Aye. The ayes have it; 17, zero. This bill having been read on two different days, it has now passed finally. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120171.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance Provision for Other Grants to the Hotel Room Rental Tax Fund, the Director of Commerce.
This bill having been read on two separate days, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120252.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 within the General Fund from the Office of Property Assessment to the Law Department. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. The bill is adopted. The Clerk will please read any additional resolutions on today's Calendar.
A privileged resolution recognizing the contributions of Philadelphia's alternative and ethnic newspapers and the strong support given them under the banner of the Philadelphia Multi-Cultural Media Network and its new masthead, The Liberty City Press, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution recognizing the week of April 22nd to April 28th as Jamaica Week in Philadelphia in honor of Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
And a privileged resolution declaring June 2012 as Local Independent Media Month in Philadelphia and recognizing the Americans for Democratic Action for their work in promoting economic and social justice, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution honoring Commissioner Joan M. Schlotterbeck upon her retirement and recognizing her years of service and dedication to the City of Philadelphia, especially her accomplishments as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property, introduced by Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution declaring the historic Gazela Primeiro as the official Tall Ship of the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
There being none, are there any speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to take note and congratulate the Philadelphia Inquirer on its Pulitzer Prize on a very important issue, which was violence in the schools. I believe that their reporting has helped enlighten many of the folks in the community about the challenges that we face in the School District, and we want to congratulate them and thank them on we talked with Digital Media that we may lose our print media, but as someone who looks forward to opening up that paper every morning, I hope that they will be around for many, many years to come. And also recognize many of you helped me celebrate my niece, Quiara Alegria Hughes, who also won a Pulitzer Prize. It's been a good week for Philadelphia. Quiara is an example of what potential many of our Philadelphia School District students have. She's a proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools. So as we celebrate both of these issues for Philadelphia, it brings me back to the challenges we have as we debate the School District budget. Let these two prizes for Philadelphia be an example of why the debate on the School District's budget and the concerns we should have about whether to fund it or not, it is a concern and it's also an example of our potential, and that's why I want to support them both. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, and I have lived there my entire life. I have watched the neighborhoods where I grew up slowly deteriorate. It's time to prioritize code enforcement in the City of Philadelphia. Code enforcement is the number one defense we have against blight and the deterioration of our neighborhoods. Knocking down vacant buildings is only a part of the solution. We need to start thinking about how and why our buildings fall into disarray, about why they become place, about the way we respond when the first call comes in from a resident about short dumping, about broken windows, about trash on the lawn and any other property maintenance issues. These problems start small, but over time they can morph into problems that have disastrous outcomes. The Administration, Council and the courts have to work together to a address these issues. Even the most well-intentioned laws are meaningless if they aren't enforced. The silo system does not work. These issues are all intertwined. We need a strategy. We need a plan, and we need to collaborate. Today I introduced legislation, partnered with most of our colleagues here today, to create a Problem Property Task Force. The purpose of that legislation is to establish a creative and collaborative model for addressing properties that have the greatest impact on the quality of our neighborhoods. The the problems of habitual offenders, of people who repeatedly violate the law. The goal is to start to change the behavior. In addition, I believe that what we also should be holding people accountable for are the following laws that are already on the books. I recently introduced legislation to hold hearings with L&I and Public Safety -that's a resolution, by the way -- and Public Safety about some of these quality of life issues, and that resolution authorizes the Committees to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify. In partnership with Councilwoman Sanchez and Majority Leader Jones, I plan to use that authorization. Today I would like to announce that in addition to the departments that are responsible for keeping our city clean and safe, the following individuals will be asked to testify at that hearing about the properties they may own: DeMarco, Blair DeMarco, Martin J. Brennan, Anthony Cantelieri, Michael Mulla, Wayne Brooks, Walter Aldikowski, James Walsh and others. I will release the names of additional witnesses over the next week. If they are willing to come voluntarily, great. If not, subpoenas will be issued. I believe that Philadelphians live up to their expectations of their community. I believe that we can change the culture of this city. I believe that together we can improve the quality of our lives and the lives of every Philadelphian. I invite our partnership and collaboration, and thank you for your support and support of this effort as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to just take a moment and acknowledge that we have one of Philadelphia's great labor leaders with us here today, and that will be Mr. John Johnson, Jr. of TWU Local 234. I was wondering if he and his party could stand. Beyond the President, we also have the -(Applause.)
Also joining him is the Recording Secretary, Mr. Bill Bannon, Jr.; Political Director, Dave Szczepanski; and TWU's staffer, Stewart Bass, no relation, and Executive Board members Adam Williams and Ralph Branch. And I thank them for coming out today in support of a resolution that I introduced in support of Senate Bill 236 introduced by State Senator Christine Tartaglione regarding assault on penalty. There is an epidemic among some folks in our community who feel that they can attack, assault, threaten public service workers and bus drivers and transit operators in general. So as we have this public discussion, I just wanted to really encourage my colleagues to talk to members of TWU and other public service workers and find out what they go through on a regular basis. I think some of the stories that you will hear will shock you. They will sadden you. But they will prompt us, I believe, into further action. So I think that this is something that we can use as an opportunity to send a message to Harrisburg and also send a message to people in the communities who feel that it's okay to assault public service workers and SEPTA workers in particular. Thank you.
you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to take a brief moment to thank you for holding public testimony out in the neighborhoods this budget year. I received tremendous feedback last night as we left the Kroc Center, Salvation Army Center from the 40 or 50 people who showed up to testify before us. Their concerns and the things they testified about are real, funding for the parks, funding for the schools, the need for there to be activities for youth to keep them out of trouble during the weekends and nights and over the summer, summer jobs, all things that are very important to all Philadelphians, and it's tremendous to be able to go in the neighborhoods and give people the opportunity -- you can't always make it -- the opportunity to speak to City Council. So it was a wonderful event hosted by Councilmember Jones and Bass for their districts, and I just want people to know that we listened to what they had to say and we're going to work on it. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman, and thank all of the members for their participation. As witnessed last night, it was really appreciated by the residents that we came out. And I just want to make sure to give Councilwoman Bass and Jones their just due. I've been informed that it was actually 100 people there last night. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I also too want to just acknowledge the budget hearings that took were very informative, and I just want to commend my two colleagues, Councilwoman Cindy Bass as well Majority Leader Councilman Curtis Jones, and you, Mr. President, for your leadership in taking government out on the road so we can hear the needs and concerns and issues of the people. I also want to just make an announcement regarding my first job and career fair, which will be taking place tomorrow at Myers Recreation Center, 58th and Chester Avenue from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock. So I want to encourage, first and foremost, constituents from the 2nd Councilman District as well as constituents throughout the City of Philadelphia, citywide, who may be interested in attending to come dressed for success. We have more than 60 employers who will be on hand, not so much taking resumes and asking people to go online to apply but looking at taking resumes and spot. So I just want to put that announcement out there. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you very much. I'd just like to announce that I got a call a couple of weeks ago from Fred Shabel of the Ed Snider Foundation, Hockey Foundation, and I want to announce that they have taken on the project to make Tarken Recreation Center, which is located at Frontenac and Levick Street in the northeast part of my district -- it's not just the west side, it's the northeast side -- to convert that skating rink, ice skating rink, into one of the Ed Snider skating rinks. We have one now in the 9th on the west side. It's Simons Recreation Center. So we're real pleased that they Tarken to their list of the wonderful skating rinks they have outfitted in the City of Philadelphia. And it's amazing that we met about three weeks ago and Thursday night -- Tuesday night they had the plans. So I wish our Capital Programs Office could move as fast, because sometimes it takes about five years to get the plans before you could even get to the project. So, look, they need to take a lesson from them. Thank you. But we're real pleased and want to thank Mr. Snider and the Ed Snider Foundation as well as the state, who provided some of the funding for the project.
And I'd also like to announce that on Sunday afternoon at 6 o'clock, I will be dancing with the Philadelphia Stars. (Applause.)
I join my colleague, Councilwoman Brown, who danced a couple of years ago. I'm not looking to win. I just want to get through it. But I want to say that the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation is a worthwhile cause and this program does benefit that program and it provides education to the African American, Latino community about sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia was sort of like on the top until the issue of HIV/AIDS came along. And so it got sort of shifted back. So we need to let people know and educate them that there is a problem in the community regarding sickle cell anemia. So my colleagues, if you'd like to come, anyone listening, we have to have the notification by tomorrow, and they can go to www.dancingwiththephiladelphiastars and send a check in. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Very informative. No other members wish to be recognized? That being the case, the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
I would certainly make a motion, Mr. President. I need to echo two things. One, the Dancing with the Stars is an experience, an entertaining experience and lots of fun, and it's one of the few events in the City where you can go and see a rich mix of Philadelphians who care about the art form as well as the disease. Secondly, John F. Kennedy said it best on the topic of leadership wherein he stated that leadership and learning are indispensable. And so we would be remiss not to -- or I would be remiss not to join the chorus of those saluting your leadership last night and your willingness to join with members, Councilmembers, who care deeply about their district. It was extremely informative and really offered us guideposts as to how we should be proceeding with this budget. With that said, Mr. President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. m. Thank you. ) 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 April 19, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A adjourn 101:8 alarms 32:25 Applause 8:5 12:9 area 13:11 29:5 abandoned 90:2 adjourned 102:8 Aldikowski 92:4 14:9 15:4 18:23 29:15 41:22 ability 59:11 102:19 Alegria 88:11 20:21 24:10 42:15 43:20 able 6:16 95:23 ADJOURNME...