And a Resolution honoring the African American Children's Book Project on the occasion of the 20th Annual African American Children's Book Fair, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 1/26/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution recognizing January as "National Human Trafficking Awareness Month" in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a Resolution acknowledging January 2012, as "National Mentoring Month" on their 11th DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 1/26/12 - STATED - 2ND READING anniversary, and proclaiming January 26, 2012 as "Thank Your Mentor Day" here in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution initiating action to establish a neighborhood improvement district in an area that generally includes the areas roughly bounded by: York Street, Carlisle Street, Girard Avenue and 19th DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 1/26/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Street; and York Street, the SEPTA Regional Rail Tracks, Susquehanna Avenue and Watts Street; and The Diamond Green, Kardon Atlantic, University Village and Wanamaker School developments, to be known as the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District, introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a Resolution DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 1/26/12 - STATED - 2ND READING recognizing Cooperatives' Contributions to Economic and Social Development during the International Year of Cooperatives, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you. Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. (Applause.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration, Mr. President.
DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the majority? Councilman Jones.
Mr. President, I would have been remiss not to start your first day without a speech of the majority, but I will promise you that I will say less by saying -- say more by saying less. So this won't be every day, every session. But I would be remiss to not acknowledge that the Mayor is about to embark upon an important initiative to establish a public safety agenda. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I commend him for beginning that process. I look forward to our body working with DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com every part of the 134 miles that the City has to offer as safe as Center City. The salient count in a tier is 9 percent. Whether it's in Frankford, West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia or the Far Northeast, tiers and safety are important everywhere. So as we begin to develop that public safety agenda, we will work in cooperation, Mr. President, with the Administration to make sure that every aspect of our city is taken care of within the limited resources that we have. We look forward to working with the Mayor. We are proud that he has taken a proactive step to deal with the 31 murders in 25 days that this city has had to deal with. So we look forward to working with him. This body stands ready to cooperate, and today at 2 o'clock we look forward to what he has to offer. Thank you, Mr. President. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd just like to welcome all the new members to City Council and hope they enjoy their term here. We're looking forward to working with them. And as you know, on the day that we were inaugurated at the Academy of Music, I was to present flowers to Mrs. Nutter and Lisa, but unfortunately they weren't there. But I want the Councilmembers to know I got a thank you note from Mrs. Nutter and Lisa. The flowers were delivered to them on behalf of City Council. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Before we call for an adjournment, I have two things. He snuck DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com I just wanted to say happy birthday to Mike Decker. Is he still here? Our great Chief Clerk, Michael Decker. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mike. And I'd also like to say I just want to thank all of you, all of my colleagues, for the wonderful support -I'm sorry, Councilman Green. I have to get used to checking all aspects of this podium.
Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations on your first presiding over City Council in this great Chamber.
I want to congratulate my colleague, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, and her co-sponsors of a bill that basically took manufacturing and made it very important in the City of DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com of Philadelphia last year, we said we had to level the playing field for our manufacturers and that we had to make it possible for them to compete on a completely level playing field between Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. At the State of the Union Address the other day, President Obama, without mentioning Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, adopted the same policy for the United States of America, and I want to congratulate her and all of those who were responsible for getting that bill passed today. But on a serious level, what the President talked about and in our discussion of crime, the most important thing that we can do is create jobs. The biggest public safety effort possible is to give someone a J-O-B, and that is what we are focused on here in City Council. We have introduced legislation today to DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com passing out a news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows that the City of Philadelphia has a 10.9 percent unemployment rate, while areas surrounding us have between a 7 and 5.9 percent unemployment rate. We need to create jobs. That involves totally redoing our tax structure and it involves spending City dollars on Philadelphia residents when possible. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. I concur. Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you. I want to also congratulate you on the orderly fashion in which we're conducting business this morning, but I want us to focus our attention a little bit about what's going on in Harrisburg and the chaotic nature of the discussion. We have voter ID discussion happening in DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com Harrisburg, which would severely impede the ability of minorities and seniors to vote. We have the asset testing on food stamps, which would devastate not only in Philadelphia for the folks who need that and who that serves as a safety net, but the economy in Pennsylvania because of our large agriculture sector. And then yesterday the redistricting with the Supreme Court. So I'm going to ask my new colleagues who have joined us from Harrisburg to please help us put some sanity in Harrisburg, because Philadelphia, we got our stuff in order, but Harrisburg needs some help. So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. And, again, I concur. Okay. No other speeches? (No response.)
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown for a motion to adjourn. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
I thank you, Mr. President. I also would be remiss not to first congratulate our new colleagues, to welcome them to these proceedings in this their first Council session of this year, and to encourage them to lean on the leadership caucus, because what we all know is that their success is tied to the success of this legislative body. Mr. President, I move that the next Council -- that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, 10:00 a.m. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you very much. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on January 26, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com