COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 29, 2025 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG, JR. ELIZABETH McCOLLUM NAZARIO, CHIEF CLERK
Members, please take your seats. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. I'm asking for all visitors to please retire outside the rails. But before proceeding, I will ask all those present to please set your cell phones on silent and/or vibrate. But most importantly, please take all sidebar conversations outside of the Council chambers. How's everybody doing today? (Good.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Rabbi Eli Freedman of Rodeph Shalom. He is here today as the guest of Councilmember Rue Landau. I will ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests and visitors rise.)
Good morning. Thank you, Council President Kenyatta Johnson and esteemed members of City Council. It's a privilege to honor this invocation this morning on behalf of Councilmember Rue Landau, who had her bat mitzvah at our congregation Rodeph Shalom just a few years ago. And to recognize Jewish American Heritage, (inaudible) with lifts up. The many ways Jewish Americans have helped shape this leadership, cultural creativity and moral courage here in Philadelphia, that story runs deep. Just a few blocks from this chamber is our very own Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, a landmark that reminds us of immigrant journeys, community resilience and enduring contributions by Jewish Americans, those like Rebecca Gratz, born right here in 1781 who spent her life advocating for education and social welfare for women and children. And that spirit continues today. And people like our congregant Michael Solomonov who has brought Jewish culture to the national table, literally through the food that tells the story of memory, joy and resilience. But to heritage, honestly we must acknowledge the moment that we are in, even as we celebrate these contributions. Jewish communities face a painful rise in antisemitism here and across the country. We've seen it in threats to synagogues and schools and public rhetoric, in acts of violence and fear. I am proud to say that Philadelphia has responded with resolve. Our city and state leaders have shown up not just in statements, but in partnership and in concrete actions. We are grateful for the commitment shown by this City Council to ensure that Jewish Philadelphians feel safe, heard and protected. And still, we must be clear-eyed. Antisemitism is not only rising, it is also being being used as a political weapon, not to protect Jewish communities but to divide others. Not to build bridges, but to burn them. This is not solidarity. It is opportunism and it undermines the real work of justice. Jewish tradition teaches tzedek, tzedek tirdof; justice, justice you shall pursue. The repetition is intentional. It reminds us that we are accountable not only for what we stand for, but how we stand for it. In facing hate, we must not mirror it. We must lead with courage, not fear; with compassion, not with contempt, with community, not with division. Our tradition teaches that every human being is created B'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. idea calls us to recognize the divine spark in each person and to build a society rooted in dignity, responsibility and care. In this chamber may that truth not only be spoken but enacted. May B'tzelem Elohim guide our policies, shape our debates and remind us that the work of justice belongs to all of us, and especially to those entrusted with the power to lead. Amen. (Amen.)
The next order of business is the Approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, May 15, 2025. The Chair recognizes Deputy Whip Councilmember Cindy
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, May 15, 2025 be approved.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, May 15, 2025 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is the request for leave of absence. And the Chair Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Majority, there are no requests for leave of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Majority Leader. The Chair recognizes Minority Leader Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Council President, on the behalf of the Minority party I would like to request one leave of absence today for Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke, on the occasion of we might have a baby soon. (Applause.)
The Chair thanks the Minority Leader and leave will be granted. The Chair now recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council and that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's Council session.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council, and as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, amendments to bills re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilmember Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson may be added to the agenda for today should those matters arise during the course of this session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us in chambers this morning. members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our great city. We certainly invite you to come again. I want to take a moment to acknowledge former staff member of Councilmember Curtis Jones, who is now the Chairperson of the Philadelphia Delegation State Representative Morgan Cephas. Could you please stand please? (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Curtis Jones, who will present a resolution honoring the dynamic, outstanding, hard-working, cool, outgoing gentleman by the name of Tumar Alexander. (Applause.)
A dedicated public servant on the occasion of his retirement from Philadelphia city government. Would Mr. Alexander and those accompanying him please join Councilmember Jones at the podium. Joining Councilmember Curtis Jones is Councilmember and Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Jim Harrity, Minority Leader Councilmember Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young, Deputy Whip Councilmember Cindy Bass, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Councilman Quetcy Lozada, Councilmember Rue Landau, councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad and Appropriations Chairman Councilmember Mark Squilla. (Councilmembers, guests and visitors approached podium.)
Ladies and gentlemen, Councilmembers, staff, supporters of Tumar Alexander, before there was Scandal and Olivia Pope in Washington, D.C., there was Tumar Alexander of City Hall. Tumar survived four mayors-and-a-half, eight years of peace. The first time when he left, you know, every eight years there's a slaughter of staffers and people wind up getting fired. And Tumar didn't wait around for the people to come around the hallway. He said, I'm out of here. He went to go work for City Blue --
Sneakervilla. I'm sorry. So Mayor the store where he worked and offered him $10,000 come-back-home bonus. I heard about it, right, and a pair of sneakers, right, to come back to work, which he came back. One of the telling things about -- now, I pray that my staff always do what you did. I don't care what Mayor he worked for. When he put that jersey on, he was loyal. You couldn't talk him out of it. He was 100% ten toes down for that mayor. So before we start the actual -- bear with me, Mr. President. There are two stories I'm going to tell. The first one was I'm a freshman -statute of limitations ain't over. The first one, there's a time, colleague, when the administration always comes up and says, tell me list, what are your priorities, which things do you really want. So I got the fixer here, came in my office. And I was all impressed because I've never experienced that before. So we go through and listen. And you know how I am, Mr. President. It was long as hell. I had world peace on here, global warming, stop the wars around the world. And this guy, he looks, leans in and he's checking things and he's asking questions. I'm feeling good about my list. And then he took the list, and I'm going to tell you how he -- he put it in his vest check it like this. And I said -you still got it?
And he said, we got you. So I ran down chambers, Harrity. I voted for the bill. I voted for the budget. And then when you get the details of it, I'm looking for my stuff. Nothing's on there except one thing. And I ran to him, Tumar, you told me you were going to take care of every one of those pieces. And he said, I am, but you didn't think all in the first year, did you. I said, he got me. All right. So that was the first time. Second time I've been a little more seasoned. And every year, like when you go into the schoolyard, you look for the schoolyard bully. One department -- not you, the department. You look for a department that you're going to make your bones on. I ask you the hard questions until I get the right answers. So Tumar got wind this -yeah, you remember. And so, he pulled me aside. He said, Councilman, can we work this out outside of the mics. We'll come down. I promise you we're going to take care of that department, your concerns. I'm not going to say the department because then you'll know the person. And I trusted again Tumar. He's a fixer. He's the Mayor's emissary. So I said, all right. I'm going to take this off. I'm not going to ask any hard questions. And he said, we'll get right on it. A whole year goes by. He don't come down. He's ducking me. He doesn't come. So we get back to budget cycle. I said, all right, I'm going to do this. He comes back in and says, Councilman, can we work this out? I'm still waiting for the first meeting, but I did it -- I actually did (inaudible) that. You know who it is, and I've learned how to ask questions. So at the end of the day, before we read this citation good things come from North Philadelphia. Tumar Alexander is an example of that. And full circle, he's going back to North Philadelphia to make the next Tumars, the next young leaders that will be -- he's molding those young minds. Because if you haven't created your successor, you're negating your job. And I'm so very proud to call you my friend. (Applause.)
Therefore, great things come from North Philadelphia and also from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. of which Tumar Alexander is a member. Today, the members of Philadelphia City Council are honoring and recognizing the career of Tumar Alexander, a dedicated public servant on the occasion of his retirement from the city government. Whereas, Tumar Alexander is a lifelong Philadelphian by way of North Philadelphia, proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., seasoned public servant whose 24 years of dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia have spanned across four mayoral administrations, exemplifying a profound commitment to the city's growth and well-being; and
Tumar, I promise I ain't telling no stories, no stories. We started Mayor's administration for Street. Actually, I don't want him telling any stories. Whereas, Tumar attended William Penn High School and Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a degree in Political Science, laying the foundation for his distinguished career in public service; and
I first must reiterate good things come out of North Philadelphia. Whereas, throughout his distinguished career, Alexander has held key roles in operations, policy, legislative and internal Affairs, consistently demonstrating leadership and vision in various capacities that have directly impacted the efficiency and effectiveness of city government;
Whereas -- Mr. President, may I take a point of personal privilege for a second please?
I've never had an opportunity to do this. And so, folks who do not know it was October of 2003. I'm walking into then Councilmember Darrell Clarke's office. And I see this guy sitting there just waiting for me. I'm nervous. Don't know what to do. This is my first opportunity to work anywhere ever. I'm a senior in high school and I see this guy sitting there waiting for me. His name is Tumar Alexander. Like Tumar, whatever. I mean, I was a high school kid. I mean, you know. So so many years later, Tumar has been my big brother, my mentor, my friend, my confidant. He paid for my seat deposit for law school when I didn't have it, and I didn't even go to that law school, ended up going somewhere else, right. (Applause.)
So I've never had the chance to publicly do this because he's always been in government, but he's a year and four months out. I just want to say thank you so much, Big bro, because I would not be here but for your leadership but for your mentorship. You look up mentor in the dictionary, you will see Tumar Alexander. He has mentored countless, countless young people. He has a tree of people all around government, in business and nonprofit sector. This is the definition of what a mentor is and I would not be here but for his guidance. So, Big Brother, I want to say thank you again and again and again. And I know, you know, when that happened last year, a couple years ago, you were just smiling from ear to ear, although we couldn't talk about it. But whereas, Alexander's journey into public service began with his volunteer work on former Mayor John F. Street's campaign, set the stage for his rise through the ranks of Philadelphia politics; and
Well, this is just going to be a long presentation because everybody's got a Tumar story, I'm into any Tumar stories. But I will say, listen, we thank you and we love you and we're going to miss you. And I can tell you one of my key pieces of legislation is stop-and-gos. You know, Tumar helped me all the way through. I just can't tell you how much I love you and appreciate you so we're going to miss you. Whereas, Tumar Alexander served with distinction as Chief of Staff in the Managing Director's Office during Mayor Street's administration, demonstrating exceptional leadership and a commitment to this city; and
Whereas, during the administration of former Mayor Michael Nutter, Alexander served as Deputy Mayor and as Chief liaison to City Council, facilitating cooperation and strengthening the relationship between the executive branch and the legislature; and
Whereas, in January 2016 Mayor Jim Kenney hired Alexander to serve as the Director of Legislative and External Affairs for the Managing Director's Office, where he played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the executive branch and key legislative and community partners; and
Love you, Tumar. Whereas, Alexander's outstanding performance and leadership in this role led to his promotion in January 2019 when he was named First Deputy Managing Director and Gladiator, taking on an even greater level of responsibility in managing the the essential work of city departments; and
Whereas, in October 2020 Alexander assumed the role of Managing Director, where he continued to demonstrate exemplary leadership and a steadfast commitment to building sustainable infrastructure within and across the city's departments, ensuring the efficient delivery of high-quality services to the public; and
Whereas, through his various roles in city government Alexander has worked tirelessly to ensure that the city operates effectively and that its residents receive the best possible services, making significant contributions to the operation and successes of the city Philadelphia; and
And, Tumar, I've been here since your first day. (Applause.)
And I have to say I was over here talking to Tumar, and I said, just thank you. He always helped and he always came through. And I don't remember one time calling him where it wasn't an emergency where I couldn't figure out what to do and Tumar took care of it, and that was consistent. And, Tumar, you'll really be missed. Whereas, Tumar's dedication, resilience and unwavering focus on making Philadelphia a better place for all its residents has earned him respect, admiration and gratitude from this City Council, his colleagues, the Mayor's office, and the citizens he serves; now, therefore, be it;
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it hereby honors and recognizes the career of Tumar Alexander, a dedicated public servant on the occasion of his retirement from city government; And further resolve, that an Engrossed copy be presented to Tumar Alexander in admiration and awe of this legislative body. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Tumar Alexander for remarks.
Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Councilmembers. Two of the stories Curtis told was not to tell you all that from the start. The one that is true is his freshman list of about four pages long as I remember. He actually signed it for me after a few years. But let me just start by saying, first I just like to thank God, my family, my grandmother, my grandfather, people who are not here to see this and see that this kid from North Philly who tried to just every day make my family proud, make my mother proud, make people I grew up with proud and just come to city government and serve people. My first time in City Hall was an internship with City Commissioner Alex Talmadge after meeting him at a workshop at my high school when I think I was 10th, 11th grade. Sultan Ahmad, deceased, all of my mentors, a lot of my mentors aren't here with me so I'm just standing on their shoulders and trying to be an example. And also as Councilmember Young said, trying to lift up people along the way. So I think you all know I don't really like being in the limelight or standing up here hearing a long resolution, because for me it ain't about none of that. It's just about serving people and working and kind of waking up every day with a purpose and living that purpose. It was a few months ago where I had to call the Mayor and say to her, you know, I think it's time for a change for me. And that wasn't a call I took lightly. It wasn't a decision I made lightly, but it was a decision and I knew I my growth, for my family's growth. We just welcomed -- I have a baby girl, 1 year old. (Applause.)
My girlfriend and I -- and they couldn't be here because my baby girl was a little under the weather, but it was just time to step back, take a break and figure out what's next. And lo and behold, I kind of came a little bit full circle. Jeff told you all about meeting him when he was a high school senior member at Girard College. And now, I have an opportunity to work at Girard College as their Vice-president of Operations. (Applause.)
And for months, I've had the pleasure of working with some of the most amazing young people in this city in I would say a little place in North Philly, but actually it's about 43 acres sitting in the heart of North Philadelphia where they're producing some amazing young people and amazing scholars each and every day. And I'm just proud to be a small, small, small spoke in the wheel to help that support out. In closing, I just want to say I thank everybody. Of course, the work of government continues. Of course, I'm proud of you all sitting in this Council and the work that you do each and every day for the citizens of Philly. Curtis, I will say you've been my big brother, but you're also like a stepdad because Jazelle Jones -Jazelle, stand up. (Applause.)
I try to always make sure, Councilmember, we kept the work relationship and your Counciling relationship separate. So when I would talk to Jazelle about that list, she kind of gave you the priority of it. That's why it took so long. But I will say if you think back to that list, we did some amazing things together and you did some amazing things in your District, right, Wynne Ballroom, Brith Sholom House and just a bunch of other things. And that's just indicative of you all and the work that you all do. So again, just thank you. Thank you for this opportunity, thank you for this family appreciate it. (Applause.)
Congratulations. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad who will present a resolution on my behalf of thanking A. Bruce Crawley, founder of Millennium 3 -(Applause.)
Founder of Millennial 3 Management, the African American Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of Visit Philadelphia for his decades of leadership and invaluable contributions to the business hospitality and political communities in Philadelphia. all those accompanying him please join Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad at the podium. And joining Dr. Nina Ahmad are the following individuals: Deputy Whip Councilmember Cindy Bass, Majority Leader Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Chair of Labor Councilmember Jim Harrity and Minority Leader Councilmember Kendra Brooks. (Councilmembers, guests and visitors approach podium.)
This is like the original revolutionary in the City of Philadelphia. So go ahead. Dr. Nina Ahmad, the floor is yours.
Thank you, Council President. Before I start, I just want to take just a moment to I have received from Bruce Crawley as someone who doesn't have a long, you know, I wasn't born in this city. I didn't go to high school here and this is someone who has helped me chart my path all the way here. So I'm very grateful to you, Bruce. And I just wanted to make sure that we acknowledge you, and I'm doing this on behalf of the Council President as well. This is his resolution. So a resolution thanking A. Bruce Crawley, founder of Millennium 3 Management, the African American Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of Visit Philadelphia for his decades of leadership and invaluable contributions to the business, hospitality and political Whereas, A. Bruce Crawley holds a Bachelor's of Science in Marketing and Management from St. Joseph's University and a Master's Degree in Journalism from Temple University, laying the foundation for a distinguished career in business, communications and public service; and
And whereas, in 1989 Mr. Crawley founded Crawley Haskins Sloan PR & Advertising and served as President, further contributing to the growth of the communications and public relations industries; and Whereas, in 1993, he founded the Philadelphia African American Chamber of Commerce and served as Chairman for 13 years, significantly advancing the American businesses in the region; and Whereas -- I'm adding this clause -- in 2000 I had the opportunity to initially meet A. Bruce Crawley while working for former Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown. And whereas, in 2006 he founded Millennium 3 Management, Inc., a full service marketing and communications firm where he currently serves as President and principal owner; and
It's North Philly Day here today. Whereas, Crawley has been deeply involved in Philadelphia's hospitality industry, serving as a member of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chair of their Board for five Convention Bureau's Multicultural Affairs Congress and is a founding member of Visit Philadelphia, demonstrating his commitment to enhancing the city's tourism and hospitality sectors; and Whereas, Crawley also served as a Campaign Manager and Communications Consultant for numerous state and local elected officials and played a key role as communications consultant for former Mayor John F. Street from his time as Philadelphia City Council President, through his first term as Mayor; and Whereas, from 2006 to 2014 Crawley served as a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee and as Chairman of the Board Level Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Group, which is the parent company of Independence Blue Cross; and
And that was DEI he was fighting for before it was the popular thing to get involved in. Thank you, Bruce.
Yes. Yes, very exciting. As I said, living legend. I met Bruce in the '90s. Man, yeah, what a guy. Whereas, he also served as Chairman of the Collaboration for IT and Communications Excellence and organized providing computer labs and IT training for junior high school students in disadvantaged rural regions of Ghana, reflecting his commitment to global education and development; and Whereas, Mr. Crawley held several influential roles in the nonprofit sector, including as former Board member and Chair of the Brand Management Committee for the Children's Literacy Initiative and as a member of the Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity and Advisory Committee; and Whereas, he served as a trustee at St. Joe's Preparatory School and for nine years on the Board of Trustees at St. Joe's University where he was a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of Enrollment and Marketing Committee. He continues to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for the Hobbs School of Business at St. Joe's University; and
Whereas, Mr. Crawley is a former League of Philadelphia, former Board member of the National Urban League, former Chair of Philadelphia's UNCF Telethon. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Richard Allen New Generation, and he is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and Whereas, Mr. Crawley has received significant recognition for his exceptional contributions in his field, including being inducted into the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communications Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004 and into the St. Joseph University Hobbs School of Business School Hall of Fame in 2014; and Whereas, in recognition of his remarkable achievements on May 21, 2022, Mr. Crawley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Joseph University during its commencement ceremony, where he also delivered the commencement address to the university's advanced degree graduates; and
Whereas, since the fall of 2024 Mr. Crawley has co-hosted Dishing with Patricia, a daily audio podcast alongside Patricia Marshall Harris, in which they offer insightful discussions on current civic, economic, political and wellness matters from around the world; now, therefore, be it; Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, hereby thanks A. Bruce Crawley for his contributions to business, hospitality and political communities in Philadelphia; Further resolve, that an resolution be presented to A. Bruce Crawley as a testament of the sincere appreciation of this legislative body. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
Before I acknowledge Mr. Crawley for remarks, I want to acknowledge joining him is the President of the NAACP, President Catherine Hicks. Thank you for joining us. (Applause.)
And I also want to acknowledge one of his mentees that said we had to make this happen. If you've ever seen any of those cool videos of me on Instagram and watching me bang corners, it's the work of this young lady who's the Deputy Communications Director of Council, Ms. Meaghan Washington. So I want to acknowledge her as well. (Applause.)
The floor is yours, Mr. Bruce Crawley. The floor is yours, sir.
Thank you very much. It's an honor to be here. I want to begin my brief remarks today by extending my most sincere appreciation to each of the members of the city's most important legislative body. 5 million residents and each of its neighborhoods. You introduce and passed the laws that govern this great city. 4 billion this year. So let me say, as a native of my beloved North Central Philadelphia and as a lifelong resident of this city, that I am extremely humbled that you somehow made time in that demanding schedule to pass a resolution thanking me for my contributions to the Philadelphia's political, business and hospitality communities. Your resolution covered my leadership roles in the business, hospitality and political communities. But quite frankly, I hope you don't mind if I choose not to speak about any of that today. " young man, I thought, like many of us did, that the people who were saying that they hoped you would live in interesting times were wishing that the people to whom they were speaking would actually enjoy what life would bring them in the future. In fact, it was completely the opposite. That statement was actually meant as a dismissive curse. And in using the word interesting, they meant times that would be filled with challenge, great difficulty, good difficulty, turmoil, wars and strife. I bring that up to remind us all that we are right now indeed living in interesting times, and this has been by design. I was fortunate to have seen a wonderful movie years ago called Watch Dance. that movie? It was about a popular music company in the South and it used residents in those communities to define each musical genre that the company produced, rock and roll, jazz, et cetera. When it came -- when I was younger, I would memorize this whole thing. When it came to the part when the movie wanted to define what the musical genre called the Blues was about, the camera focused tightly on a group of older Black men who were clearly economically challenged. " That quote has stayed with me for my entire life because it was a clear political statement. He absolutely power had successfully worked over all his years on earth to deprive him of having fair, social and economic opportunity. That had gone on for so long that he had become resigned to the belief that he and his family were powerless to improve their circumstances. So he just stopped thinking about ways that would make things better for his family. At the great risk of sounding too political in these bipartisan stately government chambers, I feel obligated nevertheless to say, since you invited me, to say that in my opinion the current federal administration has been working overtime since January of this year to instill that kind of fear and hopelessness into the vast majority not to be billionaires or otherwise extremely wealthy. All the buttons are being pushed. Every constitutional right is being challenged or ignored. Access to economic, social and health care opportunity is being erased with the stroke of a pen. You know whose pen that was. Immigration which brought the Niña, Pinta, Santa Maria and hordes of slave ships in North America, has now been cast as an abominable evil, and those who can't prove that their ancestors were not born in this country are no longer welcome, but are being captured on the streets of the United States en masse, deported to maximum security prisons in places like Salvador, Guantanamo, Sudan and Rwanda. That's not in any way normal.
and people are dying as a result of these petty, racist and class-based actions. You've begun enough to recognize me and others over the past years for making contributions to society at civic and community levels, yet there seems to be precious little interest and further encouraging beyond these proclamations the kind of community and grassroots involvement that might bring solutions to these larger, insidious and anti-American policies that we're seeing online and virtually all of our traditional media outlets every day. With that, I want to sincerely thank you for today's recognition. But I also want to strongly encourage each of you to great power to help to restore fairness, equity and opportunity to this country that used to be known as the Land of Opportunity. Please know if I can help. Thank you very much. )
I also want to acknowledge Business Manager of Local 332 and Labor leader here in the City of Philadelphia, Mr. Sam Staten Jr., who's also joining us for presentations. (Applause.)
Also joining us for presentations is world-renowned former Rockefeller recording artist City of Philadelphia's Hip Hop you for joining us today as well for presentations, sir. (Applause.)
Even though what we do is wrong, still hustle till the sun go down...better bundle up. Let me keep it real. At this time, I also want to -- the Chair recognizes Councilman Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. At this time, I just want to acknowledge some 5th, 6th and 7th graders from the Paul L. Dunbar School in North Philadelphia. Would y'all please rise. Thank you guys for being here so much. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: That group is led by William Mackey North Philly. And as a young guy, got my start with Mr. Mackey going to Washington, D.C. to lobby for anti-violence funds as a kid with the citywide Youth Action Coalition. Let's give Mr. Mackey another round of applause please. (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips, who will be presenting a resolution honoring and celebrating Feliz Filadelfia for its dedication to empowering youth through recreation, education and community development. Would Jose Rivera and those accompanying him please join Dr. Phillips at the podium. Joining Dr. Phillips will be Richardson, Councilmember Brian O'Neill, Councilmember Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and Appropriations Chairman Councilmember Mark Squilla. (Councilmembers, visitors and guests approached podium.)
Well, thank you, Council President. Today I'm excited to recognize and lift up a name and a mission that embodies the power of community resilience and vision. Feliz Filadelfia is not just a youth athletic organization. It is the heartbeat of Olney. It is hope wrapped in leather gloves and baseball cleats. It is what happens when one man decides that his deserve the very best. That man is Jose Rivera. Born and raised in Olney, Jose didn't wait for a handout. He didn't ask for permission to care. Instead he saw the cracks in the system and became the solution. More than a decade ago, he looked at Hammond Field in Olney steps from his door and saw the possibility where others saw neglect. With his own hands and his own dollars and with the support of his neighbors, Jose transformed that forgotten patch of grass into a state-of-the-art sanctuary for our youth. Today Hammond Field is more than a baseball diamond. It's a launch pad, a place where young people across our city find purpose, discipline, teamwork and producing not just athletes, but scholars, leaders and future changemakers. This is what community power looks like. This is what it means to invest in our neighborhoods and believe in our children. Jose Rivera, you represent and define the model of an active community member. Just the other day a member of our community asked me, Councilmember, can you find a way to come to my neighborhood and sit on our -organizer a block meeting. Now, I've been doing that for a long time throughout my entire tenure. But one thing that I recognize that makes Jose different from other community members, he doesn't just say, can you do something. He gets involved with the process of organizing, preparing things that done. Congressman Boyle was asked by Jose Rivera in partnership to get thousands of dollars to fix the Hammond Field. $500,000 later, there's a new field that's resurfaced thanks to Jose Rivera's advocacy and partnership. Cherelle Parker asked Jose -- Jose Rivera asked Cherelle Parker as a Councilwoman to fix the clubhouse at Hammond Field, and he worked with the design and actually the community process to really get their community engaged in redesigning that field. And even today Jose calls me and talks about issues with graffiti, dumping, anything, speed bumps, and he actively says, I'm going to organize the meeting, I'm going to organize the process, but I want to see how you can help ask for what you can do. He says, I'm going to be a part of it. And that's how I was raised. That's how I understood what active citizenship looks like. Even when Cherelle Parker, years ago when I was in her ward, I wouldn't have the nerve to say to Cherelle, hey, I want you to do this, I want you to do that. I always said, how can I be a part of it. So when I organize community block meetings in my neighborhood, I organized it and asked her to be a part of it and we worked together in partnership. When I wanted voter registration, I worked with her with that. Jose's being honored because he understands what a model active community citizen is. He finds a way to be involved with the solution, and that's why he's being honored today here in front of City Council. So with that being said, let's follow his lead. Let's keep building and let's never forget the future is on that field in Olney. Even when his mother died a few months ago, a couple months ago, Jose took those children on that field and kept practicing and coaching.
His mother loved him. He was there at her bedside all the time, but Jose understood his commitment to the community and he never stopped, never stopped caring. So, Jose Rivera and all of you all who work with our children at Feliz Filadelfia in Olney, you are models of active the reasons why I decided to be part of Council. So I want to say thank you so much. Now, with that being said, let's go to the resolution: Honoring, celebrating Feliz Filadelfia for his dedication to empowering youth to recreation, education and community development; Whereas, Feliz Filadelfia, formerly known as Born to Play, was founded in 2015 by Jose Rivera with a mission to provide recreational opportunities in a safe environment for the youth of Olney, Philadelphia and beyond; and
Whereas, Feliz Filadelfia's flagship program, the Olney Angel's Baseball Team, has become a community, providing baseball, softball, T-ball and flag football opportunities for over 100 youth from Olney, Hunting Park, North Philadelphia, Lower Northeast Philadelphia and surrounding areas; Whereas, under the leadership of founder Jose Rivera, Feliz Filadelfia has expanded beyond youth sports, introducing exercise programs for both youth and adults and laying the groundwork for future educational and environmental programming to further enhance the community; and
Whereas, the renovation of the Hammond Avenue Field completed in 2021 has been a key milestone in the revitalization of the Olney neighborhood, allowing for the growth of Feliz Filadelfia safe and welcoming space for our youth to learn, play and grow; Whereas, Feliz Filadelfia having recently received its not-for-profit status, a 501(c)(3) designation, is now positioned to expand its programs with initial board directors consisting of dedicated individuals, including Jose Rivera, Edna Rivera, Alexander Crespo and Dan Gordon of the Drumcliff Foundation; and
Whereas, the organization remains deeply rooted in its Latino heritage, while welcoming participants from all backgrounds and strives to make a positive impact, not just in Olney but throughout the City of Philadelphia; and Whereas, through a teamoriented approach Feliz Filadelfia is committed to collaborating with existing organizations and offering its own programs to foster community development, health and empowerment, creating a brighter future for all participants; and
Whereas, the organization's dedication to youth development, community enrichment and social impact is exemplified by the contributions of its dedicated staff and volunteers, including coaches, board members and community leaders such as John Santiago, Freddie Gabriel, Coach Taz McDermott, Coach Evan Delgado, Coach Juan Romero, Malika Bethea, Miriam Rivera, Sandra Fontanez, Dan Gordon, Victor Juarez and many others; and Whereas, with continued support from partners and other community stakeholders, Feliz Filadelfia is well-positioned to grow its programs, expand its impact and inspire the next generation of leaders in Philadelphia, including individuals like Jose Rivera, Jr., who plays a key role in maintaining the team's field and mentoring youth by teaching them the game of baseball; now, therefore, be it;
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, we hereby honor and celebrate Feliz Filadelfia for its unwavering dedication to empowering youth through recreation, education and community development, recognizing its transformative impact on the lives of young people and throughout the City of Philadelphia; and Further resolve, that an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jose Rivera, the Board members, coaches and all those who have contributed to the success of Feliz Filadelfia as an expression of the admiration and respect of this legislative body for their outstanding work in strengthening the community and providing opportunities for youth to succeed. Thank you. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Jose Rivera, founder and Executive Director.
Good morning, everyone. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Obviously, I'm the founder of Feliz Filadelfia, a nonprofit organization based in the heart of Olney dedicated to empowering youth through sports, mentorship and community. I'm also proud to serve as a committee man working to make sure our neighborhood's voice is heard and our youth are supported both on and off the field. I'm originally from Hunting Park, born and raised there, where I spent most of my life. I moved to Olney about 10 years ago, and that move changed everything. One day my son, Jose, Jr. -- where's my boy at, right there -- we were walking the dog through the neighborhood. We walked into the fields at Hammond Ave. We were amazed, not because of how beautiful they were but The fields were abandoned, overgrown and completely empty. The clubhouse was just out of order, and I remember thinking this place deserves better. These kids deserve better. " Not long after that walk with me and my son, I met State Rep. Anthony Bellmon and the rest is kind of history. What started as a dream, just a safe place for kids to play baseball, has grown into something much bigger. Feliz Filadelfia now runs year-round programs in baseball, softball, soccer, flag football and basketball, serving hundreds of youth in our community. But what we offer goes beyond hope, we offer structure, and above all we offer a safe environment where kids feel seen, supported and inspired. And it's not just about the games. It's about the community. Throughout the year we host events that bring families together, Easter egg hunts, bouncy houses, clowns, back-to-school giveaways, Thanksgiving turkey distributions, Christmas toy drives and plenty more. These moments remind our kids and our neighborhood that they matter. I wish my mother was here today to see this morning. She passed away three months ago, but I know, I ain't gonna get emotional. I gotcha, but I know she's watching over me and I know she's proud of the work we're doing. And of course, my son Jr. me also, continues to be a huge part of that journey. They help keep our fields maintained and teach the younger kids the game of baseball. I still remember when it was just me and my son out there cutting all three fields with a regular lawn mower for hours just so the kids could have a chance to play. We didn't have much, but we had heart. Feliz Filadelfia is growing fast. We sent teams to Camden, Virginia, Reading and this summer we're working hard to take our 19U Puerto Rico team who won two championships in a row, which will be a once-in-a-lifetime Puerto Rico experience for many of these kids, take them out to Puerto Rico. One of the things I enjoy most is when I'm not coaching, maybe I'm just at our local Shop Rite and I run into a parent or a former player, the look in their eyes say it all. They smile, they thank me. And in these moments, I'm reminded why we do this work. And I'll never forget something that the Madam Mayor Cherelle Parker did before she became Mayor. She would grab me quietly -- she would see me quietly working behind the scenes and she'd grab me and say, stop hiding, stop hiding back there, come to the front lines, I see you, I know what you're doing. That stuck with me. Because sometimes when you're focused on serving others, you don't stop to think about being seen. But she saw me and she saw all of us.
And I have to recognize Phillips, my man right there, Anthony Phillips. He's done such great work in our community. And one thing that really stood out was the installation of speed humps on Hammond Ave. That simple improvement slowed down traffic, made it safer for our kids and families walking to our fields. It may seem like a small thing but was a big deal to us and neighbors and we truly appreciate him for it. I ain't got to get bashed by Ms. Debbie anymore. None of this would be possible without support, especially from our elected officials. I want to thank Madam Mayor Cherelle Parker, Councilman Anthony Phillips, State Rep. Anthony Bellmon and Congressman Brendan Boyle for believing in our us to support the youth of Olney. We've also partnered with local schools, Parks & Recs and small businesses to make this work often with limited resources and a whole lot of passion. So I'm here not just to tell our story, but to say thank you. Thank you for believing in us, thank you for believing in these kids and thank you for recognizing the power of community. We're not just building athletes. We're building leaders. And with their continued support. We'll keep growing. Guys, y'all heard -- I heard Freeway might be here. Oh, yeah. I quote you a lot. We got to raise our kids while we're living. And that stuck with me since day one, and that's what we're doing out here with Feliz our future, man. Let's keep it going. Appreciate you guys. )
Chair recognizes Councilmember Minority Leader Kendra Brooks.
Thank you so much, Council President. I want to recognize the young people from Logan Elementary that are visiting us today in chambers. (Applause.)
We've been following some of these young people for a while. They did a whole assignment on Council and us in Council, and they had to act out a version of us. So it's really nice to have them in Council. We've been working on this for a while. I meant to get the picture of one of the young men dressed up as Anthony Phillips. So thank you so much, Logan Elementary.
Let's give our young people a round of applause, y'all. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome, Logan Elementary, 8th District. I also wanted to acknowledge that we have in the house today with us Myra else knows, and I know that there's going to be public comment around celebrating her later, but Myra Brown, if she could stand, is the partner with the City of Philadelphia's Future Track Program -(Applause.)
-which has placed hundreds and hundreds of folks, returning citizens into steady city employment. And so, the work that she's done there is extraordinary. But beyond that, she's the first African American Chair of the Board for Women's Way and is now stepping down from that role after a long tenure. So we wanted to recognize her and thank her for her work on behalf of women and our communities throughout the City of Philadelphia. you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you. At this time, the Chairman recognizes Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. for a resolution recognizing the members of The Links, Inc., Philadelphia Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter. Would Philadelphia Chapter President Zakiya Black Barnett and Delaware Valley Chapter President Robin Bush and those accompanying them please join the Councilmember at the podium. And joining Councilmember Curtis Jones Cindy Bass, Majority Leader Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young, Minority Councilmember Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad. (Councilmembers, guests and visitors approach podium.)
So people wondered why I donned a green attire today. Now, you're about to find out. In light of what's going on at the federal level, all of the safety nets are being cut so quickly and that many institutions are being affected by it, and those safety nets often, you know, there are a lot of organizations, Mr. President. And many of them are just loud, proud, but as soon as the crisis dissipates, so do they. know members of The Links, Delaware, Philadelphia, we see that since 1946 you've been running solid and deep but impacting us in meaningful ways. So on behalf of a grateful world, a grateful country, a grateful state and city, we want to recognize The Links today in four major areas. They are significant in arts and culture, they represent youth issues, they step up to the plate on behalf of world trends, they are involved. So if someone's hungry in a village in Kenya or in Kensington, they know and they don't just talk about it. They mandate that service. And I'm going to tell you their time, their talent, and according to Derek Green, his treasury, is involved in making sure that that mission is that, they make the difference. When the NAACP, who the Philadelphia President was here, when the Niagara movement came off of that stage right after actually the second World War, they did a worldwide lifelong membership drive. So they step up to the plate in a meaningful way. And so, therefore we recognize you today. Who's first up? Remember the whereas.
I got you. Whereas, honoring and recognizing the members of The Links, Inc., Philadelphia Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter; and Whereas, The Links, Inc. was founded in 1946 by co-founders Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Hawkins of Philadelphia, who was in 4th Councilmanic District, who established a service-oriented women's organization. What began as 9 women has now grown to over 16,000 members and nearly 292 chapters across 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom; and
Whereas, The Links, Inc. stands as one of the nation's oldest and largest women-oriented volunteer service organizations dedicated to enriching and preserving the culture and economic well-being of African Americans and others of African descent; and
Whereas, the core values of The Links, Inc. encompasses friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility and accountability; and
Whereas, the members of The Links, Inc. collectively contribute over 950,000 hours of community service each year, thereby enhancing their communities and contributing to the nation's welfare. The organization has received accolades from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its exceptional programs; and
Whereas, The Links Foundation, Inc. has contributed more than $27 million to charitable causes since its founding. In 2022, The Links Foundation, Inc. named its sixth $1 million grantee the Obama Presidential Center. Other United Negro College Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History and the St. Jude Research Hospital; and
Whereas, The Links, Inc. offers outstanding programming across five key areas, services to youth, the arts, national trends and services, international trends and services, and health and human services, employing strategies such as public education, economic development and public policy initiatives; and
Whereas, the Philadelphia Chapter as the founding chapter of The Links, Inc. is committed to excellence in service to the Chapter of The Links was founded on November 9, 1946 by co-founders, Margaret Russell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott. These women leveraged their network and resources to assemble a dynamic team of seven other Links that constituted what was originally referred to as the Philadelphia Club. Over three decades ago, it adopted the M. Hall Stanton School, an initiative supported by then Mayor Wilson Goode and has since engaged in numerous impactful programs; and
Whereas, the Delaware Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc. was chartered on November 21, 1964 with the support of the Philadelphia Chapter and has since expanded its outreach to underserved communities area. Its initiatives include voter education drives, anti-bullying programs, art workshops and health screening. The Chapter also provides supports to HBCUs such as Cheyney University and Lincoln University; and
Whereas, also The Links other affiliated chapters, including Montgomery County, Penn Towne and Bucks County, have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the organization's mission of enriching the lives of individuals in their communities through service, education and cultural enrichment, and acknowledges the collaborative spirit and impactful initiatives that these chapters have undertaken to foster growth, empowerment and unity among diverse populations in region; now, therefore, be it;
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it hereby honors and recognizes the members of The Links, Inc., Philadelphia Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter; Further Resolve, that an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to The Links, Inc., Philadelphia Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter as a testament to the sincere appreciation of this legislative body. Congratulations. (Applause.)
Before I call up the speakers, I just want to acknowledge a member of The Links, City Representative, first leader of the 4th Councilmanic District, Ms. Jazelle Jones. I want to (Applause.)
Now, I recognize Zakiya Black Barnett and Robin Bush for remarks.
Hello and good afternoon. I think it's afternoon. I just want to say thank you so much, especially to Councilman Curtis Jones for this wonderful acknowledgement. As it was said, The Links, Inc. was founded right here in Philadelphia in 1946 and it's a great city to partner with the folks in this room, the companies and corporations and other charitable organizations to continue to push this city forward. And it is our mission and our will to stand in the gap, to fill the gaps, to support where that's our mission, a group of friends serving this city together. I was going to list some of our programs and some of the things that we do and support, but it was all mentioned so eloquently in the resolution. So again, I just want to say thank you on behalf of the Philadelphia Chapter, the founding chapter, for this wonderful recognition, and we look forward to continuing to work with each of you, all of the members of the community of the city of Philadelphia, to continue to support and push this wonderful city forward. So thank you so much.
Good morning. The Delaware Valley Pennsylvania Chapter has been engaged in community service in the Philadelphia area for over 60 mentioned, everything has been so eloquently mentioned, and we are so humbled and grateful. Thank you, Councilman Jones. We are extremely honored to receive this recognition. Have a good day. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeantat-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Will the Chief Clerk please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications in her possession.
To the President and members of the of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 250327, 250328, 250367, 250369, 250370, 250371, 250372, 250374, 250377, 250378, 250381, 250425, 250430, 250431, 250432, 250436 approval with amendments, 250437, 250438, 250485 and 250486. To the President and members of the Council the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on May 27th I signed the following bill which was passed at Council at its session on May 8, 2025: Bill No. 250065. And that on May 28th I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on May 8, 2025: Bill No. 240665-AA. And that on May 28th I signed the following bills which were passed by Council at a session on May 8, 2025: Bill Nos. 240581, 240750, 250067, 250068, 250149, 250123, 250151 and 250323. And I am transmitting for the consideration of your Honorable body, a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 100 Emily Street, 2315 South Marshall Street, 518 Pierce Street, 2549 South 3rd Street, 2117 South 6th Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2878 Amber Street located in the 1st Councilmanic the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1811, 2114, 2123 Fernon Street, 1930, 1932 S. Norwood Street, 1629, 1642, 1648, 1652 Point Breeze Avenue, 1824 S. 20th Street, 1835 S. 22nd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1343 S. Colorado Street, 1508, 1509 S. Cleveland Street, 1700 S. Ringgold Street, 1808 Fernon Street, 1932 Watkins Street, 2024, 2026 Gerritt Street, 2603 Wilder Street 2635 Latona Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank a deed conveying titled 1225 South 17th Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 666 and 674 Union St; 3842, 3844, 3851, and 3855 Aspen St; 747 N. 39th St; 3902 and 3906 Brown St located in the 3rd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to 2002 North 20th Street, located in the 5th Councilmanic District, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2847 Boudinot Street located in the 7th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 3127, 3130 North Bancroft Street, 3108 North Broad Street, 3142, 3148, 3152, 3156, 3157 North Carlisle Street, 3123, 3131 North Chadwick Street, 1412 West Clearfield Street, 2737, 2935, 2953 N.
Hicks Street, 1709, 1711, 1713 West Lippincott Street, 3110, 3116 North Rosewood Street, 2941 North Sydenham Street, 3106, 3141 N. 15th Street and 3035 North 16th Street located in the 8th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code. There are no more messages in my possession, Council President.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. I just want to ask for any conversations inside the Council be to a minimum or most importantly outside the Council chambers, as we are making sure we do the audio correcting, so the sidebar conversations has an impact on my tech's ability to do his job. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. And also, thank you for everyone who's been congratulating me for recently completing my Ph.D. I wasn't here a couple weeks ago, but I just want to say also I have one non-privileged resolution for introduction today. And also, I may have to leave and I want to be able to vote aye on all bills and resolutions for today.
Leave is granted, sir. Would the Chief Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A non-privileged resolution calling on the Office of Youth Engagement to expand its collaboration with the City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, PPR, to strengthen youth leadership, civic participation and cross-agency coordination, thereby ensuring youth voices are meaningfully integrated into city decisionmaking.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Real briefly, Council President. I just wanted to -- and you acknowledged some of the folks earlier, but I wanted to acknowledge all the artists that are here, including Freeway and the other artists that came here today, to acknowledge that the month of May is going to be known as Philly as the Original Music City Month. So all the artists that's here, I just wanted to thank you for coming to Council today. We appreciate you. (Applause.)
And, Council President, if all of the artists, if all of the Philadelphia artists that are here today could just stand up so we can acknowledge you and let you know we appreciate you. (Applause.)
Is there an official resolution where we're going to be honoring them officially?
Yes, there will be, Council President. Thank you. But I just wanted to acknowledge them because I know some folks are going to have to start leaving because we had a number of presentations today. But we know how it goes. We got to pass the resolution before we do a presentation. So thank you to all the artists who came down to represent.
Let's give them a round of applause, y'all. Hey, Philly. Stand up, Philly. (Applause.)
Keep up the good work, everyone. Good job, Member Thomas. I see Dyana Williams back there. Y'all know she like world-renowned, right. Like internation -- y'all ever watching BET late one night, she pop up in an interview talking to somebody. But anyway, keep up the good work. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Council President. Today I offer six bills, two on my behalf, four on your behalf and three non-privileged resolutions on your behalf.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bills and resolutions.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes and Collections" to allow for refunds of the realty transfer taxes to victims of deed fraud, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Non-competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance" to modify exemptions and provide for reporting and recordkeeping in connection with invocation of such exemptions, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between The City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority relating to the financing of a Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Plan which includes housing production and preservation, home affordability, home owner and renter assistance, related contractor training and support, blight and vacant property reduction, urban beautification, neighborhood infrastructure, and other related programs; approving the issuance by the Authority of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (including reimbursement obligations related to lines or letters of credit) in one or more series to finance or refinance such plan and authorizing and approving the obligation of The City of Philadelphia to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement; authorizing certain City officers to take certain actions required to issue such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; covenanting that The City of Philadelphia will make necessary appropriations in each of the City's fiscal years to provide for, and will make timely payments of, the Service Fee and other amounts due under the Service Agreement; requiring an annual program statement and budget to be approved by Council, and other requirements; and authorizing and approving the Director of Finance of the City and other City officials to take other necessary or appropriate actions to effectuate the purposes of this ordinance; all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Section 2-112 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "City Commissioners," by removing the powers and duties of the Department of Licenses and Inspections over matters relating to weights and measures; amending Title 9, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," by removing provisions relating to amusement devices, and weights and measures and making related technical changes; and amending Title 19, entitled "Finance, Taxes and Collections," by eliminating provisions related to amusement licenses and weights and measures registration; all under certain conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an amendment to a lease agreement with 2401 Walnut LP, for use by the City of all or a portion of the premises located at 2401 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance constituting the TwentyEighth Supplemental Ordinance to the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989, as supplemented; authorizing the Bond Committee to issue and sell one or more series or subseries of tax-exempt or taxable water and wastewater revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds; authorizing agreements to provide credit enhancement or payment or liquidity sources (or any combination of the foregoing) for such Bonds; providing that such Bonds shall bear interest at fixed or variable rates; determining the sufficiency of pledged Project Revenues; authorizing the Director of Finance to take certain actions with regard to the sale of such Bonds, the investment of proceeds thereof and the City's continuing disclosure obligations with respect to such Bonds; setting forth the use of proceeds of such Bonds; covenanting the payment of interest and principal; supplementing the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989; and specifying applicability of sections of The First Class City Revenue Bond Act and the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1343 S. Colorado Street, 1508, 1509 S. Cleveland Street, 1700 S. Ringgold Street, 1808 Fernon Street, 1932 Watkins Street, 2024, 2026 Gerritt Street, 2603 Wilder Street, and 2635 Latona Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1811, 2114, 2123 Fernon Street, 1930, 1932 S. Norwood Street, 1629, 1642, 1648, 1652 Point Breeze Avenue, 1824 S. 20th Street, and 1835 S. 22nd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank a deed conveying title to 1225 S. 17th Street, located in the 2nd Councilmanic District, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
Good morning, Council President. Today I have one non-privileged resolution and one bill for introduction both on your behalf.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bill and the resolution.
An ordinance authorizing the Director of Planning and Development, on behalf of the City, to file applications with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Community Development Block Grant; to file applications to participate in the HOME Investment Partnership program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program; and to apply for a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant; and to file applications with the Commonwealth to obtain grants under the Act of April 12, 1956, P.L. 1449, Section 4, as amended, to prevent and eliminate blight; authorizing the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Commerce to file applications to obtain other grants from the Commonwealth; authorizing the Director of Commerce to use the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program; and authorizing the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Commerce to enter into all understandings and assurances contained in such applications and take all necessary action to accept the grants; all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the final Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program Statement and Budget, which allocates the expenditure of the remaining 50 million of funding by various agencies for the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Good morning again, Council President. I offer one resolution that I'm very excited about, declaring Philadelphia the original music city in the world. (Applause.)
I need to read the (inaudible). A privileged resolution recognizing Philadelphia as America's original music Citycelebrating its dedication to the arts, its legacy of producing world-class musicians across genres, and its powerful economic impact, generating billions in revenue, jobs, tourism, and local business growth.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Curtis Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one bill and one privileged resolution on your behalf.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bill and privileged resolution.
An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Gorgas Lane between Ridge Avenue and Lawnton Street, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution celebrating June as Reentry Awareness Month and honoring the achievements of returning citizens in our city.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues and the public. I have one privileged resolution to introduce on your behalf.
Thank you very much. Would the Chief Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. Chair recognizes Councilmember Lozada.
Thank you very much. Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one bill and two non-privileged resolutions.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bill and resolutions.
An ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the vicinity of 426-28 W. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution also naming the 1500 block of Girard Avenue as "Alphonso Deal Way."
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council.
And a non-privileged resolution also naming Jefferson Street between Broad Street and 13th Street as "Donald 'Ducky' Birts Way."
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Minority Leader Kendra Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today. And I also would like to be excused for official Council business. I vote aye on all bills and resolutions.
Thank you very much. Leave is granted. Chair recognizes Councilmember Chair of Labor Jim Harrity.
Chair recognizes Councilman Chair of L&I and Transportation and Public Utilities Mike Driscoll.
Morning, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions today.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes the gentleman senior member from Northeast Philadelphia, Councilmember Brian O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions today. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Thank you very much, sir. Chairman recognizes Appropriations Chair from South Philly Councilman Mark Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer three bills, two non-privileged resolutions.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the three bills and two non-privileged resolutions.
An ordinance repealing in its entirety the following Ordinance, approved December 23, 2024: Bill No. 240964-A02 (authorizing the City of Philadelphia to organize an authority to be known as The Arena Services District Authority, pursuant to the terms of the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing various encroachments in the vicinity of 2654 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the vicinity of 2101 E York St, Philadelphia, PA 19125, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2878 Amber Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 100 Emily Street, 2315 S. Marshall Street, 518 Pierce Street, 2549 S. 3rd Street, and 2117 S. 6th Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Deputy Whip from Northwest Philadelphia, Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one privileged resolution and one non-privileged resolution.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the resolutions.
A privileged resolution honoring Myra Brown as She Completes Her Service as Board Chair of Women’s Way, Celebrating Her Pioneering Leadership, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Lifelong Commitment to Equity, Women’s Empowerment, and Workforce Development.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 3127, 3130 North Bancroft Street, 3108 North Broad Street, 3142, 3148, 3152, 3156, 3157 North Carlisle Street, 3123, 3131 North Chadwick Street, 1412 West Clearfield Street, 2737, 2935, 2953 N. Hicks Street, 1709, 1711, 1713 West Lippincott Street, 3110, 3116 North Rosewood Street, 2941 North Sydenham Street, 3106, 3141 N. 15th Street, and 3035 North 16th Street located in the 8th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. I have one privileged resolution today.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk of the resolution.
Privileged resolution recognizing May 2025 as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month in Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The next order of business is reports from committees. Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports out seven bills with a favorable recommendation.