Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The final bill to be considered is Bill No. 080021.
An ordinance 4/17/08 - STATED - 2ND READING amending Chapter 17-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage Standard," by amending the minimum wage standard that regulates the wage employers subject to that Chapter must pay to employees covered by that Chapter, and by requiring such employers to provide certain benefits to such employees, 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 Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman DiCicco. 4/17/08 - STATED - 2ND READING COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. Last evening I got home early enough to take out the trash, which is not a normal occurrence for me, and went into the yard to get the trash to take it to the curb and there were two bags only in the trash can, and as I was taking the trash out, I asked my wife where's the other three or four bags I usually put out, and she told me that since single-stream recycling went into effect at the beginning of the Nutter Administration, we were down to two bags a week. We are slated for single-stream weekly recycling in the summer, and I'm hoping to be down to one bag. And the reason that I mention it is because you can see firsthand in your own life what the effects of a good recycling program are, and I want to thank the Nutter Administration and the Councilmembers in worked for years for this day to come, that it really does work, it really reduces the volume of our trash, and I just wanted to mention that, to look for that kind of environmental impact in our everyday lives. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. Less than two weeks ago we observed the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and many wondered aloud if Dr. King's dream was actually about to be realized through the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama. What has really been accomplished in Philadelphia over those 40 years? After Dr. King's death on April 4, 1968, 25 men, led by Hardy Williams, John White, Sr. and W. Wilson Goode, Sr., found the Forum was comprised of clergymen, businessmen, educators and others, all intent on building an independent political movement. The Forum was successful in backing a series of candidates in years to come. In 1970, Hardy Williams won the State House seat in West Philadelphia. The next year Hardy Williams finished an impressive third in the democratic Mayoral primary behind future Mayors Frank Rizzo and Bill Green. In 1972, the late David P. Richardson was elected as State Representative of Northwest Philadelphia. In 1976, John White, Jr. was also elected to the State House. He later won a 1981 City Council special election and eventually became Pennsylvania's Secretary of Welfare. In 1978, the Reverend Williams H. Gray won a seat in Congress and eventually rose to become Majority Whip House of Representatives. In 1983, W. Wilson Goode, Sr. was elected to become the City's first African-American Mayor and served for two terms as the City's Chief Executive. That was 25 years ago, and this city has not seen that level of political excitement until now. Ironically, 25 years ago I wasn't old enough to vote, but for many Philadelphians it was the most important day in their lives, because they could do one simple thing and change Philadelphia politics forever. They simply went to their polling place, waited in line and pulled a lever. And 25 years later, this city has obviously matured in its political diversity. Twenty-five years ago Philadelphians changed local politics forever. In just five days, Philadelphia can change national politics forever by doing one simple thing: Voting in record numbers. If Philadelphians want change, different from our current President and his candidate. If Philadelphians want progress, both democrats are progressive. But if democrats in Philadelphia, the birth place of our nation, want a new America, then we will put the democratic nomination to bed on Tuesday. Democrats in Philadelphia can put the nomination to bed and wake up in a new America by doing one simple thing: Push Button No. 1. One simple thing, Button No. 1 for Barack Obama. Yes, we can, and yes, we will.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. Last night I had an opportunity to attend the debate between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama in our Constitution Center. I want to say that no matter who wins the presidential primary, the City of We were presented in a positive light. If you saw some of the cut-aways, it showed beautiful skylines and buildings that are reflective of our unique history here in the City of Philadelphia. I also acknowledge Councilman Goode's comments about the memorial of Martin Luther King, and I would suggest to you that last night, as we were portrayed positively, Martin Luther King's dream is yet to be fulfilled in certain portions of our economy. And I raise the issue of our baggage handlers at the Philadelphia International Airport. They are our first greeters to the City of Philadelphia. They are a final reminder to millions of visitors that come through that airport of the hospitality that our City holds. Yet, financially, financially, they are this century's Pullman porters being inadequately compensated and not represented by anyone and, in fact, airports and major airline carriers. I would urge this Council and the City of Philadelphia and Mayor Nutter to look into this problem in order to fulfill Martin Luther King's final part of his dream, which was economic parity. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I was not going to speak on this, but I just want to make a clarification about the delegate process that will take place also on Tuesday to note that while there are two democratic candidates running for the nomination, in Pennsylvania no one candidate will get all of the delegates. They are proportioned by the number of votes received by the candidates. So there are in the 2nd 16 candidates who are running for delegate, but you can only vote for four males and five females, and at the end of the day, they will be proportioned. Senator Obama will get some of those delegates; Senator Clinton will get some of those delegates. No one will take all of the delegates. And in District 1, there are a total of seven, and you vote for four males and three females. So people should pay attention to the pink sheet when they go to vote on Election Day, know how many delegates that they can vote for, and then vote for the delegates probably who they know and can trust, because beyond this process, when you get to the Democratic Convention, the delegates are only committed to vote on the first round. After that, they are free to vote however they want. So I should suggest that the voters vote for delegates they know and make a positive and sensible decision at the Democratic Convention. Thank you very much.
And I would like to note that our Majority Leader is a delegate. I don't know how many other of our colleagues are delegates. Oh, Blondell and Councilwoman Sanchez. It's good to know for all of us. Okay. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman -- Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn. I corrected it. Councilman Clarke.
The term is still very young, Madam President, so I understand the mistake. I move that Council stand adjourned until May 1st, 10:00 a.m., 2008. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May the 1st at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on April 17, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)