Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 080527.
An ordinance amending Section 14-2007 of The 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia Code, entitled "Historic "Buildings, Structures, Sites, Objects and Districts," to permit the historic designation of public interior portions of buildings and making technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. I see that Councilman Clarke's light is on, and I believe Councilman Green will be offering an amendment. Councilman Green, has your amendment been circulated to all members?
Madam President, I'm offering an amendment to Bill No. 080527. This bill is co-sponsored by Councilmember Greenlee and Councilmember Blondell Reynolds 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Brown. The amendments were unanimously approved by the City's Planning Commission, including its Chair, Andy Altman, and the City's Historical Commission, including its Chair, who many members know, Sam Sherman. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I have a small interest in this particular bill, as a number of members of the Council, and having had conversation with Councilman Green, I understand that the amendments today probably are not controversial in nature, but I did want to reference today because I did have an opportunity, along with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, to meet with a number of individuals who represent institutions 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING throughout the City of Philadelphia that would be affected by this bill. They had actually made several recommendations and actually made those recommendations in amendment form. A part of the problem was, both myself and along with the other members of Council were deeply engrossed in the budget issue. The organizations were engrossed in whatever they do. We did not receive the amendments until yesterday. It was my intention to share the amendments with the sponsor and along with other Councilmembers, but as you see, we were a little busy, so I didn't get a chance to do that. So I just wanted to for the record say that there are a number of recommendations by those individuals that would be affected and I would like to share with the sponsor and members of Council before final passage of the bill. I think that they're reasonable, good-sense recommendations, 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING and we would hope that as we move down this line, we have an opportunity to have them adopted or, at a minimum, discussed in a reasonable way. Thank you.
Councilman Green, are you moving for the adoption of your amendments?
Yes, Madam Chair. Just for the record, I'd like to state that the amendment was originally circulated at the end of the summer, then again at the request of Councilman DiCicco, with a memo to all members of Council on April 27th. And I have met with the museums and institutions on numerous occasions. We have incorporated some, but not all of what they are requesting, and at this time, I move for the adoption of the amendment.
It 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted. That concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority?
Don't we have a resolution to vote on, homeless funding?
Let me just double-check. I'm sorry. 5/14/09 - STATED - 2ND READING We do. Thank you for calling it to my attention. I think we have more than one. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 090334.
A resolution approving the City's substantial amendment to the Year 34 Consolidated Plan and application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for approximately $21,486,000 in funding for homelessness prevention services under HUD's Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution has been adopted. Again I will say, that concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Yes, Madam President. Our action on the last resolution is a perfect segue to my remarks. On February 17th, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that seeks to help our nation's citizens during this deep time of economic signed on to receive 10.4 billion in economic stimulus support that includes a minimum list of projects totalling 2.8 billion for our city. Both the Commonwealth and the City have made commitments and released comprehensive plans to reduce energy consumption, green public spaces, expand recycling, invest in transit-oriented development, clean up Superfund sites, upgrade in municipal waste and invest in clean energy. Given our city's 25 percent poverty rate as reflected in our significant unemployment, green-collar jobs are blue-collar jobs in green businesses because they are manual labor jobs in businesses whose products and services directly improve environmental quality. This represents an important new category of workforce opportunities that are known as pathways out of poverty. Why? Because they are relatively high-quality jobs that provide work, living wages and benefits and advancement opportunities. So in closing, Madam President, it is my hope that like Oakland, California, who is far ahead of us on this matter, it's my hope that we as a city will take advantage of this unique opportunity to harness the energy and begin to build what are known as pathways out of poverty workforce and develop a business model in Philadelphia that ultimately makes a difference for our city's unemployment rate and addresses our city's 25 percent poverty rate. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. The day after Thanksgiving I attended my 25th high school reunion. I in 1982, and one of my fondest memories is of student government. I actually served as Treasurer of the Student Association in my last year. And being an elected official in high school had its perks too, like an office. It wasn't really an office, though. It was actually a broom closet with a desk and chairs, but officers had keys, so we had a place to do our work and to hang out. I met a younger kid back then who liked to hang out in the Student Government office. Now I know why. That kid went on to become President of the Student Government at Penn State University. He actually joined my fraternity while I was at Penn and he was at Penn State. He led anti-apartheid protests, as I did at Penn, while he was Penn State. He then went on to Georgetown Law School. But none of this I knew until years later when we were both young public sector. Then we became friends. I've been to his home for cookouts. I've met his wife and kids. His mother has repeatedly whipped me at pinochle. More importantly, I've learned more about the criminal justice system from him than probably anyone else. His name is Seth Williams. On Tuesday, I will cast my vote for the kid who used to hang out at the Student Government office to become our next District Attorney, because I've watched him grow into the right leader with the right vision for criminal justice reform in the 21st century. If I didn't know Seth, I would still be voting for him, but because I do, it will be with pride that I push Button No. 55 on Tuesday, the day we begin to change the criminal justice system for real. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. As always, I remind that we have our Partnership for Prescription Assistance table out front for colleagues and your constituents to take advantage of free prescription assistance. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other members that would like to be heard? (No response.)
Seeing none, I would remind my colleagues that the meeting scheduled for 1 o'clock today in the Caucus Room has been continued to a further date. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 21st, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 21st at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion is carried. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.) 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 on May 14, 2009, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)