Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. One second. Are we okay? Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution recognizing the immeasurable contributions Fergus "Fergie" Carey has made to the quality of life in the City 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings to examine the feasibility of choosing a locally elected Board of Education and furthermore to examine the process required to do so, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
The 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings regarding the implementation of a focused deterrence program citywide in Philadelphia to reduce gun violence, the creation of an Office of Violence Reduction and the appointment of an executive director and appropriate staff 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING to such an office, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution and I'd like to be recognized for remarks. (Duly seconded.)
Please do so, sir. It's been moved and properly seconded. Proceed, sir.
Today I introduced two resolutions relating to public safety. One is on the probation and parole, and it's been co-sponsored by Councilman Johnson, Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Bass, and supported by all members. The second is the resolution before us today that was just read by the Clerk, focused deterrence. The co-sponsors are Councilman Johnson, 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilwoman Bass, Councilman Squilla, and supported by all members. The first resolution stems from the April 12th, 2013 Public Safety Committee hearing. The dangerous, no warrant culture of the state's probation and parole was exposed in this very Chamber. Therefore, I'm calling on this Committee again to examine the Board's policies and procedures related to parole violations, the number of warrants issued in Philadelphia, and how those numbers compare to the rest of the state. Further, the Committee needs to examine the Board's compliance with court orders directing immediate detention upon a technical violation, as well as their data-keeping procedures. We need to keep drilling down into how the Board runs its shop. We will not stop until we get the real answers and until we get change. My second resolution is about focused deterrence. There have been 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING 4,300 violent crimes in Philadelphia since the start of this year. The number includes 76 homicides and more than 760 gun robberies. Just listen to those numbers. More than 4,300 violent crimes, more than 760 robberies using a gun, 76 murders. I repeat, 76 families that have lost their loved one, 76 Philadelphians who have been denied their full potential. And it's only April. Sadly, we haven't reached the warm weather months where we know this is going to spike. I'm nervous about what that number will be this time in December. We need to utilize smarter ways to stop the senseless end of so many lives and the destruction of families across our city. The focused deterrence strategy has repeatedly demonstrated that serious violence can be dramatically reduced when law enforcement, community members, and social services providers join together to directly engage with violent street 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING groups to clearly communicate three things. One, law enforcement's message that future violence will be met with clear and predictable consequences; second, a community moral message that violence will no longer be tolerated; and, third, that a genuine offer of help to those who want it. This is new, it's creative, and it's effective. This proven and inclusive strategy was designed by Dr. David Kennedy of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, but Kennedy's roadmap to thoughtfully reduce gun violence is only successful if it's fully implemented with complete buy-in from all of our stakeholders, including the business community, because public safety is a shared responsibility. I believe the City needs to invest in sustainability of focused deterrence and create a permanent structure to organize and administer the strategy. This would include the 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING creation of an Office of Violence Reduction, an appointment of an executive director, and appropriate staff to run and manage the Office of Violence Reduction. Therefore, I'm calling for hearings to explore the implementation of focused deterrence citywide to make Philadelphia a better and safer place, and I move for the adoption and I ask for the support of the members.
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and its practices in Philadelphia, including the violation of parole conditions, the issuance of technical and direct violation warrants, the recommitment process and the effect these processes have on the safety of the citizens of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to review the recommendations of the Philadelphia Jobs Commission, introduced by Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That resolution is 4/25/13 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution honoring the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware on two decades of commitment to supporting the economic empowerment and growth of African-American businesses on the occasion of its 20 year Anniversary, introduced by Councilman Jones and all members of Council.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Any speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Recognition to my colleague who has put forth several ordinances to deal with public safety today. I think they are needed. But as Chair of Public Safety, public safety means different things to different people. To Mr. Grover Edwards, a 74-year-old retiree from the Navy Yard, who lives at 59th and Springfield, public safety meant to be able to go into his door, to enjoy his life in the fourth quarter of that life. According to the Daily News, he was found shot dead and his home set on fire in an attempt to hide the crime that was committed. Today you passed a bill requiring the District Attorney's Office and the Police Department to be a part of the Mayor's Commission on Aging. I think that time has come that we protect our senior citizens. It is a statistical fact that crimes against seniors are on the rise. Coming up before this body also will be a resolution calling for hearings to deal with utility workers that are impersonated in a way to gain entry into our seniors' homes. We need to look at this and add this to the cadre of things that keeps them safe. I've had my colleagues on the Public Safety Committee, Councilman Squilla, who has fought hard for the deed protection, along with the introduction by Councilman Greenlee. I think all of these things work together to protect a population that we should not be in this Chamber having to argue about protecting. They've paid their dues. They've done incredible things. This man, Mr. Edwards, was a grandfather. He had children, and all of them thought that he was safe last night, and it is our job to make that so. As we are, he once was. As he is, we may well be. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you. I rise on behalf of Councilman Dennis O'Brien and myself to announce the first meeting of the School Safety Task Force tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to support the disabled and special needs population in our School District. Our visitors Judge Dumas; Pedro Ramos, head of the SRC; Dr. William Hite, our Superintendent; representative from the DA's Office and DHS; certainly as well as Cynthia Dorsey in the Police Department, and many others. It will be very, very important. We hope that you will come. And also at 1 o'clock -- both are in the Caucus Room. At 1 o'clock in the Caucus Room, Susan Gobreski of Education Voters of PA and Anne Gemmell of Fight for Philadelphia will present an update from statewide school funding and advocacy, and they will have everything from statewide polling to legislative updates and all other kinds of information. So certainly we hope that folks will make themselves available as they can to attend both at 10:00 and at 1:00. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President. One brief announcement. , we will be hosting my annual spring Community Job Fair. We will have more than 50 employers participating. We will also be hosting workshops on interviewing skills as well as resume and cover letter skills as well. So we just want to encourage individuals, if they know of anyone looking for employment during these tough economical times, to please come out and participate. , and we're looking for a large turnout. To also, Council President, I want to commend you and the City Council leadership team for advocating in Harrisburg regarding four pieces of to AVI and really stepping up to the plate and going to Harrisburg and advocating for some level of relief as we address the issue of AVI. And so the first part of that hurdle was the passage out of the Urban Affairs Committee, the means testing bill, which will give us an opportunity to look at how we appropriate and distribute gentrification relief. Also one of the important pieces of legislation is really having the opportunity to tack liens on individuals who have multiple properties throughout the State of Pennsylvania and maybe robbing the City of Philadelphia blind as it relates to them paying their fair share of back taxes and liens. And so I want to acknowledge you and your leadership team for taking the initiative, being proactive very early on in this process and calling on the members of the House to continue pushing the ball down the court as well arrive in the Senate, that they'll also do the right thing on behalf of the residents of Philadelphia. And, Mr. President, even as we discussed AVI during this budget process, a lot of times we tend to focus on the potential effects on homeowners. Without adequate protections, homeowners could be taxed out of their homes. We tend to overlook the fact that huge increases in taxes in certain neighborhoods will have a real impact on long-term renters. Landlords with extraordinary increases in property taxes will pass costs on to renters in the form of increased rent, which can also revolve in individuals becoming homeless. I definitely agree that everyone needs to pay their fair share, especially landlords with multiple investment properties, but we need to be mindful about the implementation of AVI and make sure that the assessments are accurate, because it only affects not but, more importantly, the renter. If AVI isn't done right, we could see neighborhoods change overnight. We also need to be going after landlords who operate multiple investment properties paying for and obtaining the proper licenses without paying for their proper licenses and permits. I think Access Philly did a study on how L&I was still issuing permits, and individuals had outstanding back taxes and liens and them still having the opportunity to build properties. So I'm pretty confident that the commission of L&I has taken a look into this issue, as he mentioned when he did come down to City Council, but we want to make sure that everyone is paying their fair share. And as we move forward in this process, I'll be a consistent advocate to make sure it's not about people not wanting to pay their fair share, but making sure, one, this process is transparent and, two, it's done accurately as we move forward of AVI. And so I wanted to just thank you very much, Council President, as well as your leadership team for stepping up to the plate, going to Harrisburg, putting those bills out there on the table.
And so as we move forward and really get down to the nitty-gritty of our budget process, we can provide a level of relief to those individuals who will be severely impacted by AVI, and, more importantly, they will also gain a level of confidence in this body as it relates to we are trying to do something as opposed to just sitting on the sidelines, but we are in the game. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. And the reality is that our ability to get movement in Harrisburg in some degrees an unprecedented way goes back to our early process when we met with both members of the House of Representatives Philadelphia delegation several times, and I think understanding the need to have those relationships, because the reality is from a legislative perspective, more often than not, it's about the relationship between the two and not necessarily the policy. So all of the members in Council have played a significant role in that, so I want to thank everybody for participating in those early processes. So with that, I'd like to recognize Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Surely, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. I offer a soft reminder to my colleagues to, if your scheduled permits, join us next door, spend a few minutes with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, as we will be there until 1 o'clock. Lastly, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council shall stand adjourned. Thank you all very much. ) 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. ) A additional 9:24 114:17 117:16 America 71:2 109:24 abandoned 27:23 53:7 82:8 affordable 28:6 American 16:12 apply 139:20 28:11 117:21 afforded 69:15 106:19 appointment ability 57:15 Additionally 28:5 afraid 107:24 Americans 10:18 45:24 119:24 136:21 address 55:16 African 10:18 America's 72:24 124:3 able 3:4,12,18,24 133:5 16:12 34:13 Amy 59:24 appointments 4:18,19,21 13:2 addressed 73:13 African-Ameri... and/or 139:22 115:2,9 56:10 128:25 addressing 136:2 48:21 49:2 angels 57:22 70:7 appreciation 11:7 absence 6:21 7:3 adequate 134:9 127:4,8 animal 24:20 21:18 7:11 adhere 54:16 afternoon 24:9 27:14,21 29:14 approached 55:4 abundantly 3:5 adjourn 137:15 age 9:16 10:5,17 29:19 30:2 32:6 58:6 59:25 abuse 60:22 adjourned 137:24 agents 70:14 32:7 63:13 67:22 abused 74:14 138:5,14,16 Aging 115:10 animals 25:16 72:11 74:3 academic 16:22 ADJOURNME... C 16:18 79:18 82:13 36:22 37:11 13:13 17:15,16 district 19:23 85:3 87:22 43:9,19 48:23 36:24 47:6 25:22 26:8 27:9 E ear 66:7 emerging 20:25 entered 9:5 excellence 16:22 Falkowitz 13:22 earlier 75:4 employee 60:19 entering 56:14 exchange 73:4 13:24 early 24:8 133:23 employees 55:22 entire 30:24 execute 40:20 families 60:25 136:23 137:12 55:23 58:20,21 entirely 31:22 41:10 44:16 65:20 67:6,12 ease 5:20 13:20 59:10,13 66:13 66:19,20 executive 30:22 122:8,18 15:3,4 24:14,15 employer 65:5 entitled 40:7,9 45:25 119:25 family 12:13 61:5 32:21,22 66:11 51:14,15,17 124:3 61:20 62:9 64:6 easier 110:8 employers 66:9 79:12 82:5,7 existed 13:4 64:23,25 65:4 economic 17:15 132:10 101:3 111:14 expand 108:21 65:16,25 70:4 18:8 47:6 48:24 employer-cover...