Aye. The ayes of 15, the nays are 1. (Applause.) (A majority of all members having note voted in the affirmative, the bill passes.)
This concludes our second-reading and final-passage calendar for today.
Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? (No speeches on the part of the Minority.) SPEECHES
Are there any speeches on the part of the Majority?
Thank you. I tried to get your attention before we formally adjourned on one of the resolutions that was introduced today, which was technically an IDD for -
Thank you. One of the resolutions introduced today was technically IDD, but we wanted a public hearing for it, which we've already checked with the Chief Clerk and your office on. And I'm sorry, I asked that the resolution be adopted when we really wanted it referred to the Rules Committee.
A resolution SPEECHES dealing with Chancellor Walk. I introduced two -one honoring a teacher of the year and the other was for Chancellor Walk, 33rd and Chancellor Walk.
The record will indicate that that resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee.
Thank you, Madam President. I also wanted to add that the resolution that I introduced is also cosponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney. And I also want to make some comments regarding a article and regarding the issue of the D.A.'s Office rearresting -
Councilwoman, excuse me, I don't think we could hear you. If you don't mind waiting a few minutes while people are leaving the chamber. Maybe if they could do that quietly, we'd really appreciate it. Councilwoman Miller, please proceed.
Okay. I also SPEECHES wanted to just make some comments on the issue of the D.A. taking the -- going to the high court in regards to the Donta Dawson and Griffin cases. Last month, the Honorable Gwen Bright ordered the District Attorney to prosecute former Philadelphia Police Officer Christie Pasquale on charges of the third-degree murder of Donta Dawson. The District Attorney decided not to arrest former Officer DePasquale, despite the fact of this open murder charge against him. This decision not to rearrest has had an enormous negatively impact on the public perception of police activity and violence in the City. I don't believe the D.A. should be allowed to pick and choose which court order she wishes to obey. Her office has an obligation to the people in this city to rearrest this man against whom the court found committing this third-degree murder. She is free to pursue appeal, but the justice system must be allowed to continue to arrest individuals who fire guns at private citizens. In order to pursue justice, it is respectfully requested that the District Attorney follow the court order, rearrest Christie Pasquale SPEECHES on these very appropriate third-degree murder charges. I am one of the collective officials that filed a private criminal complaint. And I know that there is a issue too of whether we have standing or whether we don't, and that will be decided in the courts. But in reading the article about the involvement of Richard Sprague, I thought it was important that I make these comments this morning. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd also like to speak on the issue. First, I'd like to make it very clear that the headline states that the lawyer will represent the City of Philadelphia. What I want to make clear is that he will represent District Attorney's office. This Council and the City is represented by the City Solicitor's Office, and it's not the City that's asking for this appeal. I also would like to say that this is ultimately another attack by the District Attorney SPEECHES on our judiciary and judicial independence. Her activities are confrontational and excessive, and her willingness to follow a judicial ruling to bring charges is unconscionable. On a similar note, in a article this morning, there's the zeal of the District Attorney to rearrest defendants whose cases have been dismissed. Proceeding without judicial approval, the District Attorney is becoming a law unto herself. She should bring a case that can survive the dismissal of court. Under the new law, she has the right to go back and rearrest someone if she doesn't like what happens when the courts rule, and she can't have it both ways -- that's double jeopardy. So I call to your attention the incongruity of the D.A.'s position. One, she won't bring charges when the judges instruct her to do so; and, two, she will bring charges and rearrest where the judges have dismissed cases against individuals. And I think she needs to stop trying to be a judge and be a D.A. -- or go back to being a judge. Thank you, Madam President. SPEECHES (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam Chair. As the mother of a four-year-old, I can only imagine the anguish -
I think you deserve better respect than you were getting. Could we please have silence. Thank you. Councilwoman?
I want to speak briefly on an issue that I care very much about -again relating to children. As the mother of a 4-year-old, I can only imagine the anguish that parents endure when their son or daughter has been struck by guns. And I'm sure I'm among many of this body here who is always deeply saddened when we read the horror stories in the papers. The fact of the matter is that here in Philadelphia, SPEECHES the murder rate for young people -- murder by guns -- is five times higher than that in the United States. And then the downside, the continuing downside of this saga is, I learned in my first 100 days -- namely through Councilman Angel Ortiz -- that there's little or nothing this body can do in terms of raising our pens to craft legislation around common-sense gun laws, but we can raise our voices. And so I'm inviting all members of Council to join me and other members of Council within a pep rally at 12 o'clock today on City Hall's courtyard, where we get one opportunity to raise our voices and encourage those who will actively participate in the Million Mom March this Sunday, on Mother's Day. That's the invitation.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
I concur with the Councilwoman on that issue. Madam Chair, on Friday, I got arrested for -SPEECHES (Laughter.)
-- for obstructing the highway -- for a good cause. The Navy had invaded the Island of Vieques once again and removed over 200 individuals who are on the beaches trying to protect those beaches from the bombs that the Navy has been habitually throwing on that island for over 60 years. Across the United States, Puerto Ricans and other individuals, in solidarity with the Puerto Rican community, joined in protest across the nation. Here in Philadelphia, over 300 individuals protested in front of the Naval Recruiting Office at Broad and Cherry, stopping traffic for over 2 hours, and 15 of us getting arrested. My son asked me, Why did you get arrested for? And I told my son that there are certain times when civil disobedience is the right thing to do, and it's the time in which you're trying to make a point and bring forward a principle. I think the individuals who protested on Friday did it in a very honorable way and a SPEECHES very good way. The individuals who arrested us from the Civil Affairs Division, the men and women who did that, were all incredible individuals. But they do deserve better. The wagons that they took us in are antiquated and hot and really very rough treatment -- not by them, but by just being in that wagon. They handcuffed us in a very nice manner, but once down at the precinct, it takes a long time because they don't have equipment. They brought out these typewriters that were incredibly antiquated. I would imagine that if they go on Channel 12 Antique Road Show, they might be able to sell those typewriters and that other equipment for some value. (Laughter.)
They then took snapshots of us with a Polaroid that must have come from the time they invented the Polaroid camera. (Laughter.)
The film, I don't think, for that camera is still being made. I think they just had the last two rolls and they did that with us. SPEECHES But they did behave. They treated us very well, and they let us keep our cell phones. So I think that was very nice. (Laughter.)
I also want to thank my colleague Michael Nutter for offering -- since we were arrested right at the Ninth Precinct, next to Fresh Fields, my colleague called me on my cell phone and offered to go to Fresh Fields and bring the 15 of us some food so that we could be sustained during our travail. (Laughter.)
So I thank my colleague for being in solidarity with us and trying to be helpful. But I also thank the people in Civil Affairs for a great job at the demonstration. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
Madam President, I'd like to congratulate my colleague on the courage and the keen sense of what is right SPEECHES that he demonstrated the two days before. Just the next time he does it, please do it in Ardmore. (Laughter.)
Are there any more speeches on the part of the Majority, Madam President?
Are there any more speeches on the part of the Majority?
Thank you. I'd like to wish all of the mothers who are here today assembled, whether they re biological, adoptive or caretakers, and to the listening audience of mothers happy Mother's Day. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. ADJOURNMENT I move that Council be adjourned until Thursday, May 18, Year 2000. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 18, 2000. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion is carried. Thank you very much. (Adjourned at 11:36 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, May 11, 2000, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter