Aye on all bills. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye on all bills. The majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING title of 180661.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Second Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment on your behalf to Resolution No. 180661. A copy of that amendment has been circulated to all members, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee on Resolution 180661.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution, as amended. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180661 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180663.
A resolution also Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING naming the 2400 block of North 59th Street as "W. Wilson Goode, Sr. Way" in honor of former Mayor Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., and in commemoration of his life-long and dedicated service to the citizens of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment to Resolution No. 180663. A copy of that amendment has been circulated to all members of Council, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it, and the amendment is approved. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you again, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution, as amended. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180663 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180668.
A resolution calling upon Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly to enact the proposal of the Philadelphia Parking Authority in order to provide new capital funding for Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING the School District of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Council President. Many people in this body know that my mother taught in the School District about 31 years, 25 of those years at Olney High School, and that my son is a 10th grade high school student at Hill-Freedman World Academy in Councilwoman Parker's Ninth Council District. In fact, one of the first things I did when I came into this body, one of my first legislative actions was having hearings regarding the environment of our schools following the unfortunate situation where SEIU 32BJ member Chris Trakimas lost his life at the Edmonds School, and we had hearings regarding that issue. From there, myself and other members of this body joined the Philadelphia Healthy School Initiative to really address and raise awareness Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING regarding some of the concerns we had about hazards in our school, hazards like lead paint, lead in our water, mold, and asbestos. And, in fact, the legislation introduced today by Councilman Mark Squilla is a continuation of the work that a number of Councilmembers have taken regarding the concerns we have regarding our schools. Councilmembers Brown and Gym and others have really been leaders in that regard of addressing these issues in our schools. Last week we had a press conference here in the Council Chambers calling on Governor Wolf and the General Assembly to support an initiative that's being proposed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority and others to provide some additional dollars to our School District. We were joined in this press conference by our democratic Chair of Appropriations, Senator Vincent Hughes, as well as State Representative Jim Roebuck, who is the democratic Chair of Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING the Education Committee, as well as State Senator Art Haywood and representatives from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, SEIU 32BJ, as well as Principal Natalie Catin St. Louis from Nebinger Elementary School, as well as Gretchen Dahlkemper, who testified earlier during the public comment. The reason we came together to support this press conference is that it would add an opportunity of adding 50 cents per share to ride shares in the City of Philadelphia, which could provide another $8 million that can be used for dedicated funding for our School District. We've been talking with the School District. Dr. Hite also supports this proposal. And that $8 million could be dedicated funding that could be leveraged for another $100 million in capital dollars for our schools. As you know from all the issues we've been discussing not only in this body and also in the Toxic City stories Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING that we read about, we need additional money for our schools and especially for capital improvements to improve the physical conditions of our schools. Considering that information and considering this opportunity, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution No. 180668 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 170678-A.
An ordinance amending Title 7 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Housing Code,' by adding Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING a new Chapter 7-200, entitled 'Mixed Income Housing Program,' to provide for affordable housing standards; amending Section 14-702 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Mixed Income Housing,' to make related changes; amending Chapters 14-600 and 14-700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled, respectively, 'Use Regulations' and 'Development Standards,' to amend certain zoning standards relating to residential development.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - 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, 180164-A.
An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2019.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING one. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 180347-A.
An ordinance amending Chapter 21-1600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Housing Trust Fund," to authorize the establishment of separate sub-funds to receive, respectively, revenues attributable to recording fees and revenue attributable to certain payments required upon construction of certain real estate.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Blackwell. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. CHIEF Clerk: The ayes are 13; the nays are four.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING title of 180351-A.
An ordinance providing for a payment to the City upon the construction of certain real estate, and directing Council to appropriate revenues from such payments to the Department of Planning and Development Division of Housing and Community Development, in order to support equitable neighborhood development by constructing affordable housing, including units for sale or rent, and by providing assistance to Philadelphians who desire to become homeowners.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Blackwell. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are nine; the nays are eight. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Audience members booing.)
Okay. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 160007. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance repealing an Ordinance (Bill No. 150894) entitled "An ordinance authorizing the striking from City Plan No. 119 and abandoning of a certain pedestrian walkway reserved within the bed of former Thompson Street, from Watts Street to Thirteenth Street, and the modifying of a certain right-of-way for drainage purposes, water main purposes, gas main purposes, and public utility purposes, also reserved within the bed of said former Thompson Street."
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move that Bill No. 160007 be withdrawn. (Duly seconded.)
It's been motioned and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. Bill 160007 is withdrawn. Mr. Decker, 180430.
An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity," Chapter 10-800, "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-840, "Criminal and Defiant Trespassers," by establishing and clarifying procedures to remove criminal and defiant trespassers from real property.
Thank you, Mr. President, for I wish to be heard on this bill prior to voting. For the record, I just want to start by thanking all of the residents in the City of Philadelphia who have, in essence, stood up via through letter writing, through calls to our offices, by Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING coming during our public comment period to share their experiences and/or testify in the November and/or the most recent hearing to share their stories. In essence, Mr. President, what these residents attempted to do was to ensure that this issue that is called illegal squatting or criminal squatting, that there is a prevention of delayed justice so that those who are suffering and negatively impacted by this have some recourse and that the irreparable harm that is being caused to homeowners who are living near it -- and I heard someone testify about this earlier. In essence, the residents of the City of Philadelphia have said, City Council of Philadelphia, we want you and this city to come up with a very sound legislative remedy, a practical remedy/policy to ensure that this issue is addressed in the City. It is with this in mind, Mr. President, that I want to state for the record that I will be voting no on Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Bill No. 180430, and I will share why, but just for the record, I want to say a special thank you to my colleagues who have attempted to find a solution to address this problem, Councilman Oh, Councilman Taubenberger. And I would be remiss for the record if I did not thank Councilman Allan Domb along with Councilwoman Helen Gym for their efforts at diplomacy before I got actively engaged on this issue in trying to find some common ground. In addition to that, Mr. President, I also want to thank the housing advocates at Community Legal Services, the Tenant Union Representative Network, TURN, the SeniorLAW Center, and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, who I also want to state for the record despite what we have heard on a number of occasions presented and strongly recommended in both versions challenges they had with the legislative solution that was proffered. They Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING produced -- and I just want to note this for the record. m. that notes, amendments to the bill as introduced in the fall and that these issues, these same issues, were not addressed when the new version of the bill was drafted. In addition to that, there was a fact sheet that was sent to us by Community Legal Services and the Public Interest Law Center that noted very early on, Mr. President, that this definition was too broad. And, two, because they gave us this summary or this fact sheet, someone might attempt to argue that we expected them to do the work of our technical staff, our personal staff or either our Law Department and draft the amendment language for us when as advocates what they do is they present to us the challenges they find in the laws that we propose, and that's exactly what this fact sheet did. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Now, let me just talk about the facts from my perspective. One, Mr. President, the first reason why I would be voting no on this legislation today is that State Representative John Taylor has introduced and has passed out of the House legislation moving forward on the state level. As a matter of fact, it was just yesterday, Mr. President, that the bill was passed out of the House, and it now moves to the Senate. And just for the record, while it is unclear on what parts of Rep Taylor's bill will, in essence, be preempted -- or will preempt the bill that is before us, we're having our Law Department cross-reference it.
I want you to know that the bill to address this issue at the state level was supported by Rep Taylor, Morgan Cephas, William Keller, Maria Donatucci, who is the Chair of the Philadelphia Delegation in the Pennsylvania House, Driscoll, Jared Solomon, along with Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Representative Cruz. Second -- that's one. So, one, we have a bill that has been passed out of the House and is over in the Senate to address this issue. And so we have issues of preemption because we did not, Mr. President, work in advance with our colleagues in the State House. In addition to that, I also want to be clear about this. Now, for those of you who represent people who live in the community where the transference of property occurs naturally because they have access to a lawyer and/or an attorney and that a will when someone passes away is a standard operating procedure, then this doesn't matter to you, but I want us to be clear that this bill that is in front of us notes that a criminal and defiant trespasser -- this is the definition. A person who occupies residential property without title, including 21 years of adverse possession. Now, for those who Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING are like me who are not lawyers, you say what does 21 years of adverse possession mean. Adverse possession is what we know of particularly in the African American community, I've experienced this, grand-mom passes away, there was no deed left around or transferred to me during her illness. I live in the property and I've been taking care of the property, but this will be called a no deed or either a tangled title issue, but I live there and I take care of the property. I would be considered a criminal and defiant trespasser even if 21 years of adverse possession is what is noted. Now, Mr. President, for you and the members of this body who took the lead to work on cleaning up the code, Mr. President, that's what the business community told us to do. They said, Philadelphia, you have laws on the books that are antiquated and outdated. It is preventing business from being done decently and in order, so you need to Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING comb through this code and you need to clean it up. Well, Mr. President, this body is being asked to vote on a bill today that is in direct conflict with Governor Wolf and a bill that he just signed into law. The bill is House Bill 352, and the law allows an individual to obtain a clear title to a property under adverse possession. Guess what, Mr. President? I was about to call you Mr. Speaker again. Adverse possession, Mr. President, but, listen, not the 21 years that is noted and that we are about to pass into law, but ten years that the Governor has just signed into law. So you mean this legislative body is literally being asked to take legislative action on a bill, not like Rep Taylor's that has just been passed out of House and is going to the Senate, but now you're asking me to vote in the affirmative on a bill that is in direct Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING conflict with a law, an act that Governor Wolf just signed into order. That's not something I'm willing to do. The final and last thing I just want to note for the record, because this is important, Mr. President, because when they get it wrong, we call them out all of the time. But this was something that -- and it got to me today when I heard people testifying about the experiences. It got to me during the hearings. When people talked about they had nowhere to go and it was delayed, and even when they've reported the problem, they could get no recourse. Well, now as a result of a meeting that was referenced by Mr. Gould during his testimony, we had a task force hearing on May the 29th, 2018. Without passage of this bill, residents of the City of Philadelphia, our Police Department has already implemented a procedure.
Well, what did you just say? That means before this Council passes Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING anything, it is already policy and procedure within the Police Department. Now, they can wrangle over who is going to take credit about who did what, and I know the sponsor of this bill, along with Councilman Domb, Councilman Taubenberger and lots of folks would have encouraged that action, but if you are a victim of squatting in any way, shape or form now, the City of Philadelphia via our Police Department is now doing the following things: They are immediately referring the case to a detective to investigate. We did not have that policy or procedure prior to Commissioner Ross, along with Inspector Fran Healy communicating this to us. Second, the detective will investigate any claim by a person who has an ownership interest in the property and who is claiming that someone is living there illegally. Well, before, Mr. President, you can say somebody was Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING living next door to you or they came and took your property, but there was no one who was specifically responsible for investigating it. We now have a detective in the Police Department who will make sure -- and that is a unit, not one -- that will be responsible for researching this information. And next, a detective will investigate if the person living there has proof of residence using several criteria to determine the proof. Now, based on the detective's investigation, the detective, guess what, the detective, Mr. President, not someone that is just making a decision about whether or not they believe it or not, this is going to be researched now. So instead of -- I want you to hear me. Instead of Ms. 49 and Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING bought a package of leases and they completed this document and she's given them money and she thinks she's rented a property and she doesn't know that she has an illegal document and she's just been scammed, under this bill she would be a criminal trespasser, that she would have no recourse, because when her deed is researched, it would be found that it was an illegal document. That's one. Next, the detective will determine if there is probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant to remove an individual from a property. For all of you good government folks out there who are concerned about liability associated with the City of Philadelphia and it having an impact fiscally on the City of Philadelphia, I want you to think about what it is like if we are removing someone, our Police Department, through an affidavit or anything, they're going to remove someone from a property without just cause. This Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING due process is established without this legislation that we are being asked to vote on today. Next, the detective unit has the resources to determine if it's a case of just theft or if it's a case of theft and fraud; for example, if a person knowingly rented to someone and they're scamming them. And sometimes if the people residing in the property are victims themselves, the victim assistance officer for that police district will become involved to assist them with finding another place to live. Cherelle, why did you just walk through these remedies, this policy, these regulations that have been instituted before this becomes law? Because the Police Department is already doing this work, and no longer will residents in the City of Philadelphia be able to say we have no recourse, because now they do and they didn't before. Finally, I want to say this to Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING you, Mr. President, and this is extremely important. You can blame this on Harrisburg when you've had to work in a place when you're definitely always in the minority.
You have to start with bringing everybody to the table, even people who you think disagree with what your stance is. So we had this bright idea working with many of the agencies I referenced to put together a task force meeting, and which I want to thank most of the members of this Council, for if they didn't come themselves, they sent staff, and these are the people who were represented: Brian Kisielewski -- and I just chopped you up, Brian, but charge it to my head and not my heart; Kate Dugan. They were from the First Judicial District. From the District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Larry Krasner. Thank you so very much for your presence, but to Mike Lee and Lauren Townsend who were there, thank you for your input. Inspector Francis Healy from the Police Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Department; the Sheriff's Office, Staff Inspector Marquet Parsons; L&I, Basil Merenda; Department of Behavioral Health, Commissioner David Jones, Yolanda Hughes; DHS, Sam Harrison; Office of Homeless Services, MaryBeth Gonzalez; Water Department, Commissioner Debra McCarty; PGW, Joe Greenberg; Records Commissioner, James Leonard; City Solicitor, Law Department, Joe Altman; CLS; SeniorLAW; Public Interest; and Tenants. In addition to that, the private sector was there, GPAR, Matthew Braden, along with Harvey Spear from HAPCO. And we heard you loud and clear that this is having a negative impact on the rental industry and homeownership, and we want to address it. I want you to know for the record that all of the people and entities that I just mentioned, they all have a stake in this. Guess what? They were never once, they were never once asked to come to a meeting where all of Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING them who have a role in this issue were asked to put their minds together. Let me give you an example. Several people who came and testified, guess what they said? The water was turned off. Why would the City of Philadelphia's Water Department go and turn back on the water? PGW, why are you legally giving them access to gas? PECO, why do they have access to electric? Do you know that in the City of Philadelphia there is no one-stop shop or clearinghouse for them to even know, so they deal with people who are renting properties all day long. But they don't have a place where they can affirm or check on whether or not this home is considered to be occupied by squatters. The only thing they know is that somebody brought a lease to them and said, hey, I'm renting, and they turned it on. But until now, there is no place. In addition to that, I also want to note this, and this is very Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING important, Mr. President, because I'm not going to have anyone -- and I really do mean exactly what I'm saying. All of my colleagues, the ten District Council colleagues, along with all of those at-large, we have all been faced with residents in the City of Philadelphia who have been impacted, and there is no one person who has done more, who cares more than the other. We have all been working hard to come up with a solution to address this issue. And I just want us to note for the record that this definition is so broad, for all of you who support our senior citizens, who support victims of domestic violence, who support victims' rights, that they could be deemed criminals and potentially penalized with a $300 fine or a 90-day imprisonment. As a matter of fact, on June the 4th, she couldn't be here today, so you didn't hear her voice today, but a woman testified named Margaret Green and, Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President, she lives near my grandmother in North Philadelphia where my great-grandmother's house was, and she testified about how she rented her apartment from a man named Mr. Brown who claimed to be the heir of the prior owner. It turns out that the man was lying. He had forged the deed.
Now, after Ms. Green testified -- and you go back and check the notes of testimony -- the sponsor was asked whether or not this bill would affect her, and he was quoted as noting, this bill would not affect you. Well, because we wanted to do our due diligence, we immediately contacted the Law Department as to whether or not this bill as written would impact Ms. Green, and here is the response, and I quote, "If Mr. Brown was not the owner of the property, Ms. " My hope is that this bill will not be enforced in a way that penalizes Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING the victims. In addition to that, I want to note that this bill wouldn't even -- and I've got to say this for the record, because you all know that we've been dealing with this in Lawncrest, Lawndale, Burholme, and Oxford Circle. To the residents who live near Weymouth Street in Lawncrest, this bill could not and will not help you. You want me to tell you why? Because you don't have standing. If you are a resident on a block and you don't own that property like the one on Weymouth Street that's been abandoned because it's going to Sheriff Sale next month, you cannot -you do not have just cause in anything relative to that property. So those homeowners who no longer care about a house and walk away because it's going to foreclose or Sheriff Sale, it is the neighbors, not the negligent homeowner, who have to deal with the squatters or their illegal Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING activity. But under this bill, my constituents would not have standing, because they are neither the owner of the house or what in this bill is identified authorized agent. I want to note that we put our task force together. We're working, but I'm not going to be saying to residents of the City of Philadelphia that when we pass this law, this is a solution. It's not a solution. You won't help my residents on Weymouth Street. I'm not giving them a pseudo solution, a piece of paper that said we passed a law. In effect, that we can't force -- we can't dictate policy to the Police Department. The Law Department has given us an opinion that tells us we don't have the legal authority, this City Council of Philadelphia, to dictate policy to the Police Department. In addition to that, this bill actually also says that within five days, our courts have to hear the case. And, Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING in fact, that's just not true. The language of the bill says five business days or such other time as is necessitated by the circumstances presented or applicable court procedure. " There is absolutely no guarantee that the courts will hear these cases in five days. And anyway, Council can't dictate their procedure. So, in effect, if Council passes this bill today, you are passing a piece of paper that you are proffering as a solution that doesn't give our residents the tool to address this issue. In addition to that, let's just note this, and I want to just say it for the record. There are three buckets. There are victims of fraud such as senior citizens who may be taken advantage of. That's a senior who wants to rent the house, not knowing that the person they're renting from doesn't own the home. They're being scammed. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING The second is people who are truly desperate. This is the bucket of people who are homeless. These are homeless individuals who need a roof over their head. They usually find abandoned buildings. And in my opinion, the best way to help these individuals is not by incarcerating them, but providing them with the necessary social services. That's why human services and social services were at our task force meeting. And, finally, it is the criminals. Let's keep it real. Criminals who know exactly what they are doing, they know it's illegal, and they have it down to a science. They scope out the homes.
They know when the homeowners are going on vacation or when a rental home has been vacant for a month or two. They take over the home. They immediately change the locks. And because we don't have one standard point of contact relative to this issue, they put some bills in their name. So they Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING even get PGW, PECO, and our Water Department to help them. What I'm saying to you today is, in our task force, the courts, the Police, L&I, anyone who -- the District Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office, they all noted that we need a solution, but we need one that is coherent. We need one where there is what one of my colleagues would often call a standard operating procedure, so that no matter where you live or which bucket your category of squatting falls under, there is a one-stop shop that is recording the data, we know what sections of the City this is happening in, we know whether or not we need social or human services involved, we know whether or not this is immediately just for law enforcement and we have the courts. But we should start with giving them the opportunity to respond to this issue, and we haven't done it, because we didn't even, Mr. President, start with giving every Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING agency in the City of Philadelphia who has a role in addressing this issue, we didn't even start with bringing them to the table to ask them what they thought or what their internal policies or procedures were. And so I thank you all so very much for your patience. I know based on the press, the task force isn't a headline-grabbing activity, Mr. President, because calling people together at a table to talk about what they're doing already and then figuring out how do we move together, where's our clearinghouse, where's the one-stop shop, that's not sexy, because that's gritty and dirty work, but to my surprise -- and I really mean this, and I'm not being sarcastic -- I think there have been journalists so far that have read the bill and they heard also the powers and the procedures that the Police Department have already enacted, and they have said this bill will not, will not be the Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING silver single bullet solution that many have proffered it to be to address squatting in the City of Philadelphia. So residents of the Ninth Councilmanic District, those who I'm immediate responsible to, I want you to know this vote no, this no vote that you're going to hear from me today, it's not because I don't hear you or I'm not acknowledging that it's a problem. I know it is, but I want to do it the right way with all of the parties at the table, and I think that's just where we should start. I thank my colleagues for your patience. I want you to think about how I feel when all of these recommendations were given in the fall and then in the spring and we didn't see any of it sort of incorporated into the process. So I thank you all so very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Stated Meeting June 21, 2018 6/21/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Okay. This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.