Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, June 25, 2020 10:15 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN 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 COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
Good morning, everyone. We're going to get started. This will be a relatively long session as we take care of the people's business. So I want to go through a few things as required by state law. Currently it's required that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come, and the Clerk will please call the Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 attendance. Members that are in attendance will please indicate by saying present, or whatever you may choose, when your name is called. Mr. Decker.
Okay. We can assume she's there. We can all see her.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I'm here.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Looking forward for our good session today.
Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, Council President. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning to all of my colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, viewing public.
Good morning. Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues, and all Council staff. Thank you.
Good morning. We clearly have established a quorum, so we're going to get started. We're going to start with an invocation. So despite the great need, there will be no invocation today, but we will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent prayer for our city, its leaders, and citizens during the current Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 crisis. And I would also like to say that we would like to recognize and include in that moment of silence our prayers for our good friend, most importantly, and our colleague, Mark and his family. Mark, you are truly loved here, brother, as part of your political family, and as you go through these trying times, trust me, we are with you every step of the way. So we really appreciate you.
Thank you, Council President. I appreciate it. Thank you.
You're welcome. We will now observe a moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. Thank you very much. And our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Thursday, June 18th, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 18th, 2020 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 18, 2020 stand approved. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And our next order of business is communications. And, Mr. Decker, can you please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that you may have in your possession.
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. 200082, 200144, 200145, 200146, 200148, 200158, 200160, 200161, 200188, 200260, 200345, 200346, 200349, 200350, and 200355.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Clerk will please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Parker offers an ordinance amending The Philadelphia Code to add a new Section, entitled "Good Parking Jobs for Philadelphia Review Committee," to provide for the creation of an advisory body to consider the quality of jobs and opportunities for workers in the parking industry and the potential to make adjustments to the Parking Tax, including with respect to the goal of reducing the parking tax to seventeen percent by July 1, 2022, based on a review of working conditions in the parking industry.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers one bill and one resolution on your behalf, Mr. President, entitled "An ordinance Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 authorizing RPG Hamilton, LLC, care of Radnor Property Group, to construct, own and maintain both existing and proposed pedestrian-scale street lights at 440 North 15th Street."
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to enter into a lease with Avenue North Renaissance, as tenant, for certain properties located in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
And on Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson's own behalf, a resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to conduct hearings to investigate the status of children in Philadelphia during and post-COVID-19.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct hearings to investigate curriculum realignment opportunities within the School District of Philadelphia to ensure preparedness for Post-COVID-19 career opportunities based upon Philadelphia's labor market forecast.
And a non-privileged resolution calling on the United States Senate to Adopt the Funding Enhancements to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) as Provided in the HEROES Act House Resolution 6800. Council President, Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor of the motion please signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that will be on today's Calendar.
Councilman Henon -- Councilwoman Gym offers two resolutions as follows: A privileged resolution authorizing City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to review the City's response to protests in support of ending systemic Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 racism in policing and of the Black Lives Matter movement, and to provide residents with a forum to share their experiences and make recommendations for safer and non-discriminatory policing.
And a non-privileged resolution urging the U.S. Congress to appropriate funds to sustain the U.S. Postal Service, and to ensure the Postal Service continues to function as a universal public service. Council President, Councilwoman Gym would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I move to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilman Henon offers one bill and one resolution as follows: An ordinance continuing the Mayfair Business Improvement District beyond its termination date, in an area that generally includes both sides of Frankford Avenue from the north side of Harbison Avenue to the south side of Sheffield Street and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Frankford Avenue and for which the Mayfair Business Improvement District, Incorporated, a Pennsylvania non-profit Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 corporation, is the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District.
And a non-privileged resolution initiating action to continue the Mayfair Business Improvement District beyond its termination date in an area that generally includes both sides of Frankford Avenue from the north side of Harbison Avenue to the south side of Sheffield Street and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Frankford Avenue; and for which Mayfair Business Improvement District, Incorporated, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, serves as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District.
Councilman Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Johnson offers one resolution on your behalf, Council President -- offers one ordinance on your behalf, Council President, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Real Estate Taxes,' by providing that if a taxpayer enters into an installment payment agreement authorized by Section 19-1305, the City shall not place a lien on such property unless and until the taxpayer has fallen into material non-compliance with the agreement; and further providing for the removal of any lien that has been placed on such property in connection with an installment payment agreement."
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez offers one bill on your behalf, Council President, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 13-100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates,' to provide a Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 discount on water rates and charges for landlord-properties rented to low-income tenants."
Councilwoman Sanchez offers on her own behalf a privileged resolution Honoring and Recognizing Erika James as the first woman and person of color to become dean of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committees on Appropriations and Finance to hold hearings to consider an independent analysis of the Business Income and Receipts Tax structure and rates.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Education to hold hearings to consider a program that provides broadband internet for Philadelphians to access quality schools and quality jobs.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to continue to hold hearings to assess the City of Philadelphia's efforts, as coordinated by the Managing Director's Office and human services department to prevent and treat abuse, addiction, and disease related to the use of opioids.
Councilman Green offers on your behalf, Mr. President, a non-privileged resolution requesting the Mayor to return to Council Bill No. 200298, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions," for the purpose of reconsideration by the Council of the vote by which said bill passed Council. Council President, Councilman Green wishes to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 All in favor of the motion signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion passes. It will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilman Domb offers a privileged resolution honoring the Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund for providing immediate financial assistance through forgivable loans to small businesses locally and statewide during the COVID-19 crisis and encouraging Philadelphia's small businesses to apply for the program.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation to hold quarterly hearings Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 that include monthly reporting requirements, to discuss the fiscal position and overarching social impact goals of the City, including and as related to the Five-Year Plan and reporting requirements set forth in the Quarterly City Manager's Report and as submitted to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the City Council of Philadelphia to create a Special Committee on the Future Economy of Philadelphia to develop policy and hold hearings to promote economic competitiveness, expansion, and opportunities for the City and all Philadelphians. Mr. President, Councilman Domb would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
The Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the motion passes. That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilwoman Gauthier offers one privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold hearings on the impact of COVID-19 on Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 homelessness, evictions, and residential foreclosures and the City's efforts to combat homelessness, evictions, and residential foreclosures.
Councilwoman Bass offers a non-privileged resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reverse the legalization of the sale of "consumer fireworks" in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. President, Councilwoman Bass wishes to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Absolutely. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded multiple times. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries. That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilman Oh offers an ordinance amending Section 10-403 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Prohibited Conduct," by prohibiting the use of consumer fireworks and providing certain penalties.
Referred to committee. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
Mr. President, there are no other bills or resolutions being offered by the members today.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. My head is still ringing from the fireworks. Our next order of business is reports from committee, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for a report from the Committee on Public Property and Public Works.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Public Property and Public Works reports out three bills with a favorable recommendation.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Public Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Works, to which was referred Bill No. 200188, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to acquire fee simple title or a lesser real estate interest to all or a portion of a parcel or parcels of land located in the vicinity of Calera Road between Red Lion Road and Chalfont Drive, commonly known as the Liberty Bell Youth Organization Recreation Center"; and Bill No. 200345, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City, to acquire fee simple title, or a lesser interest in real estate, by purchase, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation, or otherwise, in parcels of land along the Delaware River and in the bed of the former Kensington & Tacony Railroad"; and Bill No. 200354, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 into an Amendment to a Joint-Use Agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to which certain parcels of real estate constituting the I-95 right-of-way, located beneath the elevated highway between the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge, are leased to the City of Philadelphia by the Commonwealth, subleased by the Interstate Land Management Corporation," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the first reading of this day Bill Nos. 200188, 200345, and 200354. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200188, 200345, 200354. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon for a report from the Committee on Licenses and Inspections.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Licenses and Inspections reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please read the report.
The Committee on Licenses and Inspections, to which was referred Bill No. 200365, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-2500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fire Suppression System Workers,' to provide for additional licensing requirements for fire suppression system workers," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the first reading of this day Bill No. 200365. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. 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. 200365. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Public Health and Human Services reports one bill with a favorable recommendation. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 200303, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-4100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces,' to establish leave time for public health emergencies, modify existing provisions concerning the paid sick leave, and making technical changes," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 200303. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. 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. 200303. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for a report from the Committee on Public Safety.
Thank you, Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 on Public Safety reports two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please read the report.
The Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred Bill No. 200364, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Contracts and Procurement,' by adding a new Chapter 17-2300, entitled 'Public Hearing Required Prior to Execution of a Labor Agreement with City Workers Represented by the Fraternal Order Of Police With Respect To The Workers' Terms And Conditions Of Employment,' by establishing certain definitions; and requiring a public hearing within thirty days prior to the City entering into or amending a labor agreement for City workers represented by the Fraternal Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Police"; and Bill No. 200368, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity,' by adding a new Chapter 10-2500, entitled 'Prohibited Physical Contact by Peace Officers,' to prevent unnecessary death or injury via asphyxiation by prohibiting certain physical contact by peace officers," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you again, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading on this day of Bills No. 200364 and 200368. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting June 25, 2020
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200364 and 200368. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
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. They are Nos. 200296-A, 200329-A, 200145, 200146, 200148, 200116, 200290, 200183, 200346, 200328, 200355, 200370, 200351, 200352, 200293, and 200306. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 2ND READING All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker 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 from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 200261, 200262, 200379, 200383, 200384, 200385, 200331, 200080, 200216, 200377, 200147, 200285, 200286, 200287, 200288, 200291, 200292, Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 200347, 200076, 200208, 200363, 200367, and 200344. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Before considering these resolutions and bills -- somebody call me? What was that? Is somebody trying to get recognized? (No response.)
Okay. Before considering these resolutions and bills, we will consider public comment as follows: Public comment must concern matters of the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of these matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 your name, phone number, the number of the legislative item you are commenting on and whether you are in support of or against the legislation, and add to your list. We will telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Under ideal circumstances, today we will have two minutes to speak. However, this time limit may vary. In order to be fair, we want to make sure that we establish a time limit and we want to make sure that individuals adhere to that time limit so we can get all of the individuals and give them an opportunity. Thirty seconds prior to your time limit of two minutes, there will be a one-bell ring and we will ask you to wrap up to conclude your comments, and at the end of your two minutes, we will ask you to please conclude your comments. Once your allotted time has passed, shortly thereafter you will be Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made, but today I think everyone who has signed up will be in a position to testify. One last thing, I want you to please be aware that the public meeting is being recorded. Because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy, so by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. We're going to take a brief break to allow our tech team to cue the callers up. So we will be back in approximately five minutes to start the process of public comment. (Pause.)
Thank you. Good morning. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the witness list.
The first speaker Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 is Madeline Shikomba.
Good morning. This is Ms. Shikomba speaking. How are you doing?
Thank you. Yesterday we sent letters out to all members of City Council concerning this Council session this morning. I'm representing the Philadelphia RCO Coalition. We are a conscientious, civic-minded group of individuals, and we are abhorred by the method that City Council is using today. Now, I am calling to talk to you about the budget, and I'll get to that in a minute. We feel that City Council is on a mission to pass as many bills as possible under the guise of COVID-19 in order to avoid public Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 scrutiny. The current situation of COVID-19 is enabling City Council to pass this legislation whose outcome may have great and lasting harm on the City of Philadelphia. We can understand the need to pass certain bills, such as budgetary items, but there are too many bills on this matter that has nothing to do with the budget. Concerning your budgetary items, which is Bill No. 200285, 286, 287, and 288, yes, we understand why you have to pass them, even though you have not given us a lot of information concerning this. You know that the people don't have the opportunity to grasp these bills, and you could have at least given us information of who and what agencies are receiving this money. But this was not done. We are opposed to this, and we feel that, fine, pass the budgetary items, because the City is in need of money, but items that are going to hurt us, such as taxes that you going Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 to raise and wage tax and all that kind of stuff, should not be allowed to be passed until September, because this is just too much for people to grasp. Okay? And today now you added another 50 bills. How you expect people to keep up with this and knowing that you are now going to pass these bills and then we going to be hit with bigger taxes than we had before and we have not had any time, input or scrutiny in this matter. This is appalling, and I feel that you should do better than this. And I did not receive any response to my letters that I sent to all members of City Council concerning this matter, and then you're going to have a suspension of Council? You're going to suspend things and ask Council to suspend the rules. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for your testimony. Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Please, I just want to say one more time, the first bell that you will hear will indicate that you have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. The second bell that you will hear will mean that your two minutes are up and we ask that you please adhere to those guidelines and conclude your remarks. Thank you. Next name, Mr. Decker.
The next speaker is Paul Prescott, speaking on Councilwoman Gym's United States Postal Service resolution introduced today.
Good morning. Please just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Hello. My name is Paul Prescott. I'm a public school Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 teacher and member of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and also a member of the Communities and Postal Workers United. I'm speaking today in solidarity with my union brothers and sisters to fight what I think is union busting that's going on. When a few years ago the Postal Service jobs were being outsourced to Staples, my union participated in a boycott, and teachers refused to buy their teaching supplies from here. What the Trump Administration is doing now is another attempt at privatization of the Postal Service and attack on living-wage jobs. If they were really concerned with the Postal Service financial situation, Congress would repeal the Postal Accountability Act of 2006, which makes the Postal Service pre-fund their employee pension 75 years in advance, something no other public or private entity has to do. The Postal Service provides Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 living-wage jobs to over 600,000 workers. If they let the Post Office run out of money and if they privatize, these jobs are gone. We can't take any more low-wage jobs and we can't take any more unions being destroyed. With an average salary of over $50,000 a year, this job and these unions have been so important to helping black workers, women workers, and veteran workers advance. As more good jobs for black workers are destroyed, they are then over-policed when they're unemployed and we end up in the situation we are in today with rampant police violence. The other reason I'm speaking in support of this resolution is because my work as a teacher is in public service, and I believe in public services. Especially during a pandemic, we need the Postal Service to deliver medicines and medical supplies affordably to people across the country. We also need a Postal Service to ensure a fair Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 election in the fall. We don't have many universal services in this country, services that everyone has equal access to regardless if you live in New York City or a small town of a few hundred people. We need to protect and expand this universal service, so I urge City Council to vote for this resolution. Thank you.
Hello. Thank you, Council President Clarke and esteemed City Councilmembers for the opportunity to speak on behalf of nurses and other healthcare workers in support of Bill No. 200306. My name is Monica Harmon. I've been a proud professional nurse for two decades. My specialties are public health and nursing education. I am the current Chapter President of the Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association and I'm the Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition Nurse Diversity Council. The year 2020 was deemed the Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organization in January of 2019. This designation was aimed at highlighting the work of the 20.7 million nurses globally, from the bedside to the boardroom and everywhere in between and beyond. Nurses courageously care for the welfare of their patients and often do so with flexibility and grace. However, there is a systemic flaw that hinders the care of nurses and, that is, lack of benefits to protect healthcare workers when we ourselves get sick through occupational exposure to pathogens such as Coronavirus. Nurses practice in a variety of capacities utilizing their knowledge and skills in different spaces while making a Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 difference in the lives of individuals, families, populations, and communities. In fact, the recent Coronavirus pandemic and the enduring epidemic of racism showcases the great sacrifices healthcare workers make while tirelessly prioritizing the care of patients and their loved ones while putting their own health and well-being at risk by enduring the reuse of personal protective equipment and other practices against our training necessary to provide care. I implore you, the members of Philadelphia City Council, to make a difference in the lives of nurses and other healthcare workers by supporting Bill No. 200306 today. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 members of the Council. My name is Channel Saunders. I live in Germantown section of the City of Philadelphia. I've been a Philadelphia resident all of my life, which is 40 years. I'm a crossing guard. That job I served for eight years. Today I testify on behalf of the proposed Philadelphia Fiscal Year 2021 budget. Because of the cuts as a crossing guard, it is an insult to have our funds be used as political appeals to the thousands of voices who are calling to de-fund the police. De-funding the police doesn't just -- it causes hardship on not just the things that are needed for beneficial purposes, but the people who utilize the funding, like crossing guards and traffic directors. All of us will be impacted severely by not having proper funding directed towards us in the best way. I've had the bittersweet taste of being able to save a child's life, Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 because it just so happens that in the midst of one of my crossings, there was a shootout on my block. So I had to lay the child on the ground. I laid over top of her, and the bullets went back and forth past our head, but when it was over and I called for backup, hey, I'm a crossing guard, they're fighting, they're shooting on my crossing, they told me to call back because they were in the midst of changing shifts. And then when they got there, they were like, well, what did they have on them and which way did they go? So we're already strained by the amount of aid that you guys are giving to us, and the situation is not safe for us in general, but then you want to remove that, which is only going to cause us to have to deal with even worse situations than taking care of our families, and I don't think that's fair.
Thank you, ma'am, for your testimony and for your service. I just want to Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 indicate that the movement will be moving the funding to a department. It will ultimately end up in the OTIS, which is our Department of Transportation and Safety, to be a part of Vision Zero. So we continue to support the crossing guards and all the great work you do. But, again, thank you so much for your service, ma'am.
The next speaker is Melissa Bova, commenting on 200344. (No response.)
Yes, we can. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.
Good morning. My Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 name is Melissa Bova. I'm the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. PRLA is proud to represent the restaurant and hospitality industry in Philadelphia. As you all know, the past few months have been an extraordinary struggle for our restaurants in the City of Philadelphia. Some of them we are hearing will never open their doors again, which is why I'm here to thank all of you for hopefully passing legislation today that will provide relief and flexibility to businesses in the City. First, thank you to Councilwoman Cherelle Parker for sponsoring Bill No. 200344. This bill recognizes the long-term operational changes that are occurring for restaurants in our industry. Even as we slowly begin the process of reopening, the culture has changed and take-out and delivery are going to be a larger portion Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 of our industry's survival than ever before. Bill No. 200344 takes much-needed steps to ensure that third-party delivery companies comply with common sense transparency initiatives, in addition to capping fees at 15 percent for the duration of the crisis. Many of those companies are doing the right thing, and we thank them for that, but for those that are not, this holds them accountable during a time that charging high rates only hurts businesses that are already suffering, and I ask you to support this bill today. Second, thank you to Councilmen Domb and Henon for sponsoring Bills No. 200351 and 200352. These pieces of legislation, similar to other cities around the country and even cities in Pennsylvania, authorizes the Streets Department to be creative in terms of allowing outdoor seating, either via an expansion of sidewalks, creating Stated Meeting June 25, 2020 streeteries, shutting down streets or allowing expansion generally. We will not return to normal dining any time soon, and this is a great way of letting the people of Philadelphia get out and dine safely while ensuring social distancing for the safety of our employees and guests. I ask you to support these bills as well. Thank you for allowing me to speak today.
The next speaker is Judy Ni, commenting on 200344. (No response.)