Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. 6/4/09 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning I was ready and prepared to move this bill, but at the request of the Mayor, I have held the bill for a week, but I wanted to read into the record his commitment on Council Bill 090292, which is he fully understands the importance of this issue and obviously the spirit in which this Council has operated even prior to my joining it around the support and the protection of worker rights and ensuring prevailing wage -- prevailing and liveable wages. And I look forward to working with the Administration over the next week to ensure that we accomplish that, but I fully intend to call for a vote next week. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes 6/4/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilwoman Tasco for a motion on Resolution No. 090451.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. I guess I'm moving much too fast. We didn't read the resolution. Please.
Resolution No. 090451, a resolution approving the City's Substantial Amendment to the Year 34 6/4/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Consolidated Plan and application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for $14,046,629 in additional Community Development Block Grant funding for economic development and housing activities pursuant to funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Well, I'll tell you, with all that money available, I'm going to recognize Councilwoman Tasco again for a motion on Resolution No. 090451.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 6/4/09 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the title. What are we waiting for?
Resolution No. 090423, a resolution approving the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Emergency 9-1-1 2008 Triennial Plan as an amendment to the City's 9-1-1 Plan, as required by the Pennsylvania Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. That concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I have some comments I'm going to make this morning that are very, very important to me and I feel very passionately about, and I'm sure that my colleagues share the same concerns and others may also share the concerns about which I plan to address. On December 2005, my colleagues and I passed legislation creating the independent Board of Ethics, and on May 16th, 2006, the Philadelphia voters approved the Board's creation in a referendum, with the expectation that this Board and its staff consist of strong, independent people of the highest integrity who will realize, above all else, that they were empowered with the public trust. However, in the May 27th edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the headline read "Board of Ethics Fines Own Director." The article discloses that the Executive Director, Shane Creamer, violated the confidentiality provision of the City's ethics laws, citing Mr. Creamer's off-the-record conversation investigations that were to remain confidential. This article in the Philadelphia Inquirer appeared four days after a similar story ran in the Philadelphia Daily News on May 23rd, the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend. This headline read, "Ethics Chief had a lapse. He's fined for talking about probe with the Daily News." The story appeared on Saturday because the Ethics Board released a story at 5:00 p.m. Friday, surely when they thought no one would notice. A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial that appeared in yesterday's edition gave kudos to the Ethics Board for citing its own Executive Director for unethical conduct by breaching confidentiality rules when speaking to a reporter. But I ask you and all of you, what faith can we have in the Ethics Board in light of the unethical practice of its Executive Director? that despite being an embarrassing episode, Shane Creamer's sanction could build credibility for the Board. I couldn't disagree more. Under Chapter 20-200, Standards of Conduct and Ethics of The Philadelphia Code, anyone who violates ethics laws is subject to a $2,000 fine per incident. The $500 fine Shane Creamer received is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. With this sanction, the Board merely trivialized the behavior of its own Executive Director. Shane Creamer's lapse in judgment and unethical behavior has breached the public confidence and consequently compromised the public trust. How can we enforce ethics laws when there is a two-tiered standard of ethics, one for the Board and one for everybody else? I am expressing my outrage and are offended by Mr. Creamer's reckless behavior. The good government advocate, Zack Stalberg and the Committee of Seventy, who are usually very vocal when they perceive public officials have done something wrong, have been uncharacteristically silent about this issue. Once again, is there a two-tiered standard of ethics? I have expressed my concerns with the Mayor, and I'm awaiting his response. If we are to maintain a Board of the highest order authorized to enforce our ethics laws, we must preserve the public trust. Therefore, Mr. Creamer must be removed immediately from his position as the Executive Director of the Ethics Board. (Applause.)
In fact, I believe he tendered his resignation when he decided to engage in unethical conduct. this Board must be like that of Caesar's wife, above even the suspicion of wrongdoing. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. I would like to raise the light on two issues that have happened recently in the press. I join the many citizens who were saddened over the bicycle accident where a father and son recreating together were hit where Benjamin Franklin Parkway meets Martin Luther King Drive. Our crown jewel, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is one of the great city boulevards in America and, we all know, home to our world-renowned cultural institutions. I join the many who believe that we are beginning to treat a highway. As we move towards becoming a more sustainable and green city, Philadelphia must also become more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. I concur with the important questions raised in the recent editorial asking who indeed is ultimately responsible for creating a plan. Is it the Planning Commission? Is it the Deputy Mayor for Transportation? Is the Department of Parks and Recreation responsible or the institutions on the Parkway? I welcome feedback and invite all users from the community to join with them in creating a solution, and ultimately pray for a full recovery of that young man. To a more tragic incident, Madam President. While our President, Barack Obama, and some might argue Professor Barack Obama, as recently as this morning, spoke eloquently about the rights of women on the international level, we will be remiss not to remain reminded about what is happening to the rights of women on the local level. I reference and acknowledge and condemn the murder of Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, Kansas. Murdered while serving as an usher at his church, Dr. Tiller was one of the few physicians in America that performs late-term abortions. He provided critical reproductive healthcare services, including abortion services, to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances in their lives. Indeed, he showed deep compassion to his patients. It is worth noting that all groups on all sides of the abortion debate have condemned the murder of Dr. Tiller, including the National Right to Life Committee, who offered the following statement, and I quote: "The National Right to Life Committee unequivocally condemns any such acts of violence, regardless of motivation. The protect the right to life and increase respect for human life. The unlawful use of violence is directly contrary to that goal." I join with the National Right to Life Committee in condemning this tragic murder. I thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. Last week, New Castle, Delaware decided to take a strategy of raising their real estate taxes by 20 percent. I would like to note that this body went a different direction facing similar possibility of service cuts. I'd like to point out, however, our work is yet undone, that with the same energy that we went and fought the good fight about the battle of the budget, that we need to now take up and do some of the heavy lifting at the state level so that we can get the sales tax passed. So our relationships at the state level should be used to move that particular budget step forward, and I would encourage all of our members here to take advantage of those contacts to make sure that our Mayor doesn't go it alone. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June the 11th, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June the 11th at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on June 4, 2009, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)