COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, November 30, 2004 3:05 p.m. - - - - RESOLUTION 040909 - Resolution authorizing the Committee on Finance to conduct hearings on the possibility of non-profits, community groups and block captains, the ability to use stages, show mobiles and sound systems for community events at a nominal fee. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL, Chair COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILMAN JUAN RAMOS - - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 I N D E X RESOLUTION 040909 VIC RICHARD, Recreation Commissioner.. CARLTON WILLIAMS, Recreation.......... 19 GLORIA JACKSON, Senior Assistant Managing Director................. 21 JULIA CHINN, Cobbs Creek Block Captain Association....................... 32 BILL HAINES, 39th & Poplar Street Organization...................... 37 DELORES FUGGS, Belmont Improvement Association....................... 38 GREG COJULUN, Malcolm X Park.......... 40 CALA CUZAR (ph) East Parkside Residents Association............. 42 ALICE WRIGHT, United Block Captains Association....................... 43 VANESSA BROWN, 44th Ward.............. 45 JACKIE GREEN, United Block Captains Of East Parkside and East Parkside Residents Association............. 47 JACQUELINE GALLOWAY................... 50 ROBERT CUZAR.......................... 52 NORMAN ELLIS.......................... 57 3 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909
Good afternoon. Albeit it's a resolution, before the Clerk reads the title, we would like to note the presence of Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Vice Chair; Councilman Rick Mariano, Councilman Darrell Clarke and Councilman Ramos, who's running down the hall. Did I mention everyone? Thank you very much. We will now ask the Clerk to read the title of the resolution.
Resolution No. 040909, a resolution authorizing the Committee on Finance to conduct hearings on the possibility of non-profits, community groups and block captains the ability to use stages, show mobiles, and sound systems for community events at a nominal fee.
Thank you very much. We understand that someone is here -- Commissioner, come right up. Thank for your patience. Thank you very much. Commissioner, we would invite you to give your testimony or 4 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 make comments. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon. My name is Vic Richard, the Recreation Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to testify regarding the resolution authorizing the Committee on Finance to conduct hearings on the possibility of non-profits, community groups and block captains the ability to use stages, show mobiles and sound systems for community events at a nominal fee. I'm pleased to have with me representatives from the Managing Director's Office, the Department of Public Property, and the Department of Recreation to offer other insight on this popular service and the fiscal impact that it has on the City's operation budget. The Recreation Department operates three show mobiles and provides other support services for support of community special events. The show mobiles are offered seven days a week based on availability. Community 5 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 groups must complete the application process, which includes event and organizational information, proof of insurance, and a 50 percent deposit on the estimated labor cost to the City. The City does not make a profit on any revenue collected for the use of the show mobiles. The fees are collected to offset the actual labor costs of the event. I recognize the importance of supporting events that improve the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Community events such as gospelramas, parades and neighborhood festivals all promote community togetherness that helps strengthen neighborhoods against crime and violence. However, the cost of this service has been a tremendous burden on the City's operating budget. For the past three fiscal years, the special events cost in the Recreation Department consumes one-third of the entire overtime budget for the entire Department. This means that for every dollar spent on a show mobile, it is one less dollar spent on critical repairs to recreation 6 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 facilities. Furthermore, the cost of the special events have increased a total of percent 5 over the last three years, from $307,000 in 6 Fiscal Year '02, to $378,000 in '04. If I may 7 state, the numbers that I just quoted is 8 overtime costs alone, not straight time. The 9 graph illustrates the rising costs on the 10 special events units. 11 The Recreation Department fee 12 schedule for special events varies based upon 13 services requested at the dates and times of 14 the event. The base rate for the use of the 15 show mobile during regular operating hours is 16 a flat $500. The labor costs for the special 17 events units are derived from the employees' 18 salaries directly assigned to the event. There are a total of six recreation employees that are permanently assigned to the special events unit. These employees are responsible for the operation of show mobiles, including transport, set-up and breakdown at all of the events. In addition, electricians are assigned to events based upon requests for 7 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 special services, including requests for sound, electrical line drops or additional lighting. In April 2004 the Office of the Managing Director instituted a directive to help to begin recuperating the cost of providing the show mobiles at special events. " Since the implementation of this policy in '05 fiscal year, the Department of Recreation has drastically reduced some of the overtime cost. Comparative figures between the first quarter of '04 fiscal year and the first quarter of '05 fiscal year show significant reduction in overtime costs related to special events. In the first quarter of '04 fiscal year, the Department of Rec spent a total of $199,105 for the special events unit.
The majority of these costs were directly related to community-based events for non-profit 8 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 agencies and community organizations. Comparatively, the total cost of special events for '05 at that time is $116,565. This represents a 41 percent decrease in overtime spending. Furthermore, the City has collected more revenue in the first quarter of the fiscal year than all of fiscal year last year. To date, the City has collected a total of $24,919, in comparison for the entire FY '04, $16,424. This represents a 34 percent increase in revenues. The number is expected to grow over $40,000 by the end of Fiscal Year '05. The Department has made a dedicated effort to control the costs of the special events unit. In March of '01 the Rec Department changed the special events unit's work schedule to accommodate community special events. m. m. m. This schedule was 9 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 changed to accommodate the number of events during the weekends as well. However, this change did not control some of the demands for the service, and anticipated cost savings weren't achieved because of the reoccurring events. However, the Department was forced to seek other alternatives to cover the cost. In conclusion, once again, we recognize the importance of supporting community events designed to improve the quality of life in our local neighborhoods. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Commissioner. Let me ask a few questions. We've just been meeting among ourselves about this very issue. The show mobile is the special, big metal case that already has all the electric hook-ups, et cetera; am I correct? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: It has some of the hook-ups, but some of them don't. They're self contained hydraulically, but the electricity has to be run to them. We do it 10 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 by generator. If we have the capacity, our electricians will tie into a pre-existing light pole or line that may either be a street lighting or a lighting fixture that's already on the recreation site, or they use a portable generator.
How many did you say we have? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: We used to have two. And I want to say three years ago a third one was purchased by the City with one tractor. So that means every time we move them, we continually have to make double and triple trips to pick them up, set them up or whatever.
Those are the ones assigned to your Department, not the Managing Director's Office; am I correct? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes, ma'am.
Let me ask a question. We've been talking about the feasibility of building more stages and trying to do away with some of the costs if we could get community groups or some non-profit to try 11 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 to assemble them. Do you agree, if we could find a way to build stages and then find another way to assemble them, that would be helpful and a lot cheaper; am I correct? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Madam Chair, yes. It would be cost effective. And if I may, in the back of my testimony -- I'm not sure if you had an opportunity to go through it yet -- but in the back we just have a brief comparison that we had done early in the year while we were putting together everything. There's other cities also, including Canada -- and this was some of the detailed documentation and data that we used to assess the fee, along with using the salary. You go anywhere from a $100, all the way up to Burbank, California, that charges $2,500. So we understand. And if I can continue to agree with you -- and I've said in my testimony -- we understand the importance of the community involvement, what it means to a neighborhood. But I also have the responsibility to speak on behalf of the entire City's fiscal stability. 12 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 My number one priority right now is, if I can take $379,000 in overtime and spend it towards keeping over Rivera Recreation Center or Shepard or Vare, those are the types of decisions that I think the citizenship would at least expect me to make recommendations, even if I am not allowed. So it's an amenity. It's not a core service. Getting the streets cleaned, getting the snow removed, getting the trash picked up on a regular basis -- I know right now leaf collection is taking place. It is great. It means a lot. But with where the City is fiscally, I have a responsibility, and that's the purpose of us being here to have this conversation.
How many requests might you get? I know the summertime obviously, that's when we call you most. Do you have any idea how many requests you might get, let's say, even in the summer season? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: I can tell you that we tracked the show mobiles from January to December because of the season 13 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 change and the different events, the Mummers parade, the marathon. There were 346 events that took place in Calendar year from January to December of '03. And from year to date so far this year, January '04, there's 243 on the books. I'm sorry I'm not aware of how many are planned for the last five weeks of this year.
Thank you. If we had built maybe portable 12 stages, would that service our needs? Do you 13 have an idea what number of stages we might 14 need in the City to satisfy the majority of 15 our requests? 16 COMMISSIONER RICHARD: You would 17 still be looking at a labor piece and also a 18 storage, unless you erected something that was 19 permanent, that could withstand the weather 20 conditions and also possible vandalism. So I 21 haven't plotted that, but off the top of my 22 head those would be some of the top things 23 that would have to be considered. The type of 24 material, could it withstand the vandalism, 25 the change of the weather as well. 14 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 A lot community groups constantly do certain things. So your bigger neighborhood groups, where you have a more active, more vibrant, those may be a particular place where you may erect a more permanent fixture, a concrete or an asphalt-type setting. But the other stuff with the staging based on what it is or what you do, you still will have the labor piece, you would still have the equipment piece, to actually pick it up and transport it as well. When we made the decision three years ago, Deputy Commissioner Williams and I, to change -- it was almost a 65 or $70,000 savings to the City budget. But a lot of the stuff was still happening at night. So it wasn't fair for us to continue to try to change the employees' workday and work time to accommodate it. So we made some gains in the beginning. But the events are what they are. On the weekends, it's overtime. On Sunday it's double time. The only cost, the $500 flat fee, doesn't even cover the cost. It's just to try to offset. We've been using 15 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 the word, I guess, revenue, but we're really not creating any revenue because we're not creating a positive cash flow. All we're trying to do is offset the cost of the delivery of the service. So that $500 is just basically the salaries. Then once it goes above that, when we're dealing with the customer, the community group, that's when we start calculating. And we explain to them, alright, you want it for three more hours, it's going to be two more employees or three more employees. And at that time we let them know what the actual overtime cost is. So that's when we're just covering the cost of the salaries. So the cost of the equipment, the fuel to maintain it and everything else, that's not calculated. We're just trying to cover delivering the services to the citizens without shutting down the budget.
If we can have stages built and deal with storage and material, we would still have to consider -- or would we -- the cost of an electrician 16 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 anyway. No matter what happened, we have to have some labor person; is that correct? We couldn't create a non-profit or use one. We've still got to have a City electrician; is that correct? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, in certain instances, once again with the bigger ones, you may have the flexibility where we could put a permanent line drop. But that permanent line drop may have to be, say, erected feet up on a pole, where the normal 13 everyday person can't go there and vandalize 14 it and -- not to say misuse the City's 15 electricity for a proper term -- but also have 16 a breaker box on it locked up inside the rec 17 facility. So that may be an option that could 18 be explored as well, where you can also, if 19 that capacity is built, to store a particular 20 stage there. So now you will cut down on travel time, equipment where it could be taken out of this particular facility and used and have a permanent line drop. But it also has a permanent junction box within the facility of the rec building that's locked and it could be 17 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 disengaged so no one could get electrocuted by playing with it.
So we still have to consider that manpower issue even if we built some and had a group willing to set them up. You've still got to consider -- COMMISSIONER RICHARD: The initial set-up would be your manpower. After that, yes, I believe there's something that we could look at to do what you're talking about, yes, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there questions from my colleagues? (No response.)
We're really concerned. We want to make it more cost effective. We understand that we're in a budget crunch, and we're trying to find some way to accommodate everybody. I know that the community groups continue to come to us. Certainly we can't pay for all the groups who come and say, can you help us with the stage. They have their 18 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 programs, their Town Watch, committeemen, community people, block captains, and they just don't have the funds. It was hard enough for them maybe to get food or entertainment and all that, and they just can't afford it. But it seems to me if we maybe put our heads together we can come up with some way to accomplish both purposes. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Madam Chair, I'd like to share something. I will ask Deputy Commissioner Williams to correct me if I'm mistaken. For the record, I believe when we instituted this, we have granted, I believe, all advisory councils or community groups, I believe they get approximately three free shows throughout that year. So if they want to swap the shows amongst themselves, I don't know. But I didn't know if you were aware of that or Councilman Ramos, as well as in the community too.
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the 19 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 record.
My name is Carlton Williams, Deputy Commissioner for the Recreation Department. Good afternoon, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, Councilman. The groups that are affiliated with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, because they do such a great job in our parks, the events that they host are definitely considered recreation oriented. We wanted to try to control some of the costs of the event that required the use of a show mobile or electric line drops. One of the things that we had to do, though, because of the rising costs was to place a limit on the amount of events that we could support for free. We set that limit at three events, which means you could use a show mobile or a stage and get an electrical line drop for free at our neighborhood parks and recreation centers because, again, the work they're doing is for the community and definitely for the benefit of the Recreation Department. 20 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 These programs control crime, as you already know how much they do in the community. So we appreciate that. That was one of the ways that we tried to offset it. But to do it nine or ten times a year is just too much for our Department to support.
Thank you very much. We appreciate the job you do and our great Recreation Commissioner and your deputies and all that you do for our citizens. Thank you very much. Councilman Ramos.
I also want to add that we're probably one of the very few big City Recreation Departments that still provides all these amenities that other cities have given up on. We just have to find ways to keep up a lot of these things and not put it on the shoulders of taxpayers, but find other creative ways for us to be able to provide these stages and other things that mean a whole lot to our City full of neighborhoods. Keep up the good work. You have support from the Chairwoman of this 21 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Committee and I. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you.
Thank you. Gloria Jackson, Senior Assisting Managing Director. Gloria, I guess we've worked together through several Commissioners, longer than either of us want to admit. And we see Laurie Jones, also a Deputy Managing Director. Thank you. Identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony. Thank you for your patience.
Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and Members of the Committee. I am Gloria Jackson, Senior Assistant Managing Director. My primary responsibility is the coordination of special events. I appreciate having this opportunity to testify about non-profits', community groups' and block captains' ability to use stages, show mobiles and sound systems for community events at a nominal fee. I am joined today by the Managing Director's Chief of Staff, Laurie 22 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Jones, and representatives from the Department of Public Property and Recreation. The Administration believes that special events add to the vitality of the City of Philadelphia. A world class City has small and large communities and cultural events for its citizens and visitors to enjoy. The Managing Director's Office provides oversight of and coordination for more than 400 special events held annually in the City of Philadelphia. These events often require the direct involvement of the operating departments, as well as other non-operating departments, such as Public Property, Streets, Recreation, Police, Fire, Parks, L&I, Health, Risk Management and Law. The Managing Director's role in special events is two-fold. First, the MDO approves permits for special events. The permit process enables the MDO both to ensure consent among community members, especially with respect to festivals and block parties, and to ensure public safety by determining which streets can be closed and if police are 23 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 needed for traffic control. The City charges administrative fees for permits. I have attached applications for permits for block parties, festivals and special events to my testimony. The second role that the City plays in community special events is renting equipment, such as stages, show mobiles, sound systems, risers, bleachers, buntings and barricades. The City charges fees to cover some of the labor costs associated with setting up and dismantling equipment. The costs are based on the actual labor cost and our increase during holidays and weekends to account for overtime. I have attached a special events cost sheet also. During the past year the MDO outline departmental procedures by which we are able to determine the cost of both City and community-sponsored special events, enabling the City to seek reimbursements for the actual costs incurred for services for every non-City sponsored event, both for profit and non-profit entities. 24 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Since the inception of the special events policy in 1993, there had not been an increase in fees until this year. In over a decade the fees remained flat. Special events labor accounts for a significant portion of the overtime and some of the straight time budgets of departments such as the Recreation Department, the Department of Public Property, the Streets Department and Fairmount Park. It is for this reason that we thought it critical to quantify and attempt to recoup some of the labor costs associated with special events. In some cases the City secures equipment from private vendors on behalf of the public and passes on the charges. For example, the City's special events cost sheet includes prices for portable toilets. But the City does not own this equipment. The Managing Director has instructed me to explore expanding this practice; that is, he has asked that we consider doing what other large cities such as Chicago do, and provide the public with a list of potential vendors and restrict our work to simply permitting and 25 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 coordination. In addition to relieving departments' overtime budget and personal resources, this may spur enterprise in the City. Given the City's current fiscal crisis, it is critical that City departments recoup at least some of the costs associated with special events equipment rental.
If the City does not charge nominal fees for these services, other services to the City of Philadelphia will have to be reduced or eliminated. Our intention is to continue to support and facilitate community-sponsored special events, as these events enhance culture and improve the quality of life in our City's neighborhoods and promote unity in the City of Brotherly Love. We will be happy to answer any questions at this time.
Thank you. What is a riser and what is a bunting?
A riser is similar to a bleacher. It's the platform we use that's 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 about inches off the ground. It's a step up. Bunting is the skirts that you put around the stages to dress them up.
Okay. 6 Thank you. Do you know how many events that 7 you sponsored -- it's the same question I 8 basically asked Commissioner Richard -- let's 9 say in the last year or so far this year? 10
Where stages are used. In other words, Vic Richards said from January to December '03, there were 346 events, and so far in the books this year, 243. I'm trying to figure out how many stages you have and how much you use them as well.
My database basically covers all events. I would have to look at it and go through it to verify which we used stages for. But I would probably say 400 so far to date.
Public Property 27 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 doesn't have stages. We put them together according to the number of boards that we use. Each board, I believe, is approximately 4 by 8s. And we put them together depending on the size of the stage that's requested.
I tell you, I know from experience that I think people have been willing to endure a little increase. But my goodness, it went up drastically in one fell swoop, and that's what made it so difficult. I have a price chart. But maybe it costs $850 for a stage, that's what, 4 by 8?
4 by 8, it's $75 during the weekday rates and on the weekend it's $150. And 8 by 8 is $150. And on the weekend it's $300.
What costs $850? Probably a 16 by 32 or by 24. But on the 23 weekend they're $900. 24
I know it's a killer because I've had to pay for a few for 28 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 groups who can't. I didn't believe it had gone up to that degree. Having said that, do you have any thoughts on how we can do it more inexpensively? It seems to me we're still stuck because we need an electrician. But if we came up with a way to have some built and have some non-profit or community group or some organization store them and pull them out and maybe -- we have many ideas -- maybe so many per district, so many at-large. Do you have any ideas on what we can do to certainly service the citizens we represent and also help the City with regard to overtime cost?
Councilwoman, most of the staging goes in the street. And it has to be put up on Saturday or a Sunday, which is what's costly. If we can put up a stage on a vacant lot that they're using in the neighborhood, and someone is there, we can use straight time for that. The problem comes in, though, with our sound equipment. There has to be a technician with that sound equipment. We just don't loan out our sound equipment. 29 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Also an electrician. If they're doing an electrical drop, they have to be on location also. Just for liability.
I understand. Are there any further questions? Councilman Ramos.
Thank you, Ms. Jackson, for coming this afternoon. You've been around at least 10 years, right?
How have you seen the use of these stages over the last 10 years? Have there been around the same amount of requests or have the requests declined or have they gone up in the last couple years?
It has increased, Councilman, tremendously. I believe in the first year that we instituted the special events policy, I think we only had about 200-some events. And I've seen a steady increase every year since them.
Is the increase 30 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 coming from established organization groups or do you see an increase in more block party type of requests, you know, community-based groups, block captains associations? Do you see more of that than the bigger organizations that hold bigger events?
From the Northeast, Southwest, North Philadelphia, Kensington?
That's correct. And the sizes have increased also, their request for sizes.
I would venture to say that Councilman Ramos brings up a very important point, and that is as it costs more to do business, people don't have funds; therefore, they try to have events in their neighborhoods. They're forced to. And then having events in their neighborhoods cost 31 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 them money too and dollars they don't have. So we're really, as old folks used to say, between a rock and a hard place. Because people have to have affairs in their neighborhoods because they can't afford to go to amusement parks that cost a lot of money and travel to various places. We're really hopeful that out of all of this testimony together -- you gave a good idea about maybe setting up in a lot. So that may be helpful to try to ameliorate the problems. We're hoping that out of these hearings we can come up with a way to accommodate both interests. Thank you, Ms. Jones, as well. Any further questions? (No response.)
Julia Chinn, Cobbs Creek Block Captains Association. Thank you, Julia, for being here. 32 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Bill Haines, we have you next. Then Delores Fuggs, Belmont Improvement Association, or BIA. Thank you very much. It's always a pleasure.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And good afternoon to all of you. I'm not going to say that it's a pleasure to be here, but I am glad that I am here. At this point I feel like a bird with no wings. And I don't think you've ever seen a bird with no wings flying in the air. As I sat and listened to all of the things that took place here from everyone that has spoken so far, it took me back, all the way back to the times when we used to have a broom man sweep the alleys. We used to have a street swept when the trash was picked up. We were able at one time to use the fire hydrants when we needed to clean our own streets. And various other things. But at this point, I say, which way do we go now. It seems like everything that we've ever had has been taken away from us, whether 33 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 it be things in the neighborhood that concern cleanliness or crime or whether it's life-styles or bringing people together to make a better and a stronger community. For some reason we're cut off. I hear what you're saying about what you have and what you don't have and what you can't afford for us at this time. But I'm wondering, when will the day come that the City will be able to afford some of the things that we as a community need. We are the backbone in this community. And all of the things that we do here, I feel that it should be a help. It's strength for the City itself, because like I said, all of the things that I mentioned early on that you took away from us, I'm sure the monies for that went someplace go. Where did that money go? It's never money or anything out there it seems like when we need it or when we want it to do things. This is one of the life-styles. I hope that you will consider what you're saying about you don't have money in 34 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 the budget to do certain things for the communities. Do you realize that all of the things that we do is to prevent the crime in the community? Do you realize that it's the strength that we try to put together because we are Philadelphia? And if we were not Philadelphia and we didn't care, I don't even think that the Council would be as strong as it is today. We are your backbone. All we're asking for is a little bit of support from you to help us in our community. So my question still lies; where do we go from here?
Thank you very much. I certainly agree. I believe that it is the responsibility of government to provide for and to protect its citizens, and that when we have to cut, we don't cut on the backs of the neighborhood people who support the City and who do give it its reputation, and who, as you say, Ms. Chinn, are the City's backbone.
I would like to say that from 1979 up until now and even before then 35 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 when I saw a change coming about in the City I took a firm hand on my community. My name is Julia Chinn, and I do represent the Cobbs Creek area of West and Southwest Philadelphia. I am the president of the Concerned Block Captains of West and Southwest Philadelphia. I am the president of the Advisory Board at the Cobbs Creek Recreation Center. I am the founder of the organization of the Cobbs Creek Town Watch community organization, which has been in existence since 1979. We have all been pushing forward to do great things for our community. But there comes a time when we do need some help. So I'm going to ask you to please consider. You say that you're going to bring this down to a minimum. What is the minimal that you're saying you're going to bring it from for these stages that we can be able to perhaps once or twice a year use? If you bring it down to the minimum, what would the minimum be? Can anybody answer that question for me, please? Or have you really thought 36 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 about that as yet?
Well, as you may know, we wrote the legislation because the costs went up. We asked the City to consider a nominal fee, and obviously the City feels that they can't. So we're working on it. We're going to be working with the Administration to try to find ways to deal with the issue. It was our idea to bring the issue to the front because we realize that people need to have the right to enjoy their neighborhoods year round, and especially in the summer, and that they can't afford to pay the fees that stage use and a loud system call for. So we agree with you and all those hats you wear over the years. Certainly, we thank you for your commitment. Every time we've called on you, even when it's been homeless people in the rec center, you've always held your door open, always Christmas for the children and summer programs. You name it. 37 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 We agree with you. There has to be an answer, and it is our responsibility to find it. Thank you. Thank you for your commitment. Your words are well spoken and your words are certainly those we ought to consider.
Thank you. Bill Haines, 39th and Poplar Street Organization. Thank you, Mr. Haines. He's also a proud member of the 24th Ward. Thank you. Welcome.
I don't have too much to say about the stages and stuff because our organization, we usually do our own. We've got a professional electrician. We don't hardly use stages. I'm here supporting other communities that need that kind of help. Maybe we might need it later on, but right now, we're struggling, but we're doing pretty good. I hope that we can get together with it. 38 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909
Thank you. Thank you for coming too, Mr. Haines. Maybe we can call on you as we try to come up with a system to deal with the electric issue. Even if we could get stages, how we deal with the electrical systems being put in place, I think, is the challenge. So we'll stay in touch with you on that regard. And thank you very much. Thank you for your service over the years. Delores Fuggs, Belmont Improvement Association, or BIA, 4087 Lancaster Avenue. Welcome.
Thank you. Good afternoon. I'm here to say, we out in West Philadelphia, our community has been in disarray for a moment because we were closed. We're open now. We're struggling. We're doing good. But when it wasn't open, we were, like, falling apart, the community, the children in the community. Now that we have things to offer to the children in the community, like our community events, the children look forward to 39 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 this. This is why I'm here, for the children. They look forward to putting on their shows on our Unity Day, to get up on the stage. They have their fashion shows. They do their dance shows. They do their essays. Whatever. It's for our children. And I've been in our community for over 50 years, and as long as the children can do these things and stay off the street, I'm for it. So please help us get our stage and keep it at a nominal fee. Very little. Thank you.
Thank you. That's the definition. You and Ms. Fuggs say nominal fee means very little. When Belmont had its affair this summer, we were concerned because after we put the DJ on the little stage, there wasn't enough room for the children to stand on it to perform. So we still had a problem. Gregorio Cojulun, president of Malcolm X Park. Thank you for coming, Greg. He's president of Friends of Malcolm X Park. As you all know, this is our signature park in 40 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 West Philly. I love all my parks, but Malcolm X holds a special place. We know we have you out there, Commissioner, and Carlton, more than we should, but we're calling on you again. Please identify yourself for the record, Greg.
Thank you. My name is Gregorio Cojulun, Jr. I'm the president of Friends of Malcolm X Memorial Park. I would like to say that this year our park has been one of the most used parks in the City. We have been booked on Saturdays and Sundays from April until October. Every weekend we've had something going on in the park. We have had use of show mobiles on three different occasions. We've had people that wanted to use it, but the price was so high they couldn't afford it. We had our three events, which was the Easter egg hunt, Malcolm X Day and for our Gospel Fest. We would like to keep using them, but we can't afford the price for it because the price that they're charging -- as a matter of fact, I 41 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 think they were charging you $800, Councilwoman.
I'm telling these folks I'm broke. I need some help.
We're trying to get donations now. If they want to know, I already got three dates for next year for the show mobiles, if we could use them. So I'm just letting everybody know I've got certain dates already booked up for next year in the park right now.
We only told you it was a hundred. I'm telling you it was hard times. Hard times.
And I'd just like to say that when we use the show mobiles, the kids are fascinated. They love it. The crews that the Rec Department sends out, they're fantastic with the people, with us and everything. But we just can't afford to pay for one for an event.
Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming. As many of you know, we also have Malcolm X's 42 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 daughter who comes out to the park every year. That's another affair.
So at any rate, we thank you for your testimony and obviously agree. Carol Park, Bishop Robbie Brown, Alice Wright, United Block Captains; Cala Cuzar (ph), East Parkside Residents Association; Vanessa Brown, block captain. Thank you for your patience. Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record and make your testimony.
Good afternoon. My name is Cala Cuzar. I'm the president of the East Parkside Residents Association.
Good afternoon. My name is Alice Wright, and I'm the president of United Block Captains Association.
Thank you very much. We thank you for coming. Can you tell us how you feel about stages and the use thereof and about your community group and your request for using 43 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 them?
As you know, I'm very passionate about the children and the activities and things in our community. The stages and all, they cost too much for us to handle. Because as you say, by the time we hustle up for food and different things and maybe costumes and all for the children, there is no money for the rental of stages and things. We would like to see, as the other speaker said, a very nominal fee because the stages are very important in the community because everyone knows the children like to be up high. When they perform they want everyone to see them and see some of the things that they have done. That's why I would like to see the stages at a very nominal fee.
I also agree with Ms. Cuzar, that if the stages were a little lower, that we would be able to use the stages because it's very important to the children. Children like to be seen. If they're on stage 44 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 it makes a difference. It makes them proud. And we want to be proud of them. We want to be proud of our neighborhood. But paying that kind of money is just too much, and we just feel that the City should help us because without us it wouldn't be you. I feel that we should try to compromise in making some kind of compromise about this fee. Because if we stop using the stages, then there won't be any work for your workers. So I think that we need to come to a conclusion and try to work together and try to get this fee down so that everybody could be happy and we will continue to use the services. That's just the way I feel.
Thank you very much. We do know of all of your work and your commitment to the community, of the excellent job that you do for the youngsters, as well as seniors and others. We commend you for that and certainly appreciate your coming out here today to testify to us and to the Administration about this important issue. Thank you very much. 45 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909
Good afternoon, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, Councilman Ramos. I want to thank you for the opportunity to have me testify today about what is going on in the community. My name is Vanessa Brown, and I'm block captain and committeewoman in the 44th Ward. What's going on in the community is that we're struggling. We're struggling to hold on. What we do is try to work on drug reduction and crime reduction. And by doing this, we bring forth these activities to bring community unity. We don't have any money. We have passion. With that passion, we're putting bubble gum and tape on things to put something together. To have this fee be so high is just something that we cannot incur. It's another burden, another struggle on what we're trying to strive to do within our communities. We're just asking for the support of Council to find 46 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 some way to alleviate another burden, another hurdle for us to jump other. I was just sharing with the leaders in the community that we should all have Olympian medals because we are constantly leaping over hurdles, and at some point we have to win in the end. I'm just hoping that by us coming here and all of us banding together, that this will help the City to understand that we need their support. And I just want to thank you again for this opportunity.
Thank you very much. Do we have other folks who want to testify? Thank you very much for your patience. Thank you for coming. Norman, we know you're going to say something later. We know you didn't want to, but you volunteer out there at that wonderful park. You work with the Commissioner and do all of that full-time for no money. You've been the catalyst for changing the whole 47 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 neighborhood, so we want to recognize you and at least have you come up after. Thank you. Please identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony. Thank you for your patience.
Jackie Green, United Block Captains of East Parkside and East Parkside Residents Association. Thank you for this opportunity to come to speak to you this afternoon. I just recently moved back to Philadelphia from New York. I had been there, much longer there in New York than I was Philadelphia, even though I was born here. I came back in 1999. I moved here permanently in 1999 and immediately I joined an organization because I realized that the neighborhood did not look like the kind of neighborhood that I left when I left here in 1955. Becoming the block captain, I realized that there was very little praise and very little pay, but I realized that there was a lot of work that needed to be done in this neighborhood. 48 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 There is no money for block captains. We occasionally go knock on doors and ask people to contribute and give us money to have the alleys cleaned, to give us money to have the lots cleaned, give us money to do things for children in the neighborhood. The money is not there as always because people -- they're surviving. They're working. They're doing what they have to do to provide for their own families. But the block captain's job is always there, with money or without money. We're always there to help the quality of life in our neighborhood, the drug situations in the neighborhood, the squatters, the abandoned properties. So it's very important that we continue to work with our children to show them that there's a possibility of a change in a neighborhood. Without us they wouldn't realize that, because some of them come from situations where they very seldom, as you said, go anywhere during the summer or even leave the block. School and back, if they go to school at all. So it's important that we 49 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 have these various facilities offered to us in terms of the activities that we do in the neighborhood. I have come from the stage myself as well, so we know that when you put children on stage, it's uplifting to them. It gives them courage. It gives them faith to go on. So I appreciate if you come to agreement. I realize what it is to build a stage. I've traveled with a company, so I know what it is to pull stuff on and off, off the back of the truck and try to put lights up and try to get the curtains up and whatever else you need to do to get the show on the road. So if you can come to some agreement in terms of what these fees could be or what we can do also to help in terms of that. But without the block captains in the neighborhoods to do these kinds of things, it's really going to be rough. It's going to be a very bad summer or a very bad time for the children, not realizing to have something to uplift themselves with. So we would appreciate you looking into lowering the fee 50 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 if possible. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your excellent statement.
Hi, Jannie. It's good to see you. It's my first time really talking to you. I've seen you at a lot of events. I'm from Mantua. And there's been a lot of mishappenings.
You can tell she's from Mantua by the way she said it. Tell them where you're from.
Mantua. I've been in Mantua for 35 years and I've just decided to become a block captain in the last year or two. I feel as though we really need the stages. We need as much help as we can possibly have because the people in the community have not really been seeing any positive things happening. Me and Ms. Jenkins and Steve Hawkins, we've been trying to do the best that we can, but we also have been falling apart trying to get that together. I feel like if we had stages, the 51 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 stages would really help us because the people in the community would be like I was 35 years ago. We would all be like a reunion again. The people would start coming together, seeing each other, communicating with each other, finding out that love is the thing. You know? Even since I've been a block captain, it really has helped me to find out that love is what it's about. But, you know, with the killings and the shootings that are going on, we really need those stages because that represents togetherness. You know? That's mostly what our people know. You know? That's how we communicate, with music, with food, with dancing. That's how we show our love. That's what we're raised on. So I feel as though like that's just like a family reunion for us. So it's like a crime for me. It's like when you talk about us paying a lot of money for a stage. We don't have it. We're poor people. Most of us are low income. Where are we going to get the money from? So that is just I feel. Thank you 52 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909
Thank you very much. All that you say is very, very important, and that's talk about the difference of having stages. You crystalized it, what the difference of having stages means to neighborhoods. And it does help keep the peace because it does spread love and it does spread communication and it does show how we can communicate and get along together, support our elders, support our children. So the value far outweighs the cost that we really would like the City to bear. Having said that, we're going to continue to try to see what we can do to work something out. Thank you. Give your name again for the record, please.
Thank you. My name is Robert Cuzar. My mother spoke earlier. I'm a resident, a returning resident, like my 53 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 associate here, to Philadelphia. When I left Philadelphia back in 1984, I left this City because at the time I hated it. It had what I thought become something that was not appealing or attractive and it seemed dead end. Having traveled around the country and having spent many years in other large cities, I actually learned an appreciation for certain things that you have here that you might take for granted. As was mentioned earlier, cities like Chicago and other large cities that don't have similar services, those lack of services is what actually makes Philadelphia unique. There are things that, as I said, people may take for granted. As far as the stages, the buses and other matters, as far as previously having your streets swept, that actually helped to build a united community. This is called Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Sometimes in our day-to-day activities we forget that. With meetings like this, it's nice to be able to bring it back to say that 54 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 Philadelphia has been known for providing caring service, trying not to leave people behind, to those that need help, providing assistances for them. First of all, thank you for bringing this matter back up to review, instead of sweeping it under the rug like many other items have been swept under, where budgets have been increased and the neighborhood has simply been left behind. Thank you to you and all the board members for bringing up for discussion.
I want to thank you for those beautiful words about the City that I love. Because sometimes we hear testimony here from people, and a lot of times I don't say a word, but I say to myself, you know, what's going on with me that I don't see that part of this City. I know that it's easier to criticize our faults and our shortcomings. But in the big picture, this is 55 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 a very, very special place to live. We're doing a lot of things to make it better. So to hear you say that you left here because you didn't feel good about the City in 1984, but after you compared it to other cities, you came back home, i'm glad you're back home and that you continue to be involved. Only of the people in our neighborhoods can make this City, make your government better. And what better way to do it than not just to fight for your neighborhood, but come here to the center of where the laws are being made to say where you stand on something that's very important to you. It might not be very important to other people in this City, but the use of stages so that children can stand on those stages and perform, be elevated so they can be recognized and they can be looked at and parents can look at them and grannies can look at them and say, that's my baby, that means a lot to us Philadelphians. I appreciate you coming here and saying those kind words about this City.
Thank you. 56 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 I agree. Thank you very much. I believe we have one more person. Norman Ellis, I'm going to ask if you would come up for a moment. Anybody else who would like to testify? (No response.)
I'm asking Norman Ellis to come up because he always comes and never asks to speak. If any of you would like to see what volunteerism is about, you should go to 39th and Olive Street playground. The Commissioner and Carlton Williams and his entire crew know because there's been such a focus in that area. It's in Mantua. That neighborhood has been transformed. We have a program with Jane Golden and Mural Arts. We have physically -- as old folks say, you can go from can to can't -- we've had a change right there, certainly because of Norman Ellis. We don't have people who get paid there. So, you know, this is a case where one just gives and gives and gives. Yet whenever 57 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 we have anybody who has to move, whenever we need chairs, whenever we need paint up, whenever we need the bathrooms cleaned or painted, who's always there? Norman Ellis. So I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you do. We couldn't do it without you, and we thank you for your commitment.
Thank you, Jannie Blackwell. I want to thank Jannie Blackwell for all the work you did for us at 39th and Olive Street Playground. I am from the mansion. Thank you Deputy Commissioner Carlton and Commissioner. They gave me all the stuff to work with, the paint. We painted the whole building, the fence. We even have a summer program for lunches for the kids. We've been cleaning up the playground with our own money. We hire people with our money. People have been donating this money. We've been getting together. We do a lot of work at the 58 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 playground. Right now we're getting ready to lock it up at night to keep the drug dealers out of there. We are doing a great job up there. We've may have threatened a couple times, but we got that taken care of. So now everything is going good up there. It's really nice. Everybody loves the playground. The kids really enjoy it up there. But we do need that stage. So I hope we can keep the stage.
One more thing. Thank you, Deputy Commissioner, very much. You're doing a great job with us, for all the work you did working to help us. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. This was one of the playgrounds that was listed, the pool listed for closing. And it's new. We fought so hard to get it. I 59 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 turned on the TV one night at 2:00 a.m. and saw it listed and the picture on TV, and I was alarmed and upset. Immediately the next day we called Norman and said, we're fighting for your space. If ever there is a place that deserves to be and survive because of the obvious commitment that is shown, it is certainly 39th and Olive Street. So we thank you. We appreciate you. God bless. We love you. Thank you. (Applause.)
Is there anyone else who would like to testify? (No response.)
We want to thank you too for mentioning Mary Jenkins and Steve Hawkins. That's the mother of Mantua. Jackie, we want to thank both of you. You know, I learned a long time ago is what we feel for one another that will make the difference. It's only our love for one another and our concern for one another that 60 11/30/04 - FINANCE - RES. 040909 transforms life and that improves the quality of life and helps neighborhoods. So we appreciate all that all of you do. What we would like to do is try to go back and put our heads together with the other leadership in the City and volunteers in the community and come up with some way we can get around this thing. Because you know I'm one of those people who always tries to give what I have, but what can I do? We try to do our part, but obviously it's bigger than all of us in this room. We certainly understand the outside forces upon us. And so what we would like to do then is recess this hearing subject to the call of the Chair. We'll be in touch with you well-meaning folks to figure out what we can do. Thank you very much. God bless. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 4:12 p.m.) - - - - 61 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of November 30, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON FINANCE _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR