Very well said, brother Bilal Qayyum, and thank you for your service to the city of Philadelphia as well.
Thank you. Assalamu alaikum. My name is Abdul Hamid Siyam. I am the uncle of the deceased Nasrallah Abu Siyam. Nasrallah Abu Siyam is a Palestinian American, but he's not the first nor he will be the last. There are five Palestinian Americans were killed since February, 2024. And there are 117 killed outside being American -- Palestinian Americans. 1,117 killed since October 7th in the West Bank. I'm not talking about Gaza, which lost 72,000 and a 170 -- 1,000 were wounded. I'm talking about the West Bank. So if we don't stand with Palestinian Americans who are murdered by the settlers, then everyone is vulnerable. I want to say that I spend all my life with the United Nations as a staff and as a journalist. I am still accredited journalist to the United Nations. I spent my life on international law. Security Council passed Resolution 23 -- 34 on 24 December, 2016, last few days of Obama, calling the settlements are illegal and should be stopped. ICJ also passed a legal opinion on July, 2024 calling 7 settlements are illegal and it 8 should be banned. And calling on 9 Israel to dismantle its occupation. 10 You don't know what it means to 11 live under occupation. You don't 12 know what these settlers are doing. 13 They are killing us. They're 14 stealing our land. They're 15 stealing our goats. With this 16 attack on Nasrallah and killing 17 him, they stole 350 goats from the village. They also destroyed 71 olive trees. I want to say, my friends, that when justice is attacked, silence is treason. We should stand -- the power of law or the law of power. We should stand together and pressure all those elected officials to stand with justice. None one single Palestinian American killed has been -- has been investigated. Thank you very much.
Good morning, Council President, members of City Council and Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore-Richardson. My name is Erin O'Brien Hofmann and I'm a proud union painter with District Council of 16 the International Union of Painters 17 and Allied Trades, where I serve as 18 the Director of Member Engagement, 19 the coordinator for WINC, Women in 20 Non-Traditional Careers 21 pre-apprenticeship program. And I am honored to stand here today in support of this resolution recognizing Women in Construction Week. For many years, construction was seen as a field where women just didn't belong. Today, that is changing. And it is changing because we are intentionally creating pathways and opportunities. Through programs like WINC, we introduce women to careers in skilled trades and provide the training, mentorship, and support that they need to succeed. What we see is powerful. Women building confidence, building careers and building a better future for their families. These are careers that provide family sustaining wages, strong benefits and long-term stability. When we invest in women entering into the Philadelphia Union building trades, we strengthen our workforce, our unions and our communities. Thank you to Councilwoman Gilmore-Richardson for recognizing Women in Construction Week and for helping to elevate the incredible women who are helping build Philadelphia every single day. Thank you.
Hello. Butch Bennett, but my name is Desmond Frith, and I will be speaking on his behalf today. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmembers and Council President, for allowing me to speak on his behalf today in support of Women in Construction Week. The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council is an umbrella organization for more than 50-member local unions that work in the construction industry in the greater Philadelphia region. Within these local unions, there are great career opportunities with great benefits, as well as long lasting connections to be made for women in these trades. Being a woman in the trades allows for one to hold a job and title that will give you pride and dignity, speaking from experience. Thank you and have a great day.
Will Leslie K. Whitby, Charles Freeman, Roseanne Milanes, Basam Keyed and Sael Keyed, please make your way to the podium.
Good morning, Council President, members of City Council and fellow residents of the city of Philadelphia. My name is Kimura Anderson and I proudly stand before you serving as the President of the National Association of Women in Construction, Philadelphia Chapter 4 145. I also work as the Director of Human Resources and Union Affairs for Clements Construction Company. I happily spend my career advocating for workforce development, opportunities, inclusion within the male dominated construction field. I stand before you today respectfully asking for the support and encouragement for the city of Philadelphia to officially recognize the first week in March during Women's History Month as the National Association of Women in Construction, Women in Non-Traditional Careers, National Association of Black Women in Construction and Professional Women in Construction Week. This recognition is important -- excuse me -- because it shines light on thousands of women who are contributing every single day to industries that have historically been male dominated. Women across Philadelphia are working as carpenters, electricians, engineers, project managers, superintendents, safety professionals, and a host of other positions. While progress has been made, women still represent a small percentage in the construction workforce nationally. Recognition from this council help send a powerful message to our young women and girls throughout Philadelphia, saying to them, there is a place for you in this -- in one of these careers. When we acknowledge women in construction and non-traditional careers, we are doing more than just celebrating individuals. We are encouraging the workforce development community, promoting economic opportunities, and expanding pathways to family sustaining careers. Thank you to Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore-Richardson for her continued support every year on this initiative, and we appreciate the support of City Council. Thank you so much.
Good morning to everyone, and happy Women in Construction Week. I am Leslie K. Whitby and I'm speaking on behalf of Women in Construction -- sorry, Women in Construction Week resolution. I'd like to thank Council President Johnson for the opportunity to speak and to thank Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson for introducing this resolution. I'm honored to serve as the President of Professional Women in Construction Philadelphia Chapter. I'm also proud to be a founding board member in this incredible organization. About nine years ago, I realized something important. In a -- in a region as vibrant and innovative as Philadelphia, there wasn't a professional organization from women in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry that truly met my professional and personal needs. I wanted a space where women could connect, support one another, and grow together in an industry we are -- where we are still minority. So instead of waiting for that organization to exist, we decided to create it. In 2018 with the help of passionate and diverse group of professional women, we launched the Philadelphia Chapter of Professional Women in Construction. From the very beginning, our vision was simple but powerful. Every woman has a story to share, whether you're just beginning your career or you're a seasoned professional. Each of us brings unique experiences, perspectives, and strengths to this industry. Women in construction may still be the minority, but our voices are stronger than ever and they continue to grow. At PWC Philadelphia, our mission is to connect, promote and advance women in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. We do that by bringing together both women and men from across architecture, engineering and construction and affiliated firms through educational programs, networking opportunities and meaningful conversations that help move our industry forward. But what makes this -- but what makes this organization truly special is the -- sorry. Professional Women in Construction is a platform where people build relationships, expand their networks and support one another in careers. It's a place where mentorship happens and opportunities create and lasting friendships are formed. Thank you.
Good morning, Council President Johnson and City Council. My name is Charles Freeman and I'm here to represent Bill 250843. I'd like your idea, Councilman Johnson, about locking the dumpsters. I live in the 3rd Division, 11th Ward, 8th Councilmanic District, where we have constantly people putting trash out that they know that the sanitation boys will not pick up. And I really wholeheartedly support the first step that you're taking to lock this trash business down. I've never seen a city being defeated by trash, and we need more input. I suggest that if the sanitation boys don't pick up this illegal trash, they should call it in themselves. And that will help us reel in who these people are and help us keep this city clean. I've been a volunteer of you for over 50 years, playing in this trash. And I definitely support your Bill 250843, and I hope that we can work together and get stronger so that we can keep this city clean. And I thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Charles Freeman, just real quick. I would love to take credit for it because you've given a lot of good accolades, but the author of the bill is Councilmember Mark Squilla. Mark Squilla, could you just be acknowledged that that's your bill. Okay, sir.
Thank you, sir. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Roseanne Milanes and I'm the Director of Guardianship Grand Families and Victim Services at Senior Law Center. Senior Law Center is a nonprofit public interest law firm seeking justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community, and advocating on local, state, and national levels. Thank you for allowing us to comment on Councilmember Landau's resolution declaring this first week in March as National Consumer Protection Week in the city of Philadelphia. Elder abuse and financial exploitation cross every racial, ethnic and social economic line. In 2024, older adults aged 60 and older in the US lost $4.8 billion, the largest amount of any of the other age groups. In 2024, Pennsylvania, consumers of all ages lost the most to investment scams, business imposters and romance scams. Senior Law Center understands the devastation the older adult population faces when they're financially exploited. Many older adults are on fixed income, paying for mortgages or rent, healthcare and medication expenses, daily living expenses, and sometimes caring for their grandchildren and great- grandchildren. For some older adults, being taken advantage of is not just about losing money; it means waiting for their next monthly social security or pension check to be able to pay for their housing, to pay for a meal or to pay for vital medication. To address this crisis, Senior Law Center provides legal services to older Philadelphians to intervene and stop abuse and financial exploitation. We do this through reporting fraud or identity theft, reviewing bank statements and contacting those financial institutions, placing fraud alerts and credit freezes, filing claims to recover stolen funds and filing quiet title actions where there is deed fraud. We also link older adults to other resources and supportive services. Again, with the billions of dollars lost to fraud and identity theft each year, and with the largest proportion of loss coming from the older adult population, we welcome bringing awareness, education, and support from our local leaders. Thank you.
Will, Lisa Haver, Sister Talia, Kalisa Harris and Alex Pezanowski please make your way to the podium. MALE VOICE 1: No paper, no phone. I'm speaking straight from the heart. This is my nephew, Nasrallah Abu Siyam, killed the first day of Ramadan, February 18th, by illegal settlers that come onto our village, try to occupy our land, steal our sheep, burn our homes, burn our cars. All we wanted was justice for my nephew. As a Philadelphia native, he had his whole life ahead of him at the age of 19, and all we wanted for him is to live a good life. His horse, which he rode every single day, now refuses to take any riders. That horse, which is an animal, is also in mourning for its owner. All we want is justice, and hopefully, hopefully we get justice from my nephew, where I can be able to call his mom and dad, who are mourning every single day, and tell them that we got justice for your son. Thank you. MALE VOICE 2: Good afternoon, Councilman and city of Philadelphia. Seems like a lot of great resolutions have been passed today. Congratulations. I want to thank the council and specifically Councilman O'Rourke and Landau for passing the resolution for my cousin Nasrallah Abu Siyam, who was murdered in Palestine. This is the unfortunate history in Palestine for over 80 years now. Constant death every single day. They come to our villages, whether it's Israeli settlers or Israeli soldiers, and just do whatever they want. Whether it's a checkpoint that stopped my cousin from getting to the hospital in time over two hours and just bled to death. We as Americans, where we're giving billions of dollars to the Israeli government to kill our people in Palestine, whether they're Palestinian or American citizens, we need to put an end to this. And I think if people rise up and are aware of what their money is going to and actually have a real boycott against this state of Israel, that's committing a holocaust in Gaza and has been ongoing killing for over 80 years, they don't see Palestinians as equal to them. They see us as animals. They're calling out in the public for the death and killing of the Palestinian people. So I would hope the people of Philadelphia and in the US rise up and divest from anything to do with Israel, whether it's financial, whether it's, you know, entertainment, art. We need to really take a stance. And I think that if we divest and put Israel in its place, that we can have, like we had in South Africa, justice, but we need to take a stance. It starts at the council level, then it goes to the Congress level, and from there, and I think with the people rising, we can bring about change in the -- in Palestine. And don't let anybody fool you. This is a Muslim-Arab issue between Jews. We have a lot of Jewish people that stand for Palestine, that stand for justice, and it's, as the great Martin Luther King said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Thank you so much.
Good morning. Thank you. My name is Lisa Haver. I'm here on behalf of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools. And I sent to all the Councilmembers this week a report from the alliance -- sorry, got to pick up the monstrosity -- about something called Accelerating Opportunity. The School District of Philadelphia's facilities master plan. There's a lot of shocking things about that plan, but the title of our article was Nobody Wants This, They Don't Care. And that is absolutely true because every meeting that APPS members went to, I know the Councilmembers went to, you never heard anybody say, I'm in favor of closing this school. Keep in mind, please, that there were only meetings on school closures. There are a ton of grade band changes where schools going from a K-5 to a K-4, or a K-5 to a K-8. There were no meetings at any of those schools. I have friends who still teach in some of those schools. They didn't know anything about it. The meetings were all wrapped up. And they got an email the day after last week's board meeting saying, we just want to let you know that when the board votes on this, which by all indications will be in about three weeks, your school has been slated for grade band change. Nobody said they wanted it. Nobody got to have a meeting to say, I'm not sure about this. It's done. It's a shocking, shocking plan. I want to thank the Councilmembers who came last week. I want to especially thank Councilmember Bass, who was sick, and Councilmember Gauthier, who was there till the bitter end and saw me and some other APPS members testify in the wee small hours of Friday morning. I'm going to be here. You know I'll be here. I would love to talk to any of you, all of you, about this. But it is a shocking plan for many, many reasons. And I think the main reason is it treats the students as collateral damage. There is not a single reason open to any page. There is no reason for them to do what they're doing to any school. Thank you very much. Thank you.
You have two minutes. State your name for the record please.
Peace and blessings. Assalamu alaikum. Ramadan Mubarak, everyone. First, I want to say thank you to City Council and also special thank you to Councilwoman Gauthier for even recognizing the Philadelphia Masjid and all the hard work and being a part of the growth and the resilience of the Masjid. My name is Sister Talia Taylor, president of the City of Dreams Coalition, and also Director of Community Engagement at Level Up Philly. I rise today in support of the resolution of recognizing the 4,700 block of Wyalusing Avenue as the Philadelphia Masjid Way. This recognition is important because institutions like the Philadelphia Masjid on the 4,700 block of Wyalusing Avenue have been anchors in our community for generations. More than 50 years, it has been a place where faith, discipline, service, and leadership has been cultivated. In neighborhoods like ours, these spaces are more than places of worship. They are places where young people find directions, families find support, and communities find unity. Naming this block Philadelphia Match Your Way is not just about a street sign, it is about honoring a legacy of faith, resilience, and service that has helped shape West Philadelphia. It recognizes the elders who have built this foundation as these beautiful jewels right here that basically raised me. But it recognizes the elders who built this foundation and the generations of young Muslims who will continue to carry it forward. At City of Dreams Coalition, our mission is to meet people where they are and help them rise. Institutions like the Masjid have been doing that work quietly and faithfully for decades. Today we acknowledge the impact and ensure that its legacy is permanently reflected in the fabric of our city. Thank you to Councilwoman Gauthier, City Council, Councilman Curtis Jones, for all the work he has done amongst the Muslim population and recognizing the value of this history for uplifting the communities that continue to make Philadelphia strong. Thank you so much. Assalamu alaikum.
Assalamu alaikum. Ramadan Mubarak. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Kalisa Harris and I'm honored to stand before you today, not just as a speaker for the youth, but as a secretary of the Muslim Student Association at the luxurious first Black HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Today's recognition of Philadelphia Masjid way is more than just naming of a street. It is a celebration of faith, active service, and community. For over 50 years, this Masjid has stood as a place of worship, guidance, and unity for countless individuals and families. It has nurtured generations with values of compassion, discipline, education, and commitment to serving others. Additionally, the Philadelphia Masjid has also played a huge part in guiding the youth to Islamic way of life. Lastly, I don't just stand here as an advocate for Muslims; I stand here to speak for the youth. Thank you.
Will Ogbonna Hagins, James Aye and Mona Baishya. Please make your way to the podium.
Hello. My name is Alex Pezanowski. I spoke here before letting these guys know that I've been targeted by the Philadelphia Police Department and other government entities. And this is pertaining to, you know, what everybody is talking about with Palestine and ICE and everything. I just feel as though it's unfair that you guys are having more of a --
How are you doing, Alex? The bill 6 that say you're speaking on focuses on property acquire certain parcels to be released to the Philadelphia School district. So could you speak on topic?
Not really because it's just unfair that you guys just keep targeting me and there was a whole news report about how you guys want to focus on getting ICE out of Philadelphia. But you guys are following me around all day every day. I just got arrested for --
I'm just trying to get you to speak on the topic.
I'm just saying I got arrested for, you know, this ordeal that you guys have brought on --
But I also say this, sir, I'm just doing protocol following Council agenda. But just hear me out. Just hear me out. If you want somebody to talk to you about your issue directly, I have one of my staff pull you to the side and we can get to the bottom of the actual issue you're talking about. Okay. Understood. Thank you, sir. Mr. Ogbonna Hagins, please come up please. I understand, beloved. Have a good one. God bless. Mr. Ogbonna Hagins, please begin your remarks, sir.
Good morning, everyone. I'm a fourth-generation chattel slavery survivor, and my name is Ogbonna Hagins. I reviewed Bill 251025, introduced by Councilmember Driscoll, regulating the direction of traffic on Ryan Avenue between Leon Street and Frankford Avenue. Traffic regulation is a basic responsibility of city government.
Traffic regulations is a basic responsibility of city government. Streets must function safely and the city has the authority to determine how traffic moves through its neighborhoods. But when we talk about regulating streets in Philadelphia, we also have to acknowledge the broader system of parking enforcement that shapes how those streets function every day. That system is the Philadelphia parking authority. For years, the state control PPA 23 has extracted millions of dollars 24 from Philadelphia residents through tickets, boots, tolls, suspensions, often from neighborhoods least able to absorb it. Now, let me recenter this directly to the subject of this bill, the city regulation of its streets. Because while the city determines how streets operate, a state authority controls the parking enforcement, the parking enforcement systems that operate on those same streets, and collects the revenue from it. And guess what? Philadelphia doesn't get it. That arrangement has existed for decades without local accountability and without any obligation to reinvest those revenues in communities that paid them. Nothing in law prevents this city from reclaiming control of its own parking authority. Nothing in law prevents you from doing it. And if you want to know how you can do it, you can contact my organization. We should want that revenue back in the city, right? And contact the Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freemen and we can consult you on how to get -- I think it's like $250 million or more that the state gets that could be coming to Philadelphia. I think that money should be spent right here. It could be much well spent here in the city of Philadelphia that produces all that revenue. If you want any information, I have flyers here that you can read about our political wellness checker --
Hey, good afternoon, Councilmembers. First, I do want to thank Council President for allowing us here. But I want to do a special thank you to Councilmembers Gauthier and Phillips for our work and giving us the citation today. But also, because this is Women's History Month, I'm not a fan of taking up space for women. So what I want to do is I want to introduce one of my colleagues, Mona, who's going to talk a little bit more about YEAH Philly. So I appreciate you all.
I wanted to touch on some of my experiences since I've started working with YEAH Philly.
Could you -- could you say your name for the record, please?
Oh, yeah. Dr. Mona Baishya, VCI Research Director at YEAH Philly. I wanted to touch on some of my experiences that I've -- since I've started working with YEAH Philly, specifically with what I personally experienced regarding GPS and probation. I've heard the phrase duplication of services many times in the six short months that I've been at YEAH as the research director. What does that mean? It assumes that the things YEAH Philly wants to do are being done by probation. YEAH Philly looks at core needs, addresses them. And this includes things like court advocacy, getting young people enrolled back in school, connecting them with mental health resources, job resources, literacy resources, buying clothing, making sure families have food and beds and better living conditions. And now I just want to share one anecdote. I have a lot of anecdotes, but this is the one that came to mind when I was thinking about what I wanted to say today. I don't get to handle a lot of cases directly, simply because my role is to manage the data and keep a tether to all the young people who are at the VCI, the Violent Crimes Initiative. But it was important for me to learn what case management looked like. So I had a caseload of one, Jamar. Jamar is a great young person. His mom makes amazing banana pudding and somehow she found out that I had a doctorate through one of our community partners. And at this point in our relationship, she calls me Doc Big Sis, which warms my heart every time I hear it. Jamar was on probation and GPS when he came to YEAH and Jamar came to YEAH looking for ways to earn money. He held a job, he regularly goes to school. We would go to his court dates, his PO would show up and barely say hi, and it honestly felt avoidant. Jamar would tell me that his PO never answered his phone. So what was the function of probation in this case? Just to check in on court dates. No other "how are you doing," and "what do you need?" Do you think his PO knows that Jamar likes R&B and plays basketball? And do you think that his PO knows about his mother's banana pudding? The difference between how we move at -- how we at YEAH move and probation moves is exactly this. We show our young people love, real love. The Ralph Bradley kind of love, the Daniel Loeb kind of love, the Corey Curtis kind of love, Kamal Pet kind of love, the James A. kind of love. Kendra, Paris, Nafis, or Ramirez, the "big doc sis" kind of love, the YEAH Philly kind of love. Thank you.
Council President, this concludes our listing for public comment for today.
Thank you very much. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the second reading and final passage calendar. Will the chief clerk, please read the title of Resolution 8 No. 260136.
A resolution 10 also naming the 4,700 block of Wyalusing Avenue as Philadelphia Masjid Way in recognition of over 50 years of faith, service, leadership, and community excellence.
The Chair recognizes the Councilmember Jamie Gauthier for motion regarding Resolution No. 20 260136.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Resolution No. 5 260136 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion carries, the resolution 12 is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title of the Resolution No. 15 260139?
A resolution 17 calling on the PA General Assembly to take swift and decisive action to pass Pennsylvania Senate Bill 20 110, known as Brian's Law, to amend the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to extend line-of-duty death benefits to surviving spouses and children of first responders who die from job-related trauma, including PTSI- related suicide, ensuring equitable treatment for their families.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion regarding Resolution No. 260139.
Thank you, Mr. President. And it does not fall on deaf ears that we had a major fire in the city of Philadelphia in my district on Hazelhurst Street, where nine first responder firemen were hospitalized. So post-traumatic stress, whatever these provision that you put forth, it will address that. I move for the adoption. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded. The Resolution No. 260139 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
6 Those opposed? The ayes have it. 7 The motion carries. The resolution 8 is adopted. 9 Will the clerk please read 10 the title of Bill No. 250843? 11
An ordinance 12 amending Chapter 10-700 of the 13 Philadelphia Code, entitled Refuse 14 and Littering to require locking 15 dumpsters, all under certain terms 16 and conditions. 17
18 The Chair recognizes Councilmember 19 Mark Squilla for a motion. 20
21 Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like 22 to offer an amendment to Bill No. 23 250843. A copy of amendment has 24 been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill 7 No. 250843 be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the bill has been amended. This bill will be placed with the final passage calendar for our next session of Council. Would the clerk please be the title of Bill No. 250917.
An ordinance 20 amending Section 14-529 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled 5th District Overlay District to provide for building requirements to prevent vacant lots, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair recognizes the Councilmember Young for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill 8 No. 250917. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill 16 No. 250917 be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the bill has been amended. This bill will be placed on our final passage calendar for the next session of Council. Will the clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250980?
An ordinance 4 amending chapter 9-3900 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled Property Licenses and Owner Accountability by requiring non-resident landlords to provide verifiable contact information, and a designated local contact, and establishing penalties for non-compliance, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips for a motion.
Thank you, Council President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 250980. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill 4 No. 250980 be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the bill has been amended. This bill will be placed on our final passage calendar for our next session of Council. The clerk will now read any additional resolutions on today's calendar.
Council will be at ease. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nicholas O'Rourke.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just step up for a second. I want to be voted, aye, for all bills I may have missed while stepping out.
It shall be recorded voting aye on all bills and resolutions for Mr. O'Rourke.
Sorry. Please record me as voting aye on all bills and resolutions.
It shall be recorded voting aye on all bills and resolutions. Councilmember Brooks?
Same, Council President, I would like to be voted, aye, on all bills and resolutions.
Will be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions. Chief Clerk, please resume.
A privileged resolution, honoring and recognizing Shelice's Angels for its work empowering young women by expanding their horizons, building self-esteem, and providing resources, mentorship, and exposure to opportunities beyond their immediate environments introduced by Councilmember Phillips.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution will be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anybody opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution Honoring and recognizing Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout, YEAH Philly, for its work, advancing community-based violence prevention, youth leadership, and healing-centered engagement with black youth in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Phillips.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember, Dr. Anthony Phillips for a motion on the resolution.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will Chief Clerk, please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution congratulating and honoring the Deborah Grand Chapter 20 of the Order of the Eastern Star during Women's History Month for 126 years of women-led service to the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, introduced by Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore- Richardson for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the Resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution recognizing March 1st through the 7th 2026, during Women's History Month as Women in Construction Week in the city of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Majority the Katherine Gilmore- Richardson for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of all the women in construction, I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution honoring and recognizing the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Incorporated Pennsylvania Chapter NC100 BWPA on their annual legislative day, and for their dedication to advancing gender and racial equity, and empowering Black women during Women's History Month, introduced by Councilmember Jones.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for motion on the -- on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Would Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution declaring March 1st through the 7th as National Consumer Protection Week in the city of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read title for the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring the life of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a Palestinian- Philadelphian who was fatally shot in the village of Mukhmas in the occupied West Bank on the first day of Ramadan, introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Rue Landau for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I co-introduced this with Councilmember O'Rourke, and I move for the adoption. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title for the next resolution?
A privileged resolution celebrating Cecilia Thompson, Dolores Brown Waters, Yvonne Hughes, Isley Laverne Baskerville, and Black women fighting for disability justice and accessibility for all across Philadelphia on the occasion of Women's History Month, introduced by Councilmember Brooks.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brooks for motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title for the next resolution?
A privileged resolution proclaiming the month of March, 2026 as Irish Heritage Month in the city of Philadelphia, and honoring Daniel J. Hilferty for his commitment to advancing the Irish American community and service as the Grand Marshal leading the 254th St. Patrick's Day parade on March 15th, 2026, introduced by Councilmember Driscoll on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Michael Driscoll for a motion on the resolution.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title for the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring and recognizing the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks during Women's History Month, and further commending the Lack's family for their advocacy in reaching historic settlements with pharmaceutical companies, and helping to advance national conversations about medical ethics, racial equity, and patient's rights, introduced by Councilmember Bass.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Anyone opposed? The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
There are no 17 further resolutions in my possession, Council President.
Thank you very much. Are there any speeches on behalf of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. Today is our first stated meeting of Women's History Month, and I am continuing my office's tradition of honoring women who are making history right here in Philadelphia. I introduced a resolution 8 today to recognize Black women leading the fight for more accessible city for all of us. I spent much of my career focused on people with disabilities. And now firsthand, I'm getting -- I know firsthand that getting basic accommodations, accommodations that are guaranteed by federal law is far more difficult than it should be. People with disabilities are ignored, dismissed, and discriminated against on a regular basis. That is the reality in Philadelphia. And these women have refused to accept this as the status quo. They have spent their lives standing up for their children, their loved ones, and all Philadelphians with disabilities. They are making history, just like many Black women before them, by securing resources for our communities, holding powerful people accountable, and demanding justice. I'm so proud to kick off this Women's History month by honoring and celebrating Cecilia Thompson, Dolores Brown Waters, Ivan Hughes, and Isley Laverne Baskerville. I also want to thank my colleagues who are planning to attend this evening's people's hearing on reproductive health. We -- as we reflect on everything that women have fought for and won in the past, we must pay attention to what women are going through right now. Health clinics are closing, Medicaid is being cut, and people in our communities are facing the consequences. We will hear about this directly from Philadelphians at tonight's hearing. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there. We are at capacity for enrollment, so I ask folks, if you're interested in tuning in, please feel free to tune in via livestream on our Facebook@councilmemberkendrabrooks. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much. The speech is on behalf of the majority. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore-Richardson.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Today, as I do each year during Women's History Month, I introduced a resolution recognizing March 1st through March 7th, as Women in Construction Week here in the city of Philadelphia. Women in Construction Week aims to amplify, educate, and inspire current and future generations of women to join and excel in the construction trades, something you all know that I care deeply about. In that spirit, I wanted to take a moment to recognize some of the individuals and organizations who were here with us today, and thank them for their ongoing support. Of course, we had Erin O'Brien-Hofmann from DC21, National Association of Women in Construction, represented by Kimora Anderson, the Philadelphia Chapter 22 of Professional Women in Construction, represented by Leslie Whitby, the National Association of Black Women in Construction, who I had an opportunity to share a time with last Saturday, represented by Carla Hill, who was also joined today by Youth Build Philadelphia. And of course, the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, represented by Ms. Frith, who was representing Butch Bennett on behalf of Local 98 and the laborers and all of the Philadelphia Building and Construction's Trade Council. I have to shout out, of course, the carpenters who continue to do great work. And finally, the Philadelphia Council of the AFLCIO. I appreciate each and every one of you for joining us today. We have additional activities once Council concludes. We're looking forward to a good time. Secondly, Council President, I wanted to mention for my colleagues, and particularly for our district colleagues, that today, I'm continuing to build on the ongoing work to address quality of life issues here in our city in meaningful and in lasting ways, and particularly, as it relates to the illegal smoke shops that we are plagued with here in the city of Philadelphia. You know that I've said this time and time again, these businesses have been fueling crime, they operate without community approval, they are exposing our young people to some dangerous products that we don't even know what's inside of these products. And they're really, really holding our neighborhoods and our commercial corridors back. And for years, I've worked with many members of this legislative body to strengthen enforcement and crack down on these establishments. And we have made meaningful and important progress, and I appreciate the work that we all have continued to do. But we know that our work is far from complete. So today, I introduced two new pieces of legislation. And I want to thank, in particular, my colleague who has worked with us on this legislation from day one, Councilmember Brian O'Neill, and for all the help and support of his team, and his legislative staff. If you don't know, he is a zoning guru. He knows everything about zoning in the city of Philadelphia. So thank you to him and to his team. Also, to my colleague, Councilmember J. Young, who has been working tirelessly in his district on this issue, as well as Councilmember Jones, my district Councilmember, who has been working on this, I know since 2021, since that tour in North 54th. And then also Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips, who has worked very closely with my office. And finally, I must mention Councilmember Cindy Bass, who has done a lion share of this work prior to me being a member of City Council. But the two new pieces of legislation would establish accountability for commercial landlords who rent illegal smoke shops and create a definition of intoxicating substances in our Philadelphia Code, including Hemp products and Kratom.
The first bill, the Illegal Smoke Shop Accountability bill is modeled after similar successful enforcement legislation used in New York City, and it would add a new section to our Philadelphia Code, allowing the city to take action against commercial landlords who knowingly allow illegal smoke shops to operate in their properties. The second bill, the Intoxicating Substances Bill, would add a new section to the Philadelphia Code that creates definitions for intoxicating substances for Hemp-derived products and for Kratom. And it clarifies the city's current rule that products with intoxicating substances are considered adulterated and cannot be sold until they are considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration. And it will create an intoxicating substance retailer license, limiting where these FDA-approved products can be sold, and ensuring that as a city we know who's selling them, and where they're selling these products. It also sets a and over age limit 5 for the sale of these products. 6 And so together, these two 7 new pieces of legislation will 8 really strengthen our enforcement 9 mechanisms and ensure that we are 10 using every tool in our toolbox to 11 continue to make our community 12 safer and support their long-term 13 wellbeing. 14 And I look forward to 15 continuing to work with my Council 16 colleagues to hold these bad actors 17 accountable, and to ensure our 18 neighborhoods are places where 19 families, businesses, and 20 communities can grow and thrive. 21 And I wanted to mention on the record for our district colleagues that this legislation, the second bill, was derived from and modeled after the medical marijuana legislation that was introduced by Councilmember Jones. And so if you read the text version of the bill as introduced, you will see that it's modeled directly off of that bill, which is why our office reached out to every district Councilmember in writing yesterday to know -- so you know that we are ready, willing, able, and prepared to work with each of you to ensure that the corridors you would like addressed in the legislation will be addressed. But I don't want you to think that we were just looking at, you know, the 4th, the 5th and the 10th, it's just that the legislation was modeled off of other legislation in the code, and so now we'll work through that process as we move hopefully towards the hearing phase and alternate passage of the legislation. So thank you very much, colleagues. Thank you, Council President, and our work certainly continues.
Thank you. Good work. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. As I stated earlier, we were able to honor Zaire Franklin, NFL Pro baller, for his incredible work in the city of Philadelphia. His mother was a stalwart in his life, and he honored her by creating a foundation that empowers young women. So we want to continue to push him to do great things. I would be remiss if I didn't mention something important about Zaire. As I noted earlier, he's a graduate La Salle College High School, and as someone who also went to La Salle, I feel obligated in the interest of full transparency to note that some of the best people come from there. And I mean, look at the evidence. An NFL player giving back to the community, and now myself introduced a resolution about it, I think Brown O'Neil would agree. So -- but all seriousness, thank you, Zaire, for all the work that you do. The second resolution 18 recognizes, YEAH Philly, Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout, for their work, advancing community-based violence prevention and youth leadership, founded by Kendra Van Day Water, and James Aye. YEAH Philly provides safe spaces, mentorship, workforce opportunities, and healing-centered support for young people, ages 4 to 24, who have been impacted by 5 violence. 6 They serve hundreds of 7 young people each year, helping 8 them resolve conflicts and create 9 pathways towards the stability and 10 opportunity. 11 I also want to acknowledge 12 Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who 13 is the primary co-sponsor of this 14 resolution since YEAH Philly 15 operates in the 3rd Councilmanic District. We're grateful for her partnership and leadership. Colleagues, these organizations represent the very best of Philadelphia, particularly in West Philadelphia and southwest Philadelphia. People are showing up and investing in our youth, and building stronger communities every day. I ask for your support, and I thank you for your support of Shelice's Angels, and YEAH Philly for the important work they're doing to improve the next generation leaders. And I also want to quickly acknowledge and thank our senior policy director who is celebrating two years with me today. And we've been doing some really good stuff together. I'm looking forward. Her name is Cykhira Walton, as you all know here. And so we're looking forward to continuing the good work together. So thank you.
I hope she get a raise on Women's History Month. We need -- we need more than just, oh, she was great for two years.
Thank you, Dr. Phillips. Any other remarks, sir?
There was one other thing I wanted to say, but I done forgot about it, so hopefully it comes back to me.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. This past Monday, I held a very productive hearing examining the current state of Philadelphia's reproductive healthcare system, the shifting federal landscape affecting reproductive policy, and the city's role in protecting reproductive freedom. I wanted to thank my Councilmembers on the Public Health and Human Services Committee for attending and contributing thoughtfully to the conversation, and especially Councilmember O'Rourke, who sat through the entire thing. So I deeply appreciate it. It was a long hearing. I wanted to, in honor of Women's History Month, name all of these women who came to testify. You know, I'll try to be quick, but I just want to make sure we acknowledge the hard work of all those who came and who came with very solution-oriented testimony, and that's what we had asked them to do. So they were Dr. Aasta Mehta from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health; Dr. Meredith Matone from CHOP; Lila Slovak from the Women's Law Project; LaQuisha Anthony of WOAR; Jabina Coleman, founder of Bay Culture; Jessica Corey from the Maternity Care Coalition; Selima Jay McNeil; Carla Mendez Lugo; and Lila Finley from Oshun Family Center; Signe Espinoza from Planned Parenthood; Audrey Ann Ross from the Access Matters; Dr. Diana Montoya-Williams from the Perelman School of Medicine; Dr. Alice Abernathy, Perelman School of Medicine; Dr. Abigail Wolf, Perelman School of Medicine; Professor Elizabeth Kukura, Drexel University Kline School of Law; Katya Perez of the Abortion Liberation Fund of PA; Jenné Johns, President of Once Upon A Preemie; Jessi Schwarz from the Lifecycle Wellness and Birth Center; Dr. Hillary Rosenstein from the Mazzoni Center, who was unable to attend but sent her testimony; and Robyn Faye, gynecologist as well. This was a part of an ongoing fact- finding effort authorized by Council to evaluate barriers to care. And I look forward to working with all my fellow Councilmembers on developing a more coordinated response with providers, partners, advocates, and community members. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to attend a press conference, hosted by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and the Lankenau Environmental Magnet High School. Alongside with Councilmembers Gilmore-Richardson, Isaiah Thomas, and House Representative Morgan Cephas, I continue to oppose the school district's decision to shut down Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School and giving it 12 acres of land to developers. 13 Lankenau is educating the 14 future stewards of our planet, has 15 100 percent graduation rate, 16 supports the state's only three- 17 year CTE, and is a Title I school with 98 percent minority student body. Closing it would be an injustice, and I will continue to stand against this position. Furthers on a happier note, today, immediately after this session, I will join all available city councilmembers for a briefing at the Salvation -- with the Salvation Army to discuss human trafficking and the work being done by Salvation Army in our caucus room. I look forward to all of you joining us there. And this weekend, I'm joining State Representative Hohenstein, and Councilmember Quetcy Lozada for a shredding and electronic recycling event at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 5801 Frankford Community -- Frankford -- oops, sorry, 5801 Frankford, and community members are all welcome, including all our Councilmembers. I'm also proud to join fellow Councilmembers this same Saturday from 11:00 to 1:00 for the Standup for Science Rally at the north side of Philly Hall -- Philly City Hall. I am proud to be a part of a Council that stands up for those who are being oppressed and targeted. And so I thank you all for your attention.
Thank you very much. Good job. Also joining us in the chambers today is former staffer from the 4th Councilmanic District. The Chair of the Philadelphia Delegation, State Representative Morgan Cephas. Thank you for joining us. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips, briefly.
Yes, just seconds. I remember 18 what I wanted to say. I'm going to 19 be away this weekend, but I just 20 want to quickly acknowledge the fact that our colleague, Councilmember Lozada, is being recognized by Roberto Clemente Middle School. She's going to get a name on a -- a name on a room at the Family Resource Center. I wish I could be there, but congratulations and thanks for all of your hard work that you're doing. So keep up the good work, Councilmember Lozada.
Congratulations. They're naming buildings after you and stuff. Your second turn. I can't say that about your predecessor, but good job. The Chair recognizes the Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Very quickly, I wanted to acknowledge the Lenfest Institute who was down here and there in social media and journalism, and they were here today. Chelsea Cox was the among them sister of Morgan Cephas the other famous Cephas. And so if they're here. The second thing I wanted to talk about, Mr. President, was I'm truly grateful to serve with my colleagues in this room. We come from different backgrounds, different races, different religions, but we stand on the -- on the behalf of right. If you noticed, there were different Islamic organizations recognizing Sister Clara Muhammad. Thank you, Member Gauthier for putting that in. But they were all unified in a sense of harmony about what was going on, in spite of the chaos -- kept in chaos that Number 47, the President of the United States is doing. We are actively engaged in military conflict in 11 -- no, 12 different countries because of that chaos. It is Ramadan, it is a time where most Muslims want to kind of internalize their religion, but they cannot because they're fighting a war. Whether you deal with the governmental side of how it got started, it's going on, and he is toes down, and it is very 8 concerning the position we are in 9 right now. 10 So I go back to what I started, I'm grateful to serve with the diversity that's in this room, because we stand together on a great many things, and we want to make sure that we deal with the things we can under our feet. And you've always been a proponent of that, Mr. President, and for which I am grateful. Thank you.
Thank you, Member Jones. Councilmember Rue Landau.
Thank you, Council President, and thank you, colleague Councilman Jones, for always putting our international conflicts and chaos in such perspective for us. It's important, and as we all know, it trickles into our Philadelphia communities. So it's important that we recognize what's happening and we're honest about it as well. Today, I introduced a resolution declaring this week as National Consumer Protection Week in the city of Philadelphia. This week is a great opportunity to remind everyone that Philadelphians must stay vigilant against fraud. I encourage anyone who would like to file a consumer complaint to call the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection Resources at 1-800-441-2555, or online at the Attorney General's website. In my first year of office, I introduced a consumer protection ordinance on behalf of the Parker Administration, which empowers the city to respond to frauds harming consumers. I'm excited to continue that work and for the -- or this -- the ordinance 9 to continue to pay dividends for Philadelphians who may have fallen victim to predatory or fraudulent practices. Today, I also co-introduced with Councilmember O'Rourke a resolution honoring the life of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a Palestinian Philadelphian who was fatally shot in the occupied West Bank on the first day of Ramadan. He was born here in Philadelphia, and his friends and family are deeply mourning his passing. I'd like to acknowledge members of his family who joined us for a Council session today, and other members of his family are trapped overseas after having flown over for his funeral and are unable to secure a way home due to the most recent, but also unjust, new war on Iran at the hands of the president. The United States -- US State Department, and the Department of Justice must conduct a full investigation and pursue justice for Nasrallah. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to acknowledge that our Ramadan Toy Drive is still live. We have partnered with the Philly Majlis, Councilman Jones, Chairman Omar Sabir, the Office of Muslim Engagement, and Parks and Rec, and we are still accepting toy donations through March 13th. And we encourage anyone who can give us help and a donation to donate; you can donate at my office. You can donate at Makkah Mosque. You can donate at Commissioner Sabir's North Philadelphia office as well. m. m. at Penrose Recreation Center. And actually, in that same spirit of Ramadan, for Read Across America Day, I had the opportunity to read a book called Ramadan Kareem to 3rd and 5th graders at Dunbar Elementary School. And that's the book that they chose democratically. We had a list of books, and each class voted, surprisingly, on the same book to be read, which is Ramadan Kareem. And at Dunbar, right, this is a school that is a part of the school district facilities plan. This school has small class sizes, where the students are able to thrive. But the school district wants to disrupt this particular school by sending hundreds of kids from the Ludlow neighborhood to Dunbar for school, which is a mile- and-a-half away, and again, leaving Ludlow without a school in that neighborhood. And so as we continue to go through and work out this facilities plan, I hope the school district is listening to residents of the city of Philadelphia, because this plan, even as its tweaked, doesn't make any sense. Particularly in my Council district, as I stated to the school board, there are a lot of contradictions in your goals of your plan and how it really impacts the 5th Council district. So I'm going to continue to say something about it, and do something about it. As I know my colleagues, we did -- I did introduce a bill that will allow us to impeach school board members. And so that's something I'm going to be talking to you about very, very soon as we move forward with this process. We also, today, we introduce legislation. You know, Philadelphia's preparing to host a World Cup and a lot of other events. And as excitement builds around the fan experience on the parkway in Lemon Hill, we must also ensure that surrounding neighborhoods are protected. So we introduced a bill today that will allow for free residential permit parking for residents around that Parkway Lemon Hill area. So you live in the southern part of Strawberry Mansion, in Brewerytown, in Fairmount, in Spring Garden, and Logan Square, we want to make sure your community is protected. Major events like this bring crowds, and without planning, visitors searching for parking can overwhelm residential blocks and make it difficult for residents to park near their own homes. This ordinance designates permanent parking -- designate a permanent parking district so residents are not pushed out of their own streets during the fan experience. If we are going to host global events, we need to plan ahead. This legislation helps balance welcoming visitors while protecting the quality of life of people who live here. So I want to thank Councilmember Jones for co-sponsoring this legislation with me as well. And finally, during Women's History Month, we are proud to honor Dr. Constance E. Clayton, a pioneer in leading education here in the city of Philadelphia. Dr. Clayton made history as the first African American and first woman superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, leading with vision and courage at a critical moment for our public schools. Dr. Clayton believed deeply that decisions about our schools must always center students, families, and communities. I hope the school district is listening into that, right? Naming this street in honor of her reminds us that we shape the future of our schools. We must do so with transparency, community voice, and the commitment to opportunity for every child. Designating this block as Dr. Constance E.
Clayton Way ensures her legacy continues to inspire generations of students, educators, and leaders. And I'm asking all of those who love Dr. Clayton, who want to honor Dr. Clayton to come out next week to testify as this legislation is on final passage. And as you alluded to, Mr. President, I don't think that this current plan would be something that Dr. Clayton would be for. So I hope the school district again continues to work with communities, work with members of Council to ensure that as this facilities plan rolls out, it's done so with equity, with real equity, right? Because you can't have a goal of increasing college access while closing the schools that send our kids to college. That just doesn't make any sense. And so I hope we continue to work through this plan, so it becomes a better school district of Philadelphia, again, where only 70 percent of our fourth graders are able to read at grade level. How does this plan address that? Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes the majority Deputy Whip Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. And speaking about education, following up on my colleagues' comments, I'm looking forward to supporting the resolution on the renaming for Dr. Constance Clayton, who was a neighbor and I lived in the same area as myself and Councilmember Ahmad, and was just so highly regarded and respected. So I'm looking forward to supporting your resolution. And also, I wanted to -- I would like the record to reflect that the students who joined us today from PTTI, they were specific students from the START program, which is Skill Technical and Rehabilitation Training. This program provides structural -- structured Saturday programming, focused on work readiness, personal development, and support for court- involved youth as they transition back into their communities. And we are grateful to have them here with us today and thankful for PTTI for the important work that they're doing for the young people in Philadelphia. And they also, I believe, came down and are sitting here with us today. So, again, thank you so much for being here. I also wanted to make mention that last week, there was a school district hearing or school district meeting to talk about the school closures. And although I tried to stay as long as I could, I was a little sick with the flu, still recovering, but I wanted to really make a full mention of my comments because I didn't get a chance to that evening. And I really wanted to just say that, you know, and I say this over and over again, if you create the conditions, you are responsible for the results. You are responsible for what we are looking at right now. And you have created these conditions by making changes. There was an analysis done by the Enquirer that listed how lower enrollment in specific schools was a direct result of school district changes to special admit schools. And so the reason that you're now saying that you have to close them is because the enrollment is low, but you put in place the actions, which cause the enrollment to be low -- and so -- to be lower than it's supposed to be. And again, if you create this situation, you have to fix it. And so they had a number of different options to choose from, the district did, in terms of figuring out how to make this better. The options could have been revisiting the special admit policy and make corrections to ensure that quality educational options are done and available in every single neighborhood. That's still an option. The other option is to move students to empty spaces to preserve schools and neighborhoods with less attendance. You know, provide transportation. Why is that not an option, where you have schools primarily on the east side of Broad Street that are, you know, just overwhelmed with capacity, and then you have empty seats on the west side of Broad Street? Why are we not even having a conversation about moving students so that we can have quality education in every neighborhood? Because what are we going to do? Are we really talking about taking empty school buildings, putting -- making the residential locations, apartments and whatnot, condos, whatever. And I -- like, are those people moving in? Do any of them have children? I'm assuming that they do. Are we just going to say, okay, well you can only move in if you don't have children, because we don't have any educational options in this part of Philadelphia for you, because we've moved them all on the east side of Broad Street. And so, you know, we have to be really thoughtful about what we're talking about. You cannot take away these options, and then when these neighborhoods come back, bounce back, grow back, thrive, you know, with families, where are those children going to go to school if we keep making these kinds of decisions? When we closed -- when the school district, not we, when the school district decided to close buildings years ago, you know, the district put up a map when they did their presentation.
And they 5 showed how there were closures on 6 the east side, closures on the west 7 side 10 years ago. And, you know, 8 the sort of like the growth and the 9 change on the east side. Okay, 10 fine. Now you're coming back and saying, we're making these additional changes, but you never went back and fixed the changes and the resulting damage that was done, and the trauma that was done from the changes that happened from the closures 10 years ago. And, you know, Dr. Watlington said, "Well, when you drop out of school, that's a life decision. " Well, from his own words, you know, we know that when we close schools, you lose students. During COVID, we know that we lost some of our students that we couldn't account for. We don't know what happened to them; they just sort of dropped out of sight, and the district doesn't know what happened to them. And the same thing when we did those closures 10 years ago, some of those students dropped out. So the district is making those life-impacting decisions for our young people, and who are going to be traumatized by these changes and closures. So, you know, I have a lot to say about it, but I just wanted to drop that for right now because there's a lot more that I think we can do and could be done to keep our schools open. Those schools don't have to be closed. That's the easy solution. You know, that's the easy thing to do. But the important and the hard work behind it means that we need to go back to the drawing board, look at what was done 9 years ago, and make the corrections 10 rather than just closing those schools as the option. So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Member Bass. Very well said. That concludes all of our speeches. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore- Richardson for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 12th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
It has been moved and properly seconded. The Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 12th at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you all very much, and that's March 12th, 2026, for the record. (Stated meeting concluded at 1:10 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. Rios