Committee Hearing, May 12, 2004

Yes, ma'am.

I don't know of anybody that's going to be able to pick up a horse, but they can certainly pick up the bicycles.

You can clear a crowd. And as I said earlier, unfortunately we see 800 officers a year getting hurt .

It's absurd. That's not many more than mounted police for crowd control. I'm not the Police Commissioner, but to me it just doesn't make any sense. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.

I think there's a point of information, Madam Chair.

Councilman, you have a point of information? I'm sorry.

I was just going to add if the Police Department would start 195 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET collecting the money that they pay police officers to work overtime off duty, that the mounted police plus we could have bought a couple motorcycles and bikes. My point being is -- no criticism of the Police Commissioner -- but there are some administrative problems in that Police Department, that they're not watching the money as closely as they should. I can tell you that it distresses me to see that mounted unit gone, because I think we all know who brought it back. If the money was being spent wisely within that Police Department, we wouldn't have to be worrying about $400,000 to fund the Mounted Police Unit. Thank you, Madam President.

Councilman, Madam Chair, may I make one other comment? We're also, as a result of the services that we provide to the surrounding communities that are also going to benefit from some of these decreases, we're charged the expenses. Our bomb squad is utilized as a result of its qualifications throughout the 196 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET whole entire Philadelphia County with no 3 revenue coming back to the City as a result of the utilization of this service. Somewhere along the line that charge could help offset and make the people in the City want to stay in this City.

Basically what you're saying is that when we provide that service of the bomb squad, that we should be being compensated for that? I agree with you.

Well, we have to train the officers. It's our officers that are put in jeopardy. If there going to be utilized, we have no problem having them be utilized, but where can you go and have that kind of service and not have some kind of cost?

Exactly. I agree with you totally. I'm going to put that on my list.

Are you referring to other jurisdictions, if our officers go to other jurisdictions?

Yes, ma'am. Another one of our basic problems is just vests and 197 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET radios. We have major problems in our City. And when we see a budget cut, we're saying what chance do we have now to provide our officers the necessary safety? We're not trying to cry the blues, but 800 officers a year are getting hurt. What are we doing?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.

Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Eddis, I'm very interested in all this terrorism stuff -- not that I'm interested, but it's something we should be concerned about, as you all are. I know Chief Inspector O'Connor very well. The chief does stuff -- I saw him on TV last night, what they did down at Lincoln Financial Stadium. That's a drain on your department and money that you wouldn't have prior to 9/11. Now, 9/11, this is a really happening and we have to respond. 198 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET I saw on TV -- and that might have been what Councilman Rizzo was talking about -- our bomb squad was in some other part of the state outside the City. Do we get reimbursed by the Feds anything?

No, sir. As a matter of fact, one of the parts that's frustrating, we had the chance to meet with the 50 major cities, and we've been asking for years when the Homeland Security money is being utilized, when is it going to be used to offset some of the expenses within local government? In California, as they always are, being years ahead of us, they have been 16 doing that for the last year and a half, they 17 offset their expenses for law enforcement 18 through revenue generated through Homeland 19 Security dollars. 20

I'm sure the ex-governor, that would be Ridge, who's the head of Homeland Security -- in fact, he's in town this week or next week to talk about just that. My only thing is -- and I know 199 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET you're not responsible for this -- if we give everybody on 95 with Jersey tags driving over 60 miles an hour a ticket, we could solve all the budget crises in this whole City. Because if you drive up 95 -- and I know you're not responsible, but I had to throw that out there -- everybody is speeding. I'm doing 60. They're doing 80 and nobody has Pennsylvania tags.

There's a lot of ways. Kiddingly, we can lower the amount of players on the ball team from to 24 and use the 14 price for a utility player and put our horses 15 back there. 16

Exactly. Thank 17 you. 18

Thank you. 19 The Chair recognizes Councilman 20 Nutter. 21

Madam Chair, can 22 I add to that, please? 23 One of the issues that I think we 24 should discuss is, we train police officers in 25 our academy, I believe, for many 200 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET municipalities around this region, and I'm not sure we're being compensated appropriately for that.

We're supposed to be reimbursed.

Reimbursed, but not to the point of, from what understand, a proper reimbursement. I think that some of these things that Mr. Eddis discussed, that I discussed, that they should be listening and really making sure that we're being properly compensated for that training that we provide. I don't know if it's been updated recently, Mr. President. I don't know that.

Councilman, to respond to that, we see as a result of Homeland Security a great drain being placed on the National FBI Academy to provide training. We have said, wouldn't it be nice if we could be able to handle the top part of the country to utilize our training facility to provide this so our instructors are already trained in that area? When I look at the budget and I see 201 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET how much money the department generates from outside training, I think that's a part of where we're missing the boat because we have a highly trained Police Department that have the capability of doing the same thing, that people ride past us going down 95 right down to the FBI Academy, that they should stop into Philadelphia. We could be able to do it. We see other towns doing that and we're wondering why we're missing that. Where are we looking for funding mechanisms to help ourselves?

We are the envy because most of the units, the K-9 Unit -- and I hope that survives -- but most of the dogs that were trained throughout this region were trained and retrained at the Philadelphia Police Academy's K-9 Unit. So, you're right. That facility is known for it's quality training, firearms, you name it, involving law enforcement. We could be making some money for the training.

And offset the budget. We go to other municipalities and we see -- we have a major piece of land up there and you 202 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET can't even simulate weather conditions, but you could put a small building so the officers could shoot range, snow, the whole bit, and then use that facility as training to be able to draw additional revenue into our municipality.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

You're welcome. Councilman Nutter, did you want to be recognized?

It's just a very quick kind of thing. Mr. Eddis, I just really wanted to say to you and to the other members of your team that are with you, I greatly appreciate your coming into our Council budget hearings, not only to talk about issues that may be directly pertinent to the Police Department and the members that you represent in the FOP. What I really appreciate, quite honestly, is that you also talked about some of the other elements of the budget, that 203 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET while they may not be directly related to police -- your comments particularly about recreation centers and other facilities, I just think is a testament to how you have provided the kind of leadership that you do. And it's not just in your present capacity as president. You've been doing many of these things even before. And under the most recent previous president, Mr. Costello, I think it is very helpful to get a perspective from a leader in the Police Department or in the police union on some of the other issues that effect the citizens of this City. I just really wanted to recognize the breadth of your concern in that matter in that we have an opportunity to hear from you under these circumstances, not just from a police focus, but also as a citizen. And you raised by example, a personal matter with regard your daughter possibly coming back.

I'm not giving up. I'm still trying to get her back. I've got three girls and a boy and I'm bringing them home.

And I know you 204 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET don't give up without a fight. I actually feel sorry for her. But I just really wanted to say thank you for that and I've enjoyed our working relationship over the years.

Thank you. I appreciate it. And we appreciate the help that we receive in City Council and we're looking forward to many years of working together.

Thank you for all of your fine work. Thank you so much for coming in to testimony. Councilman Ramos.

Thank you, Madam President. Mr. President, I appreciate you and the members of your team coming here before us this afternoon. I've told you before that I will not let our police union stand alone. I want that to be on the record. Have you been following the great tax debate in this Chamber? Has the FOP had any thoughts or any position on how this impacts on you in one way or the other?

Our greatest fear is, as 205 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET a result of this time right now, that if there is a decrease, that we will not be able to provide the citizens the necessary protection that they need out there as a result of what possibly could lead into cut-backs. We feel strongly that we want our City to grow. In order for it to grow, people have to know that it's a safe place. We know that most of our City is extremely safe, and we believe that the job and we believe that community policing concept, which for many years was opposed, which has really taken place now in recent years, is the way to go. Because without the police and the community working as one, we're never going to achieve our goals. Our fear is, as a result of making decisions, we're not going to see the effect until afterwards. That to us is the frustrating part. Because afterwards we're going to say, what could we have done? Why could we have stopped that? We're saying now, before we get to that point, before we have one more victim in this City, that we have to 206 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET see, that we have to carry -- people think, well, you do it every day. You get used to it. You never get used to it. You never get used to carrying the children in this City. We know you have a great responsibility to balance this budget, we know the significance of that, but at what price? Are we willing to compromise our quality of life in order to make sure we balance a budget? It's a hard question. I don't believe we should.

We're in the middle of the great tax debate in this town. I don't know anyone that's for more taxes. Everyone wants to lower taxes. I'm one of them. All Philadelphians feel the same way. Are you saying that if we pass all these tax bills, that this will have a negative impact on your members?

I have had the chance to actually read all of the proposals, and I believe there are some very good proposals. I just believe that timing is the key to life, and right now the key to life in our City is 207 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET the quality of life. I believe at this time, until we're able to get everything straight, making these moves at this time is going to be harmful to community.

Thank you, Mr. President. Keep up the good work.

Thank you. Again, we applaud you for all your fine work. And your testimony was great. Thank you so much.

The next witness is John Gallery from the Preservation Alliance. He had to leave, but he left his testimony.

Which will be circulated to all Councilmembers and to the stenographer.

Good afternoon. Welcome. Thank you both. Identify yourselves for the record and begin your testimony.

My name is Laura Roach.

Naydira Williams.

Good afternoon, Members of City Council. The Coalition to Reduce 208 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Health, Education and Economic Disparities, CREED, is a collaboration of African-American social service organizations that formed to address the circumstances that contribute to the disproportionate funding to organizations indigenous to the African-American community. The goal of CREED is to assure that a fair and equitable distribution of City government contracts and resources are awarded to African-American-owned and operated social service organizations. 6 billion in social service contracts from community behavioral health, health and welfare departments and the School District of Philadelphia. 6 billion awarded. The African-American organizations that make up the membership of CREED are indigenous to the distress of African-American communities that are in need of these critical services. We are often the 209 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET providers of last resort for communities that have been ravaged by blight, crime, violence and poor physical, mental and financial health. We serve a constituency whose demographics are African-American, low to moderate income, uninsured and underinsured, unemployed and underemployed, with numerous indicators of poor health. Our service areas present the prevalence of HIV infection, asthma, diabetes, substance abuse, infant mortality and other chronic and life -threatening illnesses. Our neighborhoods are also home to high rates of homicide and community and domestic violence and our children are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. However, a substantial portion of the dollars allocated to address these ills are awarded to agencies with little or no ties to the community. Further, these agencies and institutions do not invest in the community. They do not live in the community, buy goods 210 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET and services from the local community, hire professionals and executives from the community. , accountants, lawyers, consultants, vendors, et cetera. The purchasing of these goods and services further strengthen the economy of the local community and creates jobs and stabilizes the environment economically. A more economically stable environment creates jobs, better housing, health benefits, recreational facilities and stabilizes the individual and family. Every day in the headlines of the local press, we read that another life is taken senselessly and we wring our hands in distress, wondering what to do. Young men and women who have lost all hope of finding living wage jobs drop out and participate in the underground economy of drugs and crime, ending 211 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET up addicted and strung out, dead or in jail, thus leaving grandparents to raise little ones instead of enjoying retirement. , pay day loans. When rebuilding and other economic stimulus projects are brought into our neighborhoods, unemployed men and women stand by and watch while workers from the suburbs and other middle class neighborhoods get most of the work. When the City of Philadelphia awards social service contracts to address the social ills of the community, agencies operated by African-Americans that are indigenous to the community are often edged out. They are denied the opportunity to strengthen programs and revenue base by the actions of some permanent government employees who have formed relationships with preferred 212 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET service providers not indigenous to the community. Most of the preferred providers, agencies selected by these permanent government workers don't have necessary cultural sensitivity needed to address the problems of our community. This is evidenced by the continued decline of our neighborhood, in spite of the millions of dollars allocated yearly to address these problems.

These agencies view our community as business opportunities to strengthen their organization's bottom line, and thus enrich their communities at the expense of the people they claim to serve. This must stop. We cannot in good conscience allow this to continue to happen without a fight. We are asking Members of City Council to stand up and speak out against these inequities by taking these agencies to task for these longstanding practices that rob our community of the resources needed to rebuild, not only the infrastructure, but the self-esteem of our residents as well. 213 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

My name is Naydira Williams. Today I'm here to speak about the North Philadelphia Human Services Development Corporation, and the comprehensive family support coordination program that we offer in North Philly. Let me give you a little background about us first, please. In North Philly, specific census tracts were eliminated during the planning stages of the Empowerment and Enterprise Community Process. As a result, community leaders, business and other stakeholders from the North Central Philadelphia community jointly created a strategic plan for the development and implementation of a human service development corporation to serve the needs of the general and subcultural population in North Philadelphia. Unlike community development corporations which address the physical and economic needs of struggling communities, a human service development corporation will provide an intricate network of human services 214 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET to assist in the stabilization of individuals and families. The goal is to not plan for families in North Philly, but to plan with their involvement and participation. The focus is to empower individuals who will empower their families, which in turn will empower their communities. Self-sufficiency creates a process by which individuals and families become independent entities. The North Philadelphia Human Services Development Corporation was created because of the need to implement a community-based conduit that assures all services and programs geared to what individuals and families will be coordinated. NPHSDC has approached existing agencies and organizations with the purpose of developing partnerships and collaborations that will allow families in North Philly and the surrounding communities to maximize the use of services and programs. In North Philadelphia, 65 percent of the households live below the poverty level. 215 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET 70 percent of the households are single female parent households. 63 percent of the most economically devastated are persons years 5 and under. 75 percent of the households have 6 become welfare dependent, creating a cycle 7 dependency, poverty and apathy. There are a 8 growing number of grandparents and family 9 members who have become caretakers because of 10 the rise and incidence and prevalence of 11 substance use, abuse and addiction. An 12 overwhelming percentage of these individuals 13 have few job skills, lack adequate day care 14 and depend upon multiple health, human and 15 social service agencies who make conflicting 16 demands upon families. As a result, 17 neighborhoods have deteriorated. Strong 18 community standards and family values are not available to provide the needed support systems for those who need help. Family energy is sometimes consumed with the task of dealing with multiple control agencies and their often demanding requirements. In addition, the communities have uncoordinated and loosely integrated human 216 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET service programs that are overlapped and compete for spare resources. Plans for individuals, families and community self-sufficiency are essential in light of the restructuring of North Philadelphia, and the pending termination of families receiving TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The need for community-based support services in North Philadelphia and surrounding communities are evident. The neighborhoods within North Philadelphia and surrounding communities share a common bond of concentrated and persistent economic disadvantages and declining family investments. The lack of opportunity and investment in these neighborhoods increase family isolation and undermines the family's competence and confidence. The recent crack cocaine epidemic in North Philadelphia has compounded devastation and issues for families in their neighborhoods.

As a result, 51,159 grandparents and family members have become caretakers because of the rise in incidence 217 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET and prevalence of substance abuse, abuse and addiction. The number of women incarcerated has tripled over the past five years. Based on the Bureau of Justice and the Department of Correction's statistics, six out of women 8 incarcerated were arrested because of their 9 behavior created due to substance abuse 10 issues. 52 percent are assessed as needing intensive drug and alcohol treatment and were active users at the time of incarceration. Six in 10 women have experienced physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse in the past. Over 230,000 children in Philadelphia reside with family members. 30 percent of all women incarcerated return to prison within two to three years. 5 percent violate parole. 19 percent are all charges with robbery, theft 20 and assault. 70 percent of all women incarcerated have children 18 years and under. When released, these women will not find affordable housing opportunities waiting. The process of family re-unification then becomes impossible because they are now being punished 218 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET a second time. Yet, the Department of Human Services demand that they get housing before their children are returned. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. These conditions also strain connections to relationships and resources families require to become stable and self-sufficient. As a result, negative and self-destructive mind-sets are the outcome. As a result, their self-worth and self-development are diminished, so they seek methods to fill voids of growth and development. Families with generations of drug and alcohol abuse, neglect, family and domestic violence dependencies and health issues not only display self-destructive behavior, but become parasites. They feed, produce and infect the community. As a result, we all become affected when destruction ends with devastation. These families live as individuals and not as a unit, especially families affected with generations of drug and alcohol and/or family 219 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET abuse. In most cases these families facilitate, enable and become co-dependent. Based on 2000 statistics, these are families affected with teen pregnancies, neglect, sexual and domestic violence, abuse, delinquency, criminal behavior, poor health and destructive behaviors. This includes a mental and physical challenge for those who depend on these individuals for caregiving. There are too many lack of resources in these families. As a result, the quest for personal, family and community responsibility has no meaning or understanding. The North Philadelphia Human Services Development Corporation focuses to strengthen families, to define strengthening as a deliberate, sustained effort to connect isolated families to the resources, opportunities and the support systems they need that all family members are healthy and successful. This is being accomplished by using a multi-disciplinary team approach in an appropriate, high quality, cost effective community-based method that provides access to 220 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET health and human services while promoting education, training and support to families, children and individuals. We serve children and families with mental health, health, housing, job training, education and employment needs. We know that all the families referred to us come from dysfunctional and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We believe that these families can succeed and tough neighborhoods can be transformed into supporting and enabling environment. This can happen if people who live, work and hold positions of influence in their communities make the neighborhoods and the families within them a priority by increasing investments and activities that promote family strength.

Yet, community-based organizations like NPHSDC must make due with spare funding opportunities to reach families who require the most services and programs because they are a subculture in our community. We live these issues every day and have invested interest in removing, 221 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET eliminating and/or reducing the blight and pain felt and lived by our neighborhoods. And we wonder why recidivism in African-American communities is prevalent. We know that the so-called poverty pimps rely on our disparities to maintain their purpose. We are told that these programs or services are available, yet it is not the community-based, grass roots organizations that do the actual work, that get the proper funding that get between the two are disproportionately unfair. We take note that these disparities are across the board. It appears there are enemies that believe African-American communities cannot resolve its own issues. We are still being defined by outside forces who truly believe they knew what's best for us. We state today, enough is enough. Community residents in need of services and programs will not go into Center City, Northeast, South Philadelphia or Kensington. Why should our families have to travel across the City to services and programs that are culturally insensitive to 222 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET their needs, especially when those services are in their communities, but is not given capacity building opportunities because we scramble for minimum funding? NPHSDC has partnered today with a lot of organizations, and I'm not going to read all of that. We urge City Council to investigate the funding stream and who they are actually benefiting. We ask that you meet with us to hear our strategic plan, to resolve the issues that our families face every day. We recommend that you ask questions as to why only certain organizations are looked upon as the wherewithal, while the blight, pain and recidivism is maintained under the pretense of, our communities are receiving services. How many more children will we have to lose to violence, mothers and fathers to crack cocaine, incarceration, individuals through AIDS and HIV infections and families through homelessness before enough is enough? We say today enough is enough. We look forward to our concerns being made a priority and our findings -- and your findings -- of 223 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET what we know to be fact. May God bless, for today is a new beginning for community-based grass roots organizations. And I thank you. )

To the honorable Members of City Council, ladies and gentlemen, I say good afternoon. I am Argyle Simpkins, President and CEO of Abo Haven, Inc. First let me say that I appreciate the opportunity to present some important information to this esteemed Body. However, let me state in advance that what I have to share is disturbing. Why do I say this? , which I founded, have not received proper professional treatment from the Transitional Workforce Division of the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation. For the record, I have been involved in training the underemployed, unemployed, and other socially-challenged populations for almost three decades. My former employee was 224 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET honored by organizations from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to Harvard University, based on the programs I wrote and the work performed by me and my staff. On June 26th of 2003, the executive director of my former employer called me to say we were shutting down and asked if I wanted to continue the organization. Of course I said I did. And that's when I was told, okay. But you've got 48 hours to put the deal together. Well, I did. And we moved on with our mission. full-time jobs were 14 saved and hundreds of young women coming off 15 of welfare have and continue to benefit from 16 the fact that we didn't close and abandon them in their efforts to get the valuable services we provide. Now our ability to provide services to the populations I mentioned is jeopardized by a new contracting process that the Transitional Workforce Division at PWDC is trying for the first time. Let me state that this isn't the first time that this operating unit of PWDC has changed their policies to the 225 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET detriment of our clients and the dedicated staff who works with them. Instead of going into all the details during this presentation, I am providing copies of information which chronicles the problems caused by the Transitional Workforce Division of PWDC for many who are economically disadvantaged and poor people trying to improve their lives. Most of my clients are African-American single mothers coming off of welfare. My staff and I have developed excellent techniques for training them for the workforce so they can make a better life for their children. Our record is well established, being amongst the top training providers in the City of Philadelphia. Recently, a new Request for Qualifications, or RFQ as it is called, was sent to us and other providers for work which Abo Haven, Inc. Is already doing. " For how many years have African-Americans organizations been excluded from participating in this economy by being told you're not qualified? Bear in mind that the position of PWDC is that our response disqualified us. Well, in the past when the executive director was not an African-American, if something was not quite right with their contract proposal, someone at PWDC picked up the phone and called us for clarifications. Such actions are common courtesy for proven providers. Now that I run the organization, no such consideration was given. Institutional racism? Perhaps. Unfair? Absolutely. Well, I've taken my time this afternoon, and let me leave you with this request. , and this RFQ process. Review the information that I provided you in the package this afternoon and then tell me we can't do the work which they paid millions for 227 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET from majority firms and don't get half the quality and the results as we do at Abo Haven. Many of my staff came from the same conditions of our clients. That's why we understand their needs and can teach them how to succeed in a formal economy. And I also want to add finally, let me offer a shameless plug for the new Abo Haven, Inc. Center for non-traditional, early learning and child care that's going to be located at 1010 Spring Garden, right next door to the Spaghetti Warehouse. We have 9,200 square feet.

We look forward to opening this addition to our organization in the fall of this year. You can look to see me as I wish to introduce our model to increasing the capacity for quality, affordable child care here in Philadelphia. Thank you. )

Thank you very much. We certainly want to thank you for your commitment to our community. Certainly, in the Million Women's March. Ms. Naydira Williams, certainly Ms. 228 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Roach, all that you've done. I guess we have known each other maybe 30 years or close to it. Certainly we trust you. We share your commitment and we thank you for being here. Councilwoman Tasco.

Thank you, Councilwoman. I too would like to say good afternoon to the three ladies at the table. I know them all very well and have work with them. And certainly Argyle Simpkins, I received my first computer training from you and some of your staff members. I'm intimately familiar with the program. I agree with your comments about the organization and who was in charge, when and how things were done and what is done now. I agree with that. I certainly will use my office to look into that because the Transitional Workforce Program is sort of like an aside from the City Council here. We'll check into that. Naydira, certainly you have worked 229 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET in the vineyards for so many years, fighting for you community. These ladies stand to support the community when others have gone. And they know what is going on and is transpiring in the community with families and have tried to provide services to those families. I have to support them in their statement. I said when the Health Commissioner was in here, and we said it to the Department of Human Services, that the larger corporations get the majority contracts and they have to fight for crumbs, and then they don't get the support that they need to work in the community, and it's not fair. I have taken this message to the Mayor. I have talked to my colleagues on Council about it. Because it has to stop. These people who know and understand the communities -- and you look around at all the community organizations, Councilwoman Blackwell, that used to be in the community working with families. They're gone. That's because they haven't gotten the support and 230 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET the funding that they needed, and the money is going outside of the community. It is a systemic problem. There are people in these departments who set these proposals up for their friends, and those friends get those contracts and the people in the community cannot access them. I have a question I'd like to ask each of you. When we were talking to the Health Commissioner and he had to admit that there's not enough diversity in terms of how the contracts are given out, you, Laura and I had been working on that. Are you familiar with the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation?

Yes.

Have you had any dealings with them? Have you ever sought funding from them, and what was the response?

We've applied for funding from the Health Department. And the Health Department contracts with PHMC to handle certain aspects of their procurement process with some contracts. 231 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET One of the concerns that we also have is that PHMC acts in their capacity, but then they also compete against community groups for contracts and they get the funding. There's a clear conflict there. How can you be part of the procurement process and then also compete against people in the community? This is happening all the time. We service 100 percent of the African-American community. An example of huge disparities is with HIV and AIDS. 68 percent of people living with HIV today are African-American. I see more than 200 people a month with HIV and AIDS in my center and I don't get any funding from the Health Department. I can't understand why, if I'm providing services to people that are affected by this disease, and most of the funding is for people affected by this disease, why are not dollars coming in to community-based organizations? I hear constituents saying all the time, they don't want to go downtown. They're tired of being told to go downtown for services. It's not fair to the constituents 232 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET to have to go outside of where they live at to get services when there are providers in the community that are capable of providing those services that are not receiving funding. They tell us that we don't have the capacity to do the work. But we have the capacity because they come to us and they use our data. They come in and interview our clients. They conduct surveys and they do all the things that they need to to bring money into the City. But then when the money comes into the City, they develop proposals to keep us out. They are systemically keeping us out of the system. There are barriers that are put up deliberately to keep black organizations from receiving funding. And we're saying that enough is enough. They're making all kinds of excuses, but the bottom line is that we don't receive the funding that we should receive to provide these services.

Also, the Commissioner stated that PHMC provides technical assistance to community organizations. Have you ever received -- . 233 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

No. I never received technical assistance from anybody. And I know that the City receives capacity building dollars. We have never received any capacity building assistance from the City. I don't know where it goes, but it doesn't come to people like us.

I think that we need to look at how these lists are developed of community-based organizations. Who is responsible for developing that list? Because they have a way of prioritizing who gets what. One of my greatest concerns right now in North Philly is mental health issues. We have no way of getting assistance to families who are suffering from mental health issues. Some of the folks who come home are duly diagnosed. PHMC is also working with those dollars. So PHMC has built themselves a conglomerate basically. So again, as Laura says, when those RFPs come out, they write the RFP to meet the needs of the person they want to give the proposal to, and that's how it's done. So 234 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET when organizations who are actually working with these issues need funding to get to -- and we're not wherewithal either. We're willing to work with professionals to make sure that families get professional service. I don't want to get that mixed up, because we're not clinicians. We're not therapists and we're not psychologists. But when folks come into office and they're in need of those services, if they're not in that community, people will not go. They will not go to South Philly for a therapeutic program. We just did a partnership with Jefferson's outpatient because they have a forensic process. Our folks will not go to South Philly to that program. We're trying to work with Jefferson to bring the same program, a satellite program, into North Philly because our people are comfortable home with the people that they know. My staff right now is traveling all over the City to get people to services. But we can't get children who are walking around with TSS workers, who speak another language. 235 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET These children don't understand. All those issues are straining these families to the point that they're not functioning. And when you have an organization like PHMC, who has its hands in everything, and they're determining who gets what. Folks like us, if you say no or I'm not going in that direction or it doesn't fit in my community, then you are totally taken out of the loop. So you've got to almost -- excuse my expression -- kiss butt. But some of those don't believe in that, so we will make do without. But I'm just saying when you have organizations like PHMC who has a connection to mental health, who has a connection to Healthy Start, who has connections to all of that, they are looked at as a health conglomerate. The folks who are doing the work never get the opportunity to.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Clarke. 236 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would just like to echo the comments of my colleagues, Councilwoman Blackwell and Councilwoman Tasco, and commend you for the wonderful work that you've done, particularly the work that you've done in North Philadelphia. Frankly speaking, without your agencies, I would have no place to send some of my constituents who have issues that we in the City government cannot provide proper assistance. When there looks like there's a situation where there is no answer, you all provide an answer. You all provide a service, sometimes uncompensated, but always under-compensated. So I want to thank you. I agree with Councilwoman Tasco with respect to the dolling out of resources, that it has been done in an inequitable way, and I will be there to support you and support my colleagues on this very, very crucial issue. Thank you for coming out and testifying.

Thank you. We 237 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET appreciate that.

I'll talk to you guys later on tonight.

Thank you very much. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to underscore the comments and remarks and support shared with you by Councilwoman Tasco, who chairs the Committee on Health and Human Services, and Councilman Clarke. I am keenly aware of the inequity and the humongous hurdles faced by Argyle Simpkins' organization. I've become keenly aware of what is happening in the Health Department. Councilwoman Tasco did invite a number of us into a meeting to discuss this in a way where we have their attention one-on-one. I was not able to go to that meeting, but I did pay attention to a letter that she forwarded to the Mayor, so that we 238 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET put this on a radar screen in a huge way. You should be encouraged. We do have work to do. But it takes exchanges like this and you all just pulling our coattail repeatedly and consistently to remind us that it's not right. So let me thank you for bringing it to my attention, because I was unaware of this until Ms. Roach pulled my coattail a few weeks. And then in talking with Councilwoman Tasco, learned that you are right. It is systemic and it needs to stop. Because you're in trenches, you're on the front line and your acknowledgment that professionals need to be a part of the mix is important, but the bottom line remains the first stop, if you will, is at the doors of the agencies that you represent. So I have already had my conversations both on and off the record with the leadership and the board chairmanship at PWDC and simply working with Councilwoman Tasco. She takes the leadership on the other issue in the Health Department. Thank you.

Thank you. 239 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Councilwoman Brown.

We would be remiss not to acknowledge the other agencies. Did you acknowledge them?

Yes. Thank you very much. I did not know all of you were together. We certainly welcome you and thank you for your patience and we're glad to see all of you this afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record and begin.

Hello, everybody. My name is Louise Bundy, and I'm one of the co-founders of North Philadelphia Human Services Development Corporation. I am also chair for Sister for Street, and I'm also the 47th Ward chairperson and a few other things. I'm on different boards.

My name is Gary Hall. God Bless.

My name is Regina Sims.

I'm here today because we have got to be able to get some help. I'm 240 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET so happy to hear the things that ya'll said. Most of the things I was going to say have already been said. I mean, the answers has been here. You all spoken. Naydira and them, they said what they had to say. All that stuff I was going to say. I'm also here to say that they have been wonderful -- I notice in the North Philadelphia Human Services part anyhow, all the different work that they have done. They have done so much to help people. I'm talking about from all over the City. People come in there from different parts of the City and they don't mind helping them. They have a lot of patience, a lot understanding with the people. The people like them a lot. They like them. They put up with a lot of crap. I was sitting there a few times and listening to how people come and they say things. And do you know what they do? They listen to them and then they'll -- they may go out of the room for a minute, and then they come right back and they deal with them the same way they would with me or you. That's a 241 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET lot to take. Like they said, a lot of people come in that don't have nothing to eat. These people don't have nowhere to stay. This is heartwarming for people who don't have a place that they can call home. They help a lot of those people. They help people that come in that have a place to stay, but they don't really have a place to stay. Seniors come in there. They don't have the proper food, the proper clothing. They have people that are families who come in with babies. They don't know what to do about their babies. There's all kinds of things going on. To be the front runner like they are is kind of hard. I may be one of the co-founders, but they're doing the heavy work. I do what I can, any time and any place. But I'm constantly praying because I know that God is the only one who can really handle a lot of these problems. We do it with love and compassion. But there's so much going on out here that people need to wake up and realize that it has nothing to do with how many people 242 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET you're involved with or how powerful you are, but that you have got to help other people. Just because they don't have nothing doesn't mean they shouldn't be helped. It's just not right. Okay? That's how I feel about it. I wanted to say something also. You can go from A to Z and you will find something being done at this organization in North Philadelphia Human Services -- I do know -- to help people, from babies, children, to seniors and more. The staff is very patient, courteous and pleasant to be around. I don't like writing things down. I think that each of you can say with honesty that your children or seniors need the proper funding at your centers or other facilities that help these people, so that they can continue their work and continue giving support to these individuals who need it so much. Each president that was up here, CEO, each one put up with a lot. I also want to congratulate Council because I know that you all have to put up with a lot when you 243 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET have to hear what we have to say and have to put in perspective where it's supposed to go. The compassion part means a lot, also. God bless all of you.

Thank you, Ms. Bundy.

Good afternoon, Councilwoman Blackwell. My name is Gary Hall, and I am the founder and executive director of CAACY, Community Advocates Association for Children and Youth. I'm only here to give you a thumbnail view of information. There's a packet that has the Philadelphia Inquirer on it, which basically gives you information about CAACY. And the Philadelphia Inquirer has basically documented the years of services that we have provided 19 to children, youth and families. That's the 20 first document. 21 The next document is the 22 Philadelphia Weekly, which has also documented 23 the services CAACY has provided in 24 Philadelphia. 25 I also have a letter from Governor 244 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Rendell that has also recognized CAACY's work in the community. We've also been recognized by the District Attorney's Office for the work that has been done in saving a child's life who had been sexually molested for years by 7 a step-parent who was also a police officer. 8 But there's a letter that also commends us for 9 the work that has been done on the protection 10 of a child who has been sexually abused by a step-parent. I should mention that our funding comes from the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, as well as State Representative Frank Oliver. If it was not for State Representative Frank Oliver for the past four years, probably our doors would have been closed. My concern is that we're in an environment that requires evidence and outcomes, and CAACY basically had to go through a process to prove that it had outcomes that were positive in delivering service. Being a small, non-profit organization, we were not aware of the process 245 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET that was involved in becoming evidenced-based and producing outcomes that would produce funds or dollars for providing services to children and youth in the community. The Department of Human Services has received over $600 million dollars in funds. In this year that passed they received $667 million, and next fiscal year they're going to receive over $700 million. And this agency that is years old has received $500,000 in 12 cuts and funds because of the change in the 13 arrangement of funding. It is unfair. It is 14 very unfair for an agency that has been in the 15 community for 25 years to receive a 50 percent 16 cut in funding when our outcomes are 17 impeccable. 18 In a report that you have in your 19 packet called "Safety and Permanency," which 20 is done by the American Humane Society and the 21 Philadelphia Outcome Report, it shows that 22 CAACY indeed has favorable outcomes to provide 23 services to children, youth and families in 24 their home. CAACY indeed can prove that 83 25 percent of its clients come to them after a 246 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET year do not go in placement. 90 percent of the clients that come to them after a year do not have an indicated report of abuse or neglect. I also should mention that 70 percent of the clients that we receive do not have a placement, do not have an indicated report or a new SCO service after a year. So the agency's track record and the agency's outcomes over the years have shown 11 that we are able to provide services to our 12 community. But for some reason, our cry is 13 like a cry in the darkness and we don't 14 receive the funding. So I just came in here 15 today to give you evidence that here is an 16 agency that has 25 years of services, has 17 provided services to the community. It's an 18 African-American agency. It has received 19 $500,000 in cuts. We're in triage mode, and 20 the Department of Human Services has received 21 nothing but increases in funding from the 22 state in terms of BLOC grants. 23 I should also mention that when I 24 looked at the information in terms of dollars 25 DHS funding receives, in terms of the dollar 247 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET figure, 90 percent comes from Title 20, Title 4E, Title 4B, Title 148.

The other percent 4 comes from the county. So when you look at 5 it, there's 90 percent from state and federal 6 dollars, and 10 percent comes from the county. 7 So there's enough money to help out 8 African-American agencies. 9 I just want to say that we really 10 need the Council to really take a look at the equity in the distribution of funds. DHS in their plan, in their implementation and budget plan, has shown that they were trying to change SCO services to children in their own home, and they were implementing new programs because they didn't think that SCO worked. But the report that you have in front of you will show you that the American Humane Society and the Philadelphia Outcomes Report show that SCO does work. There's an old saying -- and I know the bell rang -- that if there's no truth, there's no relationship. It's about time when we start talking about dealing with black folk and black people in the community, we need to 248 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET have a little bit more truth so we can have a stronger relationship in strengthening the families, and hopefully we can cut down on the deaths in the community. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon. My name is Regina Sims, and I'm a parent of a handicapped child. I'm here to talk about how the City and the departments are changing our statuses. Warren E. Smith. Warren E. Smith is a family thing. It's an oriented family thing. The way they're changing everything around, talking about this entity and putting us anywhere, throwing people here, throwing people there, handicapped here, handicapped there, that's not right at all. That is not right. They should not bother with Warren E. Smith, but just give Warren E. Smith extra money to help us to continue to be in the family organization that we are together. I don't approve of how everyone is trying to break up Warren E. Smith and take Warren E. Smith down the gutter because they 249 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET don't think it's working. It works. It works for me. It works for everybody that's in that program. Warren E. Smith is a family-oriented thing. They want to bring in this entity thing. What is an entity? I do not understand and neither do the other parents that are coming in. Warren E. Smith handles over 2,500 families. And after they get rid of the little bit of money that the City and the Congress and the state want to give Warren E. Smith, they're trying to take Warren E. Smith and shove them under the rug. And not only shove them under the rug, they want Warren E. Smith to teach somebody from Jersey, from New York or other different places. They feel like bringing other people in. They want to teach them and give them their jobs, and that's not right. Why would you take and bring somebody into something that is already working for us families, and then want to break families up and try to just ask us where 250 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET we want to go? You don't know where we want to go. We want to stay with Warren E. Smith. That's our feeling. That's the way I feel, and all of the 2,500 families that I've been in and with. Warren E. Smith is looking for Warren E. Smith. It's not fair the way this City and everybody wants to take and just cut that program completely out. Now, they're going to talk about unemployment. They're ready to get rid of the people that are working at Warren E. Smith once they teach the people they want them to teach, and get them out of here. That's not right. Cathy Sykes did not like the way I talked to her at the meeting we had at 1315 Windrim. She did not like it. She couldn't even explain what an entity was to us. She didn't even know. But yet, ya'll want to phase out Warren E. Smith and then bring in some, quote/unquote, entity. Don't nobody understand about no entity. Why would you all want to take and mess up a family organization 251 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET that's working with us in our communities, in North Philly, South Philly, West Philly, and Germantown? All over this City they work with us. We are a family group thing. And my daughter and me, we don't understand what this, quote/unquote again, entity is. Do ya'll know? No, you do not know. Does anybody in here know what an entity is? No, they don't. But they're ready to phase out Warren E. Smith, and that's not right. Why are you going to take something that's working and break it up? Once you break it up, you're going to want to bring everybody back to, quote/unquote again, Warren E. Smith. They're going to try to get us back in there under the Warren E. Smith group, and then ya'll are going say, oh, I'm sorry. The entity didn't work. That's what everybody is going to say. The entity didn't work. But now we've got to go back to Warren E. Smith. That's not fair. They should have never bothered with something that is already working for the people that have a handicapped 252 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET child. Anybody who is in here that has a handicapped child, you know what, you all throw them in a barn or in an institution and don't care.

Well, I have my daughter at home, and there's 2,400 other families that have their children at home. Warren E. Smith comes out to our homes. Our case managers are good to us. We're good to them. We work together. We're a family. Why break it up? Once you break it up, what are you going to do when ya'll can't put it back together? Oh, then we're going to call it Warren E. Smith again. And then you're going to say, the entity didn't work, so we got to take that out. But ya'll don't want to give Warren E. Smith no 18 more extra money. They don't want to help the families and help the case managers continue to help the families.

Excuse me. Would you starting concluding your testimony, because your time is up?

I didn't hear the bell.

It did 253 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET ring, so if you will conclude. We have a number of witnesses that still would like to testimony.

I will. In conclusion, as I was saying, the entity that everybody wants to bring into Warren E. Smith is not fair. Nobody understands. Ya'll don't understand it, but yet you want to break up the family of Warren E. Smith. That's my conclusion.

Thank you very much. Thank you all very much. (Applause.)

The two witnesses that are here, have you been heard yet? I'm sorry. Councilwoman Brown, then Councilwoman Tasco, then Councilman Ramos. Councilwoman Brown.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't want to beat a dead horse, the remarks that I made for the prior panel also applies to the testifiers there. You do 254 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET not have to answer this in this forum. I would be curious to know, however, if the support that you've received from Frank Oliver, Representative Oliver, District Attorney Lynne Abraham and others who know well of your work, if you made sure that that has resonated with the agency that's making the decisions about funding. So just think about that, because it's important that those worlds connect. Because ultimately it's DHS that is rendering the judgment, if you will, on whether or not you get funded. If others know well of the work that you're doing, particularly the cases that you've presented, they're heart-wrenching and speak well as to how valuable the service is, and that's good. But in the world we live in it matters more to make sure that those who ultimately make those funding decisions know that you have the level of support that you have, both elected officials and otherwise. Do you follow me?

Yes.

Thank you, 255 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Madam Chair.

You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Yes. Again, colleagues on Council, this whole situation is not only with the Health Department, but with DHS. We've looked at through the past several years how the funding stream has left the African-American community and has been diverted to other communities for services in the African-American community, and I think it's a travesty that we have these organizations -- and I worked with you when I was in Congressman Gray's office, you were working with CAACY then -- to provide services in the community and these groups are still struggling. It just doesn't make any sense. I don't know who's in charge at this point. But I certainly call on our colleagues. We have an opportunity to do something about it and we have to do something about it. To the young lady who came in here, 256 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET all of my colleagues have received letters that I have written about Warren E. Smith. Since I have been in City Council we have had to struggle with the effort to dismantle Warren E. Smith. Warren E. Smith is a community health program in the North Philadelphia catchman areas from Girard Avenue to Cheltenham, and a little bit over in the Germantown area, over to Front Street. The majority of problems are there. There are a lot of agencies that want to capture the services from Warren E. Smith and put this agency out of business. We met a few weeks ago with the Department of Health to talk about the process in which they set up to dismantle Warren E. Smith. They're going to take away the services, the ability of Warren E. Smith to deliver these services, take the employees and let the new entity hire these people to work in their community, but the administration goes to entities that were not set up, but have been organized through people in the 257 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Health Department who are their buddies so that they can get these contracts, divert the money away from Warren E. Smith, an African-American community, with employees in an African-American community, serving African-Americans. These people now have to go elsewhere to get their services. It's not right. I've talked to the Mayor. I want the providers to know that Shirley Kitchen, State Representative, would have been here today, but she's working in Harrisburg. She told me yesterday she's finally gotten the ear of her colleagues in the Senate because it also -- she has to address this at the state level because the money flows from the state. The contract that is going to these entities should be stopped -- and I've told the Mayor -- because the process by which it was done was not fair. So these people are not here because they just want to gripe. They are here because this is a serious issue. The providers have constantly talked to us about 258 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET it. I'm glad to see they have organized it. It has come to a head. Because we do have control in Council, as well as with our state legislators because we control the budget. Now, a lot of these dollars are grant dollars. That's why it's important to talk to our state elected officials because they can use their leverage at the state to halt the dollars. It's not fair what is happening. There has been an ongoing effort to dismantle this organization. As Laura said, they provide services in the community. The dollars are turned around in the community, and now the dollars will not be turned around in the community. They will be turned around someplace else not in this City. We're sitting here talking about cutting recreation centers, libraries, fire departments, police, and the dollars are flowing to the suburbs. It is not right. So I want to support it as Council -- (Applause.)

-- on this 259 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET matter because it's not right. And again, I don't know who is in charge because it seems like, as David Cohen says, the inmates are running the asylum. Thank you. (Applause.)

Councilwoman, I have seen copies of your correspondence regarding this issue, and I think you should know that you would certainly have the support of all of your colleagues on this. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

The Chair recognizes Councilman Ramos.

I just have a point of clarification, if Mr. Hall can help me understand this. In the paperwork that you provided us in the package, you have a letter here dated February 6th, 2001 from MBEC stating that you were being certified as a minority business. But then you get a letter on January 16th of this year saying that you've been dis-certified. Just explain to me, what 260 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET are you saying by including these letters in your package?

What I'm saying is that things are being dismantled for African-American agencies. The first letter came from Mr. Roundtree. This is the procurement process. We were supposed to be identified as a minority business.

And you were, according to this letter.

Right. So we went back to the administration because this first letter, the expiration date was February 6th, 2004. So we just wanted to renew the letter with the new administration, which was under Mr. Michael williams. And they said that we know longer can be approved. So I just wanted someone, the Council, to review that because I don't understand why I'm not considered as a minority business because I'm a non-profit entity and I just happen to be an African-American non-profit organization. So, once again it's another cut to move us out. So I just needed to bring that to your 261 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET attention. This is just evidence of what's going on with minority agencies. And then in the last paragraph, "We encourage you to include for-profit minorities." If I can't be included, how can include for-profit organizations? Do you understand what I'm saying?

I'm hearing you.

The letter is confusing. It's just another example of what's going on with minority organizations.

Have you addressed this with the new director of MBEC of why you have been disqualified after you were qualified in February of 2001?

I will send a letter to him and ask him that question. The answer to your question is, no, I haven't. I just got the letter.

It was addressed on January 16th, but you got it on May 5th?

That's exactly what happened. That's exactly what happened.

Mr. Hall, I would 262 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET like to give you a hand, if you'll permit me, to inquire about this. Because the same rules applied back on January, 6th of 2001 as they applied on January, 6th of 2004, unless there have been some changes here in MBEC statutes that I don't know about. But I'll be glad to assist you.

I would love your support.

You got it. (Applause.)

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.

I am next because it was not a point of information. I should just put on the record, and you should be advised, that during the budget testimony of Commissioner Alba Martinez, I believe we asked a question directly, how many agencies are led by men of color? Because -- I guess you would call it unofficial information -- I've learned that is not real in our community and that is a real concern 263 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET for me when it is typically -- I don't know the numbers -- young people, young men of color who are in the system. So we were informed that that hard data information would have been gotten back to us. But it's consistent with the issues that have been raised by Councilwoman Tasco and others. It's just another part of that pie.

And do you remember when you asked Commissioner Alba Martinez that question?

It was during budget testimony. I cannot give you a date. But we're waiting for the hard data.

You know she's leaving, right?

I'm very much aware. She has deputies, however. We expect that we will get the information.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. The two people sitting here, are you 264 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET scheduled to testify?

Yes.

What is your name?

Leona Smith.

Please approach the witness table.

And again your name is?

Kaseem Moore.

Please identify yourself for the record. I'm going to ask you to be as brief as possible because we do have a number of people that have been waiting to testify. Thank you very much.

I understand.

Kindly identify yourself for the record.

My name is Leona Smith.

Please proceed.

First, I want to say good afternoon to Members of Council. I'd like for the record to reflect 265 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET that I certainly support my colleagues, Naydira, and Laura Roach, and my organization truly supports everything that they have testified today. And it's nothing new. Because discrimination has within African-American programs -- and I'm a director of my program, a training program for incarcerated women. We have been discriminated against for a long period of time. And I would like to commend Councilwoman Tasco and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, as well as the full entire Council, for recognizing and taking a final position to do something. And I hope something gets done about what is occurring here in the City of Philadelphia. I come here today with many concerns. As I sat here and listened this morning, I became outraged as a 40-year activist, that any time -- what have we come to that we would close recreation centers, close various programs, pools for our children? What have we come to today? 266 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET I often hear about tax breaks, tax breaks and tax breaks. We as poor people, we never benefited from those tax breaks. As a matter of fact, as a homeowner, my taxes went up instead of going down. So anytime that we cut services and programs based on the fact of comparing for Safe Streets versus children, it's a big concern. Comparing monies downtown being rebuilt, as I see all the time -- I was just out there this morning and I heard all kinds of construction going on. Yet we're going to cut programs for the future of our children. We're going to pay one or another. I work in a prison. Taxpayers and our taxpayer dollars are going to pay $35,000 a year for incarceration for one person. So you pay now or you're going to pay later. Our children, that's the only recreation our children have as a poor people. We don't have the luxury of having a pool built out in our backyard. We don't have that type of luxury. I'm just so outraged by the fact that these services for our babies are threatening to be cut. We're not going take 267 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET it lying down. Let the record reflect that we will organize in our communities -- and I'm telling you this right now because it has already begun -- to stop whatever is being done here because our children are our future, and we want to make sure that they grow up to be the best that they can be, just like anybody else. The other thing that I would like to share with you in terms -- every other category has a line item for funding. The prison that I work at is low max security. There's no line item and no category that provides any level of resources to deal with that population. They're discriminated against in the job market. They're not eligible for any subsidized housing. You have the workforce that's discriminated against because, even though they committed a very low crime, they're discriminated against the employment -- just got welfare back on. Of course we know that welfare has never been the answer. Yet there's no line item to deal specifically with that population. 268 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Now, you have a line item for homelessness, and I know because I was a homeless advocate for many, many, many years. And again, even with the homeless population, you don't have no African-American organizations that are running those agencies. They're all white that's running those agencies. Let me finish because I know I sat here all morning long and a lot of people talked longer than what I did. So at this point in time, if you allow me to conclude what I have to say, I would certainly appreciate it.

Please conclude.

Thank you. I certainly will. What I'm saying to you is that this City has to look at what you're doing and change things. I agree with Councilman Nutter, that things have to be done differently today than it was done yesterday. If not, I think that we are all going to 269 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET regret what is happening here at this point in time in the City of Philadelphia. So I urge you to consider everything that I just said to you this afternoon. Think about how you're going to put some resources to provide some services for the population, and it will save the City of Philadelphia some money at the end.

Thank you very much. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Good afternoon. My name is Kaseem Moore, president and CEO of a company that specializes in reintegrating ex-offenders back into the community. What I'd like to talk about is some of the concerns that we see on a daily basis from individuals coming in, mostly adult males coming out of state correctional institutions and the problems that they face once they get on the street. There needs to be more resources available for these individuals. We sentence people to terms in 270 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET prisons, and we say that, you know, do your time, get on with your life, become a productive member of society. That's very difficult to do when you can't get basic medical care. You can't find housing, you can't find employment because of your criminal background. I think what people fail to understand is that, not only does it affect the ex-offenders himself, but it also affects their spouse. It affects their children. And those issues are not being addressed. There needs more contracts and more resources given to individuals who have an invested interest in seeing these people succeed. One of the things that we always try to strive on is that we have an invested interest in seeing these guys make it because when they don't make it, they end up in our communities. It's also just as important that we recognize these, quote/unquote, ex-offenders as individuals; individuals who have needs and who have wants. There are a lot of people who want to support their families, who want to 271 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET support their children, but unfortunately the system is not geared to give them a fair chance of doing those things. I also want to state that I know a lot of people come from the premise of -- that people are individuals that have never had a crime committed against them. I need to say that I've had a brother who was murdered. I've had another brother who was severely beaten. Neither one of those individuals were committing a crime or selling drugs at the of their injuries or of their death. But I still feel that if we're going to send people to correctional institutions, prisons, for, quote/unquote, rehabilitation, then we need to continue that process once they get out in the street. Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Madam President. We certainly want to thank Leona 272 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Smith and all who have testified. We worked with her many, many times. She's helped a lot of people in need over the years, and certainly we want to say a special thank you for your commitment to people in need.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Thank you. I too want to say, nice to see you, Leona. I remember the exciting days in this Council when you were advocating for the homeless. You did a fine job.

Thank you.

To the gentleman, Haseem Moore, do you receive funding for your program from the City?

No, we do not. We're in the process of waiting for a reply from our bid to the state DOC.

Department of 273 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Corrections?

Department of Corrections, that's correct.

Thank you very much. Any other questions or comments from Members of the Committee? (No response.)

Seeing none, I thank you very much. Good afternoon. I know that you've been here since early this morning. I really thank you for your patience. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Thank you. My name is John Braxton, and I'm the co-president of the faculty and staff federation at Community College of Philadelphia. I appreciate all the Councilmembers' time. I know all of you have been waiting a long time also and hearing lots of testimony. We have several of my colleagues here in the room today, and I hope that they can just be recognized. We won't go 274 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET through their names. I'll be the only one presenting testimony in order to save time. I want to make two main points. The first is that the Community College of Philadelphia is facing an unprecedented crisis in funding. Community colleges were created 40 years ago for the purposes of providing access to higher education for all who may benefit, and that system is in more danger today than it has been at any other time due to inadequate public funding. The state legislature has, for the first time ever, decided not to fund community colleges on a per student basis. In a time of increasing enrollment at community colleges, this results in substantially less money per student. At the same time the Mayor is proposing a $750,000 cut in funding for Community College of Philadelphia. These numbers simply do not add up to successful outcomes for our students or for our communities. Someone has to pay for the shortfall. 275 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET In the short run it's the students who are being hit with unprecedented tuition and fee hikes, as well as the faculty, two-thirds of whom continue to work as unfairly paid part-time instructors. Our union represents approximately 400 full-time faculty and approximately 800 part-time faculty. I want to say more about those part-time faculty in a little bit. In the short run the students are paying the price of the shortfall in funding. In the long run we all pay the price because students who are denied access to class because of economic hardship are less productive in the workforce, less able to find well-paying jobs that build our tax base, and more likely to become a drain on City services. As the president of Philadelphia Community College said last week, President Curtis explained that the act of creating the community colleges calls for operating costs of the college to be split three ways; one-third by the City, one-third by the local 276 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET sponsor, the City that is, one-third from the state and one-third from tuition. But today the funding picture is very much out of whack with that, with the state contributing just under one-third, 31 percent, the City only about percent, and the students, for the 8 first time ever, are being asked to pay over 9 50 percent of the cost for Community college. 10 With enrollment costs increasing and 11 public funding decreasing, CCP has had to 12 institute unprecedented tuition and fee 13 increases. As President Curtis explained last 14 week, it means a CCP student will have to pay 15 at least 15 percent more in tuition and fees 16 this coming term, and because of new fees for 17 laboratory, clinic courses and certain other courses, one in five students pay 30 or 40 percent more than previously. Clearly it's a difficult time to be a student at Community College of Philadelphia. But beyond that, the problem that should be of concern of all is this: At what point in this scheme of tuition and fee increases do we begin making college 277 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET unaffordable for some of our students? At what point will some or even many students simply give up on the idea of college because of the funding decisions of legislature and local sponsors of community colleges? At what point are we as a society, as a City, giving up on the promise of access to higher education for all our citizens who may benefit?

And so we wholeheartedly join President Curtis in urging Council to restore the $750,000 that were cut from last year's Community College of Philadelphia funding as a crucial step towards maintaining that promise. The second point that I would like to make then has to do -- the first point was to request to restore the cuts. The second point has to do with the fact that we think Community College of Philadelphia is not dealing in good faith with its faculty, and City Council has not yet heard the whole story with respect to the over-use and abuse of part-time faculty. In return for the funding it receives from the City, CCP obviously needs to 278 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET be accountable to this Body for the way it uses the funds for its educational program. As co-president of the faculty and staff union, I would like to briefly outline two areas where we believe the college administration should be a better steward of the public funds it receives in matters of concerns to the faculty. First, the college's failure to have at least 60 percent of the credit courses taught by full-time faculty. And second, the over-use and abuse of part-time faculty. First, there is a problem at the college with the administration not hiring sufficient full-time faculty to meet the full-time/part-time ratio, which is a requirement provided in the labor contract that at least 60 percent of the courses be taught by full-time faculty, of the credit courses. The college administration has not met that requirement for the past four or five semesters, and appears to have no plan in place to make up the considerable number of sessions by which it has fallen short. 279 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET Contrary to the impression left by President Curtis when he testified before Council last week, this is not merely business as usual. It is a serious and inexplicable breach of faith with the faculty and with students as well, which our union has had no 8 choice but to take to arbitration. We will deal with this through the arbitration process, but I bring it to your attention today because this problem is exacerbated by the funding crisis, and City Council does have the power to help ease the funding problem. I also bring to your attention the college's failure to abide by the 60/40 ratio because I hope that next year when Community College administrators testify before City Council, you will ask them if they have learned to abide by the 60/40 ratio provision of the collective bargaining agreement. Second and finally, contrary to what President Curtis said here this last week, there is more controversy than ever at the college about the situation of part-time 280 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET faculty. " The report was a result of a study authorized by the House, a resolution 10 introduced by State Representative James Roebuck from West Philadelphia, who also sits on the Community College Board of Directors. Among other things, the report recommends that part-time Community College instructors be paid a fair salary vis-a-vis full-time instructors based on the extent to which their relative qualifications, experience, and job responsibilities are similar to and different from those of full-time faculty members. It is not enough to assert, as President Curtis did here last week, that the more than 800 instructors at CCP are treated fairly. The fact of the matter is that they do essentially the same work, have essentially the same qualifications, a master's degree, 281 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET and in accordance with their years of experience, should be paid essentially the same wages per course as their full-time counterparts. President Curtis did not mention that part-time faculty are not paid to hold office hours. What does this say about our commitment to students or our sense of fairness to instructors who hold office hours without compensation?

Remember, we are talking about 40 percent of the credit courses being taught by part-time faculty affecting nearly all of our 30,500 credit students. These part-time faculty sometime teach at two or three area colleges, where they make a total in a year of $24,000 by teaching the same number of courses that their full-time colleagues teach at one institution, who on the average make twice that salary. Meanwhile, the average CCP graduate with a two-year associate's degree earns a $35,000 salary. Is this any way to run a college?

Please conclude, if you will. 282 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

I just have a little bit more to conclude. President Curtis neglected to refer to the re-opener provision in our collective bargaining agreement which enables the salaries of part-time faculty to be increased, should either the state legislature or the City appropriate new funds specifically for the purpose of improving part-time salaries. President Curtis left the false impression that because we have two more years before our contract expires, Council cannot do anything to change part-time pay rates. I repeat, that's false. I'd be happy to show Councilmembers the contract provision that specifically provides for new negotiations and arbitration if additional money is appropriated for improving part-time pay. In conclusion, the tuition and fee crisis confronting our students is the new face of the problem at Community College underfunding. The old face, a problem long in the making, is the unfair and inadequate pay received by part-time faculty. We therefore 283 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET ask Council to a address both these problems in the 2004/2005 budget. First by restoring the $750,000 for the college's operating costs. And second, by a appropriating $800,000, in addition to begin to improve the inadequate pay received by part-time faculty. The Pennsylvania Task Force on Part-time Faculty in its recommendations, recommended that the state provide a $4 million fund to increase funding to community colleges to begin to correct the pay inequities for part-time faculty. We ask that the City of Philadelphia also pay its fair share by appropriating $800,000 for pay equity for part-time faculty. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Good afternoon. You answered one of my questions about the part-timers and the issue of renegotiating the contract if you get additional dollars. What is the board's position on the 284 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET staffing ratio? You talked about the requirement that you should have 60 percent full-time and 40 percent part-time. What is the board doing about that?

I'm not sure if the board itself is doing anything. The administration, I think, has been in contact with the board and has told them that they are out of compliance. The administration's position is what I can speak of, because they've told us about that. And they have said that they intend to come back into compliance, that they intend to make up the number of sessions that they fell short of over the past two years, but they don't make any commitment as to when that will be.

What is the board's role in all of this?

Well, I think the board's role should be to enforce the collective bargaining agreement.

Have you made contact with the board? Have you all addressed the board in any way? 285 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

We have to some degree. Legally, we're supposed to address our contacts to the administration, who is supposed to pass this on to the board. We have made the board aware of this by giving them leaflets before one of their recent meetings. We are also in touch with some of the board members individually. But so far it's the administration's position that's prevailing, which is they are saying that they will try to make it up, but they're not saying when.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments from Members of the Committee? (No response.)

Seeing none, thank you so much. Good afternoon. Thank you for your patience. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. 286 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET

Thank you. My name is Joseph Hanley. Council President Verna and other Members of City Council, again my name is Joseph Hanley. I am a senior property administrator for PNC Bank. However, this afternoon I'm here in the capacity as vice president of the Building Owners and Managers Association, commonly referred to as BOMA, to testify on behalf of the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission Bills 040009 through 040021. As a non-profit organization whose members provide over 90 million square feet of workplace throughout the City and the tri-state area, BOMA supports meaningful tax reform within Philadelphia. These are some of the City-related facts in which BOMA members' buildings provide: 51 million square feet of office space. Excess of 500,000 office workers. 6 billion. Annual real estate tax revenue to the City of approximately $133 million. 16 billion. As real estate professionals in the Philadelphia area, BOMA members work with two types of companies and organizations; tenants whose businesses operate within the City who struggle with the decision of whether to remain in Philadelphia or to relocate somewhere outside the City limits, and prospective tenants that are considering a move to the City or the region. Based from discussions with our tenants and potential tenants, the number one concern is that businesses located within the City shoulder a tax burden that businesses outside the City do not. The current inequity tax structure is a major barrier to future growth and prosperity within the City of Philadelphia. Creating equity in the City's tax structure is just one of the issues involved here. More importantly, tax reform is about creating an environment that will foster 288 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET growth, generate new jobs and improve the overall quality of life throughout the City and its neighborhoods. Meaningful tax reform will benefit us all. The failure to undertake meaningful tax reform, on the other hand, can have devastating consequences to the City. In recent months, we have been kept afloat by the fact that several large corporations and major employers with upcoming lease expirations have made the decision to remain in the City. This news follows a long decline in the City's employment base. 6 percent in 2001. 5 million square feet, due to conversions of office space to more productive uses, including residential real estate. The current vacancy rate would have been even higher had not this been the case. New construction currently in progress, as well as proposed new office towers, could well 289 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET aggravate the current vacancy rate if new bold tax initiatives are not undertaken now. It is important to note that many of the recent transactions may not have happened without major economic concessions by the City and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While strategies such as one-off transactions and certain KOIZs benefit specific employers who have the right connections yield results in terms of retention, these are peace meal strategies at best, and furthermore aggravate the inherent inequity of the current tax structure, in so far as other property owners and residents end up shouldering the tax burden. These piece meal strategies hamper the City's ability to facilitate a long-term plan for benefiting the community as a whole. What we are facing is simple economics of supply and demand. At the present time, supply is outstripping demand. The market is out of equilibrium. With vacancy rates rising and rental rates declining, a reduction in commercial property values is not far behind. 290 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET A number of BOMA members have already filed protective tax appeals. To date, those represented only a fraction of the overall membership. However, it could be the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

If the City does not adopt meaningful tax reform, and thereby create an environment that will attract new businesses, these trends will only continue. The math is pretty straightforward. A 10 to 20 percent reduction in commercial property value will lead to a significant erosion to the City's tax base. The unfortunate result of this trend would most likely be a shifting of the tax burden to the residential sector. In our opinion, the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission's recommendations represent a cohesive strategy for achieving growth and prosperity.

Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Members of the Committee? (No response.)

Thank you 291 05/12/04 - WHOLE - '05 OPERATING BUDGET so much for your patience. We appreciate your coming in to testify.

Thank you very much. - - - - 292 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget

Please identify yourself and proceed with your testimony.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm Pat Iding. I'm the current President of the Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO, representing somewhere around 150,000 workers who live and work in the City of Philadelphia. Shall I proceed?

Please.

Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I thank this Council to allow me a few minutes to give our feelings and represent the labor movement in the City. I do not come before you as a fiscal expert or budget analyst, and I do not come before you as... But I do come before you as one who has spent decades representing working people in the City of Philadelphia, in particular organized labor. I'm always ready to stand out for the City of Philadelphia and for the workers of Philadelphia, as the workers are ready to stand out for the City of 293 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget Philadelphia. With all the fine detailed analysis that has been conducted by many parties on the issue of tax reform, and all the new articles, opinions, and columns and editorials, and with all the public and political opinion on all sides of the tax issue, I have struggled to identify what I might bring to the discussion, from my position as President of the AFL-CIO, and as a concerned resident of Philadelphia. I have been impressed with the dedication and sincerity all the parties have brought to this debate. As a labor leader in Philadelphia, I can assure you that I and various unions represented by the AFL-CIO are equally dedicated and sincere when it comes to wanting and needing the City to succeed in meeting the present and long-term commitments. First, let us not ignore the fact our local government's financial difficulties has many sources outside the City itself. 294 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget The Federal Government is draining resources from our cities and returning little, while incomprehensible sums are spent on someone's else's idea of proper military and international spending, tax cuts to the wealthy, and program expenditures to the unfunded domestic needs. The Federal Government continues to impose security needs on cities, especially large ones like Philadelphia, without providing any or anywhere near the resources to service these needs. We are outraged and frustrated over this, and I think we should be. With regard to the tax reform package that's in front of you, I have a serious problem. The approach seems to put forward massive tax cuts, somehow labeled as reform, yet unaccompanied with the functional reforms where the money is to be saved. It just seems to me that this is putting the cart before the horse. We all think we know that the money 295 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget can be saved in the operation of City government, but we also know that when those savings affect our neighborhoods, our communities, our libraries, our schools, our recreation centers, suddenly they become very unpopular. There are a number of efforts under way now to look at realizing -- re-sizing functions in the City in response to changes in population. These efforts should proceed responsibly. Changes should be fare, equitable across the board, and not be driven by the strength of a particular -- a particular or a parochial interest. I say respectfully that if this legislative body cuts taxes by another quarter billion dollars over this five-year plan, I am very concerned for our brothers and sisters who are municipal unionized workers and for all our City's work force in general, because common sense seems to tell us that if the City is already struggling to balance its budget and books 296 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget by cutting services, closing some recreation centers and pools, cutting funding of the arts, and re-sizing Fire Department operations, what services and workers are we going to have to cut to pay for another $285 million in tax cuts? We'd have to cut police officers, and firefighters, health center workers, sanitation workers, the workers that keep our beautiful Fairmount Park, and the workers who operate the recreation centers for our children. I'm also well aware that this budget as it is proposed, includes no wage increases for our municipal unionized work force.

The organized labor movement stands with our brothers and sisters who work in our City government in deserving a fair, living wage. But how can they bargain for that, what they deserve, if another quarter billion dollar hole is created in the five-year plan? 297 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget As I said, I come before you not as a number's cruncher but as a person who's spent a lifetime standing up for workers. That is what compels me to come before you today and urge you to vote no on this package of additional tax cuts. We can only spell bad news in the long run for the men and women who work so hard, pay their taxes, play by the rules, live in the City, the City we love. And I think that we have to consider them when we're considering any kind of tax cut. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Councilwoman Blackwell, your light is on. Did you want to be recognized?

Thank you. I wanted to thank Mr. Pat Iding. I serve with him also on a board that where many, many, some 80,000 people are involved. His concern for our City, his 298 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget work in labor is renown. We thank him for coming and for speaking out on the issues that affect our citizens. Thank you, Pat.

Thank you Councilwoman.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)

Seeing none, thank you so much for your testimony. MR. McPHERSON: The next witness is Richard Watson.

Is Richard Watson here? MR. McPHERSON: Naomi Zaslow. (No response.) MR. McPHERSON: George Boggs, Sr. (No response.) MR. McPHERSON: Action Alliance for Seniors. (No response.) MR. McPHERSON: Fred Murphy was here. He has left testimony. 299 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget MR. McPHERSON: Cynthia Figueroa.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Please identify yourself for the record, and perhaps you could identify the group with you.

My name is Cynthia Figueroa. I am the Executive Director of Women Against Abuse. And with me today I have representatives from the three other domestic violence agencies, as well Tara Knight, the Residential Services Director for Women Against Abuse; Roberta Hacker from Women in Transition; Ana Lisa Yoder from Lutheran Settlement House; and joining us shortly is Joanna Otero from Congreso de Latino Unidos. I'll be testifying on behalf of the committee.

Okay. I notice that your testimony is rather lengthy.

I promise it will be 300 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget short.

We will give a copy of it to the stenographer, and it will be transcribed.

Certainly.

Thank you.

Today I want to provide you information in support of the Mayor's budget through general operating dollars designated to support the enhancement of domestic violence services in Philadelphia. Specifically, the Mayor's budget -- proposed budget will provide funding for the expansion of domestic violence shelter services, and the enhancement of the City-wide Domestic Violence Hotline. Recently in a press release issued by Mayor John F. Street, dated September 23, 2003, the Mayor appointed a domestic violence task force. There are statistics that illustrated that in a period of nine months there had been over 82,000 911 calls 301 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget involving domestic violence. There were 10,715 crimes that were coded as domestic violence in nature, most of which were aggravated assault. Equally alarming right now is that the limited staff and financial resources of domestic violence communities have to serve the women and children. As the fifth largest City in the nation, we have some of the most limited resources in the nation. The four domestic violence agencies present today have a total of 104 full and part-time staff designated directly to serving victims. In addition, Women Against Abuse runs the only domestic violence shelter in Philadelphia, with a limited capacity to serve only 46 women and children. There are only two major funding sources at a state level which over the course of the last few years have been cut. This year we're seeing level funding from one of our state funders. 302 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget I would like to point out that related to shelter services, while other cities suffer severe shortage, Philadelphia is worse than other major cities. Chicago has approximately one domestic violence shelter bed for every 13,000 residents, and New York has approximately one for every over 5,000 residents. Philadelphia currently has approximately one bed for every 23,076 residents. As mentioned before, the current facility only holds 46 women and children. Additionally, our lack of resources means that we serve as a triage system, and that we have to turn several women and children away, particularly to the homeless shelter system. The other part of the proposed budget would -- The proposed budget would actually allow Women Against Abuse to double our shelter capacity, and we could bring the City-wide number to a hundred 303 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget shelter beds for Philadelphia. Domestic violence services are captured mostly through our hotline services, which are really the lifeline of services in Philadelphia. Together, as a group, we provide safety planning, counseling, advocacy and referrals for -- through our hotlines. Right now the budget would allow us to coordinate and appropriately fund the hotline to enhance Philadelphia's ability to respond to domestic violence. The Mayor's budget will also support existing staff. Currently the providers all have individual hotline numbers. And due to our limited resources, we often collaborate to cover each other's hotlines. Having several numbers for one -- for one City is often cumbersome and confusing for clients and victims and the systems that need to reach us. The Mayor's budget will actually provide us assistance in planning and the consolidation of the local domestic 304 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget violence hot lines. Most significantly, this would enhance our services and alleviate the pressures on other systems, for example, the police department. We're hoping that the City will send a clear message, that we care about the women and children. We are grateful, and it's much needed and well time -- overdue, that there's designated funding to support the enhancement of domestic violence shelter services and hotline services. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Any questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)

Seeing none, I thank you for your patience.

Thank you.

You've been very patient. Thank you so much. 305 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget (Applause.) MR. McPHERSON: Next witness is Jean Bluebaker. Jean Bluebaker. (No response.) MR. McPHERSON: Charles Taylor.

Good afternoon. Thank you for coming in. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.

My name is Bernadette Lorainne Teagle Muchison.

The noise level is much, much too high.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Thank you.

Good afternoon honorary Council Chairwoman Anna Verna, council members, distinguished guest speakers, and to all who are assembled today. My name is Bernadette Lorainne Muchison, and I live in Councilmanic Marian Tasco's Ninth Councilmanic District in 306 Whole - 5/12/04 - Operating Budget Logan for over 27 years. I am also a committee person of 49th Ward, 22nd Division, who represent over 900 registered voters.

That's a big division.

I have to come ask Council's office for your help. We have distributed -- (Alarm sounds.)

Please proceed.