A resolution calling on the Congress and the President of the United States to direct the Veterans Administration to allow maximum flexibility in authorizing our returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans to access civilian health care providers when these veterans are unable to obtain timely mental health and other critically needed medical care from the Veterans Administration.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120743 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120744.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING situate in the Thirty-First Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120744 is adopted. We will now move to bills. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120615.
An ordinance approving the fifth amendment of the 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING redevelopment proposal for the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Berks Street and Montgomery Avenue on the north, by Second Street and Philip Street on the east, by Girard Avenue, Oxford Street and Jefferson Street on the south and by Germantown Avenue, Sixth Street and Third Street on the west, including the fifth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the third amendment to the relocation plan, which provides for the additional land acquisition of approximately forty-nine properties for residential, institutional, industrial and related uses.
This bill having been read on two separate days, the question now, shall the bill pass finally. Please call the roll, Mr. Decker.
Aye. The ayes are 15 [sic]; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120643.
An ordinance authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development relating to the financing of the repayment of a certain deferred funding obligation, the issuance by the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness in one or more series, to finance repayment of such deferred funding obligation; and the obligation of the City of Philadelphia to pay in full when due the Service Fee.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll. 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 15 [sic]; the nays are zero. A majority of all members 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our -- I'm sorry. Mr. Decker, do you have any other resolutions?
A resolution commending the efforts of the many organizations and individuals that work to educate and encourage ex-offenders to exercise their right to vote, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution honoring, recognizing and commending Jeri Lynne Johnson, founder of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, for her extraordinary service and dedication as a musician, conductor, and historian, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution honoring, recognizing and commending CeaseFirePA for its extraordinary service and dedication to reducing gun violence by educating and mobilizing people across Pennsylvania, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings regarding the impact of arts and culture on Philadelphia's regional economy, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I ask for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Thank you so much. That now concludes the Calendar. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I just wanted to thank all of my colleagues here for their support and hard work for this city. I think it's so important to let the voters know and be encouraged that we are working hard, because the voters and the residents of our city need to have the encouragement to look optimistically towards the future. With the support of this City Council, we've created a committee to look at making our city more competitive, to create more jobs, to bring more our city, and with that in mind, I went to Korea this past weekend where I met with representatives and executives from both Korean Airline and Asiana Air. But I also met with executives from Hyundai Rotem, and on both accounts, the meetings were very good, which reflected opportunities for our city. Pennsylvania did $41 billion in exports last year, and Philadelphia itself saw an increase of $3.4 billion for our MSA, this region. Those are real jobs and real dollars, but the problem for us is, we don't have direct flights to one of the largest, most growing portions of the world, and, that is, Asia. We need direct flights to Asia, and I think that with that, we will have a bridge to bring more people and more opportunities and more jobs to our city. When I met with Hyundai Rotem, they wanted to extend their heartfelt thanks to this Council body for its hard jobs, 320 jobs, here in Philadelphia, and the international Vice President will be visiting our city the beginning of October to look at further opportunities to create more jobs in our city. That's the kind of thing that we are doing. And I just want to certainly thank Mark Gale, our CEO of our international airport, for the outstanding work that he did and especially to the consultant that he brought, Howard Mann, who did a fantastic job, with great detail of explaining why Philadelphia is a target-rich environment for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines or any airline that will be interested in our city. You can come in. There's a lot of money to be made here, and if you don't capture this market, somebody else will. So thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. Good work. The Chair now recognizes
Thank you, Mr. President. Two quick items. One, each of the members has a Rubik's Cube on their desk. It is a result of several tours that on behalf of Public Safety and my Vice Chair, Councilman Henon, we visited the Police Academy. We visited the Fire Academy. Members of respective staffs went along to observe that. We're going tomorrow to the Philadelphia Prisons. We met with the judiciary to talk about issues that we have in preparing for our budget. So I want to thank all those who attended those tours. And also segue now to our block party that we're having at 5700 block of Haverford at Shepard's Recreation Center in reference to Be the Vote. This was the result of your initiative, Mr. President, to say that we needed to be more proactive in this non-partisan issue of voter ID. I want to particularly thank who, from the other side of the aisle, reached out and said this is an important issue, irrespective of red states, blue states. It's not an R thing, not a D thing, but the right thing to do to allow people to vote. So we'll be out there all day. I'm pleased to report, Mr. President, dozens of people are on their way to the DUVU, and I had a conversation yesterday about the extreme lines and how important many of them were senior citizens that can't stand standing in line. So we have some of our strategic partners going with them to make sure that that stay is tolerable. So irrespective of what the judiciary does, whether they rule it unconstitutional, whether they delay it, we're hoping to be prepared for the November election. Thank you, my colleagues, and thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you for your continued good work. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. Since I've been in City Council and even before that, when I was with Councilman Cohen, I've been Council's representative on the board of what was then called the Atwater Kent Museum, which is now I think more aptly named the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent. In short, it's our city's history museum. And for a rather lengthy period of time, the museum was closed for renovations, but on Saturday, it reopened finally but to very positive reviews, and I think well earned. It has many interesting items. Just a couple examples, the wampum belt given to William Penn and the desk that President George Washington sat at in the President's House. And there's a lot And also since it endeavors to be a true and accurate museum, it also deals with some of our more negative history, including past racial and religious discrimination in Philadelphia. It has a great deal of interactive material, and for those familiar with the museum, that floor-length map of every street in the city is still there. And as definitive proof that we're talking about Philadelphia, there's presently a room dedicated to Philly sports and an exhibit dedicated to Philly beer. So we're really talking about Philadelphia here. For those who don't know, the museum is located at 15 South 7th Street between Market and Chestnut in the 1st Councilmanic District, and it's now open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 to 4:30, and the cost is, I believe, modest. So I urge all listening to visit our history museum. It's our museum, and I believe you'll find it well worth it. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank you for your leadership in allowing us to have a van to go pick up people and take them to certainly, especially seniors, where we went to several senior citizen homes and senior citizen centers to certainly pick up seniors and allow them the opportunity to get registered. On a second matter, I'd like to thank Councilman Jones for mentioning the late and great Lucien Blackwell, who introduced the set-aside bill when minorities were getting less than one-tenth of one percent. It's still a struggle in this city and across this country. We thank him for that. thank him because at Gustine Recreation Center in his district -- in fact, our own Brother Shump will be involved tonight as we try to honor the Lucien E. Blackwell Boxing Showcase yet another year for 2012 Olympics and supporting many boxing bouts. Everybody knows that Lucien Blackwell was a Diamond Belt and involved with boxing all of his life, and we thank Fred Jenkins, "Cyclone" Hart and many other individuals who will be involved there. Also tonight, of course, as many of you know, Glen Bryant plays piano and keyboard -- he can do three at one time -- at our wonderful Malcolm X. Park in my district. Finally, on Monday at noon in the Caucus Room, we will have Ms. Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, to give us a briefing and update us on what's going on with education so far as the AFT is three or four issues of the day. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And we all miss the great work by former Councilman, Congressman, all-around-good-guy Lucien Blackwell. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Mr. President. During last week, I had the opportunity to participate and partner with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who I want to applaud her efforts, in hosting a forum at the Philadelphia International Airport around the issue of minority participation. It was a great turnout, and her leadership focused solely on not just getting individuals involved with the contract and professional services that are and as we propose the expansion of the Airport but, more importantly, monitoring and enforcing those contract opportunities from a quantitative approach. And so I just want to thank you for allowing me to participate and partner with you on that event, and I'm looking forward as that project moves forward to the results, because I believe in this great city. With all the contracts and services and lobbying that takes place, for the expansion of business growth, definitely there has to be a plate at the table for those who operate minority and disadvantaged businesses, and I don't believe there should never be an excuse where those type of opportunities aren't taking place. Last, but not least, again, I've been in the streets all throughout my district, most recently in Southwest Philadelphia working with Captain Hodges from the 12th Police District trying to the issue of youth gun violence. We recently lost a mother to some senseless acts of violence, as well as her daughter being shot, and then only to return after I got finished doing outreach in the southwest area back in South Philadelphia, to hear that there was more shootings. But I have been in contact with the District Attorney's Office. Separate from the hearings, we're going to be aggressively looking at how do we step up our efforts and support the GunStat program that strategically goes after those violent individuals who carry guns. It's probably a small percentage of individuals in the community that's raising most of the hell that we see. And so I will continuously find ways, push for us to be innovative in addressing this issue, because I believe all this work that we're doing will be in vain if we can't get a grapple on the killings that are taking place on a move close to 260 murders. That's not even talking about the shootings. I want to thank my colleague Councilman Mark Squilla who joined myself and more than 20 community organizations in the viewing of a movie called The Interrupters by Philadelphia CeaseFire, and it's an intervention program that goes after and tries to stop conflicts before they arise. And so I thank Mark for taking time out of his schedule and for coming to show his support on this critical issue, in which I believe the City is in a crisis if we don't get a grapple on it moving forward. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman, and thank you for your continued good work on ensuring that we maintain the level of safety that's acceptable in the City of Philadelphia, because clearly at this point, it is not. your great work. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to explain a little bit of the ordinance that I introduced today about the Charter change. I know it may seem like maybe an overreach to try to get an understanding of what Council really needs to do. As Councilmembers are out there and on the ground seeing what the community needs and the wants of certain departments, what this ordinance would do is allow Councilmembers to write up to 10 percent of the budget and, therefore, redirect it by mandating the Administration to spend it in a way that Council sees fit. And what that will enable us to do is, we have legislation, say it's for nuisance properties, and we feel maybe the District Attorney's Office could use a couple extra dollars, we could mandate those funds. If we feel being done out there by unlicensed contractors or paying people cash, maybe we can add more money to L&I so we can get more services. And this will allow us to be able to do that through this Charter change, and I just think it's a way to give Council a little ability -- since people come to us all the time when there's an issue and they have certain organizations meet with Councilmembers to try to get more money, this will now allow us to be able to do that. So I just wanted to explain that a little bit the reason why I thought it was necessary to introduce, and looking forward to maybe having hearings on this and to push it forward and hopefully eventually get it onto the ballot. So thank you.
Mr. President, I would be remiss not to say thank you to Councilman Kenyatta Johnson who joined us as Chair of City Council's Committee on Transportation and Utilities and to say that, yes, when I look at the e-mails I continue to receive, it was a day well spent by well over 325 MBE/WBEs, and a dozen primes showed up, from the Keatings of the world to the Gilbanes and others. So it was useful, but the operative word or instruction for us -- and I shouted out Councilman W. Wilson Goode several times during that morning, who has been a real partner and a leader when it comes to opening up the door more and leveling the playing field for MBE/WBEs. But the instruction for all of us going forward is monitoring and enforcement. And the partnership at the Airport under the leadership of Rina Cutler and Mark Gale are, I believe, serious in continuing to make sure that we don't talk about it, but we actually be about monitoring and enforcement given this $6.4 billion effort that's going to last over the next ten years. So our mission continues, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Councilwoman. I was told it was a very successful event, more than 300 people. Good work. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Mr. President. There are a lot of things, exciting things, that are going to be happening in the 9th Councilmanic District, and for those of my constituents who are watching and listening, I'd like to just remind them that on Saturday, we will have Let's Love Logan Day between 11:00 and 5:00 at Tara Shevchenko Park, which is at Broad and the move, and it's very exciting. A lot of things are happening over there. Also at Lawncrest Recreation Center on Saturday we're having a recycling event. So anyone who has items they want to recycle, large TV sets and things like that, they can come to the Lawncrest Recreation Center between 1:00 and 3:00. And also we're going to have at Lawncrest a day with LaSalle University. On Saturday morning, we'll have -- the Finley Youth Advisory Board will have a back to school day with discussions about activities and also giveaways. So that's from 10:00 to 2:00. We invite all listening. We invite my colleagues to come, and we certainly hope that the folk in the 9th District will participate with these activities. And we thank those who have spent their time and effort to organize these events. We thank them for their involvement in the community.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman, one quick question. Is it okay for a guy from the 5th District to bring in an old TV up to the recycling event?
Oh, sure. Sure. They're very successful, those recycling days. We've had -- this is the second one. So, please, any of you who want to get rid of your old TV's and things of that nature, please bring them up.
I have one I need to get rid of. I had to check.
Thank you, Councilwoman. No other speeches? At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. I move that Thursday, October 4th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 4th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council stands adjourned. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on September 27, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A add 70:9 108:4 81:17 84:12,13 approved 4:25 Abdul 10:3 added 100:2 AFT 102:25 America 78:16 5:6,13 35:24 ability 21:9 52:20 additional 29:2 agencies 10:25 American 75:3 approving 25:8 53:10 60:12 84:14 agency 8:20 9:14 84:2 102:22 30:23 38:16 72:10 77:10 address 16:7 12:2 18:2 America's 10:19 74:24 83:25 78:21 108:9 25:14 38:22 aggravation amounts 36:4,6 87:6 able 16:13 67:9 75:6 63:22 36:15,17 approximately 67:11 72:6 addresses 16:23 aggressively Analon 23:10 44:21 84:15 108:7,14 17:3 105:12 and/or 114:23 aptly 99:13 abomination addressing 65:24 ago 80:3 Angeles 63:7 Aquinas 44:25 71:19 77:13 105:22 agree 71:10 angry 71:16 Aramingo 46:4 absence 5:15,19 adieu 17:6 agreed 80:10 animals 60:23,25 area 9:23 22:21 6:5 adjourn 112:23 Agreement 87:7 Ann 15:3,21 16:9 25:13 30:25 Academy 97:9,10 adjourned 113:2 air 61:6,16 62:6 17:9,15,24 18:7 31:2 38:21 46:3 accelerate 62:23 113:7,15,16 62:21 63:2,11 19:21 20:13 48:10 75:4 84:4 acceptable 68:6 ADJOURNME... 63:18 67:19 annual 36:4,15 84:4 105:7 106:24 112:1 113:1 72:9 95:6 96:17 anybody 65:20 areas 21:22 23:4 access 81:18 Administration airline 95:6 96:18 anymore 60:17 71:14 accessible 69:10 37:12 81:15,22 Airlines 96:17 71:7,17 arsenic 72:14 accompanying 107:19 airport 96:11 anyway 58:23 Article 67:17 6:25 15:6 Administration's 103:20 104:2,3 appeal 52:23 arts 37:20 93:5 accounts 95:8 9:16 109:23 55:23 artwork 42:5 accurate 100:4 adopted 74:20 Airy 48:9,15 applaud 103:18 Asia 95:19,19 accurately 114:5 75:22 77:4 81:7 aisle 98:3 Applause 12:16 Asiana 95:6 96:17 achievements 9:7 82:16 83:20 Alder 45:12,13 13:6,21 14:19 assist 20:8 acknowledge 91:3,25 92:24 Alfred 11:21 20:19 22:16 Assistant 10:4 16:17 93:24 allow 58:20 60:15 24:6 81:8 associated 64:3 acquire 27:15 adoption 74:9 71:19 81:15 apply 114:21 Association 48:18 32:8,17 36:25 75:11 76:18 98:7 101:16 appraisals 27:17 assume 58:19 acquisition 84:15 80:20 82:4 83:8 107:16 108:6,14 32:10,19 37:3 asthma 63:22 Act 51:8,22 52:11 90:17 91:14 allowed 70:2 appreciate 6:11 atmosphere 64:23 52:12 55:14,19 92:13 93:13 allowing 101:11 approach 104:6 attached 40:9 58:5 59:24 60:6 adulthood 20:9 104:7 approached 42:9 46:16 61:21 65:9 adversity 19:4 allows 59:24 50:18 54:4 attended 17:15 66:20 67:14 advertising 17:18 all-around-goo...