Dean Miller, commenting on 170584. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. Thank you to the City Council for having us here and to Councilman Oh for sponsoring this important resolution. I am Dean Miller, the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies, which is the largest membership and trade organization focused on the technology community in and around Philadelphia, and we thank you for having us here today to talk about the tech tax. It is officially known in the Commonwealth as the computer services tax, and as you've just heard from two CEOs and will hear from two more, it is a job killer. It is a job killer. It's a Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6 percent tax on computer services, custom software development, and a host of other computer-related and technology-related taxes that will kill the technology growth that we have so experienced here in Philadelphia in particular. There are only three other states in the land that tax these things, and they do so at half the rate of what has been proposed by the Commonwealth. They are Hawaii, South Dakota, and New Hampshire, not major tech hubs. None of our surrounding states tax these areas of technology services. And the most important thing to leave you with is this: These jobs are portable. They don't require real estate. They don't require physical space. The people can pick up their computers with their Internet connections and they can move across the bridge to New Jersey, down south into Delaware or even quite simply to Texas, South Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 America, Central America or India. These are jobs that have been increasingly coming here to Philadelphia. They're coming here because of the great resources that we have with our wonderful universities, but they can leave very quickly as soon as they're taxed. And we're talking about jobs and important technology developments both for small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and large businesses. It's across the board. So we encourage you to pass this resolution against the technology tax, again the computer services tax proposed by the Governor and the Commonwealth, and we thank you again here today.
Alex Urevick-Ackelsburg, commenting on 170584. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. I'd just like to quickly thank Councilman Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 Oh and the rest of Council for letting me speak on this issue. This is an extremely distressing issue to my company, Zivtech. We are a web development, design, and software company based right across the street at One South Broad. I'm a lifelong Philadelphian and graduate of Philly public high schools and we've created 25 jobs here over the last nine years that are very well paying. And for us there's a couple really big problems with the tax. Number one is that it's really picking winners and losers and isn't fair, and we hope that that alone would have you support it. In a state where no retirement income is taxed, we feel like either retirement income or even an increase in the income tax would be more fair than taxing one industry alone 6 percent. We work with a large number of international clients, some who have Pennsylvania locations, and we compete Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 against not just other states but other countries that don't have the same sorts of standards of living and costs associated with being here in the United States, and 6 percent would, for most service businesses, be equivalent to the majority of their margins, because service businesses are, generally speaking, not extremely profitable, and most service businesses are just small one- or two-person contractors or shops. So we believe also that at Zivtech that we would have a really hard time dealing with this, because a lot of our contracts with big clients stipulates that we would be responsible for that sales tax if it was to be enacted. So that would essentially prevent us from either working with that company or move -- would necessitate us moving to New Jersey or Delaware where those companies also have locations. I also would just like to mention that this is really a tax on the Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 Philadelphia region and the Pittsburgh region. These are industries that are creating jobs in these areas. They may not be creating as many jobs in rural counties in Pennsylvania, but this is really going to disproportionately affect our region and our economy. Thank you very much.
David Bookspan, commenting on 170584. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, President Clarke and distinguished members of City Council. My name is David Bookspan. I have started four tech companies in Pennsylvania. I am founder and Executive Chairman of Currency Inc., which I started with Mr. Luttrell, who testified earlier. I'm also founder and Board member of Monetate, founder and Board member of DreamIt, and was founder and CEO of MarketSpan, which today is Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 LexusNexus CourtLink. I'm here today to urge the passage of the resolution opposing proposed taxes for technology and computer services in Pennsylvania. Technology companies are a huge part of our future. Five of the top six most valuable companies in the world are tech companies. Apple, Alphabet, and Facebook are all located in the Bay area. Microsoft and Amazon are in Seattle. We need to be able to develop those type of companies in Pennsylvania. And to put a finer point on what Mr. Lutrell said earlier, we will have to move Currency, which we think can be a very, very significant company, if this tax is imposed. We have enough challenges trying to launch a great company in Philadelphia without having the added disadvantage of having to pay 6 percent tax on not only our revenues but also the services that we purchase and use. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 Pennsylvania has a lot of talent, but there are lots of other places to find talent. If this tax passes, we're going to lose companies, and it's not going to be to New Jersey and Delaware. It's going to be to New York, Boston, and the Bay area. When we started DreamIt in 2008, Philadelphia was not far behind New York. That gulf has widened. This tax will make it unbridgeable. I think it will be a lot smarter for us to try and become in the 21st century to tech what Delaware became in the 20th century for industrial companies. There are -- we should make it an incredibly business-friendly, tech company-friendly environment, and we should be recruiting, not chasing away these companies. Another example of things that we will lose if this tax passes is, right now because of the high cost of living in the Bay area, lots of those Bay area Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 companies are encouraging people, their employees, very highly talented and skilled people, to move elsewhere. You can work here and live anywhere. We should be bringing those people to Pennsylvania. Having a hostile business environment to tech companies will not accomplish that. Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify, and I again urge the passage of the bill. (Applause.)
Joe Danihel, commenting on 170198, 170199, 170575, and 170200. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm waiting until I get my full three minutes. Thank you. This is an official decree of the people of writ of mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and remedy. This Council and Mayor continue every week to transfer Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 private property to government, possibly illegally. As instructed by oath-bound officials, I paid 23 years for a home I have not been allowed to occupy since 1993. As instructed by oath-bound officials, I filed six times for a Seventh Amendment trial by jury, only to have oath-bound officials oppose my God-given right to trial by jury. Doesn't this clearly violate their oath of office? The Constitution, Article I, Section 10 requires payment before taking. Since a self-identified HUD agent sold me the home, was Philadelphia paid hundreds of millions of federal taxpayer dollars to justly compensate all of Logan but spend only 34 million compensating most of Logan? Why was I never paid? Has Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority announced upwards of 100 million, mostly federal dollars, to build a mall on my stolen home? Why Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 was I required to pay 23 years and told hundreds of times that it would violate the Constitution and laws not to reimburse me for government-caused delays? Why was no due process, just compensation or trial by jury allowed? Are oath-bound officials above the law? The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384, PA Constitution, Article I, Section 1 through 11, 26 PA CSA 703, 705, 708, 709, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. I call for the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate and prosecute all involved in the theft and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 23 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a fireman can refuse to fight a fire. The sovereign people require Constitution and laws be enforced. Jail is required for all who violate oath or law. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow monumental corruption.
Ann Montgomery, commenting on 170583. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you. I would like to especially thank Councilman Oh, Councilwoman Gym, and Councilman Taubenberger for supporting this resolution. Earlier this week -- last week actually, Pennsylvania lost an adoptee to a tragic suicide that most of us never knew about. Philip Clay became an American at eight years old when he was adopted by two Pennsylvania residents and brought from Korea here. But he died alone, deported, living in Seoul when he took his life off a 14-story building. He is not alone. The American system of adoption is fatally flawed. Under this system, U.S. children have been denied the promise of adoption, a safe, secure, permanent home. As a society, we do not act in the best interest of a child when we sanction a system that endangers children by providing for childhood, but intentionally depriving that same child of a future in America. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 Under current law, children adopted internationally by U.S. citizens are not guaranteed the most fundamental right other children receive by virtue of birth, the right to citizenship. Most Americans are unaware that the legal process of adoption on its own does not confer the right to U.S. citizenship. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 grants automatic citizenship to some, not all, internationally adopted children. The Child Citizenship Act excludes two groups, adoptees who are under the age of 18 when the law was implemented and for whom their parents did not complete the naturalization or adoption process. The second, children whose adoptions are not finalized in their birth country. In a lot of cases, adoptive parents continue to bear the responsibility to readopt their child in the U.S., finalize the adoption process in the U.S. law, and file for naturalization. History has demonstrated Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 that not all U.S. adoptive parents are willing or able to fulfill this responsibility. One hundred thousand Korean children were adopted by U.S. citizen parents. Twenty percent, 20,000 of these children, were never naturalized. The reasons vary, but the responsibility lies with the U.S. government authorities who created this system and adoptive parents who were misinformed of their obligations, neglected to fulfill them or refused. The U.S. government does not maintain accurate numbers on international adoption and does not track the citizenship. However, we have 354,000 internationally adopted children here in the United States adopted by U.S. citizens. If the Korean numbers are representative, that means we could have anywhere between 35,000 to 70,000 adults today legally adopted without the protection of citizenship. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 Does it matter if the number is 20,000, 35,000 or 50,000? Isn't one child legally adopted by U.S. citizens but deprived of citizenship too many? So I thank you and encourage you to support this resolution and support the Adoptee Citizenship Act, which will remedy this problem.
Tiffany Green, commenting on 170285. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon or good morning. I'm not sure what time it is right now. I want to speak on this because in this bill, you have the word "permanent." And when you put the word "permanent" in a bill, that means that you are saying you are banning community Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 groups and residents from a process, from a City process that you use taxpayers' dollars in order to run. You use taxpayer dollars to hire an RCO administrator under the Planning Commission to run the RCO process. So when you say ban, that's a problem without an independent appeal process. If Trump travel ban had went into place, without an independent appeal process, you would not have been able to overturn the travel ban. So why not as legislators make sure that there is an independent appeal process. It is not the community residents' job to come up with an appeal process. It is the legislators' job to guarantee due process right. The other thing is at this point, how do you take away your own power to help your community groups? You're going to let your community groups be suspended and when they come to you, what are you going to say? Oh, we don't Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 have no control, I can't help you. How do you do that? That's ludicrous to take away your own power from yourself. The reality of it is is that -and Solomon said this -- over $200 million worth of development has come into this community, with very little minority participation. It is community groups that stand up for this and makes sure it's a level playing field. Why would you want to ban them? You are banning them with this permanent. I understand penalties. And I've gotten e-mails from RCOs that didn't even know about this bill. They said they didn't receive any information about this bill. Why not -- why do you have to pass it through? Why not have meetings over the summer, let's come together, let's talk about some of the issues and come up with some solutions as opposed to putting through a bill that bans people from the process. You have developers who have Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 tons of violations in this community and they are not banned from doing business with the City of Philadelphia. You have tons of developers who have different types of not following rules and regulations, but they're not banned, but why do you want to clamp down on us like a plantation and keep us reined in for your own good, but yet you're going to let the developers from New York and LA come in here and do what they want to do without being banned or permanently suspended from participating with the City. I think this bill need to be put on hold. I'm not saying RCOs are all good. I don't know what they do out there. I don't know. But I think that we need to take some of the language out of the bill and try to make it more where we do have some things in place to make sure people operate correctly, but take out the word "permanent" and also make sure that you have oversight over the Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING regulations. You don't have no control over what regulations are being put forth. Let's take a look at the regulations before you put through this bill. That's all we're asking at this point. Okay? Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for your testimony. (Applause.)
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 170572. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution adding "Saddiq's Water Ice Way" to the street signs on South 60th between Locust and Spruce Streets in recognition of the great success of Saddiq's Real Fruit Water Ice and his commitment to providing public service to seniors and young people in Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 170572 is adopted. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, 170573.
A resolution adding Sonny Hill Way to the street signs on South 50th between Larchwood and Osage Avenues in recognition of Sonny Hill's remarkable contributions to the basketball community in Philadelphia and his efforts in mentoring young people all over the City.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it. Resolution 170573 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 170574.
A resolution also naming on the 5200 through 5300 blocks of Vine Street as "Crystal Bird Fauset Way" in recognition of her many accomplishments and for tireless leadership in advancing the rights of black people everywhere.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it. Resolution 170574 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 170575.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of certain properties located in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 170575 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 170576. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution adopting the 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan as the official hazard mitigation plan of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 170576 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, 170577.
A resolution approving the reappointment of Lee Huang to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 170577 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, 170581.
A resolution also naming 13th Street between Mifflin and McKean Streets as "Tommy Coletti Way".
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 170581 is adopted. Mr. Decker, read the title of 170583.
A resolution urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to enact legislation securing the citizenship of internationally adopted adult individuals.
Thank you very much. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that Resolution 170583 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 170584.
A resolution opposing proposed taxes for technology and computer services in Pennsylvania.
Thank you very much. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Before we take the vote, I have to recognize we have Councilman Greenlee.
Thank Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I'll be voting no on this resolution and I urge other members to vote no, and it's not because I necessarily support the tax. I understand some of the arguments that were used in public comment. None of us like taxes, but I think we all know how difficult it is here in the City to put together a budget, and I would argue and I think our colleagues that were former members of the House would concur that it probably is even more difficult in Harrisburg. This proposal by Governor Wolf -- and that's what it is right now, and as we know, in budgets things change. Things are used as negotiations, whatever. It's just part of the whole budget process. And, remember, part of the reason for it, as I understand -- and I'm far from an expert on this -- is to try to take care of a huge deficit that the state has, and sometimes we have to Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING make difficult decisions. We had to make them -- we have to make them all the time. We certainly had to make them last year when we voted on the soda tax, which a lot of us necessarily didn't like, but we felt it was the thing we had to do to fund the programs that it was going to fund. So I think it is not in our place, in my opinion, to take a position on a piece of Governor Wolf's budget, something that he and the Legislature is trying to put together up there. And, again, while -- and I don't believe a no vote on this resolution is in support of the tax. It is basically opposing getting involved in taking a vote on a piece of the whole budget process that's going on up there. I don't think we would necessarily like our legislators, and although they do it a lot, take positions on stuff we do down here, so I don't think we can criticize them for doing that to us and then we do that to Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING them. So I would vote -- I would urge a no vote on this. Again, not in support of the tax but against taking a position on a piece of the Governor's budget. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to share a few facts on this, because I am in favor of voting for this resolution even though I'm a democrat. Pennsylvania Economy League did a report recently that 25 percent of all jobs in Philadelphia in the last 14 years were in technology, 25 percent of all jobs in Philadelphia the last 14 years, technology. It also said that one-third of those jobs don't require a high school diploma. And the message this sends is wrong to the hundred thousand millennials Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING that have moved here in the last ten years and the fact that Philadelphia has the highest percentage of millennial growth of the largest 20 cities in the country in the past 12 months. It sends the wrong message. The other statistics we should be aware of is the economic job multiplier of technology. It's five to one. There's no other industry that's higher. For every job of tech, five more jobs get created. And in the Pennsylvania Economy report it said the average income of tech is 39,000 higher. But I think the big piece here is the message this is sending. I understand the Governor's situation, but I don't agree that we should be putting a 6 percent tax on the back of the one area of Philadelphia that's booming, booming right now and we're attracting young people here and we want them to stay here in the City. So for that reason, I'd be Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING voting in favor of this resolution. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. This is a difficult vote. I understand and I want to thank Councilman Greenlee for his comments in reference to budget process. We all know that a budget is not done in isolation. It's hard to just pick out one piece of legislation that a body is trying to do. However, when you think about the impact this legislation would have. If it was more of a broad-based impact, I would have less of a concern. However, this legislation is going to disproportionately impact the City of Philadelphia if it were to go into effect. And if you think about the fact that we have a high rate of poverty in this city and some of the issues we're Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING trying to address, it just concerns me that this type of proposal could go through and have this type of impact on our city. I do understand the issues and concerns that Councilman Greenlee has articulated and some of the other issues along with this legislation. I just think that this proposal will have a significant impact here in the City of Philadelphia. And so in that regard, I do have a concern with some of the arguments articulated by Councilman Greenlee and others in reference to their no vote. So thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. And I also want to echo and share some of Councilman Green and Greenlee's considerations when we're Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING talking about the separation of the City, the sovereignty of the City budget and the state budget, and the difficulty that I find, and you with more experience in City government and being the Council President and other members here, understanding that the timing of our budget that is finalized and voted on prior to the state's budget really kind of puts us at a little bit of a disadvantage, but they have their challenges, and some of our members or colleagues and friends here understands that completely with their experience and understands the challenges. They have to deal with 203 members. That's just on the House side. And then you have a democratic governor we're relying on on veto power. We have major issues here in the City of Philadelphia that we rely on the state on. Right now we have the bifurcation of the constitutional change with our real estate taxes. We have Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING education funding, having a fair -- a lawsuit that's in the federal courts with fair education funding and relying on the state to really fund our schools with a little more money so we can educate our kids. We have a uniform construction code that hasn't been adopted. I mean, we're operating off of 2009 building codes while we have this economic boom. We're outdated by many years from 2009, and here we are in 2017. So we rely on the state and the cooperation with the state. The state hasn't been able to come up with a way that they can tax the shale and Marcellus gas, and there's all kinds of things that are going on in the state, and it puts us in a precarious position, because I don't believe -- I do not personally support the tax on our tech companies, but we have to make a tough decision whether we support our democratic governor when it comes to leverage. And I'm going to be voting no Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING on this resolution, even though I personally don't support it, because I believe that we need the Governor to govern after our city budget is complete, for him to continue to fight to make sure that our codes are updated, which are not now, to make sure that even though tech is the fastest growing sector, it's even a faster growing sector when it comes to the healthcare industry. It's really growing there, that he considers and/or the Legislature considers exempting the cities of the first class from anything that is going to be onerous, because we're going to take a look at that. Your creation of a special committee on regulatory laws that we have in our city, which has been outdated and used and not used and so forth. I think we need to really take a hard look at leveraging, giving the Governor leverage, but the City of Philadelphia wants something back in return. And it's not a quid pro quo. It is, hey, man, we're at 2009 codes, Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING more funding for education, and giving the city of the first class a little more sovereignty when it comes to some of our bifurcation of our real estate taxes so we can use those resources that will attract and retain millennials, business folks, and how about just City residents right here in the City of Philadelphia. So difficult vote, but we're going to have to take it. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
So this is a straw vote that has no power to determine what happens about 103 miles from here, right? No, it doesn't, right? We don't have any power over the Governor's budget. So why -- wait a minute. Hold on. I'm talking. Then push your button. Then push your button. Then push your button. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING So wait a minute. I know we do it all the time, but I just watched an eight-hour struggle yesterday about Rebuild, right, and we were pulling our hair out. I think we've become addicted to doing this kind of stuff, particularly where we don't have a say in it. And so I want to just point out to you that the Governor's coming here tomorrow to talk about the I-95 ramp that will connect into Queen Village where these millennials live, right? Isn't that where these millennials live? And he's bringing a check to do that, right? So I'm just saying -- Old City. And I'm just saying, to me when I go see him tomorrow, I don't want to bring the resolution saying keep your money. In all seriousness, though, in all seriousness, they have a $3 billion projected deficit, 3 billion with a B, and if we look to Washington for assistance, they're calling their budget the skinny budget, which takes about $500 Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING billion out of the state federal budget. Hello. I want you to understand they're cutting at the federal level, they're scrambling at the state level, and if we limit what the state is going to do, you're going to be finding new and innovative ways to tax your constituents here just to keep and make ends meet. So let the Governor and let the state Legislature and let the Senate do their jobs and let's focus on ours. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. And I appreciate all of the comments and the constructive dialogue of my colleagues, but if you saw me scrambling over here, I'm scrambling to get the data, the numbers, and the facts from Harrisburg so that we can literally know what we're doing here Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING today. And just for the record, I want to start with this: All of the speakers who commented on the negative impact of this tax, I agree with them potentially wholeheartedly, and there was one person who put forth a potential solution that I am willing and I'm sure many of my colleagues will take him up on. He talked about he knew that there was a need to plug the $3 billion projected budget deficit that we have in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and he said that he thought a broad-based tax like a potential increase in the PIT was something that was something more fitting instead of picking winners and losers as it relates to industries. I want to tell that gentleman that I agree. I would be willing to work with the industry to motivate and inspire our colleagues, particularly those who live in the five-county area, to help us with a campaign to support a broad-based tax in Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Harrisburg that is not simply an ask that is coming from Philadelphia. In addition to that, I want to say to Councilman Greenlee, Councilmembers Jones and Henon, each of you I think hit the hammer on the nail when you talked about current negotiations. I right now am holding an analysis of revenue proposals that was conducted not by the democratic caucus or republic caucus. It was conducted by the Independent Fiscal Office, and everything that is being proposed, it is not just this, what is being referred to as the tech tax. They are talking about the corporate net income tax, a natural gas severance tax, an insurance premium tax, a sales and use tax, and they also have tax credit here. So there is a litany of proposals, and I'm not sure if today what we would be doing if we wanted to lend our voice to the argument if we needed to be talking about how a tax in each of Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING these areas would be impacting the City of Philadelphia. So with that being said, I too, who am not in support of this tax in particular, but what I am very mindful of is the reality of a $3 billion deficit, the reality that in five years if we don't find a way to generate additional recurring revenue for the School District of Philadelphia, if we listen carefully, we talked about a $700 million projected deficit, we've got no signal that we're going to plug the charter school reimbursement line item. And with that being said, Mr. President, I will be voting no on this resolution today, but it is not, again, because I support the tax. I would much prefer to see a broad-based tax entered into, but as they go into the negotiating stages of this process again, which only had ten pre-K years of just watching from afar, I don't want to limit the discussion on anything, and that's Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING for both sides of the aisle. Thank you, Mr. President. If anyone is interested in looking at this analysis of the revenue proposals so they'll get that this is not the only projected revenue stream, again, that's projected to generate $349 million, all of those other revenue streams were proposed also. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. Let me start by saying this: I have introduced resolutions when I disagree with the Trump administration or with Governor Corbett or any other republican, because I represent the citizens of Philadelphia. If every Councilmember who just said they don't like this tax voted for the resolution, then the Governor would get a Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING message. It might help him. He needs the guidance. He's going to run for reelection. I'm getting that from this conversation. But for Philadelphia this tax is very problematic. We lose jobs. We lose taxes. We lose revenues. We lose growth. What happens is exactly what's been described. We don't have money from Harrisburg. We don't have money from the federal government. We're going to rely on ourselves. We need as many jobs, job opportunities as we can have, and this is one of our hottest areas right now. If you look at what's happening, we've built four innovation centers - University of Penn, Drexel, Science Center, and Comcast Innovation Center. That has been great for the building trades. It's been great for a lot of things. Those are all tech-related jobs. NBC Universal coming to Philadelphia, the medical devices, the medical healthcare, post production film, Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING all of this relates to technology. What I would say is that this tax is difficult to understand, particularly when people don't feel it relates to them, and I believe that the representatives of rural Pennsylvania are making themselves well known. They're saying, listen, this tax don't affect us, so go ahead with this tax. But what I'm saying is Philadelphia has to let the rest of the state know so that they can balance it out that this tax is very detrimental to our citizens, our economy, and our region. And, listen, you know, I was at an event where Governor Wolf was talking about how much hardship he was getting on a partisan basis on the opioid issue. I said publicly, Look, I support you, Governor. And I will be very happy to support him in his efforts to fund and fight the opioid/heroin epidemic. This is an area where I disagree with the Governor. It doesn't mean I disagree Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING with him on everything, but this hurts Philadelphia. And so I do understand all the reasons and we're all here as elected officials. I am very clear that this resolution does in fact impact things. It does send a message to the Governor. It is an official resolution. And I would urge everyone to vote in favor of it and help the Governor out. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger.
Thank you, Council President. As one of the sponsors, I will say very clearly and being in this body not the longest as many, I'm rather new around here, I know we take positions on things that are not in our realm, but I think it's a good thing. And letting people know where we stand and what is particularly important Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING to Philadelphia I think is very important. I sit here as a minority candidate -- or minority member of Council, but I represent all Philadelphia, and when four businesses come here asking us to do something, they say that it's not good for their business, it will hurt them, one of which clearly said if this bill passes on the state level, I'm moving out, and guess what, 15 minutes from here by motor car, you're in another state. I think these folks have taken a sincere amount of their time. They've asked us to do something, and I intend to do that, and I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President. I'm requesting a leave of absence. I will be voting no on this resolution and aye on all amendments, bills, and resolutions going forward. I have to go meet with the Secretary of Transportation, who works for the Governor, who is bringing a check to fix a bridge. So we will cross that other bridge when we come to it. Thank you, Mr. President. I need an excuse, not a leave of absence.
Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted, and your vote will be reflected in the final tally. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to be voting aye on this, because we weigh in every single week on the federal government, on the state government and we add our voice. And I will say I think our voice is powerful and it does send a Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING a message. I've worked too hard in this Council to support small businesses and how we promote job creation, and I think this position is consistent with everything we've done historically here. So I'll be voting aye.
Thank you. There are no other speeches. I think we probably should do a voice vote. It appears it is going to be relatively close. So it has been moved and seconded. Mr. Decker, can you call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Johnson is voting aye. Councilman Jones is voting nay. Councilman O'Neill.
Councilman Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla.
No. The ayes are nine; the nays are seven. Resolution 170584 is adopted. Is my math correct, Mr. Decker?
Thank you. Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 170285.
An ordinance amending Chapter 14-300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Administration and Procedures," and making related changes.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Johnson is voting aye. Councilman Jones is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 170196.
An ordinance to Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING adopt a Fiscal 2018 Capital Budget. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 170196. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
The amendment has been moved and seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill No. 170196 has been amended. It will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, 170198.
An ordinance Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates.
This bill has been voted on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Johnson is voting aye. Councilman Jones is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Council President Clarke. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 170199.
An ordinance amending Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Authorization of Tax," to further authorize the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia to impose a tax on real estate within the City of Philadelphia.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Blackwell. Stated Meeting June 8, 2017 6/8/17 - STATED - 2ND READING