COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 401, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 8, 2001 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DI CICCO COUNCILMAN WILSON W. GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO PATRICIA RAFFERTY, CHIEF CLERK VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 INVOCATION P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, everyone. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. The Council will come to order. Members will take their seats and guests will retire to the seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes the Reverend Benjamin Maucere, Pastor of the First Unitarian Church here in Center City. He is here as the guest of Councilman Longstreth. Members and guests will please rise.
In order for us to open ourselves to the spirit, I invite us to take a moment in silence, to breathe deeply, to come fully into this place, into the presence of one another, into the presence of the Holy. (Moment of silence.)
Thou who art known by many names, we know you as the spirit of justice, as holy wisdom, as the creative power of transforming love, be and abide with this group and guide them in their deliberations and in their speaking, guide this group as it does the work of the people. The work is worthy and so are the workers. May we give APPROVAL OF JOURNAL thanks for this place, for all who enter this hall, and for the holy work that is done here. We pray that we will serve you in our thoughts, in our words, with our hearts and with our hands. Amen.
Amen. The Chair thanks the Reverend for his inspiring invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
This is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 1, 2001. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of Thursday, March 1, 2001, stand approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 1, 2001, stand approved. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have LEAVES OF ABSENCE it, and the Journal of Thursday, March 1, 2001, has been approved.
The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. There are no requests for leaves of absence today on the part of the majority.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, on behalf of the Republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
Thank you. 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, I welcome you to our Council Session today. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our City. We certainly invite you to come again. WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a presentation honoring the volunteers who assisted with the Third Council District Holiday party. Will Mr. Neil Stein and Mr. Gabe Marabella please join the Councilwoman at the podium.
Thank you, Madam President. We also have KeVen Parker from Simply Delicious Caterers and La Famiglia Restaurant, and certainly our friend Giuseppe Sena and many others.
Councilwoman, whoever is here with the group, I would suggest that they join you at the podium.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning. This is certainly a special day for us. Councilman DiCicco and Councilman Clarke are also here. This is their area and certainly they have been very helpful and WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS supportive for our holiday feeding of homeless people. And, you know, these are very, very special people here, people who give and don't have to give and who volunteer to make all their resources available and resources that are given to people around the country and they decided to give it to the least of those in our City, and certainly that is what our mission is. Honoring the volunteers who assisted with the Third Council District Holiday Party for thier civic commitment and act of humanitarianism. This is our resolution. Whereas, on December 13, 2000, there was a holiday dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the First District Plaza in West Philadelphia. At the dinner were 500 homeless families, the majority of them children; and Whereas, this was a full-scale gala, a full course gourmet meal, entertainment by the Point Breeze Performing Arts Council, and toys for each child in attendance provided by Penn Mutual Life, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, American Community Partners and AmeriChoice; and
Whereas, a WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS traditional holiday meal was prepared by the staff of Gabe Marabella and Neil Stein of Striped Bass and Avenue B, two of the City's top restaurateurs and served by volunteers from the Restaurant School the School of Culinary Arts. Desserts were donated by Giuseppe Sena of La Famiglia; and Whereas, we also recognize the efforts of Ms. Jean Bund, Director of Professional Healthcare Institute; Mr. John Coates of the Redevelopment Authority; Mr. Al Williams of American Community Partners; Robert Beven of a Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company; Mr. KeVen Parker, owner of Simply Delicious Caterers; AmeriChoice and Mr. Michael Nardon, Mr. Louis Souder of OESS; and
Whereas, they and all the other members of the Holiday Dinner Committee went far beyond the call of duty to make December 13th a night that hundreds of our citizens will remember for years to come; and Whereas, events such as the third district holiday dinner reflect the Christmas spirit in its purest and fullest form; it is the spirit of giving and generosity of heart which make lives richer and thus make Philadelphia more caring and WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS compassionate place; and therefore. Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby honor and commend all the members of the Third District Holiday Dinner Committee and volunteers. We thank them for their civic commitment and act of humanitarianism, and we extend to them the sincere respect and deep admiration of this legislative body.
And certainly, this was co-signed by my colleagues Frank DiCicco and Darrell Clarke and agreed to signed by every single member of City Council. And again, we thank all of these people here who are certainly God's instruments of mercy to help people in need in our City. God bless. (Applause.)
Councilwoman, is there anyone in the group who would like to say a few words. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I would just like to thank everyone and tell everyone that we're committed to feeding a thousand homeless people next Christmas. (Applause.) WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS
At this time the Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen who will present a resolution honoring the Philadelphia Wages for Housework Campaign. Will Ms. Kathy Miller and those accompanying her please join the Councilman at the podium.
The integration of men and women in the City Council of Philadelphia is very obvious. The last resolution authored by and read by Councilwoman Blackwell featured mostly men. The two Councilmembers, Councilman Ortiz and I, the honorees today feature mostly women. I think it's a very healthy development. And I'm honored to be part of it. This is a resolution honoring the Philadelphia Wages for Housework Campaign, the Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Chapters of the National Organization for Women for their efforts to WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS eradicate the inequities in the treatment of women and supporting their activities for pay equity on International Women's Day. That activity will include beginning at noon today in the Council Caucus Room, a participation by many working women in the City of Philadelphia of a two-hour lunch period, one hour of which represents a strike for fair play by women, a one hour extension of the lunch period is being celebrated today throughout the nation and throughout the world. Whereas, this City Council previously passed a resolution to recognize Equal Pay Day as the day established to draw national attention to the wage gap between women and men, a gap that according to the National Committee of Pay Equity has widened since last year so that women in the United States working full time earn 72 cents to every dollar a man earns, with black women earning 65 cents and Hispanic women 52 cents compared with white men; and Whereas, according to the International Labor Organization, women perform two-thirds of the world's work and two-thirds of this work is unwaged; and WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS Whereas, the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in which the United States government participated, that conference agreed to measure and value unwaged work and include that value in economic statistics. Yet this decision has still not been implemented in the United States; and Whereas, after retirement, women with pensions receive 53 percent of what men receive in pensions while many women have no pension at all; and Whereas, among the world's industrialized countries, the United States has the highest proportion of women living in poverty. I would like to just repeat that because it generally comes as an enormous surprise to people. Whereas, among the world's industrialized countries, the United States has the highest proportion of women living in poverty. Sixty percent of those living below the poverty line are women with dependent children, and 1 in 6 children are living in poverty; and
By the way, also has the highest proportion of children living in WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS poverty. Whereas, the US is one of only six countries surveyed by the United Nations that does not have paid maternity care policy for women. The US has also posed international agreements which call for other financial benefits for women including paid breast feeding breaks; and Whereas, economists as well as trade unions have said that a factor widening the US wage gap between women and men is welfare reform which is forcing hundreds of thousands of women, mostly single mothers, into the lowest paying jobs or community service for no pay at all; and Whereas, on March 8, 2001, International Women's Day women and girls around the world and in Philadelphia mobilizing a global women's strike to highlight the major inequities that women experience as a result of their work being unpaid and under paid and as a result of racism, homophobia and other discrimination; now therefore
Be it resolved that the City Council of Philadelphia honors the Philadelphia Wages for Housework Campaign, the Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women and WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Chapters of the National Organization for Women for their efforts to eradicate the inequities and the treatment of women and supports their global women's strike activities on International Women's Day, including the call for a two-hour lunch break against no pay and low pay and for pay equity. Be it further resolved that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the leaders of the aforementioned organizations which will occur immediately thereafter as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. Signed by President of City Council Ann Verna, introduced by Councilmember David Cohen and cosponsored by every member of City Council. Thank you. (Applause.)
Actually, it's been replaced by Ms. Schulenberg from the Wages for Housework Campaign. But on behalf of Kathy Miller and Kathy Black and Pat Albright from our group and all the groups that are represented up here, I wanted to say that one of the nice things about WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS having an event like this is that it's already been a success before we've even begun because we've accomplished the seemingly impossible, grassroots women acting together on a common theme across divisions of race, nationality, language, sexual preference, age, religion, disability, economic situation and most particularly across national boarders. The global women's strike has changed the content and impact of International Women's Day, returning to grassroots women, this time drawing out deep and wide international connections among us. Women in cities, towns, in villages and well over 60 countries, thousands of E-mails, thousands of hits on the web site, thousands of links from other web sites, and thousands of actions from around the world from Welfare Warriors to Ranging Grannies and now the Grammy-winning Rage Against the Machine which have given us new legitimacy in our children's eyes. Support from men has been very considerable as they've grasped the connection between women's interests and their own as workers, as parents, and as members of society. And the same WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS thing can be said that's true about the City Council resolution. It's already been a success. First of all, you've already passed it so we're not sitting on pins and needles, but also look what came together to get this, grassroots, labor, and feminist groups as represented Wages for Housework, CLUE, and NOW. Traditionally seen as representing different groups, unwaged, low waged, and career women with little to do with each other. But we have everything to do with each other and we have support from over 30 organizations, many of whom are standing up here today. We are united in the United States and with women around the world and are determined to see that any women's crisis is our own crisis and in our refusal of no pay and low pay and our demand for pay equity and payment for caring work. For these demands we have won unanimous City Council support and awareness and we are grateful for that support and particularly to Councilman Cohen who, taking a lead from President Verna, we now affectionately refer to as Councilwoman Cohen, and also to Councilmen Ortiz and Councilman Cohen's wonderful staff, in particular, Tim Kearny. But two hours for lunch is extraordinary WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS when many women only have 30 minutes and many women work through that 30 minutes. But we warn you, our next request may have more teeth in it. We might actually ask for pay. Thank you. (Applause.)
Councilman, do you anyone else in the group who wants to speak? Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you, Madam President. Due to Council business, I must leave the Chamber. I have no bills or resolutions today. I'd like to be recorded voting yes on all bills and resolutions while in my absence.
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco who I understand has some visitors that he would like to recognize.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning I have two groups of students. One group are students from the Regional High School from 11th and Market, and I would ask WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS them to stand up and be recognized. (Applause.)
The second group are five students from the Francis Scott Key Elementary School in South Philadelphia, Raven Washington, Edward Herrell, Julie Chore, Keng Chee, Steven Pham. They're accompanied by the librarian from that school, Rochelle Nocito. These kids produced a digital mural on the history of South Philadelphia. That was done by a grant from Microsoft. This is a 7 foot by 9 foot mural. It is on display at the Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia on South Broad Street, and I would urge everyone who is in that vicinity to stop into the hospital. It is an amazing piece of digital artwork that these young students, and they're stand back there if you can see them, created along with several other students from the school. They will be with me most of the day today. We're going to have lunch in a short while over at the Hard Rock Cafe. They deserve it. So I'd like for you to give them a big round of applause.
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-at-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Clerk. The Clerk will read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting for consideration of your honorable body a draft of the following resolution: A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel No. 250 and 251. And a resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel Nos. 252 and 253, 254 and 255. And a resolution approving the COMMUNICATIONS redevelopment contract of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel No. 219. And an ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Zoning and Planning" by adding a new section 14-1620 entitled "Keystone Opportunity Zone Special District Controls" prohibiting residential uses in certain deteriorated areas of the City and providing for services of the relevant city departments of certain applications relating to the use of the property in such areas. And an ordinance authorizing the Streets Commissioner on behalf of the City to execute an intergovernmental agreement for the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Household Hazardous Waste Education, Collection, and Management Project, under certain terms and conditions.
The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Clerk will read any communications in her possession.
I have no others, Madam INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS President.
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell who would like to recognize a group from her district.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning we have some members from Ward AME Church. They are seniors who call themselves the Keener Citizens of Ward AME Church. They come every year, and we'd certainly like to welcome them today.
The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning I have one bill.
Would you move for a suspension of the rules first?
I'm sorry, Madam President. I'm thinking too far ahead. Madam President, I move that the Rules INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS of Council be suspended so as to permit consideration of resolutions at their time of introduction. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration of resolutions at the time of introduction. All favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, this morning I have one bill on your behalf, one resolution on your behalf and one resolution for myself.
Thank you. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Zoning and Planning" by adding a new Section 14-1620 entitled "Keystone Opportunity Zone Special District Controls."
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia without consideration deeds located in the 30th and 36th wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
A resolution approving the amendment to the Redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of an additional portion of the West Philadelphia Redevelopment Area.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Mariano.
The Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution asking that the City of Philadelphia place municipal weather information on the City of Philadelphia cable access station. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Move for the adoption, Madam President. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the second resolution.
A resolution honoring John McDonald on his retirement as coach of the Temple University golf team.
Move for the adoption, Madam President. (Duly seconded.) INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the last resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS (No response.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Rising Sun Avenue, the 5800 block.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing the Street Commissioner on behalf of the City to execute an intergovernmental agreement for the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Household Hazardous Waste Education, Collection, and Management Project, under certain terms and conditions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Madam President, on behalf of myself and Councilwoman Marian Tasco, I offer one resolution.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution supporting the citizens of the District of Columbia and their efforts to gain voting representation in the United States Congress.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS President. Madam President, I have 5 resolutions, one privileged co-sponsored by Councilman O'Neill and myself.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the tile of the first resolution.
A resolution urging the Big East Football Conference to continue the membership of Temple University's Football Program and Conference 1A football league.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS The Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia without consideration deeds located in the 5th, 14th, 16th, 29th, 32nd, 37th and 47th Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the third resolution. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area designated as Parcel Nos. 252, 253, 254, and 255.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the next resolution.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area designated as Parcel Nos. 250 and 251.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the last resolution.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of urban renewal of a portion of the INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Model Cities Urban Renewal Area designated as Parcel No. 219.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, no bills or resolutions today. FIRST READING CALENDAR
Thank you very much. There are no reports from committees today. Therefore, the next order of business is the consideration of the calendar. The Clerk will please read the title of the bills on the First Reading Calendar.
Bill No. 000063, an ordinance amending Chapter 6-400 of the Philadelphia Code relating to miscellaneous standards and requirements of the Health Code by prohibiting tattooing, body piercing, and body art establishments from providing services to minors without parental consent and by requiring such establishments to operate in accordance with regulations, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair agrees. Bill No. 000063 will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next Council session. This concludes the bills to be considered on the First Reading Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills on the SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE CALENDAR Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Madam President. Today Bill No. 000065 and 000184 are being called up for second reading and final passage.
The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 000065.
An ordinance amending Section 9-208 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Sidewalk Cafes" by permitting sidewalk cafes to be maintained on East Passyunk Avenue, both sides, between Broad Street and Federal Street, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Clerk will please read the title of the Bill No. 000184.
An ordinance amending Section 9-103 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Enforcement and Appeals," by providing that appeals to the Board of License and Inspection Review shall not stay proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having read on two different days the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? Are there any speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recollect knees Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I would like to invite the Members of Council to join me in paying tribute to a valiant Philadelphia hero. Gertrude Alston Alexander Barnes died on Thursday past, March 1st. She was an outstanding, dedicated to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a North Carolina Sister and a very good friend of my grandmother's. She was a crusader for children, a champion of the absolute SPEECHES necessity and value of an integrated education, and a pioneer in the basic philosophy of racial harmony. She was unrelenting in her pursuant of these objectives. Her other passions included the West Philadelphia Cultural alliance and the Paul Robeson Project. She insisted that Philadelphia live up to its motto of brotherly love. I would like to ask the Council to stand in a moment of silence for the memory and legacy of Gertrude Alston Alexander Barnes who has many more attributes I cannot say here today, but if you knew her had met with her or had known about her history in Philadelphia, you would be very, very pleased and honored. Thank you very much.
Thank you. All members will stand for a moment of silent prayer and our visitors can also join us if they see fit. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yesterday over the wire and THE internet I received news that Latinos have become the largest SPEECHES minority in the United States. That population grew over 60 percent over the last 10 years. And that the growth of the population were also not in the places you might actually think about, places like Iowa, Vermont, Maine, showing that Latinos are going to places really that are not considered the stream that they have usually and historically taken. But it shows also that the numbers, although they are big, I think as was stated in the resolution that we spoke about, that also means that poverty and the conditions that afflict that community, that the growth in numbers has not meant a growth in economic power and has not meant a growth in political power. Hopefully, over the next 10 years that will change. But it is significant that this country as it reaches the 21st century is going back to it's native roots of Spanish becoming probably the second most predominant language in the land as it was when it began being known as America. So I think it's something that we will see and we will celebrate as we continue to grow. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Madam SPEECHES President. Madam President, today I introduced a resolution calling for the City of Philadelphia, hopefully, the Mayor's Office and Public Property to put -- I found out last week that we subscribe to three weather, two for the Department of Transportation and one for the Aviation Department. The reason I did this was since the television news stations have gotten our weather forecasting into a ratings war -- I mean, one of the stations, Channel 10, was interrupting the 10 o'clock news over a week ago and scared the daylights out of everybody. And although this weather forecasting isn't an exact science, possibly if it's by a service and we put it on our cable access station, SEPTA does it with a resolution I did in my first year of Council, they put all the routes, snow emergency routes on there. If we could do this with the cable access station, maybe the people will feel a little better and would trust the actual forecast they're going to get. Now, we realize it's not an exact science, but what happens here is people panic and they rush to supermarkets, buy shovels, buy bread and milk. I don't know what we're doing with all the bread and milk. SPEECHES Councilwoman Tasco says they're shoveling the bread and milk. I'm not about sure. But it really disrupts the daily life of the people in this City and the whole region. They were sending people home from school early. My youngest son got sent home three days in a row, Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and I didn't shovel any snow so it couldn't have been that bad. It all melted in one day. So what we have to do is get this done and I urge the Mayor and the Managing Director and the Department of Public Property to get this on the public access station so the people have faith again in the forecast. If the company that the City hires doesn't forecast correctly, we hire someone else that has a better track record forecasting the weather. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. Just short announcement. All members Law and Government Committee, just a reminder, at 1:30 this afternoon continued hearings on the health plans of the City, the plans that the City has for SPEECHES the unrepresented employees which include the members of City Council the staff members and all people who work for the City who are not members of unions. The unions will also be present. I understand I received a call last evening that the Chief of Staff will also be here and will be able to furnish us with information and be subject to questioning about the City's plans. Secondly, a reminder that beginning at noon, the resolution Councilman Ortiz and I read involving that extended lunch hour will take place in the Council Caucus Room. All members of the Council and their staff are an invited with particular emphasis, of course, on the women members but they'd like the men members and men staff members to come as supporters. Final thing, just an added note. I was remiss have in not expecting that the "Daily News" follow the "Inquirer" as being supporters of tobacco lobby. If you saw the "Daily News" over the last week, there have been two full-page ads in the name of Wawa but actually from the tobacco lobby urging people to buy Malboro Cigarettes. They're for sale at reduced rates with a caution in the corner that ADJOURNMENT nobody pays any attention to saying "This add is intended for only adults who smoke." Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam Chair, thank you. I'd just like to point out to my colleagues that the resolution that was unanimously passed today supporting elected representation for the District of Columbia is very significant in the District of Columbia because we are the birth place of democracy and they wanted our City to be the first among all those municipalities around the country to pass this and be up front because our history here means a whole lot to them in terms that have movement. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches? Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.) ADJOURNMENT
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 15, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Council will stand adjourned until March the 15th. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 11:00 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 March 8, 2001, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public