Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 7, 2016 10:55 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
Thank you. We have a quorum. I'm going to ask all guests and visitors to please retire behind the rail, and we will get started. And also I'd like to ask if anyone has a cell phone or any other electronic device that makes any noise, if you can please turn it off or turn it on silent. Thank you for your cooperation. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Jay Broadnax of Mount Pisgah AME Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. I would ask all guests and members and visitors please rise. (Councilmembers and guests rise.)
Let us pray. Almighty and Everlasting God, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 we, the servant leaders of your people of Philadelphia, have come today to give thanks for another opportunity to serve. We're grateful that by your sovereign will, you have divinely positioned us to make a difference. We have come today to deliberate, to consider testimony, and to render decisions on the issues for your people that have elected us to represent them or to testify about in this session. Our God, this is a sacred responsibility for to whom much is given, much is required. Much is required today because our schools, while able to function, are still too underfunded to improve to the level that the next generation is worthy of. Much is required today because there are still too many who are unable to survive on the wages that they earn or unable to secure wages at all. Much is required today because there are still populations in the City Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Sisterly Affection who are made to feel that their lives don't matter and don't feel secure in their own neighborhoods. But we thank you today that although much is required, much is possible. Much is possible if we seek you first and place the needs of your people above parochial agendas and partisan loyalties. Yes, Lord, much is possible if we remember that if you are for us, who can be against us. Much is possible if we remember that if we stand together, if our hearts are together, if our minds are together, all things can be accomplished. Much is possible because you have divinely and uniquely gifted every somebody in this room to contribute to the making of a great Philadelphia. Much is possible because even though the times are advancing quickly, some folks on the Main Line teach us that Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 do go in. So we thank you today for the privilege and the opportunity, and we believe today that we can make a difference, so we thank you for the opportunity. In your mighty name, we do pray. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you, Pastor, for those very inspiring words. Appreciate it. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you all very much. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 31st, 2016, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 of Thursday, March 31st, 2016 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 31st, 2016 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 And the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. At this time, I would like to dispense with the regular order of business and I would like to welcome everyone who has come down today. Taking time out of your busy day is very important to us. We really appreciate the fact that you've come down. We hope that your stay here is a pleasurable one, so much so that you come back again. So, again, thank you. We look forward to your continued support. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh, who will present a resolution recognizing the 2015 winners of PHL Live Center Stage. Would Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 accompanying her please join the Councilman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
All right. Thank you very much, Council President. We are very pleased to have the winners of PHL Live Center Stage joining us today, and of course this whole process could not occur without our music greats from Philadelphia, many of whom are here today, and I'd ask them to come up to stand behind me. That would be some of our Grammy Award winners, Grammy-nominated engineers, music promoters, and performers: David Ivory, Calandra Ryce-Prince, Craig White, Charlie Bartlett, Thomas Camarda, Brian Cronin, Carvin Haggins, Lovett Hines, E. Daniels, Tommy Joyner, Chill Moody, DJ Casper, Rahsaan Lucas, Carol Riddick, Simply Monica, Jennifer Logue, and our wonderful interns, Brittany Baxter, George Zetus, Matthew Contreras, and Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 all please come up. Thank you. It's a big group, I know.
And also joining Councilman Oh, we have Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilwoman Parker, Councilman Taubenberger, and Councilwoman Bass.
We want to make arrangements to get everybody up here. It's quite a crowd.
Yes. Randall Jefferson I forgot to mention. I see some faces I should have mentioned. So the creative economy so integral to Philadelphia's future, the innovative economy, and one of the things Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 PHL Live Center Stage where anyone for free can submit a video themselves performing in ten musical categories, and they are judged by some of the people up here, who volunteer their time and their expertise. And the winners are selected by them, five finalists who perform live at some of Philadelphia's great venues that are also donated, all this to really uplift the creative economy in Philadelphia. They win $1,000 and free studio recording time and many other prizes. We try to build that up. There's no tax dollars involved in any of this. This is all volunteer and contribution. And so we have with us many of the winners of PHL Live Center Stage, and so with that, let me say that this is a resolution recognizing and honoring the 2015 Winners of PHL Live Center Stage.
Whereas, Philly Live Center Stage is a music initiative established by Councilman Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 of the Committee on Global Opportunities and Creative/Innovative Economy; and Whereas, Philly Live Center Stage provides local musicians with exciting opportunities to be discovered, to be promoted, to be elevated, to be celebrated, and to achieve success here in Philadelphia, thanks to Councilman Oh; Whereas, Philly Live Center Stage's performances and Award Show is structured across 10 different genres of music, bringing diverse musicians together. The 10 different genres are: Rock, Hip-Hop, Jazz -- my favorite -Classical, Gospel, Country/Folk, World, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, and DJ. In addition, a People's Choice Award is selected in the 11th category; and
Whereas, the finalists perform live in prominent local venues: World Cafe Live, MilkBoy, Hard Rock Cafe, Underground Arts, Reformation Lutheran Church, The Clef Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Club, Warmdaddy's, The Curtis Institute of Music, Voltage and Fire and Ice; and Whereas, the final winners for each genre are decided at the 2nd PHL Live Center Stage Award Show by judges who are considered experts in the industry in December at the Trocadero; and Whereas, the People's Choice Award is voted on by the audience before and during the Award Show at the Trocadero Theatre; and
Whereas, the winning artists from each genre receive top prizes such as having a single recording on the PHL Live Center Stage compilation album, $1,000 cash, studio recording time -- valuable -music videos, documentaries, and opening at major concerts; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Rock category is American Dinosaur; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Hip-Hop category is Cesar; and Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Jazz category is Brian Jordan; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Classical category is Garrick V. Morgan; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Gospel category is Dave Bak; and
Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Country/Folk category is -- their words and their name -- the Bastard Sons of Captain Mey; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the World category is Jah People; Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Pop category is Natalie Bermudez; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the R&B category is the late Artist Jae -- or is the Artist Jay -- Jae The Artist. I have the most difficult part here. Whereas, the 2015 winner of the DJ category is DJ Macky; and Whereas, the 2015 winner of the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Jae The Artist; therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it hereby recognizes and honors the 2015 winners of PHL Live Center Stage. Let's give them a round of applause. (Applause.)
So I'll present this to our Chief Cultural Officer, Kelly Lee.
Good morning. Thank you to Councilman Oh and all of City Council for this honor. As the Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia, it is a pleasure to accept this award on behalf of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. The Office has been a proud Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Center Stage since its inception in 2014, and we wish all of the winners continued success in your musical careers. Our mission is to be a promoter and resource for Philadelphia's arts, cultural, creative industries and communities, and with our own music initiatives such as Philly Celebrates Jazz, which we kicked off last week in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we are excited to complement our programs with partner initiatives such as PHL Live. Along with the return of PHL Live this fall, I am also very excited to be part of the new Philadelphia Music Industry Commission developed by City Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and Creative/Innovative Economy. The Commission will work with the music industry to help support and grow its development and continued success in Philadelphia. I look forward Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Council and the Philadelphia Music Industry Commission, and thank you again for this honor. (Applause.)
We have so many outstanding music folks on here, some true icons, some great Grammy Award winners, too many people to come to the microphone. So on behalf of everybody, I've asked one of our rising and prominent Philadelphia musicians to speak on everyone. He's our Music Ambassador, Chill Moody. (Applause.) CHILL MOODY: Good morning, everyone. First, I'd just like to say thank you to Councilman David Oh and his staff. It's been a pleasure being not only a host but the Music Ambassador of the PHL Live Center Stage initiative for the past couple years. Looking forward to what we have coming up in these next years with the PHL Live Center Stage initiative. It's dope what it's doing Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 economy, not just the artists, not just the music, but our creative economy as a whole. And I'm also looking forward, as you spoke about, with the Music Commission that we're doing. I'm honored to be on the nominating committee and forming that committee. It's just a good feeling to know that it seems like everybody's goals are similar in regaining Philly's prestigious place in the music industry. There was a time when we were the number one place for music, and it's just good knowing that everybody's goals are to reclaim that spot, that prestigious spot. So thank you again, and enjoy the rest of your day. (Applause.)
So I'll ask all of us to come to the front and we'll stand right in front here. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 (Council at ease.)
Thank you very much, and congratulations. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Green, who will present a resolution honoring Dennis O'Brien -- Dennis O'Brien, our guy -- in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day 2016. Would our good friend and colleague Dennis O'Brien please join the Councilman at the podium, along with Councilmember Greenlee and also Councilman Domb, Councilwoman Gym, Councilman Taubenberger, and Councilwoman Bass. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
Good morning. It's not always we have the opportunity to recognize one of our former colleagues for all the work that they've done. I know for me and my family and for all the families dealing Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 and physical difference of autism, I just want to thank Councilman Dennis O'Brien for his work in reference to the autism issue and helping families, not just in the City of Philadelphia but throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And so as you know from my comments last week, April is Autism Awareness Month. So in honor of Autism Awareness Month, we're presenting today's resolution honoring the many contributions of Dennis O'Brien as a champion of the Autism Community. Whereas, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day; and Whereas, Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, describes a complex neurologic disorder that affects, in varying degrees, language and social skill development characterized by challenges in communication and social interactions, repetitive behaviors and movement; and Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
Whereas, for more than 30 years as a State Representative, including as the first-ever minority party Speaker of the House and as a Councilman in this body, Dennis O'Brien worked to support and advocate for those with disabilities, particularly people with Autism; and
Whereas, as a State Representative, he was a leader in crafting the State's 1998 multibillion-dollar settlement with tobacco companies that still provides funding for public health initiatives in Pennsylvania and in securing more state aid for children and adults with disabilities, including Autism; and
Whereas, then-Speaker O'Brien championed the State's first-ever Autism insurance legislation, which included the Autism Spectrum Disorders Coverage provision in Pennsylvania's insurance law, requiring private insurers to provide coverage for Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 with Autism, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and other structural behavioral programs; and
Whereas, in 2013, he worked with the Philadelphia Phillies to make Citizens Bank Park the nation's first Autism friendly ballpark; and Whereas, in 2014, then-Councilman O'Brien helped initiate the first municipally driven response to a disease malady in the history of the United States with the launch of the Philadelphia Autism Project, which continues to bring City stakeholders together to find better ways to deliver services and improve outcomes for the City's Autism community; and Whereas
With the help of 135 experts from all over the world, the first year of the Philadelphia Autism Project generated 119 policy Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 recommendations, covering policy, research, healthcare provision, education and other issues, which are still being implemented; and
Whereas, Dennis O'Brien has continued to contribute to the work of providing appropriate services and adequate funding to services for those who have disabilities and special needs, especially Autism; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that Council, in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day 2016, does hereby honor the many contributions of Dennis O'Brien as a champion of the Autistic Community. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dennis O'Brien, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body and families dealing with Autism throughout the City. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm just overwhelmed. I've been losing my voice over this week, but I ran into my former colleague Councilman Greenlee, and I was just observing that perhaps City Council was starting a little later than it did when I was a member, and he said, That's because we're all huddled in our offices trying to figure out nice things to say about you. But this is the month when we turn all the blue lights on and we start celebrating autism. And I'd like to challenge everyone to think about how we figure this thing out. And I'd like to congratulate our Governor, Tom Wolf, because as we celebrate autism awareness, he is the first Governor in the United States that has changed the proclamation from "autism awareness" to "autism Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 acceptance," and he also has put together an advisory group, which I am a member, and for the first time in eight years since we initiated Act 62, on April 15th the full implementation of Act 62, the autism insurance bill, is going to go live, and it means tens of millions of dollars a year for our adults living with autism in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The charge that I always like to impart to everyone is, we should be about making Philadelphia the first autism-friendly city on the planet, and in doing that, we have to recognize a fundamental difference and, that is, we shouldn't focus on trying to make individuals ready for the community. We're the problem, ladies and gentlemen. We're the problem. We have to make the City of Philadelphia ready for individuals with autism. That, again, indemnifies the word "acceptance." While we celebrate awareness, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 looking at Pennsylvania, because we're ten years ahead of everybody else. Now the whole world is looking at the City of Philadelphia because of the Philadelphia Autism Project and just one significant first. The Philadelphia Police Department has just reached out to our eastern regional cert and they are going to train our 6,000 Philadelphia police officers for crisis intervention training. First time ever, ever on the planet. There's a Pennsylvania census -- and, again, it's the first one that was ever done in the United States -- who by the year 2030 we're going to have 79,000 new adults crashing the system, 79,000. We have the adult -the ACAP program and the adult waiver that respond, but we've only had 600 people in those waivers. That's 70 new people every month that are going to be diagnosed as adults living with autism, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 116 percent increase every year in Philadelphia. Ladies and gentlemen, the Philadelphia Autism Project brings together the best brains, the best energy and, most importantly, a willingness to do the things that make our head hurt, but they're the right things to do. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for celebrating autism, for all that you do here. I'd like to give special recognition to Arthur Evans and Joan Erney for bringing Behavioral Health and CBH into this challenge in a most significant forward-looking way. I want to thank my colleagues, and I want to thank all of you for this honor here today. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.) Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
Thank you and, again, congratulations, Councilman. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, who will present a resolution recognizing the Philadelphia Children's Alliance. Would Lois Keller and those accompanying her please join the Councilwoman at the podium. And joining the Councilwoman, we also have Councilman Green and Councilman Oh. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
Good morning. I'm so very proud to present this today with my colleagues. All of us know the work of the Philadelphia Children's Alliance. They have been a strategic partner to not only the government, but really do tremendous work. And over the last couple of years, we were fortunate enough to lead the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 co-location model to protect our most vulnerable children at the most difficult times in their lives. And just to talk about the impact of when government is proactive, we co-locate folks, the kind of activity that the Children's Alliance has created on Hunting Park Avenue. We just opened up a new bus route along Hunting Park Avenue, and one of the reasons is with the location of the Children's Alliance, with ACCT that's on Hunting Park Avenue, with our G and Hunting Park shopping center, we have now been able to connect the communities of Hunting Park, Feltonville, and Juniata. So this is not only about doing good work, but it's really using City resources in a way that generate economic development and transformation in neighborhoods. And they've been such a great partner and a welcomed partner into the Hunting Park community in their new center, and I'll let them talk a little Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 the exciting things that are going on. The model has expanded. We're leading the nation in this, and with our partners at CHOP and Saint Christopher's Hospital, the work we're doing there is just amazing and it's incredible. So with that, recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance for their commitment to promoting healing and justice for victims of child abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2016 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia. Whereas, for the past 20 years the Philadelphia Children's Alliance has advocated for a team based approach, build cooperative relationships, introduced efficiencies into a system to provide rapid response and effectively changed how abused children are served and cared for in Philadelphia; and Whereas, the Philadelphia Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 full member of the National Children's Alliance in 1992 and was accredited by the NCA in 2001. Today, Philadelphia Children's Alliance not only meets all National Children's standards, but is a national best standards model for peer agencies across the country;
Whereas, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance exists to create a more effective and caring response to children who have been sexually abused and is dedicated to providing justice and healing for sexually abused children, working to protect victims, ending the cycle of abuse and improving the quality of abuse investigations; and Whereas, recently, PCA relocated to the Philadelphia Safety Collaborative within the Seventh Councilmanic District along with the Department of Human Services, the Special Victims Unit and the District Attorney's Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 of SEPTA's newest Route 53, this facility not only is more accessible but it also allows for more streamlined investigations and a less traumatic experience for children; and Whereas, in 2015, Philadelphia Children's Alliance conducted 2,108 forensic interviews, with 2,510 children and caregivers receiving victim advocacy. With the new medical clinic and the passionate and hardworking staff at the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, 153 children received mental health therapy on site and since opening in December of 2015 they have conducted 132 medical screenings; and
Whereas, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance has partnered with Saint Christopher's Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) so that any child needing medical attention is able to receive the attention and care at the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 clinic five days a week; and Whereas, April is Child Abuse Awareness Month -- I'm sorry; April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and Philadelphia Children's Alliance recognizes this month by promoting increased knowledge of the resources available to parents and caregivers to prevent child maltreatment and promote well-being; and Whereas, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance is the only primary intervention organization in Philadelphia working with child victims of sexual abuse, and this mandate to increase capacity is driven by a critical need for PCA's services to help protect the children and families they serve so that the children can quickly get the help they need to live safe, fulfilling lives; and
Therefore, be it resolved, that this Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 of Philadelphia hereby recognizes, congratulates, honors, and really celebrates the work of the Philadelphia Children's Alliance for their commitment to promoting healing and justice for victims of sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2016 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia. We extend our sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body and thank the organization for their contributions and obviously all of the partners, including DHS, the Police Department and others. And further it be resolved, that we will provide a copy of this resolution to the Children's Alliance as evidence of our sincere respect and admiration. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you so much Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 sponsoring this resolution and to Council for voting to declare April 2016 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and to Council President Clarke for allowing us to speak today. The Philadelphia Children's Alliance coordinates a multi-agency interdisciplinary response to promote healing and justice for victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia. Our approach coordinates the efforts of all agencies that are mandated to investigate, including the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims Unit, the Department of Human Services, and the District Attorney's Office. In 2015, we conducted 2,108 forensic interviews with victims from all Philadelphia zip codes, and we provided 2,510 children and caregivers with victim advocacy services. We also provide mental health therapy for victims and caregivers as well as medical screenings Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Saint Christopher's Hospital for Children. Since the medical suite opened just this past December, in December of 2015, we've conducted 132 medical exams. Children come to our facility in Hunting Park to talk about what has happened to them, to be interviewed by experts, to get victim support services, to get therapy, and to begin the process of healing. If we all do our jobs, their abuse will stop and they will be protected. The abuse will not be a life-defining event, but will be something that they will be able to work through with the help of qualified and dedicated professionals. Taking steps to promote child abuse awareness and prevention, City Council is taking a great step in helping us in our mission to bring healing and justice to every victim child, every precious child who is a victim of abuse Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Philadelphia. Thank you again for allowing us to speak. We look forward to seeing many of you at our -- and your staff members at our legislative breakfast and pinwheel garden planting tomorrow. If you have not yet seen our medical suite, it will be a treat for you to see that as part of the tour, and we will have a delicious breakfast. So another incentive for you to come. If you are unable to attend, we are happy to schedule a one-on-one tour of our child-friendly facility to show you the work that we're doing for all victims of child sexual abuse in the City of Philadelphia. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. Thank you. The next order of business is Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Mr. Decker, would you please read those messages.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on April 5, 2016, I signed all the bills which were passed by Council at its session on March 31, 2016. And I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1507 Frankford Avenue, all under certain terms and conditions.
Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional communications?
Thank you very much. I'd like to recognize Councilwoman Brown. Sorry, Councilwoman. I forgot.
No problem at all, Mr. President. I'm always excited to introduce tomorrow's leaders, and this morning we have two St. Joseph University seniors studying political science or majoring in political science, and I'm pleased to introduce Katie MacFeeters and Malaina Velopaz. If you ladies would both stand so we can say thank you. (Applause.)
Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Thank you. Welcome. Thank you, Councilwoman. That concludes our messages, and our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Yes. This morning I introduce two privileged resolutions, both co-sponsored by Councilmembers Helen Gym and Cindy Bass.
A privileged resolution proclaiming April 2016 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.
That will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Legislative Oversight Committee to Conduct Public Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 hearings to examine the Executive Branches Enforcement of Bill No. 100011-A "Lead Paint Disclosure."
And that will also be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one bill and one resolution.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 area bounded by 31st Street, Master Street, 32nd Street, and Jefferson Street. Further to approve the Master Plan for the Brewerytown Residential Mixed-Use District by adding the site bounded by 31st Street, Master Street, 32nd Street and Jefferson Street.
And a non-privileged 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 Twenty-Eighth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
That will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Henon.
Thank you, Council President. Today I have five bills and one resolution on your behalf.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Section 14-905, entitled "Non-Accessory Signs," by adding a new subsection to permit one advertising sign with certain conditions within the area bounded by Magee Avenue, the Delaware River, Unruh Avenue, and New State Road; and An ordinance prohibiting tractor-trailer traffic on the 2800 block of Orthodox Street and the 2800 block of Hedley Street from Richmond Street to Bath Street, with certain exceptions; and An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Bicycle Lanes," by authorizing the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Department of Streets to designate buffered bicycle lanes, in each direction, on Tyson Avenue from Roosevelt Boulevard to Frankford Avenue; and An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by State Road, the Delaware Expressway (I-95), and Ashburner Street; and An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Section 14-905, entitled "Non-Accessory Signs," by adding a new subsection to permit one advertising sign with certain conditions within the area bounded by State Road, the Delaware Expressway (I-95), and Ashburner Street.
Thank you. Those five bills just read by the Chief Clerk will be referred to the appropriate committees.
And a Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 non-privileged resolution expressing Council's support for an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would authorize the General Assembly to establish reasonable classes of real property for the purpose of taxation.
And that resolution will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one resolution co-sponsored by Allan Domb, Mark Squilla, Mr. Greenlee, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Taubenberger, Johnson, Gym, Bass, Green, Blackwell, and Johnson, and will note that all of us are wearing Villanova blue today, including you, who never wears a blue shirt.
You're absolutely right. I'm really struggling out here without my white shirt on. Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
A privileged resolution honoring and congratulating Jay Wright and the Villanova University Men's Basketball Team on winning the 2016 NCAA Men's National Basketball Championship on a last second, buzzer beater three-pointer to defeat the University of North Carolina 77 to 74.
And that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I have one non-privileged resolution.
A non-privileged resolution also naming the 2700 block of Wharton Street "Kevin H. Hannah Way" to honor the memory of Kevin Hannah and to recognize his life and memorialize his lasting legacy. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar -- actually, that will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Indiana Avenue, Palethorp Street, Cambria Street, and 2nd Street.
That bill will be referred to committee. Councilman Jones.
One correction. Councilman Henon was also on that, and irrespective of his alma mater, he said he made an exception just one day.
That's all right. Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I have one privileged resolution co-sponsored by Councilwoman Parker.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings to consider the possibility of offering pension buyouts to City employees.
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one non-privileged resolution co-sponsored by Councilwoman Gym and one bill, and I would like to be recognized on the bill.
Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Certainly, Councilwoman. Thank you.
An ordinance amending Section 17-305 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Compensation Required to be Paid to Employees," to revise the compensation and benefits required to be provided in connection with the application of the Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage Standard.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, for the record, I just wanted to note that this bill adds one phrase to the 21st Century Minimum Wage Ordinance, and it states that "provided that the minimum wage shall not be less than the previous year's minimum wage." And just for the record and a little background, during the previous Administration, an Executive Order changed the terms of the living wage to include a Consumer Price Index adjustment Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 at a $12 floor. However, the Executive Order had only applied to the first tier of subcontractors, and our Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr. then authored legislation to extend the living wage to all tiers of subcontractors. Now, what was interesting is that during a hearing on that legislation, there was a witness who was questioned and asked very specifically if the living wage could ever go down if the CPI went down, and that witness emphatically answered no. Well, this January we found out that that witness was wrong and the answer to the question was actually yes, and the wage went down to $11.94 due to a drop in the CPI. And this legislation, Mr. President, will simply ensure that the minimum wage will never go down even if the CPI goes down. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Checking that oversight. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 That bill will be referred to committee.
And a non-privileged resolution calling upon the United States Senate to approve HR 2209, recently approved on February 1, 2016 by the House of Representatives, to require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to treat certain municipal obligations as level 2A liquid assets by amending the rule entitled "Liquidity Coverage Ratio: Liquidity Risk Measurement Standards; Final Rule."
And that resolution will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. Councilwoman Brown, did you want to be recognized?
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Good morning, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Council President. No bills or resolutions today.
Good morning, Council President. I have one privileged resolution today.
A privileged resolution proclaiming and designating the week of April 10 through 16, 2016 as "Philadelphia Crime Victims' Rights Week" to encourage citizens to assist crime victims, and to increase community awareness and support for the organizations that help crime victims rebuild their lives.
And that resolution will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I have no bills or resolutions today. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill and one privileged resolution co-sponsored by all Councilmembers, and when the vote comes up, I'd ask for a standing silent vote on the resolution.
An ordinance authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the intersection of Norcom Road and Nature Road.
And a privileged resolution in solemn recognition of the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 week of May 1 through May 8, 2016 as the annual remembrance of the Six Million Jewish Martyrs who perished during the Holocaust.
And that resolution will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. In honor of champions this week, I'm also doing resolutions for three state champions in my district. So happy to do that. One is co-sponsored by Al Taubenberger and Kenyatta Johnson, so we keep the City of champions alive, and also another non-privileged resolution encouraging PayPal to consider Philadelphia as a location for their corporation. Thank you.
A privileged resolution Honoring and Congratulating Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Roman Catholic High School Basketball Team, The Cahillites on winning the 2016 Philadelphia Catholic League Championship.
That will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Saints John Neumann & Maria Goretti High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team for winning the PIAA District 12 AA City Championship.
And that will also be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution congratulating the Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Saints 2015-16 Boys Basketball Team on winning the PIAA Division AAA State Championship.
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 non-privileged resolution welcoming and encouraging PayPal and other businesses that support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual to relocate to Philadelphia, a City which has always been the forefront of non-discrimination based on gender identity.
And that will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions this week.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Council President. I offer three privileged resolutions co-sponsored by Councilmembers Squilla, Taubenberger, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Green, Reynolds Brown, Bass, Gym. And I will mention that I understand that one of the co-sponsors, Councilman Derek Green, would like to be heard on the privileged resolution regarding the Tuskegee Airmen. I have a confused look, so I'll withdraw that statement given to me by my staff. All right. I strike that.
A privileged resolution congratulating the Philadelphia City Planning Commission for Being Awarded the American Planning Association's 2016 National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Agency.
That will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution Congratulating, Recognizing, and Honoring Philadelphia 76ers Legend Allen Iverson for His Induction into the Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
And that will also be on this week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution Recognizing and Honoring the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen for the 75th Anniversary of the Activation of the Tuskegee Airmen Squadron.
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. Thank you very much, and that concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions. The next order of business is reports from committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez for a report from the Committee of License and Inspection.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Licenses and Inspection reports two bills Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Licenses and Inspections, to which was referred Bill No. 160013, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Animals,' by providing requirements relating to the retail sale of certain animals"; and Bill No. 160202, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, Subcode 'PM' (The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code), Chapter 3, 'General Requirements,' to require inspections of certain bridges, to impose reporting, remediation, and other requirements in connection therewith," respectfully reports it has Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
And the Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading today of Bills No. 160013, 160202. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 160013 and 160202. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, to which was referred Bill No. 160113, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire certain land in the 30th Ward of the City of Philadelphia, located along the Schuylkill River between South Street and Christian Street, known as 624 Rear Schuylkill Avenue," respectfully reports Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 160113. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 160113. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that bill will be on our First Reading Calendar today. The next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee have been deemed to have had a first reading. They will be on our Second and Final Passage Calendar at our next session. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Council President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Bill Nos. 160157, 160252, 160253, 160254, 160261, 160262, 160018-A with an amendment, 160097, 160112, 160145, 160146, 160147, 160148, Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 and 160169. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you, Councilman. Our next order of business will be our public comment session. The public comment session will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution -- and I say specifically the bill or resolution, not a philosophical issue -if you have not already signed up, I would ask that you do so at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the podium in the middle of the Council Chambers. There's a device on that podium. It has a light. When the light turns green, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks, and when the light turns red, we'd ask that you please Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 adhere to the guidelines. Those remarks will be three minutes. Mr. Decker, please call the first name.
Roxanne Crowley, commenting on 160261. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Elizabeth Soltan. I'm a staff member at Philadelphia VIP stepping in for Roxanne Crowley, who had to attend a hearing. Philadelphia VIP is the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia. We connect low-income clients with volunteer attorneys who provide legal services to them in a variety of civil cases on a pro bono basis. VIP assists a large number of clients who are facing tangled title issues. That means they're individuals living in homes in which they have a legal interest but do not have Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 their name on the deed to those homes. These issues often arise when the record owner is a deceased relative of our client whose estate has never been probated. These issues can also come up in lease-purchase agreements gone awry or in cases of fraudulent conveyances. I'd like to say thank you to Councilwoman Bass for introducing Resolution 160261 directing the creation of a real estate tax foreclosure diversion program. VIP works with approximately 500 new and existing tangled title cases annually. Slightly more than half of our tangled title clients are facing delinquent real estate tax issues. Many of them are in tax foreclosure. These are clients who would be able to save their homes with the help of the real estate tax foreclosure conciliation program. We are grateful for the recognition of equitable owners in many tax relief programs. However, many of Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 our clients who are equitable owners of their homes but do not have their names on the deed are unaware or minimally aware of the real estate tax relief programs available to them. Many clients believe they aren't eligible because they're not yet the record owner of the property. They may not realize that once they're in an owner-occupied payment agreement, the tax foreclosure is stayed and that their payments under the agreement will be affordable for them because they are income based. The conciliation and diversion program for real estate tax foreclosure would give homeowners a face-to-face opportunity to receive essential guidance and counseling that they need to prevent the loss of their homes. VIP was an early partner in the Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion program. This is an excellent model on which to base the real estate tax diversion program. We know it works. We've seen it work for Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 our mortgage foreclosure clients, and it will work for clients facing real estate tax foreclosure as well. The diversion program created by Resolution 160261 will assist countless Philadelphians struggling to prevent the loss of their homes and will preserve the vitality of our communities by minimizing the number of foreclosed and vacant properties. Thank you on behalf of VIP clients, our staff, and our volunteer attorneys.
Thank you, ma'am. Ma'am, repeat your name for the record.
Monty Wilson, commenting on 160261. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council. Standing in front of microphones is one of my favorite things. My name is Monty Wilson. I'm a senior attorney with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. I'm here today to testify in support of Resolution 160261 proposing to create a real estate tax diversion program similar to the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion program that Philadelphia is already nationally known for. I have been representing homeowners facing mortgage and tax foreclosure actions against them to take their homes for years. In the last years since 2010, we have seen a sharp spike in the increase of the number of tax foreclosures filed on people's homes involving delinquent taxes. In 2010, the average number of filings involving residential properties in Common Pleas Courts for delinquent taxes was 30 a month. This year that Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 number has varied between 200 a month to some estimates go as high as 600 a month. We understand that the City needs this money in order to fund the School District and City services, but at the same time, every step needs to be taken to help homeowners preserve their homes while they pay the City. Last year we had over 390 people come to Community Legal Services seeking help with tax foreclosures that they were facing. Many of them we were able to help. This year we've already seen over 100 people, and we expect to see 300 to 400 more just this year. A tax conciliation program would help those homeowners preserve their homes, and I believe we can do this while getting the City paid. Secondly, it's not always cost effective to foreclose and take a home. As many of you are aware, the low-income homes in poorer neighborhoods are often not in very good condition, and putting Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 those homes up for sale in order to pay property taxes often leads to no sale or a sale that leads to the property not in fact paying off the full amount of the taxes. Third, and I think most importantly, there is a lack of current due process. Due process is what protects homeowners. Currently, there was no process -- currently, there is minimal process for homeowners once they are in the judicial system. Before October, there was no hearing before a court if you were facing a foreclosure on your property. Currently, the current process, you go down to Common Pleas Court and you meet with opposing counsel. However, there is no independent oversight by the court, no judge necessarily in the room, and no record of the proceedings. Many homeowners approach us every time we're down there representing individuals, asking us, Can you tell me Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 if I'll see a judge, can you help me. Obviously we can't represent them on the fly. Setting up the diversion program would help those homeowners. We also believe it would save the City money by settling many of these cases and avoiding the cost of foreclosure and litigation. Finally, it would increase due process. I urge you, therefore, to pass Resolution 160261. Thank you.
Elizabeth Shay, commenting on 160261. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to testify. I'm Elizabeth Shay. I work at the SeniorLAW Center, where I run a homeowners assistance program. And why are seniors in the bull's eye of real estate tax foreclosures? It's simple. Seventy-two percent of people 60 and Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 older in Philadelphia own their homes. Thirty percent of our homeowners are seniors. And PCA, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, conducted a survey last year. Thirty-nine percent of senior homeowners said they have trouble paying their real estate taxes. So there's 14,000 tangled titles. We don't know the number of those occupied by seniors, but we believe it's the majority of them. To get into payment plans to save their houses, they have to put in an application and have somebody show the City that they have a right to those houses, that they're an heir, that there's a reason why they should be protected. Two people came in to SeniorLAW Center last week with Sheriff Sales of homes they have lived in, who were entitled to owner-occupied payment agreements but had been denied them and been told they needed to pay a down payment before their applications could Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 be reviewed. These people were on the road to losing their houses, and we stopped that. We put in an application, and I wrote letters for each of them saying why they're entitled to this relief, and they will get it, and the Sheriff Sales have been stayed. Those were just the two seniors that got to SeniorLAW Center. Yes, many get to CLS, but many get nowhere, and these houses will go to Sheriff Sale without legal resources to combat it. We conducted outreach in the senior communities and senior centers, and we do a property tax checkup for every senior that calls SeniorLAW Center to make sure they're getting the property tax relief they're entitled to. But services need to be put into place, like the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion program, where SeniorLAW Center goes every Thursday and conducts legal triage. We need that in the real estate tax foreclosure matters as well. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 So thank you. That's it. And so, yes, I am support of Resolution 160261. Thank you.
Joe Danihel, commenting on 160252 and 160256. (Witness approached podium.)
Mr. Danihel, can you do me a favor this week. And thank you for coming again. Can you reference at a minimum this bill that is actually on the Calendar and not talk about your philosophical concerns about the Redevelopment Authority, because you're supposed to talk about the actual bill.
Well, I am talking about the actual bill, but also there's philosophical concerns about the -
No; the bill that's on the Calendar, not just -- Stated Meeting April 7, 2016
The bill is on the Calendar and I am going to address that, sir.
But your refusal to address the Redevelopment Authority or to hear any contradictory, even though the Council constantly hands property over to the Redevelopment Authority -
Can you do me a favor, can you mention the bill so at least you're like in the ballpark.
Council is a representative of the people's will. Council is required to hold said agencies accountable for procedures that damage sovereign people. If we, the people, have to solve problems ourselves, why did we hire all you, agents and agencies designed solely to serve the people and conduct our business? Can a fireman refuse to fight a fire? Duty says no. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 You, agents and agencies, are bound by oath to obey and defend the Constitution and laws. Resolving that the Sheriff's Department answers how due process was not followed before these transfers occurred is a start. The RDA should be next. The very person that was supposedly working for me to get paid by the RDA signed a deed transferring it, knowing I wasn't paid. So, therefore, two agencies were in violation. See Section 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986. The next step for this esteemed body is to make the DA accountable to why no investigation of any of these violations at the Sheriff's Department has occurred after numerous alleged deed issues and no due process. Were charges ever filed? De-funding the RDA is next. This Council's job will be much easier if the agents and agencies that were designed solely to serve the people would Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 do their job constitutionally. You wouldn't have me standing here week after week. It is the legislative body's duty to ask for answers, or like in Flint, Michigan, government stalls and the people suffer. Government has no rights, just fiduciary duties. Never forget that the people support your efforts to do the people's work and act constitutionally, which keeps litigation costs to a minimum so that other programs can be funded. Paul Robeson has quoted "the answer to injustice is not to silence the critic, but to end the injustice." We can all do better. Now let's get to work.
Thank you, Council President. I'm sorry. The last speaker, Mr. Danihel, I was just trying to get on the record what bill he was Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 referencing on the Final Calendar today, if he could come back.
Thank you very much. Council President had asked from the beginning and for the record, and the stenographer -- I just want to make sure that that goes into the record. Thank you so much.
Sheila Lloyd, commenting on 160256. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm in agreement and I'm in favor -- my name is Sheila Lloyd and I'm in favor of 160256 and 160261. You know, a mistake does not become a mistake unless it's not Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 corrected. And here, you know, asking for a moratorium is really important because -- can y'all hear me?
All right. I'm in favor of 160256 and 160261 for this moratorium, because, you know, last week y'all were talking about murder and the violence in the City of Philadelphia. Well, when people are put out of they homes because of misconduct, that's causing and committing murders, because you're breaking up families. And for us not to receive a due process or because you have authority and you sit high, you know, like the pastor said today, to much is given, much is required. And when we don't answer a subpoena, we be punished. Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 We be locked out if we don't produce the evidence. But when we ask the law firms or these banks to answer the subpoenas and they don't have to answer, is one thing good for one person and not good for another, you know? So I'm asking City Council to pass this bill, because you got people who have been in they homes for years. It's been inherited. And for the misconduct to continue to go on and create a demise of homelessness, where is the brotherly love in the City of Philadelphia? Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for your testimony.
Crystal Sokins, commenting on 160256. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council. My name is Crystal Stephens with a P-H, and I'm here to comment on Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 Resolution 160256 and Resolution 160261. In 2008, we all know that something went very wrong in the mortgage industry, and as a result, the banks got bought out, they got bailed out, they got sold out. But where does that leave homeowners? They got put out. Philadelphia attempted to come to the rescue of homeowners that were victims of this crisis by developing the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion program, which was a model for the entire country. Recently that program was revised so that it may better -- have better operations and approve its results. Those improvements did not involve the homeowners, yet there are homeowners that fell through the cracks of that program, and these homeowners need remedy. They're talking about Resolution 160261, which is going to model after the first resolution or the first Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion program. So I'm asking Council to Stated Meeting April 7, 2016 approve these two resolutions, because these homeowners, especially the ones that fell through the cracks, need remedy. Thank you.
Johnny Young, commenting on 160256. (Witness approached podium.)