Good evening, Madam President, Councilpersons, and colleagues and friends of Philadelphia. I am Henry Bennett.
I am Henry Bennett. I am a person living with the AIDS virus. I come here to speak on behalf of those persons living with the virus who are homeless and afraid to speak and acknowledge their status. I come here as a member of the activist group fighting for a person living with the virus: ACT UP Philadelphia. I'm lending my voice and my face to their cause on behalf of those persons living in fear and stigma because of acknowledging the fact of their status. 321 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) I come here today because I want to make you aware of those persons living with the virus in the City who need your help and understanding. I'm speaking not for myself but for all of those hundreds of persons living in shelters, on the streets, in the parks, and under the bridges because they can't or are afraid to come to you and ask for your help to put money in the budget for AIDS housing. I could give you hundreds of horror stores that are pitiable, sad, embarrassing about the experiences that they've had in the shelters and living on the streets. Myself, I am the old man who lives in the brown tent on the side of the road at 15th and Vine. I do this because this is a better alternative than the shelters or living in Suburban Station or sleeping under the bridge. In my tent, I'm not hassled by the police who ticket me for being 322 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) homeless, and I'm not hassled by the shelter workers who are supposed to be helping me, who take my meds, who abuse me physically, mentally, and emotionally. In my tent, I'm not around the sickness such as colds, TB, scabies, scarlet fever that are found in the shelters. I'm not sleeping in the same room as hundred of men coughing and sneezing. You know, sometimes having a roof over your head is not worth it. I'm not saying that my disability should put me ahead of the needs of anyone else living with a disability. I just want to make you completely aware that a person with a disability that compromises your immune system should not be living in a shelter. Honored Councilmembers, Madam President, please hear my plea. And when you're thinking about this budget, I want you to think of all of the hundreds of persons who can't 323 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) speak who are -- who I am the voice for in coming here. I'm asking that City Council provide safe and affordable housing for persons living with HIV and AIDS. Thank you for your time and attention.
A summation of the state of affairs of homelessness and HIV and AIDS. What is the need for housing for people with HIV and AIDS in Philadelphia? HUD has determined that there are 8,000 households with people with AIDS in need of subsidized housing. Why is subsidized housing especially important for people with AIDS? The average price for a one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia is 324 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) $803. You may be aware that SSI recipients get $674. How long is the waiting list for housing with HIV and AIDS? Presently, there is a waiting list of 165 to 200 people on the waiting list. It takes approximately two years for a person who applies for housing to receive the housing. If at any time during that period -- application period the application is interrupted, most of the time they have to start over. So, where is the money for housing coming from? Well, the federal government, in Fiscal 2009, gave $7.2 million to the City of Philadelphia. The City of Philadelphia has contributed zero dollars. Not only has the City of Philadelphia contributed no money towards HIV and AIDS housing specifically; they never have. How much money does -- we went over how much money is provided. Why should people with HIV and 325 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) AIDS get specific resources for housing? That's a good question. People with HIV and AIDS are more likely to get infections, opportunist infections and -- in shelter systems, within the shelter system. On the reverse side, we find that people who are housed with housing vouchers have less chance of getting opportunist infections, higher (indiscernible) counts, and lower viral loads. They're somewhat less infectious. And are more stable and less likely to participate in risky behavior. Isn't housing for people with HIV and AIDS expensive? That's the best part about it. On the low end, we find that it is more cost-effective to house people with shelter -- excuse me, with housing vouchers than it is in a shelter. In fact, on the low end, we find that it costs approximately $8,550 for a shelter to shelter a person for one year; 326 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) whereas, to give that same person a housing voucher, it's $8,500. So there's a savings of close to $500 [sic] per person in a more stable environment that puts less stress on our health system and provides a greater degree of public safety. Another factor involved here is that all people with HIV and AIDS, as my associate Henry has testified to, are not counted in the shelter system. In fact, a number -- a great number are also involved in recovery facilities, in prisons, and as well as on the street. So summarize the facts: It's cheaper to put people in housing, it's better for the people, it's better for the public. We find that it's not acceptable that our great city should not respond to this growing health crisis. And we beg Council to hear our plea.
Thank you very much. Good evening, sir. Kindly 327 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) identify yourself for the record.
Good evening, Madam President. My name is Clifford Williams. I am also testifying on behalf of an HIV-infected consumer and on behalf of ACT UP Philadelphia. I'm a person living with AIDS, who is also homeless. I would like to tell you a story of some of my major problems I have faced in my journey. I have been homeless off and on for several years. While living in the shelter, I developed scarlet fever and also was bitten by fleas. As a person with a weakened immune system, the shelter is not a safe place for me to stay. While I've been trying to get subsidies through institutions like ACCO (sp?), I have been given the runaround, told to first enter the shelter system, prove that I am homeless, then told by the shelter that they would not give me any papers to show that I am homeless. I 328 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) was finally told that the papers that I did get was not enough. I also have been told that my proof of an AIDS diagnosis expired because certain portions of the application process expires. My illness does not expire. It is an extra burden to have to be run around the City getting papers after paper signed to prove that my diagnosis is something that does not go away. These systems have failed me. Last February, my wife was in a shelter and I was in a shelter, and she also had cancer, and she was infected with the virus also. She passed last February 25, 2009. And the shelter is not a real germ-friendly [sic] environment for people with the virus. You risk infections of TB and other HIV-related illnesses, you know. So we are here, pleading and 329 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) asking that some funding be put into the budget for such an epidemic, which has turned pandemic, as we know. So if you'll just hear our cries. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Williams, we appreciate your coming in to testify. Gentlemen, thank you.
You're welcome. Our next witness? MR. McPHERSON: Nancy Goldenberg. (Witness comes forward.)
Hi. Nice seeing you. Please proceed. Please identify yourself for the record. 330 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET)
Good evening, Councilmembers. My name is Nancy Goldenberg. And joining me is my colleague Pete Hoskins. Together, we represent the 15-member Commission on Parks and Recreation. And we thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of the proposed budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation. The budget importantly calls for an addition of over $3.2 million in the department's budget. We are well aware that some may consider this increase an extravagance that the City can ill afford given its current deficit, but we believe otherwise: We believe that this increase is a wise and timely investment of necessity if Philadelphia is to prosper in today's competitive economy, an economy that is far more reliant on a green infrastructure and health and well-being of its citizens than ever 331 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) before in our lifetimes. Becoming the greenest city in America, as Mayor Nutter declared in Green Works Philadelphia, is an auspicious goal, but we believe it is achievable. Let's not forget that William Penn labeled Philadelphia "a green country town" for a reason. But over time, others have surpassed us in the use and maintenance of their green infrastructure, and it paid off for them. The proposed budget is a clear endorsement of Philadelphia's commitment to reclaim its number-one position and a recognition of our parks and recreation system as an economic generator. Specifically, 2.5 million in new funding would be used in part to accomplish the challenging goal of planting 300,000 new trees in order to increase the tree canopy in every neighborhood by 30 percent, which the Commission supports. This initiative responds 332 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) directly to the work of thousands of park and recreation advocates and gets us ever closer to being an amenity-rich city that can compete in today's economy. New funds will also be used to help achieve another Green Works goal, that of adding 500 new acres of open space by 2015 so that all residents can live within a ten-minute walk of park or open space. Furthermore, the additional dollars will help increase the department's capacity to work as a unified agency to help ensure that all services and programs, particularly those for our youth, are top-notch and connected in meaningful ways to the exploration of the outdoors. Even with this increased level of City funding, however, the Department of Parks and Recreation cannot be successful if it remains largely dependent on municipal services and resources. 333 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) Because of its ability to attract tourists and recreational enthusiasts from throughout the region, the department has an extraordinary opportunity to capture revenues from new sources and entrepreneurial activities. Learning from other cities, the Commission stands ready to support the department in defining new funding strategies to supplement and leverage City dollars by raising the additional money it needs, not just to meet today's needs but to a achieve the vision of becoming the nation's premier park and recreation system. I'd like now to turn the microphone to Pete Hoskins for a few brief comments particularly focused on revenue enhancement.
Thank you, Nancy. And thank you also, members of City Council for having us here today and for 334 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) being a part of creating the new Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. As chair of the Commission's Revenue Enhancements Committee, I too support the Mayor's proposed budget for 2011 to add nearly $3.3 million to the department's budget in support of important investments in our parks and recreation system. In a normal economic environment, it might be pressing to suggest increasing the budget of Parks and Recreation; but at last, there's a clear recognition that municipal support of Philadelphia's parks and recreation system, which can be an extraordinary resource for increased tourism, enhanced retail opportunity, higher property values, and environmental mitigation, has fallen far behind inflation over the last three decades. At last, there is demonstrated a determination to do something about that. Fortunately, over the years, 335 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) the former Fairmount Park Commission and the Recreation Department had helped make up a portion of that deficit with private funds developed through public-private partnerships with a wide range of organizations, including the Fairmount Park Conservancy, the recreation advisory councils, sports associations, concessionnaires, historic preservation organizations, and organizations promoting special events. Revenue from these activities not only adds enormously to the maintenance and programs of the now-new Parks and Recreation Department but also encourages private donations not otherwise possible for the City, totalling nearly $8 million in operation funds and additional millions for capital improvements. Having many years of experience in Fairmount Park myself, and now in the private and nonprofit sector, I can assure that continued encouragement of 336 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) entrepreneurial activity to augment the General Fund will be successful if the City continues its promise to add investments as well. As members of the new Parks and Recreation Commission, I can report that we are working hard to develop policies and guidelines that employ the best practices of successful parks and recreation departments across the country. In doing so, we have the benefit of using the thoughtful work done in recent years by the Park Reform Task Force, the Fairmount Park Alliance, and others in developing models of public/private support for parks and recreation programs that augment the City's commitment. We understand the delicate balance between accountability, accessibility, equity to all citizens, and entrepreneurship in a public environment. 337 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) The new Parks and Recreation Commission is dedicated to encouraging new bases of financial support and acting as a bridge to the Mayor and City Council to assure that in the end, it is the citizens of Philadelphia who get the best parks and recreation programs possible. Our citizens deserve nothing less. Thank you.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank you both for your testimony. It's important to hear from the new commission, and I want to thank both of you for serving on it. It's a very important thing we do in Philadelphia. I hope you understand that I think Philadelphia is number one today. We have -- we don't needed to achieve 338 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) most of what is in the great green works plan to be number one. We have more park land than any other city in the country; we may not be maintaining it as well as we need to; that's something we can certainly agree on. But governing is choosing between competing ideas for good, with limited resources, and we're going to have to make some tough choices this budget year. And I would suggest that when the economy rebounds and we're not asking people to pay more in taxes that I'll be fully supportive of what comes out of the Commission. You know, I think it is great to have reached goals, and I'll look forward to seeing us plant 60,000 trees every year for the next five years compared to our 678 a year last year, over the next few years. If that money is allocated, 2.5 million in the capital funds, I expect that that will survive in the Capital Budget. And if you can show 339 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) us you can plant 60,000 trees next year, I can't imagine that we won't be excited about this in the future. Thank you for your testimony.
Our next witness? MR. McPHERSON: Amy Dougherty. (Witness comes forward.)
Good evening. Before I go any further, happy National Library Week, which started today. (Applause.)
Good evening, President Anna Verna and members of City Council. My name is Amy Dougherty, and I am the executive director of the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) I want to thank you for holding public hearings on the budget and also would like to acknowledge City Council and Mayor Nutter on your hard work and dedication in maintaining City services under these extraordinarily difficult financial precious. Given the limited resources facing every City department, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge your commitment to your constituents and that of the agency that I and 50 library friends groups know and love, the Free Library. Despite headlines such as the one that appeared in Friday's New York Times, which said, "Why So Glum? Numbers Point to a Recovery," our city has not yet experienced the rebound. So I am aware of the difficult choices that you have before you. S. " And then I'll briefly update you on what's happening in Philadelphia regarding library services. S. population over the age of 14 used library Internet computers and that Internet access is now one of the most sought-after public library services. Those in poverty relied on these resources even more. Forty-five percent of the 169 million visitors connected to the Internet using a library computer or a wireless network during their visit. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) residents use public library computers and Internet services, these resources are particularly effective in addressing the needs of families who lack access elsewhere. Technology draws teens to the library. Now, isn't that a wonderful place for our teens. Social connections. Overall, people perform both life-changing and routine tasks regardless of income. They apply for college, secure government benefits, learn about critical medical treatments, connect with families and friends, manage bank accounts, apply for permits, start local clubs, and read the daily newspaper. Two-thirds of all users logged on to help others. Education. Public libraries are an extension of the nation's educational system. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) as doing homework, searching for and applying for GED or graduate programs, completing online courses and tasks, applying for financial aid; and more than half of library patrons who use libraries computers to seek financial aid received it. Two-thirds of people who use library computers received help from library staff. Forty-two percent of 14- to 18-year-olds use library computers to do school work. Employment. Forty percent of respondents, or 30 million people, use library computers and Internet access for employment or career purposes, 76 percent of whom use library computers specifically for job opportunities, 66 percent submitted job applications online and 40 percent worked on their résumés. Health and wellness. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) issues: 53 percent for information on medical procedures, 83 percent for information about disease, illness, or medical conditions, 60 percent for information about diet and health, 53 percent to learn about medical procedures. Fifty percent used online services at libraries to find a doctor or health-care provider, 83 percent to change their diet, and 84 percent to change their exercise habits. So the study goes on. Clearly, both local and nationally, people -- excuse me. People use libraries to link to governmental agencies, both local and national, laws government forms and services. Community and civic engagement figures were interesting, as 33 percent using library computers learned about politics, news in their community. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) their personal finances.
The Gates Foundation's recommendations in their executive summary notes that the results of the report demonstrates that libraries have been a silent partner in workforce development, educational achievement, health-information delivery, and bringing government services to citizens. And the report notes that significant public benefit of investment in library technology and calls on policy-makers to more fully integrate libraries' role in achieving positive public outcomes. So how are we doing here in Philadelphia? I will leave you to decide that with these few facts: Far too many of our library branches are not open consistently. 5 instances of closures or limited hours each day. So clearly, we don't have enough staff at our library branches or something. So we are to understand from the testimony provided by the Free Library today that 35 additional staffers will be hired to fill the gap, and this will stop the unscheduled closures, all with no additional General Fund or Class 100 dollars. 5 scheduled closures -- unscheduled closures per day? Has it taken all year to hire 35 staffers? 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) I'm skeptical. And I suggest that in reality, we not -- we will not see 35 additional staffers with the same 32 $32,968,000 in the Library's budget. 5 million more dollars for the Library's General Fund, for a total of $35,368,000 in order to make sure that all branches are open five days per week on every day that they are scheduled to open, so that our children, students, job seekers, and every one of us who needs electronic resources for job searches, educational resources, or to get connected to our government services or health-care providers can get the access to information that we need at our publicly-funded free library. 5 million more dollars would look like this: $1,750,000 would go towards Class 100 staff. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) order to stabilize service at five days a week. And if that works so well, to move slowly towards six days per week. $750,000 for materials to be allocated to collections in order to build back the system's collection, which, in some branches, is severely strained, even given the thousands of dollars per year that our Friends groups raise to augment the Library's material budget. That ends my testimony, and thank you for your time.
Your testimony has really been very informative. Thank you so much for coming in.
Our next witness? MR. McPHERSON: Is a panel for the Coalition for Central Services. (Witnesses come forward.)
349 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) Please identify yourself for the record. and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Katrina Clark, and I'm a member of the Durham Library. And I want to thank everyone for coming; I know it's late. First of all, I just basically want to reiterate what Miss Dougherty said, but definitely, from a more personal perspective, out of Durham, we are really dealing with some issues with inconsistency with hours, especially due to guards. The four-employee rule, that you must have four employees right now at a time where staffing is lower has really been a struggle for us, especially when you cannot have a substitute guard there. Seasonal guards were just cut down two-thirds, to eight hours per week, and that really limits the possibility of having our guard when our guard is absent due to illness, death in the family, or any other personal reason. Thus, it's been very difficult for our community 350 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) members to know when exactly our library is open. As a teacher, just the other day, our smallest children at Montessori Genesis Two were just lining up to go to the library, and I said, "Oh, Miss Brown, please call them first because we just don't know when our library is going to be open." I believe that at any point, when a business or an organization just cannot have consistent hours, that is a clear sign that it is hanging by a thread, it is not thriving the way that it should. Recently, at Durham, we tried to go above and beyond to provide our community's children with free enrichment programming on a Saturday; we are not a Tuesday-through-Saturday branch; we're Monday through Friday. And we even raised money. In fact, Miss Blackwell gave us some money to help -- have -- to pay for our guard 351 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) ourselves, and people from all over donated up to $450 just so we could pay for a guard, and we're all volunteering to be there. And then we were told we still can't do it, we cannot do it. Because of the red tape, we cannot provide our community with the free services for our children that we believe that they deserve. Children in the suburbs can do these things, they have the money; our kids don't have it. We raise the money so that they can have it, and we still can't give it to them. Our library is for our community, and we're struggling to give them what they deserve. The last point I want to make is that what looks good on paper is not necessarily the same thing as having a strong system. Technically, on paper, we have a 20 percent cut, and I understand that that's supposed to be a shared sacrifice. But what that really in reality 352 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) has come to mean is that it has busted the morale of all of the staff in the library, it has decimated the ability of our libraries to meet the needs of the citizens in our system. So I am asking for a restoration of funds so that we can do the job that we were told that we would be able to do. Just like Miss Dougherty said, we need to funding in order to just stay open to five days per week. At this point, the average is below five, and that's not what we were promised. So if we could have the funding that we need to go through and say and do what we were told we would be able to do, then I'd be happy. But right now, it's been a lie to us, that we would be able to take care of the citizens in our communities. Thank you.
Thank you. (Applause.) 353 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET)
Sorry to interrupt. We're not the Coalition for Essential Services; right now, we're the Coalition to Save the Libraries.
Good evening. My name is Jerome Knowling. To Mayor Nutter and staff -- AND I know he's not here -- Council President, City Council members, Superintendent of the Library --
Would you mind pulling the microphone closer to you; we can't hear you.
Okay, okay. Let 354 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) me start again. My name is Jerome Knowling. To Mayor Nutter and staff, Council President and City Council members, Superintendent of the Library, and esteemed staff and esteemed guests, I'm here to testify about the conditions that exist in the David Cohen Ogontz branch of the library. There are many concerns I would like to address, if permitted, major concerns such as unscheduled closings. Our library is closed or open late two to three times a week, without warning -- lack of staff for opening, lack of guards. On any given day, these are some of the issues that plague our library. This year, the usership for our library was up, but the services have not been up. Because of these scheduled and unscheduled closings, patrons, young adults, senior citizens, and day-care centers have been denied access to the services. 355 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) On behalf of the Friends of the Free Library, David Cohen Ogontz branch, and the Coalition to Save the Library, we ask that you restore full services to the library. Thank you.
My name is Susan Gould; I am here representing the Fumo Family Branch Library, in South Philadelphia. In an e-mail today, I got two very, very ironically pertinent e-mails today. One was from the Historical Society saying, "Help us celebrate National Library Week," which, as Amy Dougherty mentioned, began yesterday, and I hope that we have enough libraries to keep celebrating National Library Week on a consistent basis and that these libraries are open when they're supposed to be. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) friend from out of town, who just recently moved to Philadelphia. I had said what I was going to be doing today, and she said, "Are the libraries still in danger? " And then I had another e-mail from a friend here, in the city, who knew more about what had gone on but still said, "Save the libraries? " And I've had comments over the past year like, "Isn't everything back to normal? I thought someone got them to be open all week, including Saturday. Oh, well, it was only 11 branches, wasn't it? " Well, yes, indeed, all of that is true. And we heard a great deal of important statistics that Amy Dougherty brought up, so I will skip anything that I was going to say that she already did so well. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) situation in my neighborhood. It's not just the Fumo Library, which was the only one that was threatened in South Philadelphia, but we have an odd circumstance of three libraries within a relatively reasonable distance of each other: the South Philadelphia branch at Broad and Morris, the Fumo branch at Broad and Ritner, and the Whitman branch, which is Snyder Avenue at 3rd. Now, that seems as if they're not too far from each other. But as we talked about this also last year, and we've brought this up frequently, and it's even more of a problem now. When you get a little card from the library that you usually visit, and it gives you the specific times and days of the week that that library is open, it's still not enough because you really have to call each time before you go just to be sure that the library is really going to be open. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) the post office at Broad and Morris, so I thought, Oh, good. While I'm there, I'll stop in and I'll do some -- look up some books; there was a particular book I needed to take out. And if there's space at the computer, although I have a computer at home, when I'm out and I'm out for a while, I can at least check things that I'm expecting to do in business on my computer. It was supposed to be open that day. I hadn't called, and there was a "closed" sign. Now, that's hard enough for somebody like me, but imagine senior citizens who really can't walk around that much and children, daycare children, or even a little bit older, they're not going to toddle from one library to the next, and the senior citizens are not going to drag themselves from one library to the next to find the one that's open. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) pick them up from the library. Not everyone thinks of calling. There are many, many, many circumstances that make it really difficult for people to keep track of what's going on. The library at Broad and Morris is the only one that's accessible by subway. And do you know, even for me -- I'm not that old -- but going up and down those stairs at Broad and Morris is really a pain. And suppose it's not a beautiful day: Suppose it's raining, suppose it's snowing, suppose it's awfully hot. Public transportation is not brilliant, as much as you'd like to think it is, but it's not. And so, if you have to wait for the C bus or the 79 on Snyder to go to any one of those libraries, you really want to make sure they're going to be open. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) one which is very much dedicated to the community that's the largest in the area, the Cambodian community. We have -- they have a Cambodian librarian who, at one point, was the only one in the entire country.
And the Cambodian children are always there, doing their homework, using the computers at tables. And there are all sorts of facilities specifically for them and for their parents, language services also. If that library is closed one or two or half or three days during the week, that's terrible for that specific group; there's no place else that offers those services -- not just in the area but in general. The other thing that I thought of was: On Dr. Seuss's birthday, a few weeks ago, what if the Fumo branch had had to be closed that day for lack of guard or staff? 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) children, for that matter. But I have to say that Miss Reardon did a marvelous job. I went and she -- I asked her how she -- where she learned to read so well to the children. " And I stayed for several people's reading. And the excitement of the children, the looks on their faces as they sat absorbing the pictures, the words. And if that had been one of the days when, Oops, the guard couldn't be here, or two librarians couldn't be there, they wouldn't have been able to do that. I've heard that the long- promised solution for the guard situation has been undertaken; I hope this is not just an urban legend, I hope this is reality. And, again, as everyone has said so far -- I'll just conclude by saying: Please do not cut anymore. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) as a matter of fact, bring back, reinstate, give us the funding we need to keep our libraries open at least five consistent full days a week. Thank you.
Good evening. My name is Andrew Christman. Thank you for having me and the Coalition to Save the Libraries here this evening. I'm not going to repeat so much, although I have a lot of the same stories. As an educator, I'm a teacher, a high school teacher in Kensington, and we depend on the Kensington library and have many of the same problems with being able to close our -- I mean, we can't provide trips with our students who don't have a library a trip to the library because the library is often closed. And also, I'm a member of the Fishtown Friends group, and I'm very proud of my library, very proud of being 363 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) a part of the Fishtown Friends group because my -- because the library and the Friends group both to me represent the best parts of Fishtown; it's a true cross-section of what Fishtown is right now, at this moment, which is very exciting. And it frustrates me that because of the problems we're having with keeping the library funded that the library, which is sort of emblematic to me of our community right now, can't keep up the pace with the changes that are happening around them. So, for example, the library is presently the most diverse place in Fishtown, I can say. And not only is it diverse, but people of different races, economic backgrounds, ages are engaged with each other. And every day that that's not happening is a loss for Fishtown and for the community. And I fear that the library is becoming a place that people are exited 364 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) about, where they say, Oh, I'll meet you at the library to go and talk to so-and-so; or, I'll meet you at the library to go find my book about airplanes; I'll meet you at Fishtown to go look for a job. And people are excited and exhilarated about the prospect. That those conversations now end with, "I'll meet you at the library -- if it's open." And I think that that exasperation is being felt across the City now. And the Fishtown library's just sort of a microcosm of that happening. I think that's about all I'll say. I will say -- I want to say one positive anecdote, which is, I took a student to the library, and this is a student that has been traditionally truant. I teach at an alternative school, and he had really struggled with his decision to come back to school, 365 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) after a long absence from school. And we went to the library and we ran into a former mentor of his, who was a teacher when he was in elementary school. And because of the connection being rekindled and them running into each other at the library, I think this was -- this person was an ally for me as a teacher to keep the students in school now. And now we go to the library regularly for him to read. And I think that these meetings that happened in the community is very important and very powerful. And, again, every day that the library is closed is a day that an opportunity like this is lost. And, you know, I'm saddened to think that there are other students like this student that are missing those opportunities when the library is closed. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you very much so much for 366 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) coming in to testify. We do appreciate it. (Applause.)
And we're hoping that things will get better. MR. McPHERSON: Our next witness is Joshua Vincent. (Witness comes forward.)
Good evening. Kindly identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Certainly. My name is Josh Vincent. I'm the executive director of the Henry George Foundation and the Center for the Study of Economics based AT 413 South Tenth Street, in Philadelphia, 19147. And shockingly, I'll talk a little bit about land-value tax tonight. But essentially I'd like to follow up a bit on the testimony I gave on March 17th about the flat property tax fee that's being proposed on the revenue side. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) And I'm here because of our concerns about the very real budget gap and the hard choices that must be made to plug that gap. And because of the varying scenarios presented by Council, the Administration and others, there is still no clear way forward. Therefore, we'd like to put our idea into the mix and show how it would work. Now, a flat garbage fee is regressive in Philadelphia. There should be an option in more homogeneous towns, but not here. The low-income protections proposed will, based on experience, elsewhere fail due to noncompliance. Like other flat fees, it is not eligible for any kind of writeoff on higher forms of government taxation. The attached charts break the matter down for residential parcels, along with the proposal to use the standard property tax and our land-value tax alternative. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) I think, on March 17th that the flat fee would actually have exceeded the current City share of the property tax for many homeowners indeed throughout the City, particularly in District 3 and in District 7. The property tax proposed in Councilman DiCicco's Bill 100198 is certainly a better alternative on the surface, as it is the basis of a small percentage of the City tax, although the main source of school tax. Yet serious and concrete concerns about valuation have existed for decades and must be addressed. The new values, while appearing to be a vast improvement, are still in the rough-cut stage, to say the least, and are far from a final result as we read daily in the newspapers. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) from bad tax policy, bad property valuation, and too few tools to protect poor taxpayers. It's our position that when we look at the land values versus building values of the property assessments that currently exist, they are not accurate by any stretch of the imagination, but residential land values are more consistent from one property to the next in a particular residential area. And I think that can be the key to an alternative to help us roll into a tax on lands values. While we all eagerly await the new BRT data with protections for homeowners, we must make choices. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) take a greater burden, using the standard property tax. So with this one-time proposal, there will be correlating tax relief, or at least less of a tax increase, for those neighborhoods who have, frankly, felt the brunt of poor tax policies in the past, such as Olney, Juniata Park, Northeast, Kensington, Port Richmond; I could go on. Our city faces immense fiscal challenges in the near future. The unspoken worries that this recession is deeper and worse than Philadelphia than a rising stock market might indicate, the job recovery is going to be a lot longer in this city. And without the wages to pay taxes and extra taxes, people won't be able to make it. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) put Philadelphia at a disadvantage for years. I think LVT can help Philadelphia in this effort, and I think our city doesn't have to face the false choice of either/or. This adaptive compromise can be adopted as a one-offered event, like the proposed property increase sunsetting after five years. Yet I suspect that the evidence will demonstrate that this revenue program will not drive away business, hurt the poor, or elderly, nor punish the best and brightest of young families who want to stay in Philadelphia.
In closing, I just would like to add that what we tax matters just as much as how much we tax, and I'd like to thank you very much. And I think the most significant -- I don't go through my charts; I know I'm too much of a chart and number guy, so I will spare you. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) fee to the property tax and then to the land charge only, and it's my last page. And you can definitely indicate how non-progressive the flat tax is broken down by neighborhood. The bill proposed, 100198, is better, but we believe that the trash tax paid for by a land-value charge is far more progressive in neighborhoods that simply can't afford it. And I thank you very much for your time.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
One quick question. In your estimation, how long should it take to straighten out the assessment system? 373 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET)
Honestly, considering what we've seen throughout the rest of the country, and considering it's about 550,000 parcels, about a year to months. 7
11 You're welcome. 12 Any other questions from 13 members of the committee? 14 The Chair recognizes 15 Councilwoman Sanchez. 16
Clearly, one of the reasons this land value works better is because we -- one, the numbers are better, but what is the impact on commercial, and which of the commercial get impacted the most? 374 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET)
We've done research on the aggregate level, and if there's interest -- hint, hint -- we'll do it on a parcel-by-parcel level. The commercial sector that would pay more would be Center City commercial. When we looked at it -- in fact, we haven't published it yet, but we're about to in the next couple of days, break it down by neighborhood and by Council District. And it's a wash for District 7, for District 3. But when you get into Center City, then it becomes less of a wash, because that's where the land values are, even under a terrible assessment system.
Thank you for your testimony. 375 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) I guess you've looked at all of the data that's come out with respect to the initial cut at full-value taxation in the City.
And you would agree with, you know, the conclusion that based on just that cut, that our system is non-uniform and unfair, currently.
Okay. So given that, wouldn't it make more sense for us to continue assessing properties even on a one-property-at-a-time basis rather than a full-value initiative basis such that we can, at least with respect the properties we can get to, provide the proper value and have it be at least for those citizens uniform and fair? I'm sure some would go down, some would go up.
Well, at full 376 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) AVI -- in other words, every parcel done at the same time essentially -- is by far preferable.
Sure. But while we're not doing AVI, we're not -- the unilateral decision has been made not to do that, we're not doing it. While we're not doing it, wouldn't we be moving towards more of a uniform, fairer system if we did assessments?
If we did assessments, my concern -- and we've worked with a lot of Bella Vista residents, as you know; as a matter of fact, you were down there at a meeting. When one block is picked and another block is not picked --
Sure, but with respect to the block that's picked, they're going to be at the proper value, right?
I -- I don't think so based on what we did with 377 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) Kimball Street. In other words, the rolling reassessments that we looked at, we helped them with their appeals, and you would have a house that hadn't been fixed up since 1960 -- and this is not an exaggeration.
That's why we have an appeals process. An assessment's not final until it goes through the process.
Yeah. She didn't appeal her assessment; she should have. And that's part of the unfairness of the system, is that people don't know what to do, they don't know how to even fight their assessment.
Well, with full value, we're going to have 570,000 appeals a year. (Laughter.)
Well, if the BRT 378 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) did a job on the other side -- in other words if they went to Olney, say, and they reduced values to a level to where they should be, then that would be, I think, a good process and --
So bottom line, what is your testimony; that we should try to raise some revenue by switching to just a small portion of land value today?
I think land value is more reliable overall, and I think that you could raise revenue, increase revenue, if you will, from that source. And also, the tax-abated properties would then pay more of their fair share as well.
And if we increase real-estate taxes through changing the land value formulation, would that be more progressive or more regressive?
That would be more progressive, the bottom line. 379 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET)
Thank you so much. MR. McPHERSON: Our next witness is Robert Vance. (Witness comes forward.)
Good evening, Madam President and members of Council. I'm appearing today as the president of the board of directors of the Friends of the Wissahickon. The Friends of the Wissahickon is the oldest and largest of the nonprofit volunteer groups that is active in the Fairmount Park system. For over 85 years, the Friends have been stewards of Wissahickon Valley Park, which is the beautiful northern stretch of Fairmount Park. That should be familiar to most of you. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) preserve trails and historic structures, care for native plant and animal species, and protect the watershed. I am here today to add the voice of the FOW to the chorus of individuals and organizations that are calling on City Council to vote yes on the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for the new Department of Parks and Recreation. The spirit of reform that resulted in the creation of the Department of Parks and Recreation must be safeguarded, and that can only be accomplished if you vote yes on its proposed Operating and Capital Budget. 4 million Capital Budget for Fairmount Park are critically important because all Philadelphians deserve safe, clean, green, accessible parks and recreation. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) And in particular, our children need healthy, fun activities and inspiring, inexpensive, and positive entertainment options. In the Wissahickon, the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets will assist the Friends of the Wissahickon in partnership with Fairmount Park in continuing to carry out a number of projects that already have proven to be important to the care, maintenance, and preservation of the park. For example, flooding and excessive storm-water runoff are major problems that severely impact the health of the Wissahickon Creek. Many of FOW's projects focus on alleviating the negative effects of storm-water runoff on the park. The recent installation of a rain garden in front of Valley Green Inn is one example. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) natural-surface, national recreation trails in the Wissahickon an environmentally and socially sustainable system that works for everyone. This project will take a minimum of seven years and cost between 5 and $10 million. Two phases of the project already been completed. And in each phase, FOW worked closely with Fairmount Park as well as over thirty stakeholder groups representing different users throughout the park. FOW also is actively involved in restoring the park's many man-made structures, which mirror its diverse history and heritage. For example, FOW works to maintain and restore works projects administration structures, which are a series of park guard shelters, toilet facilities, and other structures that were constructed by skilled craftsmen under a federal program created during the Great Depression to help put the country back to work. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) FOW has also committed to a long-term, multifaceted program of education, again, in conjunction with Fairmount Park cleanup and ongoing maintenance of Devil's Pool, which is a very popular, albeit illegal, swimming area in the Wissahickon. FOW has mounted trash cleanups and cleaned graffiti from the area through its volunteers and paid summer interns. And FOW has also committed to replant and preserve the Houston Meadow -- again, in conjunction with Fairmount Park -- an important environmental diversity and recreational area. 10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) cultural, educational, and recreational needs of its residents. So on behalf of the FOW, I urge you all to vote yes on the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Operating and Capital Budget for the new Department of Parks and Recreation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank you for your testimony. I spent Saturday and Sunday in the park, from Valley Green down to, well, I guess, about two miles towards the City and back again. It was lovely on all the trails. You guys do a tremendous job and we want to do everything we can to support your effort and to support your 385 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) ability to maintain those trails and achieve your goal of 50 miles in seven years, et cetera. I'm not sure that this year can be the year for your full -- for everything the Administration's requested; we haven't made those decisions yet. And I'm not suggesting that my opinion is how things are going to go. But I do want to explain that -- I don't know if you were here before. What I like to say about government is that it's choosing between competing ideas for good, with limited resources. And when you look at the pot allocated to Parks and Recreation, you could make the argument that we are putting an addition on a house whose roof is leaking, because we have rec centers with leaky roofs, and we have rec centers with broken bathrooms and structures that need to be fixed up. And a lot of the money 386 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) allocated, at least in the current budget presented to us, for the parks is for things like press officers, managers, supervisors, data clerks, things that are not going to be boots on the ground, making either rec centers better or the parks better. And so, we are going to work hard to try to get boots on the ground and eliminate the bureaucracy, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be the same level of funding that is requested by the Administration, but it is our goal to get boots on the ground and to get more resources to groups like yours because you deliver your service far more efficiently than we can as a city government. So thank you for everything you do.
Thank 387 4.12.10 - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) you, sir. MR. McPHERSON: The last witness that I have is Zachary Hirschman.
Do we have anyone else to testify? (No response.)
Seeing no one, this committee will stand in recess until tomorrow, Tuesday, April the 13th, at 10 a.m. Thank you very much. (Proceedings end at 7:15 p.m.) * * * 388 C E R T I F I C A T E WE HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the City of Philadelphia Council Committee of the Whole are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me on Monday, April 12, 2010, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. __________________________________ MICHELE MURPHY, Registered Professional Reporter __________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (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.)