good morning. My name is Ogbonna Hagins. I'm a fourth generation chattel slavery survivor and I'm the President of the Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen. I want to first acknowledge the resolution introduced by Councilmembers Quetcy Lozada and Jim Harrity in support of restorative justice through arts and community programs. We appreciate that vision, but restorative justice must go beyond art…”
Mr. Hagins · Stated Meeting, November 13, 2025 · Nov 13, 2025 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Sep 18, 2025Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
- Sep 18, 2025ADOPTED & REFERRED · CITY COUNCIL
- Feb 18, 2026HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Public Safety
- Feb 18, 2026HEARING HELD · Committee on Public Safety
- Feb 18, 2026RECESSED · Committee on Public Safety
Official documents
Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
Full text
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..Title Authorizing the committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the potential establishment of the Office of Freedmen Affairs within the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, The history of the City of Philadelphia is deeply connected to the story of African Americans, including the descendants of persons once enslaved who helped build the civic and cultural foundations of the City; and WHEREAS, The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution formally abolished slavery, yet the descendants of persons emancipated under its provisions continue to endure inequities rooted in the legacy of bondage and its aftermath; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia played a critical role in the abolition movement, serving as home to leaders such as Richard Allen and William Still who advanced the cause of freedom and justice for those seeking emancipation; and WHEREAS, Despite this legacy, the City continues to confront inequities in housing and employment that disproportionately affect the descendants of persons once enslaved; and WHEREAS, An Office of Freedmen Affairs could serve as a dedicated agency within municipal government, supporting the health and economic prosperity of descendants of emancipated persons in civic life and addressing present inequities; and WHEREAS, Such an office could also promote a renewed public image for lineal descendants of persons afflicted with conditions of emancipation in Philadelphia, while coordinating with federal and state governments as well as local municipalities; and WHEREAS, The creation of an Office of Freedmen Affairs would require careful study of legal authority, funding sources, and programmatic priorities; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Safety is authorized to hold hearings to examine the potential establishment of an Office of Freedmen Affairs within the City of Philadelphia, with the goal of supporting health and economic prosperity, renewing the public image of descendants of emancipated persons, and coordinating the work of government at multiple levels. ..End