STATED MEETING 1 6/23/2022 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, June 23, 2022 10:26 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK STATED MEETING 2 6/23/2022
Thank you very much, and good morning to everyone. Before we begin the Council session today, I'd like to make the following announcement: Due to the continuing threat to public health from COVID-19, hopefully for the last time, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, the Inquirer, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance, and members that are in attendance, say a word or two to make sure that your image is displayed on the screen. STATED MEETING 3 6/23/2022 Decker, please call the roll.
Good morning, Mr. President and colleagues and the City of Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I am present.
Good STATED MEETING 4 6/23/2022 morning, Council President and colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues, and Philadelphia. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I am present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, City of Philadelphia. I am present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I too am present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good to see everybody. Sending out prayers to all the families who have lost loved ones to senseless gun violence, Council President and colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present as well.
Good morning, Mr. President and colleagues. Present. And thank you for helping me represent LU today, Councilmember Gauthier.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public. I'm present.
And good morning to all. STATED MEETING 8 6/23/2022 Council is present. We will now come to order. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Reverend Dr. Valerie Andrews of the Eternal Life Missionary Baptist Church. She is here today as the guest of Councilman Thomas. I would ask all members and guests to please bow your heads for the invocation. Reverend, please proceed.
Council President Clarke and to all the members of the Council, good morning, and thank you for this opportunity. Let us pray together. Gracious God, our father, we come this morning thanking you for allowing us to be yet alive. Thank you, Lord, for waking us up this morning and having us clothe ourselves and to be in our right minds. We come before you this STATED MEETING 9 6/23/2022 morning, God, as we prepare for today, God, as the agenda is on the table, but before we begin to do anything, we want to just give you thanks. We invite you into this space, into this time of deliberation and sharing, and we're asking, God, that you would make yourself known, that you would manifest your presence today. Father, I ask right now that you would bless every Councilmember individually, Lord, first of all. I pray that you would meet their needs, whatever they may be. I pray for their family members, spouses, children, grandchildren. I pray for their health today, God. Perhaps there's some on this line today who is not doing physically well or maybe emotionally or mentally, and we pray even now, God, that you would move by your spirit and give them the courage to do whatever needs to be done, be it see a doctor, be it see a therapist, be STATED MEETING 10 6/23/2022 to somebody. We're asking right now, God, that you would cover them in the blood of Jesus Christ, because you called them out to do a great work. And so, Father, they have to be in good health - spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically - to do that which you've assigned to their hands. Now, God, again as we said, there's an agenda on the table, and I heard Councilman Clarke say, God, there's a lot to be discussed. We ask right now that you would move, God, in a special way, that you would give us ears to hear, give us hearts to receive. I pray, God, that you would give every Councilperson wisdom today. Help them to see something different, something new, something afresh today that they never thought about. I pray, God, that you would work out miracles. Lord, sometimes there's some situations that are on the table that we don't have answers for, STATED MEETING 11 6/23/2022 but, God, we serve a God who has the answers. And so I'm compelling, I'm pleading with you this morning, God, that you would come through, that you would show them exactly what needs to be done for the City of Philadelphia. I pray, God, for every single resident. I pray for family members who have lost loved ones to violence. And, God, we're just asking right now that you would send the spirit of comfort to do a mighty work in these lives. We pray for every young person in the City of Philadelphia. We pray for their summer, God, that you would lay your hands on them, that you would allow your angels to be dispatched all around them. As the children go to swimming pools this summer, God, as they go to the basketball courts, God, would you please show up. Would you please allow your angels to encamp them. We pray for every drug dealer today, God. We ask that you would change STATED MEETING 12 6/23/2022 today, God, that they would decide not to do this anymore. We pray for the ones that are carrying guns, selling guns, or whatever they're doing, God, to cause the guns to show up. God, we're praying that you would just show us what is it that we can do to make lives different. I pray, God, for the President, for Councilman Clarke, God. Would you go before him, would you grant him what he stands in need of, God, as the leader of this group, God. I pray, God, that you would comfort him, that you would strengthen him, God. Where he's weak, God, would you build him up. God, give him courage and boldness to say what needs to be said, to do what needs to be done, God. I pray as you speak to him that he would hear you and that, God, he would be obedient.
I thank you again for every Councilmember, and I pray, God, that you STATED MEETING 13 6/23/2022 their efforts. And, God, I pray that when it's all said and done, you will say you were well pleased with their services. We pray this in the mighty and matchless and strong name of Jesus today. And, God, I give you thanks, because, God, I expect you to answer and to hear our prayers. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Amen. Thank you, Reverend Doctor, so much for your spiritual guidance.
Thank you. Our next order of business is STATED MEETING 14 6/23/2022 of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 16, 2022. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 16th, 2022 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 16, 2022 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and our Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the STATED MEETING 15 6/23/2022
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you. The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker one more time for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council and that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first STATED MEETING 16 6/23/2022 reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible action by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilwoman Parker may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of the Council session. STATED MEETING 17 6/23/2022 by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the motion carries. And our next order of business is communications, and I would ask the Clerk to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.
From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on June 22, 2022, I signed all of the bills which were passed by Council at its session on June 9, 2022.
Is that it, Mr. Decker? Thank you very much. And our next order of business STATED MEETING 18 6/23/2022 is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And by way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide the appropriate opportunity for public comment. I'd like to thank you very much in advance for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, please read the titles of the legislation that's being offered by our members today.
Councilwoman Parker offers one bill and one resolution. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district, to be known as the North Broad Business Improvement District, in an area that generally includes both sides of STATED MEETING 19 6/23/2022 North Broad Street on the north side of Spring Garden Street to the south side of Indiana Avenue (excluding the 2700 through 2900 blocks on the west side of the street), beginning with 510 North Broad Street, and continuing to 2929 North Broad Street; it also includes 1300 Fairmount Avenue, 1406 Ridge Avenue, 1408 Ridge Avenue, 1363 West Seltzer Street, 1361 West Silver Street, and 1362 West Silver Street; designating North Broad Renaissance (the legal name of which is Avenue North Renaissance, Incorporated), which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District.
Also on behalf of Council President Clarke, a resolution initiating action to establish a neighborhood improvement district in the area that generally includes both sides STATED MEETING 20 6/23/2022 of North Broad Street from the north side of Spring Garden Street to the south side of Indiana Avenue (excluding the 2700 through 2900 blocks on the west side of the street), beginning with 510 North Broad Street, and continuing to 2929 North Broad Street; it also includes 1300 Fairmount Avenue, 1406 Ridge Avenue, 1408 Ridge Avenue, 1363 West Seltzer Street, 1361 West Silver Street, and 1362 West Silver Street; designating North Broad Renaissance (the legal name of which is Avenue of the North Renaissance, Incorporated), which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District. Mr. President, I believe this is to be adopted today. So if we could recognize Councilwoman Parker for a motion to suspend the rules.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker. (No response.) STATED MEETING 21 6/23/2022
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion for suspension of the rules to allow adoption today.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended for immediate consideration of that resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.) STATED MEETING 22 6/23/2022
The ayes have it, and that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilwoman Gym offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation of the Prison Oversight Board; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election."
And a resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation of an independent Prison STATED MEETING 23 6/23/2022 Oversight Board, and to provide for the composition, powers, and duties of the Board; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Oh, I'm sorry, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Thank you so much, Council President, and thank you, everybody. Safety is our top concern in our city, and that includes all those who are housed in our City prisons and those who work there. This has been a primary concern for all the members of our City Council body, but especially for Council's Public Safety Committee. I want to thank the members of STATED MEETING 24 6/23/2022 the Public Safety Committee and especially our Chair, Councilmember Jones, for the diligent work that's been done over the last several years as our City prisons have faced enormous crises and challenges and also sought solutions. Twenty-nine people have died in Philadelphia's jails in the last two years, a rate that is 77 percent higher than the national average. Since the start of the pandemic, civil litigation cases related to conditions in Philadelphia's prisons have proliferated, resulting in costly fines and settlements. High vacancy rates in the Department have caused outcry from both advocates and corrections officers over serious safety issues and the conditions in the City prisons. And in a survey by the Philadelphia Prison Society, over 90 percent of incarcerated people reported an absence of staff, largely on the weekends. STATED MEETING 25 6/23/2022 The City prisons are a critical part of the public safety narrative. The majority of people who are there are housed pretrial, and they deserve their time for justice and for safety, and we have not seen nearly enough action. So today I'm introducing legislation, along with the co-sponsors of this legislation - Councilmember Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, and Councilmember Isaiah Thomas - to establish a new oversight structure for the Department of Prisons, a Prisons Oversight Board, to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of incarcerated people and corrections officers. I don't think there's any question that we are at crisis levels right now. Reports on the conditions in our City prisons keep me up at night. I know they keep members of our committee up at night as well. Today's proposed Charter change STATED MEETING 26 6/23/2022 would replace the current advisory board with a staffed civilian board with a defined mission, independent oversight, and investigative powers. With today's introduction, this is the start of a conversation and the first of many critical steps that are necessary in order to establish a body that has the power to ask questions and get answers and has a commitment to community engagement, transparency and, most importantly, change that has been sorely lacking. Once passed by City Council, the Charter change will appear on the ballot for approval by voters. Accompanying legislation to set board composition and selection as well to further define the board's powers will be introduced at some time this fall, but we will be taking this opportunity, especially through the summer, to convene groups and organizations to discuss what this path could look like going forward. STATED MEETING 27 6/23/2022 I look forward to collaboration and the advice, input, and work of all my Council colleagues, and I thank you all for the introduction of this bill. Thank you, Council President.
Councilman Thomas offers one resolution honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, The Philly Phantomz and the eight all-pro players: Kia Ivery, Candace Walker, Dominique Williams, Star Wright, Monique Wilson, Angela Wells, Latasha Richardson, and Hannah Degraffinreid for making the Women's National Football Conference All-pro list.
Thank you. That will be on next session's agenda.
Councilman Jones offers one resolution congratulating the STATED MEETING 28 6/23/2022 City of Philadelphia on winning its bid to become a Host City of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mr. President, Councilman Jones would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you. I'd like to do a rules suspension so that we can consider this resolution on today's Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 29 6/23/2022
Councilman Green offers one bill and two resolutions, entitled "An ordinance adding a new Section 9-649 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sale of Body Armor,' to require sellers of body armor to maintain and submit records regarding sales to Philadelphia residents; and adding a new Section 10-843 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Possession, Sale, and Transfer of Body Armor,' to require Philadelphia residents to register certain body armor with the City."
Thank you, Council President. This legislative body has on various occasions attempted legislation that has been preempted in order to make our city safe, especially in reference to issues of gun violence. From the issues we saw of the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas, there's been STATED MEETING 30 6/23/2022 an increase in the use of body armor in mass shootings. So in talking with the Law Department, I thought and also talking with others and using some of my relationships from around the country, wanted to think of a way of how we can continue to provide safety measures in the City of Philadelphia, especially as we're seeing an increase in mass shootings, especially mass shooters using body armor. And so from this perspective, I also believe that those who are likely to buy body armor are also more likely to have some of the high-capacity weapons that create these tragedies. I know at the federal level, they're looking to move forward for the first time in a number of years, in fact decades, on some responsible gun legislation, but here in the City of Philadelphia, we need to continue to be creative in what we can do to protect our citizens from any future tragedy that can happen here in our city. STATED MEETING 31 6/23/2022 And so from that perspective, that's why I introduced this bill. Hopefully this is a conversation that this body can take as we continue to be creative in trying to make the citizens of the City of Philadelphia safe. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. That will be referred to committee.
Councilman Green also offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and congratulating David Gates, Esquire upon the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project for his decades of service and commitment to people with disabilities and families in need of health insurance coverage and health care services in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth." Mr. President, Councilman Green would like to be recognized for a motion STATED MEETING 32 6/23/2022 on this resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit this resolution to be on the Final Passage Calendar for today. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Finance to hold hearings regarding growth STATED MEETING 33 6/23/2022 in the City of Philadelphia.
That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilwoman Gauthier offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution renaming North 33rd Street, between Chestnut and Arch Streets, as 'Squash Way,' in recognition of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center."
Thank you. That will be on next session's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilman O'Neill offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on Morrell Avenue."
Councilman Squilla offers two bills and four resolutions, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Philadelphia Building STATED MEETING 34 6/23/2022 Construction and Occupancy Code,' by adopting the 2018 edition of the 'International Residential Code' as published by the International Code Council."
And an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 27-S by striking from the City Plan the easterly twenty feet wide portion of Swanson Street from Wolf Street to Snyder Avenue, and striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portion of Vandalia Street from Wolf Street to Weccacoe Avenue.
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold public hearings to examine what the Philadelphia Water Department is or could be doing to STATED MEETING 35 6/23/2022 take advantage of new and existing federal water quality infrastructure funding to address chronic sewage overflows in overburdened communities and improve the water quality of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers for public recreational use.
Excuse me. Hello? Somebody definitely needs to be on mute.
Council President, I'm able to suspend the rules to be able to put that resolution on the passage Calendar for today?
That's authorized, Councilman. That's a request for a hearing.
I'm STATED MEETING 36 6/23/2022 trying to find who was having a conversation.
If you're not speaking, please stay on mute. Thank you. We have way too many -
Please put all your phones and screens on mute, please. You heard the President. We're trying to get through session.
That's right. We got enough to deal with without unauthorized conversations. Mr. Decker, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Councilman Squilla offers three additional resolutions, entitled a "Resolution confirming the approval of Resolution No. 210975, adopted December 9, 2021, authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2148, 2150, 2154, 2156 East STATED MEETING 37 6/23/2022 Birch Street, 2032 Lehigh Avenue, 2055, 2057 East Rush Street, 2154, 2155, 2156, 2157, 2158, 2159, 2160, 2161 East Stella Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District." Mr. President, Councilman Squilla would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to move for a suspension of the rules for these resolutions to be heard at this session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
Okay. Property resolutions traditionally are not -- do not have rules suspension because of the nature of the inability for people to have public comment, as opposed to an honorary resolution. Is this a sense of urgency somewhat? Because we may get challenged. STATED MEETING 38 6/23/2022 I'm just saying that.
Yeah. It's a little different with property resolutions, because people disposing of property, we like to traditionally require the ability for citizens to have some public input. So we'll place those on the next session Calendar.
And also a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 2863 Amber Street in the First Councilmanic District.
Next session of Council. STATED MEETING 39 6/23/2022
And a resolution confirming approval of Resolution No. 210976, adopted December 9, 2021, authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1739 South 5th Street; 1919 South 6th Street; 2612 South 9th Street; 411, 418, 424, 432 through 34, 624, 626 Cantrell Street; 424, 426 Mercy Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District.
Councilwoman Bass offers, on behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance amending Bill No. 220285, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2023 Capital Budget," and amending Bill No. 220284, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2023 through 2028 inclusive," to add certain projects in the Eighth Council District to the capital budget for Fiscal Year 2023 and make other related conforming and other changes to the FY 2023 Capital Budget STATED MEETING 40 6/23/2022 ordinance and the FY 2023 through 2028 Capital Program ordinance.
Councilman Oh offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring the life and service of Philadelphia Firefighter Lieutenant Sean Williamson." Mr. President, Councilman Oh would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you very much, Council President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so that this resolution may be considered on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. STATED MEETING 41 6/23/2022 (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That resolution will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes the introduction of bills and resolutions. And our next order of business is reports from committee, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. (No response.)
Yes, Mr. President. One moment, please. Thank you. Mr. President?
Can you come back to me if you have other committee reports and I will pull up that information. I'm having some difficulty with my technology this morning.
Councilmember Bass, would you like me to proceed on your behalf?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Councilmember Bass, the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs reports out one resolution with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. STATED MEETING 43 6/23/2022 Decker, please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, to which was referred Resolution No. 220474, entitled a "Resolution approving the Rebuild Project Statement for Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 pursuant to Bill No. 170206," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, on behalf of Councilmember Bass, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit consideration of Resolution No. 220424 [sic] on today's Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 44 6/23/2022 (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of Resolution No. 220424 on today's Final Passage Calendar. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Oh for a report from the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy issues a report pursuant to STATED MEETING 45 6/23/2022 220069.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report. Mr. Decker, you're on mute.
Apologies, Mr. President. The Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy, to which was referred Resolution No. 220069, entitled a "Resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold public hearings on the findings and recommendations of the Philadelphia Fashion and Garment Industry Task Force," respectfully reports that the Special Committee held a hearing as authorized by Resolution No. 220069 on June 16, 2022, and that the Committee has adopted the report and recommendations of the Philadelphia Fashion and Garment Industry Task Force and issues the report STATED MEETING 46 6/23/2022
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Gym for a report from the Committee on Children and Youth.
Thank you very much, Council President. The Committee on Children and Youth reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Children and Youth, to which was referred Bill No. 220239, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 21-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Foster Care,' to add new provisions related to screening and application for benefits for foster youth; limiting the use of Social Security, Supplemental Security STATED MEETING 47 6/23/2022 Income, Veterans or other various benefits; and providing notice to the foster child for certain actions taken with respect to Social Security and other benefits," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Thank you very much, Council President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 220239. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 220239. STATED MEETING 48 6/23/2022 by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. They will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 49 6/23/2022
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, and they are Resolution Nos. 220603, 220604, 220605, 220606, 220607, 220608, 220609, 220610, 220611, 220612, 220613, 220614, 220615, 220616, 220617, 220618, 220619, 220620, and 220621. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda -
Yeah. Mr. President, I move that Resolution 220616 be removed from the Consent Calendar. STATED MEETING 50 6/23/2022
220616 will be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Final Passage Calendar, Councilman? Councilman Johnson?
You want to just remove it from the Consent Agenda and put it on the regular -
220616 will be placed on the regular Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, sir. It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to STATED MEETING 51 6/23/2022 the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the resolutions just read by Councilwoman Parker. All in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Resolution Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 210740-A, 220504-A, 220517-A, 210478, 220110, 220490, 220527, 210284, STATED MEETING 52 6/23/2022 220287, 220288, 220413, 200118, 220323, 220357, 220358, 220363, 220417, 220445, 220446, 220450, 220451, 220452, 220456, 220457, 220458, 220293, 220506, 220508, 220509, 220510, 220511, 220529, 220496, 220521, 220522, 220524, 220525, 210870, 220321, 220459, 220493, 220526, 220366, 220294, 220573, 220574, 220575, and 220577. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of -
Yes. I ask that Bill No. 210284 be removed from the Bill Consent Agenda.
Okay. We'll do it now. It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilwoman Parker, with the exception of 210284. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of STATED MEETING 54 6/23/2022 2ND READING calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the resolutions and bills being considered on the Consent Agendas, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 220616, and 210284 and Nos. 220197-A, 220544, 220545, 200040-A, 200006-AA, 200007-A, 220187, 200012, 220284, 220285, 220286, 220410, 220485, 220497, 220499, 220414, 220292, and 220322. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
And for the record, 210284 will be on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Thank you, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with our public comment session, we will take a STATED MEETING 55 6/23/2022 brief five- to ten-minute recess, more like ten, to give our technology professionals an opportunity to connect our speakers that we have for today's meeting. Modesto, let us know when everyone is connected. Thank you. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Yes, we will, Council President. Thank you. (Short recess.)
Thank you very much, and thank you for your patience as we connected everyone for public comment. So now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will do our public comment. The public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at a STATED MEETING 56 6/23/2022 session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative item you are commenting on, and whether you are in support of or against the legislation, and add your name to the list. We will telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Today because of the significant volume of individuals we have to testify, your time limit will be two minutes. We ask that you please adjust your testimony to reflect the two-minute limit. Normally based on a lower volume, we will have up to three minutes, but, again, thank you for participating. In order to be fair to all STATED MEETING 57 6/23/2022 those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. Once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started. We will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, we will remind you of this. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter, you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same subject matter, which could affect callbacks for public comment at a meeting. Please be aware that the public meeting is being recorded. So because the meeting is public, viewers have no reasonable expectations of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. STATED MEETING 58 6/23/2022 I want to thank you very much for your willingness to participate in the City Council public comment session today. I will now ask Mr. Decker to please read the first name of our speaker on the list.
The first speaker today is Sarina Rose, commenting on 210740-A.
State your name and please proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. My name is Sarina Rose. I'm providing public comment today on Bill No. 210740-A as a representative of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, most commonly known as the BIA. I'm the Treasurer of the BIA and I also co-chair the BIA Government Affairs Committee. STATED MEETING 59 6/23/2022 I want to thank Council President Clarke and Councilmembers for affording me the opportunity to provide comment regarding the licensure requirements for sheet metal workers. Last week's floor amendment made minor changes to the definition of the sheet metal apprenticeship program requirements, but the existing definition as currently written in the code is in direct conflict with the state and federal requirements. Specifically, the City has had long a requirement for 800 hours of classroom instruction instead of 576 hours the state and federal governments require. Apprenticeship programs like this are highly regulated and must be approved by the Commonwealth. Requiring more hours of classroom training specifically within already approved programs' approved curriculum does not make sense. This might seem like an STATED MEETING 60 6/23/2022 innocuous distinction and aspect of the code, but it is not. The 576 hours are intended to be spread over a duration of more than four years and 8,000 hours of field apprenticeship training and achieved while maintaining a work-life balance. If L&I were to enforce this conflicting aspect of the code, there will be many Philadelphia residents that would not be able to comply with this requirement at the schools where they currently enroll. It would also require that the program in which apprentices are enrolled across the Commonwealth be modified for just Philadelphia, which most schools will not elect to do. Recently, enforcement of similar differences in other sections of the code resulted in mass relocation of apprenticeship licenses, exposure to litigation for the City, and ultimately a rollback of the enforcement of these aspects of the code that so clearly cause STATED MEETING 61 6/23/2022 disparate impact. Fixing the code increases access to those who have historically been overlooked for these coveted careers. To be clear, we are advocating for increased training by training more people, not less. This is one meaningful step in the direction of creating equal requirements for apprenticeship careers without favoritism to one particular school or program. Thank you very much.
The next speaker is Thomas Saint Hill, commenting on 220006, 220007, and 200040.
Good morning -COUNCIL SUPPORT: Chief Clerk, the next two speakers are not on the line.
The next speaker is David Christian. STATED MEETING 62 6/23/2022
The next speaker, Mr. Christian? COUNCIL SUPPORT: Also not on the line.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Yes. My name is Robert Reilly. I have a lifelong connection and love to the great City of Philadelphia, born and raised in Philadelphia, attended Father Judge High School, La Salle College for a BS and a Master's, served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, multiple long-term career assignments in the City at SmithKline Pharmaceuticals and Breyers Ice Cream, to name a few, multiple years as President of the Edison High School Friends Association component of the alumni association. Over the last few years, with the explosion of the homeless population in the City and in also STATED MEETING 63 6/23/2022 Camden, I've spent much time in service and in packing up my SUV and distributing it from 2400 to 2900 Kensington Avenue. Relative to the veterans preference, Philadelphia is a world-class city, and world-class cities embrace those who serve and those who promise to lay down their lives and protect the citizens. And in the case of military citizens, wherever they are around the world, world-class cities then should help and integrate those that make those solemn, unwavering promises to help them integrate back into the society that they left and the career path that was slowed down while they extended their time into multiple combat tours. In fact, the veterans preference really should earn them multiple preferences. If it's five percent and they serve three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, then it should be 15 percent, or actually they should be able to pick any job OJT and give them a STATED MEETING 64 6/23/2022 chance for six months to do it, because, by God, they will do it. Also, well-trained professional protectors integrated throughout the City. More I believe would be better than less. City legacy, that is what we should do. The promises were solemn, they were unwavering, and they were indelible, and the City really needs to respond back and embrace them and welcome them back and help integrate them back into the great city that they left. Thank you for allowing me to address this special session. I love you all and I love the City. God bless America. God bless all our veterans. Thank you. Bye.
Thank you very much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed. STATED MEETING 65 6/23/2022
Good morning, Council President Darrell Clarke and all members of City Council. My name is Joe Griffies. I'm a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School. I went to Vietnam with my brother in 1967. I am one of the founders of the Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade. I am the person that named the VA Hospital for Michael Crescenz, who is the only Philadelphia Medal of Honor recipient since the Civil War. And I'm very upset at the fact that we want to change the Charter bill to give jobs to our veterans. I believe the City, Mr. President -- and you met me many times. I sat next to you when the Edison held this building that Bob Wiley was going to save that building at a dear cost to almost his life to house 66 homeless people, but we should be focusing on Kensington Avenue and not changing Charter bills to harm our veterans. STATED MEETING 66 6/23/2022 We had a young homicide, I was told 30-year-old woman, that was set on fire over the weekend by a gang of kids in that area. We lost a fireman. We lose veterans in war, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, North Korea. We shouldn't lose marine firemen to a building that should have been abandoned, that should have been torn down. He'll be buried over the weekend. He didn't die at war. He died in the City of Philadelphia. We're focusing on the wrong things. There's talk now that the Michael J. Crescenz VA Hospital at 34th and Woodland is on a target to be closed. Thousands of people will lose their jobs, and we're focusing on harming veterans. Council President Clarke, I have a lot of respect for you. You went to the largest school to lose 64 graduates from Edison High School, the most in the country, and, sir, you can't disgrace their grace and their death by hurting our veterans. STATED MEETING 67 6/23/2022 I want to thank you for your time.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it. And thank you for your service.
My name is -good morning, Council. My name is Jerry Temtesta. I'm a 1966 graduate of Bishop Neumann High School. I was in Vietnam from July 1969 to July 1970. I'm a decorated combat Vietnam veteran. What you're trying to do with these bills is not right. Veterans go right out of high school, and a lot of them went right out of high school right in the military, and when they come back, they need to have this veterans preference so that they could learn a trade, they can get a job with the City STATED MEETING 68 6/23/2022 and integrate the City of Brotherly Love. And I think it's very important. There's a lot of veterans today committing suicide, okay, when they came back from Afghanistan and Iraq and also Vietnam, because they feel like it's hopeless, like nobody is trying to help them. And you can't do away with veterans preference, because it's there to help a lot of veterans. They deserve it. They earned it. And that's all I have to say.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Clerk, the next person on the line --
Michael Daily, are you connected? (No response.)
STATED MEETING 69 6/23/2022 Mr. Daily? (No response.)
Good morning. Please state your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony. (No response.)
Ari Merretazon, are you connected? (No response.)
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
Council President Clarke and Councilmembers, good morning. My name is George Ginder. I'm a veteran, STATED MEETING 70 6/23/2022 a combat-wounded veteran with over 25 years of active-duty service in the United States Army. I speak to you today as an individual veteran with memberships in several well-known local and national veterans organizations. I am opposed to Bills 200040, 200006-A, and 200007. As a service member, I was well aware of the benefits afforded to veterans when they separated from military service, one of which is the preference point program adopted for veterans who choose to enter civil service. The bills mentioned essentially dilute this veteran benefit by awarding preference points to others who are non-military service-connected personnel whereby diminishing a point preference. A veteran earns all of the benefits that are awarded to him for serving their country and all that military service entails. Today, here in the City of Philadelphia, there are STATED MEETING 71 6/23/2022 pending bills that would reduce the veterans statute that they earned for their service to country. I ask you, is this a message that we want to send across our nation? Need I mention that three branches of our country's military services were established right here in Philadelphia? I urge Council to do what is right for veterans in this instance. Do not pass a bill that diminishes a veteran's civil service preference and further diminishes their statute in their communities. Remember, the people I mentioned decided to serve this country for us. Please now let's serve them. I thank you for the time to speak today, and have a good day.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it. Thank you for your service. STATED MEETING 72 6/23/2022
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
Good morning, Council President Clarke and to your 16 colleagues. My name is Joe Eastman. I live in South Philadelphia. I'm a taxpayer. I served this country in uniform for 26 years as a junior enlisted man, a senior non-commissioned officer, and a commissioned officer. I've gone in harm's way for this country, and I, like most of my colleagues who will be speaking today, I had a disability that I will take to my grave with me. I have a request and a comment. My request is that when you vote on these bills, please do so in a roll call fashion. There seems to be some controversy we found out this morning as to how a couple of people or some of your colleagues may have voted last week. I STATED MEETING 73 6/23/2022 know what I heard, but I'm willing to stipulate my ears may not be what they used to be. So I think a roll call vote so we get to hear each individual elected official that would be voting today and there will be no equivocation and misunderstanding as to how they vote. Now a comment, and I'll be very brief. I've been reading a lot of things back and forth, some things from KYW, some things posted on e-mail or social media and e-mails. I can say this: In the two and a half years or so that this process has been going on, I feel I've been closely involved with it. Not once -- let me repeat that -- not once have I ever heard Councilman David Oh speak adversely or disrespectfully about any of his colleagues in regard to this legislation. He has solely -- I'll say that again -- he has solely spoken to the merits or non-merits of the legislation. I had a couple of private minutes with Councilman Oh at the Vietnam STATED MEETING 74 6/23/2022 and Korean War memorials on Memorial Day. The only two Councilpeople who were there were Councilman Oh and Councilman Squilla, by the way, and I probably spoke with him for five minutes. He spoke to the merits and non-merits of the legislation and how it might play out. At no time, at no time, at no time written or otherwise has Councilman Oh ever disparaged one of his colleagues with (unintelligible), and that needs to be said. And I am one of the veterans that would be correcting the record in regards to some of this stuff, and we will make sure that people understand that Councilman Oh conducted himself in an incredibly professional way and would not allow any of us, not that it happened, would not allow any of us to disparage any member of Council. Thank you so much for your time, Council President Clarke. I appreciate it.
STATED MEETING 75 6/23/2022 Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony today and thank you for your service.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
(Connection issues) and I am the current President of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, have been actively involved in veterans affairs for decades. I speak again to this bill for a couple of reasons. I was opposed to it initially, and nothing I've heard or seen since there has changed my mind about this. My opposition stems from the fact that while I recognize that this bill does not literally take away points from the veterans, it does, as my friend George Ginder said, erode veterans preference. Once we start picking away at this, I can guarantee you somebody will be back again, and my fear is that STATED MEETING 76 6/23/2022 this will be eroded so badly that veterans' rights will be taken care of. I appreciate the Councilwoman's concept, providing others with benefits, but I would remind people that these young men and women that go to technical schools already have a leg up and certainly can compete in the job market, at least in my opinion. So, again, I state that I am adamantly opposed to this legislation and have been since it was first introduced. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. Thank you for your service.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
Good morning, Council President Clarke. Good morning, STATED MEETING 77 6/23/2022 members of City Council. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to comment. My name is Rich Yoka. I'm a lifelong resident of this great city. I'm a graduate of Roman Catholic High School and Temple University. I'm a three-year veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division. I am formerly the volunteer President of Fairmount Sports Association, one of the largest inner city youth organizations within the confines of Philadelphia. I am now the Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Let me be clear. I oppose any/all bills which would infringe, diminish, reduce, erode the City of Philadelphia's current veterans civil service preferences and veterans' rights. Veterans earned this right. That is the basis for veterans preference. They went abroad. They left their families. They fought. Some died; some came home. I personally question also the STATED MEETING 78 6/23/2022 validity and strategy of such legislation and the (unintelligible) for going to school and when does this type of legislation end and how far will it go? Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony this morning and thank you for your service.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony. MR. McCOY: President Clarke, I'm a big fan of yours. Thank you for your leadership with City Council. Citizen, soldier, patriot, Andre McCoy in opposition of Bill 06, 07, and 40 for a Charter change. Citizen, soldier, patriot, a citizen is not a subject or a slave to a governmental body or organization or ideology. A soldier is a person who has trained mentally, emotionally, and STATED MEETING 79 6/23/2022 physically as a warrior to overcome obstacles and challenges, at the risk of losing eyesight, a limb, or life itself in defense of a battle buddy, their unit, their country. Specifically, my opportunities in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic, a patriot, that love -- and supports and defends America and its interests, and that love I have shared for America freely to others in other countries so they can support and prosper where they are. A more patriotic duty, love of country leads. Bill 06, 07, and 40 for a Charter change have good intentions, but this is bad judgment and these are bad bills that are ill conceived, which I am strongly opposed. This does not support American interest and strong citizenship. My great-great grandfather STATED MEETING 80 6/23/2022 fought in the Civil War with the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers, including Gettysburg, lived on Ridge Avenue near Spring Garden Street and 3rd and Fernwood Cemetery. My uncle from South Philadelphia, two tours of Vietnam as a Green Beret. I was born in Germantown Hospital and served on active reserve and guard duty status in the military for over 30 years. I request, I humbly request, for you to review the letters of references I have already provided. Why a Charter change? If it's that significant, why no impact study has been done? Even a related 2018 Pew study does not support these bills. Again, a Charter change is not necessary. Oppose these bills. Legal review has not been completed. It appears to violate U.S., PA, and Philadelphia laws. I supplied specific references and citations. Therefore, there is no confidence that the due STATED MEETING 81 6/23/2022 diligence has been done completely for a Charter change. Oppose these bills. Who is John Galt? This affects veterans and has been known for over two years. Another attempt to check the block was made. Concerns and issues were voiced by your veteran advisors, specifically said we need to protect the veterans hiring process, the concept of preference, provide City internships and provide apprenticeships. Internships and apprenticeships were ignored. Apparently that attempt was amended last week, which codifies it is widely known that these bills harm veterans with amendments that put veterans in unfavorable and diminished position against anyone else who is in the hiring pool. This package discriminates. Oppose these bills. This would be a Charter change for discrimination. Oppose these Charter changes. This discriminates disabled, every other STATED MEETING 82 6/23/2022 public school student, every vo-tech student that's not in a public school, any other higher ed high school student, like catholic schools, private schools, and charter schools. This discriminates against firefighters and police. We have already lost Carter versus the City of Philadelphia, 1993. The City of Philadelphia lost against that under the same guise. This violates Philadelphia Civil Service Regulation 9.024. It also violates Home Rule Act 53 and Pennsylvania Statutes -
Mr. McCoy? MR. McCOY: -- 51, Subsection 7109, Subsection 113 -- I'm sorry; 13131, 1949, Pennsylvania Statute 7104B, Pennsylvania Veterans Preference Act. It violates that. It violates --
Mr. McCoy? STATED MEETING 83 6/23/2022 MR. McCOY: -- Federal 42 USC Code 1983 and the U.S. Constitution 14th Amendment.
Mr. McCoy -MR. McCOY: Sir, that completes my testimony. Thank you.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
Hi. This is Tiffany Ellis and I'm in support of Bill 220285. The Cobbs Street Golf Course, the Community Education Center I believe will be a great asset to the community for our children. We have a significant amount of kids who are getting involved in gang activity and just different mischief throughout the City of STATED MEETING 84 6/23/2022 Philadelphia, as we know. So I do believe that it will be a great asset to our community. They have also partnered with us and came into our school to do certain things with our kids around social and emotional learning, which will also be trickled back into the golf course through the community center. So with the -- again, with the amount of violence that are going in our city, I believe that that will be a great asset to the children and the families to gain resources and access to do other things. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed with your testimony.
Hi. Good morning. STATED MEETING 85 6/23/2022 I didn't hear my name. Hi. Hello?
Okay. I'm sorry. First of all, I want to -- good morning, and I want to do quickly. The fact that -- I want to say that for the legal -- a legal defense for RCOs, I support it. It should have been set up a long time ago with RCOs back in 2012. But I want to move on to the Save Our Home tax bills, and that's what I want to talk about. I have a real concern. I feel that these tax bills are a Band-Aid that you're putting on to not address the real issue. You're still not wanting to address these market-rate training machine that you have running that is moving forward in our neighborhoods. Okay? You're sitting up here, and these bills will be obsolete in three to four years, three to five years from now. What I'm proposing is that STATED MEETING 86 6/23/2022 there be a hearing. According what we're finding out, what I was able to look into, which is there was a new system set up with a new calculator. Okay? It had to be part of the budget. How could you put in a new system and not be part of the budget? And so, therefore, why not have hearings? Who's programming the calculator for 31 percent and then next year 51 percent and 71 percent? Okay. So then by then, the $80,000 will be obsolete. Okay? I'm saying we need to have a real common sense approach to this at this particular point. The reality of it is is that what is the next generation, how are they going to reinvest back into the community? If you take Graduate Hospital area -- and I would suggest to everybody that during the summer, take a ride through Graduate Hospital area, not when Odunde is there but away from Odunde. STATED MEETING 87 6/23/2022 You will see there's not no real investment in Graduate Hospital area unless you're coming with a $400,000 to $500,000 price tag. The reality is is that at this particular point is that I think that Saint Charles Senior Citizen Center was sold to a developer and now $1.7 -- 1 point million dollar homes are being sold in that property. Why was Saint Charles Senior Citizen Center sold? You need to deal with the -I'm losing my train of thought. What I want to say is, I don't appreciate the fact you wait until the last day and put 18 pages of bills and then you want to limit our talking, our public speaking to three minutes. That's not right. It's about time management on your part. You should not take away our three minutes to have to say something. So I'll get my message out another way. Thank you.
STATED MEETING 88 6/23/2022 Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
-- members of City Council, the public, and my fellow veterans. My name is Tommy Saint Hill. I served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, 1969 to 1972, including a 13-month combat tour in the Republic of South Vietnam as an S2 intelligence scout sniper, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division. I strongly -- let me say this: Councilwoman Gilmore is a friend of mine. She's an excellent public servant. I support her, but I strongly oppose this STATED MEETING 89 6/23/2022 bill. This bill dilutes the rights of veterans who risk their lives defending this country. And I don't have anything against the Councilwoman or any other person on this Council. I think it's an excellent legislative body to help children, kids, and the public, but as a veteran, this bill is disrespectful to veterans and everybody who risked their lives so we can have the freedoms that we have now. Thank you all. God bless you, and God bless my fellow veterans. Have a nice day.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. Thank you for your service.
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed. STATED MEETING 90 6/23/2022
My name is Lawrence Martin and I've been a resident in West Philadelphia since 1956, and I am totally wholeheartedly in support of 220285, that number there, that bill, because I've had an opportunity to talk to that Cobbs Creek group, and what they're initiating, what they're putting together is so needed in our community. I've been an activist out there for a long time. I had an opportunity about a week and a half ago to be the commencement speaker to those eighth graders. We're talking about some eighth graders that don't have a lot of hope, who have buried five of their peers within a little more than a year. I don't know what that feels like, even though I come from these streets, when you're 12, 13, 14 years old and you bury STATED MEETING 91 6/23/2022 some of your friends. So this initiative that they're putting together where the golf course, but what really has my heart is that educational facility, that self-esteem that they can -- these kids and children can come back to, and that mental part that they're going to have in that building, where it gave me the opportunity to close out the other day to let those children know when they go through life, when the bumps that they're going to -- that's waiting there for them, when life that gives them a hand that they may not have chosen, to make their way back to this foundation that we're putting together right now, and we're putting together a project right now for these children that we can put them back on the right path. So, again, I thank you for the opportunity to share, and we're going to win this. Thank you much. STATED MEETING 92 6/23/2022
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Hi. Good morning to our esteemed Councilmembers and all of those who are listening in. My name is Kendra Jenkins and I'm a proud Philadelphian residing in the Wynnefield neighborhood of West Philly now, and I am calling in support of Bill No. 220285, and I want to show my immense excitement for what is happening, things that could be happening at the Cobbs Creek Golf Course and what that means for our community, my community in particular. This project is about three things. It's about restoration. It's about building a legacy for our students, our kids, and our residents. And it's STATED MEETING 93 6/23/2022 about making this long-neglected area much safer. And all of these goals are worthy of the investment by the City. For me, this is deeply personal. My grandmother purchased a home on Cobbs Creek Parkway many, many years ago. My father was raised in this neighborhood and committed his life to coaching students just like him in the district. My sister taught for 20 years at Anderson. And even my partner has committed his life as a coach to supporting and encouraging non-traditional sports in particular for our Black and Brown children in that area while supporting their emotional, physical, and social development. And for me personally as an employee of the School District of Philadelphia and working in SEL, it is imperative that our children, especially in the wake of the multiple pandemics that are occurring in our city, right, have an opportunity to feel this STATED MEETING 94 6/23/2022 investment, to feel you as our elected leaders that they care -- that you care about their overall development. So this cites new community education center will offer that athletic and academic opportunities for our local children who currently aren't able to access at this course. That would also be fulfilling a dream of my late father known as Coach Jenkins. So students would attend a state-of-the-art educational facility that promotes self-esteem and positive racial identity, while empowering our students with the social, emotional, and academic support they need, as well as the current residents, right, for providing economic prosperity. So I see this as an extension of the greatness that our wonderful city already has to offer. So I implore you to invest now for our children, for our neighborhood that has been overlooked, for our residents, for our economic STATED MEETING 95 6/23/2022 growth towards our prosperity of Philadelphians, because we deserve it. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed. (No response.)
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
Good morning. This is Carol Allen. I would like to say good STATED MEETING 96 6/23/2022 morning to everyone in the City Council. I'm speaking for Bill 220285. I lived in the Overbrook Park facing the golf course between the 10th and the 11th hole it used to be. I've been living here for 25 years. I'm very active in the community. I'm a retiree from Verizon. When I did that, I worked in the school system and taught from '02 to '14. Then I worked at the Please Touch Museum and taught the kids at Please Touch Museum until the pandemic. I support this very significant revitalization of Cobbs Creek Golf Course. It's very much needed. I've seen it go down, and I'm glad it's going to be brought back up. I really love the community center, because I'm all in it for the kids. I really appreciate you wanting to help the youth, because they need it more than ever. They need to feel responsible. They need self-esteem. They need everything that we could offer STATED MEETING 97 6/23/2022 them. And also I love the fact that you're going to bring a lot of jobs to here, and I would love to be one of them employees of part time to help, because I'm helping in every way I can. And most of all, I really like that you're restoring history. That is very important, and that's something also for our children to know. So I thank you very much. God bless you all, and keep up the good work.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. My name is Asmeret Easley. I'm a proud native of Philadelphia, which encouraged me to aim to be where I am today, one of the proud principals of Overbrook STATED MEETING 98 6/23/2022 Educational Center, also known as OEC here in the School District of Philadelphia in Overbrook. Shout-out to Curtis Jones. We are a K to 8 school who serves one-third of visually impaired students in our District. We can walk across the street and we're on the grounds of the Cobbs Creek Golf Course land. I thank you for that parking, members of City Council. I want to start off with a quote. Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind? From the late, great John Lewis. I think automatically of the history of that golf course. That was a part of a National Black Hall of Fame. Black players and winners were able to play in 1916. That's the history we teach our students. When we're talking STATED MEETING 99 6/23/2022 about equity and what's going on in the world today, this matters. So think about that legacy of inclusion, which we're big on here at OEC. Already Impact Center has already built relationships with our staff and students and families. They've been present and visible. They've expressed the goals of what they want to see in that golf course, along with what our students want to see. At the end of the year, I recall one of my third graders asking, in noticing contractors and backhoes on the land across the street, and he said to me, are we getting something new across the street, Mrs. Easley? I shared, that is our hope. He smiled and said, can we do it? It's important for children to see that investments in their neighborhood are important for them. It's (connection issues) perspective. My STATED MEETING 100 6/23/2022 students will vision their own eyes and if their community is worth investment, and then they feel worthy, and then they want to give back in the community, and then that leads to current employment, thinking about people in the community that can work in these environments on the golf course, new and modern technology that the current generation can help support and have somewhere to go, a safe haven. We can all sit and talk about the violence in Philadelphia. It's ongoing, and my students right now, I'm worried about them in the summer. They call. "I'm bored." So right now I'm in full support of that, and I know my time is running out. Please come visit us and please give us a place for our students to have as a safe haven.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it. STATED MEETING 101 6/23/2022
The next speaker is Bonita Cummings, commenting on 220286, 220110, and 220604.
Good day, Council President Clarke and Councilmembers. Can you hear me?
Okay. Resolution No. 220604, Habitat for Humanity is returning equity to the 32nd and 33rd and Oxford and 1500 block of 33rd Street in the area through affordable homeownership. Bill No. 220286, however, the programs, budgets, and projects of some of the presenters this year are not in step with the needs of your overall district and constituency. In the words of James A. Garfield, he who controls the money supply of the nation controls the nation or city, state, et cetera. STATED MEETING 102 6/23/2022 Many grassroots organizations have not learned how to bring their community budget needs to this body and, therefore, as demonstrated in this budget, the neighborhoods' money supply continues to be controlled by the same people. Therefore, nothing has changed, and we, the Black and Brown communities, will struggle another year until budget time comes again. The housing and demolition programs through the budget intended to benefit communities are removing the inheritance wealth from Black and Brown communities in such a rapid rate that they will never recover the poverty created for them and to many generations, not to mention unique church structures that are being torn down. Using eminent domain requires payment of inheritance tax, so if you received a few thousand dollar offer for your family property, after the inheritance tax process, you might have STATED MEETING 103 6/23/2022 another debt due to preparation of forms, hiring professionals to complete inheritance tax forms, et cetera. It is hard to have a conversation, and sound bytes in the Black and Brown communities do not access Councilmembers the same as others in some cases. So as you move forward with your budget, you consider to pause and reset as Project Home, Parks and Rec, Mural Arts, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, PHS, Rebuild, Discovery Center, DBHIDS, Zoning and Planning, Planning Commission, License and Inspection and more, who all testified during this budget season, are not servicing our communities with what we need now and going forward. In many cases, we are not on their real boards, are not in any community advisory capacities of these organizations, and only considered when we complain, as then they set up quick steering committees or send their bullies. There are many atrocities I can STATED MEETING 104 6/23/2022 state, like failure to have legal funds and RCOs having to drain our own resources representing in Black and Brown communities, and the demolition with overzealous conduct of the Department of Licenses and Inspections has increased debt of the Black and Brown communities with demolition liens on land and families that never recover from debt and promote violence and that we will continue to experience. We are willing to have the much-needed continued discussion, and hopefully you will follow up so we can get real accountability. So thank you for allowing me to have a voice today.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Mr. President, with your permission, one final time, we will return to Ari Merretazon, commenting on 220006. STATED MEETING 105 6/23/2022
Great. Thank you so much for the return call. I'm here in Washington, DC at the Black Veterans Empowerment Council national convening, and I had the opportunity to talk with Marty Walsh, Secretary, the United States Department of Labor, and I raised the question around the issue of the reduction of ten point preference to five point preference by giving it to vocational school students. Guess what he told me he'll do? He's going to give a call to Mayor Kenney on this question, because it's asinine. It's ridiculous. It's contrary to anything of democracy and so-called Americanism. How can the City Council under the leadership of -- oh, yeah. City Council can do this under the leadership of Darrell Clarke. Darrell Clarke must go. He's never been a friend for veterans. And how could he allow this real steal to go down under the disguise STATED MEETING 106 6/23/2022 of helping vocational students? Philadelphia, don't go for it. You don't have to be a veteran to understand this. The veterans preference is a federally mandated preference. It's a property right. The City Council of Philadelphia has no standing or power to take our rights from us or take our property from us. And I'm still representing Pointman Soldier Heart Ministries. City Council Darrell Clarke knows that I will be on this issue. I'm going to join shoulder to shoulder, boot to boot with City Councilman David Oh and others who support to get rid of this asinine bill that's being proposed to defile the status of veterans preference. It's ridiculous and, President Darrell Clarke, you should be ashamed of yourself. And all those of you who run your bills through Darrell Clarke and get approval or even submit bills for Darrell STATED MEETING 107 6/23/2022 Clarke, you need to stop it. You need to -- especially the ones who have a close bond with the City. You need to stop it right now. I'm in Washington, DC. I'm at the National Veterans Council and I'm talking to -- had just talked to Marty Walsh, Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, and he will be giving Mayor Kenney a call out of his own words, out of his own mouth. Thank you very much, as I go back to the conference and give them an idea of really what's happening in Philadelphia. Bye now.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning -- good afternoon. I'm sorry. Please proceed. STATED MEETING 108 6/23/2022
Good afternoon. My name is Stanley Shapiro and I'm testifying as Vice Chair of Philly Neighborhood Networks. In a city reeking of violence due to insufficient programs for youth and with so many other unfulfilled needs, it is appalling that Council, with just a few no votes, is choosing, as it has almost every year since 1996, to cut taxes for big business and the rich. As to the BIRT, the cuts will help some small businesses, but as we know, the first hundred thousand dollars of receipts is already exempted from taxation, and thousands of moms and pops will get little or no benefit. As to the wage tax cut, a family with the City's median income of $49,000 would get a weekly cut of $4.69, less than the cost of a gallon of gas. Meanwhile if you're a high roller with a salary of 100 times the median, you would get a windfall of almost $470 a week, STATED MEETING 109 6/23/2022 more than enough to top off a couple of Rolls-Royces. Of course, by definition, half the City would get less than 4.69 a week, and all too many who are out of the wage economy would get nothing at all. Equally disturbing is Council's failure to fund the Philadelphia Public Financing Authority, the precursor to a Philadelphia public bank. This Council passed Bill 210956-A authorizing the creation of the Authority by a 15 to 1 vote, and the Mayor allowed it to become law. Yet it has now become a wholly unfunded mandate. Why would you all vote to bring the Authority into existence and then leave it blowing in the wind? That is a mystery. As you know, the Authority and the bank to follow will create programs to lift the exact group of people who least benefit from the tax cuts you are slated to pass today, businesses owned by Black and Brown families throughout the City who cannot get the financing they STATED MEETING 110 6/23/2022 need to grow and prosper. It would also finance co-ops, businesses which by their nature cannot pack up and leave the City, desperately needed low-income housing ventures, and renewable energy infrastructure. It would be the people's authority, and I assume that's why you voted to bring it into existence. It is not too late to do the right thing and appropriate the $3 million that the Authority needs to start up. Council will be considering transfer bills soon after reconvening in September, and it should search every nook and cranny of this year's budget to find the money needed. Otherwise, the Council vote to create this game-changing institution will be revealed to be nothing more than an empty gesture. We sincerely hope and trust that won't be the case. Thank you very much.
STATED MEETING 111 6/23/2022 Thank you for your testimony.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed.
My name is Peter Winslow. I'm a Philadelphia resident. Thank you, President Clarke and members of City Council, for this opportunity to offer public comment concerning Ordinance No. 220286, adoption of the Fiscal Year 2023 city budget and related matters. We appreciate enactment of Bill No. 210956, effective March 17th, 2022, to establish the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority. We're particularly grateful to Councilmember Green for crafting and guiding this visionary legislation. To implement the legislation, four actions are required: Appoint a board of directors. Incorporate the Authority. Appropriate start-up funds. STATED MEETING 112 6/23/2022 Provide capitalization. Since enactment of Bill No. 210956, the seasons have progressed past the vernal equinox through the summer solstice. The Administration is now preparing to begin a new fiscal year. The Council is now preparing to recess. Yet the City has declined to take any of the actions needed to establish the Financial Authority. Delay is inauspicious. Skeptics doubt the City's good faith. Cynics suspect sabotage. On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting, die. The spirit of the Financial Authority will not die because of the City's hesitation. The people of Philadelphia will not rest at the dawn of victory. A movement is rising to democratize money. Philadelphia is in STATED MEETING 113 6/23/2022 the vanguard. Qualified board candidates have stepped forward. We, the people, are ready and waiting for our Financial Authority. The Financial Authority will be the best investment for the future of Philadelphia since William Penn invested his inheritance here in 1682. The City should expedite, not delay, the establishment of the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record and please proceed.
My name is Michael Hueghn and I am commenting on Bill 220414, Philly tree fund and landscaping update bill. STATED MEETING 114 6/23/2022 I've been a volunteer for seven years with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Tree Tender program. We plant street trees in Philadelphia neighborhoods every spring and fall. I commend City Council for addressing Philadelphia's declining tree canopy, but I object to this bill's carve-out for residential development with greater than 51 percent affordable housing. Philadelphia should not have to trade off tree canopy for affordable housing. Smart development can yield both. This bill cannot include counterproductive exceptions like this or we will continue to lose the tree canopy. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Casey Cooklick, commenting on 220414. STATED MEETING 115 6/23/2022
Hi, Council President and members of Council. My name is Casey Cooklick. I'm the Chief of Staff at Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. I'm calling today to offer our support for Bill No. 220414, which makes changes to the Zoning Code to better protect and grow a tree canopy in our city. This bill constitutes a first and very important step toward implementation of the upcoming Philly Tree Plan, which will restore the tree canopy across the City with a focus on achieving equity across neighborhoods. Further, as you all know, PHS believes strongly in the power of trees, gardens, and other green spaces to address some of our most pressing challenges around public safety and quality of life. We see these as basic necessities, not nice to have amenities in neighborhoods, and we advance them hand in hand with community members and STATED MEETING 116 6/23/2022 volunteers. More than putting trees in the ground, this bill and your continued support for community-based greening solutions is critical to realizing a healthier, more equitable, and more liveable city. So we thank you for supporting it. We thank you for your support of PHS, and thank you especially to Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for her leadership on these issues. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record. Please proceed. (No response.)
Linda Bell, commenting on 220417. (No response.) STATED MEETING 117 6/23/2022
Ms. Bell, are you connected? COUNCIL SUPPORT: Linda Bell is not connected, Council President.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed. (No response.)
Yes, we can. State your name for the record and please proceed.
My name is Madeline Shikomba. I'm President of STATED MEETING 118 6/23/2022 North of Washington Avenue Coalition. I'm here to speak to you on Bill 220523. I'm asking the City Council not to pass this bill. It will not save lives. It will result in higher deaths and accidents. I'm talking about the road diet proposed for Washington Avenue. This is an ill-conceived design that will replicate the failure of similar designs on 11th Street from Reed to (unintelligible) Street. (Unintelligible) drivers serving at the opposing traffic to avoid parked trucks. Even factories complaining about the blind spot as they attempt to turn from a road -- from behind a row of blocked cars. Washington Avenue is an arterial, a thoroughfare, and it's the only five-lane street in South Philadelphia. It connects residents, businesses, and emergency responders to two major things. On numerous occasions, STATED MEETING 119 6/23/2022 Washington Avenue has been the only means of escape for thousands of residents that live in and around the PES refinery, which is now shut down and rebranded as the Delaware District located on a floodplain. This floodplain will have a tendency to flood with just change in -in climate change. We are asking that you not jeopardize the lives of the people living in South and Southwest Philadelphia for this road diet, which will reduce the traffic and not allow people to evacuate. This is an evacuation road, an emergency road, and people have to be getting out of danger quick, fast, and in a hurry when things happen. We feel that this is being done because -- as we are concerned, this is environmental racism. These people live around a floodplain and also a refinery. We need to have -- the refinery has toxic waste and needs to be remediated. We ask you not to do this. STATED MEETING 120 6/23/2022 Do not jeopardize these people's lives for OTIS to have a redesign for a few people, the Bicycle Coalition and the rest of them, and the gentrification of our area. Please do not allow this to happen. We need Washington Avenue to remain an effective evacuation route, and at no time should it be destroyed just to please a few people and developers who are trying to make more money off of Washington Avenue.
So please do not pass Bill No. 220523. You're causing people to lose their lives. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is the Honorable Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. STATED MEETING 121 6/23/2022
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
W. Wilson Goode, Sr. I'm here in support of Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School. Just a brief story. I moved to Philadelphia in 1954 in Southwest Philadelphia, went to John Bartram High School, and was told that I should be placed in the industrial arts course, not the academic course. I fought hard, got out of the industrial art course and got into the academic course. When I graduated, my high school counselor again told me not to think about college, that I should go find myself a job in a factory. I listened to her for a short time and went to work in the American (unintelligible) Company Factory, and after that experience and then my church sent me off to Morgan State University. STATED MEETING 122 6/23/2022 I just want to say that I made a pledge at that time, my wife and I, to always fight for quality education. So in 2006, I had the opportunity to have found a charter school called the Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School to try and build leaders in Southwest Philadelphia. That school has evolved over the past 16 years into a school that provides quality education with an outstanding Board of Directors. And I can say I've served on more than a hundred board of directors in my lifetime and I don't know a more devoted group of people than that Board. The purpose of my advocating is that tonight the School District may very well revoke the charter of that school, which I think would be a huge mistake for three reasons. Number one, I believe that the charter school is the best educational opportunity for elementary students in Southwest Philadelphia. STATED MEETING 123 6/23/2022 And, number two, it is definitely an educational opportunity for African immigrants. More than 80 percent of the students in the school actually come from Southwest. Eighty percent of the students in Southwest come -- are children of African immigrant. I'll get it right in a minute. I just wanted to say that -I'm trying to get within my two minutes. I just want to say that I believe that a review of the achievements of the school, the achievement of the students from that school will demonstrate to anyone who want to review it that Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School has been a blessing to the students in Southwest Philadelphia, and every single year there's always a long waiting list, more students on the waiting list than we can take into the school. Thank you so much for this time. I appreciate it. And I'm still STATED MEETING 124 6/23/2022 fighting for students in Southwest Philadelphia, who gave me a chance. And I want to just close by saying that the interesting thing, I went to work in that (unintelligible) factory, and in 1983, I was elected Mayor a half block away from where that factory stood, and I had a chance while I lived out there to look at that factory and thought about what I could have been had it not been for someone intervening in my life, and I'm so glad I have an opportunity to intervene in the lives of all those young people, especially those who have African roots, to be a part of the Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. STATED MEETING 125 6/23/2022
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Hi. My name is Linda Bell. I'm a member of the Citywide RCO Coalition, and I am voting in favor of Bill No. 220417. It is a long time since -- and I want to appreciate -- I appreciate the City Council people who are supporting us in the RCO coalitions all over the City, because we fight hard representing our neighbors and this is a bill that will support us and make it an equitable representation in the ZBA hearings and appeals, because as you have seen with the density movement, it has targeted predominantly oppressed and underserved neighborhoods, and they don't have the finances to fight this unjust density that is being inflicted on our community. STATED MEETING 126 6/23/2022 So I'm just supporting that bill. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Leigh Purnell, commenting on 220544 and 220545.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good afternoon. My name is Leigh Purnell. I'm the Chief Academic Officer and Principal of Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School, which is located in the Paschalville neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia. I would like to thank you, President Clarke, and the members of Council for the opportunity to testify regarding today's nominations to the School Board. It is essential that we STATED MEETING 127 6/23/2022 consider the needs of all of the school students in the City of Philadelphia when making decisions about School Board nominees. The School Board in Philadelphia has an extraordinary amount of control over the outcomes and future of all of our students. This responsibility requires a board with idealogical balance. Southwest Leadership Academy is a public charter school. We serve over 700 students, 79 percent of whom live in the 19142, 19143, and 19153 zip codes. In the '21-'22 school year, 79 percent of our students qualified for free and reduced lunch. Eighty-five percent of our students are first- or second-generation African and Caribbean immigrants, and 18 languages are spoken in the homes of our students. We are working to build a school community that is physically, intellectually, and emotionally safe, trauma informed and culturally competent STATED MEETING 128 6/23/2022 in order to meet the needs of every child that walks through our doors. This afternoon we will be before the School Board for consideration of renewal of our charter so that we can continue the work that we have done with and for the children and families of Southwest Philadelphia since 2006. Southwest Leadership was recently recognized as a "Beating the Odds" school in a longitudinal study authorized by Elevate 215, formerly known as Philadelphia School Partnership. Despite the weighting given to our school by the Charter Schools Office, the longitudinal study found that our students learn 20.4 percent more in each grade than comparable students using a nationwide dataset. At Southwest Leadership, we take a strength-based approach when working with our students and providing support for families. We ask that the Board of Education would do the same in STATED MEETING 129 6/23/2022 evaluating all schools, including charter schools. I thank you for your time.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Mr. Brigham is not connected, Mr. President.
The next speaker is Corrine O'Connell, commenting on 220604.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record.
Good afternoon, Council President and Council. My name STATED MEETING 130 6/23/2022 is Corrine O'Connell. I'm the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, and I am offering testimony this afternoon with regard to our next development at 33rd and Oxford. So Habitat Philadelphia, we will develop 21 units at Coaching Commons, which has been aptly named by the residents there in Strawberry Mansion. These units will be owner-occupied, and it is a pathway to build generational wealth for 21 local families. The plan calls for a mix of single, duplex, and triplex units so that we can accommodate more family types, and it's important for Council to understand that we are the only local developer that builds ownership units for families below 80 percent of AMI. The majority of Habitat's homeowners are Black and Brown families, and these families shoulder the brunt of the effects of redlining and structural STATED MEETING 131 6/23/2022 racism. So working alongside these families has a direct impact in building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap. In addition, we've worked alongside and continue to commit to working alongside the Strawberry Mansion community. We understand that there will be an impact in these homes and with these residents joining this established community. With that in mind, we have worked very, very intentionally alongside members so that the design of these new homes matches, as best we possibly can, the fabric of Strawberry Mansion. The design meets all of the historic overlay that is there in Strawberry Mansion and, again, where feasible, we've worked alongside resident groups to incorporate colors and ornamentation and materials to match the character of the existing fabric in Strawberry Mansion. It is important to Habitat that STATED MEETING 132 6/23/2022 all families in these units have access to their own outside space, so we've been deliberate in creating balconies and space that there is outside fresh air space for families. In closing, as I have mentioned, the project has been named Coaching Commons and honors the historic legacy and was voted and approved on by neighbors. Habitat is ready to build these 21 units. So with today's second public reading, we're excited, we're ready to close with the PRA and to get building at Coaching Commons. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please proceed with your testimony. (No response.) STATED MEETING 133 6/23/2022
Yes. Just state your name for the record and proceed.
Hi. My name is Marcia Reese. I am a future Habitat owner for Habitat for Humanity. I first heard about Habitat a couple years ago, but I could never -- I always had to close (unintelligible). I find out in a while and then having so much what Habitat does for the community, along with the restore. This Habitat home for me will mean that I will not have to -- I could be able to actually work and be able to afford my home and for my child, and where I move my (unintelligible) -- she wants to design her room, and where we live, in income-based house where we rent, we cannot do anything with the property. We can't draw. You can't do STATED MEETING 134 6/23/2022 anything. And it's income-based. So if I can get into the Habitat home, I can make money and provide for my family. That's it. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
Thank you, President Clarke. I'm here to testify in support of Bill No. 220611. My name is Ken Penn. I'm the President of Benchmark Real Estate Partners. I'm on the phone along with Mr. Al Hicks, President of the Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition, the community RCO. As developer, along with the Hawthorne community, we are excited to provide new market-rate housing integrated with 30 percent of affordable STATED MEETING 135 6/23/2022 housing all located on site. This development named The Parker after the late KeVen Parker of Ms. Tootsie's Restaurant is named after an African American entrepreneur that has contributed much to the Hawthorne community and its residents. The naming of this development is one of many ways to remember and continue KeVen Parker's legacy for our youth. We are excited to build, with the support of the community and the RCO, to provide housing and necessary affordable housing at 60 percent AMI in one of the most desirable and amenity-rich communities in Philadelphia. We thank the Hawthorne community, Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson in support of this project. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. The next speaker is Ahsrey Var, commenting on 210284 and 220410. STATED MEETING 136 6/23/2022 (No response.)
Ahsrey Var, please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Yes. Hi. Thank you. My name is Ahsrey Var and I am a business owner in Philadelphia, and I'm commenting on Bill No. 220410 and 210284. First of all, I would just like to say thank you to the City Council members who voted to move forward on this bill, and I would like to urge you to please vote yes to the wage and BIRT tax reductions today. As a business owner, I work really hard, with the goal of growing my business, and then when the business grows, you know, we're able to hire and create income for others. No one hires just to hire. We hire because we need help. So the more that we grow, the more help we're going to need and then the more income we're going to create for others. So it just STATED MEETING 137 6/23/2022 makes a lot of sense for us to invest in this kind of growth. These taxes have been the greatest barrier for my business to grow in the City, so reducing the taxes on businesses is a primary action the City could enact to help us grow and hire. We really appreciate all your support for us and our workers and our families. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Khine Zaw, commenting on 210284 and 220410.
Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and honorable members of the City Council. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide STATED MEETING 138 6/23/2022 this testimony today. My name is Khine Zaw. I am President and CEO of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. We represent more than 13,000 AAPI-owned businesses here in Philadelphia. Our chamber is also a partner of Diverse Chambers Coalition of Greater Philadelphia that consists of Hispanic Chamber, African American Chamber, and Independence Business Alliance, also known as the LGBTQ+ Chamber. We joined the Inclusive Growth Coalition with the main preface of elevating the reduction of business income tax and business receipts tax known as the BIRT tax in this ongoing budget conversation, because for the small Black, Brown, Asian, and diverse businesses we represent, BIRT tax is a major burden. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents in our recent survey indicated that reducing it would have STATED MEETING 139 6/23/2022 highly positive impacts on their businesses. In 2019 alone, Asian American households paid more than $167.9 billion in federal income taxes and almost $72.5 billion in state and local taxes. That being said, the pandemic and surging inflation and violence has posed so many challenges for our businesses. The revenue in Philadelphia's Chinatown fell 40 percent the year after pandemic lockdowns and COVID regulations took place, leaving businesses with limited English ability struggling. I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to invest in our businesses for our city at this very moment. Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate because we have the slowest job growth, the lowest density of businesses, and the least opportunity compared to our peer cities and our suburbs. And yet we love the City, and that's why you keep seeing STATED MEETING 140 6/23/2022 hard-working, multilingual, immigrant families establishing residence and bringing their talents here. Councilmembers, our community members believe that being a part of the workforce and entrepreneurship is rewarding. It creates stability and opportunities that empower our future generations. When people have jobs that they love, they have higher degree of integrity that lead to keeping their neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more prosperous. As the diverse chambers of commerce, we are pleased to see that Philadelphia City Council voted to move forward with tax relief of Philadelphia businesses as part of the coming year's fiscal budget. Our diverse community offers an incredibly dynamic workforce and multicultural challenge that are integral to the City's social economic development. Helping these businesses STATED MEETING 141 6/23/2022 and families thrive together will not only incentivize them to stay and grow in the City but also attract other businesses to come invest in Philadelphia, especially now as we prepare to host FIFA World Cup in 2026. Thanking you in advance to all the Councilmembers who are voting yes to the amended Bill 220410 and Bill 210284, the wage and BIRT tax reform bills. We truly appreciate your leadership and support and hope you all stay safe and have a wonderful day.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Theresa Lundy, commenting on 210284 and 220410.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed. (No response.)
Theresa Lundy, STATED MEETING 142 6/23/2022 commenting on 210284.
All right. Just state your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning, members of City Council, residents of the City of Philadelphia, and the small business community. My name is Theresa Lundy, Principal and Founder of PML Communications, an award-winning public relations firm based in Philadelphia. I'm a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the African American Chamber to Commerce. In addition, I am a business columnist for Metro Philadelphia. As a leader in the business community for the past seven years, I am in support of Bill No. 220410, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," that will lower business and wage taxes. Members STATED MEETING 143 6/23/2022 of City Council, moving this bill forward allows small businesses to make their mark on the City of Philadelphia and across the region with additional resources to hire, retain, and train employees. Job creation is one of the key backbones of the region's economy. Small businesses have the desire to grow and the willingness to make additional investments in talent and company infrastructure. A vote for Bill No. 220410 is a vote for small businesses and every Philadelphian who will receive the benefit of the wage and business tax reduction. This is only the first step. Lastly, I would like to thank Councilman Isaiah Thomas, Councilman Allan Domb, and Councilman Derek Green for standing with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Inclusive Growth Coalition at the Give Philly A Raise Rally on June 1st, and I'd also like to thank the rest of the STATED MEETING 144 6/23/2022 Councilmembers who will be voting yes to move this bill forward. Thank you for your consideration. I yield the floor.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and members of the Philadelphia City Council. My name is Regina A. Hairston, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, where we have championed Black business ownership and represented the voice of business owners for 30 years. I am here to provide comment and support of STATED MEETING 145 6/23/2022 Bills 210284 and 220410, wage and BIRT revisions. The AACC, in collaboration with the Diverse Chambers Coalition Philadelphia and the Inclusive Growth Coalition, for months have advocated for relief measures to preserve small businesses and jobs here in the City of Philadelphia. These bills are a significant step in the right direction of answering those calls, and I thank City Councilmembers who support these equitable recovery and growth measures. I thank you for your leadership and commitment to ensuring that businesses of all sizes and in all neighborhoods have the ability to stay open, grow, and hire. As we know, Black and Brown-owned businesses in particular were devastated by the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an attrition rate of 44 percent. We also know that Black business ownership lags STATED MEETING 146 6/23/2022 that of other major cities prior to the pandemic. As the second largest city for majority diverse population, including 42.2 percent African American, we should be leading the nation in Black business ownership. Yet we have the lowest Black-owned business per capita rate of any major U.S. city at 1.8 Black-owned business per every 1,000 Black residents. Small businesses provide 30 percent of the jobs in Philadelphia. Small business owners invest in the communities in which they are in. Small business owners are our neighbors. Many are civic leaders and mentors. And with the BIRT and wage tax reduction, as the collective members of the diverse chamber stated through a survey issued that their biggest barrier to doing business in Philadelphia was the BIRT, you, City Council, will signal that Philadelphia values their contribution to the economy and fabric of Philadelphia and will allow STATED MEETING 147 6/23/2022 businesses to reinvest their savings in their businesses. Then as a city, we can invest in small businesses and job growth and support all the significant needs of this world-class city. Today I am proud to say I look forward to continuing to work with this body and Administration on advancing strategic investments to support the growth of our economy and the ability for our diverse businesses to grow and thrive. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please proceed. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Susan Jacobson is not connected, Council President. STATED MEETING 148 6/23/2022
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our public comment session. We will now consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I will ask Mr. Decker please read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda, and after each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the resolution will be immediately removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the titles of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. STATED MEETING 149 6/23/2022 220603, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220604, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 1535, 1601, 1603, 1605, and 1607 North Thirty-Third Street, 3201 through 3207, 3216 and 3225 through 3231 West Oxford Street"; and Resolution No. 220605, entitled a "Resolution adding the Honorable Congressman Dwight Evans to the street signs on 7100 Ogontz Avenue in honor of STATED MEETING 150 6/23/2022 of service to the people of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220606, entitled a "Resolution calling on the City of Philadelphia to establish a committee to plan and host athletic events for Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Philadelphia, with the goal of establishing an annual, Philadelphia-based HBCU Classic"; and Resolution No. 220607, entitled a "Resolution adding Thurgood M. Matthews, Esquire to the street signs on the 1000 block of Chelten Avenue in honor of his fierce advocacy on behalf of his clients, leadership in the courtroom, investment in his local community, and service to the people of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220608, entitled a "Resolution honoring Philadelphia playwright, actor, director, and educator James Ijames, whose play 'Fat Ham' was named the 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner for STATED MEETING 151 6/23/2022 drama, and whose work has brought a brilliant, joyful, and poignant voice for Black and queer America to the stage"; and Resolution No. 220609, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, 9-year-old kidpreneur Asil Greer, on being the youngest author in the City of Philadelphia while promoting literacy in underserved Philadelphia communities"; and Resolution No. 220610, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 3900 Block of Ford Road as 'Herb Douglas Way,' in honor of Herb Douglas, the oldest living American Olympic medalist, for his many life achievements, on and off the track"; and Resolution No. 220611, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract and the ground lease agreement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban STATED MEETING 152 6/23/2022 a portion of the South Central Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 614 through 626 South Thirteenth Street (including 1306 through 1310 Kater Street and 1309 through 1313 Bainbridge Street)"; and Resolution No. 220612, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 2603 Wilder Street"; and Resolution No. 220613, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Eastwick Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2604 Island Avenue"; and Resolution No. 220614, entitled a "Resolution urging the Board of STATED MEETING 153 6/23/2022 Taxes to adopt a policy of accepting all nunc pro tunc property assessment appeals filed for Tax Year 2023 by January 2, 2023, due to the ongoing delay in mailing property reassessment notices"; and Resolution No.
220615, entitled a "Resolution urging the United States Congress to pass legislation to effectuate the bipartisan agreement on gun violence prevention recently negotiated in the United States Senate"; and Resolution No. 220617, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 2900 block of South Sydenham Street 'Theodore Scairato Sr Way' to honor the life and legacy of Theodore Scairato, Sr. for serving the South Philadelphia Community for over 70 years"; and Resolution No. 220618, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 2100 block of South Earp Street 'Frank 'Tick' Coleman Way' to honor the life and legacy STATED MEETING 154 6/23/2022 Frank 'Tick' Coleman for his contributions to South Philadelphia as an educator, athlete, community volunteer, and mentor to many youths in the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220619, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the Third Councilmanic District, including on the following streets: Brandywine Street, Olive Street, Melon Street, North Shedwick Street, Wallace Street, North 33rd Street, and North 35th Street"; and Resolution No. 220620, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Mantua Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 3618 Wallace Street"; and STATED MEETING 155 6/23/2022 220621, entitled a "Resolution approving the Fourteenth Amendment to the Redevelopment Agreement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the University City Unit No. 3 Urban Renewal Area, identified as Parcel No. 13A and Parcel No. "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank STATED MEETING 156 6/23/2022 you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda has been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I will ask Mr. Decker to please read the titles of all of the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill on STATED MEETING 157 6/23/2022 Agenda. Upon such an objection, without debate, this bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 210740-A, entitled, "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Trades,' and Chapter 9-3000, entitled 'Sheet Metal Technician', to create a license requirement for Mechanical System Contractors and to modify licensing requirements applicable to Sheet Metal Systems Technicians"; and Bill No. 220504-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Permit Parking Districts,' by amending the boundaries for certain permit parking districts"; and STATED MEETING 158 6/23/2022 220517-A, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the installation, ownership, and maintenance of various encroachments in the vicinity of 1 Convention Avenue"; and Bill No. 210478, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation in the vicinity of: Frazier Street and Spruce Street; Ludlow Street and South 58th Street; Yewdall Street and Larchwood Avenue; Reinhard Street and South 47th Street; South 48th Street and Reinhard Street; Baring Street and North 32nd Street; Brandywine Street and North 34th Street; Hamilton Street and North 35th Street; Haverford Avenue and North 32nd Street; Haverford Avenue and North 40th Street; Wallace Street and North 33rd Street; Mandela Way and North 46th Street; Mount Vernon Street and North 33rd Street; Preston Street and Baring Street; St. Malachys Way and North 46th Street; Spring Garden Street and North 40th Street; North 31st Street and STATED MEETING 159 6/23/2022 Street; Samson Street and South 49th Street; South 61st Street and Walnut Street; Irving Street and South 51st Street; Ruby Street and Market Street; Pine Street and South 46th Street; Mount Vernon Street and North 32nd Street; North 42nd Street and Baring Street; and State Street and Powelton Avenue"; and Bill No. 220110, entitled "An ordinance amending Section A-303 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Demolition and Relocation of Structures,' to add additional requirements for the issuance of demolition permits for structures currently or previously used as religious facilities"; and Bill No. 220490, entitled "An ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a pedestrian underpass in the vicinity of 5700 through 30 City Avenue"; and Bill No. 220527, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-212 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Newsstands,' STATED MEETING 160 6/23/2022 provisions related to removal and relocation"; and Bill No. 220287, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 10-1001 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fees of Commissioner of Records,' to increase certain fees for the recording of deeds and mortgages and related documents"; and Bill No. 220288, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 19-1403 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Imposition of Tax,' by creating a Philadelphia County Demolition Fund to increase and encourage economic development by demolishing blighted properties within the City, imposing a related fee for recorded documents and related items"; and Bill No. 220413, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 19-1303 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Discounts and Additions to Tax,' by tolling additions, interest and penalties on real estate tax when the assessed value of STATED MEETING 161 6/23/2022 under appeal and limiting tax payments due based on certain assessments under appeal"; and Bill No. 200118, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-700, entitled 'Development Standards,' by revising bulk and massing controls within CMX-4 and CMX-5 zoning districts"; and Bill No.
220323, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 14-513 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled '/TOD, Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District,' to designate additional Transit-Oriented Development Transit Stations"; and Bill No. 220357, entitled "An ordinance to approve amendments to the Temple University Master Plan in the area bounded by Montgomery Avenue, 13th Street, Polett Walk and 12th Street, related to the new College of Health STATED MEETING 162 6/23/2022 1801 through 59 North 13th Street"; and Bill No. 220358, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by amending certain provisions of Section 14-503, '/NCA, Neighborhood Commercial Area Overlay District,' related to the Ridge Avenue /NCA district"; and Bill No. 220363, entitled "An ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by South Street, the Schuylkill River, 34th Street, University Avenue, Civic Center Boulevard, and Health Sciences Drive; and to approve amendments to the University of Pennsylvania Master Plan in the area bounded by South Street, the Schuylkill River, 34th Street, University Avenue, Civic Center Boulevard, and Health Sciences Drive, related to the proposed STATED MEETING 163 6/23/2022 building at 2910 South Street"; and Bill No. 220417, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising Section 14-303 Subparagraph 11A, entitled 'Registered Community Organizations,' by establishing a fund to be used by Registered Community Organizations to obtain legal representation for hearings and appeals before the Zoning Board of Adjustments"; and Bill No. 220445, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Cottman Avenue, Oxford Avenue, Tyson Avenue, Rising Sun Avenue, Glenview Street, Bingham Street, Kerper Street, Rising Sun Avenue, Unruh Avenue, Martins Mill Road, City Boundary, and Hasbrook Avenue"; and Bill No. 220446, entitled "An STATED MEETING 164 6/23/2022 Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising certain provisions of Section 14-520, entitled '/NDO, Ninth District Overlay District'"; and Bill No. 220450, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Woodland Avenue, 49th Street, Grays Avenue, and 54th Street"; and Bill No. 220451, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Arch Street, 50th Street, Pine Street, and 54th Street"; and Bill No. 220452, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 14-513 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled '/TOD, Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District,' to designate additional STATED MEETING 165 6/23/2022 Transit Stations"; and Bill No. 220456, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Market Street (Extended), the Delaware River, Dock Street (Extended), and 2nd Street, in order to facilitate development of public open space extending above Christopher Columbus Boulevard and the Delaware Expressway"; and Bill No.
220457, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Public Property Commissioner to execute all documents necessary and appropriate, including conveyances of easements, title, and other interests in City-owned real estate, new leases and amendments to existing leases, to facilitate and support the coordinated and comprehensive development of the Delaware River waterfront, Interstate 95, and STATED MEETING 166 6/23/2022 Boulevard (formerly a portion of Delaware Avenue), in the area bounded by Market Street, Pemberton Street, Front Street, and the Delaware River bulkhead line"; and Bill No. 220458, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to amend certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled 'Overlay Zoning Districts,' by amending the provisions of Section 14-527, entitled '/SMH, South Philadelphia Municipal Hub Overlay District'"; and Bill No. 220293, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 190412, entitled 'An ordinance approving City participation in the Commonwealth's Property Assessed Clean Energy Program,' to modify the C-PACE program in conformity with Commonwealth legislation and to make other conforming changes"; and Bill No. 220506, entitled "An STATED MEETING 167 6/23/2022 and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between The City of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Energy Authority relating to the financing of the construction, equipping and installation of an energy efficient City street lighting system and related improvements; approving the issuance by such Authority of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness in one or more series to finance or refinance such project and authorizing and approving the obligation of the City to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement"; and Bill No. 220508, entitled "An ordinance approving a Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan 2021 through 2022 to add $42,007,561 in HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding"; and Bill No. 220509, entitled "An STATED MEETING 168 6/23/2022 the Director of Planning and Development, on behalf of the City, to file applications with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Community Development Block Grant; to file applications to participate in the HOME Investment Partnership program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program; and to apply for a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant"; and Bill No. 220510, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into an amendment agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania for provision of payroll banking services to the City"; and Bill No. 220511, entitled "An ordinance approving the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints STATED MEETING 169 6/23/2022 conditions"; and Bill No. 220529, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Fire Commissioner and the Revenue Commissioner, on behalf of the City, to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services to enable the City to maintain and provide access to emergency medical services"; and Bill No. 220496, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to grant PECO Energy Company an easement for the purpose of installing transmission lines across a portion of the parcel or parcels of land in the area bounded by 34th Street, Grays Ferry Avenue and the Schuylkill River Pierhead Line"; and Bill No.
220521, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia to enter into a professional services agreement for up to sixty months STATED MEETING 170 6/23/2022 to obtain hosting and managed services for the OnePhilly HR, Benefits, Payroll, Time and Attendance system"; and Bill No. 220522, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City, to convey to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, all or a portion of certain parcels of land in and about the area bounded by Wharton, 12th, Reed, and 11th Streets for further conveyance; to enter into a sublease agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for use by the City of Philadelphia of a premises located at 1357 South 12th Street"; and Bill No. 220524, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property and the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to enter into a lease agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for property within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Interstate 95 right-of-way between Spring STATED MEETING 171 6/23/2022 and Allegheny Avenue, as well as certain portions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's North Delaware Avenue right-of-way between Spring Garden Street and Allegheny Avenue and certain portions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Richmond Street right-of-way between Spring Garden and Allegheny Avenue, to be further subleased by the City to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation"; and Bill No. 220525, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City, to convey to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all or a portion of a parcel or parcels of land in and about the area bounded by Front Street, East Allen Street, Canal Street and Laurel Street"; and Bill No. 210870, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-400 of The Philadelphia Code ('Noise and Excessive Vibration') to establish a prohibition on STATED MEETING 172 6/23/2022 emanating from a motor vehicle and to add a section authorizing use of an automated system for determining violations of that prohibition"; and Bill No. 220321, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Designation of Bicycle Lanes,' to authorize a bicycle lane on Woodland Avenue from The Woodlands driveway to the VA Medical Center Driveway"; and Bill No. 220459, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 284 by relocating the northwesterly houseline and the curblines of Hillcrest Avenue from its current intersection with Germantown Avenue to a point northeastwardly therefrom, thereby widening the said portion of Hillcrest Avenue and modifying its intersection with said Germantown Avenue"; and Bill No. 220493, entitled "An ordinance amending Subsection (11) STATED MEETING 173 6/23/2022 ('Leases and Subleases') of Section 17-107 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Contractors: Labor Management Relationships' to provide that any City airport operating agreement or regulations of the City concerning rates and charges for the use of Airport gates and other facilities shall be deemed to incorporate the prevailing wage requirements applicable to City leases, Covered Airport Service Contracts and Covered Airport Service Employees"; and Bill No. 220526, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-2300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Protection of Displaced Contract Workers' to extend protections for displaced contract workers to airport service employees and parking workers employed through service contracts or subcontracts to perform work within the City of Philadelphia"; and Bill No.
220366, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, STATED MEETING 174 6/23/2022 of the City, to execute a lease with CP 2023, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, under which CP 2023 would design, construct, operate, maintain, and repair a museum building on the southerly side of Benjamin Franklin Parkway between the Vine Street Expressway, 21st Street, and 22nd Street, to display works of art by Alexander Calder and the Calder family of artists, all at no cost or expense to the City; and exempting the lease from the requirements of Philadelphia Code Chapter 15-100 regarding parks and outdoor spaces"; and Bill No. 220294, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 100163-AA, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the City of Philadelphia to organize an authority to be known as The Philadelphia energy Authority, pursuant to the terms of the 'Municipality Authorities Act,' of 2001, as amended,' to reaffirm the responsibilities and powers of the Authority"; and STATED MEETING 175 6/23/2022 220573, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Procurement Commissioner, on behalf of the City, to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Energy Authority to purchase electricity and certain attributes and benefits related to the generation of such electricity from a solar energy facility to be built and owned by, Solaer USA PNE, located at Northeast Philadelphia Airport for use at and in connection with City facilities"; and Bill No. 220574, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-3000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Use Of An Automated Red Light Enforcement System To Prevent Red Light Violations,' by authorizing the installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of 20th and John F. Kennedy Boulevard"; and Bill No. 220575, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-3000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Use Of An STATED MEETING 176 6/23/2022 Light Enforcement System To Prevent Red Light Violations,' by authorizing the installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Eakins Oval"; and Bill No. "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Impressive. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, can you please call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills, or indicate which of those bills that the member is voting aye and those bills for which the member is voting nay. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. STATED MEETING 179 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye on all bills. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220197-A.
A resolution STATED MEETING 180 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Department of Aviation, to transfer the functions of certain City agencies with respect to the operations of the City's Airports to the newly-created Department and to provide for additional duties of the Department.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson for a motion.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Because Resolution No. 220197-A is an amendment to Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the question is shall this resolution be adopted. Mr. Decker, please call the roll. STATED MEETING 181 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 182 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. Two-thirds of all members of Council having voted in the affirmative, STATED MEETING 183 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Resolution No. 220197-A has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220544.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Sarah-Ashley Andrews to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President. On your behalf, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) STATED MEETING 184 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220545.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Chau Wing Lam to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez for a motion.
Thank you, Council President. Again, on your behalf, I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
STATED MEETING 185 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200040-A and -go ahead, Mr. Decker. I'm sorry.
A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for a preference in civil service examinations for any qualified graduate of a Career Technical Education program in the School District of Philadelphia.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. President. I just wanted to -- somebody needs to go on mute.
Technology professionals, can we STATED MEETING 186 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING please -
Can everyone please put your cameras on mute, please.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to be clear for the record that I thank all veterans for their service to our great country, including my late father, James William Gilmore. I also want to be clear that I respect veterans, and I have tried to work with the veterans on this issue. I really greatly regret that this misinformation campaign got out of hand in this way. I have tried for two years, two years, going through 900 positions, countless meetings, to try to make this better. And I want to be clear, the veterans asked me to amend this bill to ensure that if a veteran and a CTE student are up for the same job, that the CTE student cannot use the point STATED MEETING 187 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING preference. Those were the amendments that were introduced and approved last week. I will repeat. The veterans that we met with asked me to amend the bill to ensure if a veteran and a CTE student are up for the same job, that the CTE student cannot use the point preference, and that amendment was approved last week. Also, veterans will still have their ten point preference always. We would never take that away from veterans. Veterans would still have their ten point preference. In fact, 133 veterans have used this preference to gain City employment in the last five years. Lastly, this would be a Charter change and need to go before the voters for approval, meaning a yes vote is just to get this question before the voters to approve or disapprove. And you do that so that no matter what administration is in office, we ensure that the CTE STATED MEETING 188 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING students will always receive the point preference. It's only five points. There are eight other preferences in the City that's currently being used, and they are not ten points and this would not be ten points. And I would never take anything away from veterans ever. I would never do that. And we cannot do that, because the ten points are awarded by state law. So I just wanted to say that for the record, Council President, prior to calling this bill up for a vote. I have done everything that you can do. I have had every meeting one could have. I have tried to reach out to every group that has contacted us. I have -- there's no more than you can do when philosophically someone is against an issue. And, you know, everyone talks about providing opportunity for young people and wanting to give our young people in the City a chance, and this is STATED MEETING 189 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING our opportunity to do that when we are facing a retirement crisis and have a lot of vacancies. And, again, I have tried everything I can do to ensure that correct information has gotten out to our veterans community. And as I stated last week, I do disavow how this process has evolved, because I have not heard back from some folks that I've reached out to trying to help them ascertain clarity around this bill and around this issue. We have taken a lot of hard votes in this body, and I have been here in and around this body for a long time and have seen that, but I've done all that I can do on this issue. And I also see that Councilmember Oh would like to make a comment, but, Councilmember Oh, you can also return my phone call. You can also reply back to the e-mail, which you have not done. And I apologize, Council STATED MEETING 190 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING President, because I know that you don't like this in the public, and I apologize, but Councilmember Oh has never returned my phone call, but he has shared the e-mails with the veterans community where he goes into a diatribe that is not true and related to this bill and does not respond back to me. And that is not behavior that should be allowed in this body, because I'm not the first colleague he's done this to, and if we continue to allow this, I won't be the last. So I ask for your support of this resolution today and of these bills.
I'd like to be heard on that before we take a vote, Council President.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh. STATED MEETING 191 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Okay. Thank you very much. There is misinformation. That happens a lot. It happens on social media. It happens in the -
Point of information, Council President. And, Councilmember Oh, you started it. You started the misinformation.
-- number one. That's not true. What happens is, you came up -
Time out. We're not going to get into this in public. Councilman Oh is recognized. Say what you have to say, Councilman.
What I'm saying is, I've been accused of starting a STATED MEETING 192 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING misinformation campaign two years ago and again today. There's no misinformation campaign. There is information. It is misunderstood. I have been very clear. Two years ago there was an effort to do a ten point preference. It was amended to five point, and then recently the five point was amended so that it would not compete with veterans. I've been very clear about that. What is not understood, despite how many times it's been said to the Councilmember, is it is not okay with veterans, and I'm going to explain why, because it is something that just cannot be conveyed not only to the sponsor of the bill, the author of the bill, but to some other members of this body, and I'm going to try to explain it. I just -
Point of information, Council President. Point of information. Point of information.
STATED MEETING 193 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Councilmember Oh, can you please publicly state to this body how you came to my office and asked me not to introduce this bill and basically you would sick the veterans on me if I did so? Please advise.
I cannot sick anybody on anyone. I am not the puppet master. I'm not the head of anything. Like you, I'm an elected official and certain constituents I know closely, like you. I do not go to certain constituents because I'm not invited, but you are. In my case, I am in constant contact with veterans, so they naturally talk to me. They feel they are the victim of a harsh government. They feel frustrated. They feel a loss of power. STATED MEETING 194 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING They are threatened by what you are doing. You are not the victim here. They are conveying to me their frustration and fear and anger, and I simply convey that. I do disagree with your bill, and I have tried to say that in the most polite way I can. I'm now making a public comment to try to explain to our colleagues the reason why they are opposed to your bill. I understand you have good intentions. I respect you. I respect the work you do. We're just going to have to agree to disagree. But (connection issues) stated ever what your bill is, your purpose, I've not misstated that. I have been very respectful about you. If you are upset that they do not get what you're trying to do, that's where we are. They do not get what you are trying to do, and I'm going to try to explain why for the last time before we STATED MEETING 195 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING vote. That's all. May I proceed, Mr. President?
A lot of this discussion has been centered around what veterans want and don't want. That's not the issue primarily in this matter. It is an important issue, but it's not the only issue. There is a level playing field for everyone. Everyone takes a test. There are four different ways people take a test to get a civil service job. One is a written exam. One is an oral exam. Another is by performing a task that shows that you can do what you're supposed to know. And the final one is basically your training and experience, which is your resume. There are four different ways to get a job here. The effort in light of what is approaching, which is a retirement of many City workers, that is not a problem. STATED MEETING 196 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING On a yearly basis, the City receives 73,000 applications for basically 1,500 jobs, 73,000 applications for 1,500 jobs. And the number of people who pass the City exam is more than the jobs available. A study done by the Pew Foundation in 2018 went through this in a very easy-to-understand manner, a June report, and what they articulated is why there is a problem in Philadelphia. Philadelphia of the top 30 cities when it comes to hiring is number 30, number 30 out of 30 in terms of what is primarily described as a rigid, slow process with lack of flexibility. That is the main problem. So 73,000 people apply for 1,500 jobs. Many people pass the test, however the test is, and the majority of times it's a written or oral test. Twenty-five percent of the times it's going to be based on your resume. After they pass the test, they STATED MEETING 197 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING are eligible for bonus points, and Philadelphia has more bonus points than any other city in America, big city, and the Pew report says that is a bad thing. When, for example, they looked at the 2013 firefighter exam and test, 239 candidates scored above 100, because not only did they do well on the test, they had bonus points. There are less than 60 positions available. So we don't even get into -- because it's a ranking. When you pass the test, you're eligible and then you are ranked by your score. Add bonus points, you have more people eligible, beyond qualified based on the test, for positions that are not -there's not that many positions. So the Pew report is against basically bonus points, but we as a legislative body have a different point of view when we want to include, for example, something related to the job, such as five years being a paramedic working for the City of Philadelphia. We STATED MEETING 198 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING value that, so they get points when they apply to be a firefighter, but nothing else. Or one point for language or things like that. Those are the points. The federal and state law requires -- there's nothing about Philadelphia. It requires a veterans preference. The rest is the City Charter or the civil service. So when we look at trying to fill jobs in the future and making competitive, if we give five points to public school graduates of the CTE program, we are basically disadvantaging every other person. That means everyone who graduated from a neighborhood school, everyone who graduated from a Catholic CTE school, a non-profit, a GED, someone who arrived in Philadelphia from another country, never went to Philadelphia high school, everyone else is disadvantaged by five points. They do all have to pass the test, but then you get your bonus points, and you are hired in that order, STATED MEETING 199 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING and there are more people with bonus points than there are jobs. So the Pew report and the facts of how we would encourage and fill our positions would come out against additional bonus points. On top of that, putting it in a charter, which can only be changed by the voters after five years, is exactly what the Pew report says not to do.
You are creating more rigidity, less flexibility, and you are creating a problem. The problem is this: There are about 900 students who graduate from a dedicated CTE school related to the Philadelphia public school system. There are another like 4,000-something, close to 5,000 in total who go to regular high school that participate in some type of program. Their credentials are considered already under training and experience, training and experience when that is a measurement, and it is also placed in certain of the existing STATED MEETING 200 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING criteria; for example, for firefighter, if you have a CTE type program or things like that. The Charter change is not giving five points related to what they studied at the CTE level. It is just five points for any job on a citywide basis. There's three different types of jobs. One open for everyone, one open only for City workers, and one open only for department workers. So when you disadvantage a large portion of those 73,000 people who took the exam, did well but will not be able to get a shot at having a job because of bonus points, somebody is going to say, what about kids with disabilities, what about kids who got a GED, what about kids in Catholic school, what about kids -- you're going to go through people who got a two-year degree, people who were incarcerated, people who -- you're going to go through it, STATED MEETING 201 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING because it is unfair to reduce their opportunity when they've studied for the test like everybody else by five points by giving roughly, you know, a few hundred people five more points than everybody else for no reason. That is why veterans oppose this bill. It is the fact that they do not see the hiring preference as a perk. It doesn't matter you don't take their ten points away. You give five points to somebody. It is that veterans feel strongly that there should be a level playing field, and their earned ten points is because of their service and sacrifice. It's not a perk, and they do not look at this as a perk. When it starts being given out for reasons they cannot understand, they oppose it. Now, if they can understand, such as someone's father, mother died in the line of duty in a similar situation to veterans, they put on a uniform, they go fight a fire, STATED MEETING 202 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING they put on a uniform, they get shot while they're trying to stop a crime, they are sympathetic to that. They do understand, for example, that we need languages in this city. When you fight a fire, you show up and people can't speak English, when you're a paramedic, nobody knows how to help, they do understand the points. They do understand that we respect someone who didn't serve in the military but volunteered to serve in the Peace Corps or AmeriServe and what points they get for that for year of service for $7,500. They don't oppose it. You know, so I simply want to say this: I don't create this animosity or anger. I would be one incredible person. I might be the most powerful person in Philadelphia if I could do that, and I'm the least important person on this Council. It's just that I'm in touch with the veterans and they conveyed to me and I conveyed to you. STATED MEETING 203 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING You're going to take your vote for whatever reasons you feel, but I'm just letting you know there are large veterans organizations and small veterans organizations, and they are dedicated veterans organizations, and veterans feel strongly, as do active-duty military, that veterans hiring preferences are not like extra things. It's not a perk or a tip or something. It's not to be given out lightly, and that is where they feel the opposition. And I've expressed their feelings. You're going to take your vote based on the way you feel about that. That's understood.
But I'm just letting you know, one, veterans by and large and active-duty military need to have a good reason why the preference, which since the Civil War has been based on veterans, those who survive. If they cannot understand or see why those five points for such a small group of people that simply graduated that will not increase STATED MEETING 204 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING the pool, that will not increase -- which would otherwise just disadvantage everyone else, they don't see that other than a slippery slope of frankly elected officials trying to please particular groups, and that is why they are upset. So --
To me, I do respect their opinion. I will be voting no. I do want to explain that, and I will say that I disagree with the sponsor of the bill, without animosity. I've tried to make that clear. I don't think this helps the children of Philadelphia, the students. I think it's a disadvantage to fair competition. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman, good? Ready to move forward with the motion? Thank you. All right. Let's STATED MEETING 205 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING start the -- just do the motion again, because you left it off at asking people for support. So just do a formal motion, Councilwoman.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that resolution -(Echo being heard.)
Okay. It's been moved and seconded resolution -- hopefully we won't have to use technology in September. It's been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Since Resolution No. 200040-A is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. The question is shall the resolution be adopted. I'd ask the Chief Clerk to please call the roll. STATED MEETING 206 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker.
Aye. STATED MEETING 207 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President Clarke. STATED MEETING 208 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. I believe the ayes -- I didn't hear the second person you called, but the ayes are 12, I believe, and the nays are five. A majority of two-thirds of all members of the Council having voted in the affirmative, Resolution No. 200040-A has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200006-AA.
An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for a preference in civil service examinations for any qualified graduate of a Career Technical Education program in the School District of Philadelphia, as approved by Resolution of the City Council.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill STATED MEETING 209 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman STATED MEETING 210 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Johnson.
Aye. STATED MEETING 211 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes are 14; the nays are three. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200007-A.
An ordinance amending Chapter 20-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Civil Service Preferences," to provide for a civil service preference for qualified graduates of Career Technical Education Programs in the School District of Philadelphia.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Brooks. STATED MEETING 212 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman STATED MEETING 213 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 14; the nays are three. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 220187.
An ordinance STATED MEETING 214 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Department of Aviation, to transfer the functions of certain City agencies with respect to the operations of the City's airports to the newly-created Department and to provide for additional duties of the Department, as approved by Resolution of the City Council.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. STATED MEETING 215 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman STATED MEETING 216 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Parker.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200012.
An ordinance amending Section 19-1301.1 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Homestead Exclusion," to increase the amount of the STATED MEETING 217 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING homestead exclusion.
Yeah. Thank you, Council President. I just have a few remarks before we call this bill up to vote. One, I wanted to personally ask for an affirmative vote from my colleagues on the Save Our Homes Tax Relief Plan which is up for final passage today. The goal of the Save Our Homes Plan is to reduce the impact of residential property assessments which increased by a citywide average of 31 percent this year. As a result, residents will see their property taxes increase significantly, specifically in Black and Brown neighborhoods. The Save Our Homes Plan will also help reduce displacement and make property taxes fairer and more transparent. It is also revenue neutral. STATED MEETING 218 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING The latest projection of spending is that the Save Our Homes Plan will cost the City less than $80 million per year to implement. The increase from the property tax assessments is expected to earn the City an estimated $460 million over the next five years, which is an average of $92 million per year. The Save Our Homes Plan will simply take new revenue that is expected from increased property assessments and give it back to where it belongs, which are the people. The major portion of the Save Our Homes Plan are as follows: Increasing the City homestead exemption from $45,000 to $80,000. This will increase the value of the benefit from $629 per year to $1,120 per year. The Bill No. 200012 is up for final passage today. Originally the initial proposals from our colleagues such as Councilman O'Neill who supported this initiative as well as Councilwoman STATED MEETING 219 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Jamie Gauthier and Mark Squilla and the Administration is focusing on a homestead exemption of $90,000. That will double it from $45,000 to $90,000. After hearing concerns from the Philadelphia School District about lost tax revenue, the compromise, with your help, Council President Darrell Clarke, working with the Administration, we agreed upon an $80,000 homestead, which still significantly impacts residents who are seeing a significant increase in their property taxes. Also, the bill will allow retroactive enrollment in the Senior Tax Freeze as far as individuals who have enrolled in 2019. This will allow low-income seniors to freeze their property tax assessments at the time they became eligible rather than when they enrolled. Bill No. 220499 is also up for final passage today. The Senior Citizens Property Tax Freeze program helps STATED MEETING 220 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING low-income senior citizens aged 65 or older to permanently freeze their property assessments. To be eligible at this time, a person's income must be $33,500 per year for a single person or $41,500 per year for a married couple. Under my Save Our Homes Property Tax Relief Plan, eligible seniors will have the chance to retroactively enroll in the Senior Citizens Tax Freeze program. Accordingly, those seniors will only pay taxes on the assessment from the year they first became eligible going as far back as 2018. Bill No. 220499, which is a part of the Save Our Homes Tax Relief Plan, is also up for final passage today. In addition, multiple changes have been changed to the Longtime Owner-Occupants Program, known as LOOP, that will significantly increase access for lowand middle-income homeowners. Newly eligible households would increase for STATED MEETING 221 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING thousands of homeowners. Bill No. 220499 is up for final passage. And I want to take a personal note and just thank you, Council President, for your leadership in working in partnership with the Administration to come to some level of resolve for this particular bill in which I sponsored. So I just want to personally acknowledge you and just thank you for working with me over these last couple of days. 5 million in the budget for an outreach campaign.
One thing that we have to understand as a body is that although we have LOOP, although we have homestead exemptions, although we have the tax payment program, although we have the deferred tax payment program as well for STATED MEETING 222 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING individuals who can't pay their full tax at one particular time, if people don't have the information, then what's the point? And so we'll have the ability to go in an aggressive campaign to make sure people know all of the tax relief tools that are available for them to take advantage of. Last, but not least, we also budgeted $1 million to help free legal assistance for low-income renters, because we know at the end of the day, when landlords see an increase in their property taxes, they pass that money down to the actual renter, and we want to make sure that we don't have renters who are being displaced. And so I want to also take a personal note and acknowledge Community Legal Services, who were very, very supportive of this program, but also all the members of the body who signed on for being co-sponsors, and ask for an affirmative vote on the Save Our Homes STATED MEETING 223 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Property Tax Relief Plan. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Domb. STATED MEETING 224 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 225 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220284.
An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2023 through 2028 inclusive.
This STATED MEETING 226 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gym. STATED MEETING 227 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President STATED MEETING 228 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Clarke.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220285.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Driscoll. STATED MEETING 229 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 230 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220286.
An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll. STATED MEETING 231 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Oh. STATED MEETING 232 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present -
The STATED MEETING 233 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Driscoll.
I wasn't recorded. I would like to be recorded as an aye.
Okay. Sorry, sir. You are here. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 220410.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Bass. STATED MEETING 234 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 235 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 14; the nays are three. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. STATED MEETING 236 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilman Thomas, I was getting unclear signals. Did you need to be referenced or are you okay now?
We already took the vote, Council President, and it's pretty late, so I will just say that this is an important vote and something that we need to support our small businesses. Thank you, Council President.
I got conflicting messages. I'm sorry. That's all on my end. Thank you. The bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 220485.
An ordinance amending Section 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Business Income and Receipts Taxes," with respect to allocation and apportionment of income and receipts inside and outside of the City.
This STATED MEETING 237 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gym. STATED MEETING 238 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President STATED MEETING 239 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Clarke.
Aye. The ayes are 14; the nays are three. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220497.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties," to modify parameters of tax exemptions for longtime residential owner-occupants.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. (Background talking.)
No, STATED MEETING 240 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING no. Mute. Last day.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman STATED MEETING 241 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Gilmore Richardson.
Councilman Squilla. STATED MEETING 242 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220499.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Senior Citizen Low Income Special Tax Provisions," to modify parameters of special tax provisions for low-income seniors, including the deadline for filing an application.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. STATED MEETING 243 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Johnson. STATED MEETING 244 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are STATED MEETING 245 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220414.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by revising and clarifying certain landscaping requirements.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Driscoll. STATED MEETING 246 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 247 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220292.
An ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward STATED MEETING 248 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING various capital municipal purposes.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Green. STATED MEETING 249 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Thomas. STATED MEETING 250 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 220322.
An ordinance amending Chapter 16-400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Surplus Properties," by adding criteria for evaluating non-competitive dispositions.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gauthier for an amendment to Bill No. 220322.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 220322. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council.
Thank you. All in favor -- STATED MEETING 251 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
I move for the adoption of the amendment. Sorry. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill No. 220322 has been amended. Bill No. 220322, as amended, will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, do you have some additional resolutions? You're on mute.
Apologies, Mr. President. I have an ordinance that we STATED MEETING 252 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING removed from the Consent Agenda, Bill No. 210284. May I proceed?
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Business Income and Receipts Taxes," by revising certain tax rates.
Thank you. Councilman Thomas, did you want to be recognized now?
No, Council President. I just -- I remarked earlier as it related to just this Council body, our work, our support for small business and, most importantly, for us to send a message to folks not just in the region but all over the country that Philadelphia is open for business and we're going to do our best to recover from this COVID and economic crisis. So just very briefly. Thank STATED MEETING 253 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING you, Council President, and, most importantly, thank you to my colleagues who worked together closely to put us in a position to be able to make this work fiscally. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman STATED MEETING 254 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Gauthier.
Sorry, Mr. President. I'm working with some old paperwork. Councilman Johnson.
Aye. STATED MEETING 255 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
All right. Thank you. The ayes are 14; the nays are STATED MEETING 256 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING three. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Any additional resolutions, Mr. Decker?
I have a resolution that was pulled from the Consent Agenda, Resolution No. 220616, entitled a "Resolution recognizing Southwest Philadelphia's own Mont Brown for his notable contributions to his community on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, August 19, 2022," introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Council President, before I move for the adoption of the resolution, this is a young man who has gone out of his way to become very successful in the entertainment industry but decided to always come back home to his neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia to provide opportunities for STATED MEETING 257 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING the youth and also, most importantly, uplift the young people in this neighborhood. And so with that being said, Council President, I enthusiastically move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and enthusiastically seconded. All in favor of the resolution indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And I have a resolution initiating action to establish a neighborhood improvement district in an area that generally includes both sides of North Broad Street from the north side STATED MEETING 258 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING of Spring Garden Street to the south side of Indiana Avenue (excluding the 2700 through 2900 block on the west side of the street), beginning with 510 North Broad Street, and continuing to 2929 North Broad Street; it also includes 1300 Fairmount Avenue, 1406 Ridge Avenue, 1408 Ridge Avenue, 1363 West Seltzer Street, 1361 West Silver Street, and 1362 West Silver Street; designating North Broad Renaissance (the legal name of which is Avenue North Renaissance, Incorporated), which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District, introduced today by Councilwoman Parker on behalf of Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) STATED MEETING 259 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution congratulating the City of Philadelphia on winning its bid to become a Host City of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, introduced today by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of all football fans around the world, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's STATED MEETING 260 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and congratulating David Gates, Esquire upon the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project for his decades of service and commitment to people with disabilities and families in need of health insurance coverage and health care services in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth, introduced today by Councilman Green.
Thank you, STATED MEETING 261 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Finance to hold hearings regarding growth in the City of Philadelphia, introduced today by Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. STATED MEETING 262 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold public hearings to examine what the Philadelphia Water Department is or could be doing to take advantage of new and existing federal water quality infrastructure funding to address chronic sewage overflows in overburdened communities and improve water quality of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers for public recreational use, introduced today by Councilman STATED MEETING 263 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the life and service of Philadelphia Firefighter Lieutenant Sean Williamson, introduced today by Councilman Oh.
The STATED MEETING 264 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And I have Resolution No. 220474, entitled a "Resolution approving the Rebuild Project Statement for Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 pursuant to Bill No. 170206." Mr. President, this resolution was reported from committee today and STATED MEETING 265 6/23/2022 6/23/22 - STATED - 2ND READING incorrectly scripted as 220424, which was incorrect. It was introduced by Councilwoman Bass on behalf of Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Any other resolutions, Mr. Decker? You're on mute, Mr. Decker.
I believe that's STATED MEETING 266 6/23/2022 have, Mr. President.
Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. That completes our Calendar for today. Any speeches on behalf of the minority? I think that we had a lot of speeches today.
There is a speech, Council President. I have a speech to make.
Thank you very much. Today we approved a resolution recognizing and honoring the life and service of Philadelphia Firefighter Lieutenant Sean Williamson. He lost his life in the line of duty after a fire-damaged building collapsed in the Fairhill neighborhood on June 18th, just this past weekend. STATED MEETING 267 6/23/2022 the United States Marine Corps and provided dedicated and exemplary service to our city for 27 years. He was last assigned to Ladder 18 in Tioga-Nicetown. Over his long career, he also served with the specialized Rescue 1 company, taught at the Fire Academy, and was a member of PA Task Force 1, the federal urban search and rescue team sponsored by the Philadelphia Fire Department. A mass of christian burial will be celebrated at the Epiphany of Our Lord Church on Monday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m. To honor the memory of Lieutenant Williamson, all City of Philadelphia flags will be flown at half staff for 30 days. One of the unexpected duties that I experienced when I was elected to this office was to attend the funerals of those who died in service to our city. It's a very moving, very sad and long-lasting impression when we see those STATED MEETING 268 6/23/2022 intentionally as a daily job to protect and serve. Our condolences to his family and loved ones, to all those in our firefighting community, and we certainly hold them in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you very much.
Sorry. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Council President, and thank you for the opportunity today to address my colleagues and all Philadelphians. I also want to extend my condolences, along with Councilman Oh and I guess all of us, to the family of the lieutenant who lost his life in the fire up in Fairhill. Just tragic, terrible. As we close out this Council STATED MEETING 269 6/23/2022 session, I'm feeling reflective, especially since this could be the last time I speak before City Council in my current position. We put forth a balanced budget that provides support for those in need. Frankly, it doesn't go far enough. Too many people across our city still can't get a good night's sleep, whether it's because they're worried about supporting their families or the safety of their loved ones as they hear the sounds of gunshots echo through the night. Sadly, we're no longer shocked by the shootings and murders in the middle of our streets or by the open-air drug markets or even by the less violent but regular criminal acts happening everywhere, and that is wrong. These issues are absolutely gut-wrenching. Philadelphians just don't feel safe. They don't feel safe in their homes, on their streets, in their cars, on our transit system, at their jobs, or STATED MEETING 270 6/23/2022 of worship. What we need now is leadership, a decisive and positive force to get us back on track. We can't move forward and attract more people, more businesses, more jobs, grow an economy that lifts people out of poverty or gives every child the opportunity for a bright future if we don't start urgently addressing the fundamental issue of public safety. As a member of Council, I have consistently worked doing just that. Most recently I was proud to have passed a resolution calling on our Mayor to declare a state of emergency so we can draw down federal resources to target the opioid epidemic that is ravaging Kensington. But instead of acting immediately, we've all seen the situation continue to deteriorate into a full-blown humanitarian crisis. We can and we must do better. I've also called for more accountability and oversight of STATED MEETING 271 6/23/2022 programs. These programs have proven to reduce gun violence, and while we have allocated funding to support local initiatives, we have recently seen our city's inability to even distribute the funds, let alone evaluate or measure the progress of the work. This is totally, totally unacceptable, and so is the lack of executive leadership in ensuring our departments are fully operational, including our Police Department. Hundreds of positions continue to sit vacant, and I will not stop fighting to fill each and every one of them. That's why I held a hearing and called for the revision of the residency requirements for officers, which the Administration eventually acted on. Expanding our applicant pool and building better marketing strategies will allow us to attract and retain qualified police officers. STATED MEETING 272 6/23/2022 to simply state what so many Philadelphians have shared with me as a City Councilmember: We deserve better. Philadelphians deserve a leader who will take action and who will be a positive force for change, a leader who actually wants the job, and a leader who sees each and every day as an opportunity for our city to reach its true potential, a leader to build safer communities, a leader to enthusiastically recruit new businesses, a leader to create family-sustaining jobs that shrink our wealth gap, and a leader who will actually fight poverty, not just make it more comfortable to live in. And I know these goals are achievable. I know that because I've convened business leaders and stakeholders, including those in our life science industries, and we've discussed opportunities that do exist to grow.
I've met with healthcare STATED MEETING 273 6/23/2022 to partner with us to address the growing opioid crisis. I've met with small and minority business owners who have incredible and innovative ideas about how we can foster growth in every corner of the City. But the one common theme during each of these meetings is that if people do not feel safe, none of this is possible. And without strong leadership to tackle these issues head on, these ideas and goals will continue to be shelved. We need goals paired with concrete steps to achieve them. That's ultimately what this Administration has failed to do. Philadelphia is a city of fighters and believers. We've shown time and time again we can climb out of tough times, and we will do it again. As we look forward, I ask all Philadelphians to set the bar higher. Ask yourselves who is willing to hold people accountable, who is prepared to do what's right over STATED MEETING 274 6/23/2022 convenient, who is going to put in the work to get the job done with the results you deserve. There's a lot of work ahead, but I look forward to building the necessary bridges, tackling our problems with resilience and energy, and bringing people to the table who are really excited to bring about real change for our great city. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, on today I wanted to start by taking this opportunity to thank members of the Mount Airy Community Council and residents who came out yesterday. Even when it started raining, we stayed outside, along with the Captain of the 14th Police District, STATED MEETING 275 6/23/2022 Philadelphia Neighborhood Safety and Community Policing Plan. And one of the things we talked about, Mr. President, was that proactive call for 300 community policing officers walking the beat and on bike patrol in our neighborhoods proactively working on building and strengthening community-police relationships and not responding to crime. And we also talked about not allowing anyone to put us in a box because we were interested in supporting that Community Policing Plan, but that criminal justice reform was just as important to us. But we said something else, Mr. President, and I thought we were just having a conversation in a meeting. I had no idea that I would be in the midst of this Council session with each of you and something like this would come up and, that is, we also talked about the need to ensure that there is zero tolerance for any misuse and/or abuse of STATED MEETING 276 6/23/2022 Department in any manner, shape, or form. So we could call for community policing. We could want criminal justice reform and pursue it, but we also could have zero tolerance for any misuse and/or abuse of authority. And then I get the text from two different people in the midst of this Council session informing me that a member of our Philadelphia Police Department thought that it was appropriate over a police radio -- that's equipment that is owned by the City of Philadelphia, paid for by taxpayer residents here in the City of Philadelphia, along with our businesses -- saying those F'g N's, those F'g N's. If you wear and are honored to wear and be paid, Mr. President, a salary from our City of Philadelphia to protect and to serve us, but you think it is appropriate to use racist language over a STATED MEETING 277 6/23/2022 radio, the arrogance that it takes to do something like that, the disregard for humanity, and the willingness to embrace that kind of language as if it's second nature is something that we should continue to have zero tolerance for. So when I got these two text messages, I said, Councilmember Johnson or Jones, thank you so very much for the Citizens Police Oversight Committee, because as this investigation is going to be occurring into what exactly happened in this incident and those words being used over a police radio, I am sure that in some way, shape, or form we will be able to have our Citizens Police Oversight Committee to also review what happened and report back to us in a very transparent manner all of the facts associated with this incident. Thank you so very much, Mr. President and colleagues, for your time. STATED MEETING 278 6/23/2022
Thank you, Councilwoman. Kind of hard to hear this day and time, you know, but anyway, I'll leave that alone. To be discussed later. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I'm going to be brief as we wrap up this session. Just thank my colleagues for all their hard work and their dedication in moving the City of Philadelphia forward. " Again, the title of the Dateline segment last night was called "Bullets Over Philadelphia," and it talked about and they interviewed different individuals who have been significantly impacted by the senseless gun violence that we're STATED MEETING 279 6/23/2022 City of Philadelphia, particularly young people. And so, again, it's a constant reminder as it relates to how we must continue to keep our foot on the pedal when it comes to consistently addressing this issue. I do acknowledge the hard work that this body has been putting in with such initiatives as the 24-hour hotline that deals with violence prevention and trauma for individuals who may be significantly impacted by gun violence and other types of gun violence led by you, Council President, or the Office of Victim Advocate in which I created to help mothers and fathers who have lost loved ones to senseless gun violence, or the work that Katherine Gilmore Richardson has done to provide opportunities for our young people who are hanging out on the streets in the wee hours of the mornings to participate in the curfew center, quote/unquote, curfew center to get those type of wraparound STATED MEETING 280 6/23/2022 will allow them to become productive members of our community, or addressing the issue that was recently talked about, which is critically important, which is community policing and making sure that when people are going to and from their homes, they feel safe and do not feel like they're a hostage inside their own home. So just watching that segment last night I did feel a sense of anger. I felt some sense of disappointment, but also I recognize that it's a complex issue that must be worked on comprehensively, right, with City leaders but also, most importantly, the community working in partnership together in addressing this issue. I want to also take a moment to acknowledge a new coalition of fearless young ladies who are out there addressing this issue of senseless gun violence collectively working together. They're called Mothers of the Movement. They had STATED MEETING 281 6/23/2022 held in our Caucus Room. It was originally outside, but it was raining. That group consists of Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight of Mothers in Charge, Ms. Aleida Garcia of the National Justice Homicide Alliance. You have another young lady named Terrez McCleary, which has an organization called Mothers United by Grief. You have another young lady named Felicia Pendleton, who has an organization called Mothers United by Angels, and you have Movita Johnson-Harrell, who also has an organization called the CHARLES Foundation. And these strong, fearless women have decided to come together to demand that we do more around this issue of senseless gun violence here in the City of Philadelphia. So we cannot do it alone. We have to do it in partnership with the community, and I look forward to working with all of you but, most importantly, the community and spending my summer STATED MEETING 282 6/23/2022 days working to make sure that my two sons, Isaiah and Elijah, can go to and from home feeling safe, irregardless of what's going on outside and around and, most importantly, making sure that they are safe. And so I just commend all my colleagues for the work they've done during this Council session. A lot of times it may not seem like a lot, but we put in the work, hands down, right? We're experts in our own individual fields, but we also come together like Voltron supporting one another in the collective goal to move this City of Philadelphia forward.
And so I just wanted to take a moment just to give everybody a shout-out, everybody doing the hard work. Have a blessed and prosperous summer. And with that being said, God bless everyone, and thank you for allowing me to work in partnership with all of you on the things that we have STATED MEETING 283 6/23/2022 city forward this past session. God bless.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you so much, and God bless you and your family. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I just have a few comments to say, no matter how long it takes. I think a former Mayor used to say that. But seriously, and Councilmember Domb was very reflective in his comments this afternoon, and it also gives me the opportunity to be reflective and say something that I will -- this will be the last time that I will have a chance to say a certain point of this presentation. But we've had a very challenging budget session. We're dealing with a lot of challenging issues. If you just listen to today's session, STATED MEETING 284 6/23/2022 a resolution regarding the lost firefighter here in the City of Philadelphia, to the very troubling statement that our Majority Leader, Councilmember Parker, gave in reference to another member of uniform saying things about citizens of this city. The issue that we've been dealing with in reference to how we best move our city forward and if you listen to the public comment, you had those who were saying -- and we really need growth for businesses, especially Black and Brown businesses and others that disagree with that. And we all agree that we need to move our city forward and work collaboratively together in spite of all our differences of opinion, and I think that's something that we have not seen in our city. We have not seen at the state or national level. There's too much this group versus that group. And I think in order for us to really move our city STATED MEETING 285 6/23/2022 forward, we have to work collectively together, and that's something that we need to do, and we need leadership in our city to do that. And when I say "leadership," I have to think about the fact that we as elected officials, we do not do the work we do without dedicated staff. My staff has been in this City Hall since last August of 2021, coming in Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00. As an at-large member of Council, I get around the City quite a bit, and they have been answering questions and working for constituents. We've navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm really appreciative of all of the work that they have done, because without my Council staff, I would not be in the position that I am to represent the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. And so I'm stating this, and this will be the last time that I can say this, that my Legislative Director, Frank Iannuzzi, is leaving my office to go on STATED MEETING 286 6/23/2022 And when I think about the relationship that we've had, you know, I'm a little bit taller with not as much hair, actually no hair anymore, and Frank is a little more shorter in stature with a lot of hair, but we have difference of opinions on a lot of different things. We've had a lot of different debates and different perspectives and backgrounds, but we can come together and work collectively to move forward, just like we need to move our city forward. And I want to thank Frank for always being Frank and giving me great guidance and advice, even when I'm very adamant that we should go in this direction and he keeps pushing back, no, we need to go in that direction, and various times I've listened to his sage advice, because that's what we need to do as a city. We can have debates, we can have disagreements, but we've got to work STATED MEETING 287 6/23/2022 together, because I think even with all the people that debated various topics in today's Council session, we all agree we want to have a better and brighter City of Philadelphia. And so with that, Council President, I rise and say, Mr. Iannuzzi, I thank you for your leadership.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. I hate to see him leave the City of Philadelphia, but I hope he doesn't leave his residency in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
Point of information. Point of information. He's not leaving the City of Philadelphia and he's not leaving working for the citizens of the City of Philadelphia.
Got you. All right. He brings a voice over there in that community, you know, so I want to make sure he's still around, at least in that capacity. Look forward to STATED MEETING 288 6/23/2022 you so much, Councilman. I do not see any other speeches. I'll be brief.
Council President, I went in on the Chat room. My apologies.
It was late? Okay. I can't wait until we get back in 400 so I can just kind of look out. I'm sure we'll be in 400 during the course of the summer for one thing or another. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President Clarke. I just wanted to rise and remind folks that this is my fifteenth budget, seventh as Chair of Appropriations, and I believe this budget reflects the work that this Council body has done in providing leadership for the City of Philadelphia. STATED MEETING 289 6/23/2022 a lot of interests that were managed, incorporated, and are part of our budget, which is a living document. And I want to remind folks of that, because the work, it doesn't stop at the budget. It actually starts at the budget and ensuring the implementation, particularly by District Council people. And I just want to recognize that there is a lot more work to be done. As Chair of Appropriations, I really believe that the budget is a living document that continues to evolve based on needs and our responses to the constituencies of the City of Philadelphia. So I want to thank all my colleagues who had very, very good issues. I think this budget is an investment in people. It's an -- a significant investment in non-police related public safety issues in the neighborhoods that we heard, from STATED MEETING 290 6/23/2022 dumping, to potholes, to all those priorities, L&I, all of those priorities. Folks want it. And we were able to respond to the very eloquent advocacy of our ethnic chambers who have agreed with the BIRT reduction and some of the other pieces, wage reduction, that we need to tell people we are open for business, and I appreciate the fact that we did an "and" and an "and" and an "and," not an either/or. I appreciate the fact that we are not going to pin one constituency against another. That's not what leadership does. And I appreciate the fact that this particular budget, that the Administration was very responsive to issues that this Council has championed, whether it's rental assistance or some of the other things. They were quick to say we agree, whether it's the investment in the Public Defenders Office. We saw the restitution of our investment in arts. I STATED MEETING 291 6/23/2022 was the process as it's supposed to work. We start with a document, it becomes a living document, and people advocate. And so I just want to thank all my colleagues, because like many of my other colleagues, I may not get another opportunity to say that, but I did not work as hard as I did to come to this body not to appreciate the work of this body and the collective work that we do together. We come here representing certain constituencies, and we should be unapologetic about the fact that we represent certain constituencies. That is what makes the debate democratic. That is what makes the debate in terms of how we represent all the different constituencies in the City of Philadelphia be robust. And so I'm happy. I am happy for the time that I have served. I look forward to continuing to serve, and I STATED MEETING 292 6/23/2022 you, Council President, for allowing me to do the work that I do and to advocate the way that I do in helping move this forward. We have some challenges, but we have stepped up to the plate. This Council body has always stepped up to the plate, and I believe in all of my colleagues and I appreciate the work that they have done. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman and Madam Appropriations, as I always call you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Mr. President, we're getting scarily close to hinting good-byes and things like that. So the only thing I want to say is that the diversity within this Council, the passion within this Council is unprecedented in any other body I STATED MEETING 293 6/23/2022 maintain our positions. Disagree, but disagree agreeably. That's due to your leadership, Mr. President, and your guidance, and I'm grateful for that opportunity. The philosopher Jay Z once said that if you're the smartest person in the room, you should change rooms. I've never felt like I was the smartest person in the room being among my colleagues, and that is a good feeling, because no matter how daunting the problem faced in Philadelphia, I knew -- well, I had confidence in that someone in the room would come up with an idea that was meritorious of public policy consideration. Never -- and we've been through some scary rooms, Mr. President, where we had to make money where there was none, take tough tax votes, but always, always someone at that table, someone in that discussion. Sometimes you didn't want to STATED MEETING 294 6/23/2022 it anyway and we made it work, and that's what the people send us here to do. And I'm honored, honored to have served with all of you guys. And some of the back story of what you don't hear in these chambers and on this is as good as what you do, and by the time it gets to the public, it is well vetted, and that's what I'm appreciative of. Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. I believe that concludes the speeches on behalf of the minority and the majority, but before I call for a motion to adjourn, I just want to say a couple of words. One, obviously I just want to thank all of you for the work that you do, the work that you've done. A lot of you bring all sorts of resumes, both political and public service, to the table, which is why I think we have had STATED MEETING 295 6/23/2022 terms of delivering under some very extremely challenging times. Didn't skip a beat, and I want to thank you all so much. Like Councilman, again, I want to thank the staff, because we get to have our name on the door, show up on TV every now and then, but they do the work. They prepare us to be in a position to have a public facing of the City Council of Philadelphia. So I can't thank them enough for all the awesome work that they do. I have to acknowledge on this day that the makeup of the Council when you come back in September, there's some level of uncertainty, August, whenever, right? But I can say that there is a level of certainty that whoever ultimately ends up being here during the course of the remaining year, there will be the same level of stability. It will be the same level of hard work. It will be the same level of passion, and it will STATED MEETING 296 6/23/2022 of the willingness to participate in the public agenda. So I've been here for a few years, some say more than a few, some say too many, right, but I've just seen the evolution of this Council in various ways during the course of the year. So I guarantee you that this Council will continue to put first and foremost the benefits of the citizens of the City of Philadelphia before we do anything else. So I want to thank you all very much. I appreciate you all. And as I say, people actually say they love the fact when they hear me say "love you, guys." So -- you know, some people actually said I was getting a little soft, you know, but every now and then, you got to be a little soft. But I just want to -Councilman Jones, I'd like to recognize you for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. STATED MEETING 297 6/23/2022 stand adjourned until Thursday, September 15th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, September 15, 2022, 10:00 a.m. in Room 400. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. You all be safe out there and, again, love you, guys. See you later. ) STATED MEETING 298 6/23/2022 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L.