Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, December 13, 2018 11:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
Good morning. We're going to start. If the visitors will retire behind the rail, we can get started. We've established our quorum. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Reverend John Payne of Dauphin Street Baptist Church. He is here today as my guest. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.)
I'd like to give honor to the President and all of the distinguished guests and Councilpeople that are here. Let us bow in prayer. Our Father and our God, we come before your presence, Lord, at this time, first of all, to give you all the honor, all of the glory, and all of the praise, because, God, you and you alone are Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 From the rising of the sun that you created until the going down of the same, your name is worthy to be praised. So, God, we acknowledge that we live and we move and have our being through you, that you are the giver and the sustainer, and the creator of all life. So we worship you, God. We praise you. We honor you. We magnify you. We adore you. Now, God, I pray that you will bless this Council as they conduct the business of the City; that you would give them the knowledge, God, to include all of the citizens of this great city; that you would continue to bless them and keep them in your care. Grant unto them good health. Bless our President. And, God, may this city rise up to be the city that you have called us to be. We give you all the honor, the glory, honor your people, and we thank Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 this season, God. In that great name that is above every name that we pray. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much, Reverend, for those inspiring words. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you very much. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, December 6, 2018, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, December 6th, 2018 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Thursday, December 6, 2018 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I would like to ask for permission to leave. I have to leave today. I want to be voted aye on all bills, except Bill 180888.
Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted and the record will be reflected. Thank you, sir. Our next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests of leave of absence today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. At this time, I would like to dispense with the regular order of business and I would like to thank everyone who has taken time out of their busy day to come down to witness their government in action. We genuinely appreciate you being here. We hope your stay here today is a knowledgeable one but, more importantly, a pleasurable one, so much so that you come back again. So, Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 again, thank you so much for being here. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, who will present a resolution recognizing State Representative Joanna McClinton. Would Representative McClinton and those accompanying her please join the Councilwoman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
And joining Councilwoman Sanchez, we have Councilwoman Parker -
-Councilwoman Gym, Councilwoman Bass, and Councilwoman Blackwell and Parker.
Good morning, all. Thank you all very much. I want to thank the women of Council for joining me this morning. As many of you know, Election Day was a very good day in our country's Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Pennsylvania, it meant significant women getting elected to Congress, but in Philadelphia -- and actually I want to recognize Margo Davidson, who was also elected Chair of the Southeast Delegation. I want to recognize her, Jordan Harris, who is the Whip, and our very own Jason Dawkins, who is the Philadelphia Delegation Chair. But today it is all about Joanna. We're going to do this all for Joanna and only for Joanna, and we want to thank her so very much. Many of you see State Representative McClinton all over the City, and even though she represents a small sector of the City, she is one of the first people that has no problems crossing the City to lend her support to her colleagues all across the City. Being a good ally is an important part of being an effective leader, and it is that characteristic in Ms. McClinton that takes her to her Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 is about facilitating a process, ensuring that all voices are heard, and ultimately making tough decisions. We are incredibly proud of her. We look forward to her leadership. I know in this Council body sometimes we are not happy with what Harrisburg is doing, but it's good to know that we have a very strong delegation and that in particular we now have strong leadership from Representative McClinton. So with that, recognizing and congratulating, and honoring State Representative Joanna McClinton for her continued dedication and service to the City of Philadelphia and for being elected the first African-American and first woman to serve as the Pennsylvania State House Democratic Caucus Chair. Can I get a round of applause for that. (Applause.)
And let Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 is highly qualified, and the fact that she's African American and a woman does not and should not take away from her high qualifications. And whereas, a lifelong resident of Southwest Philadelphia, daughter of "Elder" Rachel McClinton and the proud aunt of Desiree McClinton, State Representative Joanna McClinton was a graduate of Grace Temple Christian Academy, where she became active in the community while completing a two-year internship with radio station WDAS. Later, she studied Political Science and Leadership in Global Understanding at La Salle University, where she was on the Dean's List, highly qualified, student leader and neighborhood tutor; and
Whereas, immediately after graduating from La Salle University, State Representative McClinton enrolled at Villanova University School of Law where she used her legal training to serve the public. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 intern at Regional Housing Legal Services, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, and the Defender Association of Philadelphia where she was also an Assistant Public Defender for seven years. She became the Assistant Chief of the East Zone during her last year at the Public Defender's Office and helped attorneys with case preparations; and
Whereas, Representative McClinton is a moxie woman who has learned how to walk on a tightrope backwards with high heels on, blindfolded, gracefully; and Whereas, in 2013, Representative McClinton combined her passion for the community and the love of law by becoming Chief Counsel to State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, where she worked behind the scenes in the Senator's Harrisburg and Philadelphia offices, developing policy and legislation. In her time there she also organized Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 policy forums, and helped constituents with community issues impacting her district. A few years later State Representative Joanna McClinton took the oath of office to serve the people of the 191st Legislative District on August 25th, 2015 after winning a special election two weeks prior; Whereas, Representative McClinton's passion of community service began at an early age where she was active in her community, where she served as a youth leader at her West Philadelphia home church, Open Door Mission, for more than 10 years. As a youth ministry leader, she organized positive empowerment programs for children and young people, mentoring them, reminding them that their dreams can and will come true. Today she continues that community service serving still as a volunteer with Outreach to Youth and Hands of Compassion American Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Ministry;
Thank you. She is from the Third District, and my only regret is that my colleague beat me to the punch.
We like having -- yeah, we are together. We love having a State Rep who is also a lawyer and a preacher. So we are very, very honored and always say that whenever we get the chance. Whereas, Representative McClinton currently serves as an elected Board Member of the La Salle University Alumni Association Board of Directors, where she helped initiate the Minority Alumni Advisory Group. She has served as the secretary of the Philadelphia Barrister's Association, the City's Bar Association of African American Attorneys, and as President of the La Salle University African American Alumni Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Association; and Whereas, Representative McClinton has been acknowledged for her commitment to public service and enhancing the quality of life for residents in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties by receiving several awards. They include: City and State Pennsylvania's 40 Under 40; the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award; Successful Women Achieving Goals' Women of the Year Award; Fun Time Magazine's Women of Influence Award; the PRE-K for Pennsylvania Champion Award; the Spirit of a Dove Community Servant Award; the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Light Community Award; and the Black Gala Women of Excellence Award; and
Whereas, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, my good friend State Representative Joanna McClinton was elected by her peers to serve as the Chair of the House Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 2019-2020 Legislative Session. Representative Joanna McClinton is the first African-American and woman to hold the caucus chairman leadership position; and
Whereas, Representative McClinton was joined by Representative Jordan Harris (the 186th State House District) who was elected as Caucus Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and other younger members of the House, promoting new opportunities that will positively benefit the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And I just have to say, because I spent ten little short years in the Pennsylvania House, that it's not only a big deal, because you have to gain the majority of the support from your colleagues in your democratic caucus -and I just told you this a few seconds ago -- Representative McClinton has earned the respect of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and if you think Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 to have republicans and democrats from all over the state respect the integrity of your work, it's a challenge, but you conquered it. (Applause.)
That's right. That merits another round of applause. We are so very happy again, the women of Council, to honor and recognize this colleague. Therefore, be it resolved, that Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognizes and honors State Representative Joanna McClinton for her continued dedication and service to the City of Philadelphia -- and we will be a better city because of it -- and being elected as the first African-American and first woman elected to the Pennsylvania State House Democratic Caucus Chair. And further be it resolved, that a copy of this resolution will be shared with you as evidence of our Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 of this legislative body. Congratulations. (Applause.)
And the Chair recognizes State Representative McClinton. REPRESENTATIVE McCLINTON: Thank you, Council President. Good morning. (Good morning.) REPRESENTATIVE McCLINTON: Good morning. (Good morning.) REPRESENTATIVE McCLINTON: Of all of the folks in this city doing outstanding work, I am so humbled to have this time for Councilwoman Sanchez and every single one of these dynamic women who serve our city in Council to take time and salute me and encourage me on this new journey. I am thrilled. I'm grateful. And I just have to say growing Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 with my mom, I would have never, ever, ever thought that I'd have the opportunity to serve my neighborhood in elected office, because it wasn't on my grow-up list. My grow-up list was hairdresser -- Councilwoman Blackwell and I are always laughing about my different styles -- lawyer and preacher. It wasn't about public service, and simply because I didn't know anyone in public service, I didn't have any mentors who were elected, but through my time right across the street, fighting for clients, I started to realize some things I couldn't do in court. Some things I couldn't change with an argument or with a jury presentation. Some things were wrong with the law, and it's what led me to Harrisburg in the first place. And in the time that I was there, of course I was embraced by then our Philadelphia Delegation Chair, Councilwoman Parker, and of course I met and had meetings with the lady that was Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Governor's Office, Councilwoman Gym. But I was also encouraged because I've been in office by Councilwoman Bass. If you don't run, you don't know whether or not you will win. So when the time came for our leadership elections in Harrisburg, you realize to whom much is given, much is indeed required. So through God's grace and my colleagues having confidence, I'm now here to serve in this new capacity, and I appreciate your support and will continue to learn from each of you and serve our city and state and make all of you very, very proud. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, and congratulations. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh, who will Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 State Senator Stewart Greenleaf. Would Senator Greenleaf and those accompanying him please join the Councilman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
And joining Councilman Oh, we have Councilwoman Blackwell and Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez and Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you very much, Council President. This body passed resolutions about criminal justice reform and in particular about Eric Riddick, the evidence which indicates now that he is not guilty of the crime that he's incarcerated for, and during that process, I wanted to reach out to the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and without any hesitation or problems, he agreed to meet me. And I did a little research on my way up to meet Senator Stewart Greenleaf, and I was astounded, Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 know, that he had introduced 20 bills on criminal justice reform and had been fighting that fight since 2002 and had three very significant bills which actually passed this year the Senate and the House, and that's great leadership on his part. Representative Joanna McClinton was also involved with the Eric Riddick matter. And so with that, I wanted to thank him and recognize his work, his 41 years of public service, including as a State Rep, because of the work that he has done, and there is no county that has been more positively impacted from this work that he's done, because it's about justice, than Philadelphia. And so this is a resolution recognizing and honoring State Senator Stewart Greenleaf on the occasion of his retirement and thanking him for his commitment to Criminal Justice Reform.
Whereas, after an illustrious 40 years Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 12th District, State Senator Stewart Greenleaf is retiring at the end of this year. He began his service in the State House of Representatives in 1977 and the State Senate in 1979; and
I just want to know why you're taking early retirement. Whereas, no member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has been the prime sponsor of as many bills signed into law as Senator Greenleaf. Since 1977, he has been the prime sponsor of more than 160 bills (an average of 4 per year) that have been signed into state law by 7 governors. He has also been influential in the passage of an additional 155 pieces of legislation that became law for which he was not the prime sponsor; and
Whereas, a former Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney, Senator Greenleaf has Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Committee since 1985. His efforts have reduced recidivism and helped returning defendants to be productive citizens; and Whereas, Senator Greenleaf has built a sterling reputation as a pragmatic, independent-thinking legislator who is willing to cross aisles to work for the common good. In announcing his retirement, he said, "My mantra has always been that there is no Republican or Democrat idea, that ideas shouldn't be pigeonholed as liberal or conservative. Ideas that are good for our community deserve to be supported"; and
Whereas, among Senator Greenleaf's most notable legislative contributions are a constitutional amendment adopted in 1996 which allows child witnesses to testify via closed-circuit television and "Megan's Law," which protects children from sexual predators; and Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Whereas, towards the end of his final term, Senator Greenleaf shepherded three bills he sponsored through the legislature to become law. The Safe Harbor bill (Senate Bill 554) prevents child victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation from being criminally prosecuted for crimes they have been forced or coerced to commit. Senate Bill 915 extends the time period for the filing of a post-conviction relief petition under Pennsylvania's Post-Conviction Relief Act from 60 days to one year when new evidence is discovered. Senate Bill 916 allows expanded post-conviction DNA testing to prove innocence when new technology would yield more accurate and probative results than technology available at the time of the trial. All three bills were signed into law on October 24th, 2018; and
Whereas, the citizens of Philadelphia, and all Pennsylvanians, have benefited from the Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Stewart Greenleaf to improve the criminal justice system over the past four decades. From protecting children and victims to preventing unjust punishment from being executed, Senator Greenleaf deserves enormous gratitude from all the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby recognize and honor State Senator Stewart Greenleaf on this occasion of his retirement and thanks him for his commitment to criminal justice reform.
Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to State Senator Stewart Greenleaf. (Applause.)
And the Chair recognizes Senator Greenleaf for remarks. SENATOR GREENLEAF: Well, thank Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 an honor and a privilege to have served in the State Senate, and it's an honor and privilege to represent you, even though you're not in my district, that we have common interests in both the suburbs and the City. When I went up to Harrisburg, I had a history of being pretty tough on crime. I'm very tough on crime, and I was a prosecutor for eight years, tried murder cases, was the Chief of Appeals Division, argued cases in front of the Pennsylvania United States Supreme Court cases, and I was pretty draconian. But then I came to what I call my Road to Damascus experience and the approach when I had a hearing on these matters that we convicted innocent people. And I said, there's no way that happened in Montgomery County or in Pennsylvania. And they were persistent about it, and they said there were, and if you give us an opportunity to have better DNA Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 testing, we'll prove it to you. So I was not afraid of that. So, okay, let's do to. So I passed the legislation on better access to DNA evidence, and lo and behold, we did convict innocent people. We have convicted innocent people in Pennsylvania. That shook me, because I was there for justice, not for convictions. And so I started to look into it, and that was in 2000. In 2002, I had a bill introduced that would help the DNA testing process. What we were doing was a failed system. We thought that being tough on crime was going to solve all our problems, and just the opposite happened. The tougher we got, the higher the recidivism rate went up. Actually, it went up as high as 64 percent recidivism rate. That's two out of three inmates that left our state prisons returned there within three years. That's a failed, failed system, and it was a Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 create. I was the author of the mandatory minimum sentences and to numerous other opportunities that we thought would make our streets safer and be successful. That's all counterintuitive. That's not the situation. That's not what happened. We were spending millions of dollars in building new prisons. We had to build a new state prison, a new state prison every year to stay up with the number of inmates that we had coming in. It was just throwing money. And I wouldn't mind doing that if it was successful, but a 64 recidivism rate is not successful, and we were spending a lot of money. The Department of Corrections was the fastest growing department in the State of Pennsylvania. Failed, failed system, though. So we decided to make some minor changes in the law. We finally got that through, because there were some still holding on to this idea the tougher Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 get, the safer we are, and it was just the opposite. And so we introduced some bills in regard to incentives when people would get early parole and early release and things like that, minor compared to what we needed to be doing. And you know what the result was? Our recidivism rate went down to 40 percent, and our violent crime didn't go up either. So it was safer, and we saved millions. I'm telling you, millions of dollars in saved prison costs. Our reduction in our inmates went down. Did violence increase? No. It was going down. It kept going down. Everything we did that we were told was going to cause havoc in our streets and create all kinds of opportunities for criminal activity was just the opposite. And most of these offenders were non-violent offenders. They weren't violent offenders. They were non-violent offenders, and we were making them violent offenders and turning Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
So the next session we'll have -- we left a whole slew, about 20 bills and other bills, that are ready to go. If you can imagine if we passed even a fraction of those bills, what would happen to our costs and our recidivism rate. It's counterintuitive, but it's correct. This is the way to go, we needed to go. I was going in the wrong direction. I had my Road to Damascus experience, and we're going to continue on. I left a whole agenda of what my colleagues are going to do next session. You'll see more, I believe, prison reform and criminal justice reform legislation passed next year that's ever passed in the history of Pennsylvania. ) SENATOR GREENLEAF: Thank God. He all gives us all second chances, right? And in this situation, we're going to see major changes next session, Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 to support your state legislators and have the courage to stand up and say that this is not right, this is not successful, this is not going to let our people commit a lot of crimes. It's going to do just the opposite. I know it's counterintuitive, but it will work. Thank you, and God bless you. )
Thank you. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you, and congratulations, Senator. Thank you for your service. Our next order of business is communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. And, Mr. Decker, please read those messages. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
To the President 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. 180732, 180743, 180751, 180842, 180844, 180905, 180911, 180948, 180951, 180954, 180966, 180970, 180971, 180973, 180977, 180979, 180996, 180998, 180999, 181000, 181003, 181005, 181044, and 181048. And I am pleased to advise you that on December 11, 2018, I signed all of the bills which were passed by Council at its session on November 29, 2018, and that on December 7, 2018, I signed Bill No. 180975, which was passed by Council at its session on December 6, 2018, and that on December 11, 2018, I signed the following bills which were passed by Council at its session on December 6, 2018: Bill Nos. 180741-A, 180951, and Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 180978-A.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional messages?
Thank you very much, sir. Our next order of business is introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Good morning. Good morning, Mr. President. I offer two resolutions today, and I thank you.
A privileged resolution recognizing the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation for their work to honor and acknowledge African American women who served the country during World War II as "Rosie the Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Riveters," and for their participation in the documentary film Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II.
And a privileged resolution celebrating the life of Coast Guard and civil rights pioneer Olivia Hooker, one of the first African American women to serve in the United States Coast Guard.
Also on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce three bills and one privileged resolution.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Haverford Avenue, both sides, 31st Street Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 to 32nd Street; and An ordinance establishing parking regulations on 46th Street, east side, Larchwood Avenue to Osage Avenue; and An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Locust Street and South 45th Street; South 46th Street and Spruce Street; South 45th Street and Kingsessing Avenue; Wiota Street and Powelton Avenue; Stiles Street and North 50th Street; Springfield Avenue and Farragut Street; St. Marks Street and Spruce Street.
Those three bills just read by the Chief Clerk will be referred to the appropriate committees.
And a privileged resolution Honoring and Recognizing Opera Philadelphia for their Community Initiatives Youth Programming and all the work that they do to promote the musical arts to young people of Philadelphia. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one bill.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Park Avenue, both sides, Dauphin Street to Susquehanna Avenue.
And that bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Council President. On your behalf, I have one bill and one resolution.
An ordinance Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to allow for certain mid-year transfers into the Budget Stabilization Reserve; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and make arrangements for the special election.
And a non-privileged resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to allow for certain mid-year transfers into the Budget Stabilization Reserve; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Also referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one bill and three non-privileged resolutions and one of which is signed by all members of Council, and I'd like to speak on it briefly.
An ordinance establishing a no motor home parking regulation on the 5300 block of Woodbine Avenue, both sides.
And a privileged resolution congratulating the Overbrook Monarchs Youth Athletics Association on competing in the 2018 United Youth Football League National Championship Tournament.
And a privileged Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and the Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention to hold hearings examining the Administration's anticipated reports on community based gun violence prevention programs and a comprehensive violence prevention strategy, in light of the escalating acts of gun violence in the City of Philadelphia, and to ensure that the City's public safety budget reflects the priorities of these plans.
And a privileged resolution honoring the life and legacy Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 of David Fattah, Sr.
Thank you, Mr. President. Many of you already know the passing of David Fattah, Co-Founder of the House of Umoja. When a man provides for his children and cares for them and loves them, he gets the title father. When a man provides for children not of his birth but he adopts them, he gets the title stepfather. When a man adopts 3,000 young people in the City of Philadelphia, he gets the title Dave Fattah. And he will be buried -- well, he'll be eulogized tomorrow at Vine Memorial. The viewing is from 9:00 to 11:00 and the funeral starts promptly at 11:00. I want you to know during his tenure at House of Umoja, he had a lot of young people, inspired them to be a better version of themselves. Some of Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 them even managed to make it to elected office. But his track record shouldn't be by people who got elected that he saved. It should be by measuring the bus drivers, the police officers, the firemen, the regular dads that coach their kids, because he intervened in that gang war process to save their lives. So he will be missed. I tell people often that if Billy Dee Williams and Mandela had a baby, it would have been Black Dave, and for those who know him or knew him, you understand why I say that. So if we could when it's time to pass this with a standing vote, I would appreciate it, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. That will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Good morning, Mr. President. I have no bills Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I have three privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to conduct hearings regarding the establishment of an independent fiscal office for the City of Philadelphia.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Transportation & Public Utilities and Committee on The Environment to conduct hearings regarding how dockless electric scooters could provide an affordable and Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 environmentally friendly transportation option for all Philadelphians.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce & Economic Development to conduct hearings regarding Philadelphia Anchor Procurement Initiative.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one privileged resolution and it is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Jones, Green, Taubenberger, Reynolds Brown, and Blackwell.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce & Economic Development to hold Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 hearings regarding Power Up Your Business, a free small business training program provided by the Community College of Philadelphia.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Good morning, Council President. I have one privileged resolution today.
A privileged resolution authorizing the City Council's Committee on Finance to conduct a full and comprehensive public hearing on the Philadelphia beverage tax to review whether the tax is achieving its goals and to analyze potential solutions to stabilize beverage tax funding for critical investments such as approved pre-K programs, community schools, and rebuilding neighborhood-sustaining parks, Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 recreation centers and libraries.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Good morning, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger.
Good morning, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have two bills, one on your behalf co-sponsored by myself, Councilman Johnson, and Councilwoman Sanchez.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties," to revise the standards for eligibility and the benefit determination.
And an ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Wilder Street and South 12th Street; Tasker Street and South 8th Street; Gerritt Street and South 12th Street; Reed Street and South 12th Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Street; Dickinson Street and South 9th Street; South 11th Street and Wharton Street.
Also referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one privileged resolution.
A non-privileged resolution also naming the 6400 block of Ogontz Avenue as "Ernest C. Morris Way."
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to request a suspension of the rules to have first reading today. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor of having rules suspension to allow this to be on the Calendar on the Final Passage today say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That will be on the First Reading and Final Passage today. Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I offer two privileged resolutions co-sponsored by Councilmembers Gym, Taubenberger, Green, and Squilla.
Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
A privileged resolution proclaiming January 13, 2019 as Korean American Day in the City of Philadelphia to Celebrate and Commemorate the Proud Heritage of Korean Americans and their Invaluable Contributions to Enhancing the City's Culture, Economy, and the Founding Ideals of Independence and Democracy.
And a privileged resolution Congratulating, Recognizing, and Honoring Philadelphia's Jayson Stark for Receiving the 2019 J.G. Taylor Spink Award as One of the Nation's Premier Baseball Writers.
And that will also be on today's Calendar. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions. There are no reports from committee today, so we will move to the consideration of the Calendar. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 2ND READING There being no bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon -- Councilman Greenlee for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars: Nos. 180939-A, 180940-A, 180948, 180954, 180966, 180970, 180971, 180979, 171009, 180994, 181043, 180999, 181000, 181001, 181002, 181045, 180742, 180865, 180910, 180941, 180942, 180995, 180700, 180745, 180746, 180953, 180991, 180972, and 170712. (Duly seconded.)
911. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 2ND READING
Council President, we'd like to add to the Consent Agenda Bill No. 180911.
Thank you, Councilman. There's a motion. Can I get a second? (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by both Councilmen Greenlee and Henon. All in favor please indicate by by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 2ND READING Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the bills being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up for the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Bill Nos. 181068, 181069, 181070, 181073, 181074, 181075, 181076, 181077, 181079, 181083, 181084, 181085, 180888. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Council President, I apologize. Also called up on today's agenda would be 180935, 180992, 181007.
Thank you, Councilman. Before considering the Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 resolutions and bills on the Final Passage Calendar today, we will have our public comment session. It will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you have not already done so, I'd ask that you sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the middle of the Council Chambers. There's a podium. There's a device on that podium. When the light turns green on that device, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to the guidelines and conclude your remarks. Thank you very much for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is Jonathan Orens. I'm a real estate broker and developer in the City of Philadelphia with my brothers for the past 40 years. I'm also a resident here for the past ten. I'd like to introduce you to my son. Take a quick glance. It doesn't look like somebody with a terrible, terrible drug addiction. Handsome, strapping, happy. Here's another picture. Believe it or not, this is the same person. People don't even realize it. The good news is that this picture was not his death bed. The bad news is that Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 he did have a death bed. I lost him two years ago to a drug overdose after an 11-year battle with the disease. As a parent in grief and mourning, I've become extremely active in this new world of mine, taking a stance against the epidemic, including participating in the Mayor's Opioid Task Force, guest speaking for DBHIDS, marching in Kensington with Prevention Point, et cetera. Additionally, I started a foundation in my son's name which, among other things, has spawned into a collaborative effort of several non-profits operating a resource center for returning citizens called the Daniel J. Orens Center for Life out on Ford Road in Wynnefield. I would like to express my sincere and utmost appreciation to Councilwoman Bass and Councilman Greenlee for introducing this bill. Although in the service it doesn't appear that it's Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 so radical that it would solve the narcotic and opioid epidemic, it certainly chips away at this mountain of a problem, which frankly might be the only way to win this battle. And on a side note, I don't think the penalties for violations of this bill are nearly steep enough, and the timeframe for implementation if the bill is passed is way too long. Why does big pharma have a problem with this bill? It's not like they would be prohibited from selling the products to the medical practitioners here in the City. All we'd be doing is regulating them, something that just about all of us have to deal with in business. No one likes to be bogged down with requirements and paperwork, which, as we all know, slows down business, but it is an integral part of business, particularly when the stakes are as high as they are in this industry. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Additionally, for the lack of a better turn, the schmoozing of customers for profit gains appears to be an integral part of their practices. In my world of real estate, this borders on what we call kickbacks, highly illegal, with serious consequences. At what point will big pharma prioritize public health, safety, and welfare over profit? Maybe they need your help. Haven't you seen enough? Don't you believe the data? Don't you believe that 80 percent of the problem came from the pharmaceutical industry? Has there been enough ruined lives? Are you feeling the pain and anguish of all the families like mine who have lost their loved ones, usually their children? What would be the negative ramifications of the passage of this bill to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City? We as a city and society generally have to approach this epidemic Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 from as many angles, as hopefully the passage of the bills will gain foothold in this particular battleground. I have one more paragraph. I'm doing all I can with my son's name to fight this battle while trying to continue that little thing called running a business. I'm donating an awful lot of my time and money to the cause. I find my inspiration and drive coming from my son on the other side. Allow him to represent the tens of thousands of people who have lost their lives here and the hundreds of thousands of people who are currently afflicted with this insidious disease.
He and I both implore you to pass this bill and any other bill in the future that takes a stand against this epidemic on every battlefield that it is flourishing in. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony, sir. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 (Applause.)
Good morning, Council President Clarke and Councilmembers. My name is Dr. Susan Wiegers. I have been a practicing physician for 37 years, a cardiologist, a Professor of Medicine, and Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at Temple University. Most importantly as it relates to this testimony, all areas of conflict of interest at the medical school report to me, our vendor policy, our faculty policy, and all research compliance with financial disclosures. As you know, Temple University Hospital and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple Health is at the epicenter of the opioid crisis. Our Episcopal Center Hospital treats multiple Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 overdoses daily, and we have the highest mortality rate in the City for opioid overdoses. Temple Health supports Bill 180888 because it expands physician gift ban policies that Temple and other area health systems have put in place. It negates undue influence of pharmaceutical-prescribing behavior on physicians, and it is evidence based. A citywide physician gift ban protects all physicians and patients from pharmaceutical practices that influence prescribing behavior. Temple University School of Medicine instituted a no gifts policy in 2012. It's very strict. We forbid any free gifts, including beverages, pens, pencils, even textbooks. Our entire health campus is gift free. Pharmaceutical representatives are allowed on campus by appointment. They are accompanied by a staff member. They are not allowed to market in patient areas. We have a very strict sample Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 policy and do not allow the acceptance of coupons or other drug samples. Finally, we forbid our faculty from participating in restaurant talks, where physicians market drugs or devices to other physicians. I and Temple University are not anti-big pharma. Obviously not. We really respect our scientific and appropriate relationships with pharma, and in fact, my husband was Vice President of Late Market Development for Diabetes at Merck for five years. So I believe in pharma and what they can do, but I don't believe in gifts. These policies at Temple aren't new. In 1970s when I trained at the University of Rochester, no free gifts from pharmaceutical representatives was allowed. There's a great deal of literature showing that even pizza and pencils have an effect on physician-prescribing behavior, directing physicians away from generic drugs and Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 into more expensive brand name drugs, including using opioids for the treatment of pain. Although many of our patients are treated at Temple, we see patients who are treated by providers who aren't covered by our policy. I urge you to pass the citywide ban on this kind of marketing technique, which has a negative impact on patients. Temple Health urges you to support this bill.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.)
Hi. My name is Hope Yursa. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. In the summer of 2012, I lost my son David to a heroin overdose. I'm vague about the date because although his Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 death certificate says August 1st, I think he died before that. August 1st is the day his body was found. I was notified August 4th when the ME found me cleaning out his apartment that he had been planning to move back home. I knew his addiction was at a particularly bad point and I wanted him near so I could better monitor him, but that wasn't to be. No parent ever wants to bury their child, and I am no different, but, again, that was something I could not control. So now there will be no more birthday celebrations, no more dressing up for Halloween, no more holy suppers for Christmas Eve. He was the one who, along with me, enjoyed keeping the old country traditions alive. No more opening nights at the Arden and no more trips to the beach. But I am not alone in this tragedy. There are estimates that we lost 1,700 people to addictions in Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Philadelphia alone last year. And Pennsylvania had about 5,500 drug overdoses deaths. Each and every one of these deaths magnified across their family and friends. Each and every one, a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, an aunt, an uncle, all assets to our culture, not junkies. The loss of potential is almost immeasurable. We are losing artists, writers, poets, musicians, doctors, architects, workers. David was a student at CCP at the time of his death. He won a variety of awards for his creative writing and his poetry during the time he was there. Allow me to share one with you. Come Away, by David Schu. Chemical sun, sing your praise and softly. Freckle me, you devil. Make me pretty like the others. Is it Friday? It does not seem to matter out here while I am lost amongst the folding chairs. The air Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 stiffs, but the wind is humble. The salty brine is sweetly calling. I wonder why it is as it is and why it exists at all. I am friendly with the water. Green becomes the lie that blue has told, a game we play together. I am laughing with the water. I break the surfs back, head for the open ocean. The deep has charmed me. Now I amass amidst the foam. My tears are more to drown in. Neptune sweeps me to him tight. I swim with all my human bone my breath, a swallow, and spit. I break back again and become a whole new thing, from out of the water I come. The lie comes out in drops. The folding chairs are still there on a Friday, underneath a chemical sun, like there was never a ripple. I leave you with these thoughts: Why would drug companies invest a mere $3 billion marketing to consumers, but an estimated $24 billion marketing directly to physicians? Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 I urge you to pay attention, follow the money, and support this bill. Thank you. (Applause.)
Matt Sheppeck, commenting on 180888. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Matthew Sheppeck. I'm here today to speak in favor of the ordinance preventing the giving of gifts from pharmaceutical reps to physicians. I am speaking today because I have seen firsthand the pain and suffering caused by the overprescription of opioids and aggressively marketing narcotic prescription medicines. I myself have suffered from addiction to opioids, and I would like to share some of my experiences, in the hopes that we might pass this ordinance and stem the Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 tide of the crisis we sit amidst. I first started using prescription opioids around age 15. It seemed so innocent back then. Pills given out for something as simple dental work couldn't be all that harmful. But as I recall, by junior year of high school, it wasn't uncommon to be approached and asked about selling your Vicodin when people found out you were having your wisdom teeth removed. Drug use is fairly common in and outside of school for me and many of the people I knew. When I took my first job washing dishes at age 16, Percocet and Oxy use in the kitchen was common. At school, drugs like Adderall commonly prescribed for ADHD and drugs like Klonopin and Xanax for anxiety seemed to be everywhere, but it always seemed as though opioids were the most sought after and certainly the most expensive. It was a trend headed in a direction most of us were completely Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 blind to, and as school went on and tolerances increased, higher dosages became necessary. Theft among some of us became less than uncommon. Others sold drugs to fund their own habits. In some classrooms it wasn't abnormal to see students nodding off, a common side-effect with opioids. As graduation came to pass, many of us would graduate to illicit street drugs not long after, seeking a cheaper high, similar to the Percocet 30's and Oxy's we enjoyed. Heroin seemed to be the answer to our prayers, cheap and readily available seemingly all throughout our county and in Philadelphia just down the road. Just a year and some months after graduation, I received a message from a high school buddy I hadn't heard from in a while. He had just gotten out of jail and was looking for Percs. I told him I'd get back to him the next day, but forgot to follow up. I found Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 out only a few days later he had passed from an overdose. He was the first person I had known to pass from opioids but, sadly, far from the last. At the time, it felt like an isolated incident, though in truth, it would turn out to be the first in just so many. In the years following high school, I held numerous jobs in different industries, craft trades, retails, and restaurants, jobs with very different skill sets and demands, and they all seemed to have one thing in common opioid use by staff, whether bought on the street or overprescribed to individuals. Thanks to aggressive marketing from the pharmaceutical industry, opioids always seemed to be lurking just around the corner. As time went on and my own habit slowly but surely worsened, it seemed to grow more and more common to hear about people I knew passing from Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 opiate and opioid use. In 2016, 2,395 Fentanyl-related deaths were reported in PA, 2,089 deaths from heroin, 1,542 from benzos, and 1,182 from other prescription-related opioids, numbers that have risen steadily for years now. Somewhere in those numbers are people I knew, former classmates, co-workers, and close friends. Had these practices by the pharmaceutical industry never been used, I believe some of my friends would still be alive today.
Given the state of the opioid crisis in America, I believe that actions like this bill are not a knee-jerk punitive rebuke to the pharmaceutical industry, as somebody tried to frame it, but rather a positive step towards tempering the overprescription of opioids to individuals and thus curbing the deaths from overdose. Thank you.
Thank you. (Applause.) Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
Elise Schiller, commenting on 180888. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. My name is Elise Schiller. I'm here in support of the Bill 180888. I am Councilwoman Bass's constituent, and I thank her and Councilman Greenlee for bringing this bill. On January 3rd, 2014, I lost my youngest daughter, Giana Natali, to a heroin overdose. Giana was an honor student and went to college on a Division 1 swimming scholarship. She finished college, went to graduate school, and became a veterinary nurse in Penn's emergency room. She was a determined athlete and had a number of injuries and also had an injury in the emergency room lifting a very heavy dog. These resulted in pain medications. She also had a period of Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 depression and was prescribed Xanax at the same time as she was taking pain medication. This is a common story. You've heard it from Hope, whose son actually was an AmeriCorps member under my direction. I just realized today hearing her. This is not about denying people who have acute illness or pain drugs. This is not about destroying Philadelphia's business community. That is not what this is about. This is about preventing prescribers from having undue influence. It is as human as it can be for someone who has been gifted to feel a sense of reciprocity, and that is not okay when we are losing lives the way we are. This is also not only about opioids. Benzodia -- I always mess this up. Benzodiazapines, like Xanax and Klonopin, are also a problem. There was just an article in our Inquirer this week Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 about overdose due to those drugs, particularly when mixed with alcohol. I have a book here. It's called Dopesick by Beth Macy, who is a respected investigative reporter in Roanoke. This book traces the development of the opioid epidemic in Appalachia and talks about the role of big pharma. I urge you to read this if you are considering voting against this bill. This is a choice, a courageous choice. Senator Greenleaf talked about recognizing that he and we were on the wrong path and changed needed to happen, and he had the courage to do that. That is what we need here. We need the courage to change the things that we cannot accept, and I strongly urge you Councilpeople to have the courage to do what's right here. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Mr. Decker, our next speaker, please.
Julie Graham, commenting on 180888. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, City Councilmembers. Thank you so much for taking the time. I first want to start and commend Councilwoman Bass and Councilman Greenlee for presenting this ordinance, and certainly all of us recognize that this is a local and national crisis that we all need to be concerned about, and we all are. And for myself, President of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, we've already rolled up our sleeves and we're working very closely with the City on shared public spaces as well as John McNichol, who is the President of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. I do want to offer comments in regards to Bill No. 180888. Should the legislation move forward as is, we stand Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 to lose potential future life science-related business. To date in 2018, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has hosted 110 life science-related meetings in Philadelphia. Those meetings brought in 65,000 overnight visitors and 120,000 room nights. These visitors generated for us $9 million in state and local taxes and had an overall economic impact on our city of $91 million. Life science-related business is the number one business in our hotels and our Convention Center. That business is supported by 73,000 local hospitality jobs. We're talking about housekeepers. We're talking about dishwashers. We're talking about bellmen, who rely heavy on that business that comes to our city to fill our hotels and to fill the Convention Center. The opportunity that we have is that life science-related business that's in the Convention Center gives us a great Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 platform to discuss these issues and come up with sustainable solutions. For the future, we have $1.2 billion booked in life science business into the City as well as the Convention Center as well as hotels. Should we stand to lose that, that equates to jobs. One hotel alone this year had 40 life sciences businesses, and that related to about 2,600 eight-hour shifts for hourly workers. Myself and others in suits, our salaries won't change. Those that are hourly, it will impact them. And I understand that we're all looking for a solution, but I urge you not to pass this bill as is. There is still work to be done. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, could you please call our next speaker.
Mark Austerberry, commenting on 180888. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council. Mark Austerberry from the Philadelphia County Medical Society. Thank you for the opportunity to come today to speak before you. The Philadelphia County Medical Society is a vibrant multi-specialty medical society with over 6,000 physician members. Our members not only stem from a variety of specialties, but encompass academic, attending physicians, and many private practices throughout our city. We also strive to be a consensus voice for physicians and also a trusted information source for our practices on the many complex health policy issues that impact the ability to practice healthcare in the City. We understand that the ordinance proposed to address the ongoing opioid painkiller crisis by limiting the influence of sales -- that sales representatives has over physicians. We Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 applaud this laudable opportunity, and we want to also end the opioid crisis, but it also addresses -- we feel we have issues that are a real concern with the ordinance as proposed. Again, we're concerned that we have unknown long-term consequences that may hinder patient access to vital medications and innovative treatments. As written, the ordinance could or would require pharmaceutical reps to register with the Health Department and display their ID badges as they're unable to sell, market, and promote medication on behalf of the companies who operate in the City and by submitting other product materials to the City to review. It poses other questions, like how will this process work, how will this be managed. The volume would be enormous. The turnaround time for the Department to complete the review would be significant. To our organization's Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 knowledge, no other state requires an approval or pre-approved or written materials. At a professional level, the ordinance distrusts physicians. It presumes physicians lack the judgment, moral value, and ethic code to make decisions based on medical science in the best interest of their patients. The unintended consequence of the proposed ordinance dramatically outweighs any benefit it's supposedly designed to address. The real issue here is opioid addiction, which is challenging our city and our country. Again, pharma manufacturing is already one of the most regulated industries in the country. There's also safeguards in place such as the Physician Payment Sunshine Act and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid. We don't support the bill in the present form, and we thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts with Council, and Philadelphia County Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 Medical Society remains committed to reducing the opioid epidemic and we're looking forward to working with Council on that. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, would you please call our next speaker.
Peter Bentivegna, commenting on 180888. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you very much, Council. My name is Peter Bentivegna, and I would also like to start off my comments by expressing -regarding Bill 180888. As best I can, my sympathies and empathies to the families that have come forth today. Our family as well lost a family friend, actually their son, about less than two months ago to opioid addiction. I don't come here and speak with entire ignorance of their pain and their struggles, although I Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 can't say, not having experienced it myself, I fully understand. But I feel I need to be transparent and say I do work in the pharmaceutical industry. I've worked in the industry for 18 years in various capacities, which have included over the time in and out of the City in sometimes the sales and research capacity. And as much as anyone else who tries to conduct themselves with integrity, conduct their job with integrity, it's very upsetting and distressful when others in your industry, your workplace don't conduct themselves the same way, and I very much understand the families and the public request to regulate behavior of pharmaceutical sales reps, I think salespeople in general. If we look around this room, there's not a single thing we can point to that didn't go through a sales process, but in general, I think the consequences can be extremely heavy in Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 some industries versus others. I always try and keep in mind and recently had to help train a new hiree. First and foremost most important, as I was trained in this, I believe is the health and welfare of the patients. Never to take that for granted. When we do walk into a physician office, to remember that this is where they take care of their patients, and our job is just to play a role in providing the information and let them use the information as best as possible. I would like to ask Council to keep with the intent that they have to address the opioid crisis. I think this bill as written has some good parts to it, but it also, I think, has unintended consequences of punishing people who, as myself, we don't have an opiate. I've never had an opiate. The product we have has been proven to help save lives, and in that regard, probably deserves to be Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 educated. But the bill as written has good intent, but should be given more time for editing and improvement. Thank you.
Victoria Hutchinson, commenting on 180888. (Witness approached podium.)
Members of City Council, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak at this hearing today. My name is Victoria Hutchinson and I manage banquet sales for Maggiano's Little Italy on Filbert Street here in Philadelphia. I'm here to talk to you about how Bill 180888 would severely impact our restaurant's ability to do business. As you may already be aware, Maggiano's specializes in hosting large banquet-style holiday parties, family gatherings, and corporate events. Fortunately for us, we have great Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 corporate partners, some of which are pharmaceutical companies that do not produce any controlled substances. At a time when the restaurant industry is experiencing unprecedented cost increases, the business these companies bring to our restaurant is essential. If this bill were enacted, Maggiano's alone would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue this year. While we all understand and appreciate the scope of the opioid crisis in Philadelphia, enacting legislation that would punish all pharmaceutical companies, even those that do not produce any controlled substances, doesn't make sense. As a foster mom, I have cared for children affected by opioid addiction, so I am not indifferent to the crisis. However, we hope that the Council will instead consider a more tailored version of the current Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 legislation. As it stands, the bill in front of you today is too broad and would have significant unintended consequences for restaurants like ours and for the Philadelphia hospitality industry at large. All that being said, I implore members of the Council to please vote no on this bill. Thank you.
Tiffany Green, commenting on 180729. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I'm here to support -- I am supporting bills. I do support bills. Tiffany Green. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 I do support bills. I'm here to support Bill 180729 regarding debris and dumping. This is a major complaint, and it leaves -- a lot of time developers leave stuff on the pavements and out in the street, porta potties in residential areas and old furniture. The problem I have with the bill is that I think it's trying to catch the developers, and it needs to be more of a campaign for the local residents that if you see something, say something. A lot of small developers will put on the other streets, they will dump debris on the streets not necessarily where they're working at, and it's very hard to really pin it down. So it needs to be some kind of incentive to call 311 and maybe get a license plate as well as a description so that maybe these developers can be caught. But at the same time, I'm coming down because we want to talk about -- also I want to talk about Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 protection, because this is protection on the smaller level, but we need protection in terms of our community. And the reason why I wanted to speak, this is a good start, but what I want to talk about is protection in terms of the bill. When a bill is put forth for a community for protection and there's about community engagement, when a bill is pulled forward to go about community engagement, then there needs to be protection for the community. At this point, we had a bill pulled, 180879, and the problem is is that right now developers -- we got word that developers are running down getting permits under the old bill, under the old law, and kind of like piling it up, while we go through a community engagement process. That is not fair to our community. That is not fair. A community engagement process needs to take place before the bill was introduced, not after the bill is Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 introduced. And now based on the bill, which we wanted housing conformity, the developers are able to go and get these permits and now pile up, and these permits also last up to five years, up to five years. And so this is not right in terms of us, and we feel as though there should be a freeze or some type of moratorium for Point Breeze at this particular point while you go through the community engagement process. Don't pull a bill and then give the developers a head-up while they continue to go down and get permits and build and blockbuster us while at the same time the community has no say in what goes on regarding this particular type of zoning process or bill. We want at this point a freeze or some type of moratorium to protect the community so we can have a say regarding what is going on in our community as far as building at this particular point -- Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 (Applause.)
-- and we will address this coming in the new season. But keep this in mind. Thank you very much.
Paula Peebles, commenting on 180729. (Witness approached podium.)
Paula Peebles, Chair of Philadelphia National Action Network. Good afternoon, Councilmembers and Council President Darrell Clarke. I am here to actually support Bill 180729, and we would love if Council President Darrell Clarke would amend it and actually increase those fees, Darrell. It's at 25,000, and based on what happens Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 in our community throughout the City -and I'm not throwing any shade on ethnics, Councilwoman Gym, but a lot of the Asian business owners, food providers all too often put trash out and do short dumping within our community. So I think -- and we believe if you make the fees a little higher, perhaps they'll stop doing it. Not just Asian business owners, all of them. For some reason, particularly in North Philadelphia, they think they can just do short dumping, Council President, particularly under our bridge ways where bridges separate one side of the block from the other side of the block. They think they just can come and throw their trash. We have developers that come in there and they want to develop a house and instead of renting a dumpster like we CDCs have to do, they just throw and do illegal dumping within our community. So it's a good start. You need to increase the fees, and we are glad to Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 be able to support that. Also, we want to say happy holidays to everyone. Thank you very much for a lively year. We look forward to 2019, because we're going to continue to make certain that a stadium does not come in North Philadelphia. We're going to make certain -(Applause.)
We're going to make certain that there's more equity around development in North Philadelphia. So we support a moratorium on gentrification, because by pushing forth a moratorium on gentrification, it will stop community deportation. And then I'm going to close, and I thank you for the opportunity. Community deportation is what's happening with the Philadelphia Housing Authority. When you have a community like Blumberg where they have 500 units and now they're only talking about replacing 83, something is wrong with that picture. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 So we look forward to a lively 2019, not just because all of you are running for reelection, but because we have a major agenda. Thank you. Happy holidays. (Applause.)
Gail Loney, commenting on 180729. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Gail Loney. I am speaking from a block captain's perspective. I live on a block that has a Clean Block initiative, and I live in a community that's being bombarded by gentrification. So what happens to me and my community is, there is a lot of short dumping. The people who purchase the homes around me, they don't get the dumpsters. They will pack up their trash. They'll put it on the corner. And as far as this bill, I Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 support it, but it don't go far enough, because it doesn't help the community. What you're saying is you're just going to keep charging and charging and charging, but if you don't catch them, they're going to keep on doing it. We need some kind of recourse - cameras, we need police sitting out there watching. I mean, you guys put police out on construction sites that -- you know, so that the traffic don't go by. This is important. My neighborhood has been bombarded by gentrification, and all of these bills that you have going on, 181073, 074, 075, and 076, you're selling off my neighborhood. You have all kinds of people coming in. We are not the people who are doing this development. We are not the people that are receiving any kind of benefits from this. Our taxes are increasing. It's ridiculous. (Applause.)
And in addition, Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 the eminent domain that's coming into my neighborhood at 21st and Diamond is just so disrespectful, I can't stand it. I have known about this for some time, and we have yet to have any kind of community engagement or conversation. It's wrong. It's not right. The people who live in that neighborhood, the people who live in their homes, they are elderly. They have been in this neighborhood for years and years. They have beautiful homes. They have sunk their lives into this community and in this neighborhood, and you have forgotten that this is not just a poor low-income neighborhood. This is also a middle-class neighborhood. (Applause.)
There are policemen, there are administrators, there are people who work in City Hall who live in that community, and that is not right. I am, in addition to that, a retired analyst, compliance analyst from Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 the financial industry. I still live in that neighborhood. I love that neighborhood. I grew up in that neighborhood. I left. I came back. I raised my child. This has to change. In terms of that bill on 180888, I'm also a sickle patient who needs those drugs. I am not a drug addict. I know how to use that drug, and you need to revamp it and talk to the people who use it responsibly. We need it, and we need those coupons and we need those little cards that discount us, because I don't get any help to pay for my drugs. Thank you.
Kfir Binnfeld, commenting on 181044. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. Stated Meeting December 13, 2018
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity. My name is Phil Binnfeld. I'm a real estate developer for nearly 20 years in the City of West Philadelphia, mainly West Philadelphia. I'm here to talk about 4601 Market Street, a large development that majority of the people in West Philadelphia are very familiar with. I'm here to talk about a major injustice that was done in the process of selling this piece of real estate that intentionally supposed to be developed by a certain group that won the bidding process that we were part of. Until two days ago, we thought that we lost this bid since we didn't bid high enough or we didn't meet the criterias of whatever the City of Philadelphia was proposing. Two days before this meeting today was the first time that it was announced that the higher bidder or the successful bidder for the above property had submitted a Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 bid of $10 million. Other than the fact that there is a $42 million loss for the City of Philadelphia, myself and the group that I'm part of have submitted a bid of $15 million, cash deal, no contingencies. We have met all the criterias that the City of Philadelphia were looking for. When we approached the City and asked what happened to those $5 million -- there's so many organizations and so many schools and so many different places that those $5 million can go and help -- nobody had the answer of what was the reason that this sale had $5 million less. Not 100,000, not a million. $5 million was taken from the people of Philadelphia for no explanation. On top of that, myself and the group that I'm part of have proposed a 5 percent partnership to all the elected and all the RCOs in West Philadelphia forever. We told them we feel that you guys should be part of this beautiful Stated Meeting December 13, 2018 project that can help and lift this whole area and bring it to a whole different area. We proposed 5 percent in all profit and all equity in the future of this project ever be developed. I'm here today to try to potentially stop this sale and ask City Council to revisit the process, how this process was done, why it was done the way it was done, and why somebody decided to dismiss $5 million. We know that the City is running after every little water bill, every tax, every hundred dollars. (Applause.)
And all the years they give up $5 million that could have done so many beautiful things to this community. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.) Stated Meeting December 13, 2018