But you're taking up his time. So let the other gentleman speak.
Anybody want to give me two minutes, let me know. I'll buy it. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020
No. You got to like -- either you're going to sit down -- if you want him to speak, I'll let him have two minutes, but you can't keep talking, because you're eating into his time. Did the other gentleman want to speak? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No.
Are you okay? All right. Thank you. And thank you all for your service. We genuinely -- trust us, we really appreciate what you've done. Thank you.
Thank you. And I anticipate there will be further discussion. I understand, Councilwoman, you have a number of amendments you're going to be working with them?
Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. We will now move to our Calendar. Mr. Decker, 200121.
A resolution also naming the 1600 to 1700 block of West Jefferson Street, as "Dr. Oscar J. Cooper Way" to honor the life of Oscar James Cooper and his contributions to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the medical community in the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I enthusiastically call for the adoption of the resolution. Thank you. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
Resolution 200121 has been adopted. (Applause.)
A resolution also naming East Venango Street, between Edgemont and Salmon Streets, as "Monsignor Joe's Path."
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it. Resolution 200126 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, 200056.
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to revise and clarify rules pertaining to prohibited activities of City officers and employees, including restrictions on City officials and employees with respect to political activities; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. This issue is an issue that was brought to me by a City employee. We have one of the most restrictive political activity piece of legislation in the country. This Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING legislation -- this resolution and the accompanying legislation was an attempt to allow City employees to more properly exercise their First Amendment rights. And so we've had conversations with numerous organizations, including staff on the Ethics Board, the Committee of Seventy and others, and this was a compromised piece of legislation to balance both sides in order to provide more opportunity for City employees to participate and use their First Amendment rights. With that, Council President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Because Resolution No. 200056 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it's going to require a two-thirds vote. And, Mr. Decker, we're going to call the roll. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Jones. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Two-thirds of all members of Council voting in the affirmative, Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Resolution No. 200056 has been adopted. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, 200042-A.
A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation of a Department of Labor and Board of Labor Standards, to provide for the powers and duties of such Department and such Board, and to otherwise provide for incorporation of the Department and Board into the City government.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gym.
Thank you very much, Council President. I want to acknowledge all the workers who came forward today, advocates, and others who lent their voices and their time to working not only on making sure that this bill is the strongest that it can be, but Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING on a host of labor laws that have transformed the rights and protections for workers all across the country. I'm very grateful to my Council colleagues. I want to thank Councilman Henon, who had been working on this bill last term, to our Council sponsors, but indeed to the entire body of Council for making it better. And I'd like to also thank the partnership that we've had with the Administration and the current Office of Labor. This bill will make permanent a Department of Labor to defend and protect Philadelphia workers to ensure that we get information out and educate both employees and employers about rights and responsibilities, and we intend this to be a city that really truly upholds the rights of all people. And with that, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. Because Resolution, again, No. 200042-A is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Mr. Decker, please call the roll on the resolution.
Councilwoman Gym. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Thomas. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. (Applause.)
Two-thirds of all members of Council having voted in the affirmative, Resolution No. 200042-A has been adopted. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 200008.
An ordinance 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 provide for the creation of a Department of Labor and a Board of Labor Standards, to provide for the powers and duties of such Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Department and Board, and to otherwise provide for incorporation of the Department and Board into the City government; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Gilmore Richardson.
Aye. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 200015.
An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of a proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to revise and clarify rules pertaining to prohibited activities of City officers and employees, including the restrictions on City officials and Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING employees with respect to political activities.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gym. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Thomas. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution recognizing and honoring Julie Coker for her dedication to the PHLCVB and Philadelphia and wishing her luck on her future endeavors, introduced by Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing the 48th anniversary of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its impact on the growth of women who participated in college sports from 29,972 in 1972 to over 221,000 in 2019, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.) Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring Deborah Greasham, Malik Jones, and Corporal Cheryl Walker as examples of the countless unsung helping hands which lift our African American future up by mentoring and guiding our next generation of African American leaders, introduced by Councilman Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 2/13/20 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution calling for the Committee on Public Health and Human Service to hold hearings to help the city adequately prepare for, avoid, and, if needed, mitigate the effect of emergency room and hospital closures as research has shown disparate impacts on patients that are low income and/or from communities of color in addition to the loss of jobs, introduced by Councilman Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. I again move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting February 13, 2020
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is also adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our Calendar for today. And speeches on behalf of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. As I said at Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 Committee hearing, I have a lot of respect and appreciation for Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson. Unfortunately in a democracy, there are times where we just disagree, and this is one of those times. The major issue that has occurred is lack of information. I have tried to inform the veterans community, and they have reached out to me for information. I've tried to ensure that that information is accurate. There is a bill, well intended, Charter change, to try to provide a hiring preference to Philadelphia School District graduates of a career technical school. And at this point in time, the bill has been or is being amended to offer five preference points, but the issue is not solely about the number of points. The issue is, is that an erosion of the hiring preference for veterans and the children of fallen police officers and firefighters? I think it is. That's Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 in committee and I oppose it because graduates of career technical schools are very employable and they do not appear to me to need a Charter change hiring preference. There are other ways to assist and help any group in Philadelphia through legislation, tax credits and other things. What I will say is that I believe that the playing field should always be level. Ten points for one person is ten points less for everyone else. That includes graduates of Community College, our regular high schools, persons with disabilities, returning citizens, recovered drug addicts and others. Ten points for veterans to me, that is a merit-based preference. It is for the service and the sacrifice that they have provided, the same as I would see in a -(Applause.)
The same as I Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 was looking at a resume. If someone said they served our nation, I would say that's a plus in character and public good, and I understand that that experience brings with it certain qualities that I appreciate and value. Despite the ten point hiring preference, our city of 30,000 employees has only 1.8 percent veterans hired. So despite this ten point preference, our city is very low in terms of the veterans hired. And we have a large population of veterans and a larger population when we include those on the GI bill that attend our universities. So to me, this is a group that is not only deserving, meritorious, but a group in need. For that reason, although I appreciate, as many expressed, the good intention of the bill, I do oppose it, and I certainly will try to see how there can be a mutually beneficial agreement on how to do this, but from the communications that I have received, I do Stated Meeting February 13, 2020 Charter change preference is the way to address the problem. Thank you.