A resolution urging Mayor John F. Street, Governor Edward Rendell, Speaker of the House John Perzel, and State Senator Vincent Fumo to combined their efforts to ensure that the Philadelphia Regional Produce Terminal remains in Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly. (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, and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The next order of business is reports from Committees. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a report from the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report. THE
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to which was referred Bill No. 040311 entitled, an ordinance naming and designating the Mantua Recreation Center located at 34th Street and Haverford Avenue as the James Lee Wright Recreation Center; respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable consideration.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 040311. (Duly seconded.)
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. 040311. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on today's First Reading Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller for a report from the Committee on Public Safety.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, the Committee on Public Safety reports one resolution with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the report. THE
To President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Public Safety to which was referred Resolution No. 040378, entitled a resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings on the possible expansion of Section 10-608 of The Philadelphia Code to include the posting of the photographs and names of 05/20/04 - STATED - 1ST READING individuals accused or found guilty of soliciting prostitutes; respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
We're not asking for a rule suspension, Council President.
Thank you. It's a resolution. Resolution No. 040378 will be considered at the end today's Calendar. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. The Clerk will please read the bill on the First Reading Calendar. THE
040311, an ordinance naming and designating the Mantua Recreation Center located at 34th Street and Haverford Avenue as the James Lee Wright Recreation Center.
The Chair agrees. 05/20/04 - STATED - 2ND READING That completes our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Madam President. Today, Bill No. 040207 is being called up for second reading and final passage. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the Bill No. 040207. THE
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded Umbria Street, Paoli Street, Cliff Street, Lodge Street, Livesey Street, Silverwood Street and Parker Avenue.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. 05/20/04 - STATED - 2ND READING The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 040378. 05/20/04 - STATED - 2ND READING THE
A resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings on the possible expansion of Section 10-608 of the Philadelphia Code to include the posting of photographs and names of individuals accused or found guilty of soliciting prostitutes. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution No. 040378 has been adopted. for today. Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, today, Resolution 040298, a resolution authorizing City Council Committee of Transportation and Public Utilities to hold public hearings to investigate the proposed 43 percent increase that would be effective July 1. I just want to have remind everyone of the significance of this issue today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Madam President, first of all, I want to thank you for your support and help in drafting the resolution which we introduced today to keep the Food Distribution Center in Philadelphia. I think I also want to thank, of course, our for signing on and approving this resolution. After all, this facility is an economic jewel in our City, and I think we have to do everything possible to make sure that it stays where it rightfully belongs, and that is in South Philadelphia. So, again, I want to thank you and I want to thank all of my colleagues. I think we have to do everything we possibly can to keep that facility where it is. And I think that all of us here are behind this. And I think if our powers that be get behind it, I think we will be successful.
I concur with your remarks, Councilman. And I know I have personally been involved with that with our State Senator and the people from the Food Distribution center to see what we could do to make sure that they stay there. Are there any other speeches on the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Thank you, Madam President. I think the people of this City Council and the people in Philadelphia are entitled to know why Councilwoman Miller was so roundly booed by the people from the 17th Ward area, the area that surrounds LaSalle University. They booed her because she engaged in what is, to me, the worst act political sabotage one can do. She got elected to an office to represent the 8th Councilmanic District of which the 17th Ward is a basic issue. And instead of championing the people's believes in the 17th Ward, what she has done is systematically attacked that and felt they had no rights.
Now, that's the worse action that can be taken for people to find out an elected official has turned against them right after an election instead of supporting them. The reason we elect people in Philadelphia is to support us, not to become objects that have to be attacked. 17th Ward area around LaSalle has been very patient. They didn't like what was done because it was done quietly in the night. Just shortly before Christmas, a notice appeared in a batch of material issued by the Streets Department about as wide as my hand show, about 6 inches s of press releases were put and amongst them was a single sheet announcing that on December 29 -- this we discovered on Christmas Eve day with nothing else there was an announcement that 20th Street was going to be a one-way street instead of a two-way street.
I'm talking about the reaction of the people in the audience here who have been acting like good citizens coming to talk to Councilmembers this week.
I understand that, but at the appropriate time when the bill is scheduled for a public hearing, that will be able to voice their opinion.
Councilwoman Miller has shown no regard whatever for the people in the area. And that will be a political decision made at a later time as to what that yields. But I'm saying that here we seek to encourage people to participate in the government, and the government acts as the worst enemy of the people by acting quietly, hiding its decisions, acting clearly against the way they know the people. (Applause.)
That's the reason the people are so outraged here. And they have every right to be. (Applause.)
And this Council will never be at peace until it takes an action to make sure that Council represents people and doesn't try to rule them and dictate to them in a dictatorial fashion. This is truly what we fought the revolution for, to prevent ruling without representation. People elect the district Councilmembers to support them, not to oppose (Applause.)
And this is just step one. But there can be no peace in this City Council as long as the district Councilmember or any member of Council believes they have the right, once elected, to make all the decisions and that they've taken away the voting power and the decision-making power of each community to make its own basic decisions.
That's what the issue is here, and that will be dealt with in an orderly fashion.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd just like to bring you up to date on the latest scenario on the Bennett College issue.
Bennett College issue. You know that's my passion. I'd just like to acknowledge the fact that this evening at the Women's Way Dinner, Dr. Jeanetta B. Cole, President of Bennett College, will receive the Lucretia Mott Award, and we're very pleased and happy for that award. And I didn't have anything to do with that.
That's great. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to remind people concerning the ordinance that I introduced today that there is going to be a public hearing and people's points of views and whatnot will be heard. I'm just absolutely following the established conduct and business of Council. Thank you.
It was an inadvertent event touch, Madam President, anticipating actions to be taken that are no longer necessary.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm only reminding us that we are a body of rules and we have to go by our rules. You so indicated that. At the appropriate time, we are to have public hearings any legislation introduced, and we have to go by the rules that govern us.
Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to recess.
Madam Chair, I move that this Session of Council be recessed until Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 3:30 p.m.
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand in recess until Tuesday, May 25th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The motion carries. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 11:15 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, May 20, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR