Councilman 2/8/07 - STATED - 2ND READING DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm just reminding those who are here for the 1 o'clock hearing dealing with the Vacant Property Review Committee that that hearing has been rescheduled until March 1st to allow the Administration to be ready with their testimony that was requested. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ramos.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank my colleagues for unanimously voting for a ban on trans fat in our great city. Particularly I want to thank Councilwomen Marian Tasco and Blondell Reynolds Brown and the Public Health Committee for hearing this bill. But most importantly, I want to thank the people of of this bill. In December of last year I introduced this bill in City Council that modifies Philadelphia's Health Code prohibiting the use of artificial trans fats in food service establishments. Artificial trans fat increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and death by increasing bad cholesterol and decreasing good cholesterol. Research on the direct link between heart disease and the consumption of artificial trans fat has been well documented, creating a growing national health issue, and heart disease is one of Philadelphia's leading causes of death. Heart attacks and related illnesses burden our hospitals, reduce the productivity of our workplaces, distort our insurance rates and the healthcare safety net, and they destroy families. We need to battle heart disease in a sustainable and preventable and more needs to help all of us in that more intelligent fight. I expect that if Philadelphia's food service establishments replace artificial trans fat with currently available heart-healthy alternatives, the result could be as much as a six percent reduction in coronary heart disease events in our community. The resulting public health impact of such reduction would be significant. Our Public Health Department will lead a public education campaign, and the National Restaurant Association has agreed to work with me and the Health Department in this campaign. Already many restaurants and hotel chains and schools, colleges and universities in Philadelphia, including Wendy's, Starbucks, Subway, Denny's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, KFC, the Loews Hotels, the Marriott Hotels, the Omni Hotels, Temple University, Drexel University, Eastern University, St. Joe's University and the School District of Philadelphia, the Archdiocesan high schools and its administrative office cafeterias have either eliminated or started to reduce the use of trans fats and see the promotion of this change as an important and successful marketing tool. In a recent poll, 87 percent of Philadelphians ages 18 to 44 believe the trans fat ban is a good idea, and overall, 70 percent of all Philadelphians believe it's a good idea. In the long run, this legislation is likely to attract customers to Philadelphia restaurants and dining halls, but above all, it saves lives. Thank you so much.
You're welcome. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing no one, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion.
Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February the 15th at 10:00 a.m., 2007. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 15th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.) 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 February 8, 2007, 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.)