And Bill No. 040183, an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Delaware Avenue, Cottman Avenue, I-95 Expressway and Rhawn Street.
The Chair agrees. First Reading Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar to be considered today.
Thank you, Madam President. Today Bill Nos. 040117, 040118, 040132 and 040136 will be amended. Bill No. 040138 will be called up for second reading and final passage, and all other bills are being held.
The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 040117. THE
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-831 entitled "Straw and Multiple Gun Purchase Reduction," to limit purchase of firearms by Philadelphia residents.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, these amendments to Members in the Caucus. These amendments on this bill and the subsequent bills that will called up for amendment were done to better enable ultimate passage in Harrisburg for authorization. They are technical in nature in some respects and changes certain terms and definitions. And on one subsequent bill there will be a safety training added to that particular bill. Right now, I'd like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 040117 and ask that this amendment be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment as provided to all Members of Council be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. will please read the title of Bill No. 040118. THE
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Safety" by adding a new Section 10-834 entitled "Sale Or Transfer of Ammunition" to require all sales of ammunition for firearms to be reported to the City of Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I offer an amendment to Bill No. 040118 and ask that it be considered. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be approved to Bill No. 040118. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. The Clerk title of Bill No. 040132. THE
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Safety," by adding a new Section entitled "Prohibited Possession, Sale and Transfer of Firearms by Persons Subject to Protection From Abuse Orders.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm offering an amendment to this bill. The amendment actually will add a time period into the process when someone has a temporary protection order. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 040136. THE
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Safety," by adding a new section entitled "Acquisition or Transfer of Firearms" to regulate the acquiring or transferring of any firearm within the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move that the amendment to Bill 040136 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment, as circulated, to Bill No. 040136 be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 040138. THE
An ordinance approving the first amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Wistar III Urban Renewal Area being the area generally bounded by Wakefield Street and Baynton Street between Wistar Street and Shedaker on the north and declaring that condemnation is not eminent with respect to the project.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Aye. The ayes are 16, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes.
Madam President, I have to leave to attend the funeral of Reverend John L. Bryant in my district, a committee man, a veteran and a I would like to be reported as voting aye on all bills, amendments and resolutions.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 040495. THE
A resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2004 program statement and budget for the expenditure of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, the NTI bond proceeds.
Councilwoman Tasco, would you please make a motion on this resolution?
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution No. 040095 be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution No. 040095 has been adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 040160. THE
A resolution confirming the appointment of Pedro A. Ramos as City Solicitor.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Councilman Ramos.
Before we proceed vote, as I stated at the Tuesday Committee meeting of the Whole, I am closely related to the City Solicitor designee, therefore, I have to per the City of Philadelphia Code recuse myself from participating from the process confirming the City Solicitor designee. I will not be able to speak of his qualities nor will I be able to vote for him. However, I can be present for this extraordinary moment in my family history. Madam President, I request to speak after the confirmation process.
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Resolution No. 040160 be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the Ramos family, I commend you, my colleagues for confirming the designation of Pedro Ramos as City Solicitor of our great City. I also commend Mayor Street for having good judgment in selecting Pedro as the City's top lawyer. The Mayor, since taking office, has appoint in succession and the Council has confirmed three highly qualified Hispanic Americans to the post of City Solicitor. Latino Philadelphia is taking notice and they are so delighted. I told you before this vote that I am closely related to him. He is my brother. I consider my brother Pedro to be a man of the highest character, earnest, capable and a dedicated public servant. Congratulations, Pedro. (Applause.)
That concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Madam President, as you are aware, yesterday began the process of analyzing the Mayor's Five-Year Plan. And of course, you're also aware the City is facing a series of budgetary cuts to make up for $227 million deficit. I know that we'll be forced to make difficult decisions, but I'm very concerns and troubled of the proposed cuts to arts and culture. Arts and culture organizations are the cornerstone of the first class city, yet in Philadelphia they're the first to be cut when faced with financial distress. In comparison to other major cities, Philadelphia is at the bottom of the list in financial support for the arts, and yet our arts community is nationally renown. Last year alone over 11 million traveled to this City to visit our museums, as opposed to a little over 3 million people to our sports stadiums. Just think about that. With all the media hype and with all of the money that Philadelphia gives to our sports teams, that's the Phillies, the Flyers, Eagles, the 76ers, they just generate 3 million people. Yet our cultural institutions bring in over 11 million with very little media hype or very little money from the City. In shear numbers, arts and cultural generates more money to this City than any other industry. Instead of cutting funds, we should be investing in this industry so they can broaden their reach and attract even more visitors to our City. I hope that you will all work, all of my colleagues, with me not only to stop the proposed cuts but to increase funding for such institutions. In doing so, we'll be acting in the best interest of our City both financially and culturally. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)
Are there the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Madam President. Two points today. The first point is the Daily News Carl Anderson has been writing a series of articles this week about prostitution in the City of Philadelphia. I am amongst a few of the District Councilpeople here whose district is plagued by this crime, which people say is a victimless crime. Carla is in negotiations now. I spoke with her yesterday with the City Solicitor's Office, I suspect -- I don't know if it's Pedro yet -- and with the Police Commissioner about publishing the names and photos of these people that were arrested, to so-called Johns. I want to take it a step further and the next Council Session, I want introduce a solution to have hearings to put cable television station, which is down most of the time -it's not down, but it runs a cycle and leaves information besides some of the Council hearings and the Council sessions, so maybe we can do that. This is a serious crime. I want to commend Ms. Anderson for her work and ask her to keep it up and ask whoever is in charge, the City Solicitor or whoever it is, the Law Department, to make sure that this happens. It happens in other cities around the country and it's very important. This will go on forever, for my two terms and this is my third term in council, it has always been a major problem along Frankford and Kensington Avenue, as I know it is in Councilman DiCicco and your district on Broad Street and other parts, sometimes down in Port Richmond in Councilwoman Krajewski's. So I want to commend her again and ask the City to step up to the plate here. The second point I have is much further away.
Excuse me. I think the City Solicitor is still in the room so perhaps he could look into this matter.
Thank you. And I would thank the City Solicitor. The second point is a little further away. I spoke here a couple months ago about staffer of mine, Patrick Dugan who is in Iraq with special operations group trying to establish a new government. I have a short message from Pat that I want to read to you and everyone else here to understand from somebody who's there exactly what's going on. I left some of the personal stuff in the language that wouldn't be right, not that Mr. Dugan would say that. He starts out the letter -- I sent him a e-mail about the Governor and his problems with driving a little too fast. Pat knows the Governor. He asks the Governor publically to slow down, but maybe that's why they call him "Fast Eddie." That's Pat's words, not mine, Governor. "Remember the photo that I sent to you with me and Brian Powers here in Iraq? Well, the Iraqi in the photo carrying the FP lost his foot in a mine field the other day. It was a mess. We went up to the mountain and the mine field, gave him first aid and brought him back. I am back in Mosul every day now downtown with the city council and the state council. The mayor runs their council --" it has nothing to do with Philadelphia, I'm sure "-- and the government runs the state council. The old governor was fired the other day and we were out looking for other people." And he says if anyone if Philly's Council wants to be governor of this town, send a resume to him; they're looking for people with experience. "I wear civilian clothing everyday and I am guarded by the same people, the black water security people that we saw on the news last, the two charred bodies hanging from the bridge. "Last week I organized a town hall meeting with a female government official who is Kurd. After the meeting, we had dinner 15 people and went on her way. On her way back to Mosul, three of her guards were killed in an ambush and she survived the ambush and she is now an Iraqi councilmember." We're going to try to set something up -- this is serious. I know I kid around a lot, but we're going to try to go to Iraq possibly sometime in August if we can work this out. I don't know if it's going to be easy, some people with some experience in government, maybe some people with experience in building trades, some people from the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, possibly with business because -- the other letter he sent me was for some people that -- they make water. A water bottling plant they can't manage, simple things that we do. So I just want everyone to know Pat's thinking about us, we're thinking about Pat, but there's lot of other Pat Dugans out there. You watch the news, you see things, people that are against this war, be against the war, just don't forget the warrior. Thank you, Madam President.
I think we have to continue to keep all of them in our prayers. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. As Chair of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, I'd like to go on record as supporting Councilman Jack Kelly's remarks 1,000 percent. All of us know that we were successful in actually increasing the cultural fund's budget in my last term. And I pledged to work with all of the members of the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and you for us to come up with a better way of bringing the arts back to where they were in a way that is reasonable and responsible. Thank you very much.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. I also want to associate myself We often don't hear from Councilman Kelly over a period of time, and I wanted to note on this occasion I approve wholeheartedly of everything he said, just as I disagreed with him the last comment he made. But I also want to add, on the question of the budget, I think that Pete Matthews, the President of District 33, has very interesting -- I would call it would call it not bad, I don't know what the Daily News calls it -- column in today's Daily News. It's in the Op Ed position. He notes, among other things, that the contract time the city unions are coming and it's often very common that we get these very bleak financial reports the year the contracts are due. And he also talks of the plight of City workers. I think it important for everybody to read it carefully and get everybody's point of view on this issue. If we're faced with economic problem and a strike, Philadelphia is truly going to be hard pressed for answers. So we've got our work cut out for us. again, thank you, Councilman Kelly, and thank you, Councilwoman Brown, for your views or the arts and culture. I believe that that's the heart and soul if Philadelphia, and we've got to support them. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the Majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 15, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 15, 2004.. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the and the motion carries. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 11:10 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, April 10, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR