Stated Meeting 1 04/25/2024 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 25, 2024 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK F. SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG, JR. ELIZABETH McCOLLUM NAZARIO, INTERIM CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting 2 04/25/2024
I note that the hour has come and that quorum of this Council is present. Council will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. All conversation must cease at this moment. If you feel the need to have a side bar conversation, please step outside the chambers. Before proceeding, I will ask all those present to please set your cell phones to silent or vibrate. Thank you. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Nathanial J. Holmes of Stated Meeting 3 04/25/2024 West Philadelphia. He is here as the guest of Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson. I will ask all Members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers and guests rise.)
Let us pray. O Thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight, and whom in flesh I can call. My comfort by day, my song in the night. My hope, my salvation, my all. Lord, before we ask you for anything, we thank you for everything, for our laying down last night, at early rising this morning. The book of Lamentations tells us that morning by morning new mercies we see; great is thy faithfulness. We thank you for these men and women that gather this morning to discuss the business of this Stated Meeting 4 04/25/2024 Philadelphia. We pray that you crown them with wisdom and understanding and knowledge as they take their training, the education and the wisdom to take care of the business of this great city. You asked us in the Bible, it said, Trust the Lord with all your heart and lead not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. We thank you for covering each and everyone that's here today. We give glory and praise your marvelous name. For this day, we thank you for these people that go together with knowledge and wisdom. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks the Pastor for his Stated Meeting 5 04/25/2024 will now be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 18, 2024 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 18, 2024 stand approved. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Stated Meeting 6 04/25/2024 (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is the request for leaves of absence. And the Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Majority, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you. The Chair thanks the Councilmember. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. Stated Meeting 7 04/25/2024 of the Minority, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Councilmember. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing Stated Meeting 8 04/25/2024 hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or recalled from the Mayor, amendments to bills recalled from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive actions to be voted on this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or a resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly Stated Meeting 9 04/25/2024 legislative matters stated by Councilmember Gilmore Richardson may be added to the agenda for today should those matters arose during the course of this session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us in chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, we welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to join us as we Stated Meeting 10 04/25/2024 affairs of our City. We certainly invite you to come again. Special guests in our chambers today, we have Philly Bolt, who is here with the students from the Academy at Palumbo who have been learning about City Council for the past few months in our gallery of chambers. Let's give them a round of applause. (Applause.)
We also want to welcome the participants from Community College of Philadelphia who are legislators for today. Let's give them a round of applause as well. (Applause.)
I also have President from Community College, Ms. Hela Khadhr. Give her a round of applause as well. Stated Meeting 11 04/25/2024 (Applause.)
We also have a couple of members who have special guests. I want to take a moment to acknowledge Councilmember Mike Driscoll.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor of a guest today, Paul Maskey from West Belfast. He flew in last night. Tonight he is the guest speaker at the Irish Society banquet, and he's a sitting member of Parliament -not a sitting member. He's a member of Parliament. He chose not to sit. He's renowned for his constituent service and his activities on behalf of the United Ireland, so a warm welcome to our friend Paul Maskey. (Applause.)
We welcome you to our chambers Stated Meeting 12 04/25/2024 recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Good morning, Council President. Today I'm going to introduce a resolution for our Champion of the Week, but our Champion of the Week is here. I just want us to take a moment to acknowledge someone who does a lot of mentoring work through his nonprofit organization in the City of Philadelphia helping young people as it relates to socializing and engaging them through athletics. Can we take a moment to give Mr. Buddy Martinez a round of applause. (Applause.)
Thank you, Buddy, for being here and thank you for all the work that you Stated Meeting 13 04/25/2024 young people. Buddy is a our Champion of the Week. Thank you, Council President.
You're welcome. As there are no presentations today, the next order of business is communications. The Chair recognizes the Sergeant-atArms to deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. I'm sorry.
Thank you, Council President. In honor of International Jazz Day, we are honoring Lee Morgan who was a phenomenal and historic jazz legend who's from the City of Philadelphia, and his Stated Meeting 14 04/25/2024 us in chambers today. So can we recognize them?
Thank you, Council President. Today I'm going to introduce a privileged resolution recognizing the difficult work but necessary work of the Philadelphia Children's Alliance of Philadelphia, Department of Human Services for their collaborative work and their commitment to healing and justice to child abuse victims. So please help me welcome them into chambers and congratulating them for their very important work. Stated Meeting 15 04/25/2024
Congratulations. Can you please stand. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair request that the Sergeant-at-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk.
Excuse me. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Thank you so much, Council President. I just want to take one second to also say I will be introducing a resolution today honoring Stephanie Haynes who is retiring as the Executive Director of Philly Family Pride, and we'll Stated Meeting 16 04/25/2024 her. Thank you.
Will the Chief Clerk read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications in her possession.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your Honorable Body the following proposed ordinance: An ordinance authorizing an increase in non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit, authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds towards various Stated Meeting 17 04/25/2024 purposes, providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds, and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with the issuance of the bonds and certain other actions, and resending the authorization set forth in Bill No. 230186-A, approved September 15, 2023. An ordinance authorizing the vacating of Beaumont Street from 51st Street to its terminus southwestwardly therefrom.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 6657-59 Blakemore Street, (including the former 530-34 Vernon Road), 50 Collum Street, 56 Collum Stated Meeting 18 04/25/2024 Street; 60-74 Collum Street; 101 Collum Street, 67 Church Lane; 83, 85, 87 Church Lane; 45 East Garfield Street, 47, 51 East Garfield Street; 5417, 5423 through 27, 5429-43, 5513, 5515 Lena Street; 4949, 4951, 6526-34 Germantown Avenue; 117 Manheim Street; 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 63 East Wister Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 4419R Market Street and 4310R Haverford Avenue in the 3rd Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia; and A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Stated Meeting 19 04/25/2024 conveying fee simple title to 4419R Market Street, 4310R Haverford Avenue in the 3rd Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Deeds conveying fee simple titled to 928 French Street in the 5th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Stated Meeting 20 04/25/2024 simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 49 East Earlham Street, 207 East Penn Street, 313 East Bringhurst Street, 292, 278, 260, 226 East Bringhurst Street, 5222 Wakefield Street, 429 East Ashmead Street, 5414, 5415, Morton Street, 5608 Heiskell Street, 5642 Morton Street, 53 East Pastorius Street, 261 East Sharpnack Street, 263 East Sharpnack Street, 112, 111 East Springer Street, 4925 Wakefield Street, 326 Shedaker Street, 342 Shedaker Street, 4951, 4957, 4961, 4975 Sheldon Street, 4635 Germantown Avenue, 44 Regar Stated Meeting 21 04/25/2024 Street, 42 Regar Street, 4946 Keyser Street, 1532 West Loudon Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the 8th Councilmanic District, including on the following streets: Mechanic Street, Musgrave Street, East Phil Ellena Street, East Sharpnack Street, East Ashmead Street, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act. Stated Meeting 22 04/25/2024 and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 240215, '216, '220, '239, '241, '243, '244, '247, '248, '249, '250 and '281 for approval, and Bill No. 240242 not for approval.
I am pleased to advise you that on April 19, 2024 I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on April 18, 2024, Bill No. 240176. And I am pleased to advise you that on April 23, 2024 I signed the following bills which were passed by Council at its session on April 11, 2024: Bill No. 240015, Bill No. 240017 and Bill No. 240020-A. Council President, there Stated Meeting 23 04/25/2024 are no other communications in my possession.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Phillips.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues as well as the viewing public. I have no bills or resolutions for introduction today. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kathy Gilmore Richardson.
Good morning, Council Stated Meeting 24 04/25/2024 President. I have one bill and four resolutions. And good morning, colleagues. One privileged and three nonprivileged.
Thank you. Will the Clerk please read the title of the bill and resolutions.
An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Farmers Markets," by adding a permissible location on Baltimore Avenue between 58th Street and 59th Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a nonprivileged resolution also naming the 1100 Block of South 53rd Stated Meeting 25 04/25/2024 Street as "Mama Nia Bay Al-Rasul Way" to honor the life and cultural contributions of Mama Nia Bey Al-Rasul to the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a resolution, a nonprivileged resolution, authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 4419R Market Street and 4310R Haverford Avenue in the 3rd Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee Stated Meeting 26 04/25/2024 simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 4419R Market Street and 4310R Haverford Avenue in the 3rd Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a Stated Meeting 27 04/25/2024 privileged resolution honoring and recognizing Edward "Lee" Morgan whose soulful melodies and blazing improvisations continue to inspire musicians and bring joy to his legions of fans worldwide.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Good morning again, Council President. I have one resolution.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing and congratulating the Champion of the Week, Buddy Martinez of Timoteo Sports, which utilizes athletics to engage with and mentor young people in the City of Philadelphia. Stated Meeting 28 04/25/2024
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. Today I offer two bills and two privileged resolutions.
Thank you. Will the Clerk please read the titles of the two bills and two privileged resolutions.
An ordinance amending Chapter 21-1200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Citizens Police Oversight Commission," to modify the procedure by which members of the Citizens Police oversight Commission may be removed, providing a procedure to suspend members, and clarifying the terms Stated Meeting 29 04/25/2024 in that chapter, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a no parking regulation on the west side of North 34th Street between Indiana Avenue and Clearfield Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution honoring Cynthia Kishinchand as a Champion of Urban Greening and Community Empowerment for her leadership of the East Falls Trees Tenders.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring and Stated Meeting 30 04/25/2024 celebrating the meaningful work conducted by the Friends of Wissahickon as well as for their 100 years of service to the City of Philadelphia, the Wissahickon Valley Park and the surrounding areas.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Good morning. I have one bill co-sponsored by Councilmembers Driscoll and Young, one privileged resolution and one nonprivileged resolution. Thank you.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bill and the resolution.
An ordinance amending Section 9-215 of The Stated Meeting 31 04/25/2024 Philadelphia Code, entitled "Streeteries," modifying requirements related to the City's revised standards and requirements associated with the use of portions of the right-of-way for outdoor dining.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a nonprivileged resolution urging the Biden Administration to immediately release the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" rule.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a privileged resolution recognizing Stated Meeting 32 04/25/2024 and honoring Stephanie Haynes for her impact as Executive Director of Philadelphia Family Pride.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Quetcy Lozada.
Thank you, Council President. This morning I offer two bills, one privileged resolution co-introduced with Councilmember Thomas.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bill and the resolution.
An ordinance amending Section 14-533 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhood Overlay District," to update the illustrative maps to reflect recent Stated Meeting 33 04/25/2024 redistricting changes, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance approving the Sixth Amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Berks Street and Montgomery Avenue on the north, by 2nd Street and Philip Street on the east, by Girard Avenue, Oxford Street and Jefferson Street on the south, and by Germantown Avenue, 6th Street and 3rd Street on the west, including the Sixth Amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan, which provides interalia for changes that would make it consistent with the North Philadelphia Redevelopment Area Stated Meeting 34 04/25/2024 Plan and generally consistent with the most recent comprehensive plan approved by the City Planning Commission of the City of Philadelphia.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, PCA, and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, DHS, for their collaborative commitment to bring healing and justice to victims of child abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2024 to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Stated Meeting 35 04/25/2024 Jeffrey Jay Young.
Good morning, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions today.
Good morning, Council President. I have one privileged resolution co-introduced with Councilmember Landau. And another privileged resolution co-introduced with Councilmember O'Rourke.
Thank you. Will the Clerk please read the title of the privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings to examine the Stated Meeting 36 04/25/2024 progress made since introduction of the Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Plan to convene agencies and stakeholders needed to make further progress and to create an implementation strategy to expeditiously meet the goals of the plan.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a resolution honoring and expressing gratitude to Philly Black Pride for its ongoing work to center and support underserved Black and Brown folks in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing Thursday, April 25th through Sunday, April 28th as Philly Black Pride Weekend in the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting 37 04/25/2024 The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jim Harrity.
Good morning, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Rourke.
Good morning, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions today.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Neill. (No response.)
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Mark Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Councilmember Stated Meeting 38 04/25/2024 O'Neill, I offer one bill.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Permit Parking Districts," by changing certain boundaries and establishing new permit parking districts, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. For the record, Councilman Driscoll has no bills or resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill and one privileged resolution.
Stated Meeting 39 04/25/2024 Will the Clerk please read the title of the bill and the resolution.
An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Permit Parking Districts," by extending the authorized duration of temporary parking permits and setting new permit application fees, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution honoring and congratulating Settlement Music School on its 116th Anniversary and recognizing and commending its directors, officers, faculty, staff and students both past and present for making Settlement Music School an institution known worldwide for Stated Meeting 40 04/25/2024 its excellence.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer six nonprivileged resolutions and one bill.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bill and resolutions.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by adding definitions and creating a new Chestnut Hill Lower East /NCO in the area generally bounded by the SEPTA Chestnut Hill East Line, Cresheim Valley Drive, Germantown Avenue, Winston Road, Moreland Avenue, Devon Street, Ardleigh Stated Meeting 41 04/25/2024 Street and Springfield Avenue, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
A nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 6657-59 Blakemore Street, (including the former 530-34 Vernon Road), 50 Collum Street, 56 Collum Street, 60-74 Collum Street, 101 Collum Street, 67 Church Lane, 83, 85, 87 Church Lane, 45 and 47 and 51 East Garfield Street, 5417, 5423-27 Lena Street, 5429-43 Lena Street, 5513, 5515 Lena Street, 4949, 4951, 6526-34 Germantown Avenue, 117 Manheim Street; 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 East Wister Street, and 63 East Wister Street Stated Meeting 42 04/25/2024 in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the 8th Councilmanic District, including on the following streets: Mechanic Street, Musgrave Street, East Phil Ellena Street, East Sharpnack Street, East Ashmead Street, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank.
This resolution will be placed on Stated Meeting 43 04/25/2024 the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 49 East Earlham Street, 207 East Penn Street, 313, 292, 278, 260, 226 East Bringhurst Street, 5222 Wakefield Street, 429 East Ashmead Street, 5514, 5515 Morton Street, 5608 Heiskell Street, 5642 Morton Street, 53 East Pastorius Street; 261 East Sharpnack Street, 263 East Sharpnack Street, 112 and 111 East Springer Street, 4925 Wakefield Street, 325 Sedaker Street, 342 Sedaker Street, 4951 Sheldon Street, 4957, 4961, 4975 Sheldon Street, 4635 Germantown Avenue, 44 Stated Meeting 44 04/25/2024 Regar Street, 42 Regar Street, 4946 Keyser Street, 1532 West Loudon Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the 8th Councilmanic District, Stated Meeting 45 04/25/2024 including on the following streets: Mechanic Street, Musgrave Street, East Phil Ellena Street, East Sharpnack Street, East Ashmead Street, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1532 West Loudon Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer Stated Meeting 46 04/25/2024 to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
And a nonprivileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 5803 Knox Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Stated Meeting 47 04/25/2024 Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. I have one privileged resolution.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the privileged resolution.
And a privileged resolution honoring the founding of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. on the occasion of its 120th Anniversary.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The next order of business Stated Meeting 48 04/25/2024 The Chair recognizes Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a report from the Committee of the Whole.
Thank you, Council President. The Committee of the Whole reports out eight resolutions with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Will the Clerk please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on the Whole to which was referred Resolution 240254 entitled, resolution confirming the appointment of Crystal Cubbage to the Board of Education of the Stated Meeting 49 04/25/2024 respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation. And the Committee on the Whole to which was referred Resolution No. 240255, entitled Resolution confirming the appointment of Sarah Ashley Andrews to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to the Council with a favorable recommendation. And Resolution 240256 entitled, Resolution confirming the appointment of Joan Stern to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with Stated Meeting 50 04/25/2024 Resolution 240257 entitled, Resolution confirming the appointment of Reginald Streater to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation. And Resolution 240258, entitled Resolution confirming the appointment of Wanda Novales to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation. And Resolution 240249, entitled Resolution confirming the appointment of Whitney Jones to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia Stated Meeting 51 04/25/2024 considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation. And Resolution 240260 entitled, Resolution confirming the appointment of Chau Wing Lam to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution with a favorable recommendation. And Resolution 240262 entitled, Resolution confirming the appointment of Cheryl Harper to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Stated Meeting 52 04/25/2024 motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the consideration of the resolutions that were just read into the record by the Chief Clerk at today's session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the consideration of the resolution just read by the Chief Clerk at today's session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting 53 04/25/2024
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Resolution Nos. 240254, 240255, 240256, 240257, 240258, 240259, 240260 and 240262 will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Phillips for a report from the Committee on Parks & Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Parks & Recreation and Cultural Affairs reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Will the Chief Clerk please read the report.
To the President and members of the Stated Meeting 54 04/25/2024 of Philadelphia, the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to which was referred Bill No. 240003, entitled Authorizing the Commissioner of Parks & Recreation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to enter into a multiyear agreement with Bennett Compost, Inc. for food scrap collection and management of a compost facility on City property located at 5650 Rising Sun Avenue, under certain terms and conditions, respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Phillips for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. Stated Meeting 55 04/25/2024 rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading this day of Bill No. 240003 that was just read into the record by the Chief Clerk.
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. 240003. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 240003 will be Stated Meeting 56 04/25/2024 2ND READING placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bill just reported from -- the bills just reported from the Committee with the suspension of the rules has been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions Stated Meeting 57 04/25/2024 are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars Today: Nos. 240254, 240255, 240256, 240257, 240258, 240259, 240260, 240262, 240306, 240308, 240309, 240318, 240321 and 240322. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. Before considering these bills and resolutions, we will consider public comment as follows: Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at today's Council session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already signed up for today's session, please do so now by giving your name to Ms. Hassen at the table outside the rails to my left. Once you have signed up, you will be called in the order in which Stated Meeting 58 04/25/2024 your name appears on the sign-up sheet. Under ideal circumstances, public commenters each will have three minutes to speak. However, due to our volume of testifiers today this time limit may vary from session-to-session. And today's time limit will be two minutes. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the two-minute limit. When you begin speaking, you will see a green light on the podium. When there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, the light will turn yellow which is a reminder to conclude your remarks. Once two minutes has passed, the light will turn red and the Sergeant-at-Arms will disconnect the microphone. At that time, please yield the podium to the next speaker if Stated Meeting 59 04/25/2024 you have not done so already. I also reserve the right pursuant to our rules of Council to limit repetitious comments on the same matter. I will now ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker.
We have Darryl Raymond Cox. And can Faye Anderson, Cornelia Swinson and Jacqueline Wiggins also make their way to the podium. Darryl Raymond Cox.
And Faye Anderson, Cornelia Swinson Jacqueline Wiggins and Dr. Diane Turner can also make their way to the podium.
Hello. My name Stated Meeting 60 04/25/2024 is Raymond Darryl Cox. Good morning and thank you for representing my family today.
Okay. Good morning, and thank you for representing my family today. My name is Raymond Darryl Cox and I'm the first-born nephew of Lee Morgan. Okay. I would like to state that my family is very proud of what the City is doing for us, showing us the love that they have for our beloved family member. Lee is a homegrown Philadelphia phenom from the Tioga section of North Philadelphia. Lee traveled the world performing with the Jazz Messengers and with his Stated Meeting 61 04/25/2024 own band, but there is one thing that he really loved more than anything that I saw as a teenager, because Lee was 15 when I was born, he loved coming back home and seeing family and performing at the Aqua Lounge in South Phil -- South Jersey and everywhere else where he had an engagement with. Once again I'm extremely grateful to the City of Philadelphia and everybody that participated in making this plaque a reality. It's been a long time since he was assassinated, I guess you could say. Like my uncle I love Philadelphia as well and I'm a homegrown Philadelphian too, and I will always cherish what you have done for me, my family as well as the people of Philadelphia that love him as much as we do. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Stated Meeting 62 04/25/2024
I want to thank Councilwoman Gauthier for the resolution honoring Edward Lee Morgan. While his life was tragically cut short, Lee Morgan really lived a full life. That's what Lee's beloved sister Ernestine Morgan Cox, Darryl's mother, wrote in an open letter published in the Philadelphia Tribune 50 years ago. Ms. Ernestine wrote "Though he only lived to be 33, he managed to accomplish more than some of us who have 60 or more years in which Stated Meeting 63 04/25/2024 to do it. Lee did indeed live and he has left an indelible impression on the lives of many whose path he has crossed." That's the Lee Morgan, that's the Edward Lee Morgan we are celebrating today. And on International Jazz Day when his historical marker is unveiled in front of the Aqua Lounge which was located at 52nd and Chancellor, the Aqua Lounge, a place that Lee loved and the only jazz club listed in his address book. Thank you. And I just want to make note, this is Lee's signature. This is from his address book, if you can see it. That's Lee's signature. Thank you. He learned his penmanship in the Philadelphia public schools. (Applause.)
Good morning, Council President, Councilmembers, family and friends. I'm Cornelia Swinson, Executive Director of Johnson House Historic Site, an Underground Railroad Station located in the heart of Germantown. I'm thrilled to be here today. During Black History Month, Johnson House hosted an event to recognize the contributions of Philadelphia Black musicians including Jazz Trumpeter Edward Lee Morgan. Today's resolution that honors the legacy of Lee Morgan is especially meaningful for Lee's family and for Faye Anderson, the leader who led the nominations journey. I'm truly blessed to witness their personal joy. As a national historic landmark, the dedication of a historic marker is especially Stated Meeting 65 04/25/2024 meaningful and highly significant. Each time a marker is proposed and reaches the point of its unveiling, those whose work in the realm of the historic community are affirmed by its erection. Lee Morgan deserves this distinction. My personal connection to Lee Morgan and his artistry began with my late father. I grew up listening to Sidewinder on The Mark of Jazz, narrated by Sid Mark, a radio program. My dad insisted we listen as children. I grew up on Chestnut Street. And 52nd Street was our local business corridor where we shopped to buy the latest trends in clothing and shoes. I walked by the Aqua Lounge on 52nd Street and wondered who got in its iconic doors to enjoy an evening of cultural music expression and enrichment. I moved to Germantown and met Lee's sister Stated Meeting 66 04/25/2024 Ernestine, Darryl's mother. Ernestine was a 59th Ward committee person and I was a 12th Ward committee person. We enjoyed each other's company. I listened to Ernestine talk about how proud she was of her brother. And Ernestine lived on Washington Lane and years later I started work at Johnson House located at Germantown and Washington Lane. Talk about full circle. No matter Lee's zip code or income it's clear to me that family love and nurturing gave life to his story. Today it will be forever publicly preserved. Unveiling this historic marker couldn't have come at a better time. Raising public awareness of the significance of historic markers, especially those acknowledging the contributions of African Americans and their Stated Meeting 67 04/25/2024 accomplishments, lifts up and elevates a new opportunity to educate us all. On behalf of families, neighborhood business corridors, schools and longstanding private-public institutions in Philadelphia and especially in West Philadelphia, I want to express my deep appreciation to Councilwoman Gauthier for your support.
Jacqueline Wiggins, and then Dr. Diane Turner, Elizabeth Waring and Amelia Schmertz can make their way to the podium as well. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, members of City Council, Lee Morgan family members, friends and jazz musicians and jazz lovers in our Stated Meeting 68 04/25/2024 City and everywhere, my name is Jacqueline Wiggins. When Faye Anderson asked me to give a few remarks about Lee Morgan, I had to smile. You see, I served on the PHMC, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historic Marker Panel when the nomination application was reviewed, and what an application it was. As a retired teacher, educator myself, it delights me when family serves as a source of introduction to the world of word through reading, but it becomes very special when it comes to also an introduction to the arts, in the case of Mr. Morgan when his sister Ernestine gave him his first trumpet. And hosting those jam sessions at their home, going to the Earle Theatre to see some of the greats like Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington all Stated Meeting 69 04/25/2024 nurtured him in his early musical development. And when I saw in the application Philadelphia school names, Gillespie Junior High, now closed, but where Lee Morgan decided to make music his career choice and Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School known for its respected music program and had earned a reputation for training great jazz players, I felt proud, especially as an educator and having taught at Mastbaum myself. Thank you to the family for their early fostering of Mr. Morgan's interest in jazz, giving his creativity a chance to blossom. Much appreciation to all of the talented teachers and musician professionals who saw his genius and paved a way for him to grow. And thanks also to Stated Meeting 70 04/25/2024 Councilwoman Gauthier for your support. But there is someone else to thank, and that's Faye Anderson. Thank you for your thoroughly excellent application in lifting Mr. Morgan's work not only for the City's historic marker, but also for nominating Morgan's 1963 album "The Sidewinder" to the Library of Congress where Lee Morgan's name will be preserved in the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. Thank you, Faye and All That Philly Jazz, for your tenacity and perseverance and to the family. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning. I bring you greetings from the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University. And I know Mr. Blockson is smiling Stated Meeting 71 04/25/2024 down right now because he was instrumental in having more than 63 African American historical markers placed around the City of Philadelphia through a grant that Dr. Bernard C. Watson gave him when he was at William Penn Foundation. When Faye asked me to talk about Lee Morgan, I was overjoyed. One of my areas of research is jazz in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a cradle of jazz. And I thank Faye and the Lee Morgan family for being dedicated and relentless in making sure that this happens, because often times we look and we celebrate but people don't know what you have to go through to get this. So Lee Morgan is welldeserving and I was privileged enough to interview his uncle who Darryl looks like. When I came in today, I said, hey, you look just Stated Meeting 72 04/25/2024 like your uncle, Jimmy Morgan. And we sat down. One of the things I do is conduct oral history interviews. And when I worked at the African American Museum, we actually had Lee's trumpet on display there. But I learned a lot from Jimmy Morgan. They loved Lee, and there's just a couple things I'd like to say about him. First of all, Lee practiced all the time. He was very disciplined and he was very competitive, because during that era music was in all the public schools, so a lot of the jazz musicians would compete in the high school bands. And so, I would say that the arts are very important. And to the City of Philadelphia, make sure there is music in all the public schools because -(Applause.) Stated Meeting 73 04/25/2024
-- through the art you learn discipline. You can't fake it and talk about it. You have to have a product, right. So once again, I'd like to thank everyone and I extend an open invitation for you to come to the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. We have materials that relate to Lee Morgan and other jazz musicians, a very extensive collection. So once again, thank you. And once again, thank you, Faye and the Lee Morgan family. (Applause.)
Faye Anderson, could you come back to the podium? Ms. Anderson, Faye Anderson, can you come back to the podium real quick?
We just want to say thank you for your advocacy when it comes to the Stated Meeting 74 04/25/2024 preservation of Black History here in the City of Philadelphia but also your advocacy around making sure as we address the issue of gentrification, we're keeping up our best murals across this City. And so, we just want to thank you. Continue your advocacy and making sure that we keep what's best that represents the City of Philadelphia. So thank you very much for your good work.
Elizabeth Waring. Amelia Schmertz. Can also Evan Cannon, Byron Goldson and Jaulie Cantaze make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning and happy Thursday. My name is Elizabeth Waring and I manage the Stated Meeting 75 04/25/2024 Holly Street Neighbors Community Garden, which is a living memorial for Winnie Harris. Winnie Harris with neighbors, friends, many City organizations, volunteers established the garden in 2005. Upon her demise from gun violence, Councilwoman Blackwell at her homegoing service said that the garden would be preserved and we were working to get it into the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, and that had been going on even before her demise with Councilwoman Blackwell. So far that has not happened. The garden has been operating with volunteers, friends, various organizations. High schools have volunteered. Just many people, we are keeping it going. But we would like to know that the garden will be preserved. And thanks to Councilwoman Brooks Stated Meeting 76 04/25/2024 and Councilwoman Gauthier, I've been in contact with them, but we have not heard anything from the Land Bank. It is a complicated situation with four different parcels involved, but I'm looking forward to the whole problem being resolved. So at this time we do serve the neighborhood very well. Seniors, we contribute to the street fridges, just donate, but our main issue is water. We do not have a water source. So a neighbor has been very kind and helping us. He has moved and relocated so we are still in limbo. And I was out watering the garden before coming here this morning because it's just something that has to be done with the help of another neighbor supplying water. So we hope that this is resolved real soon. Thank you. Stated Meeting 77 04/25/2024 (Applause.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier.
(Inaudible) -- it's working now. Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to acknowledge Ms. Waring and say that this has been a longstanding issue. Sometimes it can take quite a lot to untangle some of these land issues and sort of push that through the Land Bank, but my office is committed to that. We're going to keep working and fighting because I understand how important the garden is to the community and to the people who have been stewarding it. So thank you very much.
Thank you, Member Gauthier. And we Stated Meeting 78 04/25/2024 would like to join you in those efforts, so we'll have Nic Dema reach out to you and see how we can strategize and get the Land Bank moving in the right direction. Thank you.
Amelia Schmertz. Can Evan Cannon, Byron Goldson and Jaulie Cantaze also make their way to the podium. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President Johnson, members of City Council. My name is Amelia Schmertz and I am the Chief Advancement Officer at Settlement Music School. I am here this morning to support the resolution recognizing the 116th anniversary of Settlement Music School. Thank you to Councilman Squilla for sponsoring this legislation. Stated Meeting 79 04/25/2024 We celebrate the anniversary every year with a gala that raises an enormous amount to support the financial aid that we provide for all who need it. It will be Saturday, May 4th. And Stephanie Grant who is in the Office of Legislative Affairs is co-chairing along with her husband Byron Goldson. At Settlement Music School we have heart. We were founded in 1908 by two young women who wanted to welcome new Americans and started giving piano lessons for a nickel. Where we are today, we have five community branches; four in Philadelphia, one in Willow Grove serving people of all ages and all backgrounds. We believe that everybody deserves access to a creative arts education. We teach people 6 months to 96 years from all zip codes in Stated Meeting 80 04/25/2024 Philadelphia with 12,000 services every single week and we make more than $2.8 million available in financial aid to more than 60 percent of our students. I know there are many people in this room who have gone to Settlement or who have families who have gone to Settlement, I see you, and I have a feeling potentially that the wonderful jazz musician we heard about earlier today has some sort of connection with Settlement. One of our Board members likes to say that Settlement Music School is an antidote to poverty. We believe it. We believe that arts education can solve many problems and we have outcomes to prove it. If I had more time, I could tell you about those outcomes. But we have outcomes for PreK, for our programs in schools for how we diversify the field of Stated Meeting 81 04/25/2024 classical music. These are proven numerical outcomes. There's so much to say about what we do. We offer all instruments, dance, choir. We're online. We have creative arts therapy for people with disabilities and for people who just need that extra help getting through their day or their week. We have more than 70 active community partnerships. We are in all your neighborhoods creating joy. City Council should know that Settlement is here and ready to partner in any way to make this City even better. Thank you for all that you do to make this wonderful city the beautiful, historic, musical and joyous place that it is. (Applause.)
Hello, and good morning. Thank you, Councilmember Kendra Brooks, for inviting me here today. My name is Jaulie Cantaze and I am the Health and Wellness Coordinator of the Colours organization. The Colours organization was founded in 1991 as an advocation for Black gay issues. And today it serves as a safe space for people often tossed to the wayside. Being a part of this recognition of this resolution is the culmination of decades to service and commitment to underserved communities. For our founders, Philly Black Pride represents a community that stretches across generations. Stated Meeting 83 04/25/2024 Additionally, all the community organizations who have been dedicated to sexual wellness, queer existence and liberation, it's amazing to see how far we've come. Philly Black Pride is so special. It's a representation of intersected personalities and how those personalities deserve the same exultation as their counterparts is also at the crux of the Colour's mission. So to say that we are grateful, thankful, speechless is not enough. It is an honor truly. Happy 25 years to those who beat their drums loud enough so that we could have a seat at the table. Happy Philly Black Pride to the activists, scholars, performers who made this organization what it is today. We could not have made it without you and we are thrilled to serve you. Thank you so much. Stated Meeting 84 04/25/2024 (Applause.)
Evan Cannon and Byron Goldson. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President Johnson and members of the Philadelphia City Council. I am here this morning to support the resolution recognizing the 116th Anniversary of Settlement Music School. My name is Evan Cannon. And for the last three years, I have been the director of one of Settlement's signature programs, Music Education Pathways. Pathways is one of the ways Settlement moves outside of its doors to be part of the community, by partnering with public schools and afterschool bands, orchestras, choirs and drum lines. We serve 250 children after school in eight public schools in five Councilmanic Stated Meeting 85 04/25/2024 Districts. In our 11 years, we have been in 13 different schools and have served over 1,400 students. This program is geared to building solid music foundations as well as great citizens of our city. To that end, we provide high-level music education sequentially twice a week for a full school year taught by experienced music educators who provide large and small group instruction. We focus on strong core values of creativity, teamwork, responsibility, persistence and self-evaluation, all the tools necessary to become an upstanding member of the community. Our afterschool programs are an important part of each partner school's culture as well. Every year the ensembles from all eight schools come Stated Meeting 86 04/25/2024 together to make music together, developing new relationships across the City as a whole. There's so many special moments with the kids, musicians and our partner schools. One of which I was very proud recently to speak with a young violinist at the Thomas Holme Elementary School named Precious, who was on the verge of quitting her instrument. We spent time talking the other week and she came to me in tears saying that it was so difficult and she didn't think that she could continue. And through conversation, I reminded her that she started knowing nothing about an instrument just a few months ago and now was learning many pieces for our concert. And through that, she was reminded that through persistence and through self-evaluation what she can accomplish. Something that Stated Meeting 87 04/25/2024 I hope will stay with her for the rest of her life. We are grateful to have such eager partners in the School District of Philadelphia and Mastery Charter Schools. If you were to ask me my greatest dream, I would say I would love for our program to be in all schools to provide free afterschool education for all students. Thank you for your time. (Applause.)
Byron Goldson. Can Michael Galvan, Sheila Emerson and Gina Rose also make their way to the podium.
Good morning, President Johnson and members of Council. I am Byron Goldson and I'm here to support the resolution honoring Settlement Music School Stated Meeting 88 04/25/2024 introduced by Councilmember Squilla. I was a Settlement Music School student and now I'm a Board member and Co-chair of our upcoming 116th Anniversary. I grew up in North Philadelphia and was the youngest of five children. My parents decided to put me and my twin brother at age 9 in music at Settlement Music School, after all our cousin is the famous composer and saxophonist Benny Goldson who was honored in these chambers 10 years ago by Councilmember Young. I'm sure he remembers that. We would take the bus to the Mary Louise Curtis branch at 4th and Queen and began with piano lessons and music theory. Settlement along with sports kept us very busy after school and on weekends. My mom didn't tolerate us being idle. We learned Stated Meeting 89 04/25/2024 structure, discipline and teamwork, like I learned playing sports. Fast-forward, my twin brother Gene and I were both music majors at West Chester University. And after grad school, we both began working in the Philadelphia public schools as music teachers. I retired as an assistant principal at Webster in Kensington after 37 years with the School District of Philadelphia. And, yes, more Black men are needed in the public schools, but that's another resolution. I had two professions in music because of Settlement. The other was that I had been a music director at an Episcopal Church in West Philadelphia. I met Amelia from whom you've heard, as her son was my student at Bache-Martin Elementary. It's a great option to keep children occupied and to get Stated Meeting 90 04/25/2024 exposure to positive role models and other children who are going places. They may end up with college scholarships like one of the winners of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Talent Hunt last year who is now at Syracuse on a full scholarship. She was a student at Central High School and Settlement. Settlement founded in 1908 now has five branches, including ones in South Philadelphia, Wynnefield, Germantown and the Northeast. We award scholarships of 2.5 million a year for musicians of all ages. Famous people like Quest Love, Christian McBride, Stanley Clark and Kevin Bacon got their start at Settlement. I have to give a shout-out to former Board member Tiffany Thurman who is Chief of Staff to the Mayor and our new Arts and Culture Chief Valerie Gay at our Stated Meeting 91 04/25/2024 Art Sparks Gala May 4th, please support Helen Eaton, our highly touted CEO and students and this resolution. Thank you to Councilmembers Squilla and Sean and all co-sponsors. (Applause.)
Hi. Good morning. Thank you, Council President and members of City Council. My name is Michael Galvan. I'm here to say thank you for your support and your resolution honoring Stephanie Haynes, the Executive Director of Philly Family Pride for the last 15 years, and special thanks to Councilmember Landau for introducing this resolution for us. So I want to start with a Stated Meeting 92 04/25/2024 brief story. My husband and I moved to the area about 10 years ago from the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. We knew from our first date that we wanted to start a family, raise kids and be an active member of our community wherever we lived. We moved here in 2015 and Stephanie was one of the first people that connected us to Philly Family Pride and the ability to start a family in the City of Philadelphia. We decided to start our family around the winter 2019, spring of 2020. Probably not the best time given what was going on at that time, but Stephanie was there from the get-go. She introduced us to PFP's Pathways to Parenthood class, where we took off and were able to successfully adopt a young man named Jordan, who is a wonderful and incredible part of our lives. Stated Meeting 93 04/25/2024 I tell the story not because it's unique but because it's something that Stephanie does for every member of the LGBTQ+ community that's looking to start a family. She builds community. She helps people connect. And I think that there's an aspect of being queer in any community, that you get to choose your own family. And Stephanie through PFP and her work there has allowed us to build and choose our family here in the City of Philadelphia, and I am so happy to be able to have this resolution to honor and recognize her work. I would be remiss if I didn't recognize that our incoming Executive Director Sandra Telep is here with us today as well PFP. Hi, Sandra. And I just wanted to say thank you again for all of your time, your dedication and your support for our community here in Stated Meeting 94 04/25/2024 the City of Philadelphia and making LGBTQ+ Philadelphians feel welcomed, supported and safe. So thank you. (Applause.)
Sheila Emerson. Gina Rose and then Jenny Greenberg also make their way to the podium.
I'm Gina Rose who made a little switch. Sheila is a little nervous so I'm going to go before her. I'm Gina Rose. I am a former -- I was a longtime Board member of Philadelphia Family Pride, and I'm here to talk a little bit about Stephanie who is the epitome of a connector and a coalition builder. When I joined the Board at Philly Family Pride which was only because Stephanie insisted, she told me that her main goal was that both the organization and the Board Stated Meeting 95 04/25/2024 looked more like the LGBTQ+ families in Philadelphia, that we be more multi-cultural, more diverse in terms of gender and socioeconomic status and part of the Philadelphia area, and she has more than achieved that. Under her leadership, we are an organization that is dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQ families are everywhere in Philadelphia and that we belong everywhere. And I just want to say thank you to Stephanie for her leadership, her friendship and her determination in building a more diverse LGBTQ+ organization for our community. Thank you. (Applause.)
Sheila Emerson and then Jenny Greenberg, Queen Judith Robinson and Stephanie Haynes make their way to the podium. Stated Meeting 96 04/25/2024 (Witnesses approached podium.)
Okay. All right. I love that. Thank you. I am Sheila Lorette Emerson. I am the President of PFLAG Philadelphia, woohoo, yes. PFLAG is a national organization with international affiliates of LGBTQIA to us Plus people, parents, families and allies who work together to create an equitable and inclusive world. We have hundreds of chapters who are leading with love to support families, educate allies and advocate for just, equitable and inclusive legislation and policies. A few years ago before I became involved with PFLAG, I was a volunteer with Philadelphia Family Stated Meeting 97 04/25/2024 Pride Planning Committee for their annual conference. These planning sessions were led by Stephanie Haynes. At one planning session Stephanie shared that PFLAG Philadelphia Chapter had been inactive for quite a while and was officially shutting down. Stephanie said it was still a much needed resource and asked if any of us were interested in revising the chapter. It is because of Stephanie saying not on my watch that PFLAG Philadelphia did not die and is rebuilding and rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Now, our chapter is once again a resource in the community. For example, we have free monthly support meetings for families of LGBTQIA+ loved ones so they know they're not alone. And on Saturday, May 18th we'll be Stated Meeting 98 04/25/2024 co-hosting an event with GALAEI where Hollywood professional makeup artists will provide free genderaffirming makeovers for teens, young adults and for the young at heart so that they can feel their authentic selves. I mention these things because none of the resources my Chapter is able to provide today would be available if it weren't for Stephanie being the caliber of person that she is -- was that me? I'm sorry, I think it's my hearing -- Stephanie is one of the rare people who says what she's going to do and actually follows through in her actions. Her word is her bond and she is someone you can count on. It was her commitment to ensuring the resurrection of the PFLAG Philadelphia Chapter by providing mentorship, valuable connections Stated Meeting 99 04/25/2024 and support that makes us once again an impactful asset for our community. Thank you, Stephanie Haynes, Executive Director of Philadelphia Family Pride, and congratulations on being recognized for your superlative and impactful work in our community for over 15 years. Bravo. (Applause.)
Jenny Greenberg, Queen Judith Robinson and Stephanie Haynes.
Good morning, Council President Johnson and City Councilmembers. Thanks for the opportunity to speak in support of Councilmember Brooks' resolution for a hearing on urban agriculture. My name is Jenny Greenberg. I serve as Executive Director of the Neighborhood Gardens Trust. NGT is Philadelphia's land Stated Meeting 100 04/25/2024 trust for the protection of community gardens and shared open spaces. For decades Philadelphia has been a national leader in the community gardening and urban agriculture movement. There are more than 400 growing spaces where residents have transformed abandoned lots into places of nourishment, healing and community building. These gardens and farms address pressing needs in our city by providing healthy, affordable food, access to peaceful green space and reducing gun violence. They address historic environmental injustices and support climate resiliency, cooling dangerous summer heat and reducing flooding. Yet many gardens and farms do not have secure land access and their future is uncertain. Once a garden is lost it's gone for good, Stated Meeting 101 04/25/2024 along with all the benefits it provided. NGT provides a solution to this problem by securing ownership for community gardens. I've had the privilege to work with many of you to preserve gardens that were in jeopardy of being lost to real estate development. We've also worked with City Council to tackle systemic threats to gardens like U.S. Bank liens and provided recommendations for Philadelphia's first urban agriculture plan, but there's much more work for us to do together. It's critical the City treat gardens as the highest and best use and streamline pathways to preservation. That means the Philadelphia Land Bank must be fully funded for green space acquisition and held accountable. In addition, we need more resources so gardens and farms have Stated Meeting 102 04/25/2024 the infrastructure they need to grow bumper crops of fruits and vegetables for our neighbors. We also need funding to purchase gardens acquired by real estate speculators so that we don't lose them. In conclusion, thanks for the opportunity to speak and I look forward to participating in the urban agriculture hearing next month. (Applause.)