Councilman Kenney? 3/14/02 STATED - FINAL READING - BILL 020026
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A 3/14/02 STATED - FINAL READING - BILL 020027 majority of all members of City Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill being called for consideration is Bill No. 020027.
An ordinance authorizing the creation of a loan, or loans, to provide funds for and towards various capital municipal purposes, providing for obtaining the consent of the electors to increasing the indebtedness of the City of Philadelphia and fixing a day for holding the election for obtaining such consent, and providing for the arrangements for holding such election.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? The clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all motorcycles having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The final bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 020047.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-200 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "City Funds, Deposits, Investments, Disbursements," by amending Section 19-201, entitled "City Depositories," by requiring a statement of community reinvestment goals for low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? The clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Cohen? 3/14/02 STATED - FINAL READING - BILL 020047
Councilman Rizzo? 3/14/02 STATED - FINAL READING - BILL 020047
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all motorcycles having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes That concludes calendar for today. 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES
Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? (No speeches on the part of the Minority.)
Are there speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. Just for a moment, a matter of concern to me. I've been a very strong supporter of the war on terrorism. I thought the President led a tremendous coalition of countries in a very difficult, but very important, struggle. But I must say that I've become very disturbed recently about this nuclear saberrattling by the President, threatening other countries with nuclear warfare to be initiated by the United States if there are any threats coming from them. I think that that kind of threat is bad because of the huge dangers to the whole world's existence of nuclear weaponry. I think it's one thing to be a leader of the free world coalition of nations; it's something 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES else to assume the role of being the world policeman and to say, We're going to act no matter what any other countries do. So I'm just suggesting to everybody, let's keep listing, let's keep watching, and let's keep hoping that the United States returns to the policy of being a world leader, not a world bully. Thank you, Madam President.
Are there any other speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd just like to give my Council colleagues an update. Last year, they were courageous to pass by a unanimous vote Bill 715 on predatory lending, and although our state preempted the bill, the bill has had an impact nationally across this country. Many cities have passed forms of the bill, are working along with the ACORN group. The bills have taken various forms and shapes. 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES But an interesting story, and I will circulate, and have circulated, an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Weekly that the Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, in the face of her state passing a law that says local jurisdictions could not pass predatory-lending laws, anti-predatorylending laws, she and her council unanimously passed a predatory-lending bill to protect the citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, and told the State, if they want to, they could sue them, but they were going to protect their citizens. And I will tell you, it is a national problem. We're real pleased also to report that the predatory-lending issue has become a part of the national policy of the National League of Cities, and you will see it in the policy book, which will probably be sent to you by the National League of Cities. Again, I want to thank my colleagues for that vote and let them know that we may have lost that battle, but we have not lost the war; we are still waging it around the country. And they are recognized -- this Council is 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES always recognized for the work that we did and the vote that we gave to that issue. So, again, I say thank you very much.
Well, Councilwoman, you are to be credited with that. I think you worked very long and very hard to bring it to the attention of not only the members of this Council but, as you say, it's now being called to the attention of many, many other city councils. So we applaud you for getting so involved. You did a fabulous job. (Applause.)
Councilman O'Neill, did you want to be recognized?
Yes, please, Madam President. I would just like to go on the record as supporting the President and recognizing this country as a world leader, and I don't think it's anything we have to return to. We are clearly a world leader, the world leader. And to the extent that someone may report that the President is using bully tactics, it usually comes from a personal perspective, and I assume that the information the President is using 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES during a time of war is something that's a little more creditable than anything we have in this room. So I would want to make sure that the record reflects that Councilman Cohen's opinion is not unanimous, and at least one member of this Council disagrees with him. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the Minority or the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, I would also like to be counted basically on the same position as Councilman O'Neill, that the record shows that there are two members of this Council that support the President. Thank you.
You're very welcome. Councilman Ortiz, I see that your light is on.
Councilman Ortiz, do you want to be recognized? 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES
Yes. I wasn't going to say anything, but I think my colleague Dave Cohen expressed something that every American and every individual across the world should be concerned about. (Applause.)
When a country becomes a leader and becomes the most powerful nation in the world, does that mean that it gives them the authority to use that power in whatever way they deem necessary for their own interests, especially when you're talking about nuclear warfare, because just one mistake does not mean the end of Iraq; it could mean just the end of the world as we know it. And those of us who have read and lived through the 13 days of the John Kennedy crisis over the missiles in Cuba would understand what the holocaust of nuclear warfare can mean and what a policy of saber-rattling of the nature that is being done by this administration. And "the President, right or wrong" and "my nation, right or wrong," has never been a correct public policy and a correct national policy. The President is wrong, and it is 3/14/02 STATED - SPEECHES something that we need to begin looking at, talking about it, or else, we will be led down a road in which this nation and the people of this nation will have no say in whatever happens to them in the future. Remaining quiet at this point is not something that we can afford to do. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Are there any other speeches from members of the committee? (No further speeches.) 3/14/02 STATED - ADJOURNMENT
Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 21st, at 10 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until March 21, 2002, at 10 a.m. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it the motion carries. Thank you. (Proceedings end at 11:50 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, date 2002, are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING _______________________________, Josephine Cardillo Registered Professional Reporter and Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)