COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, November 29, 2012 10:50 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILMAN DENNIS O'BRIEN COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA MICHAEL A. DECKER,
Good morning, everyone. To those visitors and guests today, I would like to apologize for our tardiness, but we had some last-minute business that we had to attend to. It will not happen again. I would ask the Council come to order. I'd ask the members to please take their seats, and ask all guests and visitors please retire behind the rail. Thank you. Before we start and have our invocation today, I would like to ask all individuals here to stand for a moment of silence. We have learned today that we have lost a former member of Council, longstanding community activist, very good person. Former Councilman Ed Schwartz we have learned has just passed away. So we'd ask for you to please give a moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Brother Richard Kestler of West Catholic High School. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Blackwell. I would ask all guests and visitors to please rise. (Members and guests rise.) BROTHER KESTLER: Before I begin this prayer, let me bring to you the greetings of the young students of West Catholic High School. Let us begin this session as in all things that we do, by remembering that it is under the guidance of a creator who both cares and gives us life. Today we invoke that creator's blessing upon our actions and our deliberations as a City Council. Having recently celebrated our national feast of Thanksgiving, we are mindful of all the blessings and the protection that we have received during the past year. In a special way, we are thankful for the blessings given to our peoples. We thank you for sparing us from the wrath of a recent hurricane, and we thank you for the opportunity to help others, our brothers and sisters in shore communities, during their time of need. We ask for your care for all our citizens during this holiday season and invoke your continued blessings upon our City leaders and Councilmembers. Allow them to make decisions that will continue to guide this great city in ways that establish our credibility and the attractiveness of the City as a place in which to raise families and to enrich the cultures of our peoples. In a special way, we invoke your blessings upon young people of the City, that they might be safe and benefit from a variety of educational opportunities. Bless our senior citizens with homage that they have contributed much to the life of the City and to its vitality, and may they find people and watch over them. Bless today's workers who struggle to provide the best for their families, and may many folks who work in the healthcare industries feel your guiding hand as they care for others. Finally, bless our neighborhoods and the Hamlets of the City and allow our peoples to live in safety and in peace, and may they become the people who transform the City of Philadelphia for the better. We ask for many things, in your name. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much, Father. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you again, Father. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the Thursday, November 15, 2012. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, November 15th, 2012 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, November 15th, 2012 stand approved. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, a leave of absence request is requested by Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. On behalf of the republicans, a leave of absence is requested by Councilman Brian O'Neill.
Thank you. Leave shall be granted. At this point, I will dispense with the regular order of business and like to offer our sincere thanks for all of you coming down to witness your government in action today. We hope that you enjoy it so much that you come back again. And, again, I promise you, we will not be this late the next time. So thank you all so much. At this time, I'd like to recognize Councilwoman Blackwell, who recognizing the important contribution of Internet Essentials in improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities in Philadelphia. Would Kathleen Sullivan and Sharon Powell and those accompanying them please join the Councilwoman at the podium.
Mr. President, we note that Councilwoman Tasco was co-sponsor of this resolution and has worked closely on this, and obviously she couldn't be here today, so we do acknowledge her in her absence. Resolution recognizing the important contribution of Internet Essentials in improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities in Philadelphia. Whereas, approximately 30 percent of Americans and 40 percent of Philadelphians do not have broadband access at home or access to a computer Internet use. As a result, they face profound disadvantages in getting a quality education, strengthening their job skills, obtaining news or accessing the kind of health, educational and financial information that is essential to improving the quality of their lives; and Whereas, as the nation's leading residential broadband service provider, Philadelphia-based Comcast is dedicated to bridging the gap of the digital divide by narrowing the broadband opportunity gap. Comcast has invested in broadband adoption and digital literacy programs in Philadelphia and in communities they serve across America, including Comcast Digital Connectors in partnership with One Economy, Club Tech at Boys and Girls Clubs and the League of Latin American Citizens Tech Centers; and Whereas, in the summer of 2011, Comcast launched Internet Essentials, the largest and most comprehensive broadband the nation, to expand adoption of broadband by low-income Americans; and Whereas, Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for 9.95 a month, the option to purchase a full-service, Internet-ready computer for under 150, and multiple options for digital literacy training in print, online and in-person; and Whereas, Comcast has partnered with the School District of Philadelphia, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools, charter schools, private schools and community-based organizations such as Philadelphia OIC, LIFT Philadelphia, Urban Affairs Coalition, Freedom Rings Partnership, Aspira and many others to conduct outreach and to provide training; and Whereas, City Council wishes to ensure that all Philadelphians can benefit from the equalizing potential of the Internet and do not fall behind have Internet service at home; and Whereas, City Council wishes to ensure that all Philadelphians are aware of the availability of the Internet Essentials program and all of its benefits; now, therefore Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby recognize the important contribution of Internet Essentials in improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities in Philadelphia. Certification, this is a true and correct copy of the original resolution, adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia on the 15th of November 2012. Certainly it was introduced by Councilwoman Tasco and myself and sponsored by all members of City Council. Thank you. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Ms. Sullivan and Ms. Powell for remarks.
Thank you. It's our pleasure to accept this resolution on behalf of Comcast, and I'd like to thank all of City Council and their staffs for helping us in the last couple years spread the word about this great program. As Councilwoman Blackwell mentioned, we worked with the Archdiocese, the School District of Philadelphia, LIFT, OIC. There's too many to name. I'm sure I'll forget some. Sister Mary Scullion is very involved. When David Cohen, our Executive Vice President, launched this program back in the summer of 2011, and he did it nationally, not just here in the City of Philadelphia, we started to spread the word across the country, met with all of our community-based organizations. We got a little bit of a slow start in Philadelphia. I guess about six months ago, maybe a little bit longer than that, we had 420 families signed up, and then the statistics started coming in across the country, and Chicago was just like stomping us. So the one thing that comes to mind is, when we told Claudia Averette from the School District, she says, Oh, well, that's not going to happen. So we're proud to say that by the end of the year, by the end of 2012, we'll have 2,000 families signed up in the City of Philadelphia. So I thank all of you, and I would also like to thank Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilwoman Tasco for shepherding this for us in City Council. It's now my pleasure to introduce my colleague, who has done a really bang-up job with this, Sharon Powell-Lee, Director of Government Affairs. (Applause.)
Thank you, Kathleen, and thank you, members of folks who have been supporting us. We are very excited, and we're ready to sign up some more families. But I would be remiss to not recognize that it takes a team to make this happen, and I really want to acknowledge the team along with Kathleen Sullivan and the great work that she's done. Of course, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Councilwoman Tasco, we thank you very much for your support on this. I also want to point out -- and she doesn't know I'm going to do this, but Councilwoman Cindy Bass actually was one of the first members to invite me to one of her job fairs and community outreach, and I had to tell them right off the bat, I'm not your cable lady today, because they wanted to give me all of their issues. I said, No, we're talking about Internet Essentials. And she's been a really strong supporter. I also want to thank Councilman Curtis Jones for the Block Captain's Boot that three times. He was wonderful to have us on board with that. And Councilman Kenyatta Johnson has just been a real fighter for us. And all of you, we're going to meet you later on in the Caucus Room. But I also have with us today the President and CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition. She has been a real strong supporter of us, her and her team. Sharmain Matlock-Turner is here with us today. We also have Reverend Bonnie Camarda, who is working with the Hispanic community and Salvation Army here with us today. We have Shirley Randleman of the west side Philadelphia folks. She's here with us from our Community Advisory Board. And I'd be very remiss not to introduce and most of you know Dr. Reverend Kevin R. Johnson from the Bright Hope Baptist Church. He is spearheading our religious initiative on Internet Essentials. So I thank all of you. And we're used to being on the other side, so being on this side. Thank you very much, and we'll see you this afternoon. (Applause.)
Thank you all so much. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. There is an additional request for leave of absence on the part of the majority. It's Councilman Bill Green.
Thank you. Leave shall be granted. Thank you, Councilman. At this time, the next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 of 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission regarding the following bills: Bill Nos. 120661, 120817, 120826, 120856, 120875, 120876, 120878, 120879, 120889, 120897, and 120920, and I am also transmitting herewith the Commission's request for an additional 45 days to consider Bill Nos. 120916 and 120197; and I am pleased to advise you that on November 27, 2012, I signed Bill No. 120781 and that on November 28, 2012, I signed Bill No. 120729, which were passed by Council at its session on November 15, 2012; and I am transmitting herewith for the introduction and consideration of your honorable body nine resolutions appointing new members to the Board of Housing Authority; namely, Bonnie Camarda; Lynette Brown-Sow; Joan Markman, Esquire; Kenneth A. Murphy, Esquire; Herbert Wetzel; Leslie Callahan; Nelson Diaz, Esquire, Shellie Jackson; and Vernell Tate; and I am transmitting herewith for the introduction and consideration of your honorable body a resolution appointing C. Kevin Gillespie to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion; and Also a resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Cecil B. Moore Avenue Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1504 North Carlisle Street; and A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2200 East Cumberland Street; and A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1228 through 30 East Oxford Street; and An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 195 by striking from the City Plan Webb Street from Albert Street to Huntingdon Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any other communications?
Thank you so much. At this time, the next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair at this time recognizes Councilman Kenney.
An ordinance amending various titles of The Philadelphia Code to increase the equality of treatment of all persons in the City of Philadelphia regardless of gender identity by expanding and modifying the definition of "Life Partnership" and "Life Partner"; further providing for protections, rights, benefits, and responsibilities of Life Partners.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Health Code," by amending Section 6-301, entitled "Food Establishments," by revising certain provisions relating to food safety and making technical changes.
That bill will be referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce one privileged resolution and one non-privileged resolution. The privileged resolution is co-sponsored by Councilman Dennis O'Brien.
A privileged resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Education and the City Council Committee on the Disabled and Special Needs to form a task-force which will support Philadelphia's Office of the Safe Schools Advocate.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Sixth and Forty-Fourth Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
May I note that also in addition to Councilman Dennis O'Brien, Majority Leader Curtis Jones and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown also co-sponsored the resolution on disabilities in children.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer three resolutions.
A non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Cecil B. Moore Avenue Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1504 North Carlisle Street.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1228 through 30 East Oxford Street.
That resolution will also be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Second Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
That will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills, no resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one non-privileged resolution and two bills.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Allegheny Avenue, American Street, Lippincott Street, 2nd Street, a Railroad right-of-way and 5th Street.
And an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Erie Avenue, B Street, Venango Street, and Front Street.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one privileged and one non-privileged resolution today.
A privileged resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the adequacy and frequency of training provided to Fire Fighters and other first responder personnel of the Philadelphia Fire Department, and what impact rolling brown-outs are having on training and preparedness.
That resolution will be placed on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing November 2012 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia.
That will also be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Hotel Room Rental Tax," by increasing the rate at which the Hospitality Promotion Tax is imposed and providing for terms for the deposit and distribution of the revenues from such additional tax.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer ten non-privileged resolutions on your behalf, one on my behalf, and one privileged resolution and two bills.
An ordinance authorizing the Haverford Avenue Business Association to construct, own and maintain various right-of-way encroachments on the 7500 block of Haverford Avenue.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 21-1700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Publication of Notices by City," by revising provisions concerning how and when certain required notices shall be published and advertised.
That bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution honoring and celebrating the United Age Group Track Coaches Association and Director Ron Jackson for their 35 years of commitment in developing today's athletes into tomorrow's leaders by tirelessly working to provide quality, organized Track and Field programs for Philadelphia's youth.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the appointment of Lynette Brown-Sow as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Bonnie Camarda as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Joan Markman, Esquire as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Kenneth A. Murphy, Esquire as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Leslie Callahan as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Shellie Jackson as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Nelson Diaz, Esquire as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Vernell Tate as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution approving the appointment of Herbert Wetzel as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and A resolution appointing C. Kevin Gillespie to the Board of Directors for the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion; and A resolution confirming the appointment of Brian J. McCormick as a member of the Board of Ethics, to serve in the term ending November 16, 2016.
Those resolutions just read will be referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two bills and one non-privileged resolution.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 195 by striking from the City Plan Webb Street from Albert Street to Huntingdon Street.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And 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 conforming Sections 12-3006 ("Penalty"), 12-3007 ("Notification of Violation"), and 12-3012 ("Limitations") with the applicable enabling legislation.
That bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2200 East Cumberland Street.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution recognizing Vets Journey Home USA, Inc. as an organization that provides a unique program for veterans to help them deal with the emotional wounds of military service.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring John J. Gaittens' 33 year career with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you. That resolution will also be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. That concludes our introductions. The next order of business is reports from committee, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, will you please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 120430, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by providing for revised sign controls and making technical changes," 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 Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120430.
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. 120430. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla for a report from the Committee on Streets and Services.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Streets 12 bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please read the report.
The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 120532, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Traffic Code,' by providing for the manner in which bicyclists may operate bicycles in the streets, and by prohibiting motor vehicles from obstructing or creating certain hazards in bicycle lanes, and further, amending Title 11 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Streets,' to provide for the establishment and implementation of a Complete Streets Policy"; and Bill No. 120777, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on 74th Avenue, between Ogontz Lane"; and Bill No. 120778, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 6 of Bill No. 120519, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing 2303 Bainbridge Street to construct, own and maintain various encroachments within the City right-of-way,' by extending the period for compliance therewith"; and Bill No. 120817, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 5 of an ordinance (Bill No. 110436), entitled 'An ordinance authorizing Kimmel Center, 200 South Broad Street, owner of the Kimmel Center located at 300 South Broad Street, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the right-of-way on the south sidewalk of Spruce Street between Broad and Fifteenth Streets,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions therein"; and Bill No. 120856, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City 340 by striking from the City Plan Woodbine Avenue from Belmont Avenue to Hayes Avenue and Forty-Ninth Street"; and Bill No. 120870, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 46th Street, both sides, Kingsessing Avenue to Woodland Avenue"; and Bill No. 120871, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Kingsessing Avenue, both sides, 45th Street to 46th Street"; and Bill No. 120872, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Haverford Avenue, both sides, 33rd Street to 34th Street"; and Bill No. 120873, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Natrona Street, east side, Brandywine Street to Haverford Avenue"; and Bill No. 120874, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking 39th Street, both sides, Baring Street to Powelton Avenue"; and Bill No. 120876, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 307 by striking from the City Plan the westerly ten feet wide portion of Twenty-First Street from Race Street to Spring Street"; and Bill No. 120877, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Ainslie Street, north side, Conrad Street to Cresson Street," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so to permit the of the 12 bills that were just read into the record. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading today of the 12 bills just reported from committee. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The 12 bills just reported from committee will be placed on the First Reading Calendar today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that all of the bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the Second Reading and Final 2ND READING Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. As there are no other bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Nos. 120864, 120865, 120884, 120925, 120926, 120419, 120301, 120661, 1205 -correction; 120656, 120618, 120654, 120720, 120724, 120727, 120728, 120755, 120774, 120824, 120818, 120819, 120820, 120784, and 120855. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you, Councilman. Before we consider these bills and resolutions, we will have public comment. Public comment goes as follows: You will be given three minutes to speak. Your speech must relate to bills and resolutions that are on the Second and Final Passage Calendar. If you're interested in testifying, we ask that you sign up to the table to my left. I must note, because we have a relatively long list, that the guidelines and the rules established by this Council do allow me, if it's the same subject matter, to cut off the comment on a particular bill, but I want to try and be as accommodating as possible to give everybody an opportunity. So we ask that you please adhere to the guidelines and limit your testimony to as short a time as possible. In the middle of the Council Chambers, you will see a podium. That podium has a device on it. When the light turns green, that means it's your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, that means you have 30 seconds before your time is up. We ask you to please adhere to the guidelines, because we want to give everybody an opportunity to speak. So thank you very much. Mr. Decker, would you please read the name of the first individual who is interested in testifying.
Javier Garcia, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Javier Garcia and I work with Community Ventures. Community Ventures is a non-profit developer of affordable housing. Our mission is to partner -- is to work in partnership with community organizations in Philadelphia to develop housing and commercial space consistent with a plan to support neighborhood revitalization. Over the past 25 years, we have developed over 300 units of affordable rental and homeownership units throughout Philadelphia. Just yesterday afternoon, we closed on the fifth of 19 NSP-funded affordable housing units that we are building in the Point Breeze neighborhood. Community Ventures supports Councilman Johnson's Bill No. 120755, authorizing the Redevelopment Authority to acquire vacant properties in Point Breeze. Contrary to statements made in some places, this is not an extreme proposal, and we understand that it does not involve taking any properties for which credible development plans have been submitted. The acquisition proposal includes strategically selected sites, many in close proximity to other City-owned land. We believe that the development now taking place in Point Breeze will continue. With houses now selling routinely for over $270,000 and with some sales as high as the mid $300,000 range, developers have the values they need to renovate and build new housing. As blighted conditions are reduced, values will increase further. In many respects, these changes are positive. Economically integrated neighborhoods are likely to be safer and to have better schools, stronger commercial districts, and more jobs. They are better places to live for everyone. But those changes have a negative side as well, and, that is, the wholesale loss of affordable rental housing and the displacement of low-income families. Nearly one-half of Point Breeze's housing units are rentals, and the occupants of those houses and apartments are particularly vulnerable to increasing housing costs. Point Breeze has changed greatly over the past ten years since I moved into the City, and this proposal will not hinder Point Breeze's ongoing revival. The acquisition of approximately two dozen lots in Point Breeze could help to preserve a small number of affordable housing units in a neighborhood where affordability is rapidly disappearing. This proposed legislation could facilitate the redevelopment of these blighted locations. At the same time, it could aid in protecting a vulnerable population in an otherwise gentrifying neighborhood. Thank you for your time.
Peter Moore, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
Hold on one second, sir. Folks, I'd ask you to please turn your cell phones on vibrate or off so we don't continue to disrupt the Council session. Thank you. Please proceed, sir.
I stand here in support of the bill. Thirty-five years I've been connected to the Point Breeze community. Years ago, we were -- I'm currently a member of the Board of Directors of Diversified Community Services, but 35 years ago, we began the battle to get Dixon House Community Center, which is also part of Diversified rebuilt, and then in the last five, six years, we reinvested on Point Breeze Avenue and built the new Mamie Nichols Center, which is the headquarters for DCS. For a great many years, we've been trying and working with families in Point Breeze. You're getting people to qualify for mortgages and buy properties as first-time home buyers, and in addition, we've spent many, many years helping families that have owned properties retain their properties inside Point Breeze. The Director of Dixon House and I met with Kenyatta before, Councilman Johnson, before he took office, and we were expressing to him the concern that we had never thought that we'd see such rapid change in a community in our lifetime. Mamie Nichols, longtime leader in Point Breeze, said, Wait, one day you'll see it. But for three decades, we had seen nothing. And I think there are huge opportunities when communities see reinvestment. There are tremendous opportunities for everybody, but I believe from the bottom of my heart that as the tide rises, we have to find ways and opportunities for it to lift boats throughout a community. This is really a very modest proposal. A community as it comes together -- and I think the folks in this room and the many other people within Point Breeze, we all need to be coming together to look for a broader vision that includes places for all constituencies within a community, and particularly at a time like this when communities that are getting the kind of investment that's occurring, we're not seeing investment in housing for police officers or teachers unfortunately or for many in the service industries. My own stepdaughter lives in Point Breeze, and she works as a firefighter out of 24th and Wolf, and my grandchildren that I drive to school every day and throughout that community, you're worried whether or not they're going to be able to remain or that other people, whether they work for the City or the School District or Lowe's or all the service industries, are going to be able to have a place to live. So I'd just like to close to say that I think this is a very modest down payment, and Diversified really is looking forward to working with people throughout this community in fleshing out a broad vision that includes investments that are going to benefit everybody within this community. Thank you.
Jeff Allegretti, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Jeffrey Allegretti. I'm President of Innova Services Corporation, an affordable housing development company that's been located in Point Breeze for the past 16 years, and I'm here in support of Councilman Johnson's efforts to target vacant, blighted, blight-producing parcels in Point Breeze for acquisition and redevelopment as affordable housing. Our stated mission is to create and preserve affordable housing while contributing to the sustainable redevelopment of transitional neighborhoods. In the past four years, we've developed 26 homes for sale to income-qualified buyers through the City's HRP and NSP programs. And I'll try and synthesize, given the time constraints, two primary impediments that we face in doing that. The first is the difficulty in taking blighted parcels and acquiring them so that they can become affordable housing. Some parcels have liens in excess of their market value, making private sale impossible, while others have owners who are either unreasonable or unwilling to sell their blight-producing properties while waiting for bigger future payoffs while they destabilize the neighborhood in the interim. The second big issue for us, especially in Point Breeze, is the rapidly appreciating home values, especially in the area closest to Washington Avenue, where this bill focuses its efforts. It's made it harder and harder for us to be able to maintain affordability as we do our development, as the prices for even the blighted parcels have been rapidly rising along with the rest of the market. I know there always will be some controversy around the public taking of private property for even the noblest goals and I do wish there were smarter and easier ways to acquire blighted and destabilizing parcels for development as new affordable housing, but until there is, Bill No. 120755 and future bills like it represent smart and effective public policy. It removes blight, it cleans murky titles, and it encourages affordable housing development, especially where market mechanisms cannot and especially in gentrifying neighborhoods like Point Breeze. We urge City Council to pass this important bill. Thank you.
Otis Bullock, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Otis Bullock and I am testifying as Executive Director of Diversified Community Services in support of this bill. And first before I begin, I would like to commend Councilman Johnson for introducing this bill. A lot of things have happened with this bill. It started at 90-some-odd properties. It came down to, I think, 43 properties, and now I think it's 28. And I think that shows the Councilman's commitment to working with the community, working with developers, for a commitment to development in Point Breeze. So I appreciate that. Diversified Community Services' mission is to enable children, youth, and families to realize their fullest potential in safe neighborhoods. We are the largest community-based organization in Point Breeze. We've been serving the Point Breeze neighborhood for more than a hundred years. Our Dixon House, which Peter Moore spoke of, has been in Point Breeze for 85 years. Typically, Diversified Community Services is recognized as one of the go-to organizations in South Philadelphia, because people know that we bring the leadership and the resources, and we're typically known as an organization that gets things done. Our aim is to bring people together in the spirit of friendship and pursue common goals and interests, which is within our tradition coming out of the Settlement House tradition from the 1900s. Our Dixon House has always been a place where every facet of a community could come together, and we're hoping in the spirit of cooperation, in the spirit of unity, that Diversified can serve as an outlet to bring both new and old residents together for a common goal. Here on Bill No. 120755, we think it's important to have this bill because it's important to maintain the affordability of Point Breeze. Everybody knows that over the past several years, Point Breeze has been a highly gentrifying neighborhood and Point Breeze has some challenges. In a neighborhood like this, it's important to bring in new residents, but it's also important to maintain affordability for residents who have been living in Point Breeze for a very long time, which is why we support this bill. There's other reasons that we support this bill on purely policy issues. Anybody who is familiar with the Office of Housing and Community Development's Consolidated Plan for Year 38, this bill is definitely in support of that. It's consistent with the neighborhood plan. In the Consolidated Plan, the Plan calls for preservation of about 10,000 affordable housing units across Philadelphia. I see my time is running out, but I want to say that it also supports private-public investments in the neighborhood, and this is a -- I think I got to go, but I'm going to wrap up. I'm wrapping up. This is a bill that has been consistent with private-public partnerships, and I just want to say to everybody who is in opposition of the bill in this room, I want you to read the bill and I want you to look at -(Applause.)
By the way, he's a good friend of mine, so the fact that we limited his testimony to three minutes, it shows you, I am not biased.
Sylvia Wilkins, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. Good morning. I wasn't expecting to be called that quickly.
I'm Sylvia Wilkins. I live in the 1700 block of Federal Street. My parents bought my house in 1949, and I've lived there all my life. I'm here today because for the past ten years, I've been saying, How long do I have to live in Point Breeze before I get a chance to say what happens to my neighborhood? And I think that it's important that I'm here today to say that we need the support of this bill. When my siblings and I were children, we used to say, Oh, I can't wait to get out of here and go move somewhere else. And my parents used to say to us, Why? Everything happens in South Philly. Art, music, sports, it's right here. So I'm the only one who listened to them, by the way. This morning I decided that I was going to look up the definition of "neighborhood" and "community." And I'm not going to read the whole list, but some things jumped out at me that I think are important, and one part for "neighborhood" says, The people living near one another, a section lived in by neighbors and usually having distinguishing characteristics. Community, a unified body of individuals as the people with common interests living in a particular area, an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location. Nowhere in that description does it say anything about a realtor or a developer. (Applause.)
My question here is, all these people who are protesting this, I want to know where they've been since 1999 when we've been trying to get help from not tearing down and rebuilding. No one was in sight. My block consisted of every kind of ethnicity that you could think of, and I personally don't want what happened in the SOSNA neighborhood to happen in my neighborhood. I was encouraged by this list, number one, because most of the houses are right behind me off of Federal Street and where $200,000 and $300,000 homes are now built, and we need the diversity. And I ask for your support, because people need to learn how to live with one another and not have it based on how much their house is worth or what education level they have or who their parents were. Thank you.
Good morning. Ms. WYAIT: Good morning, everybody. I'm here to represent the bill. As the young lady said earlier, and she said more than I could ever say, I think a senior citizen as I am, that we need people around us who are diversified. The developers come from different states. They come in to make purchases, and they're only here for the money. We live here. We live with each other, happy or sad. We're always at each other'S back, doing the good things as well as the bad, and you do that in every neighborhood. So I personally am for the bill, because it helps those of us who cannot afford the developers. Thank you.
Marvin Robinson, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
The reason why I'm not supporting this bill, because I remember underneath the Haddington's Leadership Organization -- Geneva Black was one of the Board members -- and they have brought this in demand to our neighborhood, and I remember this organization that came 16 years ago, I'm talking about, 16 years ago. So a lot of y'all probably wasn't here, but they came in our neighborhood and they tore down these properties, and they really didn't fix no properties up in our neighborhood, took away from the people in our neighborhood. I was a member of the Haddington's Leadership at that time when the Haddington's Leadership -- I'm sure all y'all probably know when Haddington's Leadership was operating up in for and command. And if it didn't work 16 years ago in our neighborhood, I'm sure it's probably not going to work in any other neighborhood. Now, I'm telling you my experience underneath Geneva Black, and she was upset during the time after the years went by that this didn't work for our neighborhood. So it's not that I don't want to see a developer come. It's just the fact that how they came in our neighborhood and tore down all these properties and never fixed none of them up but a few of them here, there, and there. And I live in the West Philadelphia area. I'm a committee person in the 4th Ward, 15th Division. I'm not here to break unity, but I'm here to testify just on that behalf, that what I saw -- and I'm underneath great leadership, and I'm telling you now, Jannie Blackwell was the Council and all during that time, you know, and I saw that -- and I look at my neighborhood and I saw what they did, and I think to this day, we was promised this, we was promised that, and they did not show up and do that. So God be the glory. If y'all want them in your neighborhood, I have nothing to do with that, but I'm just testifying on that behalf, because I was a Board member of the Haddington's Leadership when they brought that to our community and it didn't work. So the only thing I can say, I wish y'all do the best thing, analyze it for the best for all the people in the City, and make the best choice. Like I said, if it didn't work in our neighborhood underneath great leadership now -- I'm not talking about any leadership -- great leadership, it's not going to work today as I see. Thank you, and God bless.
Good morning. My name is Michael Noda. I'm a resident of Point Breeze. I live right around the corner from Ms. Brookins. I live on the 1600 block of Annin Street, and I'm a renter. And I want to thank the Councilmember, Councilman Johnson, for his great concern for people like me who rent in Point Breeze, but I have to disagree with his methods and I stand against 120755. These properties are going to be coming off the market and they are going to stay off the market for five years, ten years, maybe 30 years, because that's how long properties owned by the City in the neighborhood of Point Breeze have been off the market. Now, while they sit in the City's hands -- and hopefully they won't be there very long -- the supply of housing is going to be restricted and what housing remains is going to be more expensive for people like me, people like my neighbors. So, again, thank you, Councilman, for your concern, but this is not the way to show it.
Excuse me, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have to leave the Chamber for a bit. I would like to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions in my absence.
Christopher Sawyer, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I'm one of the most vocal critics against 120755. That haphazardly eminent domain's property in Point Breeze that includes some privately owned property, much of this was supposed to go to the Sheriff's sale process. We don't care. We just want more land, is what this is all about. Curiously enough, this bill started out with over 90 properties. Then we had to go whittle it down some more and some more and some more. Never in recent history has the City actually gone after properties with active plans for development or with active owners and they're being told, Oh, yeah, expect some token payments from us after this passes. The public asked, Do you have plans to build something here, concrete plans? And the response from PRA was, Well, we'll figure it out when we do the RFPs. That's not an appropriate answer when you're going to swipe private property with very little due process. Now, the City occasionally sells lots it owns for market rate development to turn it back over to the tax rolls, but out of the huge armada of parcels the City sits on in this neighborhood, at least 311 properties at last count, I see very little new affordable housing going up right now on those lots. Now, why is that? I'm met with dead silence whenever I ask that question. I also met with silence on why the City won't gut and refurb vacant houses that it also owns in Point Breeze for affordable housing. Now, you ask Mr. Covington from PRA why nothing has happened on the City-owned lots. Oh, that's right, nobody in this Chamber asked him. Now, I was here watching the hearings for this bill when it was voted out of Committee. Nobody who gets a paycheck from the City of Philadelphia dare to answer this question, why the largest landholder in Point Breeze does diddly-squat with all the property it owns and it doesn't want to sell. Further, the City itself is the largest nuisance property owner in Point Breeze. I mean, too bad the PRA doesn't take eminent domain as seriously as it took the encroachment of a certain vacant lot in Point Breeze because the adjacent property owner was so sick of the performance of PRA maintenance crews who were supposed to take care of PRA property. I seem to recall the news of that lot made it to publications as far as Peshawar, Pakistan. Has anybody in this Chamber ever had to walk on a PRA-maintained sidewalk after it snows? I hope your kids have their kneepads and their crash helmets on. The Philadelphians in this room here today, you're being fed a lie. You're being given an expectation that bountiful affordable housing is just around the corner and it's coming to your neighborhood, courtesy of City grants to favored developers. There's no rosy NSP II funding scenario that even remotely suggests anything substantial is coming. If affordable housing funding was bountiful, PHA would be busy expanding right now. So enjoy your councilmanic privilege today and vote for a bill that's useless, a waste of time, and precious federal dollars and it is a joke. Too bad the people who are waiting for affordable housing in Point Breeze don't know, the joke is on them. (Applause and boos.)
Ori Feibush, commenting on 120755. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Ori Feibush, and I am tired of business as usual here in Philadelphia. Bill 120755 is not a housing bill. It's a vacant property bill.
Hold on, sir. Folks, could you please keep your voices down and respect the speaker. Thank you. Please proceed.
The City has not figured out a way to maintain or build on the thousands of lots it already owns, and yet you want to take more. Vacant lots create blight. They create crime. They harm neighbors and they harm neighborhoods. Facts are facts. You keep telling everyone that they should just trust you. Let us take these lots now and we'll put out a plan later, you'll all love it. How about you put the plan out now before the vote, before you take these lots? If a private citizen wants to build something, they have public meetings and they receive feedback. Why are you all above the law? None of you has any idea what's going to be built here and where the money is coming to build it. Will these homes be two-story or three? Will they be one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom or four? What will be the price? You keep saying the word "affordable." Affordable, affordable, affordable, affordable. But the only ones in this room that can actually afford these affordable homes are you and me. Talk is cheap. Put the sale price in writing as an addendum to the bill. There are currently eight affordable homes listed for sale in Point Breeze. Four were listed for $182,000, one for 225,000, and four for $255,000. That's not affordable. Put it in writing. What should we believe, your words or your actions? You say you're going to be affordable. Put the price in writing. I am sick and tired of backroom deals and of you telling your constituents one thing and doing another. The people in this audience are far smarter than you think. You are not going to trick them into supporting something that hurts the community by simply saying the word "affordable." You're speaking out of both sides of your mouth and hurting the very people you need to help the most. If you really cared about helping those in need, you would take the money you are wasting buying dozens of properties that the City doesn't want or need and use it to give rental subsidies to those that need them. Renters are the ones most at risk here, not someone that can afford a $250,000 home. Or if you want to promote homeownership, you take the money and you build on the lots you already own. In the time you've spent fighting over some vacant lots, your colleagues up here have already broken ground on hundreds of new homes. Why can't you? So congratulations. You're taking money that could be used for true affordable housing and using it to buy more vacant land, just what our broke city needs. I guess next Thanksgiving your office can hand out tents instead of turkeys. Please support Point Breeze and the City of Philadelphia. Vote no to Bill 120755. Thank you. (Applause and boos.)
Point of order. Point of order. (Audience members yelling out.)
Mr. President, could we have the last commenter come back to the mic.
Sir, I didn't get a chance to ask you this question at the hearing. Do you view it to be a waste of money for people not to pay taxes for ten years on their ten-year tax abatement program?
Do you view it as a waste of money for people not to have to pay taxes for the ten-year tax abatement program?
People that have ten-year tax abatement programs do pay taxes.