And I'm sure that at least a couple of unions will have information that Councilmembers are asking for. I think we have had, what, three hearings on this issue? So you could feel free to go into the Chief Clerk's Office, use the phone there, take a seat, get a desk and make your phone calls.
No, no. That's all right. Listen, if you don't want to expand the Convention Center, that's fine. I'll try to get your information. I will really try, but you're asking people -- some of them don't even care either.
Some what? 113 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
Some of the unions don't care to build the Convention Center either. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: That's not fair, Mr. Gillespie.
I'm sorry, Councilman? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: That's not fair. There's no suggestion that we don't want to move with expansion.
You just said -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: You just said we don't want to build it. That's not fair.
Councilman, everything you've done here -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: We have the right to ask questions.
You wind up -- I come here and I tell you -- 114 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
We're going to hear one person speak at a time, please.
I come here and tell you we will live up as we have lived up to every goal that we've set. When we first built the Convention Center, this is what we've done, and what do I get back? Oh, well, let's see the numbers. Well, I don't have the numbers. And there's some perception here that the Building Trades is populated by all white people. The President of the Building Trades is an African-American. There are 40 business agents within the Building Trades union. Twenty-two of them are African-American. I mean, you know, I'm just at a loss, but if you put the regulations, you're just -- I come down. I'll answer questions. We'll live up to our commitments. We've taken many, many initiatives to include people of color into the Building Trades, initiatives 115 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. that were our own, our diversified apprenticeship, all those others that I mentioned. We've done all that, and now you're saying, Look, we don't believe you, let's see the numbers. Well -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Gillespie, I appreciate your recent comments, but because we ask questions doesn't necessarily -- you shouldn't be drawn to the conclusion that we don't want the Convention Center expansion to move forward. We went through this with the stadiums. Your membership would pack these Chambers and shout us down every time we asked similar types of questions. At least today we're being able to get through this in a much more civil way. I was the one who introduced this bill. I sit on the Board along with you. I am for Convention Center expansion, but I'm not for it at the sake of cutting people short who could be a part of this expansion process; namely, minorities and people who live in the 116 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. City of Philadelphia being part of that workforce. And if I'm asking you questions that you don't have answers for, we're asking you to go get us some answers. Now, I can tell you, as I believe every other District Councilman could, the racial makeup of the people that we represent, and we all represent somewhere in excess of 150,000 people. Now, I have those numbers. And I can't imagine why the unions would not have the numbers of people that they represent broken down between minorities and women. I find that very difficult to believe. You may not have it, but I can't understand why they would not have that.
And I imagine they have it. I don't know that they have it, but what I do know is that they're autonomous groups in my Council. They don't have to share it with anyone, and they may not want to share it. So when I say I will try to get it, I'll try 117 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. to get it. But I kind of resent the idea, Well, either get it or we're not going to expand the Convention Center. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Never said that.
I think we're up against -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I never said that.
When I said I'd get it to you in January, you said that's fine. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'll wait. I'd like to have the numbers.
The trouble is, we have to get this process moving. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The process is moving and this is part of that process. There's no drop-dead deadline on this. The Governor held it up, as you know, for three years. What's another couple weeks going to matter? Thank you, Madam President.
118 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Campbell.
Well, I really should say good afternoon. Mr. Gillespie, I respect you as a union leader, but you also have to respect us as elected officials. We have a moral responsibility to the constituencies that we represent. My voice is not good, so I did not intend to say anything, but it troubled me when you appeared to take lightly whether or not the unions are cognizant of the minority representation in the organizations. This has been a very dominant, prevailing problem in Philadelphia for years, and I would like to think that the unions comprehend the seriousness of this problem to my people. 119 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. But it's not anything to be taken lightly, because our people comprise a great percentage of this City and we make a lot of things happen and a lot of things possible. And the same way I've had nothing but great respect for the unions, I would expect that to be reciprocal. And I feel that we do have a right to know the percentages. I really can't believe the great union leader that you are that you cannot reach out and get those statistics for us. Thank you.
Councilwoman, I appreciate the confidence that you have in me, and I have great respect for you as a Councilwoman and as a political leader in our community for quite some time, and I appreciate the efforts that you do in West Philadelphia. I will try to get that information, but I know that a lot of the unions will feel that it's proprietary and they just won't share it, but I will try to get it. 120 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, Mr. Gillespie.
I had not intended to question you, but I changed my mind. Can you tell me the official name of your organization?
I want you to look into the future for a second. Let's say we were to form a new Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, with trained labor, that we control the training and supply of, that met the demographics of Philadelphia 121 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. in terms of residents being trained, in terms of African-Americans being trained, in terms of Latinos being trained, in terms of Asians being trained, in terms of women being trained, and that new Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council told us who was in it, could guarantee that we knew that it was representative of Philadelphia. Who do you think we'd do business with?
The old Philadelphia Building and Trades Council or the new Philadelphia Building and Trades Council?
And so the real goal here, because I want to move forward on this legislation -- and I'm going to say this for the first time publicly. I've said it privately several times -- is to move to a new Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. 122 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. It's to end your monopoly. Thank you.
Thank you. Any other questions or statements of Mr. Gillespie? (No response.)
And I think that our next witness will be Tom Muldoon, who has asked to testify. Right after Mr. Muldoon, Mr. Gillespie, right after Mr. Muldoon testifies -- I don't think we have anyone else to testify on this bill. Do we? (No response.)
Is there anybody else that wants to testify 123 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. on the bill? (No response.)
Seeing no one -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Just one question.
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: While Mr. Gillespie is going to try to ascertain that information, he also mentioned that there are a couple unions that don't want to even see this built. I'd like to know the name of those unions when he gives us that information as well who --
I won't share that with you. I will not share that with you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: But there are some unions that don't want to see it built or don't care if it's built?
I will not share that with you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Or don't 124 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. care that it's built; is that correct? You said it. I didn't.
I just want the membership to know what we're doing, and, Mr. Gillespie, I'd like you to know what we're doing. Mr. Muldoon is going to testify. Immediately after he testifies, since we do not have any witnesses and Mr. Gillespie is going to try to get the information that Council is seeking, at that point I would ask Sister to come up at long last, Sister, give the invocation. We will then recess until 2:30. So, Mr. Gillespie, could you be back by 2:30, please?
I would ask you to be back by 2:30 to tell us whether you were able to get the information --
I'll try to get back with the information at 2:30. 125 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
Madam President, I'll be very quick, but the timing of this for the Philadelphia Convention Visitors Bureau in the City of Philadelphia is absolutely awful. We planned six months ago -- it wasn't planned. We have customers who need 12 Convention Center expansion in 13 Philadelphia. They were in last night. 14 They're at the Art Museum today. At 2:30 15 we were supposed to give them a briefing 16 on expansion. Each one of those is worth 17 somewhere between $15 to $20 million. We have been telling them whatever the reason for the delay is, really for a year, that this would happen. I don't know what to tell these people. We have people -- the first customer we have, ironically enough, is from South Philadelphia, born, raised, has a major Philadelphia association. 126 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. It's worth at least $20 million to us. I have to go see her. She's got a second large meeting at the Marriott. I have to tell her this afternoon if this building is going to be real by 2011. My understanding and secondhand information from the Convention Center Authority is that if this isn't approved today, then the finishing in late 2010 is impossible. And we've already cancelled all business for 2010. We would have to cancel a good part of the business in reality for 2011, including a major, major Philadelphia employer and a person who is running the major Convention Center at the Marriott. I didn't mean to speak today, but I just give you the 17 customers and the people who are going to be leaving 21 our City at 3:30 this afternoon. I'd 22 love to have them have an answer. 23
Councilman DiCicco, your light is on. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: 127 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. Mr. Muldoon, as a Board member of the Convention Center Authority, I'm pretty familiar with the timing of the -- the time it has taken us to get to this point, and I know that we've already lost some conventions, but through no fault of this Council, and primarily -- and you may not want to agree with it, and I could imagine why. I don't want to put you on the spot. But mostly because the Governor drug his feet with releasing money for demolition, his concern about the makeup of the Board and all of those things have led us to this. And I know it's important that we get as many conventions in and sign them on as quickly as possible, but are you suggesting that hypothetically if this bill were not approved, say, by the first week in February, that the timing of the completion is going to be off by that much -- a period that's going to kill how many conventions? I mean, five weeks in the scheme of things? 128 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
Just quickly, we were told, the Convention Bureau, instructed to sell 2009 years ago. I refused to do that. I felt very comfortable selling 2010. We have cancelled six major conventions for 2010 and stopped selling that months ago. Effectively, it is my understanding the fall of '10 would be, if all this goes through today or whenever it happens in this next -- this time frame, we are able to sell 2011. We've sold 2011. We cannot -- if this slid until the first quarter of next year, my understanding from Mr. Resta and people at the Convention Center Authority, that we would then be in the middle of '11, plus it's two million to two and a half million dollars a month in delay between the murals, labor and so on, so forth. You know, if Evan knew that we'd be sitting here today, I certainly wouldn't have brought all these people to town, but we scheduled that months ago. 129 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. So we are at a critical juncture, and effectively we would lose 2011. We've lost a lot of credibility because we've had to go back quietly. I hate people all over on that side writing these letters down and being in the paper tomorrow. This is the last thing that we need, but we have quietly walked away from 2010 business, hundreds of millions of dollars. That sheet of paper, minimum, that's million a piece for 13 each one of those people. Now, they're 14 not all 2011, but they're '11, '12, '13. 15 I just don't know. We go to a 16 major convention in Seattle. It's 17 healthcare -- that's our strength, that's 18 over 50 percent of our business -- the 19 second week of January, and we're 20 beginning to lose credibility. The other piece is, you have a tremendous amount of interest in hotels in the City based around the Convention Center. That is at least six or seven projects that are reasonably close to 130 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. being financed and it all depends on the building. If this building gets delayed, they get delayed and who knows what happens. So I know that the delay is God knows why and the rest of it, but the reality is for the customer, they don't care. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I just wanted the record to be clear that the delays that have caused us to cancel or not book prior those conventions based on the 2009, 2010, we're not responsible. They're not as a result of any actions or inactions by this City Council. And my question again is, if hypothetically this bill doesn't come out with favorable approval until the first week in February, you're telling me that we lose the 2011 conventions?
My understanding is that we would slip completion into the early '11. And no one is going to be booking the first year of a major without 131 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. knowing if the building is really going to be complete. I mean, that's -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: If you know by February 1st, our first week in February?
The answer to that question is, if this doesn't happen, I have to go back to five major groups and in good conscience in the first half of 2011 and see if we could switch them to '15 or '17 or whatever the rotation the next time they're back in the northeast. It just can't get done. And we can't tell something to a customer that's not true. So, again, it's not this body's fault and certainly the issues are real, but I'm just telling you that these people are in -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I appreciate it, and it's not you that -- what I'm about to say is not coming from you, but in the end, we will be blamed, because there's always a gun at our head 132 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. at the 12th hour to get things done around here.
This gun I didn't schedule. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I know. I said not you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Mr. Muldoon. Any questions from members of the Committee of Mr. Muldoon? (No response.)
All right. I would ask everyone to please remain seated. We are going to continue this until 2:30. Mr. Gillespie, we'll expect you back at 2:30 with some type of an answer. And Sister Rosemary Herron, who is President of the Mercy Vocational High School, has been sitting here since 9:30 to give the invocation. I would ask that all members and guests to please rise. And, Sister, I thank you so 133 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. much for your patience. SISTER HERRON: It's my pleasure. Thank you. Good afternoon. I know you've been here a long time. As I've sat here, I've shortened this, so just to let you know. Let us just remember that we are in God's presence. Loving God, during these days throughout the world, the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and today Christians throughout the world celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, the real Santa Claus, and we prepare for Christmas. We ask that you give all people of good will the strength and courage to transform the compassion of our hearts into acts of peace, mercy and justice. We know that your power changes hearts. Muslims, Christians and Jews remember and profoundly affirm that they are followers of the one true God, children of Abraham, 134 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. brothers and sisters. Forgive us for the arrogance that leads to moral blindness, for desires for vengeance and retaliation, and for the willingness to sacrifice others for our own security and averseness. Help us to renounce all forms of violence, prejudice, unfair allegations, intolerance and injury. Empower us to live out the caring presence of the merciful and generous persons we claim to be. As 2007 draws to a close and we await a new year, we pray for our families, our neighborhoods, our city and our world. Make us channels of your peace, bearers of healing, women and men who hear and respond with alacrity to pleas for peace and non-violence on the streets of Philadelphia, and justice and respect for human rights throughout our city and throughout our world. We ask this in the name of God who created us out of love and called us 135 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. to be brothers and sisters to one another. Amen. (Amen.)
Madam President, I have to leave the Chambers on Council business. I want to leave my vote aye on all bills, resolutions and amendments.
Just a moment. What is your pleasure on the bills before us in committee and the resolutions?
Thank you. Leave will be granted. (Recess from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
This is the continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole regarding Bill No. 24 070994. Mr. Gillespie, would you please 136 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. approach the witness table. Can you tell us how successful you have been with trying to obtain the information?
I have not been successful in getting the information that was requested. As with everything, it's complicated. People were giving me guesstimates and I was going to give you that, and Councilwoman Campbell suggested that I not do that because I wouldn't want to give you false information.
Is there anyone else that would like to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing no one -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Madam President.
Yes. 137 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I just came across an article that was printed in the Inquirer on April 22, 2003, and if I just can briefly read a couple of lines. It talks about the stadiums shy of goal in hiring. "Minorities were to get 45 percent of construction work on the two sites." This is the headline: "Stadiums Shy of Minority Contract Goal." And it further goes on to talk about some of the disputes between the unions and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation would have, and it also says, "The trades have long declined to reveal their racial makeup. Patrick Gillespie, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, which represents about 40,000 union construction workers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, declined to discuss the minority hiring shortfall in detail," and it goes on and on to talk about they believe that they met their 138 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. requirements. The Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation believes that they did not. And there's a lot of material here, but I thought it was interesting. As I said before, we really haven't made any gains since the stadium. It's a lot of rhetoric that keeps going back and forth, and this is our last, I believe, our last best opportunity to really get some meaningful participation on behalf of minorities and women when it comes to the expansion project. And if anyone would like to see this, I can surely make some copies for you.
Thank you. Are there any other questions, comments, remarks from any of the members of the Committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, we will now go into our public meeting. 139 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. Councilman DiCicco, since Bill 3 No. 070994 is yours, I would ask you to please make a motion. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Madam President, if we can wait a few minutes, I have an amendment I'm going to be offering.
Very well, then. How long will that take you? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'm hopeful in the next five minutes.
All right, then. We'll proceed in a very timely fashion to consider the many resolutions that we also have listed before us. Councilwoman Blackwell, may I have a motion on Resolutions 071013, 071014, 071015, 071016, 071017, 071018 and 071019.
Madam President, the Committee of the Whole reports out the resolutions --
We 140 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. have to report it out of committee. We're still in committee. We never reported these out of committee.
Madam President, I move that the resolutions be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolutions just stated will be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. We will now consider the following resolutions: 071020, 071021, 071022, 071023, 071024, 071025, 071026, 071027, 071028 and 071029, also 071030. 141 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the resolutions just read be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolutions just read will be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. We will now consider the following resolutions: 070605, 070606, 070607, 070608, 070609, 070610, 070611, 142 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. 070612, 070613, 070614, 070615, 070616 and 070617. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the resolutions just read be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolutions just read be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The record will indicate that Resolution No. 070730 was held. 143 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. We will now consider Resolutions 070722, 070723, 070724, 070725, 070726, 070727, 070728, 070729, 070731, 070732 and 070733. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the resolutions just read be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The record will also reflect that Resolution No. 070737 was held. Therefore, we will now consider the following resolutions: 070734, 070735 144 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. and 070736. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the resolutions just read be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded. All in favor of the motion will please say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. Councilman DiCicco, we're about ready. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I just asked my legislative assistant to check with Rick Auerbach. He should be back 145 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. momentarily. (Pause.)
Thank you, Madam President. I have to take a leave. I request that my vote be registered aye on the bill coming out of Committee and any amendments, and also in the full session of Council, for all bills and resolutions that my vote be recorded as aye. Thank you very much.
And, Ms. Campbell, you would like to vote on the amendments also included that have already been presented regarding the bill 19 before us at the moment?
Yes, definitely. 146 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
We're back in session. We're still considering Bill No. 070994. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President, and thank you for your patience. I will be offering three amendments, copies of which have been circulated to all members of City Council. One is an amendment to Bill No. 16 070994, Amend Exhibit A, Convention Center Agreement, Section 6 as Follows. The title on the other amendment, Amend Exhibit A, Convention Center Agreement, Section 8 as Follows. And the final one is amending "Section 8 is deleted in its entirety and amended with the following," and, again, the following is described in the amendment that's being circulated.
Has 147 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. everyone received a copy of Councilman DiCicco's amendment regarding Section 8? Has everybody received a copy? (Yes.)
Has everyone read the amendments that was just presented to us? (Yes.)
Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the amendments, the three amendments that I have just introduced, and would ask for their favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendments as presented to us be adopted. All in favor will signify by 148 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. saying aye. (Aye.)
Madam President, for the record and for reasons previously disclosed, I will be abstaining on any amendments and on the final bill. Thank you.
Thank you. The record will so indicate. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I also would like to have my amendment voted on, and certainly everybody has a copy of that. It's amendment to Bill No. 070994 as it relates to the Project Economic Opportunity Plan. I make a motion that 149 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC. this amendment be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. We go back to Councilman DiCicco for another motion to report the bill out as amended. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move that Bill No. 19 070994 as amended be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a further recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended.
Do I hear a second? (Duly seconded.) 150 12/6/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070994, ETC.
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 070994 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation as amended; further, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. It is a unanimous vote, and the record will again indicate that Councilman Kenney has abstained from the vote or the approval of the amendments. This concludes our public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. (Committee of the Whole adjourned at 3:25 p.m.) - - - 151 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 on December 6, 2007, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)