Good afternoon, City Councilmembers, Finance Committee Chair Gilmore Richardson and everyone listening to the hearing today. My name is Michelle Armstrong and I'm the Executive Director of Career and Technical Education for the School District of Philadelphia. I'm here today to testify regarding Bill No. 10 240655. The School District of Philadelphia has outlined a potential pilot program to provide drivers's education to our CTE students in partnership with the City Council and Hilco partners. I want to quickly note that this work can begin only once the Board of Education has approved the new KOZ being discussed today and appropriates the funding to this work. Due to instructional needs of high schools to ensure that all students are on track to graduate, it is often the case that not every high school is able to offer driver's education so that other required course applications can be met. Funding constraints have also greatly limited the ability of the School District to provide driver's ed. to students. This partnership would serve our CTE students and other high school students by equipping them with an essential skill to join the workforce after graduation. Licenses and certifications show that a person has the specific knowledge or skill needed to do a job. As a result, these are associated with higher employment and earnings. A driver's education license has value in the transportation and construction industries as it has become a criteria for employment. With this partnership, the School District of Philadelphia would be able to offer driver's education to the students participating in these aforementioned CTE programs in the spring following the administration of the NOCTI exams. A driver's license is critical for students to enter a transportation-based career with a life-sustaining wage. Technicians, mechanical or collision, must be able to move vehicles around a shop area, align vehicles and lifting equipment, conduct diagnostic procedures and complete necessary quality insurance checks. These students need a Class C license before they can pursue a CDL, which is critical to making progress in this field. Thus, a driver's education needs to be accessible to these CTE students and all high school students in preparation for a future career. The School District thanks City Council and Hilco for proposing funding to make a driver's education accessible to all students. In order for this program to be successful and sustainable, the School District also recognizes the need for continued funding over time and we look forward to engaging this partnership to make that a reality. The Board of Education must approve the KOZ proposed today and appropriate these funds before the work can begin. Again, on behalf of the School District of Philadelphia I would like to thank City Council, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Chair Gilmore Richardson and Hilco for their support of our students. And I am happy to answer or provide written follow-up on any questions.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your testimony and for your work, particularly of your entire unit of the CTE team and everyone at the District and Hilco, particularly Council President Johnson and his team for this work. We know that for some time we have heard a number of complaints from industry-based partners stating that young people are not prepared for a variety of reasons, right, but I think the driver's license issue has been one that we have been all working on and working towards. And so, I just want to uplift the work of Council President Johnson and Hilco for your commitment and the School District for working together to ensure that we're able to see this to fruition. It'll be a really important skill, an industry-level skill for our young people. And I do hope that we could expand beyond the CTE students so that we can move more of our young people into the pipeline, so really just wanted to say thank you. I have to mention a couple people who have been just working on this issue. Michelle Armstrong, of course. Thank you, Dr. Dawson, Melody Jackson. Also, Jonathan Jacobs. If you don't know Jonathan Jacobs, I'm biased, I think he is one of the best CTE teachers that we have in the District. And he has always been talking about the importance of this as a part of connecting young people with meaningful career opportunities. And so, many of the young people from the school where he works which is Mastbaum, they've gone on to work at our utility companies, they've gone on to work with the City of Philadelphia and so many other entities that they could go directly into their workforce placement because they already had their driver's license. So I just wanted to give them all a shout-out because they've also been a part of this work and ensuring that we've been moving this issue forward. So thank you all so very, very much. You can now state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Okay. Hi. My name is Denisha Taylor. I graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School. I was an intern for Perryman for two months. It's been an excellent experience. I loved it. I'm interested in learning more. They taught me well and, um, I'm into other programs like Rosie's Girls. That actually starts this week which I will be there. I've been into construction since I was little. It's been my dream job, and I also want to become an electrician as I grow up. I got nothing else to say.
Well, we thank you for being here. Is it Denisha Taylor? Let's give her a round of applause. (Applause.)
I will tell you it takes a lot of heart to provide public comment in a City Council session and for you to be so young and doing this work, it's truly commendable. And so, I just want to congratulate you --
-- not only on your presence here today but for sharing your story with members of Council. And knowing that you'll be going into the Rosie Girl's program, I am so excited. I don't see TJ Lepera still here. Is TJ still here -UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: He left.
-- and IBEW? Okay. We'll make sure we'll do the appropriate follow-up and continued connection so that we are being supportive of you in the next steps in your career. But we thank you for sharing your testimony for the work that you've done with Perryman Construction team and we know that it will be valuable to you as you move along in your career. So thank you all so much. Are there any questions or comments for these witnesses? Councilmember Driscoll.
I just want to congratulate this young lady and keep up the great work. Congratulations. Thank you for being here.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you all so much for being here and for your testimony. Just giving a brief shout- out to the Commerce Department. I see both of you here. Just if you could come briefly and just state your names for the record so that we know that you were here just so we have it on the record.
Thank you. Thank you you both. (Witnesses approached Witness table.)
And also while they're approaching the witness table, is Mr. Papa here from the Carpenters? Is Mr. Papa here from the Carpenters? (No response.)
Okay. Seeing none, we just want to notate for the record that we did receive written testimony from Mungu Sanchez, Deputy Political Director and Director of Community Organizing for the Eastern Atlantic State's Regional Council of Carpenters. Thank you for that submission. That would have been for Panel 5. Just state your names for the record. I just want to ensure that you all are notated as here on the transcript, particularly because we can't do the Career- Connected Learning work without you all in the workforce development part of the Commerce Department.
Thank you, Chairperson Gilmore Richardson. Dawn Summerville, Deputy Commerce Director for Business Development. Happy to be here.
Thank you, Chairperson Gilmore Richardson. Gianna Grossman, Deputy Commerce Director for Workforce Solutions.
Thank you. I truly appreciate you. Dawn and Gianna both, I mean even when things were just so tough in the workforce development space after the onset of COVID-19, you all walked us through that process hand-in-hand and we would not be here with the Career-Connected Learning work without you all. So, Dawn, thank you, thank you, thank you.
And, Gianna, thank you so much. Thank you both. Okay. Thank you, Commerce Department.
Excellent. Okay. We will now proceed with those who have signed up to give public comment. As I stated at the onset, if you could please submit your written testimony for the record so that we have it. And you'll state your name for the record and then proceed with your testimony. Please seek to summarize your testimony as much as you can if it differs from your written testimony. Okay. All right. So we'll now recognize the Clerk to proceed with those who are here to give public comment.
Tiffany Green, Betty Beaufort. (Witnesses approached Witness table.)
Okay. And if we could just call the first three witnesses who are here to give public comment so that they are ready to go. As --
-- you are approaching the witness table, you're going to state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. Oh, how are you doing? How are you doing?
All right. State your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Tiffany Green, Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze. I'm here on behalf -- we're part of the Coalition United South Southwest Coalition, okay, which comprised of approximately about 7 or 12 groups who are in the 8 affected zip codes that are 9 surrounding the Hilco property. 10 We have been meeting for three years. Okay. Hilco has been very cordial and we've been cordial towards them. We were patient. They needed to get set up in order to go through the process and we did that. And even to the point that the reason why you don't hear a lot about this project in the media is because they asked us to not say anything negative about them in the media while we go through the process. And many of the groups agreed to that because we felt that they were at the table and they were willing to work with us, and we're not saying they're not still willing to work with us. However, after three long years of meeting what they propose at this point is not acceptable. And you received the letter from our attorney at this particular point that you said you were going to share with the rest of the staff -- I mean, rest of the Councilpeople. And at this point, the Coalition has decided at this point that they're not going to support this particular bill at this particular time. All right. And so, I'm going on the record to say from our organization we're asking you to put the bill on hold, to put the bill on hold and not move forward with this. Okay. And because of the fact that we feel -- not we, I'm speaking in terms of my organization and my community Point Breeze. Okay. Hilco is double the size of the 76ers, all right, at this point. And at this -- where is my book. I'm sorry. I left my notes over there. Can somebody pass me my notes? All right. Great. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Okay. We're double the size of 76ers. And at this point, City Council is practically bringing forth a $50 million CBA agreement. All right. At this time we have this project which is the old Sunoco. The old Sunoco is as Amelia stated, the largest -- 1300 acres, one of the largest refineries in the country. This is a very large property that can go into many different directions. It is right now a light industrial. I think it's an I-2. But the problem is that we see down the road which way this can go. They're saying that they want to bring in pharmaceutical companies. On their website it states that they want to do life sciences, manufacturing but, more importantly, e-commerce. And when we talk about e-commerce we're not sure which way -- they state at this point that they may not bring in those companies, but they could. And so, we have a concern regarding Point Breeze area. I can't speak for -- I'm not going to speak in terms of the Coalition. We sent our letter in and it states our reasons why we at this particular point do not support it. But I just want to -- just give me a minute. I just want to find my notes. I want to ask you do Black lives matter, does Black lives really matter, because this property here is large enough to go in many different directions. And one of the things is that we've been meeting with them for almost three years and we just heard about this bill. This bill was never mentioned to us regarding the KOZ bill. We didn't know anything about it. We found out about it two weeks ago when Councilman Johnson introduced it. That's when we found out. Nobody knew that they were coming forth for this type of bill, number one. Number two, we feel at this point -- I feel that this is unfair treatment at this particular point, that we're asking City Council to hold this bill. If you can guarantee a $50 million Community Benefit Agreement for the Asian community, and I know that the Asian community is not necessarily happy with it. I don't know what they're going to do. We feel at this point that we should be equivalent, the Black communities that surround this property, should be equivalent to that.
That comes down to equal treatment for all. We want equal treatment for all and we're asking you to hold this bill and ask Hilco to come back to the table with reasonable -- I understand about the construction. We hear about that and the apprentice, you know, these construction jobs. They're temporary. They're going to move on to another project. We understand the school situation. But let's talk about the impact of gentrification and displacement. We're asking for anti-displacement funds to help, committed funds. We have groups at the table who have to do the work, who have to help keep these people in their homes. When we look at Hilco -- not Hilco. When we look at the property, it can turn into Silicon Valley. Now, let's take a look at Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley came in similar to this. They talked about the construction jobs. They talked about how they're going to help with the schools. They're going to do this and do that. Silicon Valley wiped out San Francisco and Oakland to the point that the President of the NAACP Jeff Moore moved three years ago to Atlanta because he said the housing prices had gotten so high and the cost of living was so high. We do appreciate City Council with the LOOP and the Homestead, but we must look at gentrification from a housing cost. You're increasing the housing cost where people are not able to reinvest back into the community. When I looked at Merck, Amelia and I had a conversation and she said they're hoping to bring in companies like Merck Pharmaceuticals and all that. When you look at Merck, Merck is bringing in high-skilled professionals. These jobs are running $70,000 to $100,000 or more. They want to live in homes that are equivalent to that. Okay. And so, when they come in they can possibly build out million dollar homes in our area. It's not just Point Breeze because we're right there near Center City. This can move out to Southwest and further out to the Parkway. Let us not look small. We have to look at this from big. What happened in Silicon Valley was that the techies started coming in and they came in at $70,000 and $100,000 and really started increasing the rents in the area. Gentrification and displacement is not just about housing, taxes and what -- it's a totality of making the environment too expensive to live. You have our low-income families that will go to school. You have kids who have emotional problems. According to the CDC, gentrification brings in mental health issues, anxiety, stress and everything. Why? Because kids hear their parents arguing or not being able to pay the rent. They have to move away from their family and friends. This is the totality. We're trying to explain this to Hilco. We're saying to Hilco that we need you to come back to the table and be good partners. We're not -- this is not bad-mouthing Hilco. We're saying look at the ramifications of where we're coming from and what it could possibly be. And so, at that particular point we're saying if you could just hold the bill, we need leverage, because this is right now considered a by-right. So we need leverage for them to come back to the table and talk with the groups and see if we can work out something a little bit more because like I said in the end -- I'm going to sum it up. If you can guarantee the Asian community $50 million, then you need to be able to help us guarantee something, the Black community. From an image standpoint that does not look good. When it gets out all over, you know, WURD and all that, it doesn't look good. Okay. So, therefore, at this point we really need you to understand where we're coming from, see the potential of this property, see what it can come into, because this thing could really become something like we said a Silicon Valley and we don't want to lose our Black community surrounding this. Okay.
Thank you. I want to thank you for your testimony. It's certainly good to see you. Continue in the --
Thank you. Congratulations on becoming Councilwoman and everything.
I've been working with you since you was the lawyer for Blondell Reynolds and --
-- everything. So upwardly mobile and everything like that. Sure.
But I want to put on the record so that you know that every member of this Committee does have a copy of your letter. That's what I was going through just to make sure that you knew that it is in each of our folders. We do have the information that you've submitted. We have reviewed that information and working closely with the legislation sponsor, which is Council President Johnson. Don't look at this as the end of the road. Look at this as a part of the process, and we just want to uplift and appreciate the work that you do, which is hyperfocus on your local community. We need people like you to lift up communities. So I just wanted to thank you --
-- thank you and let you know that we received and hear your testimony and we have received the written version of the testimony as well.
I just want to make one statement. That is from the Coalition. I'm speaking from our particular community Point Breeze who we feel is right next to the property and what we see far as what might be an interest for us. But our Coalition has sent in their own letter to state the position of the overall team. So I just don't want to confuse that.
Okay. Understood and received for clarification of the record. We are going to take all of the witnesses who are here at the witness table. If you could state your name for the record. Please summarize your testimony as much as you can, and then we will take any questions or comments for this panel.
Please speak into the mic so that the stenographer can hear you.
My name is Betty Beaufort. I'm speaking on behalf of the community. I have a question for Councilperson, Councilman Johnson. I'd like to know why we never had a community -- with this project coming into our community why, we, the community, never had a community meeting to know about this huge project coming with displacement and gentrification and environment and all these other problems that's coming into our community? We never had a community meeting. And I want him on the record to tell us why we never had a community meeting. That's my concern, because the community needs to know what's coming in their community. They are the first ones to know, not the second. They should be the first ones to know so they can be aware and take whatever measurement they need to take, and that's my concern. And that's all I got to say. I drop the mic.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your testimony. Sir, please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon, Chairperson Gilman Richardson, Vice-Chairperson Bass and members of the Committee on Finance. My name is Steve Kuzmicki and I serve as Economic Development Project Manager of the Southwest Community Development Corporation. Since 1987, Southwest CDC strives to offer compassionate care to improve the quality of life for the people who come through our doors. We work to ensure that Southwest Philadelphia is a vibrant, safe and engaging community in which people have pride in where they live, work, worship and play. We make a difference to more than 1,200 households a year. I represent Southwest CDC on the Bellwether District Community Advisory Panel known as the CAP, which is made up of 11 registered community organizations, 12 community development corporations, 13 nonprofits and other South and 14 Southwest Philadelphia 15 stakeholders. 16 HRP engages with the CAP on 17 a regular basis, holding frequent 18 meetings to provide opportunities 19 for input and engagement. 20 Additionally, HRP has worked with 21 the CAP to develop a community 22 benefits commitment since the 23 spring of 2023. The process to 24 develop this commitment has been 25 transparent and inclusive. In addition to making significant improvements to the former refinery site, benefiting the health and quality of life of local residents, HRP has consistently supported workforce development and educational programs for Southwest Philadelphia's youth as well as investing in community nonprofits. We are deeply committed to lifting up the Southwest Philadelphia community and providing educational and job opportunities for our young adults, and HRP is a valuable partner in this endeavor. We will continue to engage with HRP and the other CAP members to ensure open, transparent dialogue as we work together to bring economic investment and community opportunity to our community. Thank you very much for considering this testimony on Bill 25 No. 240655.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your testimony. Any questions or comments for the witnesses here? Councilmember Thomas.
Yes. First of all, I want to say thank you all for being involved in your neighborhood. Thank you all for taking the time to come down to City Hall, be patient listening through all the testimony and communicate your opinions. And just for the record, I think this is really important, we have not voted on anything as it relates to the Sixers Arena, number one. And number two, the $50 million community agreement based on the briefing that we had yesterday, that is not all for Chinatown. So I want to be very clear. That community agreement that is proposed, it's still a proposal, does not offer $50 million for Chinatown. The Mayor has what she would like that 50 million to be allocated for and it's a plethora of different things, but it's definitely not all for the Chinatown community. So I just think that it's important to put that information on the record because we know that that's a hot topic discussion button right now that a lot of people are talking about, and we don't want people to have information that's not accurate. So again, thank you all so much for being here today. We appreciate your advocacy. We appreciate you fighting for your neighborhood and watching your government in action. Thank you, Madam Chair.
-- a question. I just wanted to put it on the record because I didn't want people to think that there was a $50 million community agreement specifically for Chinatown. That's not the case and that's not what's in the Mayor's proposal as it relates to the community agreement.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Thomas. Briefly I need to recognize the presence of my colleague Councilmember Young is here for the record. And now, we will recognize Ms. Green for final remarks for this panel.
Sure. No 12 problem. The reason why we are somewhat comparing that to that, we don't know all of the details specifically. But if you look at the Bellwether District Community Investment Fund, they say $100,000 per year base commitment. $100,000, okay. Then it goes and says increasing to $150,000 per year after $3 million in lease square foot, an increase in $200,000 per year after $6 million lease square foot. We're talking about -you're talking about $100,000 to start. Okay. So once this project starts to go on and on and on at this particular point, where is the commitment for the community to do -- I'm not talking about sponsorship. I'm not talking about the little health fairs and all that other stuff, because we get confused in that and we think that sounds good. It helps the community but it's not what you call anti-displacement funds. And anti-displacement funds, we need commitment. For example, real quick when you have -- the reason why you have a lot of violence on the street, you have to commit to an afterschool program. You can't do a lot of things on volunteer. An organization can't run a program based solely on volunteers. You have to have workers who are willing to do the work. And if you're going to fund a $5,000 -- nothing against activity grant, but $5,000 does not help an organization go and do continuous work in terms of anti- displacement, helping with what -- and so, we have to get into the fact that we have to fund our organizations on a consistent basis. You cannot sit up here and you're going to do grant writing or grant support and that you going to help that. Library has grant support. La Salle has grant support which is in this. Okay. You can get a grant writing support. We're talking about committed funds to the organizations who are ground zero and doing the work and going to help with anti-displacement. That's different than just little health fair or whatever the case may be. So we're saying that the commitment here is not reflective of the widespread five zones, five zip codes that this property is attached to. That's all we're saying at this point. Thank you.
Thank you, and thank you very much for the clarification. (Applause.)
Appreciate you so much. And for the record, I just wanted to notate the written testimony that was not notated for the record. We have written testimony here from the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Bartram's Garden, Brownstone PR, Community College of Philadelphia, Natalyn Dennis, former summer intern Career- Connected Learning at the Bellwether District, Jemilah Agara, former summer intern Career- Connected Learning Bellwether District, Kemar Johnson, former summer intern Career-Connected Learning Bellwether District, Unity in the Community Anton Moore, New Options More Opportunities, NOMO Foundation, Ricky Duncan, Universal Audenried Charter High School Principal Anderson, Regina Hairston, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Will the Clerk please call the final panel of witnesses that we have to give public comment today.
Hailey Dervinis, Shamar Pitts, Mark Clincy and Victoria Wylie. (Applause.)
Thank you all so much. I ask that you please approach the witness table. Thank you all for your patience. Thank you all for being here from the beginning and for journeying with us through this hearing. (Witnesses approached Witness table.)
I ask that you can please state your name for the record and then you can proceed with your testimony.
Good evening, everybody. Afternoon turned into evening. My name is Shamar Pitts and I'm from South Philadelphia, and I'm Co-managing Director of an organization in our community called Philly Thrive.
Thank you. You can proceed with your testimony.
Okay. Yes. I'm going to be quick. So first and foremost, as our Councilman Jones said we want to say when people do things right. So the first thing I want to do, I don't want to be ungrateful for the things that Hilco has done right because they've done some things, right, in our community. They have. But now myself personally, when I look at this project and I look at how big it is, right, and it's the biggest redevelopment in the history of our city. And I look at my community and I look at all of the things that affect my community, and I look at this project and I see -- and from the testimony of everybody being here, right, it sounds really good, right, about the jobs, the construction, the equity and inclusion and all of those things, right, sounds really good, right, and the apprenticeships and stuff like that and we're not against any of that. We applaud that, right. But those things have been around in my community before I was born and we're still suffering. We're still doing bad, because the system that's set up they run circles around equity and inclusion and 50 percent of -- you going to put minorities to work and all that, they run circles around that kind of stuff, right. And we always get promised all kinds of stuff like that, right. And, you know, I don't want to go into all of that because we don't have that much time. But trust me when I say maybe I need to put written testimony in too so that people can really understand, and it's not just a summary of what goes on when it comes to equity and inclusion and work and stuff like that, right. Because if it was like it sound, my community wouldn't be suffering because we got people that went through the apprenticeship, we got people that went in the union and all of that and they still can't get no work, right. So that's just one thing. Then on the other hand, right, the years that we've been trying to negotiate a CBA, right, and I don't know why it's like holy water to a vampire to get a CBA, man. I don't know why we can't get a CBA. To this day my mind is just spinning on how we sitting here to pass a bill and we ain't even got a CBA, man. Like, I don't understand how we doing this. And that's tantamount to the City and the culture of the City. That's not Hilco fault. Because when Hilco come in and all the money on the table, they supposed to take as much as they can. That's their job. They are in this to make money. They supposed to get as much as they can, so you can't fault them for trying to take all money off the table, right. That's what they supposed to do. But when we saw them do the groundbreaking and everybody had shovels in they hand, right. I'm looking at who representing us up there with them shovels in their hand. Who advocating for us? Because everybody up there with a smile and a shovel and Hilco get ready make a lot of money and we ain't got no CBA. So where do we stand. We ain't get nothing but promises, right, because I was there. I went to Hilco and they nice people. And we sat there and I talked to the CEO Mr. Roberto Perez, and he told me right to my face, that tank farm is gone. We ain't talking about the tank farm being gone today. We talking about how much if you rent it, if you sell it and somebody use it to store petroleum products and all of that. When we was here before Hilco got the bid on that land and we advocated for Hilco to get the bid, we wasn't advocating for Hilco to keep no tank farm in our community because that's what's killing us. The benzene that's coming off of it been killing us for years. So now, we sit here, promises, promises, promises. You know, jobs, jobs, jobs, right. But I'll believe it when I see it. I'll believe it when I see it, and it don't look like we going to see it because we can't even get a CBA. We can't even get a CBA. This is just tremendous to me. It's tremendous. And like I said, everything ain't Hilco. Everything ain't Hilco fault.
I just don't understand the culture of you can come into the city, you can get legislation passed. We in this city and we can't get legislation passed. We born and raised in this city and can't get legislation passed. So that's, you know, where we stand. We don't stand against any of the good things that's been done. But like I said, those things been around and my community still in the state that it's in because those things don't help us. And I'm trying to get things that's going to really, really change and help us. That's what I want to see out of this big redevelopment. The biggest redevelopment in the history of our city, I want to see it cure a lot of ills in our community. That's what I want to see. And sometimes people think I'm a little bit too ambitious, but I think that we should be that ambitious. We should be able to get that. That's what I think.
I just want to thank you for your passion and for your commitment to the community, and I remember working with you all as a part of the work that we did with the advisory groups for the Committee on Environment last term.
And I just want to thank you for your robust advocacy. I remember you coming in before. I have to say that I think one win that we did talk about all those years ago is that the site is no 25 longer a refinery.
That's one big win because, remember, that was the crux of the conversation all those years ago. But again, we know that there's additional work to be done, right, that that was a step in the right direction. But we know more work is to be done. We want to thank you for your passionate commitment for being true to this work, not just showing up when it's convenient or when the cameras are around, but really doing the grunt work. So thank you so much. Just want to appreciate you and the heavy work that you did as a part of the Advisory Council work with the Committee on the Environment. Sir, you can just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Okay. My name is Mark Clincy and I am a resident of the Environ -- a member of the environmental justice community that has been impacted by the refinery for generations. I have personally been impacted by the refinery's pollution and know others in my community who are still sick with cancer and respiratory illnesses. The City and state have said they are going to prioritize environmental justice and to priori -- yeah, and today you have a real life opportunity to be true to your word. Passing more tax breaks before the developers have addressed this community's concerns, and I'm going to repeat that again, the community's concerns is not environmental justice. I ask that you pause this decision until we have held a City Council hearing so these issues can be discussed in the detail they deserve. Issues, our community has been raising the following concerns for four years with no progress: One, we want a monthly inperson public meeting about the project. We want a public input process on the land use plan and we want a City Council hearing on the redevelopment. Paving over contamination is unacceptable to us. As the people who have been getting sick from this pollution for decades, decades, adding this much pavement will worsen temperature increases we're already experiencing from climate change. Flood protection, we are very concerned about Hilco's flood plan, which does not consider impacts in our neighborhood. Fourthly, public health. Hilco's 12 million square feet of warehousing now could bring 10,000 diesel trucks to our neighborhood per day and this is a major pollution concern. We have asked to partner on a renewable energy plan that would include all electric vehicles, but Hilco has refused. Five, gentrification and displacement. Life service jobs on Hilco's site will expand the high earning industry in South Philadelphia and we need Hilco's investment and legislation from Councilman Johnson to provide structural housing protections for our low-income community, lacking effective governmental leadership on environmental justice. Myself and other Philadelphians have formed the People's Environmental Justice Enforcement Agency. As long as you all are letting developers steamroll us, we will be holding you accountable and serving you violations of environmental justice until corrective measures or actions are taken. We, community members, deserve a seat at the table. Nothing about us without us. And I thank you for your time today and I am completing. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you very, very much for being here and just for your testimony and all of your work. We appreciate you. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. Before you begin, is there anyone else here to testify on this matter whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Good evening. My name is Victoria Wylie and I'm the Founder and Executive Director of the Dante Wylie Foundation, a nonprofit organization that operates in South Philly. I'm a lifelong resident of South Philly Point Breeze to be exact. And I'm here and I'll keep it brief because I think we've heard a lot today, but I'm here to just talk about the economic investment and opportunity that Hilco has had. Amelia did speak to their pilot program where they are doing early exposure into internships at a school. That school is Delaplaine McDaniel. That school was recommended to Hilco by me. That was something that we learned in our focus group when we were telling the community about this development project and that was one of the things that members of our community felt was important, the early exposure to career opportunities so that young people will have a life-sustaining career. So I did want to mention that that is one example of how Hilco has heard feedback from the community and implemented it in realtime to make happen, because I think what I was going to say here speaks to what everyone else has already said. But I do think it's really important to know that they are working with organizations every day to ensure that some of the issues that we're talking about. When we talk about living in the poorest big cities, we know access to opportunities is through education and employment and they are providing that. So I don't want to take up more of your time with just repeating the stuff that has been talked about all day, but I am in support of it. And I'm in support of it because with that constant work, things are happening with Hilco. And one example is that early internship in middle school with Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary.
Well, thank you very much for your work and for your testimony. And we have your written testimony for the record, correct?
Okay. Please submit your written testimony so that we can attach that to the formal record of this proceeding. Is there anyone further to give testimony on Bill No. 240655? (No response.)
Okay. Seeing none, again we thank you all so much for being here. Sir, sir, are you good?
Okay. Thank you. I wanted to make sure because you were just sitting there. All right. I thank you. I thank you so much for being here. We will now recess the public hearing on Bill Nos. 240660, 240663, 240655 to go into a public meeting to consider the action to be taken on these bills. Clerk, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance will please indicate you are present by saying your name when called.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. A quorum of the Committee is present. We will now proceed. The Chair recognizes Councilmember -- pardon me. The Chair now recognizes Vice-Chair Cindy Bass for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 240660.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 240660. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the Committee and I move that the amendment to Bill No. 11 240660 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 19 240660 be approved. All those in favor will indicate by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair now recognizes Vice-Chair Bass for a motion on Bill No. 240660 as amended.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 240660 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 240660 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further resolve that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 240660 as amended will be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation with a request that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Vice-Chair Bass for a motion on Bill No. 240663.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 240663 be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 240663 be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at our next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 240663 will be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation with a request that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Vice-Chair Bass for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 16 240655.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 240655. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the Committee and I move that the amendment to Bill No. 24 240655 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 7 240655 be approved. All those in favor will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the amendment to Bill No. 240655 has been approved. The Chair now recognizes Vice-Chair Bass for a motion on Bill No. 240655 as amended.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 240655 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 240655 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 240655 as amended will be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation with the request that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at our next session of Council. Thank you all so much for being here today. Truly appreciate Council President Johnson and his team, Vice-Chair Bass and all of our colleagues who have joined us for this Committee on Finance today. We thank you all for participating and we look forward to continued conversation in the future. Council President, would you like to be recognized for last remarks?
Thank you, Madam Chair, for chairing such an important Council hearing. Good job.
Thank you. Thank you very much, Council President. Thank you, colleagues. There being no further questions or comments from members of this Committee and no other witnesses to testify, this formally concludes the business before this Committee on Finance today. Thank you all very much for your attendance. Have a good day. (Committee on Finance concluded at 4:40 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. __________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL