COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday, May 7, 2010 10:20 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ BILLS 100115, 100116, 100117, 100118 and 100131 RESOLUTION 100141 - - - 2
Good morning, everyone. This is a continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. It is my understanding that we know of 55 people that would like to testify. We definitely want to hear from everyone, so what we thought we would do is give everyone three minutes to testify so that everybody would have the same opportunity. So with that being said, our first witnesses will be?
From the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, Bevin Parker and Doris Gwaltney. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning. Kindly identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. I'm Doris Gwaltney. I'm the President of 3 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the Carroll Park Neighbors Advisory Council and I'm a Board member of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance and I'm also a part of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Thank you for allowing us to testify.
There is a parks movement in Philadelphia. Residents of Philadelphia are also embracing greening, open space and environmental issues with enthusiasm and dedication. Mayor Nutter has boldly committed himself to making Philadelphia the greenest city in the country. Thanks to the support of City Council, we now have a combined Department of Parks and Recreation under the leadership of Michael DiBerardinis. Instead of playing our usual role of catchup, City Council can lead the way to a greener Philadelphia. We are asking Council to support Mayor Nutter's proposed increase in funding for parks 4 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. and recreation. This request is reasonable when we consider that clean, revitalized parks and fully staffed recreation centers play a vital role in the health and well-being of a neighborhood. The Redevelopment Authority is now targeting abandoned houses on otherwise stable blocks, rehabbing them and selling them to qualified buyers. A clean, safe park and the programs offered at the nearby recreation center also stabilize a neighborhood. The value of green, open space in a neighborhood cannot be measured. A park is a homeowner's backyard. A park is a place that Nana and PopPop can walk to with the grands in tow. A park is a place to go to meet friends, to eat lunch, read a book or do nothing at all. One summer there was a wedding in Carroll Park. The couple was getting married at the bride's nearby home when someone suggested they move the nuptials 5 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. to the park. The minister and the wedding party then walked down Girard Avenue to the park. The church across the street held a wake in Carroll Park. These events could not have taken place in Carroll Park years ago. 9 And I must remind Council that 10 park friends groups and the folks who run 11 the programs of recreation centers are 12 all volunteers. Park volunteers also 13 provide free programs and activities for 14 our communities, and we make sure that 15 our parks are clean and free of graffiti. And we are not a burden to the City, nor do we or will we add another layer to the City's bureaucracy. To say this about us is an insult. We are partnered with the City of Philadelphia. We are all adults. No one needs to speak to us slowly and distinctly, and equal partners do not supervise one another. Perhaps the members of Council who have not established a relationship with a park 6 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. friends group should select a revitalized park and stop by for a visit this summer. Council will learn what we do month after month, year after year because we love our neighborhood and we are committed to helping Mayor Nutter make Philadelphia the greenest city in the country. Thank you.
Thank you very much. We do appreciate your coming in to testify. Good morning.
Good morning. Thank you for having us. I'm Bevin Parker from the Philadelphia Parks Alliance. Today is a new day. Thanks to the support of City Council and citizens, that is the sentiment that was felt when voters approved the merger of the Department of Recreation and the Fairmount Park Commission. Now we stand committed to make this new department the best that it can be so that every citizen 7 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. can fully enjoy Philadelphia's parks and recreation. Approving the Fiscal Year 2011 proposed budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation is one of the steps we can take to get there. This budget will pay for the maintenance of existing and new street and park trees; the planting of roughly 5,800 new trees; after-school programs; sports; camps; cultural events and environmental education; skill-building and youth development programs; building ball fields and play equipment improvements; safety and security measures and much more. We know that green, open spaces are nice to look at, but they also hold value. They're an asset that needs investment. According to the Trust for Public Land study, the economic value of Philadelphia's parks and recreation system is over $1.2 billion annually, through healthcare savings, increased tourism and property values, and 8 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. beneficial environmental savings. For a small investment in the parks and recreation system, we get a large return. The proposed capital and operating budgets for the Department of Parks and Recreation will be a small investment in the very thing that helps our city generate income, wealth and well-being. Dollars aside, we know that planting more trees will reduce air pollution and help ameliorate respiratory problems, which speaks volumes to those suffering with asthma. Philadelphia currently stands as the 8th most challenging city in the U.S. to live in with asthma. We know used and maintained parks and recreation facilities are safe places for us, our children and our parents to congregate. We know parks and trees help with storm water management and keep our streets and basements from flooding and sewage backup. I also ask you to consider the thousands of volunteers, the hundreds of 9 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Recreation Advisory Councils, the 130 parks friends groups when making your Fiscal Year 2011 capital and operating budget decisions. Consider the hundreds of thousands of hours they have spent volunteering in their parks and recreation spaces. Their time, efforts and money have helped keep our parks and recreation system in the condition it is today, despite the serious lag in funding over the last several decades and the recent reductions that have cut the departments to the bone. In 2009 alone, volunteers contributed over $2 million in sweat equity in caring for their parks and recreation. Please show these volunteers and parks and recreation supporters that their work does matter and you will continue to invest in it. On behalf of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, I urge you to support the Fiscal Year 2011 proposed capital and operating budgets for Philadelphia's 10 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. parks and recreation system.
Before we call our next witness, if anyone is pressured for time, they feel that they can't stay to testify, if you have written testimony, we'll be very happy to take it. We'll give it to the stenographer and it will be transcribed in full. Thank you. (Thank you.)
Madam President, Walter was held up this morning. I'm willing to wait until later, if you would be kind enough to allow.
That 11 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. would be fine. Thank you.
The next group is a panel. Susan White, Campaign for Healthy Kids; Pat Sullivan, American Heart Association; Jonathan Kirch, American Heart Association; Brianna Sandoval, The Food Trust. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. I'm Susan White with Save the Children's Campaign for Healthy Kids. The Campaign seeks to educate the public about the childhood obesity epidemic and advance policies designed to address the problems. In Philadelphia, we are supporting Mayor Nutter's 2011 operating budget proposal of a two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The average child gets 175 12 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. calories a day from sugar-sweetened beverages. Children gain weight and their health suffers from increased consumption of sugary drinks. SSBs contain empty calories. They have no nutritional value. Common sense as well as science tells us the consumption of empty calories leads to weight gain. Research indicates that an increase in SSB consumption is clearly linked with diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other health consequences independent of weight. Childhood obesity is a public health crisis in Philadelphia. With more than 50 percent of children ages 6 to 11 overweight or obese, this rate jumps to almost 70 percent in some neighborhoods. In reality, Mayor Nutter's soda tax proposal is a healthy kids initiative. It is a public health policy that reduces consumption of sugary drinks and generates revenue to fund health and nutrition programs to address the City's 13 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. childhood obesity epidemic. Our recent poll revealed that 87 percent of Philadelphia's voters are concerned about the rates of obesity among children. Fifty-three percent of voters support a two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened drinks to fund childhood obesity programs. A sugar-sweetened beverage tax is a critical first step in the war against childhood obesity. Mayor Nutter's soda tax is a win for Philadelphia's children and the majority of Philadelphians who support this public health policy. Thank you for consideration of this sugar-sweetened beverage tax and for allowing me to testify before you today. I would be happy to answer any questions.
Good morning. My name is Brianna Almaguer Sandoval. I'm with The Food Trust. I am here today 14 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. to speak in support of the proposed sugar-sweetened beverage tax and to tell you about the work I am doing as Project Manager of The Food Trust's Healthy Corner Store Initiative. The goal of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative is to improve access to healthy food in low-income neighborhoods and promote community health and development by providing training and technical assistance for corner stores to sell healthy food, including fresh produce and healthy beverages. I am here to tell you today that corner store owners are selling healthier beverages and they are making a profit doing so. The proposed tax on soda and other sweetened beverages will support these efforts by creating additional incentive for corner store operators to stock healthier beverages. The children that The Food Trust works with -- and we work with over 50,000 annually in Philadelphia -- need 15 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. these healthier beverages to improve their health and actually want to buy them. Unfortunately, not enough stores carry them. The soda tax will raise funds to help the City combat the obesity epidemic. With over half our children overweight or obese, we must take bold action to reverse the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. If we do not, image the impact on our economy and our families when these children reach adulthood and are plagued with a host of medical problems. Over the next two years, thanks to a federal stimulus grant from the Centers for Disease Control, we will be partnering with the Philadelphia Department of Health to expand our corner store program to 1,000 corner stores across Philadelphia. Through this innovative initiative, we will increase access to healthy foods by working with store owners to expand their inventory of healthy food and beverages, increase 16 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. awareness of healthy options through an in-store marketing campaign that helps customers make healthy decisions at the point of purchase and through infrastructural changes to increase corner stores' capacity to sell healthier items. We will be working alongside store owners to provide them with one-on-one training and technical assistance to introduce cost-effective ways to increase the availability of healthy foods. This includes shelving, produce scales, refrigeration and point-of-sale systems. Store owners have eagerly embraced this initiative and they have repeatedly recognized the economic benefit of selling healthier products, including beverages. Developing high-quality fresh food retail outlets improves health, creates jobs, expands markets for farmers and supports economic vitality in underserved communities. In communities that lack access to healthy food, corner 17 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. stores have the potential to become valuable assets and community partners in creating healthy communities while also improving the economic viability of corner stores in low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods. Philadelphia is currently on the cutting edge of a public health policy and is seen nationwide as a model for combatting childhood obesity. That is why this year Michelle Obama kicked off her Let's Move initiative at the Fairhill School in North Philadelphia. She praised the innovative ways Philadelphia is leading the nation in improving access to healthy foods and implementing nutrition education programs that have been proven to reduce overweight by 50 percent. A sugar-sweetened beverage tax will continue to keep Philadelphia ahead of the pack in efforts to reverse the obesity epidemic and will have real impacts on the health of our children. 18 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Thank you.
Council President Verna, thank you very much for allowing me to speak to you today in support of the proposal before Council to tax sugar-sweetened beverage at a rate of two cents per ounce. My name is Pat Sullivan and I serve as President of the Board of the local American Heart Association. I am a Vice-President in the University of Pennsylvania health system, and I'm a cardiac disease survivor. One of the most serious health crises facing this city is obesity and the chronic disease and illness that results. The rates of obesity and overweight in our city, especially among our children, are astounding. In parts of North Philly, as many as 70 percent of kids are overweight or obese. 19 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. The American Heart Association recommends that most American women should consume no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day. And for men, that recommendation is 150 calories. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are now the number one source of added sugars in the American diet. One individual can of soda and most other sugar-sweetened beverages contain significantly more calories than the recommended daily amount. A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concluded that the preponderance of research shows that sugar-sweetened beverage consumption leads to excess caloric intake and weight gain, as well as increased obesity rates among children and adolescents. There is a significant correlation between added sugar intake and blood lipids that was discovered just last month among U.S. adults in the Journal of the American 20 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Medical Association. The cost of obesity problems in Philadelphia far exceeds the $147 billion that was in obesity-related medical expenditures that was documented in the year 2008. So the science is clear. Sugar-sweetened beverages are having a tremendous negative impact on the health of our city, our region and our nation. I'm a mother of an 11-year-old daughter. Her health and well-being are my number one concern, as they are for just about all parents. We have to decide that now is the time to collectively address the serious health crisis that is facing our city. So as a leader of the American Heart Association, the University of Penn health system, a mom, a survivor, I urge you to pass the two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and use a percentage of these revenues to fund the Healthy Philadelphia Initiative. This 21 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. will enable Philadelphia to make fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables available in every neighborhood and park and school of the City. We can create physical activity standards and resources for after-school programs, and we can expand walking and biking networks all over Philadelphia. Thank you very much.
Is Christine Knapp here? (No response.) 22 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Sue Rosenthal and Walter Palmer. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
My name is Sue Rosenthal. I serve as Chair of the Community Board for Public Health in Health Center 10. Thank you for listening to my testimony about the Health Department budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Health Commissioner Donald Schwarz clearly defines the purpose of our health centers, which exist to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most at risk. Never has the 23 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. need for that safety net been greater. Our terrible economy has increased by thousands those who have lost their jobs and health insurance. They have nowhere to go but to public health centers for medical treatment. In the first six months of FY10, our eight centers handled 190,000 patient visits, 15,000 more than in the same period of the previous year. This is a 12 and a half percent increase, which is expected to grow. By the end of FY10, we probably will have 30,000 extra or additional visits. Last year, City Council raised health center funding so that the time from need for medical services to first treatment could be cut significantly. We thank you for this. That was before this disaster to our economy. Now, waiting time has increased beyond what you were able to accomplish last year. At Health Center 10, with which I am most familiar, waiting time has increased to ten months. 24 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. That is, if you call for a first appointment, it will take ten months before you can visit Health Center 10. We expect it to get worse. Can you imagine your child and you having to wait ten months for medical treatment? You, City Council, an essential part of our government, are now the last resort for medical services to many, many Philadelphians. Others have come here asking you to maintain the funding for vital City services. I am asking you to increase funding for what is and will be a growing and desperate need for medical services. I am not an employee of the Health Department but merely a volunteer who has chaired a public health center for 40 years. The Health Department, at your request, can project the additional funding that it needs to meet this increasing need for medical services by 25 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. those unable to afford it. Thank you very much again for this opportunity to speak with you.
-- Council President Verna and City Council members. I'm Dr. Walter Palmer. I'm Chairman of the Palmer Foundation and I'm a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and I'm here to speak on behalf -- I'm also the Chairman of the Health Center 2, which I've been Chairman for 15 years, and this will probably be the last time I appear before you to testify on behalf of the health centers, because I resigned effective June 30. But I will be back again to support healthcare, because I believe there are two real entitlements that people are entitled to in our society, and one is education, the other 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. is healthcare. And I don't think there's any expense that is too great in order to make sure those two entitlements take place. I grew up poor in the lower end of West Philadelphia and found out what it was like with a mother who had 9 children. My mother and my father were 10 married out of wedlock. They had 13 11 subsequent children. We lived in two 12 rooms at 3645 Market Street. Healthcare 13 for us was really going to PGH Hospital, Philadelphia General Hospital, which was a thousand-bed hospital for the poor in Philadelphia, and I'm sad to say it no 17 longer exists. We oftentimes were not allowed to go into Presbyterian Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, where I now teach. University of Pennsylvania Hospital discriminated against us based on race and on poverty. During that period of time, the '50s and '60s, Penn blood was segregated between white and colored. The cafeterias were 27 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. segregated between the professionals, white, who ate upstairs and the poor people who worked in the laundry, housekeeping, kitchen went downstairs. There were no beds or no private rooms for African American people. And consequently, a lot has happened since then. We did not have health centers at that point in time, but since then, I'm here to tell you that probably we have some of the finest health centers in the country. Philadelphia really is able to take care of those 200,000 more visits, but I think it needs to be expanded. And I think that not only do we have to service those eight, but we need to try to find a way to even get expanded even more. I think also the fact that we've been able to put a surcharge for patients who happen to be poor is a good thing, because with regard to the paying for some of the medical services, no 25 matter how nominal it is -- sometimes a 28 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. dollar, sometimes $5, sometimes $20 -- poor people also need dignity. They need to have privacy and they need to have dignity, and consequently I think that's what that represents for us. You can imagine what it was like for my great grandmother, who was born as a slave here in American society, and my grandmother, who was out of Baltimore and who, for the most part, never knew what it was like to be educated. My mother never went beyond the 8th grade, and my father out of Delaware never went beyond the 4th grade. You can imagine what education and healthcare were like for them. But here I am a product of those people, and I tell you this, that what I've learned is that almost all I've ever learned, I've learned from the poor. And I've dedicated my life trying hard to become a transformative figure in terms of providing those two essential parts of our society that are oftentimes absent; 29 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. that is, education and healthcare. And I join Sue Rosenthal, who is one of my co-chairs, in the healthcare movement asking that you not only maintain the level of funding levels we have, but that you absolutely increase them, because you cannot do enough to serve the people who need it the most within our society when it comes to healthcare. Thank you so much.
Doctor, I certainly want to thank you for your years of service.
And, Ms. Rosenthal, I know you come in just about every year. So nice seeing you again.
We 30 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. certainly try. Our next witness.
Good morning, Council President Verna, Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. I'm David Broida, the guy who brought the contractor and the money for Eric Casiano Memorial Field. I'm very happy to report also we put the rubber surface under the swings at Nelson Playground. The City Parks and Recreation Department just put up those swings. So we're back in action there.
And Councilman Goode and other members of Council, it's my pleasure to be here. I represent Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education where I'm a Board member, but at the same time, I'm a major consumer of recreation services in the City of Philadelphia, ran 31 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the Broad Street Run, put my kayak in, and I love the City. Councilwoman, you probably had something to do with getting those tennis courts renovated at Franklin Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia.
I love those courts. I love the courts at Water Tower. I love the courts at Mander. And all we're asking today is that the City consider increasing the Park and Recreation budget so that Piccolo Playground in Northeast, at 52nd and Wyalusing, in West Philadelphia at 10th and Montgomery, so that those courts can look like the courts that we've renovated. Even Cecil B. Moore on Lehigh Avenue, those net posts, instead of standing straight up to hold the net, they look like this, 45-degree angle. So all I can say is that you've got the best parks and recreation 32 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. administrator in the United States in Michael DiBerardinis. With Susan Slawson, Jim Marino, Leo Paul Dignam and others, you've got a great staff. All they need is more money. So we appreciate whatever you can do, and we want you to know that Arthur Ashe, which has a two and a half million dollar budget for tennis in the City, we put our money on the line to be partners with the City. And Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez and her district and elsewhere in the City, we'll raise extra money and we'll help match whatever the City can do. I want to introduce my partner, Greg Williams, who is on staff of Arthur Ash, and he's going to tell you a few things about what we do and what we need. Thank you.
Good morning to all. My name is Greg Williams. I am the 33 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Director of Neighborhood-Based Programming for Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center. Our mission is to create and promote opportunities to improve the quality of life of young people through tennis and education. We will achieve this mission by instilling the values of leadership, academic excellence, social skills, self-discipline and self-confidence. The National Junior Tennis League is our largest neighborhood-based program initiative, which operates for seven weeks during the summer. The program has 47 sites in parks and recreation centers throughout the Philadelphia region. We also have two sites in Camden, New Jersey. It is a network of community organizations dedicated to introducing as many youngsters as possible to the sport of tennis. Regardless of race, gender or other disadvantages or income, we provide a unique on-court program that offers 34 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. educational and life skill components. These educational components are diverse in nature, but can vary from things like behavior counseling, mentoring, drug and alcohol counseling to computer skills training, health/nutrition, and college preparation. This program is a great way for kids to stay physically fit, mentally fit as well, make friends, learn good sportsmanship in a fun and safe environment. So the point I'm trying to make today is that the parks and rec centers are utilized each year by our programs that offer kids opportunities to improve themselves and to improve their life. So whatever it takes to repair or maintenance, if it's going to cost a little more to upgrade, we appreciate it. Whatever we can do to make a difference in the kids' life, as you can see, there's a lot going on in the City with kids being bored and getting into risky behaviors. We try to divert that by 35 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. getting them involved into a sport of tennis, which is not probably the most popular sport in the City, but a lot of kids are embracing it and it is making a difference in their life as far as finishing school, high school, possibly going to college and coming out to be better citizens. Also, we also run other programs as far as with tennis. There's after-school programs that we're involved in. We have sites in the parks and 14 recs throughout the cities, as well as 15 our Quick Start programs as well. So 16 whatever it takes to improve the quality of life of children, we're involved. Thank you.
Tony West and Frank Chance. 36 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning, gentlemen. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. My name is Frank Chance. I'm the President of the Friends of Clark Park. I work at the University of Pennsylvania and have been involved in the Philadelphia park system in a variety of different ways for the past years. 15
Good morning. I'm 16 Tony West. I'm on the Board of Directors 17 of Friends of Clark Park. Madam 18 President and Councilwomen Blackwell, 19 Quinones-Sanchez, Reed Miller, Councilmen 20 Goode and Greenlee, it's an honor to be on your side of the rail today. Thank you.
Thank you for 37 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. allowing us to testify on behalf of the funding increase proposed by Mayor Nutter for the park system. Over the last years, I've 6 been a volunteer in parks. I've been a 7 paid employee of a non-profit 8 organization working in parks, the 9 Friends of Japanese House and Garden, 10 where I was the Director for six years, 11 and briefly I was actually a City 12 employee working as a summer employee in 13 the Japanese House and Garden. Now I'm a 14 volunteer at Clark Park. I'm also a 15 volunteer at the Japanese House and 16 Garden. So I've worked both within the 17 Fairmount Park system and within the 18 Recreation Department's park system. 19 In the 20 years I've been here, 20 we've seen park usage increase, and in the last year and a half since the economic crisis hit, we've seen an increase of about 20 percent of visitors to Clark Park itself. But at the same time, budgets 38 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. have stayed the same or in some cases even declined. The staff of the Parks and Recreation Department does a wonderful job with the resources they have, but they need more. Please let me remind you that parks are a vital asset for our city, but they are one that if unsupported and not maintained will decay and become a liability. In order to prevent that from happening, I urge you to support the full funding increase proposed by Mayor Nutter. Thank you.
Councilmembers, investment in park capital infrastructure has lagged in recent years, if not decades. In part, I think this is due to a belief held by some that trees don't vote. Of course, park users do vote, and they value highly the public functions provided by them. However, park users 39 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. suffer from underrepresentation when budget time rolls around. That's because they aren't organized, they don't form an economic entity, so no one counts their money. In fact, little effort is made even to count the users. There is no 8 gate at a park, no attendance record. In 2006, I endeavored to make such a count. In a five-week study of my community park, Clark Park, halfway between mid-winter and mid-summer, I estimated ordinary, unorganized, non-programmatic users of the park averaged 1,656 persons per day. Extrapolated over the year, this figure amounts to 604,440 user days annually, and that doesn't even count the numerous markets, festivals, sports leagues, concerts, plays and other organized events, often drawing thousands, which take place here as well. This is a highly intensive, highly productive public capital facility and one that receives a lot of wear and 40 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. tear as a result. At nine acres, Clark Park is one of the largest parks in Recreation's community park system. Still, it is but one of 70 other community parks. These in turn are but one-half of Philadelphia's public green space, the other half being the Fairmount Park system. So you're looking at a large number of people who are being served by our city's parks. This vital government service has been starved of capital investment for too long. Just a little extra will go a long way. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Our next witness.
Jane Swartz from Parks and Recreation Committee. (Witness approached witness table.)
And the next 41 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. witness will be Karen Brown.
Ms. Swartz, please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Council President Verna and members of Council. I am actually a cleanup coordinator in my small neighborhood park. I grew up across a tree-lined street from the city park in a small Indiana town. It was the meeting ground for families and children from all over, the picnic ground for family gatherings. Across the street from it were the high school track and football field, the county fair grounds and then another city park area with a bandstand, baseball diamond and plenty of places to run, hide and explore. Today, not coincidentally, I live across a tree-lined street from a small pocket park in Bella Vista. It is the meeting ground for families and 42 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. children from all over. There are many parks in Philadelphia, which is one of the reasons I love living here. Neighbors and visitors gather from Fairmount Park to Valley Green, from the Delaware Valley to the Schuylkill enjoying our parks and recreation areas. But our parks need support. I belong to a volunteer group for our little park. Like all of the other parks, large and small in our city, we depend on funding from the City, as well as a helping hand from various non-profit organizations to help keep our benches in repair, our infrastructure in good shape, and make sure that we have living trees and plants and beautiful things in our parks and recreation facilities so that all of our families and our visitors will continue to have safe, beautiful places of retreat and outdoor activity, and so that every child in the City of Philadelphia and every child who visits one of our parks has access to wonderful 43 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. memories like mine of the parks they knew and loved. Thank you.
Thank you. We do appreciate all of you coming in to testify. (Applause.)
I can see many of you are so passionate about your parks, which is wonderful. Is Karen Brown here?
If Charles Kooch is here, maybe he could also come to the witness table. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning, Madam President and the Councilmembers that are present here today. I am Karen Brown. I 44 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. represent Southwark Civic Association and YSO. YSO is Youth Senior Outreach. That encompasses the area of 11th and Wharton -- from, I'm sorry, 11th and Wharton to 11th and Jackson and from 11th Street to 6th in South Philly. More than half of the population in our community, our civic community, are seniors. They have asked me to come in front of you today to plead with the Mayor to please reconsider the tax you're proposing on them. Though the tax was not aimed directly towards them, they will feel the heaviest burden. Whether it be sanitation, real estate or even the soda tax, these seniors are not prepared to withstand any more tax on them. They are trying to get by in a recession, that we are all feeling the crunch, but them the most. We will eventually come out of this crunch and make more money to cover the taxes that are proposed in front of us. They will not. 45 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. They have asked me to plead with you to make some provision for the seniors in this. I know there are provisions for seniors for lower-class individuals, but not for the middle class that holds onto their family home. These seniors have lived in these homes for years, raised their families, had weddings, holidays, birthdays, shared it with their spouse, and now they're given the option of either paying this tax and not having food or paying this tax and moving into a senior citizen facility or an apartment and leaving the home that they've come to love. They are asking the Mayor to reconsider the tax in respect to them, to make a provision for all seniors, not just a portion of the seniors, and to consider the fact that these seniors are in their golden years, years where they shouldn't be burdened and have to worry about a tax, just another tax on them. They're still paying school tax and their kids are long 46 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. since grown. They've sustained any City tax, any tax thrown at them and manage to get by and still hold onto their home, but this proposed tax, whether it be the $300 sanitation tax or the 12, five, nine, three percent real estate tax is more than they can burden. So if you would ask the Mayor, and they're asking me to plead with you to ask the Mayor, to please consider some kind of adjustment for the seniors, whether it be an exception, a flat fee, something where they don't need to pay the total amount. They can't stand any more taxes on them. Thank you.
Please identify yourself for the record. 47 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
I'm Charles Kooch. I live -- my wife and I live at 1326 Spruce Street. We've lived there since December 1974 in Unit 1604. I'm here to ask you to consider the fact that in terms of a sanitation assessment or, alternatively, an increase in our real estate tax, that you and Councilmembers be aware that since 1974 December when we moved in, we have always paid for our own trash removal. We have never received sanitation services from the City of Philadelphia. The current budget and the most recent figure I have for 2010 is $16,536. This does remove our trash. It is separated by the residents before it goes down the chute, and then it is again separated by our contractor, who hauls it away. We do have seven-day-a-week collection and that, of course, excepts snow days and/or mechanical failures. It's my hope that in the budget deliberations, that we somehow or other 48 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. deserve some sort of credit for paying for our own trash, and I believe, Madam President, that it is unfair that we would be singled out for a tax increase or a sanitation fee in lieu of the fact that we do not use those services. Thank you for listening to me. My wife was unable to be here today. We represent no group except ourselves and Unit 1604. The $16,000 fee is apportioned by unit. We have 1,140 square feet, and it's included in our maintenance fee. The commercial buildings -- or businesses that you see on the Spruce Street level, a convenience store, a dry cleaning store and currently a restaurant, are responsible for their own trash removal. Thank you, Madam President and Councilmembers.
Are there any questions, please? 49 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
I don't think so. Are there any questions of this witness? (No response.)
Amy Miller, and following Amy Miller is Cindy Masiejczwk. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good morning, members of City Council. My name is Amy Miller. I am an environmental planner with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and a resident of East Kensington. I respectfully ask you to 50 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. support an increase in the budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation in order to better maintain and enhance our existing city parks and to help create new parks where they are desperately needed. A city park is a calm oasis from the stress, deadlines, noise and hassles of city life. Being surrounded by trees, plants and water triggers our instinctive bond with the natural world. Walking through the rustic trails of Morris Park within a cathedral of towering trees, sitting on the banks of the rippling Indian Creek, watching a family of deer run through the forest, West Philadelphia could easily be mistaken for the Poconos. Sitting on the rocky shore of the Delaware River in Penn Treaty Park, watching the boats sail by while kites fly overhead, listening to the sounds of guitars, birds and children laughing, you can almost forget about the casino being built down the road. Parks also allow us to 51 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. reconnect with our friends, neighbors and fellow Philadelphians in a common shared space, open and welcoming for all. I've shared so many great memories at picnics in Konrad Square Park, disk golf at Sedgley Woods and music shows in too many public parks to mention, including Jefferson Square Park, Clark Park and Penn Treaty Park. Without well-maintained public parks, I would not want to live in Philadelphia anymore and neither would a lot of other people. Parks keep tax-paying homeowners like myself in the City, they keep jobs and families in the City, and they continue to give me hope against all odds that Philadelphia truly is the next great city. Thank you very much.
Our next witness? 52 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Adrienne Kenton, and after Adrienne Kenton will be A.J. Thomson. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good morning, Madam President and members of Council. Thank you for the privilege of speaking with you this morning. My name is Adrienne Kenton. I'm the Co-President of the Friends of Seger Park Playground, a friend of Palumbo Park and, most importantly, the mother of two preschool-age children. I'm very fortunate to live in Bella Vista, with a minimum of five playgrounds in walking distance from my 53 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. home. Four of those parks have a recreation building on site. At Seger Park located at 11th and Lombard, we host a winter play group in the recreation building for infants through 3 years old and their caregivers. For a nominal fee, parents can provide a place for their small children to interact with others and learn through play. We are currently looking to improve our playground to make it safe and fun for infants all the way through to 12-year-old children. As many of you know, earlier this spring young people descended on South street in droves. All my husband and I could think to ourselves was, Clearly, these teens have nothing else to do with themselves. Imagine what would be possible if our recreation centers were fully staffed and provided programming for infants and their parents, children, teens and adults alike to engage their 54 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. minds or teach them skills or provide physical activity to disrupt the trajectory of obesity that afflicts so many. Friends groups, like the Friends of Seger Park Playground and the Friends of Palumbo Park, host events, raise money and engage the neighbors in monthly cleanups in our respective parks. Our activities support our representatives in maintaining a public domain where we may interact with our fellow citizens in a decent environment. With your partnership, we could do much more. I respectfully assert that functioning parks and recreation centers add to a high quality of life, a sense of dignity and liberty that I know each of you are committed to providing for your constituents. I humbly request that you vote yes to Mayor Nutter's proposed funding increase for Parks and Recreation in 55 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Fiscal Year 2011. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yvonne Michael, and if Jeannine Lisitski is here, she will be next. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good morning, 56 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Honorable City Councilmembers and Madam President. My name is Yvonne Michael and I am Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Drexel University School of Public Health. I'm also a resident of West Philadelphia and a friend of Clark Park. I am here today with regard to the campaign to increase funding for Parks and Recreation. I will describe the public health benefits of urban parks and trees. Maintaining and enhancing Philadelphia's park and recreation system has the potential to pay significant benefits in terms of the improved health of all Philadelphia's residents, especially the most vulnerable, children, older adults and lower socioeconomic status and minority residents. S. population today, obesity. In Philadelphia, 15 percent of 57 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. children and an amazing 31 percent of adults are obese. Obesity is more deadly than drugs, smoking and other issues combined. Obesity places an enormous strain on the healthcare system, is difficult to manage because it is highly life-style related. Lives are at risk and there is no effective prevention set up. Obesity is a major cost to our society. Nationally, annual costs related to obesity are in the region of $130 billion. Indirect costs include lost working hours and work stalled because of people unable to work due to illness or disability. The Institute of Medicine recently released a report mapping out solutions to childhood obesity. The report concluded that the environment influences the decisions people make and local regulations can make a difference in the fight against childhood obesity. Among the community changes suggested by the IOM report is to build and maintain 58 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. parks and playgrounds that are safe, attractive and close to residential areas. You've heard about the environmental benefits of parks and the social benefits, but what is the evidence supporting the IOM's recommendation to build and maintain our parks and playgrounds to address obesity? Access to a place to exercise results in a five percent median increase in aerobic capacity, along with a reduction in body fat, weight loss and improvements in flexibility. Parks are commonly used places for exercise. Nationally, about 30 percent of physically active people report exercising in public parks. Children and adults who use parks are more likely to be physically active and less likely to be obese. Even more importantly, research has demonstrated that living in a neighborhood with better access to high-quality parks is associated with greater levels of 59 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. physical activity and lower levels of obesity. According to the CDC, enhanced access to spaces for physical activity resulted in percent more people 6 exercising three or more days a week. 7 The risk of childhood obesity declines 8 with increasing access to green space, 9 like parks and playgrounds. Moreover, we 10 know that access to high-quality green 11 spaces is not equitably distributed 12 throughout the City, and groups that have 13 the least access to parks and 14 recreational activities are the most 15 likely to benefit from it. Currently, 16 less than 60 percent of Philadelphia's 17 residents are adequately served by a park 18 or recreation center within a half mile 19 of their homes. Children and adults 20 living in disadvantaged neighborhoods 21 lack access to parks and get less 22 physical activity. 23 A green city is not only 24 important for reducing obesity. Other 25 health benefits of a strong urban park 60 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. system for adults include less stress, improved self-reported health and shorter post-operative recovery periods. Among children and youth, the positive health effects of urban parks and forests include improved cognitive functioning and reduced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms.
A healthy urban park system that equitably serves the residents of Philadelphia is an important public health benefit. Thank you.
Our next witness is Michael Gallagher, and Mr. Gallagher will be followed by Debbie Plotnick and Corey Rogers. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good morning. My name is Mike Gallagher. I'm here to 61 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. represent Women Against Abuse.
You're quite welcome, Madam President. Good morning, Madam President and City Council members. My name is Michael Gallagher. I'm the Police Liaison for Women Against Abuse. I thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony today. Women Against Abuse appreciates the ongoing support of Philadelphia City Council on domestic violence issues. We have come before you twice in the past few months, because we are deeply concerned about potential funding cuts that impact the ability to provide life-saving services to victims of domestic violence and their children. As you well know, Women Against Abuse is the largest domestic violence service provider in Pennsylvania and operates the only emergency shelter for 62 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. children and women that are battered, victims of domestic violence. We are also the lead operator of the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline. We created the first domestic violence legal center in the nation. Women Against Abuse operates a long-term housing program for victims of domestic violence who are homeless. Last year, Women Against Abuse served over 10,000 individuals through direct services and educational programs. Women Against Abuse has experienced major budget cuts from both the City and State government last year. We were also forced to suspend children's programs and lay off staff members in 19 order to sustain our core services. Any additional budget cuts will significantly limit our ability to provide life-saving services and force us to terminate some of the essential programs. Although current services and funding do not meet the needs of our 63 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. society, more budget cuts will definitely put more lives at risk. Our services are especially crucial now that domestic violence homicides have nearly doubled in the past year. At the same time, requests for shelter continue to exceed our capacity. In 2009, Women Against Abuse was forced to turn away 5,000 women and children, which is an all-time high for our agency. In light of the mounting needs among constituents, Women Against Abuse urge City Council to maintain funding for essential services in next year's budget. As a retired detective who put in over 17 years with the Philadelphia Police 18 Department, I handled hundreds of 19 domestic violence cases and have seen 20 firsthand the crucial need for advocates like Women Against Abuse. I now work with Women Against Abuse to create a citywide response for victims. Hopefully this will help them access services before it's too late. I encourage City 64 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Council to join us in helping Philadelphia's citizens receive the life-saving services they need. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Mr. Gallagher, do you have any indication that the program is being cut?
Fine. We just wanted to make sure. We thought you may have more information than we did.
James White, and following Mr. White will be Derrick Ford. (Witness approached witness 65 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. table.)
Good morning, Madam President and esteemed members of the Council. My name is James White and I am the Policy Coordinator of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations. PACDC is a citywide association of more than 80 community development corporations and non-profit organizations with extensive experience with housing and community development in Philadelphia. My testimony today will focus on three issues which are critical to meeting the needs of Philadelphia's residents and fostering successful revitalization of our neighborhoods. First, the issue of revenue to fund City programs and services. We understand that the City is in a difficult financial situation and is faced with hard choices of how to balance 66 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the budget. 4 billion in cuts to the City's Five Year Plan and the impact of the recession on Philadelphia residents, we urge you to find ways to maintain funding for critical services and programs in the City's budget. A number of potential ways to generate additional revenue for the City have been discussed, and it is our understanding that the City Council is considering increasing property taxes to help balance the budget. If the City plans to generate additional revenue from property taxes, it is critical that measures also be put into place to limit the impact on lower-income homeowners and renters. In particular, we urge the City to pursue implementation of two specific property tax-relief measures for lower-income residents: First, a homestead exemption that would exempt the first thousand of assessed value of the residential property for property taxes, and, second, 67 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. deferral of property tax increases over X percent until the sale of the property. While this will have some impact on revenue collected in the short term, it will ensure a more equitable solution to the City's budget challenges and especially for low-income homeowners who do not itemize tax deductions on their taxes. Two, restore and expand funding for affordable housing via the City's Trust Fund. Each week at least 200 families go into conciliation for residential mortgage foreclosure in Philadelphia courts. Two floors above us right now families are fighting to keep their homes. For those who do not win this fight, they are forced to seek temporary housing with families, friends and the City's shelters because we lack a sufficient supply of affordable housing. There are many other residents who are priced out of Philadelphia's housing market as well. According to the 68 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. National Low Income Housing Coalition's recent report Out of Reach 2010, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia is $1,095 per month. 06 per hour for a full-time worker. Viewed another way, the average two-bedroom apartment is not even within the reach of a family with two workers earning $10 per hour for 40 hours a week year round. At the same time, revenue for our only local source to address this challenge, the Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund, has dropped to an all-time low, about half of what it was three years ago, while demand on these resources continues to rise. Simultaneously, the Mayor's proposed budget for FY2011 and the Five Year Plan zeroes out General Fund resources 69 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. previously committed to the Housing Trust Fund. 3 million decrease in funding for affordable housing over the current year. While we applaud the Mayor and the City Council's support to increase dedicated revenue for the Housing Trust Fund through the approval of the local ordinance last December, the State-authorizing legislation necessary to implement this increase has been stalled in the House Appropriations Committee for nearly nine months.
We urge you to do two things to address the shortfall of resources for affordable homes: Restore the full 3 million per year commitment from the City's General Fund to the Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund and engage the City's active support to advance authorizing legislation to 70 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. expand funding for the Housing Trust Fund. Last point. It is critical that we put vacant properties that are currently a drain on the City's budget back into productive use. Given the acquisition pipeline has been frozen for nearly two years and the number of our members have reached the point where they do not have site control needed to advance development projects critical to addressing resident needs and neighborhood needs, we urge the City to do the following: Move quickly to utilize remaining acquisition funds to accelerate the acquisition and disposition of property to support planned development projects that will not be able to leverage outside resources without site control. Two, commence payments into court to begin the process to clear title for properties being disposed of and implement the Recycling Agreement to 71 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. generate additional funds for these programs to support future acquisitions. We look forward to the opportunity to work with the City Council and the Administration to strengthen the City's neighborhoods and address residents' needs. Thank you.
Thank you. Just a moment, please. I'm sorry. Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Just a real brief question. Good morning, Mr. White.
Thank you for your continued work on this very crucial issue. One quick question. I know that the PACDCs have been lobbying on the legislation in Harrisburg that would authorize the City of Philadelphia 72 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. to enact an additional fee for the Housing Trust Fund. My question is, in that discussion have you also talked to them about the other bill that we have on the calendar that would allow us to access the current recording fees to change the formula with respect to the amount of money we can get out of the fees as they currently are constructed?
No, Councilman, we have not. We appreciate your support in our endeavor in Harrisburg, as well as the other Councilmembers, Council Lady Blackwell as well, but what we thought we'd put before them, given that there was also a statewide trust fund initiative that was also on the calendar in the House, that we would keep it simple and try to push this legislation that was there first, and if it failed, then go to Plan B. But we thank you for your continued support and vigilance.
The reason I ask that, because it's not clear that 73 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. we will get dedicated funding from the General Fund as we did the initial year, and if somehow we can't get the increase in recording fees that will accommodate the Trust Fund, there may be some thought that we should move the other bill in Council to access what's currently available in the existing recording fee amount.
Well, as always, Councilman, I'll keep the Council leadership informed of our progress in Harrisburg, and if it looks like we're not going to be able to move the first piece of legislation through, then I think we should consider the second piece of legislation.
Thank you again. Just a moment, sir. Councilman Jones.
Good 74 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. morning. Thank you, Madam President. Mr. White --
-- I began to wonder if in fact that you were an employee of the City of Philadelphia. You spend so much time advocating for your issues. But we appreciate always your insights to how community-based organizations can take advantage of resources, both governmental and private sector. Recently, we had an intense discussion that I'd like to get some of it on the record. Not all of it, but some of it on the record.
It was a great exchange of ideas. About the use of CDBG dollars to help to address abandonment on commercial corridors, and it is a bill 75 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. that has been proposed by myself and a few of our colleagues, and I wanted to know if that kind of measure might be a tool among many tools that can address some of the blighted conditions in some of the neighborhoods your groups find themselves.
Well, as you know, sir, and if I may, through your experience at PCDC and other endeavors, any aid for mixed-use development on commercial corridors improves our opportunities to not only attract and build our small business core that's essential in our neighborhoods and vital for providing not only tax revenues but also jobs for our residents in those neighborhoods, particularly low-income residents, who in some cases maybe their first job comes at the community level in a corner store or a small business. I think it's essential that we look more at shoring up our neighborhood commercial corridors and particularly where there 76 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. are vacant commercial spaces, which there are a number of them in our neighborhoods that could use a boost of. As you know, about five years ago, PACDC worked with PHFA to develop a mixed-use financing tool that unfortunately has been underfunded by the Commonwealth, but it's still active and a vital resource. So having the CDBG funds as another mechanism maybe combined could probably bring more dollars to the City for mixed use and business development.
Many of my colleagues have small commercial strips ranging from 100 stores to as many as 200 stores, and one of the challenges when we look to finance a deal there is that 51 percent of the building has been either for commercial use or residential use, and that mixed use combination is something that a lot of times gets left out. And if you look at commercial corridors around the City, viable corridors are the ones where the stores 77 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. are open during the day, but people live in the rental units above. If you look at Passyunk Avenue, it's a perfect example of people living above the merchants because of the density of population, feel comfortable not having roll-down gates. They stay open a little later because there are people, and that vitality also is shared by the merchants, because they have longer hours and people shop in the neighborhood. So if you look at that example, and Germantown Avenue is a good one, Chestnut Hill, higher degree of occupancy. You go down that same corridor to Wayne Junction, lower occupancy, lower value. So there's a correlation between these mixed-use properties that I think we need to address.
I look forward to seeing the legislation approved. 78 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
You're welcome. Are there any other questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Good morning, Madam President and members of City Council. My name is Derrick Ford. I'm a lifetime member of the Strawberry Mansion community. Since my childhood, Fairmount Park and the Department of Recreation has played a major role in my life, as well as other members of the Strawberry Mansion community. As a kid living on the 3200 block of Arlington Street, which sits less than 100 yards from Fairmount Park and Mander Playground, playing every 79 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. sport from basketball to baseball to football and tennis has afforded me the opportunity to appreciate parks and recreation all my life. In 2007, I developed the Strawberry Mansion Athletic Association, which has over 300 boys and girls playing the wonderful game of baseball, football and basketball at Mander Playground, which is located at 33rd and Diamond in Fairmount Park. Today, Madam President and Council, it is so vital that as we sit here this very moment at 33rd and Diamond, one of my issues is why Park America in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission has developed a contractual agreement with Park America and today a new company called Express Parking which is currently parking cars at 33rd and Diamond on our playing fields for $12 a car based on the regattas. Now, if we're trying to make the City green, then that simply goes against what 80 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. we're trying to do. It is so vital that the Mayor please increase funding for Parks and Recreation. It is so vital that folks understand the need to improve the quality of life for our youth in Strawberry Mansion and around the City of Philadelphia. I've been raising this argument for two or three years about this whole contractual agreement between Park America and the Fairmount Park Commission and where the proceeds and the revenues going towards helping anyone in the community. So I'm going to be brief, and I thank you again for having me here.
Thank you. Just a moment, please. Councilman Clarke.
Good morning, 81 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Councilman Clarke.
Also known as Rick. Rick, first I'd just like to thank you for your work in the Strawberry Mansion community. Pleasure growing up with you in the same neighborhood, and I want to congratulate you for your mentorship, not just for the young people but also for the adults and encouraging them to get engaged --
-- in a role as being true mentors to young people, and you've done a great job. And I do -- I'm very familiar with the issue. I've witnessed it a couple of times, and it's probably going on as we speak about the parking.
Unfortunately, at this moment, I don't think there's a member from the Administration that could respond to that, but I will be asking the Council 82 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. President if we can reach out, because there are a lot of things going on with the concessions. I understand in talking to a colleague of mine earlier today in anticipation of your testimony that in some cases when there was parking for -- contracted parking in the other parks in the City, that revenue generated from the parking concessions, there were contributions to the local community organization. In the case of Strawberry Mansion, I know you have a league. I guess -- what do you have, like 400, 500 kids in that program now?
And you're basically operating off of a shoestring budget.
We are having community fundraisers with the help of funding from the Activities Grant. Thank God for Council representation for helping us save the lives and improve the quality of life for our kids. Tomorrow 83 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. morning, God willing if it doesn't rain, we'll have our fourth opening day with well over 500 people in attendance. However, based on the issues with the contractual agreement with Fairmount Park, who is currently parking their cars on our field today, tomorrow and Sunday, will intervene with the development of what we're trying to accomplish in our community.
I would like to add to that. I know that one of the parks in my district, the monies that are generated from parking go to the improvements of many of the areas in the park. So that may be something that you would want to do.
I actually heard about that. I didn't want to reference the fact that it was your district that I was referring to.
Thank 84 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. you. But the community does not receive what is generated?
No. We don't get any money from any other source. We started out with four teams. We went to eight teams. We went to 10 teams, playing at six different fields in 11 the North Philadelphia area. And, again, 12 with the help of Council representation 13 and Activities Grant and the community 14 fundraisers, we would really like to see 15 some of that residual money come back to 16 our community for lights, improving of 17 the bathroom facilities and all those 18 other things, because what we're doing, we're saving lives.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Rick. 85 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. (Applause.)
Our next witness is Darius Wright, and following Mr. Wright is Don Kelly. (Witness approached witness table.)
Mr. Wells and One Day At a Time. Mr. Kelly, good morning.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity, Madam Chairman, members of Council. I'm Don Kelly with the -- Director of Community and Economic Development with the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, now with the shorter name of the Urban 86 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Affairs Coalition. I appreciate this opportunity. We're a coalition of over 90 programs and organizations that provide services and assistance to support families and individuals throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, and everything we do is about helping individuals, families and businesses and building healthy communities. Through our work, our coalition partners improve the lives of 85,000 people each year, from providing summer jobs for youth, helping ex-offenders get back into society, working with people with HIV/AIDS, preventing foreclosures and foreclosure prevention scams, offering free tax assistance. There's a whole range of things that we do helping people to improve their economic lives in this area. And our whole approach is to give people a helping hand so that they can then support themselves rather than just continue a dependent type of 87 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. relationship. And we're committed to work together as a coalition of organizations to urge the City to continue supporting these kinds of services, because in the long term, it really saves society and saves the City money by getting to problems before they get severe or helping people get past their problems and not go back again to them. So your support has always been crucial for our ability to provide these services in the past, and we really hope that we can continue relying on the City as a partner in the future. We recognize that City Council has very difficult choices with the present economy and budget constraints, and we realize that cuts have to be made and have been made. We just urge you to take a balanced approach to the issue that to balance cuts with revenue enhancements wherever possible, because we feel that our services are really 88 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. being cut to the bone and we can't get more tighter than we are now without sacrificing the actual benefits to the community. In my particular area, through City-funded home improvement loan programs, we've helped over 340 people, Philadelphia homeowners, invest in the improvement of their homes or needed repairs using bank loans, but these are people who would not have been eligible for bank loans for the most part, and so if it weren't for this program that the City helps to fund, these people would turn to subprime and predatory lenders and then get into all kinds of difficulties. So it prevents problems. Again, once again, investing at the front end of a situation prevents problems later on. We also -- the department next to ours is the Campaign for Working Families that provides free tax assistance to over 10,000 families a year 89 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. and brings in about $18 million to Philadelphians. Again, strengthening the economy, strengthening the ability of people to take care of themselves. So we just urge you to look upon this as an investment that has both social, economic and financial returns for the City and do whatever you can to keep these support services going.
Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming in to testify.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Madam President. My name is Mel Wells, President of One Day at a Time. Today we came actually to look for support, actually look for an increase in funding. We are a program of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs. We are coming to ask the City to try to 90 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. at least look at better ways to actually save people lives. Right now I believe to incarcerate an individual it costs $30,000 a year. Compared to One Day at a Time, it costs us about $2,000 a year to show that individual how not to actually walk down that track again of being incarcerated, which will save us a lot of money. I can say a lot, but I actually brought down two of my clients who benefits from what the City is doing for One Day At a Time. So I would like to ask my clients to share.
Good evening, Madam Chair. My name Ronald Beasley. I'm a member of One Day At a Time. I just want to briefly tell you a little bit about myself. I came here five years ago from Baltimore, Maryland hopeless. I was on drugs. Okay. I came here and somebody told me about a place called One Day At a Time. I said, I made a geographical change. I say, I'm going to 91 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. try it. And I came here, and One Day At a Time welcomed me. And I've been clean now for the last five years as a result of One Day At a Time. And let me mention, I'm also HIV positive. I was positive when I came, where I know I don't look like it. God is good. You know, we need our money. We do. We do. Because like we got support groups, we got all kind of programs that helps the community, and we just doing our thing, and we want to be recognized. We want to be noticed, and that's all we're asking. We're not asking for much. We just want to be recognized, because we are saving lives in numbers. We are saving lives in numbers. (Applause.)
Thank you. 92 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Yes. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you. I'm sure all of us know what you do. We all love One Day At a Time, and we would be remiss if we didn't say to Mel Wells that we want to acknowledge you, and not only you but the founder. We have Reverend and Mrs. -- the founder of One Day At a Time here. We're going to ask them to stand. This is the head of One Day At a Time. (Standing ovation.)
Reverend and Mrs. Wells. Thank you, Madam President.
My name is Joseph Dukewicz. I am a client of One 93 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Day At a Time. I came into One Day At a Time on February 27th of 2010. Beforehand I was in and out of the shelter system and in and out of being incarcerated. I came in looking for hope, and I found it at One Day At a Time. Through my process at One Day At a Time, I found out that I was HIV positive, and One Day At a Time has set me up with case management. My case manager is Kim Wells and she is wonderful. She goes beyond the call of duty to help me. She's helped me with not only getting a doctor to make sure I get my medication and make sure I take my medication, she also helps me with trying to get SSI and housing when that comes up and stuff like that. One Day At a Time does save lives. They do change lives. I need One Day At a Time and so do people on the street. We also have a food bank. We also have other programs as well, and we 94 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. do outreach programs, and there's people out there that's going to need One Day At a Time. I'd like to thank Reverend Wells, Mrs. Wells and Mel Wells for allowing me to come to One Day At a Time, because they saved my life. I just want to say, Who dat? (ODAAT.)
The next witness is Anthony Murray, followed by Leslie Benoliel. (Witness approached witness table.) 95 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Good morning, Madam President, distinguished Councilmen, Councilwomen that are present. My name is Anthony Murphy and I'm the Executive Director of Town Watch Integrated Services. I oversee the Town Watch programs for the City of Philadelphia, and I'm a part of the Urban Affairs Coalition. So I actually have a two-point process today. One, I don't think that we can -- and I know this Council in all of its leadership has said that it cannot cut its way out of our particular situation, but also I recognize that we have to be concerned with our overall population. Crime and safety in our city has always been a major concern for everyone that sits in this house. I'm here to say to you that the Town Watch program contributes greatly to that through its volunteers and its 96 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. program supports for those volunteers. Initially we faced a major cut in our funding as it relates to the budget issue that we face in the City, and we understand that, but we also recognize the needs for a balanced approach to addressing the budget where we need to generate revenue in order to not attempt to cut our way out of that, out of our current problem. What's so interesting is that in here today one of the things we provide is a communication system for Town Watch groups who patrol. When those patrols are out, they need to be able to communicate with each other through our walkie-talkie system. The other night in the Northwest area, our repeater went down. We had to get the repeater repaired. We had the same thing happen in South Philadelphia, because you have to maintain this equipment. Those are the things that were removed from the budget, and thankfully 97 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. they were -- some monies was granted to put that back. I'm here today because I recognize that if funding sources are not established, Town Watch will possibly be a program that could be eliminated and, therefore, the impact on the City's safety would be greatly impacted. But also the same work that we do in affecting lives in the City of Philadelphia is done by the Urban Affairs Coalition, and that's extremely important to all of us, not just ODAAT, because that's important as well, but all of the programs that actually impact on the quality of life for our city. And in the City of Philadelphia, that we are a city of neighborhoods, we have to make sure that neighborhoods are maintained and neighborhoods are okay. Also, I'm here today to say that the two-cent tax for sodas, I'm not opposed to that. If I drink a soda and if I have to spend 50 more cent for it, maybe I'll lose five more pounds if I cut 98 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. down. So I appreciate that. And I appreciate your time and the opportunity to speak to you, because I think throughout our city and throughout our neighborhoods, we have to make sure that we not only address the safety aspect, but also address the necessary support mechanisms for all of our citizens. Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you for what you do. And I wanted to kind of ask a question. If we took a three-year snapshot for the past three years, where has your funding -- how has it been affected?
The last three years? The first two years I guess is the last three, that would take us to 99 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. 2007. Our funding was basically through the General Fund, and we were able to provide equipment and stipend, actually grants for Town Watch groups, because most of our volunteers utilize their own funding for gas and electricity, and so we were able to help in those areas. We were also able to provide radio equipment for them, and, of course, we develop and maintain our repeater system throughout the City. We provide the training for new Town Watch groups, for existing groups and for new members, and we also worked along with the Office of Emergency Management to get them involved in the neighborhoods so they can provide the workshops, and we work very closely with the Police Department. I know you had asked about funding, but the funding has -- once that tapered off, we maintained our core services, which is the only area that we do not maintain was the financial supports, and we have recently been 100 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. granted money to purchase equipment. So that's important. I just don't want to see it go away, but it's lower.
You was going to get to the answer. Has it been decreasing?
How have you adjusted to those decreases, and has there been less or more participation? Have you had to be creative? What's been the impact?
Well, we've been more creative in addressing the volunteers. We work very closely with them, so where we could recycle equipment, we managed to recycle. Some of the equipment has to be removed from the streets now. It's been out there for over ten years, so we try to change. So it's been creativity that has allowed us to do it, because there are actually more people volunteering as time has gone on, more people volunteer, 101 5/7/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. more people are engaged, because an organized neighborhood is truly the support mechanism that all parts of city government needs, and that's how we actually reduce crime.