Asa Khalif, commenting on 170706. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, everyone. Change of plans. We're not going to discuss the bill. I just wanted to introduce everyone, particularly City Council, to the first victim of the police officer that was recently fired, Ryan Pownall. This was the first victim of his heinous act of shooting black men in the back. This is Brother Carnell Carney-Williams and he has something that he would like to say and then he's going to say his peace and leave. He's representing Black Lives Matter Pennsylvania Chapter and the Justice for David Jones Coalition, and I would ask each and every one of you Councilpeople to please respect this person and this brother with his courage to come forward and speak in his own words. Brother Carnell.
Thank Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 you, Asa Khalif. I'd like to thank everybody for being here. I would like to go into more detail. After the David Jones killing -and my condolences go out to his family -- it was brought to my -- when I seen that, it made me sick, because I believe that seven years ago when I was shot in the back, no firearm was found seven -- I mean, about a half an hour later until I got to the other hospital. They never brought to the fact that the officer initially stopped me because I had a piece of paper in my hand, thought it was drug narcotics. He even testified that he never seen the gun, but yet I'm sitting in the wheelchair to this day because I ran through an open field and he opened fired on me. Through the grace of God, I didn't die, but I would not like my voice to not go unheard. And it's not so much about me. It's not so much about civil suit. It's not so much about money. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 It's so much about justice. And I believe that if you continue to keep these officers out here that feel as though they can hold court, judge, and jury in the streets, what that say for our society? You understand what I'm saying? I know a lot of politicians and a lot of people in good position. Imagine if your child, your nephew, or you know how younger folks are, maybe driving in their car and get pulled over and then don't know who their predecessors are and they get in the same situation I got into. When the cop shot me, not only did they shoot me, they flipped me over, found no gun. I was literally feet away from the hospital where they could have got nurses and C collars and, you know, prepared me quick -- prepared me where maybe my injuries wouldn't have been so bad, but instead they decided to lift my arms up in the back, which I was shot in Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 the C4 area, if you're familiar with that. That's the upper back. I was almost close to being on a ventilator. They dragged me and threw me in the back of the cop car. I'm bouncing around their sheets with a brand new bullet wound. And also they continued to like, through the transcripts to my lawyer, all they kept asking was did he die, did he die, did he die. So from what I get from that, my main concern if he die, he can't testify about the truth to the matter. I was acquitted in court, and through all the turmoil, I sat 18 months in court to be acquitted and that that wasn't -- I didn't believe that was fair to me. I rolled with the punches. My lawyer got me -- Max Kramer. He even took the trial on -- he felt so bad, he paid for the trial out of his own pocket and acquitted me. And then I went into civil suit and I got rural juries from all over, and unfortunately it didn't go Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 my way. But if I'm an immediate threat to you, how would I be shot in the back? I never had no firearm in my hands, not of the nature. The cop even said he never even seen me throw a firearm. He paused behind the wall, lined me up in the middle of the field. I first -- I heard the first bullet go past my ear. The second bullet hit me in my back, which tackled me down to the ground. Now, I'm not going to go on and on and, you know. I just wanted to give you a brief history of my story. And I also would like a change, you know. You know, I would like that if these police officers get better training and get better, you know, better -- excuse me. This has been a traumatic experience for me. I used to be a fitness trainer before I got injured. So it saved me because my muscle mass was thick and the bullet didn't go all the way through. But to get back to the David Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 Jones situation, his gun was by the cop officer's feet. His gun jammed. So at that point, he was supposed to recess the situation.
David Jones was fleeing. Therefore, there's no imminent threat towards the officer, but yet he still chose to fire off shots that took this man to heaven. You understand what I'm saying?
Excuse me one second, and I understand and respect the time for the other protesters and the other activists, and we will respect that time as well, but I just want to get this brother to say what he needs to say, because he's been dealing with this trauma for years, and we want him to understand that we care for him in this city. We care for him in this city. (Applause.)
So just give us a few minutes for him to close, and we'll Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 respect the time, and we thank the City Council for respecting his time and his voice as well. Go ahead, Brother.
I'm not going to take too much more of your time, but when I woke up after getting that gunshot and that grass, my life has changed to the point where I will get justice for any -- don't matter whether black, white, Hispanic, no matter what race. If you're in -- you're being injustice by police, the people that supposed to protect and serve, as long as I got breath in my body, you will see me a lot. I don't care how much medical I go through. I'm in nine nursing homes with different complications, but I will make it down here, because I believe that there need to be a change, because this is not helping the community and the law enforcement communications, you know.
Now you get brothers out here who read these articles, first thing they think is, I got to protect myself from the police, and then the next thing you hear about, you hear about cops getting killed. I'm going to end with this: If you have a heart in your heart, please, please just think of my story as you go home and think about that there's ways to solve situations without using deadly force.
Thank you for your testimony, sir, and thank you -
Can y'all give a hand to our dear brother for his courage. (Applause.) (Witness speaking without microphone.)
Thank you. (Witness talking without microphone.) Stated Meeting September 14, 2017
All right. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. (Audience member yelling.)
All right. All right. All right. (Audience member yelling.)
All right. Okay. We got it. We got it. (Audience member yelling.)
Thank you. You're right. (Audience member yelling.)
Okay. We got another group that wants to testify also, sir. Thank you. (Audience members yelling.)
Hold Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 on. Mr. Decker, call the name of the next witness.
Rasheed Holmes, commenting on 170706. (Witness approached podium.)
It's time for change, man. We people of color, we got to come together, man. All that cop killing and stuff, it's got to come to the end, man. Because you reap what you sow, man. You do the people dirty, you must pay the price. That's how we -when you do people dirty, we're going to be punished. Ain't no way you're getting away in life. How can you live like this and continue to unarm black people out here? Any color. Don't matter what color you are, white, Spanish, Mexico. Don't matter, man. You must be punished. When you do crimes to people, you must be punished. Ain't no way he should be Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 getting away. He should be punished for what he just did to that boy right there. That made me cry, tears in my eyes. It's sad for him going through this. It could be your kid, your nephew. It could be anybody, especially the kids, young folks. They need us. The kids is being kidnapped out here, and they deserve to live their life. They didn't ask to be here. They deserve to be here and enjoy their life and live their life. We also need to be uniting people of all colors, for real. This cop killing got to stop, man. They got to put an end to it. It has to stop. Seriously. That's why I'm here, man, to put in action, man. It's time to stop. Seriously, man, for real.
Thank you, sir. Thank you for your testimony, sir.
Clarc King, commenting on 170706. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting September 14, 2017
Good morning, Council President, and thank you, Councilmembers, for your time. I'm speaking in opposition to Resolution 170706, and that is the City committing itself to meeting or exceeding the target set by the Paris Climate Accord. Are we communicating that we're going to continue with supporting the Fed's and Wall Street bailout system? I have to say poverty is the immediate national security crisis, and it is caused by Wall Street. I think we see the results of poverty in this room every day. The greatest depression exists. Political leadership and power must work to confront the crisis unemployment in our city, the Commonwealth, and the nation. The U.S. Treasury and the Fed must stop supporting the Wall Street bankers' speculators and transition the Fed into a public bank Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 facility that funds the government, industry, and infrastructure, making way for wage-driven recovery and economic growth. The Federal Reserve Bank must begin retrieving the bailout trillions, the lost, unaccounted for, and stolen trillions. That's our money. The U.S. fiat money system is our money system. Wall Street does not own us. We own them. The redevelopment of North America depends on the reorganization of the U.S. money and financial system. Millions of lives are depending on political leadership to perceive and implement the national priorities that support the population's survival and perpetuation. Climate change supports new laws for Wall Street financial engineering, Wall Street financial products, taxes, swaps, and it has the component of economic and population Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 contraction. Radical population reduction policy is imbedded in climate change. Political leadership must face up to the reality. The organization and operation of the Fed from now on is the immediate political priority. Thank you for your time.
Diop Olugbala, commenting on 170247. (Witness approached podium.)
Much like one of the earlier speakers, I'm not here to address one of the bills on the agenda, but I'm here to address a bill that we introduced this past February on black community control of the police, which need was underscored by the testimony that we just heard from the brother that was put in a wheelchair by a Philadelphia Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 police officer and the same cop that killed David Jones. And we understand that the only real permanent solution to the problem of police brutality, murder, stop and frisk, and all the other crimes and offenses that the police committing against the black community is for the black community itself to have authority and full control over the police force in our community. Therefore, we have drafted a bill that is consistent with all your legal language and structure that speaks to specific demands that will result in a different type of relationship that the black community has with the police in this city and in this country as a whole. Firstly, this bill -- and you have, all City Council members, you have received this. We actually delivered it to you several days ago and several months ago. So you should be aware of this bill. But, one, we're calling for a Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 Black Community Control of Police Commission that will be democratically elected by the community within specific Philadelphia police districts where the population is at least 40 percent black and Latino. This Black Community Control of Police Commission will be democratically elected and will be structured on the black neighborhood and district level. This Black Community Control of Police Commission will have the power to hire, fire, set the training standards and also discipline power, meaning independent prosecutorial subpoena power, so that when police violate the rights of the people, we have our own independent black community control of the police prosecutorial commission that has the ability, whether the DA wants to or not, press charges and bring police up on charges. And, most importantly, the Black Community Control of the Police Charter which will redefine how the Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 budget that is allocated towards the Philadelphia police districts in question, how that budget will be used. No longer would the budget go towards the scheme-ass running, assault rifle-carrying occupying forces in our community, but it would go towards the real solution to so-called crime and violence in our community, which is economic development. The $1.4 billion that the City of Philadelphia spends on police, prisons, and courts should be going towards economic development in the form of jobs, training, housing, healthcare, et cetera. (Applause.)
We have drafted a concrete bill that lays this out in a very clear and understandable way. You have all received it. We are calling on City Council, at least one of you, to sponsor this bill so that it can be formally introduced on the City Council agenda. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017
We are from the Black is Black Coalition standing alongside our comrades of the Philly REAL Justice and other forces that came with us today to raise up this important demand, and we're not leaving until we get a resolution on the way forward with this bill.
Thank you for your testimony, sir. Appreciate it.
That's Megan Malachi. I'm representing the Philly Coalition -- I'm sorry. Actually, I'm representing the Philly REAL Justice. I'm here today to continue with Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 what my comrade, Diop, said. We are not here to ask you about sponsoring this bill. We're here to demand that you do it. We are in a crisis level in the City where cops are murdering and executing black people at a rate that is outrageous. We're not here for any type of liberal or symbolic demands where police are able to investigate themselves and then turn out and say that they are not guilty. We are demanding a systemic change in the way the society operates when it comes to black people and law enforcement. The black people of Philadelphia are tired of the police coming into our community and terrorizing us. We are demanding this democratic and legitimate bill be adopted by City Council. Darrell Clarke has a lot of information about this. His own citizens within North Philly have also demanded similar change in structures. So you Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 need to answer to us and tell us why you have not adopted this bill previously. Comrade Diop has given you this bill, what, back in February. So I'm confused as to why we have to sit through this long extended meeting and we're still talking about this. There's no reason why those other people had to go all the way to the Northeast to that pone-out's (ph) house because you guys don't want to hold these cops accountable. This bill spells out exactly what needs to happen, and all of you black politicians who are sitting here not passing this bill, you all are complicit as well. We're tired of asking you guys to vote for us -- asking us to vote for you all every November whenever the elections are and you guys not doing anything that you're supposed to do to protect our community. In fact, you're complicit because you're sitting here Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 with people like Henon, people like Squilla, who have made it clear that they are completely antagonistic and in complicit with white supremacy when it comes to the black community. So, quite frankly, you need to be standing over here with us. You are sucking the blood and the economic resources out of our community. There's even no reason why all these cops should be here right now. Anybody else who is sitting in the gallery who is interested in black community control of the police, we can give you a copy of this as well. This is something that is going to happen or there's going to be a real problem for you all, because we can stay here all day. I have no problem turning up in here to make sure that black people are not continued to be murdered by the police. And we're not going to let you obscure this issue anymore. So you can tell us right now Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 whether or not you are going to adopt this, because we will continue with this if you refuse to. This is not us asking you. This is us demanding that this happen. This is going to turn into a nice little bourgeois City Council meeting into a revolutionary occupation if you keep playing with us. (Applause.)
So what is it? What's it going to be, Darrell Clarke? Because I took off from work today. I have students at my job with no books. I have kids with no resources who have been stopped and frisked. So what are you going to do to stop my students from having to deal with the same stuff that that man in that wheelchair and David Jones has to deal with? What is your answer?
What is your answer, sir? Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 (Long pause for audience members yelling.) (Pause for audience members removed from Chambers.)
All right. We will conclude our public comment. Mr. Decker, can you call the name of the next witness.
Joe Danihel, commenting on 170641. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. This is an official decree of writ of Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and remedy. Does this Council and Mayor need a mirror to see the lone hipocrisy? This government's officials have criticized others about morality and government ethics violations. In my case, trial by jury was opposed by Mayor and Council several times, violating the oath of office to uphold, defend, and protect the constitutions and laws. Most of the first 14 amendments deal with theft of property and denial of God-given rights. If first come, first served is truly impartial, why has Council and Mayor approved payments to people whose homes were taken decades after mine? Why have I been required by oath-bound officials to wait decades while Council and Mayor consistently place others ahead of me to path? This is a violation of equal treatment clauses and is cruel and unusual punishment. The federal Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 government claims it has poured hundreds of millions into the City to pay claims in my case. Yet I wasn't paid a dime, and the City cannot account for the missing money. Since my several trials by jury were opposed and denied, why hasn't the federal and Commonwealth governments prosecuted those involved? The law requires immediate remedy of this breach of law. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384, oath of office, PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 11, 26 PA CSA 703, 708, 709, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 all appear violated. As such, requires immediate prosecution of all involved. There can only be one law. I again call for the Commonwealth and federal governments to perform their constitutional obligation to investigate, prosecute all involved in the theft and Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 illegal deed transfer of my home 1038 West Wyoming. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 23 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a fireman can refuse to fight a fire. The sovereign people of the United States require laws and constitutions to be enforced and this constitutional crisis to be immediately resolved. Jail is required for all who violate oath or law. It takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow monumental corruption.
Peter Winslow, Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 commenting on 170706. (Witness approached podium.)
President Clarke and members of the Council, thank you for providing me this opportunity to speak to you in support of Resolution No. 170706, committing the City of Philadelphia to meet or exceed its share of the targets set by the Paris Climate Accord for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Together with other members of the environmental and social justice community, I look forward to working with you to implement this commitment during the current Council session. My name is Peter Winslow. I'm a resident of West Mount Airy in the district of Councilwoman Bass. I thank Councilwoman Bass and the co-sponsors of the resolution, Councilmembers Green, Johnson, and Gym, for introducing this resolution, and I thank Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for her leadership of the Environmental Committee. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 Moreover, in anticipation of unanimous approval of the resolution, let me express my appreciation to the entire Council and to Mayor Kenney for stepping up to meet our obligations as the Trump administration steps away from responsibility for meaningful response to climate disruption. A change of pace, change of mood. Council Resolution No. 170599 urging the President of the United States to recommit and join with the Council of the City of Philadelphia in affirming its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement fell on deaf ears. Climate change deniers lead the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior. The current Congress appears incapable of positive action on any environmental issue. Likewise the Pennsylvania Legislature ignores the provision of Article I, Section 27 of the state Constitution that Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 the people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment. Nevertheless, even if we enjoyed the full commitment from other levels of government, Philadelphia remains responsible for meeting our share of the Paris Accords. Furthermore, even if the goals of the Paris Accords were met, the results would be inadequate to meet the challenge we face. We must act quickly. We must act aggressively. We must act consistently to transition from an economy dependent on fossil fuels to a more sustainable society powered by renewable energy sources. May I continue? We support the steelworkers, steamfitters, and other workers of the Philadelphia energy systems' refineries, but we need, for their welfare as well as everybody else's, to stop PES from Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 continuing to emit greenhouse gases and other toxins into our environment. We support SEPTA in its effort to transport passengers more energy efficiently than by private car, but we need SEPTA not to construct an unnecessary gas-powered electricity generation plant in Nicetown. We support the expansion of container operations at PhilaPort, but we need conversion of operations from diesel to electric power. We support energy efficiency initiatives by the City, but we need a program to obtain electricity from local portable to ancillary installations and much more.
There are no other speakers on the public comment Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of 170706.
A resolution committing the City of Philadelphia to meet or exceed its share of the targets set by the Paris Climate Accord for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
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.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 170706 is Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted. (Applause.)
An ordinance continuing the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District beyond its termination date, in an area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 6300 to 7631 and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue and for which the Mt. Airy Improvement District, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, is the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a final plan and report for the District, including a list of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District.
The Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's an ordinance. I got a little off my game. Sorry. This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Taubenberger.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 170468.
An ordinance establishing a business improvement district encompassing certain existing and future hotel properties within the boundaries of the City of Philadelphia, to be known as the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District; designating the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District Corporation to serve as Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, including a list of proposed programs and services related to the Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING development and promotion of the hotel and tourism industry in the City and County of Philadelphia and their estimated cost.
As a bond ordinance, this is a requirement of two-thirds -- I'm sorry. This bill has been read two separate times. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gym. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Squilla. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - 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, 170623.
An ordinance authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund 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; providing for obtaining consent of the electors to Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING increasing the indebtedness of the City; and fixing a day and provide for arrangements for holding the election for obtaining such consent.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Please note that because of the bond authorization, there is a requirement of two-thirds vote. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Greenlee. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - 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 -- Councilwoman?
If I may, I'd like to be recorded as aye on Bill No. 170406.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Let the record reflect that the Councilwoman voted aye on that particular bill. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions? Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution recognizing National Drive Electric Week 2017 in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution encouraging Amazon to choose the City of Philadelphia as the future home of HQ2, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I note again for the record that this was co-sponsored by all members of City Council, and I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution calling for the City Council Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings investigating the feasibility of opening the outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Parkway to install more flags and increase the number of countries that are represented, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution Honoring the 230th Anniversary of the Signing of the United States Constitution and Recognizing September 17th as Constitution Day in the City of Stated Meeting September 14, 2017 9/14/17 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Henon.
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.)
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Soul Football Team for winning their third Arena Bowl Championship title over the Tampa Bay Storm on August 26, 2017, introduced by Councilman Jones.