The advertisement bill, I'm here to support that as well, Council President, but I'd like to also take a moment, if I might, to address an issue that's very near and dear to not only my heart but I think the hearts of everybody in this Council Chambers, and that's the education of our children in the City of Philadelphia. For a long, long time, the government has made education a social mandate, but today we look upon it as a multi-billion dollar industry, and our children are being looked upon as being line items in a budget, and because of that, they're constantly getting caught up in political footballs. We've most recently been successful as of Monday dealing with the lawsuit that was in the courts dealing with enrollment of caps. Our school leadership charter school has been on the forefront of many issues, as we have always been taught to do by many of our former leaders that have passed, Council President Street, Congressman Blackwell, David P. Richardson, Cecil B. Moore. Those steps for which we walk behind have always taught us, Walter D. Palmer, that we must speak truth to power. That's what we've been doing ever since we have been open as a charter school. Today, we stand being threatened with retaliation for our efforts in terms of addressing those issues. Certainly we all have issues. We have problems, but we have always sought to try to work those problems out. Tonight at the SRC they have threatened to revoke our charter -suspend our charter and move for revocation. I'm here today -- we have over 200 of our students here in the audience today to speak to this Council and ask you in your esteemed wisdom to be able to support us by asking and moving for the SRC to remove this temporarily. We're not asking for a permanent removal. Temporarily from their agenda and allow for a mediation team that could be comprised of neutral individuals, the Chairwoman of Education, Chairman of Public Safety, and anyone else that the Council would appoint, to sit down and bring all parties to the table to work this out in an amicable way that would be befitting for all the stakeholders, mainly our children, our children's parents, and all those individuals for whom are employed by the school and have been giving their blood, sweat, and tears to these children consistently over the years. I have a petition that I'm asking Councilmembers to sign to keep that support towards that effort to have this removed from the agenda tonight and at least allow for an opportunity for mediation. So with that, I ask the Council's blessings on this endeavor for us tonight and your support, and I thank Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilman Jones, and everyone else here, Councilman Henon and yourself, for supporting us in this endeavor and continuously giving us your guidance and your blessings. Thank you very much.
Thank you. I understand that there appears to be three additional witnesses for this particular bill that is advertisement on school buildings for purpose of raising revenue. I would ask that the subsequent witnesses start out by talking about advertisement, because we do have a formal process. If the particular issue is not on the Final Passage Calendar, you're not supposed to speak, but I understand that there's extenuating circumstances. So as a favor to the Council, please take a position on that particular bill that you referenced.
Dr. Weathington, commenting on 130694. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President and Council. I can't really relate to what you're talking about in terms of that, so I have to -
So in terms of what's on the table in this bill, the bottom line is, we support whatever we need to do to make this happen. However, I want to say today that I represent and honor to be able to say that we have future leaders in this room from Walter D. Palmer Leadership Charter School. They are here, and I have to tell you -(Applause.)
I am so proud, because Dr. Palmer over the years has really transformed this community and neighborhood, and the people who work in this community are people who graduated from our school. But, more importantly, what I want to really talk about just real quickly is the fact that we have these students. We are family. We've been trying to change things. I started on December 2nd, and my job was to try and transform the school, and I am in the process of transforming that school. But when I got the news on Monday, I got it via a parent. I didn't get it any other way. Via a parent. It told me that as adults, we are not working together in this city the way we should be. And I want to work with the School District of Philadelphia so that we can make sure that these children, our future, can become productive members of society and that we can prepare them for a career and for college. We want to transform neighborhoods. I want to continue the vision and mission of Dr. Palmer, and we can't do that if there's a recommendation on the table to close our school. I am very proud of our accomplishments, but I have to say this, and I'm going to say it again tonight. The children that we serve are the children who the District failed all those years. It is our job and our responsibility to provide those services for those kids. We get kids who are below grade level two or three years. So I want to put that on the table to realize those students are their students, but now they're our students and we want to continue to educate them. Thank you, Council.
Good afternoon, Council. To our esteemed Council President Darrell Clarke, esteemed members of Council, and a special greeting to my old head, Councilman Jones, and my good friend, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. As it relates to Bill 130694, we are in support as it relates to advertising on school buildings. But as it relates to the closing or the recommendation of the School District of Philadelphia to close down Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School, we are not in support. For the past four years, I've been serving Walter D. Palmer Leadership Partners Learning School as the Dean, as an administrator, and as the head varsity boys basketball coach. My focus has been maintaining a coachering climate in our school, and we do this by teaching three core curriculum values: leadership, self-development, and social justice. Our students are here today because we don't just teach it in the book. We have them apply it in real life. This is not the first social forum of justice protest or means of speaking out that they've been to. They have walked the streets of Philadelphia. They have been to Harrisburg. They have been to Genus Six. Walter D. Palmer stands by and teaches what he suggests. The only way these students are going to be able to survive in their community is by embodying the principles of leadership, social justice, and self-development. To that end, we really understand that this is a fight about school choice, and I would suggest to Council when you think about what school you went to -- I did a little homework. I can't come before the body without doing homework and ask our children to do the same. I've recognized that the majority of you were part of school choice. If I begin to list the high schools you went to, Greenlee, school of choice, Saint Joe's Prep; O'Neill, you just put $12 million into keeping full Catholic schools open; Kenney, Saint Joe's Prep; Squilla, Saint John Neumann; O'Brien, Archbishop Ryan; my good friend Bobby Henon, North Catholic. Some of you didn't go to your neighborhood schools. You went to what we call the better schools. Goode, my good brother, Central; Oh, Central; Reynolds Brown, Girls High, not your neighborhood school. When Councilman Jones was at Overbrook, it was one of the best schools in the City. And I say to Cindy Bass, how would you feel -- and you know how it feels when your school closes, Germantown. Councilman Johnson, the only person I know 100 percent in support of school choice, has been an advocate fighting for it, and I know where he stands. So I say this: If you're going to stand with us, and you should, or if you're afraid to stand with us, ask yourself where would you have been when Frederick Douglass was suggesting that slaves be able to read? Where would you have been during Plessy versus Ferguson? Where would you have been on Brown versus the Board of Education? Where would you have been when we were talking about black studies getting into public schools, and where are you going to be right now? (Applause.)
Hold on. Hold on. Is Dr. Palmer here? (Witness talking without microphone.)
So who is going testify? (Witness talking without microphone.)
So on behalf of Dr. Palmer, these are the words he would like to share as it related to advertising, Bill 130694, that he's in agreement and his statements on behalf of his board, the school, and our students.
We have these two. We would like to begin our leadership pledge.
Make sure you say your name. Say your name before you testify. Hold on. We can't hear the witness. Can you please keep your voices down. MISS JOHNSON: Aliyah Johnson, 8th grade. MISS JONES: Najace Jones, 8th grade -- I mean 7th grade. STUDENT BODY: I am a leader. I care about myself and others. I wear my school uniform with pride and dignity. I come prepared to school each day, ready to learn and succeed. I am accountable for my actions. I am respectful, courteous, honest, and demonstrate the highest level of integrity. I am a leader. I carry myself as a leader at all times. I strive to keep my thoughts, my words, and my actions positive and appropriate and to demonstrate leadership and teamwork in my school, my home and my community. I am a leader. I pledge to do my best, to believe in myself and my abilities, to reach my goals and to teach others how to become a leader. I am a leader. I am a lion. I am a unique, creative, intelligent individual. I am a leader. 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Applause.) STUDENT BODY: Save our school.
Thank you. Thank you all for your testimony. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional names?
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. We will now continue with our Calendar, and Mr. Decker, could you read the title of 140317.
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, situate in the Sixteenth Ward of the City 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140317 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, 140319.
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 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Council President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 140319 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140320.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Nineteenth and Forty-Third Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140320 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140322. 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution also naming the unit block of Lock Street from the intersection of Main Street as "Kay Sykora Way" at the entrance into Venice Island in recognition of the dedicated service and tireless effort undertaken by Ms. Kay Sykora to improve communities along the Schuylkill waterfront in Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 140322 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING title of 130529.
An ordinance authorizing Brandywine Cira Post Office to construct, own and maintain various right-of-way encroachments at 2970 Market Street.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 130952.
An ordinance establishing a one-way regulation on Marion Street, from Hansberry Street to West Queen Lane, northbound.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 130954.
An ordinance establishing a one-way regulation on 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Conlyn Street, from North 21st Street to Kemble Avenue, eastbound.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140016.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 271 by striking from the City Plan and vacating an irregularly shaped portion of Laurel Street, from Canal Street to Delaware Avenue.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140018.
An ordinance authorizing and directing the changing of the name of Wishart Street, from 4/24/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Seventeenth Street westwardly and northwestwardly to Allegheny Avenue, to Lippincott Street.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.