Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution honoring and recognizing Charles Gregory of We Talk Philly, Raymond Lerro of Change Is, Inc. and Community Media Advocates for the launch of the first Annual Philly TV Festival to be held on Friday and Saturday, November 14 through 15, 2014 in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution authorizing joint hearings by the Committees on Public Safety and Transportation and Public Utilities to conduct joint hearings to investigate issues of public safety for approximately 129,000 transit commuters who have an ambulatory disability as well as the policies and procedures for the training and ongoing worker safety of paratransit workers in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Yes, Mr. President. For the record, that was also co-sponsored by Councilman Johnson, Councilman Goode, Councilwoman Bass, and Councilwoman Brown.
I move for its adoption. 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution declaring 2015 the YEAR OF THE PHILLY FLAG in honor of the flag's 120th Anniversary on March 27, 2015 Philadelphia Flag Day! Beginning January 1 through December 31, 2015, the city will engage in a year-long celebration of our hometown flag resulting in the City fully Flagged, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President. I ask for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution Honoring the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network for their Ongoing Work in Providing Shelter and Support to Homeless Families and the Occasion of their 16th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? And the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I just wanted to state that the Marine Corps celebrated its 239th Anniversary on November the 10th. It was desegregated June 1942, because up until that date, there had been a standing practice and order that African Americans were not to serve in the Marine Corps, and the Montford Point Marines were the first group of African Americans since that time to serve. But I wanted to point out that since the creation of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1775, that a dozen African Americans served in the Marine Corps from 1776 to 1777. And so there are colonial records and pictures of African Americans serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and I think it's important to point that out. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. Any speeches on the part of the majority? Councilman Oh, did you tee up again?
All right. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. All too often when we talk to taxpayers and the public they don't think that we actually know of or use the services that we either legislate or appropriate funds for, but I think everybody in this Chamber can relate to the fact that they know someone that rides Paratransit. It is a useful tool for seniors and those with disabilities to get from one point in the City of Philadelphia to the next point. It was a good idea when we and the Commonwealth implemented the lottery to provide these kinds of services, to subsidize these services for citizens, but I don't think everyone knows the risks sometimes that these riders have. When we look at the system, we have people that are forced to transport people every day, thousands of times a day that are not possibly trained to the degree that they should. We have people who are forced to, whether it's a person weighing 150 pounds, to pick up someone three flights up to get someone that may weigh twice as much as them down those three flights of stairs while unattended passengers sit and wait patiently, patiently, patiently to get to their doctor's appointments or other errands. I think it behooves us a body to take a look at this process, and I'm joined by the Chair of Public Transportation, I'm joined by individual members who have family members that ride for SEPTA. We don't understand that there's an apartheid system, an apartheid system that separates those who work on SEPTA in the buses and El's and trolleys than those good working people that ride precious, the disabled and seniors, to and from doctor's appointments. And I think it's time we take a look at that, Mr. President, with a jaundiced eye, because if we contribute to it, we're responsible for it. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Well noted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just quickly, I know with the coming holidays, a lot of members are involved in various endeavors to help people over the holidays. I just want to quickly mention this year my office again will be working with the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. So I'd ask anybody listening, if they see fit, to bring donations of any new, unwrapped toy to my office, Room 508, by December 6th to try to help children around the City have a good you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple things I wanted to go over in regards to issues I have been working on as it relates to the 2nd Councilmanic District. Most recently, yesterday down at John Bartram High School, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, specifically Mr. Jerry Jordan and his team, as well as a security team from Unite Here, members of the Philadelphia Police Department but, most importantly, students and community members hosted a rally against the violence that's taking place at John Bartram High School, focusing on making sure that the teachers have the necessary resources so they're not teaching in the atmosphere of fear, making sure that the principal, Principal Muhammad, has the necessary support that he needs to take John Bartram High School to the next level. And so yesterday I have established the Friends of John Bartram Steering Committee where we will be organizing the various community stakeholders in Southwest Philadelphia to engage in a partnership with John Bartram High School to focus on making sure that they have the necessary support they need to revitalize the John Bartram High School, focusing on making sure the atmosphere is conducive for students to learn. So we will continue advocating for that school. I want to make sure that every young person there receives a quality education. I'm also going to be reaching out for support from the Chairwoman of Education and also alumni of John Bartram High School, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. And so we want to make sure we support that school in the district. On Friday at the Church of the Redeemer located at 24th and Dickinson Street, we will be hosting the Stand Up, Man Up forum, focusing on the issue of African American young manhood in the African American community. We know the number one killer of African American young men is African American young men by homicide through gun violence. So we will be partnering with the Church of the Redeemer, Reverend Omari Hughes, State Representative Jordan Harris, State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams to engage in a dialogue, but also focusing on a level of mentorship that we can provide young men and really try to help these young men from standing on the corner and engaging in a life of crime and violence. And I know we hit the street last Friday night in the middle of the night all throughout Grays Ferry and Point Breeze going corner to corner specifically talking to young men, off the corner, get them involved in something that's positive as opposed to a life of crime and violence. , 5:00 to 7:00, where we're going to be giving away opportunities to win free Eagles tickets, Sixers tickets, as well as Sneaker Villa gift certificates as well. Last, but not least, there is great speculation and debate where -there's great speculation and debate on determination of the final casino license and where that casino license will be placed. We have no idea, but there's speculation that one will wind up in the South Philadelphia part of my district. There was a major community meeting that did take place. No elected officials were invited yesterday to participate, but nevertheless, as an advocate for the represent, we have been working diligently and paying attention to the process, and I find it hard-pressed that if my community that I represent in that part of my district do not support a casino coming in their area, it would be pretty hard for me introducing legislation to be supportive against their wishes and concerns. And so we'll continue to pay close attention to this process.
I know there will be an announcement, and after that announcement, we will convene, if it happens to come in South Philadelphia, with the community members and we will listen to their issues and their concerns, and that will play a major role with how we even think about moving forward supporting any type of casino in South Philadelphia. So I just want to state that primarily for the record, because we want to make sure that we're representing all of our constituents throughout the 2nd making sure that they have a voice of what takes place in their neighborhood. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Keep up the good work. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Certainly I am happy to do all I can with regard to my alma mater, John Bartram High School. I also went back and did my student teaching there. And Wilson Goode was chosen to be the first on the Hall of Fame and myself second. So my heart is there, and certainly we look forward to working with Councilman Johnson with regard to John Bartram High School and all the issues they're having. We put on everyone's desk New Tools in the Battle Against Ebola. It's another newsletter, a follow-up one earlier, maybe a month and a half ago, and we're issuing another newsletter on Ebola. As you all know, we represent Echoes of Africa and the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs. We just met again in fact last night at the African American Museum, and we are ever diligent on doing what we can to help this community to raise funds, to not have people feel, women, if they wear Khimar and African dress that they're being targeted or people who come into the country with an accent are afraid. So there are many, many issues and side issues dealing with this battle against Ebola, but thank God life is getting better, and we thank everyone for their support. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And the Chair recognizes
Thank you, Mr. President. I just have a few announcements today, and the first is I did want to just speak a little bit about the Empty Bowl Dinner. Everyone should have received a flyer, which is this Wednesday, November 19th, and the event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Myself and Councilman O'Brien attended last year. It's a really important event. I know that Councilwoman Blackwell is a huge supporter for the work that they do in supporting families that are hungry and homeless. So that's something that's very, very important, and we hope to have the support of members of Council and also anyone who is listening to please come out this Wednesday, November 19th at Lutheran Theological Seminary at 7301 Germantown Avenue. Also, I also wanted to mention that today is America Recycles Day, and -- recycling is so very important. We had a huge hearing yesterday chaired by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, and one of the things that came out of that hearing was the importance of composting. Actually, that's really what the hearing was all about, was about the importance of composting. So as a result, everyone has their bright and shiny composting buckets, all members of City Council. We believe that composting is not a matter of "if" for Philadelphia but really a matter of "when," and so we're asking that our members really do set the standard and the example and begin composting right away. And also I want to thank Councilman Squilla who co-chaired the hearing as well yesterday. So looking forward to everyone putting out their composting buckets. And, finally, I want to just welcome today Shenelle Benson, Brent Brickley, and Rasheeda Parlin, who are here today as part of their orientation employees in the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and we rely on them so heavily. I want to ask if they could just stand so we can recognize them and thank them for being here today. Thank you so much for your help. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilwoman. And the Chair now would like to make one note, that the Committee on Technology will be having a hearing at 12:30. So I see the Committee Chair is requesting that you hang around so we can get started right away. With that, I'll call for a motion. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, motion to adjourn.
Certainly, Mr. President. Just let me offer a briefing will be rescheduled wherein we'll hear about the wonderful exhibit coming to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. So if my colleagues would be on the alert. It is postponed for today to be rescheduled. And with that said, Mr. President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 20th, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 20th, 2014, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Thank you very much. The motion carries. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A add 66:5 affectionately ambitious 63:3 128:5 abducted 21:17 added 42:15 89:16 111:8 annual 31:12,13 abduction 22:5,17 adding 61:3 66:12 affirmative ambulatory 64:23 34:2 64:10 abductor 22:8 78:2 100:10 103:4 113:10 68:20 91:2 23:7 additional 46:17 105:19 Amen 3:22,23 112:8 115:20 abide 3:11 81:22 100:18 affordable 86:8 amend 49:20 50:7 Anthony 8:22 ability 39:15 103:12 105:22 86:16 87:3,5,8 50:16 53:18 123:15 able 12:18 21:25 additions 53:13 87:11,11 93:25 57:20 70:3,13 anybody 120:21 23:10 address 45:8 afraid 127:16 71:2,9,25 apartheid 119:22 absence 5:4,9,17 59:11 97:2 Africa 89:19 amended 52:22 119:22 47:7 adhere 84:21 127:6 72:8 74:22 apparatus 30:4 abuse 90:13 adjourn 130:23 African 62:19 78:10 80:11 applause 8:8 9:2 abutting 76:22 adjourned 131:10 110:10 117:8,10 83:12 9:3 11:2 14:13 accent 127:16 131:15 132:2 117:14,17 123:7 amending 47:13 15:4,12,25 16:2 access 32:13,19 ADJOURNME...