Stated Meeting 1 10/12/2023 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 12, 2023 10:45 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILWOMAN SHARON VAUGHN MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting 2 10/12/2023
Good morning, everyone. We're going to get started. The hour has come. As the members have taken their seats and our visitors retired behind the rail, we will get started with our invocation. And to give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Harold R. Jolley of the Second Macedonia Baptist Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Brooks. I would ask all guests, visitors, and members to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.)
Council President Darrell Clarke, all the Councilmembers, I'm the Reverend Dr. Harold R. Jolley, Pastor of the Second Macedonia Baptist Church nestled in the Logan section of Philadelphia. Stated Meeting 3 10/12/2023 me to be here, and I want to thank Councilmember-at-large Kendra Brooks for the invitation. May we all bow our heads. Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. God, the creator of all things, we pause at this time to humble ourselves before your greatness and your majesty and at this hour to say thank you. Thank you, oh, God, for allowing us to see a brand new day, a day that we have never seen before and one we know we shall never see again. Thank you, oh, God, for the ability to make use of our senses and our faculty. We are grateful and we do not take for granted that you have extended our years and our breathing and our life. And before we can petition you for anything, oh, God, we ask that you will just search us and forgive us of anything Stated Meeting 4 10/12/2023 that has not been pleasing in your sight. And now, oh, God, we pray for the various structures of government which has been established to govern society. We pray for the Philadelphia City Council. We pray that you will just continue to protect those who are serving and protect their families. We pray that you will just continue to grant wisdom, compassion, and a heart to serve the people which has elected them to office. We know, oh, God, for this role within government is not one for the faint of heart nor is it one for those who grow weary easily. So we pray, oh, God, that you would strengthen them. Continue to supply vigor and the yearning to fight for justice for those who are oppressed and for all of humanity. God, we'd also like to lift up the citizens of the City of Philadelphia for all the wickedness that's prevailing at this time. We pray that you will just Stated Meeting 5 10/12/2023 hand covering every community that is represented. In the words of those who cry out to your name, we pray that your will will be done here on earth as it has been done in heaven. We pray, oh, God, that those who have a wicked agenda, that you would cancel their agenda out right now in the name of Jesus. Now, God, we pray for your continued grace for all mankind all this day and the session to be productive. Continue to bless us on this day. We ask it all in the name of Jesus who art the Christ. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much. We appreciate you, Pastor. Thank you for giving us spiritual guidance today. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Stated Meeting 6 10/12/2023 Thank you again, Pastor. We really appreciate you being here today. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 5th, 2023, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 5th, 2023 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 5th, 2023 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting 7 10/12/2023 it, and our Journal is approved. And our next order of business is request for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you. The Chair thanks the gentleman. And good morning, young lady. Our next order of business is information on the Sunshine Act motion. We'll wait for our 18th member to take their seat. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session. Stated Meeting 8 10/12/2023
Thank you, Mr. President. The next order of business is welcoming Councilmember O'Neill's granddaughter here in Council, our 18th member. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, amendments to bills re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion Stated Meeting 9 10/12/2023 bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included in the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilman Squilla may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of the Council session. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting 10 10/12/2023
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. My granddaughter, Sadie Smart, is in from Chicago. So I thank the Phillies for this impromptu Bring Your Granddaughter to Work Day. My daughter is over there. Her husband is already on the plane back to Chicago, Jason. And Sadie is four going on 40, and she'll be shy until she gets to know you and then she'll be running your life. So, Sadie, say hi to everybody. Can you wave? (Applause.)
Okay. She's going to go up in my office now, I believe. Stated Meeting 11 10/12/2023
Starting young. They're getting younger and younger. Thank you, Councilman. And our next order of business is communications, and I'd ask Mr. Decker to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that you may have in your possession.
From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution confirming the re-appointment of Barbara Moore as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2029; and A resolution confirming the appointment of Matt Bowman as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2027; and A resolution confirming the Stated Meeting 12 10/12/2023 as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2028; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority a deed conveying fee simple title to 1517 North 33rd Street in the Fifth Councilmanic District, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. That concludes our communications, and our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. I would ask the Clerk to please read the titles of the legislation that's being offered by our members today.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the Stated Meeting 13 10/12/2023 practice of "leveling" and its impact on students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia, especially following the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilman Jones offers three bills and one resolution. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance to approve amendments to the Temple University Master Plan in the area bounded by Norris Street, Broad Street, Montgomery Avenue and 15th Street related to Klein College of Media and Communications and Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts building at 1830 North Broad Street.
And on his own behalf, Councilman Jones offers an ordinance amending Chapter 9-5900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Prohibition Stated Meeting 14 10/12/2023 on Certain Gambling Machines and Skills Games," to add additional prohibitions and provide for remedies.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to clarify why you might be having deja vu about this particular issue. And these are the bandit gambling machines that we find in corner stores all over the City in every district. We are doing this again to try to be as closely related as possible to our colleagues at the state level, who are engaged in conversations, in negotiations, in court cases with the owners of these bandit machines. In order to do it, we changed a couple of things, but what we have done is, there is usually a good cop -- maybe I shouldn't use cop. Good guy, bad guy in every situation. We are the bad guy. And what we're saying is either we tax Stated Meeting 15 10/12/2023 them, either we regulate them, or get them out of our stores, because what is also coincidental maybe is that these are proliferated in poor neighborhoods. They are proliferated in high crime areas and often believe that by having these mini casinos that did not go through any regulation -- the casinos in our city went through a series of regulations, hearings, steps, compromises where they could be located. These machines are dropped off at neighborhood stores, and we don't even have a complete list of where they are. They don't pay a dime in taxes. They don't buy a book for a kid in public school, and this cannot be allowed to persist. So we are introducing this, and what we hope for is that our colleagues at the state level come up with a compromise that supersedes our bad guy legislation so that they can be properly taxed, that they can come up with community benefits agreements. Stated Meeting 16 10/12/2023 It's one thing when grand-mom sits in the middle of the casino at the corner store. It's another thing when she's radioed ahead, told her that they won and she gets robbed. It's bad enough when that happens, but it's worse when a kid on his way to public school has his $2 worth of lunch money and puts it in one of those machines. We cannot have that. So my colleagues, it's not deja vu all over again. It's us getting it right this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
Councilman Jones also offers an ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," to add a new Chapter creating penalties for trespassing in Stated Meeting 17 10/12/2023 retail establishments.
A non-privileged resolution calling on the Administration to develop grant programs for businesses and restaurants suffering from retail theft and crime.
Councilman Johnson offers a non-privileged resolution condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and calling for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Thank you, Council President. I just have some brief remarks that I would like to discuss during this introduction of this resolution. Myself and my colleague Stated Meeting 18 10/12/2023 Councilman Driscoll are introducing a resolution today condemning the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel and calling for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The images that the whole world has been seeing since Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th has been sickening to watch, men, women, and children killed in Israel in brutal ways by Hamas. Thousands of people have been wounded on both sides of this conflict. The trauma they have suffered will last a lifetime. Hamas has taken hostages, including Americans, and have threatened to execute them in violation of every code of human decency. Hamas has committed an act of terrorism, and Israel has every right to defend itself and respond to this attack. Violence and terrorism can never be justified as a means to achieve political goals. Dial up and negotiation Stated Meeting 19 10/12/2023 are the only viable paths towards lasting peace and stability. In this resolution, City Council acknowledges the suffering and loss experienced by innocent Palestinians and Israelis in the ongoing conflict and believes that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement that respects the rights and national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. The ongoing terror and violence that is happening in Israel, which is more than 5,000 miles away from Philadelphia, can open the door for some Americans to foster unrest here in the United States. I want to thank the Philadelphia Police Department for stepping up security around synagogues and mosques in order to prevent any threats to Philadelphians that could happen in connection with these horrific attacks. Stated Meeting 20 10/12/2023 I want to also thank the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations for preventing discrimination and promoting equality and equity in our city every day. We have no place for hate in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. I want to also thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the American Jewish Community of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey for their work in the Philadelphia region but, most importantly, every day right now during this time of war in Israel. The greater Philadelphia region is home to more than 350,000 Jewish residents, and the City of Philadelphia has one of the oldest and largest Jewish populations in the United States, with the first Jewish residents recorded in 1701. I want to take the time to thank Councilmembers Mark Squilla, Jamie Gauthier, Councilman Curtis Jones, Quetcy Stated Meeting 21 10/12/2023 Lozada, Cindy Bass, Anthony Phillips, Brian O'Neill, and Council President Darrell Clarke as well as at-large members Kendra Brooks, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Jim Harrity, Sharon Vaughn, and Isaiah Thomas for signing on as co-sponsors. And we all recognize that although that this is an international issue, all politics are local. And I have a neighbor that lives two doors away from me who is right now currently still stuck in Israel. From my understanding -- hopefully she is safe, right, but I've been texting her. Haven't got a response. Calling, haven't got a response. And checked on my neighbors last evening just to see how things were coming along and didn't get a response. So hopefully, I'm praying that she returns back to the United States safely. Thank you, Council President.
Stated Meeting 22 10/12/2023 Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Driscoll.
Mr. President, I unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas and any harm that falls upon innocent civilians in Israel, in Palestine, and in the occupied territories. I do not pretend to completely understand the intricacies, nuances, and perpetual passion both sides have for their people. However, this body affirms the inalienable human rights recognized by our nation's constitution. It strongly believes that these rights must be afforded to all. It believes that by providing these rights to all, while forever imperfect, peaceful progress can be achieved. All people in Israel, Palestine, and the occupied territories should be afforded these rights, both in policy and in practice. All people must Stated Meeting 23 10/12/2023 have the right to elect representatives to pass laws by which the land and the people are governed in policy and practice. All people must have the freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, press movement, and religion in policy and practice. All people must be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and the boarding of soldiers. All people must have the right to vote in policy and in practice. In our country, when rights were not extended to all, political violence rose. Over time these rights were extended to more and more people. A path for peace for Israel and Palestine must be pursued and will only come by extending rights in policy and practice to all. Moderating extremism and terrorism is only possible when everyday people on both sides are involved in finding a solution. Mr. President, I want to express my deepest condolences to Stated Meeting 24 10/12/2023 Philadelphians and all people impacted on the Israeli and Palestine sides of the wall in this political dispute. I condemn all acts of violence against civilians on both sides of the wall in this political dispute. I believe that the path forward must extend equal rights to all. And I do thank Councilman Johnson for partnering with me in these dark times and extend my gratitude to all Councilpeople for supporting this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. That resolution will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilwoman Gauthier offers a privileged resolution designating Thursday, October 12, 2023 as "Children's Environmental Health Day" in the City of Philadelphia, and recognizing the importance of clean air and water, safe food and consumer products, healthy Stated Meeting 25 10/12/2023 environments and a stable climate for children's health and development.
Thank you, Council President. Each year on the second Thursday in October, the Children's Environment for Health Network observes Children's Environmental Health Day. As Council and our partners combat environmental injustices, it is important to remember that young people are at the core of this work. Lead exposure, poor air quality, mold, diminishing water in soil, these adversities impact our young people more than anyone. At the same time, extreme heat disrupts school days, and wildfire smoke makes playing outside unsafe. It is critically important that we recognize that environmental justice means much more than a greener and Stated Meeting 26 10/12/2023 cleaner city. It also means an investment in the health and well-being of Philadelphia's next generation of leaders, most especially Black and brown leaders. That's why I'm grateful to the network of child health and environmental advocates who work each and every day to tackle children's environmental health issues, and I'm proud that Council supports these efforts through programs like the Energy Authority's Built to Last initiative. I want to thank the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children's Environmental Health, the Children's Environmental Health Network, Penn Medicine, and everyone across the City of Philadelphia who dedicates themselves to environmental justice. Through this resolution, City Council proudly honors your work and reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of society's most precious and vulnerable Stated Meeting 27 10/12/2023 group. I also want to thank Councilmembers Brooks, Squilla, Vaughn, Bass, Driscoll, and Phillips for co-sponsoring this resolution. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. That will be on today's Calendar.
Councilman O'Neill offers, on behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing the City Solicitor, on behalf of the City, to enter into a multi-year contract with a provider of codification, editing, and marketing services to produce printed and electronic versions of The Philadelphia Code and related services and material.
Councilwoman Bass offers two bills and one resolution, Stated Meeting 28 10/12/2023 entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of the 1900 block of Belfield Avenue."
And an ordinance establishing no truck parking regulations on: both sides of Ardleigh Street between Vernon Road and Gorgas Lane, both sides of Vernon Road between Ardleigh Street and Blakemore Street, both sides of Blakemore Street between Vernon Road and Gorgas Lane, and both sides of Gorgas Lane between Blakemore Street and Ardleigh Street.
And a non-privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Sid Booker by renaming the 4600 block of North Broad Street "Sid Booker Way."
Next week's Calendar. Stated Meeting 29 10/12/2023 2ND READING
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions by our members of Council. We have no reports from committee today, so our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. There being no bills on the First Reading Calendar today, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. The following bills and resolutions are being brought up from Second Reading to Final Passage Calendars today: 230684, 230685, 230686, 230694, and 230696. All other bills and Stated Meeting 30 10/12/2023 resolutions are being held.
Thank you very much, Councilman Jones. Before we consider the bills and resolutions today, we will have our public comment session. Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for action at today's session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already done so, you may sign up at the table outside with the Sergeant-of-Arms. When your name is called -- you will be called in the order in which you signed up. When your name is called, you will go to the podium in the middle of the Council Chambers. There's a device on that podium. When the light turns green on that device, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks, and when the light turns red, we'd ask that you please Stated Meeting 31 10/12/2023 adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks. You will have three minutes to speak as it relates to your public comment today. Thank you very much for your continued willingness to participate in your government in action. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
The first speaker today, Mr. President, is Gabriel Palmer, commenting on 230696. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, everybody. My name is Gabriel Palmer. I am here today speaking in support of a street naming for the Reverend Melvin Floyd, who is my grandfather. I am the youngest grandson of that man. Just to speak a little bit about who he is and what it is that he's Stated Meeting 32 10/12/2023 done and why he deserves said street naming, Reverend Melvin Floyd was a man who grew up in North Philadelphia who in turn dedicated his life to seeing change in the City of Philadelphia in a positive way, a man who dedicated his time, man hours and power to helping those who weren't in a good situation, those who needed help. Those who didn't have support, he supported them, from people who were attached to the street life to gang life, from those also who were homeless. He many a times would come a block away from here, two blocks from here and give out hundreds of dollars to those in need. He spent his time valiantly helping other people and has pushed for on the religious side towards Christ. He saved plenty of souls, a plethora of souls, to bring people closer to God and to help people physically, mentally become better people and to make a change in this great city. Stated Meeting 33 10/12/2023 He is a man that deserves that recognition more than any other man that I know. And even with the things that I do today, I do them because of who he is and what it is that he has instilled in me, to not just be another young Black man out here in the streets doing negative things, but to try and be positive. I'll leave y'all with one of his favorite quotes and it is, only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. And as a man who dedicated his life to Christ but not only dedicated it, dedicated it to helping people get closer to God, but not only that, become better, he deserves to have a street named in his name. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. (Applause.) Stated Meeting 34 10/12/2023
Councilman, did you want to be recognized now? The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson and then Councilman Jones. (Pause.)
I just also want to be supportive of this resolution, and it's really inspiring to see lineage of Reverend Floyd's grandson carrying on his life and his legacy. And, you know, as a young man growing up in South Philadelphia, my nana was the type of nana who had me going to church on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as well as Sunday. And so I was very well aware of the work that Reverend Floyd was doing, Stated Meeting 35 10/12/2023 particularly around evangelism but, most importantly, around the issue that's very near and dear to my heart, and that's addressing the issue of drug and gun violence. Most of you may or may not know, he would ride down the street with a coffin on the top of his van. And so to be standing on the corner at 18th and Dickinson as a young man and you see this van coming riding down the street with a coffin on the top, we all would perk up and kind of look and see what's going on, and then he would get out with his team and would evangelize and, most importantly, try to get us young men off the corner. And so to my colleague Councilwoman Cindy Bass, I just want to thank you for your leadership in carrying on the life and legacy, because for generations to come, and his grandson is an example of that generation to come, they will look up at that sign and people Stated Meeting 36 10/12/2023 will inquire about who is Reverend Melvin Floyd, and they will get a chance to learn about his life and legacy and his activism here in the City of Philadelphia. To Gabriel, I just want to say it's proud to see you carrying on the life and legacy of your granddad, and we also know the great work of his daughter as well. And so thank you very much for the opportunity to offer a few remarks, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too would like to support and will support this acknowledgment and resolution, but unlike my colleague, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, I was standing on the corner of 54th and Stated Meeting 37 10/12/2023 Berks Street, and in so doing, there's no sight like that coffin riding up the street. And I'll never forget, he pulled over using the auditorium at Mann School to have a lecture and he had on a movie an autopsy. And, you know, listen, the depth and detail of what the finality of death was planted a seed. And you may not acknowledge it at the point of it playing, but eventually you start thinking about what happens when a bullet hits a body and what happens when a body hits the ground. And I'll also say, isn't it sad that all these decades later we have the same problems and that we're fighting that same fight and we're having those same discussions. And I look forward to the work of this Council so that his grandson's grandson doesn't have to take up the banner and do the same kind of work his grandfather did. So we have work to do, and I'm looking forward to let's have a truck Stated Meeting 38 10/12/2023 coming for college scholarships and job opportunities as opposed to keeping our young kids from killing each other. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Well, thank you, Mr. President. I know we're slightly out of order just a little bit, but I did want to just follow up on what my colleagues just mentioned in terms of our street renamings that are coming up. So we have two very notable Philadelphians. Reverend Floyd served for many, many years in our communities, was active even with presidents, at least three presidents of Philadelphia City Council, and had strong relationships with members. And, you know, as my colleague Johnson and Jones just mentioned, he was riding around the neighborhoods. He was riding around Stated Meeting 39 10/12/2023 neighborhoods that were distressed, that needed a lot of attention, that nobody -you know, you felt like nobody was listening. You felt like nobody was really paying attention to what was happening. And so Reverend Floyd coming around was saying I am listening, I hear you, I hear your concerns, I hear what's happening. And so we are going to be recognizing him on October 27th at 9:00 a.m. with a street renaming. And so we'll have more information about that next week. But I did want to also mention that October 21st we are going to be having a street renaming for Sid Booker from The Stinger and Lapointe and the Shrimp Corner. Everybody knows Sid Booker. And that's going to be October 21st at 1:00 p.m. So we want to encourage folks to be out and about and to participate in that, because Sid is -- Stated Meeting 40 10/12/2023 he's legendary. He's done so much for our communities, and we want to recognize and thank him for his service, give him his flowers while he can smell them. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. I was told that they were going to be giving away free shrimp. Is that not accurate?
You're trying to get me in trouble. There's a possibility.
That might happen. That might happen. But we really want folks to come out and celebrate Sid and his legacy and all the work that he's done on the music scene and the restaurant scene and the nightclub scene here in Philadelphia for decades, many decades now. So let's come on out and celebrate this great Philadelphian. Stated Meeting 41 10/12/2023
Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brooks.
Thank you so much, Council President. I want to thank the sponsor of this street naming and also kind of echo the sentiments of each one of my colleagues, kind of gonna bring me up to my thoughts about Reverend Melvin Floyd. I remember growing up, like Councilmember Johnson, with the casket, going to church every day. I did that. I remember being in the streets, like Councilmember Jones, and seeing the casket come around as well and talking to my generation about how we can change our lives. And then I also remember -Councilmember Bass talked about Sid Booker's, which that's a whole other Stinger situation. We won't talk about that. But this is about honoring Stated Meeting 42 10/12/2023 Reverend Mel Floyd, because -- I haven't spoken about this yet, but I'm a graduate of his School of Evangelism. So when I decided to turn my life around, that is where I went to learn how to evangelize about Christ and to change my life around. So I just am really honored to be a part of this body for this street naming, and I want to thank his family for the legacy. I think that's when I first met Archbishop, because she was a part of the training sessions that we had to go to. So this is an amazing dedication. Thank you so much, Council President.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
And I'm going to be real brief, right? Yes. Sid Booker, right, and I Stated Meeting 43 10/12/2023 want to thank Councilwoman Cindy Bass for acknowledging him. You know, I'm from South Philly, but we used to go uptown and play the led out (ph), get some shrimp on Broad Street, you know. And it is very fitting, because he's a giant in the political world, right? And, you know, I'm just a little lowly elected official. I remember riding past and he had these banners for Sid Booker's with all these political people names on them. I ain't never get up there, but, you know, I'm a little guy, so it's cool. You know what I mean? And then I finally got invited to the pool party. I'm like, wow, I think I kind of made it, right? But I will say this about Mr. Sid Booker, right? He has a great heart, right? And he wears his heart on his sleeves. And I remember, right, just as an aspiring elected official and then being elected and not really part of the "in" crowd, how he would just reach out Stated Meeting 44 10/12/2023 to me through different individuals, right, just to be supportive. He's not asking for something, right? Just how can I help you? I'm watching the things that you are doing. Matter of fact, just a couple weeks ago reached out to me through a couple individuals, and I just called him and he said, I don't want nothing. I just want to be supportive of you. So that's the type of person who he was, right? I hope they do give out some free shrimp, although I'm vegan. That's the old lifestyle, but I think it will be very fitting for the folks who live uptown to get a taste of those Sid Booker shrimps. But in all seriousness, again, thank you for acknowledging a person who means a lot to all of us in the City of Philadelphia. Thank you, Council President.
Stated Meeting 45 10/12/2023 Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, next name on the list.
The next speaker is Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, commenting on 230696. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. ARCHBISHOP FLOYD PALMER: Good morning, Council President and fellow Councilmembers. I am Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer. I am the first born child and daughter of Reverend Dr. Melvin Floyd. My dad's story started as the youngest of five children born to Arthur and Sallie Mae Floyd. Because his siblings were several years older than him, he felt the brunt of the domestic environment at the hand of his father to both his mother and him, being displaced nine times for survival reasons, avoiding being an active member of the 12th and Stated Meeting 46 10/12/2023 Oxford Street Gang by working, and ultimately being a high school dropout at Benjamin Franklin High School. S. Army so he could send his salary home to help his mom, and upon his return, he joined the Philadelphia Police Department. A few years later he met and married my beloved mother, Betty, and became the proud father of three daughters. He joined the Hopewell New Psalmist Baptist Church in 1947 and loved that institution and remained faithful to God's church until his death. His personal aspiration was to be the best he could be, so he returned to night school, obtained his high school diploma, and continued his academic pursuits until he earned his Master's of Education degree from Temple University while working full time as a police officer, as a father, and the sole provider for his home. While serving as a police Stated Meeting 47 10/12/2023 officer, he was very disturbed by the gang wars that plagued our city resulting in untimely and horrific deaths of many young Black boys and, yes, girls as well. On his own time, he started talking with various gangs around the City, hoping that his history as a member of the 12th and Oxford Street Gang would give him credibility to talk to them realistically and to give them a message to stop fighting and dying for territory they did not own. He wanted them to have a better life. His persistence led to the first citywide truce on Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park, and eventually that truce went citywide. He partnered with community organizations such as House of Umoja, with Lucien Blackwell, Tom Reid, Bennie Swans, Crisis Intervention Networks, Bilal Qayyum, and many others who were on the same path of wanting the best life to be. He was best known often with Stated Meeting 48 10/12/2023 that crazy van, the crazy man who had the nerve to pull up on any corner and take it with a life-saving message, and took me to school every day to Girls' High. Lord help. He was able to do that in the streets for more than 40 years without an incident, without police intervention, and often with good results. His passion led to our beloved late superintendent, Dr. Constance Clayton, to give him permission to go and send this message to every elementary, junior high, and high school districtwide. Many of you can testify to his impactful presentation, and I'm proud to say that it was that message that changed the lives of many headed down the wrong path that are now successful police officers, firefighters, elected officials, doctors, lawyers, teachers, clergy and many others. In 2018, I had a conversation with my late father and asked him how he Stated Meeting 49 10/12/2023 wanted to be remembered. He paused and said that my passion for saving lives of youth and adults has helped them realize that their life is important to God, their families, and our community, and they are needed and that they matter. But we know death will happen, and it is my prayer that those who remain will allow healing to come and they will pay it forward by helping somebody else to live.
In conclusion, it is this conversation that I felt led me on the path to see this day come to fruition and to have my dad's name live in infamy in the 5200 block of Wayne Avenue. As one of Philadelphia's legends, for a myriad of reasons, I'm proud to be his daughter. My father graced this very chamber many times under the leadership of Council Presidents George Schwartz, Joseph Coleman, and John Street, offering spiritual guidance and the invocation. Now as the second generation to do so, as Stated Meeting 50 10/12/2023 I have on many occasions, I'm hoping that my son will continue the same legacy that we begun. Thank you, Councilwoman Bass, for listening and hearing my dream, for making it come to fruition, and for many of you who will vote to have this passed today. My daddy is so well deserving. And although he has gone to glory and is resting with my mother and he passed on April 20th, 2020, I know he's looking down and they are smiling together. Thank you, daddy, for doing a great job. God bless all of you. )
The next speaker is Alison Cohen. Stated Meeting 51 10/12/2023 (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Councilmembers, and thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Alison Cohen. I'm a parent of three children at Houston Elementary in Mount Airy, two third graders and a fifth grader. I'm here representing our family and our school and I believe many, many families and communities in the district who have been negatively impacted by leveling over the years. I'm also here representing 430 Philadelphians who signed a letter that the Houston HSA collected in less than 48 hours last week. Our fifth grade class lost a teacher last week due to leveling and are now in a class of 31. We're all sad about this loss and have made the intentional decision to use this trauma Stated Meeting 52 10/12/2023 as the energy to advocate to get rid of leveling. Therefore, we're here strongly supporting and have deep gratitude to Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for the resolution to hold hearings to dig into this traumatic practice. We believe this process was never appropriate and strongly hope that Council will push the School District of Philadelphia to fix the leveling process and all the traumatic shrapnel it leaves in its wake. Some questions we would like to see answered and hope that Council will push the District to dig into: Exactly what is the District's policy on leveling, meaning exactly how is it implemented? Not every school that has classes below the class cap get leveled. How are these decisions made? It is not transparent. Why is information not released shown which schools lost staff, which schools gained staff, and what the actual Stated Meeting 53 10/12/2023 need for the schools that gained staff is? Why were special admit schools not leveled this year? Are they treated the same as neighborhood schools? Are charter schools leveled? Why are or why not? Do some schools have different class caps than others? We have heard that some schools have negotiated lower class sizes. Are there different grades that often have more leveling such as fifth grade when neighborhood schools may lose students to special admit schools? Should there be different treatment for certain grades or phases? Are the economics of the families at schools taken into account when leveling decisions are made or is it pure numbers? How are the needs and resources assessed at the schools receiving teachers? We've heard of cases where a leveled classroom teacher becomes a floater in the receiving school and there's no need or space for them. Stated Meeting 54 10/12/2023 What are other district schools around the country -- what other districts level? Please give examples, because we can't find any online. We're so privileged to have this annual practice in Philly. If this was a regular practice in other large urban districts, how have they managed to overcome this issue and not inflict this trauma on our children each fall? We are told that the reason that this year we're leveling is because of a teacher shortage. How is the District working to treat teachers better to retain them? In our case, a teacher found out on Monday that her last day at our school was Friday, to report to a school on Monday, which she didn't know what it was. The emotional trauma for both the teacher of saying goodbye to these 30 students who love them and need them and the students who love them is -- it can't Stated Meeting 55 10/12/2023 help in retaining teachers. And we're also told on a Zoom that if a teacher quits because of leveling, they were told that they are put on a red list and never be hired again by the District. So the District won't go to these teachers that they love. So anyway, we believe the first responsibility to our children should be to do no harm.
Leveling inflicts trauma on the children of Philadelphia, when we all know they already have enough trauma in their lives. It's not doing right by our kids. Please dig into these issues and get some answers. And we're so grateful for Council for taking a lead on this, and thank you for the time for listening to these comments.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson. Stated Meeting 56 10/12/2023
Thank you, Council President. I too do not want to be out of order, but want to rise in thanking the parent from Houston Elementary School for coming today to talk about this important issue. Not only am I a graduate of the Philadelphia School District, had the opportunity to teach in the Philadelphia School District, but now I have three children in the Philadelphia public school system. And I want to commend and thank the District for the work that they have done and they are seeking to do, and I want to thank publicly Dr. Watlington for being willing to keep the lines of communication open. However, I continue to be deeply disappointed in the School District of Philadelphia. It is unacceptable post-COVID that we continue to talk about equity and ensuring that our children's learning loss is addressed and you go one day with Stated Meeting 57 10/12/2023 15 students in a classroom and the next day 32 for one teacher and then lose a teaching assistant. It's unacceptable. You can't say that we care about the trajectory of these young people and then turn around and double their class size without any additional help or support. We know from data that young people are struggling post-COVID, particularly young people who were in pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade at the onset of the pandemic. It is not fair to think that these young people will be on par with other children, not just in the City and in this country but around the world, if they are not receiving adequate resources in order to be their best. We're talking about reading, reading. We know K through 3 you're learning to read. From that point on, you're reading to learn. If you don't have the requisite skills to learn, Stated Meeting 58 10/12/2023 you're not going to do well in your life, and we know that all of the human service and public safety agencies are looking at a child's reading level at third or fourth grade to determine how many jail cells they're going to build. It's not fair that we continue to do this to our children. And I'm going to say this publicly, and I really don't want to do this, but you want us to have faith in the School District of Philadelphia? Then we have to do things differently than you're doing them before. Okay? People have options. We only have one time to get it right with our children. I have one chance to get it right with my six-year-old, my eight-year-old, and my soon-to-be 18-year-old, and I'm not going to allow anyone at the School District or anywhere else to jerk me around, period. And in addition to that, if I'm having all of these issues in the position that I'm in, it's no telling Stated Meeting 59 10/12/2023 what all the other families are faced with in the City of Philadelphia. I have the luxury to be able to pick up the phone. They don't. And those families sent me here to represent them -(Applause.)
-and their issues and their concerns, and I intend to do so, and that is the reason why I introduced the resolution today, because it's not fair what we are doing to families. Don't come here asking us for more money every year and you can't account for what you're doing with that money. Every year this Council has stepped up. (Applause.)
And I get it, a lot of people walk into Stated Meeting 60 10/12/2023 situations where they're in positions of leadership and responsibility that you did not create, but at the end of the day, you got to make a decision at some point. When we going to stop? When are we going to say enough is enough? When are we going to adequately ensure that our young people are educated properly to meet the demands of the 21st century? And it's not the teachers' fault. They have to take their direction from 440. It's not their fault. And I have had enough. So we are calling for hearings on this issue. I intend to delve deeply into this practice, because a number of urban districts no longer do leveling because they know of the detrimental impact of this issue. So I thank the parent again for their public comment, and I appreciate the work that a number of families are doing in contacting me regarding this issue, and we will see a change. We will Stated Meeting 61 10/12/2023 see a change. (Applause.)
In addition to that, Council President, I wanted to rise in support and I will be honored to vote in favor of the resolution offered by my colleague Councilmember Bass for the street renaming in honor of the late, great Reverend Melvin Floyd. He was a relentless crusader against drug dealing, absentee fathers, street crime, and gangs. Now, I'm still young enough to remember the casket and also the speaker and him showing up on whatever corner he wanted to for that day, and we know that his legacy will continue to live on in his grandson and in his daughter, my sorer and fellow Girls' High sister, the Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer. Thank you very much, Stated Meeting 62 10/12/2023 Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Council Lady. The Chair recognizes the aforementioned Councilwoman Bass.
Well, thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to add on, but I have to say I think that Councilwoman Kathy Gilmore Richardson really just dropped the mic, you know, just in the way she articulated exactly how many of us as parents of children in the Philadelphia School District, how we feel, how frustrated we are. And even those of us who, you know, have the cell phone numbers of different folks within the District that we can reach out and touch and talk, the answers that we get back, it's extremely frustrating. Stated Meeting 63 10/12/2023 And I know that -- listen, I don't want to cast aspersions. I think that there's a lot of really good people who are working at 440 and are really trying to do their best with limited resources, but what we're getting is just not enough, and we see it every single day. We see it in the product that we turn out from the School District of Philadelphia, that our young people are just not equipped and ready for the opportunities that we're always trying to bring here to the City of Philadelphia. They're just really not ready and equipped for what we have or what we're trying to have happen here in the City. So I just wanted to say kudos to you and to all the parents who reached out from Henry Houston, which is in the 8th Council District. Of course we've been paying a lot of attention to this matter and monitoring it as well. I look forward to your hearing and actively, very vividly participating. So thank Stated Meeting 64 10/12/2023 you, Councilwoman.
Thank you, Council Lady. The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I just wanted to take a moment to thank Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for her leadership on this particular issue but I think, most importantly, recognizing that this was her last resort. Councilmember Gilmore Richardson reached out to myself and other members of the School District to try to get an understanding of what was going on, and if I'm not mistaken, she got no response. And I think part of the frustration that we have in this legislative body is not necessarily the concept of what you're doing. That's definitely part of the problem, but I just want to put a point of emphasis on Stated Meeting 65 10/12/2023 the fact that Councilmember Gilmore Richardson said, if I can't get an answer, imagine what other parents and families are essentially going through. And I think that is the biggest concern. So I look forward to the hearing so we can do a deep dive into the conversation, but I want to thank her for her leadership. But I also want people to know, especially the listening public, this did not have to come to this. We did not need to have a hearing to examine this. The information should have been provided once it was requested, and it didn't. And it's unfortunate that she has to use the bully pulpit to get basic answers to things that families across the City is asking for. So thank you again, colleague. I appreciate your leadership, and we're going to continue to do due diligence to improve the communication between Council and the District but, more importantly, improve communication between government Stated Meeting 66 10/12/2023 and families. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. I just want to say thank you to Councilwoman Kathy Gilmore Richardson for today. When I first saw her make a post on social media about this, I was beyond excited, because it needed to be said. And when I learned about this resolution, I was beyond excited that we were going to be doing this, because the School District of Philadelphia is one of the greatest bureaucracies I've ever seen in our nation. We have a system there where people eternally have reasons on why things are not happening for our children, and oftentimes they are not taking a "whatever it takes" approach to helping our kids to make sure that they Stated Meeting 67 10/12/2023 are successful. And for me, as a lot of us here, including Councilman Isaiah Thomas and some other folks, also Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, are educators. We've had experiences with the idea of we just got to find a way to get things done for kids. I had the privilege to listen to Andrea Lawful-Sanders on Wurd last Friday, and I heard about two students from Martin Luther King High School, which is in Councilwoman Cindy Bass's district, cry in an emotion about one of their teachers leaving the school that they beloved, that they were used to seeing. And it was actually one of the -- it was a big story about I think four or five African American males who are part of the freshman class teaching core, and that teacher got moved to another school without really any notice. What type of trauma are we giving to our children? They have not Stated Meeting 68 10/12/2023 got to a point where they can say, you know what, we just have to figure this out. You cannot make decisions that are going to harm one institution just so you can solve an issue with another institution. That's not the way. And for me, I don't think they're working hard enough to make sure that our children and our families are taken care of, and it has to stop now. It's unacceptable. And it's sad that many people in this city believe that City Council sometimes is not doing enough, but if you heard from the testimony of Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson and Councilman Isaiah Thomas and so many others, we are always on the phone with the School District of Philadelphia. People have to understand that they're a separate entity from us, and sometimes they make decisions that are just completely different than us. So when Councilmember Gilmore Richardson says to us, we have to stop Stated Meeting 69 10/12/2023 obliging and giving them extra funding every single year when they just show us in the City of Philadelphia, all the parents and students, they show us their behinds all the time. It has to stop. And I'm saddened by this situation, and they have to listen to us and stop being the bureaucrats that they are. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I just want to echo the sentiments of my colleague and thank Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson for really stepping up and being the advocate for our children here in the City of Philadelphia. The children that attend our Stated Meeting 70 10/12/2023 public school system, they don't have lobbyists walking the halls of City Hall advocating on their behalf. They have us as a representative body advocating and fighting for them. And I remember the last time we were at this crossroad we had a press conference inside the Mayor's Reception Room regarding the facilities plan, the lack of facilities plan, provided to City Council as it relates to them addressing the issue of lead and asbestos inside our schools, and I think today we still don't have one, right? So hopefully as an outcome of this upcoming hearing that I'm strongly going to support, that we begin tying this conversation to our budget, right? Because often times -- and I've been here for a while. A lot of times we have to put up tax votes, right, to make sure that our young people have the adequate funding that they need here in the City of Philadelphia as part of our school Stated Meeting 71 10/12/2023 district, but also I do talk to constituents that say what's the return on the investment, if you got less than 50 percent graduation rate, right, and a lower 20th and I think even Councilwoman Bass said maybe the lower one percentile in math rate, right, but nevertheless, we do our part in investing from a budgetary standpoint. And so hopefully this hearing will be an opportunity for us to disrupt their whole system. I look at all of them as being accountable, the whole -if you're over there, you're part of that system, right, that has to be redesigned to make sure our young people are a priority, because you get the funding day in and day out, but what our young people are suffering from is totally unacceptable. So I just want to also support this effort from Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson, but I also want to make sure as we move forward, it got to Stated Meeting 72 10/12/2023 be a different approach in terms of how we address the Philadelphia School District, because obviously if they decide to sue us, they're going to sue our body all because we want them to make sure that our schools are safe for our young people to attend, right, and be in an environment without lead and asbestos, but y'all turn around and sue us, I can see why you call over there and you don't get a response back. Because they feel like we can sue you, and at the end of the day nothing is going to happen. So that's the posture you're taking. And it's unfortunate that we have to take this type of adversarial approach, but at the end of the day, right, we should do everything that's possible on behalf of our children. Everything, right? So I just want to just put that on the record and thank the Councilwoman and also our Chair of Education around their advocacy on this issue. Stated Meeting 73 10/12/2023 Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
So I really, really didn't want to comment, because y'all were doing such a great job. I was thinking about Melvin Floyd about the gang jumping people. Y'all were beating him down. But however and nevertheless, something you said, Member Gilmore Richardson, about one shot at saving our babies and that bureaucracies have the luxury of time. They're going to get paid year after year, fiscal year after year regardless, but that kid that you mentioned, by the time they are in the third grade -- I think Phillips might have mentioned it -- if they don't read up to scale, they know how many prison cells to build by the time they're 18. If you know that, we don't have time. There's an urgency of time. We get one Stated Meeting 74 10/12/2023 shot to get it right. I remember kids that didn't make it into certain schools, special admit schools, even charter schools. The folk down at one of the charter schools when you were in the lottery, they would knight you with a medallion, like you made it. Your trajectory in life is different because you're going to attend this school, get an education, and be somebody. The other kids left the auditorium in tears. Does that mean I'm not going to make it? Does that mean I'm destined to a jail cell? And they understood the gravity of it. So every year, I heard -- and he's my guy, but I heard the Superintendent say, give us time. We're going to get it right. Just give us time. Well, that kid in third grade ain't got no more time. They're on the school-to-prison pipeline, and if we don't fix it, not now but right now, those will be the kids jumping up and Stated Meeting 75 10/12/2023 down on cars that you saying are out of control, at JJC, will not listen to us because we didn't do our job. You are right, Member Gilmore Richardson, we keep piling on the money like we print it, like it don't come out of those same parents' pockets, right? So if 50 percent of the time kids drop out because they are frustrated, they don't see a future, if any other industry only performed, whether it was cars or doughnuts, only 50 percent of the time they were going to get it right, they would be out of business. So we got to take a hard look over this budget period to say are we getting our bang for the buck, are our kids getting school to prison or are they going to get school-to-paycheck pipelines. And we as -- listen, you had me fired up from hello, you know, and I'm all in. We're going to dig deeper. We're going to ask more questions. Stated Meeting 76 10/12/2023 And I remember you, President, saying -- I'm getting a deja vu. I remember you sitting in your office, saying what am I paying for, why should we do it. You were getting ready -- and I think we might even have got into it a little bit about, I think it might have been, 19 million extra. Was that the number that we were going to give them? And you asked the question, and there was deafening silence, you said, for what? And there was no answer. There was an answer, but it wasn't a real answer.
I remember that like it was yesterday, sir. So we get another bite at the apple, but will the students that go to these schools have a second chance for us to get it right. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Stated Meeting 77 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, do we have any other -
Thank you very much. That concludes our public comment today, so we will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of Resolution No. 230684.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2609 through 27 Sears Street (including 1308 through 14 South 26th Street) located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson. Stated Meeting 78 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 230685.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1324 South Bancroft Street; 1213 South Bonsall Street; 1202 and 1223 South Bucknell Street; 2117 and 2221 Earp Street; 2007 Ellsworth Street; 2537 Oakford Street; 1818 and 2229 Latona Street; 1730, 2014, 2114, 2236, 2426, Stated Meeting 79 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING 2532 Manton Street; 1545 South Ringgold Street; 1506 and 1511 South Stillman Street; 1519, 1527, and 1529 South Taney Street; 1702 South 20th Street; 1419 South 22nd Street; 1230 and 1303 South 23rd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is Stated Meeting 80 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted. Mr. Decker, 230686.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1811, 2114 and 2123 Fernon Street, 1930 and 1932 Norwood Street, 1629, 1642, 1648 and 1652 Point Breeze Avenue, 1824 South 20th Street, 1835 South 22nd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Council President, that's that turnkey affordable housing working. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 81 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it and the key has been turned. That resolution has been adopted. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional -- oh, I'm sorry. 230694.
A resolution authorizing a "Joint Task Force on City Flag Reform" to reexamine and recommend a process to reform the flag of the City of Philadelphia in line with vexillological conventions and an aim to promote Civic Pride.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying Stated Meeting 82 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson again.
Thank you, Council President. I want to thank my colleagues Councilmembers Jim Harrity and Councilmember Driscoll regarding their forward-thinking approach in making sure we're looking at diversity and inclusion as it relates to the City of Philadelphia flag that represents everyone. And so I want to thank you. Maybe some people of color, a little brown on that flag will put in a couple of the diversity of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. So thank you two for bringing Stated Meeting 83 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING forward thinking on this topic. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have a different approach on the flag as being the first ever City flag in the country as a historic flag, and I think we need to be very careful when we look at this and as we're going forward with it to be conscious of having the flag that represents the City of Philadelphia. Yes, it was done a long time ago. It was the first ever flag to represent a city. And, you know, understanding that times have changed, but it doesn't mean we have to change everything through history to present a different approach. So I just want to make sure we caution as we do this, but have all Stated Meeting 84 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING voices heard in the process so that we can look at both the history of our country, to make sure we still protect that, but also understand the nuances of where we are today. So thank you for that.
A resolution recognizing and honoring Philadelphia's Reverend Melvin Floyd, by renaming the 5200 block of Wayne Avenue, "Reverend Melvin Floyd Way" to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Floyd, Founder and Pastor of Agape Christian Chapel and the Neighborhood Crusades, Incorporated, where he tirelessly worked to prevent gang violence citywide and since 1970, successfully reaching youth and families for over 40 years.
Thank you, Stated Meeting 85 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President. I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, do you now have any additional resolutions?
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the practice of "leveling" and its impact on students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia, especially following the Stated Meeting 86 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, introduced today by Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of all the children in the Philadelphia public school system, I call for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Stated Meeting 87 10/12/2023 10/12/23 - STATED - 2ND READING (Applause.)
And a resolution designated Thursday, October 12, 2023 as "Children's Environmental Health Day" in the City of Philadelphia, and recognizing the importance of clean air and water, safe food and consumer products, healthy environments and a stable climate to children's health and development, introduced today by Councilwoman Gauthier.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 88 10/12/2023 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. That concludes our Calendar for today. Any speeches on behalf of the minority? (No response.)
Speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I was on my way up to the street renaming for John White Saturday and I was struck by over 250, I estimate, Stated Meeting 89 10/12/2023 State Police Barracks, and it was in reference to Anthony Allegrini. And he was a young man that was shot by State Police under I-95 because he might have been, might have been, might have been involved with auto racing and stuff like that. There's a thing called proportionality, and what that means basically is the punishment should fit the crime. I've sped on city streets, but I'm here to talk about it because I wasn't shot to death. I'm here because I was able to grow out of that phase of my life. What struck me about this protest, it was 200 Anglo-Saxon, seemed to be, Americans, white folks. And what struck me over my head was that justice should know no color. And it is laughable at times, but what isn't funny is the fact that that young man had a mother who shed tears over her son's body. She'll never get to see him Stated Meeting 90 10/12/2023 married, never get grand-kids. He was 18 years old. But what does that have in common with Eddie Irizarry or George Floyd? They all have mothers too that cried over their child's body. And the interesting thing, no matter whether it's Black, brown or white, the salt content in a mother's tears is the same, and that we have our work to do. There's some good news. The Citizens Police Oversight Committee that does not cover state troopers has been doing good work, has been getting the caseloads down, has been moving the process along to get better, accurate decisions. The bad news is that we still are going to have to face these kinds of untimely deaths in the City of Philadelphia, whether it's at the state level or the City level. So we in these Chambers have to continue to keep people accountable for their actions. Stated Meeting 91 10/12/2023 Now, keep in mind, I go to many police graduations. I speak to the cadets up there. Criminal justice reform does not have to fly in the face of public safety. It's not an "or." It's an "and." We have to walk and chew gum and do it at the same doggone time. We got to hold people accountable and we have to hold -- when I say "people," I mean those people in blue and those people who are like me and you. One set of rules, irrespective of color, irrespective of race, but we got to do it better, because what the reaction is is what we saw in those uprisings throughout the City of Philadelphia after each of these incidences. So we got to do it better. We got to get it right. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas. Stated Meeting 92 10/12/2023
Good afternoon now. Very briefly, Council President. I just want to, on behalf of Council as Chair of the Education Committee, I just want to state my concern about the recent announcement of the closing of Math, Civics, and Science Charter School and just let the young people and the families know that we're aware of what's going on. We stand with the young people. The young people staged a walkout out of the school. They've been very active in their advocacy as it relates to what they want to see and what's best for them, and I just want to acknowledge the organizing effort that's taking place. If folks remember, we worked with young people on the Enough is Enough campaign when young people was doing a lot of the advocacy in fighting against the violence that we see in the City of Stated Meeting 93 10/12/2023 Philadelphia, but one of the leaders of the Enough is Enough campaign is a former intern of mine named Kayla, who spent a lot of time with us in City Council this past summer, and she's a junior at Math, Civics, and Science and she's a part of the organizing effort right now to make sure that students and families will land in a way that's copacetic for everyone involved. So as Chair of the Education Committee, I just want to acknowledge what those young people are going through, the level of uncertainty that exists right now and, more importantly, to let them know that myself and other members of City Council stand with them and their families to try to help figure out this unfortunate situation. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. That concludes our speeches on Stated Meeting 94 10/12/2023 and the majority, and with that, the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 19th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The motion carries. ) Stated Meeting 96 10/12/2023 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. m. m. S. unlike 54:13 32:15 16:25 46:5 36:23 55:3,5 45:24 troopers ultimately unreasonabl Tom 49:21 90:14 46:3 e 47:20 70:20,21 23:9 top trouble Umoja 83:20 unrest 35:9,13 40:12 47:20 89:22 19:17 topic truce unacceptabl tirelessly unsafe 83:2 47:16,17 e 84:19 25:22 truck 56:22 57:4 title totally 28:3,8 68:12 untimely 12:10 71:20 37:25 71:21 47:4 90:21 16:21 touch Tuesday uncertainty upcoming 77:17 62:24 34:22 93:15 70:17 titles Trades Tuesdays understand uprisings 12:20 16:23 36:24 22:12 91:16 today training 68:20 84:5 turn uptown 2:11 5:22 42:14 32:5 42:5 understandi 43:4 44:18 6:3 7:10 trajectory 57:7 63:10 ng urban 8:12 9:17 57:6 74:9 72:10 21:15 54:9 60:18 12:21 18:3 transmittin 64:18 29:4,11, turned urgency g 83:20 15,19,24 81:5 73:25 11:13 understood 30:6 31:5, turnkey 13,20 33:5 transparent 74:16 80:15 50:9,23 52:22 Stated Meeting 29 10/12/2023 voices wars well-being working V 84:2 47:3 26:3,24 46:2,22 valiantly vote watch white 54:16 63:5 32:19 23:11 50:8 18:10 88:24 68:9 80:16 van 61:9 watching 89:19 90:9 world 35:9,12 voted 44:5 wicked 18:7 43:8 48:2 8:23 5:8 57:18 water Vaughn votes 24:24 wickedness worse 21:6 27:4 70:22 25:17 87:8 4:24 16:7 vegan vu Watlington wildfire worth 44:15 14:10 56:17 25:21 16:9 Vernon 16:13 76:3 wave willingness wounded 28:10,11, vulnerable 10:19 31:7 18:13 26:25 Wayne wisdom wow versions 49:17 4:11 43:18 27:19 W 84:14 withdraw wrong vetoed wait ways 8:24 48:19 8:20 7:17 18:11 women Wurd vexillologi wake wears 18:10 67:11 cal 52:13 43:21 won 81:14 walk weary 16:6 Y viable 59:25 91:7 4:17 words y'all 19:2 walking Wednesday 5:4 33:11 vigor 70:3 34:22 72:10 work 4:19 73:9,11 walkout Wednesdays 10:11 violation 92:15 36:24 20:13 year 18:18 25:15 25:8 53:4 wall week 26:8,22 54:14 violence 24:4,6 39:16 34:25 59:17,19 18:23 wanted 51:20,22 36:10 69:3 19:13 47:13 49:2 week's 37:20,23, 73:17,18 23:15 24:5 61:8,20 13:8 17:11 40:20 74:17 35:6 84:20 62:13 24:18 92:25 56:15 yearning 63:18 28:25 60:23 4:19 visitors 64:10 weeks 90:11,15 years 2:6,14,16 wanting 44:7 worked 3:22 38:18 vividly 47:23 welcoming 84:19 45:20 46:9 63:25 war 8:4 92:21 48:8 51:16 20:15 84:22 90:3 Stated Meeting 30 10/12/2023 yellow 30:23 yesterday 76:18 young 7:14 11:3 25:14,18 33:7 34:19 35:11,17 38:4 47:5 57:6,10, 12,16 60:9 61:17 63:11 70:23 71:17,19 72:8 89:4, 92:10, 13,14,22, 93:14 younger 11:3,4 youngest 31:23 45:18 youth 49:4 84:21 Z Zoom 55:3