Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. We had a slight clerical error. Apparently 140131 was not put on the Consent Agenda, some changes. So to make sure that we got the proper vote, what we'll do is call that up again. So because Bill No. 140131 specifies additional requirements for the provision of the notice of filing of department regulations, the Charter requires that the bill be approved by two-thirds vote. Mr. Decker, call the roll on that.
Bill No. 140131, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 5/8/14 - STATED - 2ND READING 21-1700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Publication of Notices by City," by revising provisions concerning how notices of regulations proposed by departments, boards and commissions shall be published and advertised. Councilwoman Bass.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Two-thirds majority of all members voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions.
A resolution honoring Patricia A. Coulter for her achievements in service to the citizens of Philadelphia as the President and CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Tasco.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
5/8/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
And a resolution recognizing May 2014 as National High Blood Pressure Education Month, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
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? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is also 5/8/14 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution recognizing May 4th through the 10th, 2014 as National Teacher Appreciation Week and recognizing and honoring the 55 outstanding Philadelphia public school teachers, recipients of the Lindback Award for Distinguished High School Teachers for excellence and in particular the six recipients from schools located in the 8th Council District, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
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? (Aye.)
Those opposed? 5/8/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in recognition of the Tenth Anniversary of National Lemonade Days from June 6th through the 8th, 2014, introduced by Councilman Oh.
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? (Aye.)
The 5/8/14 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing May 2014 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate and commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to enhancing the City's culture, economy, and the founding ideals of independence and democracy, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, and I find since my time here that that is what we're doing with school funding, the same thing again and again. And I appreciate all the impassioned, intelligent people who come to us during public testimony and ask us to advocate harder, do better, put more money in, don't give it to somebody else right now, and then somebody comes in and says don't give it to schools because we need it right now. And we do this again and again. The issue that I find especially problematic for this city is an unwillingness by the part of some of our best folks in this city to actually take a look and understand what this problem is. Secondly, as we look at what the actual problem is in not only school funding but other issues facing our city and our state, as we have to create more jobs and improve our economy and compete on a global scale, there is the Philly shrug and there is the naysayers and people who are very negative, and I would say finally that there are those who would like to cut off their nose despite their face. Simply put, it is very difficult to go to another household and say, I mismanaged my funds and my kids are starving. So I would demand in fairness and equity that you give me the food off of your children's plate. And while that is not the perspective that we have in this city, outside of the City to every State Representative and State Senator, that is their perspective. It is very difficult, I'd say it's impossible, to go advocate to representatives of schools and towns and cities throughout this Commonwealth with the argument that you should give us more money because we deserve it. If someone can tell me how that argument is going to be successful, I'd like to hear about it. To me the idea that our city goes to people whose duty it is to represent their own towns, their own population, and their own school children with simply the demand that you give us more and that that's going to succeed, I find that very, very difficult to understand, and I would say that it has this time. Increasing costs ultimately result in less and less money from the state. The solution lies here in our City government. It's not the Governor. It's here in our City government. I don't care what new Governor comes into Harrisburg. That Governor, republican or democrat, will have no greater ability to go to a State Representative or Senator in Western PA and say, I made a campaign promise to fund Philly schools, so I want to take your vote and take the money out of your district and put it into Philadelphia. I find that hard to believe is a reasonable strategy. But to say to the representatives across Pennsylvania that we will give you a way that you can go to your constituents and say, I have found a way to stop funding Philadelphia schools, which will provide them more of their own tax revenues, which will allow them to better fund their own schools while we a prosperous and growing Philadelphia, I think that is something that is reasonable and palatable. But nobody knows the revenues in our city, the pending revenues, and the growth of our economy than the Mayor and the members of City Council and our City elected officials. Our State Reps, our State Senators do state business, but they don't know the issues that we have here in this city, our plans, our growth.
If we can go to Harrisburg and say, We have something for your district, we can grow our economy with your help, we can fund our own schools with our own money, because we produce a third of this state's GDP, and while we may lose on the battle of school funding on property taxes, they can say, Listen, we're raising our property taxes, you should raise more of your taxes. But in total funding, we provide more money in taxes to every other district in this Commonwealth than any other city or State Treasurer running for Governor. Allyson Schwartz is Congresswoman running for Governor. We have many other elected officials who are holding office right now running for a higher office, and nobody has written negatively about them. What it seems to me is there is a special place in Philadelphia for City Council members. We are the butt of jokes. We are highly criticized because we're so accessible, and the criticism is City Council members, you don't want them running for higher office. Well, it's not about running for higher office. It's about not being able to run for higher office. If we don't, on behalf of the citizens of Philadelphia, take our knowledge and experience on behalf of this city and be able to craft an exchange, a process, a transition with those 253 members of Harrisburg in a way that is palatable and acceptable to them constituents, we will not resolve this issue of school funding, economic growth, global competition in this city. To continue to try to say Councilmembers are undeserving of the opportunity to fight for Philadelphia and Philadelphians I find to be very counterproductive, and I would challenge anyone to tell me how you're going to realistically resolve these problems, these problems that we face year after year, without engaging in a productive positive exchange with Harrisburg. So I would really urge thinking and caring people to put aside the very cheap nonsense, focus on really resolving our problems in a new and fresh manner. Empower your City elected officials to work for you the same as every other elected official in our 2,500 cities and towns, and let's put aside trying to limit the effective representation of Philadelphia's voices for cheap and
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. Over the last week we heard compelling testimony regarding our School District budget as School District officials came to City Council to press for new funds. Some testimony I believe bears repeating. Dr. William Hite said, and I quote, "If we cannot or will not invest in children and their futures, then we have already decided our own, a future that institutionalizes inequality of public education." Jerry Jordan, President of the PFT, offered the following: I don't need to outline the impact of budget cuts on our school children. Everyone in this room is aware that our young people have of teachers, librarians, school nurses, secretaries, and counselors, along with academic offerings like art and music. The state has once again come up short, and our children will pay the price. Councilman Curtis Jones stated, and I repeat, I feel like the non-custodial parent paying child support. I don't have control over how they live, how they're educated, yet we write the check. After that, there needs to be more accountability. Councilman Jim Kenney said, We're going to have to find a way to row our own boat. The testimony I found most compelling and heartfelt for me was that of David Hardy, the CEO of Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, who essentially echoed your remarks, Mr. President, regarding oversight. David Hardy said, Members of Council, you are in a difficult situation. In your responsibility for City funds, you have the responsibility for ensuring the City gets fair value for funds allocated. Anyone familiar with the demographics of those attending a public school know they serve the children who are the neediest. Wasted or ineffective education spending is dangerous in an environment of limited resources. Yet you must provide enough funds to educate the children of this city who are dependent on public funds. Finally, Councilman Goode pressed for and asked for and pleaded for a Plan B. I join you and all members of Council who seek to craft a Plan B to meet our duty, I repeat duty, to fund our schools. I join you and members of Council to do what Councilman Kenney said best, figure out how we row our own boat. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to offer the Councilmembers that Bob Pantano is sponsoring lunch right across the room in the Caucus Room for any members who would like to attend in gratitude for his recognition last session here in Council. So if anybody is hungry, please stop over. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. Is there any music over there, Councilman? Councilman, does he have any music over there?
No, but if you want, I can sing a couple tunes. (No.)
All right. The Council has spoken. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you offer, but no. I think what Councilman Oh talked about -- and that proves you have to really listen, because it took him a while to get to it, but eventually I think I comprehended what he meant, and I applaud his understanding that there needs to be increased dialogue with Harrisburg and not just from almost a moot point but from an activist point that we can engage them or even challenge them in some ways because we have parity by way of ability to seek higher office. A couple of corrections. One, that dialogue didn't just begin with resign to run. It started even back when Councilman Kenney demonstrated a willingness to meet with Tinicum Township representatives and actually resulted in a settlement of the airport expansion. It continued, Mr. President, with your ongoing dialogue in a group body setting with the House and the Senate, but also you pounding the pavement, burning up shoe leather over the last couple months to try to head off some of the financial crises that we face. I do understand at the end of the day that you can have your say, but others will have your way if you don't have the ability to hold them accountable, even challenge them, as my colleague is saying. So if that is the spirit of what he's saying, I support it, but I would also recognize that there are other -- there were 26 other districts that are in the same condition we are, that are as mad or even madder at the current gubernatorial administration about inequitable funding for them, and that we need to approach this from a broader perspective, that we're not alone in Philadelphia as to the issue of public education. So we need to seek out colleagues, allies and move forward, much in the example that Councilman Kenney did expansion, because we could be still in court with that had we not reached across the aisle, reached across county lines to do that dialogue. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. In response to Councilman Oh, I'm going to say Corbett still sucks and I don't mind still saying it.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
All righty. I just wanted to start by thanking Councilwoman Blackwell for her resolution today and also Councilwoman Brown for the resolution on bring our young girls back, bring our girls back, and this is something that's been global and the -(Applause.)
Let's give a round of applause, because it's really outrageous and it's almost as if because it's happening in sub-Saharan Africa, it's almost as if it's, Oh, well, you know, these kinds of things just happen there. And, no, they don't just happen there. They happen all around the globe. So whether you're talking about in sub-Sahara Africa or right here in Philadelphia, there is a problem with this sex trafficking that's happening around the globe, and we need to be vigilant and we need to stay on top of it and we need to push our government to do even more than what they are doing. I know that there has been some movement from the President and they are sending some folks over to help out, but the scope of the problem I think really does require us to be much more involved in trafficking, whether it's here or abroad. And just to give you a couple of facts. In April, a trial began here in Philadelphia of a man who allegedly used force and threats to control prostitutes, including a girl who was just 16 years old at the time. The witnesses said they even needed permission to eat. In March, a South Jersey man was arrested for human trafficking. The investigation began when a victim told police she had been held against her will for a week and was forced to perform sexual acts with numerous males for money, and the headlines just go on and on and on. So I just really wanted to thank you again for bringing that to our attention, bringing it -- it's an uncomfortable subject, but it's something that we have to talk about and we have to deal with. much, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple things. First of all, the 1 o'clock hearing for Labor and Civil Service Committee, I think it would be fair to go 1:30 just so everybody knows we have some time. Second, dealing with Councilwoman Bass's comments, I can't think of a better use of United States military power than to go into that country and hunt those people down and end their time on earth and save those girls. It's just unconscionable what they're doing and it's just frightening. And I know some of the young people who come here from Nigeria and other parts of Africa that study in our high schools and colleges, and when you get to know them they deal with and they come here and they have an opportunity for a better life and they go on and have that better life, they are really decent, good kids. And I think that we have a responsibility if we want to insert ourselves around the world in many other issues, we should certainly insert ourselves in this country in this particular situation. I think it's just terrible what happened. Secondly, on Councilman Oh's comments, you know, I long for the days -- and I say this to my colleagues, my republican colleagues in the Council, who are really all decent, moderate people who understand what we need in our urban environment, including our schools, and they've always been there to support what we're looking for. And I look at the Southeast region of Pennsylvania. There are moderate, decent republicans, good people who are working people, have from their youth or their parents' youth, and there's no real anger or animosity amongst those folks against the City. The further out you go, we have our problems, and I think in the end, the only way this is going to get resolved is if the republican party and their moderate, decent people fund campaigns to take out the wingnuts that have been tying up Harrisburg and tying up Washington and tying up our country just out of pure racism, animosity, and a desire to obstruct as opposed to do things well. I think back to Governor Ridge. You know, I long for the days of Governor Ridge. I mean, there's a person that at least understands economic development and understands how important Philadelphia was and funded projects for the port and for all intermodal transportation facilities and things of that nature. I think the moderate -- and I admire them. I think one of the greatest presidents we ever had in our country's history was Dwight Eisenhower, who was a republican, a moderate, good republican who looked at things philosophically different, but tried to get to the same place. And when I think of some of the things that are being done and said in Harrisburg coming out of the mouths of Daryl Metcalfe, who is trying to impeach our Attorney General, it's just like insane, or saying that funding for mass transit is similar to funding public welfare or it's public welfare for cities. He wouldn't have a paved road in his county if it weren't for the southeast region and their contribution to the Commonwealth. So I urge that our moderate, decent, good republican friends, both in this Chamber and around the Commonwealth, ban together to try to figure out a way to get rid of these people, because all and they're doing it out of racism and just their desire to see things fail. And I thank my republican colleagues in the body for their continued help in getting our schools, along with us, where they need to be, because I think there's a lot of decent, good-thinking people in this state and there's just some people that are tearing us down. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm not disagreeing, outside of the political stuff, with anybody's opinion. I appreciate all the work that's been done. I'd like to say that I've been well received in Harrisburg. I appreciate the time that the republican leadership has allowed me to come in and speak. Mayor, I know that you, Council President, other members here of City Council have gone to Harrisburg, and we're not ill treated, but I would characterize us -- this is my opinion -- as dogs with a bark and no bite. You could nicely take me in, listen to me, but I have no bite at the end of the day. I don't affect anybody. But it's not just me. It's the people of the City of Philadelphia. We have no bite. We can't reach out and touch anybody who is making decisions in Harrisburg. I would also say that it is not just republicans. There's no democrat in the Commonwealth who will go back to their constituents and say, Guess what, I didn't fund our schools to the extent I could because I gave some money to that school district over there. There's 501 school districts and they are all similar. We are the only one of our size. We're the only one the only one in -- while they have financial problems, not to the extent that we do, and we're the only ones that give so much more in total taxes, but when it comes to schools, we have to say we need 40 percent or so from Harrisburg. We have the means to change that formula, and right now, Council President, Harrisburg and all those representatives representing all those school districts are going to decide on equitable funding and quality education for the future of this Commonwealth, and if this School District and this City, which produces all the jobs and investments income, is not at that table to the extent that we should be, us, politically powerful, backing up our State Reps and State Senators, our congressional delegation, all of us supporting a perspective of the future of Pennsylvania as a competitive, growing international, technological city, then sorely missed as this state makes this very critical decision. So I urge everyone to remove that impediment called resign to run, put your positive faith in the people you elect, and let us do good work for this city. Limiting the best for fear of the worst, that is sometimes a necessary evil, but never a good idea. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Yes, Mr. President. More a point of information. I needed to underscore the remarks shared by Councilwoman Bass and Blackwell and others of us who have spoken with outrage around the kidnapping of these young people. In studying this issue last year, Philadelphia region actually is one of the top ten cities on the FBI list for human trafficking of in our backyard, we hear incidents like the ones cited by Councilwoman Bass that happen every day. And so it's closer than we think for this modern-day slavery, and no one of us I believe are exempt from that touching our lives in a more personal way. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
I also want to echo that. I just wanted to kind of add to this discussion and to Councilman Kenney's point. The fact of the matter is, we know what it takes to fund our schools. There was a costing-out study. Everybody knows the facts, and the facts are that, as Councilman Jones stated, every single school district across the Commonwealth is experiencing this. There are legislators whose constituents have had time and time again. I think the one argument to all of this is the notion that Philadelphia has to get funded at the expense of someone else has to stop. We got to fund everyone. I want every child, whether they're in Erie, Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg or anyone else, to have what the costing-out study says they should have. So I think it's really important that as all of you, Council President, this legislative body, our Philadelphia delegation, when we talk about funding Philadelphia schools, we're talking about funding all schools. And when we're talking about doing the right thing, we're talking about doing the right thing for all children. And I think that's where the crazies and the people at the extremes who dominate sometimes this conversation are lost. I'm not going to try to convince them. fairness, fairness for all of the children of Pennsylvania and fairness for the children of the City of Philadelphia. So that's the type of leadership and that's where the discussion should stay. It's not one child over another child. It's all of our children. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Councilwoman. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wasn't going to speak, but I will with regard to the two issues on the floor. It is very sad, and we've read even where our institutions, our colleges and universities represent schools, it is pretty common to have children who are reading -- our youngsters are reading on third grade levels, since that's the really test them and really know where they are. We've got big problems when it costs us more and we have our schools, our children not being able to read, write, and count. So that is a very sad thing, and I think that as I always say, we just have to be careful that we don't have this fight against charter versus public schools when the state created that funding mechanism. So we got a lot of big issues that we need to deal with, but for all those who criticize -- and Council has always been there and we've always done what we can to make sure our youth, in spite of all of the debates, get a public -- get a solid education. But we need uniform standards and we need uniform care and consistent consideration for all schools, no matter where they are, no matter who attends those schools. And, finally, let me say with regard to -- I thank Councilwoman Bass talked about our focus on what's going on in Nigeria and other places, and let me note that many of you know that we have -- I give out pens and other printed material, and all of this is created by Delores Muhammad, who I met our first day of college many years ago and who has been in Nigeria some 40-some years ago. She started a school, has close to 2,000 students there where she's principal, founder, and owner. And so when they started this in Nigeria, she was in Lagos 11 years and now she's moved. She's still in Nigeria and comes here several times a year with her children, who have dual citizenship. She's still an American citizen. But when you see all that I print and all that I pass out, it is she who is in the heart of that country and who keeps us and me informed about what's going on, but who is very, very sad about what's going on in that country with these young women. in this world how close these issues are, how much they affect us. She's still my best friend since we were 18. And we just have to realize that -- Angela Davis said, If they come for me in the morning, they'll come for you at night -- that we are all one people in this world and that we have to be concerned about what happens every place, and certainly I thank this Council again for their support. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And with that, I would call on Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 15th at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 15th, 2014. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you all very much. ) 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, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A Adam 19:13 affect 138:10 Alicia 19:14 anger 135:4 ability 120:10 Adams 3:3 146:4 allegedly 132:6 animosity 135:4 128:14 129:9 add 49:15 141:16 Affection 42:14 Alliance 31:12 135:14 able 122:18,22 adding 47:22 affirmative 89:21 allies 9:3,16 12:16 Anniversary 144:6 85:13 103:5 99:25 102:23 13:9,23 14:13 60:17 75:24 abolitionists 39:4 addition 67:6 106:20 109:9 16:20,22 129:24 79:11 90:6 abroad 132:3 additional 46:17 112:5 allocated 126:5 115:8 absence 6:16,21 100:14 104:13 Africa 30:16 allow 120:24 Annual 86:7 7:5 109:17 112:8 31:19 32:17 allowed 137:25 answer 28:4 Absolutely 92:20 addresses 44:17 39:7 41:3,15 allowing 17:25 anybody 127:10 Abuse 20:21 44:25 53:2 43:7,8 131:8,14 Allyson 122:4 138:10,14 academic 125:4 addressing 15:13 133:24 alongside 20:15 anybody's 137:20 academies 13:15 adhere 68:11 African 15:15 alternative 76:14 Apparently ACANA 31:11 adjourn 146:19 30:15 31:12,16 76:16,21,24 109:12 accelerated 76:20 adjourned 146:22 31:22 41:12 78:11 81:4 applaud 128:8 77:5 147:3,11,13 Africa's 40:11 Amen 4:23,24 applause 15:5 accept 42:5 ADJOURNME...