I know you do, and we appreciate that. We appreciate your testimony.
And that's about all I could say of it. And I truly believe that within two to three years, 167 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) we're going to -- that $150 million could be fixed up. And I listen to the Congressmen here back and forth in various parts on cutting back and cutting back. And we could really pull this city back together again because people will come into this city like they never did before, because this is the birthplace. I always say the one thing -- and I'm not being, you know, the gentleman that just got done talking about Penn Treaty Park. I used to go down there all the time when I was a kid and all, but I always say I don't know what would happen if William Penn, that man on top, was to land over in Jersey. We wouldn't have over here down at Fifth and Market Independence Hall. This is the city of cities, and that man on top this building is the founder, in 1682 and down there in Fishtown. And the SugarHouse is like -- I say -- he said, it's only about 4, 500 168 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) feet away. And the people that come in here will walk that or 500 feet into 4 that park. And I'm going to tell you, I've walked down the park about six months ago, when it was beautiful, and I walked in there and I started to cry. Because when I knew it, it was just a small -- it is now gigantic and beautiful. I would put lighting all around that street down there for the people. And that's about all I can say. I don't know, I'm just being normal, a everyday person as I can be with you.
Thank you. * * * 169 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) (Councilman Clarke chairs committee.) (Witness comes forward.)
It feels a little bit odd to be in this empty, large room.
There are a lot of folks that preceded you, so consider yourself lucky that you didn't have to wait to testify.
10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) Department of Public Health's budget request and to advocate for new revenue sources, including the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. The Federation's mission is to improve access to and quality of health-care services for under-served and vulnerable individuals and families. And we achieve this mission through our work with community health centers as well as our professional training and capacity- building activities and our direct- service programs. The Department of Public Health's programs are essential to the health of all Philadelphians. Any cuts to the department would be harmful to the population overall and particularly to our most vulnerable citizens. Therefore, I ask you to please approve the department's full budget request. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) to care. These centers provide primary care, access to specialty care, dental care, prenatal care, pharmacy services, family-planning services, management of complex and chronic diseases, as well as preventive public-health services such as immunizations and treatment of infectious diseases to more than 90,000 City residents every year. With the recent passage of federal health-care reform, we can anticipate that even more Philadelphians will soon seek care from the City health centers and other local community health centers. As more people gain insurance, they will seek preventive and routine care that they may have delayed while they were uninsured. Philadelphians will need all of our safety-net providers to meet the increased demand and ensure access. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) and addressing infectious disease. This is not a matter of need among our poor population; it is, in fact, something that affects all of us, the containment of infectious disease. During the past year, Philadelphia and much of the nation faced the H1N1 flu pandemic, and the department responded quickly to bring the disease to manageable levels. The department efficiently mobilized its own resources and distributed vaccine to large and diverse cohort of community partners, including schools, health centers, hospitals. And as a result, at-risk Philadelphians were able to obtain the vaccine easily and quickly in comparison with many other communities across the country. This was a wonderful example of public-private partnership. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) thousands, of people during that immunization campaign. Council must support a budget that will enable the department to continue to act effectively in the face of public-health emergencies. The department, of course, has many other important functions, and has demonstrated a creative and comprehensive approach to public-health problems such as obesity, smoking, lead poisoning, infant mortality, and sexually-transmitted diseases. The public-health challenges in Philadelphia are multifaceted and deep-rooted, and we need to sustain and expand the capacity of the department to continue to address these. While the Health Department has many partners in the nonprofit sector, including the Health Federation, it is only with a strong public-health authority that the health and safety of the public can truly be protected. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) I would also like to speak in support of the department's and the Mayor's proposal to raise revenue for public health and other services through the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. This proposal would both raise much-needed revenue and help to achieve public-health goals. Almost 60 percent of Philadelphia children ages 6 to 11 are overweight and obese. Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages are a major contributor to this public-health crisis. Children now drink more sugar-sweetened beverages than milk. And researchers have found that with every additional glass or can of this beverage a child drinks per day, that child has a 60 percent chance of becoming obese.
Obese children are far more likely to become obese and chronically-ill adults, facing a lifetime of compromised health status and quality of life. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) that when sugar-sweetened beverages cost more, people drink less of them. Families are more likely to substitute water, milk, or other healthier beverages for soda. Therefore, the proposal would help to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and generate revenue, a portion of which would go into additional programs to increase health eating and exercise to further address this problem. I know that there is strong opposition to this proposal from the industry that manufacture these beverages. However, I urge you to carefully consider the public-health impact before you reject it. Obesity costs us dearly -- in dollars and in early death and disability. The SSB, if implemented at a level that would genuinely affect the cost of sweetened beverages can be an important tool in addressing this growing public-health problem. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) steps in recent years to become a city that puts the health of its citizens first. Our strong primary-care system, the new rules regarding menu labeling, initiatives to reduce obesity and smoking rates, pioneering efforts to bring fresh foods to underserved neighborhoods, programs to increase green space and bike paths all are transforming Philadelphia. Your support for the Department of Healthy and the SSB tax will be instrumental to continue this positive trend. Thank you very much.
I'm waiting for the onslaught of citizens to come in and testify.
Thank you 177 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) so much. The Committee of the Whole will stand in recess for half an hour. (Committee stands in recess.) (Proceedings resume at 3:30 p.m.)
This is a continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. I understand we have a couple of our distinguished guests that would like to testify. May I have their names, please.
Forgive me if I mispronounce them. Heather Rozjabedk. Jennifer Awakeni Elizabeth Yim. Irim Azam.
And Councilmembers are in their offices, listening to your testimony. 178 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) I understand you're all from Drexel? PANEL MEMBERS: Yes.
Dear members of the Philadelphia City Council, thank you for giving us the opportunity to give you public testimony on this important public health issue. We are all current students at Drexel University School of Public Health, and we are here to support the sugar-sweetened-beverage tax. As public 179 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) health students, we advocate for public policy promoting healthy initiatives within the Philadelphia community. In Philadelphia, 64 percent of adults and 57 percent of children between 6 and 11 years old are overweight or obese. In addition, nearly 50 percent of Philadelphia children will become overweight or obese in their lifetime. Obesity is a growing public health concern, not just relatively but nationally. Obesity has been linked to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Sugar-sweetened beverages are different from other beverages in that they are non-alcoholic, with an added sugar-based sweetener such as high- fructose corn syrup. They contribute to the growing obesity epidemic because they contain empty calories and ingredients that are also addictive. When we drink sugar-sweetened beverages, our bodies 180 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) don't feel full, and we consume more calories than we need. They make us crave sweeter foods. Think about the impact of giving sugary drinks to children. They are going to continue to crave unhealthy foods for the rest of their lives, and it will be harder for them to eat healthier foods. In the end, we are going to have an increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other that reduce the quality of life.
Across the nation, cities and states are addressing the same issue. We understand that there are some who are concerned about the implication the tax will have on their jobs and lifestyles. For instance, we realize the tax alone will not guarantee the decrease in consumption of sugar- sweetened beverages. Additionally, the nature of this business tax does not ensure an 181 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) increase in the price of these beverages in order for it to serve as a disincentive from purchasing sugar- sweetened beverages. Also, people will drink other non-sweetened beverages, so jobs will still be needed for bottling and transportation. We ask that our audience view this tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as a novel opportunity for corporations, retailers, and employers to put on their thinking caps and innovate new ways to sell their products without hindering their consumers' health. The tax has been argued as being regressive, meaning that the increased costs would disproportionally target low-income communities. However, these communities can potentially benefit the most from this tax, because they are one of the greatest consumers of sugar- sweetened beverages and have a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes. This tax would provide means to 182 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) promote prevention of obesity, which is a cost-saving alternative to expensive health-care treatments.
In this testimony, we would like to focus on the benefits of the revenue generated from this tax if the City Council passes this is legislation. Twenty million dollars of the projected revenue will be used to fund healthy initiatives in Philadelphia. These initiatives include programs to make healthy foods more available and affordable and decrease the amount of unhealthy foods consumed such as including more farmer markets into low-income communities so that there is increased access to healthier and affordable foods. Public-health research has shown that there fewer healthy food and beverage options in low-income communities. Fast-food corporations and beverage companies disproportionately 183 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) target their marketing in low-income communities. These same targeted neighborhoods do not have as many healthy food options available for their residents, and this dilemma has perpetuated obesity, diabetes, and other related illnesses.
Another initiative is to expand the pedestrian and bike network to promote physical activity. We would like to emphasize that the money generated from this tax is an investment which I will go towards combating the obesity epidemic. As public-health students, we are always striving to promote healthy behaviors and positive changes in our community. We are here today to support this tax as a means to strive for social justice in Philadelphia. This tax will bring us one step closer to solving the obesity epidemic that is plaguing our community and that will put Philadelphia on the map as one of the leaders in this 184 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) national initiative. We implore the City and county to pass this tax because it has innumerable benefits for all Philadelphians. Thank you for time and consideration.
Thank you. It was wonderful testimony. Good luck to all of you I'm sure you'll be very successful. PANEL MEMBERS: Thank you. (Committee stands in recess.) (Proceedings resume at 4:25 p.m.)
The Committee of the Whole is now back in session. I would ask Miss Murray to please call our next guest.
Good afternoon. 185 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET)
Kindly identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Ted Weerts, W-E-E-R-T-S, and I'm the Executive Director of Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia.
Thank you. And I'd like to speak a bit about the City budget as it relates to homeless services. I've been the executive director of Travelers Aid of Philadelphia for the last 11 years, and most of our services are to homeless families. And I came to Philadelphia in 1988, under the Wilson Goode Administration under a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help organize homeless services in Philadelphia, which already had a considerably extensive and high-quality 186 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) set of services. And I've seen the system go on for the past twenty-some years through many changes; and, clearly, this is one of the biggest changes that has occurred, with the recession that has come on. One of the first things that happened to us is that in December of 2008, the services to stranded travelers in this city -- of course, which all are homeless in the City of Philadelphia -- were completely eliminated. And that means that anywhere from 2 to 3,000 people are now on the streets of Philadelphia that would have otherwise would have been moved along and found another destination if those services had continued. Now, I think it's important to realize that not all cases are of the same severity and don't present the same problems and the same risks. And I think it could have been a program which, with some consideration, would have been 187 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) downsized to perhaps a quarter of what it was, focusing on those high-risk people and making sure that they do not continue on in the City of Philadelphia, that they go on to where they would be in much better shape rather than be arrested or hospitalized or run into our difficulties in the City. It's -- it wasn't not good for them, it's not good for the City. Probably a better example of what should have been done is that -- we also had a program for lead abatement in which we moved families into lead-free housing while the lead was taken out of their homes. We had units for that, 17 and it was downsized to five. Well, five isn't a lot but five at least makes sure that you're taking care of the most serious problems and identifying them and not letting them continue on. One of the other points that I'd like to make is that we and other nonprofits have been receiving now in the past year-and-a-half cuts, and, many 188 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) times, those cuts have been given to us on short notice and with the instructions that we must continue on with the same services and the same contract; we're just going to have less money to do that with. Now, the --
Our family shelter has been cut twice, yes, in terms of the amount of services. And I'm not alone. I mean, other programs, I know, have been -- the amount of the contract has been reduced a couple percent, five percent; whereas, the requirements remain the same. Now, we, as nonprofits, have been pretty good at working on government contracts, and the government contract then provides the essential services, and then we go out and find other money to supplement those services to make it 189 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) better and richer. And I think that's a very appropriate thing for nonprofits to do. So when we run a shelter, a family shelter, of 75 families and we work to get other funds to run after- school programs for the children and the City provides the basic money for the living and we provide those extra services, I think that runs nicely when that's done. But when you get to the point where there's not enough funds to handle the basic services, the nonprofits now are in no position to make up the difference. I know many of the nonprofits; I'm a part of Give Philadelphia, Give Philly, which is seven major agencies that are working together to try to raise funds and work collaboratively, and were all in the same position. Since the recession, giving has gone down dramatically. We probably have been in better shape than most, seeing agencies 190 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) with $10 million budgets some may only have $6 million budgets because the people who are giving simply don't have it anymore. Everything that I see certainly in our budget and other people's nonprofits really indicate that they're really at the point of not being able to do the work that needs to be done under their contract if it gets cut any further. And I think it has to be looked at closely at what gets eliminated versus anymore what simply gets cut off the top, because there simply isn't the room 16 anymore. And I think in homeless services, I've seen many waves of homelessness. In 2002, we saw homeless families increase dramatically for no 21 known reason; they just did, and you had to increase capacity because of that. It's clear that with the foreclosures and the evictions and the unemployment that's going on now isn't 191 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) causing homelessness as of this moment; it's 'cause people have some other alternatives, but those alternatives don't last forever. And once you go through and foreclose, you may go through an eviction, you may stay with your family, with family members, but at some point, all that is worn out, and the next wave is probably going to be coming probably in a couple years. And we must understand that our capacity can't be dropping too much and we have to get so we provide the essential services and don't try to keep -- have someone else pay that bill, because the other people don't have it.
They don't have it, either. I want to thank you for your testimony. And I know that you say that Councilwoman Blackwell is here, who is a very, very strong advocate for the homeless.
Yes, she is. 192 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET)
Yes. I wanted to say thank you for coming and for his commitment over the years.
He's worked with so many people and done so much to help with housing and services for people in need. And certainly we thank him for coming in and testifying about this important issue.
Thank you. Continue with the good work. Our next witness.
We'll call them together, a panel. Robert Sharp, Linda Burnett, Jasmine Hunt, and Diara Oliver. And if there's anyone else with that group. 193 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) (Witnesses come forward.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
My name is Liz Burnett, and I'm the Executive Director of the Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program, YOACAP, and I'm also representing the Southwest Community Advisory Group.
Hi my name is Jasmine Hunt. I'm years old. I go to 15 the Academy at Palumbo High School, and 16 I'm involved in the YOACAP program. 17
Hello. My name is Morticia Hardy. I'm 17 years old, and I go to the Academy at Palumbo. I'm here representing YOACAP as well as the Boys and Girls Club.
How you doing. My name is Robert Sharp. I'm age 20 and I'm 194 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) representing youth programs of Orleans Technical Institute, and I'm also representing the same program as (indiscernible).
First and foremost, we really want to thank you for being here to listen to us and for giving these young people a voice and an opportunity to speak about their concerns. I don't know if you know, but I know Representative Blackwell knows that YOACAP has been in existence since 1989, providing services for youth and young adults in and around the Philadelphia. Our program provides HIV prevention, youth development, STD control, community engagement, parental training. We try to treat the whole family in a holistic type of way. We've been providing services in unusual areas. We're that group that 195 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) you'll see at o'clock in the morning 3 doing HIV testing in areas that other people don't visit. We're that group that's in front of the school that says that we had a breakout of syphilis or gonorrhea, because we're trusted by the community, we're respected by the youth, and we take our work very seriously. We have had a record of honesty and integrity and success for the last 12 years. 13 Today, we would like to really 14 just talk to you about what is going on 15 in our community as it relates first to 16 the funding, as you know. YOACAP has 17 taken a terrible hit, as has most of 18 these AIDS service organizations from the 19 State. We provide services around sexual 20 health at Bartram, West Philadelphia High School, University City, Strawberry Mansion, Fitzsimon Multicultural Academy. We provided 500 youth and adult with mobile testing this year. I don't know if people have 196 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) started to believe that HIV disappeared because we don't talk about it, but it's still very much alive and well in our communities. And the ages of people who are becoming infected and affected by this disease are getting lower and lower. Our young people are becoming sexually active at a younger age now. And as these young people will attest to, one of the ways that we reached them is by providing services that peer-to-peer. Today, I guess what I would really like to get you all to see is that we're almost an institution in the community because we've been there so long. We've developed the trust. And you've been to our southwest community, you've sent representatives and support it, our southwest advisory group.
In our community engagement piece, YOACAP doesn't do anything that we don't involve the community that we're trying to reach in 197 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) developing. These young people helped develop the strategies that we use for young people. The Southwestern Community Advisory Group helped develop the strategies that we're using, and I know you can see the success, because the community has now taken some ownership for itself and have developed good relationships with our police department, they're manning their own communities. We have community groups in West Philadelphia that have never worked together that are now working together and saying, You know what? We provide this service and you provide that service; perhaps we shouldn't compete. Maybe you should continue to provide this service, and I'll refer people to your area. We're very proud of that. And I think we're doing what folk are asking us to do. Our officials, from our president, from our mayor, from our governor, and me being from the 198 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) Kennedy group, have asked us not to ask so much what they can do for us but what we can do for ourselves. And YOACAP continues to teach communities and young people to do for themselves and to teach others. So I'm going to be quiet because I -- I'm never the out front person. Today, they said, "Miss B, you have to talk," so I'm going to turn it over to Morticia and Jasmine and Robert and let me show what we try to teach them.
Good afternoon. My name is -- as Miss B said, Morticia Hardy. I am also the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for the City of Philadelphia, and I also work with Ms. Burnett with the Youth Council as 199 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) well. Today, I wanted to share a poem with you. I write poetry as well as other short pieces, and it's the best way for me to explain how I feel about the program YOACAP. So I'll do that now. And it is entitled, "Small Epiphanies." "Handcuffs, sirens, bullets flying. Weed, cold crack maybe. Mothers hollering, Oh, my baby. But seeing is not always this big it started small. "Like a girl at the mall or a boy at the court, too short to make a score, but no one urging him to try anyway. No one to pick him up or no one to tell her not to flaunt her stuff. And faster and faster, my community becomes (indiscernible). "Can you really blame us. See, 'cause we do what we're taught and we're taught what we do. And you want to get mad at us. Why? We're only following you. "And if my (indiscernible) is 200 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) wrong, step in and be the right one. Mentor me, guide me, talk to me while the fight's on. "But by the time I'm old enough to articulate this, it's probably too late, because everyone has turned their heads, and no one stepped up to the plate to take out time out for me to tell me I'm great, to tell me I'm brilliant, to tell me I'm a leader, I have so much to say. And all you reply is, Oh, you know teenagers these days. "You know teenagers these days? No. You know some teenagers these days -- out robbing and dodging and killing and flash-mobbing, out here making my home life a wreck. "And oh, don't forget, I'm a teen, so I must always think about sex. But no, we are more than just baby- makers, shot-takers, disease-spreaders, ex-offenders, tattoo junkies. My poor generation; abort, abort. "With our pants too low and our 201 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) skirts too short, and we too late to care, 'cause the window has closed, and I'm on the wrong side, banging to escape for myself. "Will you open the window for me or just worry about your wallet. Afraid to get connected for fear you'll be infected with the failure that seems to run through my veins. "But it's not failure, only success stained. All I need is some dusting, maybe some elbow grease. Or maybe you really have to scrub and get on your knees, scrub through my addiction, through my good-for-nothing ways. Go deep in my soul, where the sun never rays. "Give me a place where I can rest my mind, spit my lines where I won't be judged. Give me people -- no, give me ten, a good wholesome place where I'm disciplined in the way I should go. Give me a pen, a guitar, or a ball. "Remember, all good things good 202 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) or bad started small." And I wrote this piece because I think that everyone my age should have someone to mentor them and show them the right way, especially if their parents or their community isn't really a positive influence. And I know I've had some times where I'm very much brilliant, but if I was steered in the wrong direction, I could have just did so worse than I am today. And if it wasn't for Miss B, as well as the rest of YOACAP disciplining me and guiding me in the way I should go, I really don't know where I would go.
Hello. I'm Jasmine again. I wrote a acronym about YOACAP, 203 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) the youth council program that I'm in. Y is for youth that get to have a say. O is for outstanding people and students from various parts of Philly. A is for active in community service. C creates new ways of enhancing and broadening our horizons. A is achieving many great things by reaching a young demographic of students. P paves the way for other nonprofit organizations to make the change. Y is for yearning to learn more. O is for opening their arms to high school teens such as myself. U is united we stand to make a difference, one day at a time. T is thoughtful people. A is able to be anything that we want to be. 204 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) C is the canny ability to make our voices heard amongst a sea of them. O is offering information on how to prevent STDs and ways to help stop violence. U, understanding of any problems that come our way. N, the necessity for teens who feel like they don't have any positive adult role models to confide in. C, concerned individuals who jump at the chance to help their city. I, intellectuals who put their minds together to make things happen. O, leaders of today and tomorrow. I am a part of two nonprofit organizations. One is YOACAP, the one I just described and sitting here. YOACAP has many different phases that I went through. First, I was on Project Build, and they teach you different skills that you need to know in order to survive in 205 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) the working world and things that you need. City Year is another program that I do, and it's doing community service around greater Philadelphia. It's hard to picture a life without these programs. They provide leadership skills, community service, tutoring, job opportunities, scholarships, and many other resources that would be beneficial to teens. Taking away programs such as that would be hurting the community, not helping it.
My name is Robert Sharp. And I represent the UAC, UAC (indiscernible). So another program that I'm representing is Orleans Technical Institute. Now, I could say that that 206 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) school has really got a change or really been a change into my life; whereas, though as in the youth, 'cause youth -- most youth don't have no one around to, you know, coach 'em or lead 'em or teach 'em or say, Hey, this way is the way out. I mean being as though I'm in there, we have a lot of social skills. Social skills is finding the real you and actually where you are and what you want to be and where you want to go in life. So being as though I say to myself, I'd like to be -- I like to build, you know. So I'm going to say I'm going to go to school and try to build or try to, you know, get education on it or certificates so I can build my own career in my life, 'cause me, as a black male, as a youth, I can say it's kind of hard because, you know, you got to have a lot of falls that you could take, you know, of people offering you things or the streets that's calling you. And, you know, you just want to be the one that 207 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) don't go that direction. And, you know, you want to go the right way. So I took the program and it's wonderful for me. You know, I learned how to communicate with a lot of people, like different people, speaking more proper, it's not always slang, and it just makes me happy when I mention the program. It's just an unstoppable smile. And I learned a lot of things, meet a lot of good people, wonderful, educated, smart, you know. And they try to teach me things -- well, they don't try to; they teach me things and teach me ways to make it. You know, the streets is not the only way. It's not just the hood, it's not just the neighborhood where you grew up. Okay, you can represent where you grew up at, but eventually, you don't want to be there all your life, till you're like 40 or 50; you want to get away. So me, as a young man -- and, 208 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) by the way, I'm 20, I want to make a change in my life and try to better my community. So that's the reason I'm here and I'm having this conversation with you guys. And I really love the program. You know, GPUAC helps a lot. It really does.
Thank you. May I say I think you're all very talented, and it's quite apparent to me that you're going -- you can be as successful as you want to be, and I think you all want to be successful. So I do wish you luck. And as I said, I think you're all very intelligent, and it's wonderful that you have somebody standing over you who is willing to dedicate her life -- I'm sorry, did you want to come up too?
I would like to introduce Miss Davis, who is also a part of the UAC family and who has worked very 209 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) closely and mentored not just this young man but other young man. Not one program can stand alone, YOACAP can't do it all. But this young lady has been working with young people since we were 35, and that was two years ago. (Laughter.) (Indiscernible; parties talking over each other.)
I think, you know, these children are speaking volumes for the successful work that you have done, and you're to be applauded for it.
And we do hope 210 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) that that as you all make your decisions -- we know that there is a recession, but we do hope that you will remember that there are programs who are working very hard day and night to try to save our future, because sooner or later, they're going to be sitting where you are and where I am.
And if we turn our backs on them now, where are we going to be? Thank you very much, thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you.
I wanted to mention about the youth groups. In our community we need more, 'cause some youth groups, 211 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) some don't really qualify for certain things. So, you know, like it's a lot of ex-offenders out there. And I know there's some youth groups that's going on now. But I think, you know, the City needs to invest in more money for youth groups so they can find theyselves. You know, I go out there, I spread the word and say, Yo, I got this program that I'm in called Orleans Tech, and it's this program that will help you find jobs. And, you know, some of them will listen. But once you start seeing things posted, more things out there, then that's when they're really listening. See, right now, they can hear me, but they won't really do it (inaudible). So that's another thing I wanted to mention.
I have one more thing. 212 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET)
Sorry. I don't want to take up too much time, but I just wanted to thank you all for taking your time out to sit and really listen to us. 'Cause we're teenagers, people think we really don't have a lot to say, and people say my generation is the future. My generation is the present; before you know it, we'll be right taking care of you, and you will be sitting over there. And I really think that you really need to invest in these programs so we can do it correctly. It's not too late, it's never really too late. We want to make sure we get people while they're young, while the clay is still wet and we can still be molded.
You're wonderful. Very good. (Applause.) 213 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) (Committee stands in recess.) (Proceedings resume at 5:45 p.m.)
The Committee of the Whole is now back in session. If you will take the witness table. (Witnesses come forward.)
My name is Elir Morina. STENOGRAPHER: Could I get the spelling, please.
I am here to speak against the beverage tax. I believe that with the millions of dollars that are out there, there's a great likelihood that, 214 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) due to some inefficiencies and wasteful spending, that the City could find a better way to retrieve some of those funds. That's sort of my business I do this for companies with much smaller budgets than the City's, and I'm able to come up millions of dollars usually that we find with waste within that company. And I would like to think that the City itself has programs where it's seeking out to eliminate the waste within its own system before it reaches out into the pockets of its citizens. That's about it.
Thank you. And do you want to make mention that you have other people with you?
I have some representatives as well as from Philadelphia Coca Cola.
How many people from that industry are employed in the City of Philadelphia? 215 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET)
From -- I can't speak to the entire industry. Roughly about 1200 are directly employed by Philadelphia Coca Cola.
All right. Thank you. (Committee stands in recess.) (Proceedings resume at 6 p.m.)
Good evening. Please identify yourself for the record.
Yes. Good evening. My name is Darlene Morris, and I am a provider of homeless services to families through the Office of Supportive Housing. And I'll be brief. I basically just came to, you know, let people know how important it was that the things of the Office of Supportive Housing and the providers that are associated with that organization, 216 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) the impact that the organization -- the agency has on the lives of the consumers that it serves. I didn't prepare anything, so I'm speaking --
That's okay. Just speak. Tell us what your issues are.
I am a provider, and I've been a provider for many years; pretty much my career has centered it since I was -- what I consider a young person.
Basically, I'll get to the -- you know, I'll make a long story short. A lot of times when people, you know, hear of the services that the Office of Supportive Housing provides 217 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) they figure, you know, they provide services for homeless families and also for individuals. I know that they do transitional housing. I am a provider of emergency services, I do emergency housing, and I run a, quote/unquote, shelter. We like to call it emergency housing services. Basically, I provide a homelike setting for my residents. I don't have a huge, you know, facility. Each of my residents have -- they have their own -- each family has their own private quarters in each of the buildings that I provide services, and they all have their own dining rooms. And, you know, we do go by the guidance of the CACS -- that's the child and adult food care program and the menus and whatnot. But everything is pretty much like a home-style situation. And I think that it's important that something like that continue because a lot of the families that we provide services for, they come from various 218 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) backgrounds. Some people, you know, they slip between the cracks due to economic reasons. And some people -- unfortunately, a lot of them, it has to do with not really having a solid family base or background. And we see a lot of different things, we see a lot of various behaviors. We see a lot of, you know, things where they need to be socially directed. In my facility, as is all the other facilities that are under contract with OSH, we provide case-management services. And I just wanted to tell you that when a family comes into a situation like that, a lot of times, they don't know, you know, what to expect. And then, when they finally realize and see all of the support that we give 'em -- and we give 'em a lot of support. Not only are we providing them with temporary means to stay en route to trying to find some permanent housing, but we also help to shape their lives and 219 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) try to provide them some guidance and direction. In my facility, I engage other programs to come in and to provide sessions for my clients so that when they leave, I want them to leave with something; I don't want them to just come and say, Okay, I had a place to stay on the City. It's not like that when. They leave, they leave as a newly-built person. You know, they leave with fundamentals and things that they can pass on to their children. And I think it's a good program basically. And I think it's something that -- and I don't know if this has been said already, and this is the last day, I'm probably the last -- one of the last few people to testify, but I felt it was important that I come down here and saying something. We do touch people's lives and we have impact on people's lives. We provide -- try to provide a nurturing 220 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) environment. I get volunteers to come in and I have tutoring that goes on, you know, for the kids. And OSH, you know, we have meetings, and they want to make sure we stay on track. And they have -- they're an excellent agency in terms of making sure that we do what we're supposed to do. You know, they have analysts that come down. And I work very well with the people in the agency because even though sometimes they may want me to you -- okay, you've got to do this or you've got to do, and it they may stick me a little bit in the rib, but in the long term, I know that I can sleep good at night because I know that I'm doing the right thing for people who live in my facility.
Miss Morris, there was a gentleman in earlier who also was a provider.
How long have you been a provider? 221 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET)
Um, they've kind of stayed the same. Well, since that time, they've -- I guess they've kind of leveled out a little bit. The way I get paid has changed. And initially, when I start out, it was called -- it was actually years ago. It was called Adult Services, and then it changed to the Office of Emergency Services. I was getting paid a per diem, but now it's a budget -- a budgeted-based type of payment. And I guess if I look at things and I kind of calculate it, it has gone down.
The other provider indicated that the budgets have been cut.
Yeah. If I to 15 compare from the time that I've been -- 16 it's been -- it's remained -- it's -- 17 it's remained -- well, yeah, 'cause I've 18 had to add -- I've had to add my own 19 personal monies to keep things going. So 20 I would say about 20 percent. 21
I can accommodate 24 72. That includes the mothers with the 25 children, so it's about -- about 16 to 19 223 5.7.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2011 BUDGET) families.
Thanks for coming in to testify. We appreciate it.
The committee will stand in recess until tomorrow, Saturday, May the 8th, at 10 a.m. thank you. (Proceedings end at 6:10 p.m.) * * * 224 C E R T I F I C A T E WE HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the City of Philadelphia Council Committee of the Whole are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by us on Friday, May 7, 2010, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. ___________________________________ MICHELE MURPHY Registered Professional Reporter ___________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)