No. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. The ayes are 7, the nays are 10. The motion fails. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 020313.
An ordinance amending Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, the Philadelphia 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE Building and Occupancy Code, by requiring that special certificates of inspections must be issued in connection with structures in Use Group E and making certain lead paint requirements applicable to such structures, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally?
Thank you, Madam President. This particular bill is only being called today for the purpose of making an amendment. The amendments were circulated yesterday. And I wish to move the adoption of the amendment to Bill 020313. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE (No response.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The amendment is adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 0204891.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "School Tax Authorization," by providing that real estate taxes imposed by the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia for tax year 2003 and thereafter shall be based upon the assessed value of real estate as certified by the Board of Revision of Taxes in 2001, thereby freezing such taxes at the level imposed for tax year 2002, and by requiring that any other real estate taxes imposed by the Board of Education be based upon such assessed value, all under certain terms and conditions.
Earlier in caucus I said I would move on that bill. I have now changed 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE my position. I will hold that bill.
All right. The record will reflect that that at the request of the sponsor, Bill No. 020491 is being held for consideration today. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 020537.
An ordinance amending Section 19-1301 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by providing that the taxes leveled on a property under this section shall not increase in any one year by more than a specific percentage as a result of an increase in the assessed value of the property as returned by the Board of Revision of Taxes, under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, this bill is also being called strictly for the purpose of an amendment of a technical nature. And I do wish to state for the record, given the sensitivity around these particular bills, both 020537 and 020578, and I said 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE this in the Caucus Room and indicated to my colleagues and I will also say it on the record, I'm asking for support for the amendment to this particular bill because of the technical issues involved. I respect my colleagues will maintain their right to make an ultimate decision on their vote on the actual bill should it come to a vote at a future point in time but that today's vote is strictly as an accomodation to a member trying to amend the bill and have the bill as perfect as possible. Subsequent actions that members may take, I will leave, naturally, to their discretion. So a vote for the amendment is in no way, shape, or form an indication of a members ultimate vote for this particular bill or Bill 020538. I move the adoption of the amendment to Bill 020537. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
The ayes have it. The motion carries and the amendment is approved. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 020538.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "School Tax Authorization," by providing that real estate taxes imposed by the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia on a property shall not increase in any one year by more than a specific percentage as a result of an increase in the assessed value of the property as returned by the Board of Revision of Taxes, under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill as well is being called strictly for the purpose of the amendment. And the comments that I made earlier with regard to Bill 020537 would be the same for Bill 020538. I move the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.) 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 020480.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development without consideration a deed situated on the northwest corner of Fifth and Huntingdon Streets, all under certain terms conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Clarke. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 020576.
An ordinance approving the sale of a certain lot or piece of City-owned ground with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, if any, situate at 923R South Second Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Clarke. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The final bill to be called for consideration is Bill 020633.
An ordinance authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to purchase a certain tract of land situated at the southeast corner of 50th Street and Parkside Avenue, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Clarke. 11/14/02 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. And I would also like to knowledge that Bill No. 020603 is being held at the request of the sponsor. This concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Madam President, two ladies in the City of Philadelphia passed away during the last two weeks. They're incredible women, incredible fighters for civil rights, for rights, for the rights of the oppressed and poor folks. Edwina Baker and Onah Weldon have gone on but they have, I think, left a legacy in this City that will be long remembered by all of us who met them. And I would like for us to pay our respects to them by standing in their honor of their passing. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I wanted to seize the moment and take the time to update everyone on the latest developments regarding both the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center. As all of you may remember, we passed Resolution 020521 introduced by my colleague, Councilman W. Wilson Goode, calling upon the National Park Service to ensure equitable economic participation and opportunities arising from the Liberty Bell Pavilion Project and the appropriate memorializing of the eight individuals of African descent held in bondage at that site. at this time that the National Park Service has made a long overdue commitment to tell a fuller and more inclusive story of the Liberty Bell. While this commitment exists, it is imperative that those who care about this issue continue to speak out in a way that both Edwina Baker and Onah Weldon would like. That is why I am speaking out today to remind the Park Service that they must give a proper commemoration to the African men and women who lived and toiled near that site as the slaves of our nation's first president. Know that members of the Multicultural Affairs Congress, myself, and others are watching. I would also like to put on the record a slight expansion of the Op Ed that was published in the October 25th edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer. In that Op Ed I noted that Congressman Chaka Fattah exhibited strong leadership in gaining passage of an amendment to the Interior Department budget bill that requires the National Park Service to appropriate commemorate the enslaved Africans. What I failed to mention, and it is important to me that the record be clear, is that Congressman Bob Brady and Congressman Joe Hoeffel also played passage of that amendment. I want to thank all of our congressmen for their hard work and commitment regarding this important issue. I am also happy to report that progress continues with the James Dexter House. On October 10th we passed Resolution 020628 which I introduced urging the National Constitution Center and the National Park Service to properly relive the life and home of James Dexter. My staff continues to be in contact with the National Constitution Center officials who are communicating with us daily and have indicated that they're preceding to act on the wishes of this legislative body. Our resolutions are being heard and acted upon by those to whom they have been directed. We are encouraged to know that we are doing our fair share to speak on those issues for those we represent. So I thank you, Madam President, for update the record.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, not to be redundant. I remind those who heard the Thula Sizwe group speak, if they are interested in their performance this weekend, interested parties can call my office and we will give them the schedule as to where they will perform. And I also would like to say to my colleague Mary Mason, congratulations.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. Based on a resolution unanimously passed by City Council, the Committee on Law and Government of which I'm proud to be Chairman has been hearings on the human experimentation that took place in the City's prisons 40 to 50 years ago in the period beginning in the 1950s and extending through a portion of 1970s. That appeared to result from a contract entered into by the City of Philadelphia with the University of Pennsylvania to permit various chemical companies under the supervision of a professor at Penn Medical School to conduct human experimentations. The technique was simple. They would convince prisoners who had no money and were extremely poor, almost all of them minority, not so, but about 99 percent, for the payment of maybe a half dollar or a dollar to go to the commissary to buy cigarettes or candy or something that they would accept being covered with all kinds test chemicals. We've been trying to find out how it was that the City of Philadelphia got involved, what the profits were that were made. Because now there are hundreds of people who were inmates in the prisons who apparently are suffering badly, medically, as a result of their agreements to accept this under really coercive terms. It was something like what took place at Tuskegee Institute which resulted in a national apology by Tuskegee and arrangement for the payment of all kinds of medical care expenses that occur when President Clinton acted against Tuskegee in 1994. Although the incidents in Tuskegee also occurred even longer ago than the ones in Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania has taken the position that City Council of Philadelphia has no power to subpoena witnesses despite expressed language in City Charter. Despite numerous efforts made by the Council Committee to get the cooperation Pennsylvania, we were finally informed flatly that the University of Pennsylvania believed that we had no power to enforce the subpoena. This coming Wednesday at 1:30 in Room 426 there is going to be a public hearing, that's November 20th, Wednesday November 20. There will be public hearing on the City Council's effort in the Common Pleas Court, Judge Carrafiello is scheduled to be -- I don't know whether he will be, but he's scheduled to be the presiding judge to consider the question as to whether or not City Council has the power to enforce the subpoena and compel testimony on matters related to legislation that we may be interesting in achieving. So everybody is invited. That's item one. And that's very important because what we'd like to get is at least an apology. We'd like to get assurance that proper medical care will be given, and where appropriate, there ought to be some form of recoupment of dollar losses by the people. But we expect that there may be a large contingent of the court room of the victims of the practice. There are about 400 people. Incidentally, the City of Philadelphia the Council Committee did at least make a partial showing by showing up and saying they had no records. They couldn't even decide whether somebody had been a prisoner in the City's prisons even as recently 1970. That will be a matter that is reserved for the future that we'll have to deal with. Secondly, let me deal with the results of the election that took place nationally last week and took place in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, many of us were happy, even though we were very unhappy about what occurred throughout the rest of the country. Some of my colleague may have had just the reverse circumstances. But let me say to the newcoming democratic administration, we think Governor Rendell, compared to his opponent, was the better choice. That's at least the democratic version of it. But let there be no mistake, apparently lines in the country are getting very tightly drawn.
I don't understand how the republicans who still follow very clearly the trickle-down theory, that is, give money away to large developers whether they need it or not because they're going to create jobs; these jobs will people. I don't know how people still believe that because we now have 8 and a half million people unemployed, according to official records, and you can at least double or maybe triple that number by actual fact because, you know, once you get so discouraged about not getting a job, you're taken off of the unemployment list. I just think it's time for people in Philadelphia also to become to see what party stand for. They're not just social organizations. They have meaning and people have got to get involved in the political process. We're going to have our own elections in Philadelphia in the springtime for Mayor, for City Council, for a number of positions locally. It's very important that everybody get interesting in activity. Talk to your neighbors. Let them watch what's going on in the City because those of us in the majority in City Council, those who are democrats want to assure their continuation. And the republicans, we say, we'll meet you at the polls. Good luck to you, but not as much as you had this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President I'll do my best not to violate the pending bill rule, but I do want to talk very briefly about some information I received last night, and I believe members should have received it as well from the Board of Revision of Taxes; if not, I'll be sure to circulate it. I made a data request of the Board of Revision of Taxes based on comments and conversation and concerns of a number of Councilmembers with regard to the impact of the most recent assessment notices that were sent out to homeowners this past summer. And one of the concerns that's been raised, and it's a very legitimate concern, is who is actually been affected by this. The preliminary information seems to indicate that -- and I will specifically make reference to at least two members who I know spoke very passionately about this particular issue, both Councilman Cohen and Councilman O'Neill. With regard to whether it was low and moderate income people or those of slightly lesser means who were most affected by this or, as that wonderful quote other week, was this just an issue affecting rich people, but as the Councilman said, even rich people have some rights here in Philadelphia. In the finest political tradition, if it's possible, actually both members are correct. When you look at the analysis based on market value of the home, data seems to indicate that there were 228,600 people affected by an increase of somewhere of more than 0 percent and upwards of close to 300 percent. The BRT did an analysis based on home values of less than 25,000; 26,000 to 75,000; and then in $50,000 increments. What you find is that 110,824 received an increase of more than 0 less than 10 percent; and that 117,776 homeowners received an increase of more than 10 percent. When you look at what goes on in the number of people who have homes with the market value of $75,000 or less, which I think under anyone's analysis would probably cover many people who are low and moderate income, in that category, 85 percent of the people with a market value of $75,000 or less received an increase of somewhere between 0 and 10 percent. And 83 percent of people in that same category received an increase of more 10 percent. 94,276 people in the $75,000 or less market value category received an increase of more than 0, less than 10. 97,772 people received one of more than 10 percent. And on the issue of upper income homeowners and the impact on them, when you look at people who own a home with a market value of $126,000 or more out to infinity, that group of homeowner represents 3.4 percent of the total number of people who received an increase, 777,055. I think the preliminary analysis -- and this is by no means complete. As I said, I received the information last night. I think the analysis tells us that people in the low and moderate income categories have received substantially, by 83 and 85 percent numbers, substantially the bulk of the increases that all Philadelphians are experiencing here and people in the upper income categories, while they may be complaining which they have a right to do and they may be complaining louder than some other people, actually pale in comparison to the impact of these increases on low and moderate income people, again, with the assumption that many of those individuals have homes that would be in a value of $75,000 or less. I would be glad to get this information around, Madam President, if members don't have it. But I think it is informative and should help us in our deliberations about this very important issue here in Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. Does anyone else want to be recognized? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 21, at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday November 21st. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have (Council adjourned at 11:30 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of November 14, 2002, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public