The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 180457, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Service and Other Businesses,' to add a new Section 9-637, entitled 'Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products,' prohibiting offering for sale and selling certain tobacco products other than cigarettes with characterizing flavors and fixing Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 penalties," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180457. (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. 180457. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Domb for a report from the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, to which was referred Bill No. 180430, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity,' Chapter 10-800, 'Safety,' by adding a new Section 10-840, 'Criminal and Defiant Trespassers,' Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 to remove criminal and defiant trespassers from real property," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180430. (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. 180430. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 (No response.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for a report from the Committee on the Environment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on the Environment reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on the Environment, to which was referred Bill No. 180234, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Miscellaneous,' by creating a new Chapter 21-2600, entitled 'Environmental Impact Statements,' to provide for the preparation of such Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Council legislation, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180234. (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. 180234. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and the next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Consent Agenda for today considering the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars: Bill Nos. 171131, 180166, 180217, 180384, 180385, 180395, 180397, 180133, and 180368. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilman Henon. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 2ND READING Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the bills being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Bill Nos. 180568, 180569, 180570, 180571, 180572, 180575, 180576, 180577, 180580, 180584, 180124, 170678, 180101, 180167, 180168, 180392, 180393. All other bills and resolutions are being held today.
Thank you, Councilman. Before considering these resolutions and bills, we will consider public comment. Public comment will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you have not already done so, I'd ask that you sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 will go to the middle of the Council Chambers. There is a podium. There's a device on that podium. 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. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to the guidelines and conclude your remarks. I want to thank you very much for complying with the rules and regulations as it relates to public comment. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
Emmanuel Bussie, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and members of Council. So I came here today with some prepared statements that I'm going to not read, because I need to address this Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Council. I don't come here -- well, we don't come here as a different kind of democrat to be disruptive in Council, right? But the tactics and the strategies that was used today to be disruptive were used to get attention to a matter that they felt important to us. I think we can learn something from that, but I would much rather be disruptive out on the street. And on Saturday, beginning on Saturday, we're going to go into Councilman Kenyatta Johnson's district and take our fight to Kenyatta's district in support of City Council. We come here today to support you.
Yes, Rebuild, Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 180108. So we came here to support you guys, because we didn't like the lies and the deception that the Mayor put out there that Council was a do-nothing Council, that Council was holding up Rebuild, which couldn't be further from the truth. But the Mayor is allowed to make those statements about Council and divide you guys and split you guys like that, because you guys are divided. I never said anything or we as a different kind of democratic said nothing about Cherelle Parker and her ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Mayor. We said nothing about any member of Council, except Kenyatta Johnson, and asked the question did Kenyatta Johnson cut a deal with the Mayor and flip on us, because we're going to start -- I'm not saying he did or didn't, but we're going to start calling Councilmembers out asking for a different level of accountability. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 We're here today to support City Council, the brave City Councilmembers with the courage to stand up to John Dougherty and the building trades. Bobby Henon, it don't take a lot of courage to say I'm against raising taxes, but what it do take a lot of courage to do, to say the building trades are unfair for only hiring one percent women in the building trades. What it do take a lot of courage to say, that the building trades are unfair for only having 24 percent minority participation when we represent 65 percent of the City. We need our Councilmembers at-large like Helen Gym and Taubenberger and Bobby Henon, not at-large, but we need you guys to stand up for the things that are systemically wrong with our system, not to baby easy bull crap like don't raise our taxes. We see through the games. But what we need you to do is have the courage to stand up for what's Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 right and what's in the best interest of our city. What they're allowed to do is pick the good ones apart. The Maria Quinones-Sanchez and the Cindy Bass and the Curtis Jones, they have to vote on legislation that they don't really necessarily agree with because they don't want to get broken off by the Mayor. They don't want to get segregated by the Mayor. We need you guys in City Council to stand together. We got your back. That is why we here. Benjamin Franklin said any fool can criticize and most fools do. We don't come here to criticize. We come here to have your back, and what's offensive to us or what we find disturbing is when we come to have your back and you don't have each other's back. And what we trying to say to y'all -- and I don't understand how you don't recognize that this is a different day in Philadelphia. We're here to Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 support you. We're here to support the good Councilmembers that want to stand up for us, but have the courage to do so.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony, sir. (Applause.)
Rochelle Bilal, commenting on 180108. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, Council President and City Councilmembers. I'm commenting on 180108, 180124, 160248, 180384, and I got to do it in three minutes, so I'm getting these numbers out, 180167 and 170854. First, let me say that we know, Councilpeople, that you have been bullied and you have been fighting in reference to Rebuild. We know that you've gotten phone calls. We know that everybody is Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 talking about whether you going to run again or not. But let me say this to you: You're a human being first, and if you don't have a City Council job, you'll still be a human being afterwards. Do not let them bully you into this. No MOU with the building trades has succeeded and worked for the past 25 years. If you do not get it written in a contract, it will not work for anybody in this city. I'm saying to you when it comes down to MOUs, they're like chewing gum, you eat it, when the sweetness is gone, you throw it out. Let's not do that this time. People in this city want to work. They need the jobs. Young people that go through these training things, they can go into the building trades, but they need to stop blocking them with a bunch of rhetoric. So, please, when you get to the MOUs in this, make them write it down. Make them sign an agreement or a Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 contract, not an MOU that has not worked in this city for 25 years. And we support you in your struggle in reference to Rebuild. Second, 160248. I came and I said this before. If we are going to give new people occupancy tax and relief, then the people that's been paying the taxes for 25, 30 years in this city need a break first. 160248 now says you can come from New York, start a business, we going to give you a break, but those that struggled to pay it every day, you don't say nothing to them. We've been paying it. Stop waiving it. I say vote no on that. I say vote -- I agree for 170854. I agree. Vote yes. And increase -- I got 28 seconds. 180167, before you vote on that, I understand you want to increase it for those that come in, buy low, sell high. That's flipping. Fine, but you got people caught up in that Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 gentrification that now has to sell their house and now you want to penalize them more by increasing the transfer real estate taxes. I think take a minute, look at a program that can help them so they can help themselves. Thank you. (Applause.)
Chantay Love, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. I'm speaking on Bill 180108, and we had -- I had a prepared statement, but two days ago one of my staff member's husband, who is a construction worker, and his -- the owner of his construction company took him to a site to do an evaluation, and the people there thought he wasn't supposed to be there. He's his lead man. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 And someone on the site, another building company, took and stabbed him in the side, collapsed his lungs. He's in the hospital now. Just finished getting a house in North Philadelphia about a month ago, who looks like he's going to be out. And what I'm saying today is that, City Council, we're asking you to stand strong, because building trades have had a history of racism, but not only that, if we're asking them, they should want to build something better, and their infrastructure and how they create and how they treat people should be different. They should want -- that we should want people in our communities to have a say, but also to say how about that young man who said, I helped build that, I helped create that, I helped do that. And it should be those who live here to do that, and that we have to change how we operate. We must demand it. And I know that it's hard. I know that it's hard, but you should be asking Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 for the same thing at the Convention Center, that they all sign a contract. We should have contracts that say that. It's only those contracts that hit their pocket that will allow them to be different, and that the United States is watching us. They watching us do crime reform. They're also requiring that we do politics different. I shouldn't have to stand here to say that I have a construction worker ready to try to save his life because there has been a whole, whole culture to say that black and brown people do not matter, that we build countries and build worlds, but that we do not matter to take part in this. And I'm asking that if you don't have the courage to say no, then guess what? Table it until you do for a week, at least a week, so that you can at least renegotiate. And I thank you for having this opportunity.
Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
Paula Peebles, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm speaking to Bill 180108, which my colleagues have already addressed, so I won't reiterate what they have spoke to, but what I would like to do is appeal to Council to stand in solidarity with the people and the voters of this city and to oppose any MOUs. Many of you already know I'm a Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 developer here in Philadelphia, very familiar with construction in this town. And so we are appealing to you not to go for the okeydoke of MOUs. You know how many MOUs we've had with Temple University with the building trades? Johnny Doc is the same doc that he's been. His union is racist. So we're asking you to have guts. Don't fear Doc for 2019. Fear our votes. Fear our votes. (Applause.)
And so please don't just table it. Remove the idea of an MOU. We need a contract, something that we can actually have a legal document that we can take into court. We have a whole list of lawyers that stand with the people pro bono. So we're appealing to you Councilpeople. And we won't forget. As you can see, we're very engaged. We won't forget if you vote against the people. Don't fear Johnny Doc. Fear Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 our vote. No stadium, no deal. (Applause.)
Craig Williams, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, President Clarke, members of the City Council. My name is Craig Williams and I'm here representing two of my businesses, the Williams Group, real estate developer, and Pride Enterprises Incorporated, builder and construction manager. I'm here to speak in support of Bill No. 180124 and the importance of having mandated significant minority inclusion on Rebuild projects. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Philadelphia is the United States' fifth largest city behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. Unlike those cities, Philadelphia has a majority-minority population. Wikipedia indicates that in 2016 45 percent of the population was white and 55 percent of the population was non-white. Of that 55 percent, 44 percent were African American. Add Latinos and it's well above 50 percent. Latino is a cultural, not a racial distinction, but we're not here to split hairs. Suffice it to say, that Philadelphia is a majority black and brown city. However, the point is that black and brown Philadelphians, while prominent in numbers, command less than one percent of the local economy of the City. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicate that in 2018 unemployment for Philadelphia's white population is at 4.3 percent. For blacks it's 7.3 percent. Comparatively for other minorities, it's Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 3 percent for Asians and 5.4 percent for Latinos. African Americans by far are the most unemployed and once again black and brown people lag well behind other demographics. Pew research states poverty is the one -- is one of Philadelphia's most enduring problems. At 25.7 percent, the poverty rate is the highest among the nation's top ten largest cities, and nearly half of all poor residents are in deep poverty, defined as 50 percent below federal poverty lines, below the federal poverty line. It is worth noting that in recent years Philadelphia's poverty rate has been relatively stable. However, among -- am I running out of time? Well, you know what, I'm going to cut to the conclusion. Obviously the statistics paint a picture where the participation in the local economy is quite unbalanced, and the Philadelphia Rebuild program with its stipulated participation levels, both at Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 the labor level as well as the contract level, are designed and intended to address this disparity. This is critical from an economic and employment standpoint as well as from a development standpoint. The neighborhoods where these people live are at the fringe, and in order to make them attractive to developers like myself and to make it feasible, we need for the economic prosperity of the City to be shared in those neighborhoods. Thank you for your time. (Applause.)
Thank you. Clerk, can you read the name of our next speaker, please.
Michael Bowman, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and members of City Council. My name is Michael Bowman Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 and I am Principal of Rittenhouse Strategies LLC, which is a consulting firm focused primarily on real estate development, construction, and diversity and inclusion-related services. Rittenhouse Strategies is currently partnering with the Fairmount Park Conservancy as a project user for the Rebuild Philadelphia program. I appear before Council today to testify in support of the Rebuild Philadelphia initiative, which I believe will be a model for progressive urban economic policy, particularly as it relates to promoting the growth of diverse businesses in our great city. Philadelphia City Council has long recognized the need for greater access to economic opportunities for diverse businesses in the City of Philadelphia. Nevertheless, recent data shows that in our majority-minority city, 80 percent of Philadelphia businesses are white-owned, with 10 percent owned by Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Asians and only 2.4 percent by African Americans. National statistics also clearly show that minority-owned businesses face significant challenges in the marketplace. By way of example, 50 percent of minority businesses are in industries with the lowest sales nationwide, and on average minority-owned businesses are much less likely to procure financing from traditional banks or other lending institutions. Again, the statistics are clear that minority-owned businesses, both in Philadelphia and across this country, face many challenges, which is why I wholeheartedly support the policy goals enunciated in the Rebuild initiative plan; in particular, the program's diverse business participation goals as well as, importantly, the capacity-building infrastructure that has been contemplated for the program. As Council knows and in my experience as a consultant addressing Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 these issues, it is not enough to provide an opportunity for diverse firms to bid on work. Rather, given the historical and persistent barriers, I believe that the City of Philadelphia gets it right here in creating a program that will, among other things, ensure timely payments to diverse firms, perform business assessments for these firms, facilitate access to capital, and even utilize diverse firms still going through but not yet completing the certification process. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly support this Rebuild initiative and look forward to its enactment. I thank Council President Clarke and City Council, and this concludes my testimony.
Willie Singletary, commenting on 180108. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you for Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 this opportunity to stand today. As a kid growing up in Southwest Philadelphia attending Comegys, Shaw, and West Philadelphia High School, I remember being given an assignment in school and having to go to Kingsessing Library to research the topic. I became a regular so much so that Mr. Elam, the librarian, and staff knew me by name. And I could not wait until the summer to go to Kingsessing Summer Camp and Recreation Center where I went every summer until I was old enough to get a Phila job and work there. The late Mr. Thomas, who was one of the lifeguards, and Selena who ran the rec center, we did not have the best equipment. As a matter of fact, sometimes we didn't have equipment at all. We didn't have many different things, but we had volunteers who came and made the summer camp special for us. People taught us the value of teamwork, like people like Mr. Abe and Mr. Jerry, each one teach one. Yet we learned Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 lessons there that could not be replaced, and it was about family. I am excited about the new rec centers and the new libraries. However, we cannot build these rec centers and libraries without having true diversity and inclusion. We have a vested interest, social equity, and true diversion and inclusion. We have a Mayor who has promised us inclusion, and according to analysis completed in February, that 66 percent of Kenney's high level appointments are white, 22 percent are black, 8 percent are Latino, 3 percent are Asian and 1 percent are Native American. Philadelphia's population is 36 percent white, 41 percent black, 14 percent Latino, 7 percent Asian, and less than 1 percent Native American. We have to turn this thing around. But yet -(Applause.)
-- he's trying to push down our throat and everyone's a Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 contract that's against diversity. But he halted Catholic Charities' contract with DHS and foster care because they didn't have diversion, because they wouldn't put people -- kids in same sex marriages. Yet he want to make us do this. And I want to say this: In this 500 building out project and all of these projects that come, we have to start now. In 2013, the most reliable figures are that 80 percent of the building trades were not us, were white. And as African Americans, we have the highest population in the City. We have a black President of Council. We have eight, eight, eight black City Council. (Applause.)
We have three other minorities. There's a book that the late Senator Hardy Williams told me read called "Blood and Power" by Stephen Fox. And as a kid in Southwest, I don't hate Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 the game -- they say don't hate the player; hate the game. I'm not against Johnny Doc, because you know why? He's doing what he wants to do for his people, but we have leaders in City Council, and it's time for you to stand up for your people who are going to vote for us. Thirty seconds, I promise I'll be out of here. Thirty seconds I'm wrapping. Kenyatta Johnson, I thank God for you, but late Senator Anthony Williams told you before politics, before power, and before money and even before friendship, put the people's interests. Councilwoman Blackwell --
-- helped Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Senator Williams get --
Reverend? (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Reverend? (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Amen. (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Wrap it up. (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Reverend, Reverend, you got to wrap it up. Amen. All right. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Okay. Rev, Rev, Rev, you got three minutes. You're like on number seven. Wrap it up. (Mr. Singletary talking without microphone.)
Thank you very much for your testimony, Reverend. Next name.
-- Council Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 President and members of Council and also to the very important other people who are assembled here for various reasons. I just want to say that I came today to go on record for Bill No. 180124. That's the Rebuild, in regard to Rebuild. And I've been here already in regards to Barrett Playground. I'm going to link these closely together. I have lived 45 years in the Logan area, and out of those 45 years, I spent a lot of time at Barrett Recreation Center as though it was my home, my family and I and some other people from the community, taking on the responsibility of cleaning that place, painting that place, and making it a safe place for our children in the community. We've lived on promises, promises, and promises. And I just want to point out it's not because we have "don't care" people in our community. It's because the City doesn't give us the proper assistance that they're supposed to give Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 us, and that's done by certain areas. And I make that statement freely because my daughter and I, we travel around and check other recreation centers and take pictures and identify what's good in certain neighborhoods but not ours. And not because we are no working people. We try very hard. That's how we hung in that playground, keeping those doors open and safe for the children. I just want to get to the point. I support this bill specifically because I've been told that the Rebuild will be making the recreation centers safe and clean. That's because we have a commitment saying that, providing we're a certain number on that Rebuild list. However, we're hanging in there just the same and holding people to their word. Now, I'll get to the end of what my message is today. I'm here specifically for that Rebuild, and if there's some flaws in it, I'm only supporting that because I'm not Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 knowledgeable that there's problems in it for our people. And I say our people. I'm just doing a follow-up here. But I also want to point out that I support that bill because I've been told we're on the list and that Barrett will not be patched up like it was back in the '80s when they patched it up just good enough to keep those doors open. So I wanted to say that I've been -- we, along with some people who have suffered ills because they're even in the immediate -- walk out their doors at that playground. But to get to the bottom of it, we've been told that that Rebuild money will rebuild that recreation center. So that's why I'm here today. In fact, I was the first one in here today and been waiting here patiently ever since, because we feel it's worth the while. But I also want to say that when we did a walkthrough in the latter Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 part of 2017, it was done with Councilwoman Cindy Bass along with the Mayor who we had asked to come, and they responded. At that time, we felt comfortable because the Mayor did state after seeing the holes in the walls, the cement cracked up where the children play in the areas that, yes, these things do need to be resolved by being built. So that's why I went on record supporting this Rebuild.
I'm going to end -- I could say more, but I know the time is -- and I don't want to be disrespectful, but I do want to make this point. Councilwoman Cindy Bass is now our Councilperson in that area for that playground, and I just want to go on record saying thank God that she has come aboard now. We've been meeting with her. She has inherited this situation. However, she has made a firm commitment Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 to stand by us to make sure that that recreation center gets its fair share of being rebuilt like it needs to be.
So I just wanted to -- she didn't know that I was going to be here today, and I may be rattling on. It's because I'm a little emotional about it after hearing all of these things said, but I wanted to go on record making it clear that she came aboard. She's worked with us hand in hand, and we know she had certain obstacles that reported out clearly. I'm a former City Council worker too.
Yeah. So I want to go on record and join with these people here saying that we certainly thank God for Councilwoman Cindy Bass coming aboard, because now it looks like Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 we got some help to fight, fight, fight with us. (Applause.)
Okay. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony and thank you for your years of service.
Phyllis Walker, commenting on 180569. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. My name is Phyllis Walker and I live in the 51st Ward, 10th Division, Councilwoman Blackwell's district. I've been a community activist out in our community for almost 38 years. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018
Almost 38 years. And I brought with me today some information. I really didn't know what I was running into, but I got a great education once I got here. I brought some pictures. You're talking about giving the Redevelopment Authority more properties. In the 51st Ward, we have properties that they have not developed. They're holding onto them, and that's fine. I'm for progress, but when you're in a community and people are already hopeless and living a hopeless life, it's very difficult to tell a child we're going to send you into a school district and raise money for a school district and send them into a structured environment, and then once they come outside of that door, they're living in an environment that's like a war zone. To give the Redevelopment Authority more properties, I understand Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 you need progress, but I've been fighting this since 1999 when I had dark hair. The Daily News recorded it, same properties, same Redevelopment Authority, and you want to give them more properties. If you would pass these around to Council, someone. I have them here for you to look at them. I had to go through one whole year of trying to find out who owned the properties. First they sent me to Public Property, then to the Redevelopment Authority, and nobody wanted to take ownership. The sad part is, citizens like myself, we have nobody to hold anybody accountable once you give people properties and things of this nature. So I came here today, and I was told to just put my name on the list and I could be heard, but then I realized I had to do some real political stuff to be heard, which is very sad, when I'm a citizen, taxpaying citizen, disabled. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 The Redevelopment Authority is breaking many laws, the disability law. They're breaking the City Ordinance 11-505, and nobody cares. So what I'm trying to say here is, I don't mind you giving people more properties, but let's make them accountable for fixing the ones they're holding on to until some developer can come through and pay them big bucks to fix them. In my neighborhood, that can't continue to happen. So I gave you this, because Public Property fixed their part. When I went to the Redevelopment Authority, matter of fact, I had to go to the Land Bank and talk to Paulette in Jannie's office, Councilwoman Blackwell's office -- I'm sorry, Councilwoman Blackwell -- to talk to them to say help us get this resolved. It's not that the people don't care. It seems to me that City Council has lost its place in the people's lives. They forgot who they Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 serve. They serve us. They serve citizens. So I'm here to say let's not give them any more property until they can be responsible for what they already have. (Applause.)
Kate Esposito, commenting on 180409. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. President, members of Council. I'm here in my role as Co-Chair of POWER's Economic Dignity Team, Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild, an inter-faith social justice organization that's dedicated to the vision that Philadelphia can and should become a city of opportunity that works for all. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 In that spirit, I stand here today in support of Councilwoman Bass's resolution calling on Comcast Spectacore to rescind its naming rights agreement with Wells Fargo for Philadelphia's premier multipurpose arena based on its extensive history of unethical banking practices. Wells Fargo has become synonymous with corporate malfeasance of the highest caliber, a litany of practices resulting in being fined $185 million for fraudulent reopening unauthorized client accounts, resulting in customers' fees and charges, predatory lending disproportionately to black and brown homebuyers, resulting in increased rates of foreclosure in already distressed neighborhoods and negatively affecting homeowner credit. This bank continues to haunt homeowners who are trapped in ballooning mortgage payments and are forced to consider bankruptcy to stay afloat, Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 forcing Philadelphia to sue Wells Fargo for violations of the federal Fair Housing Act. Ordered to cap its assets at $1.95 trillion by the Federal Reserve, you know it's bad when Wells was fined a billion dollars by current federal regulators, the most ever, for including unnecessary insurance costs in auto loans, affecting hundreds of thousands of customers. And all of this just scratches the surface. This bank, too morally bankrupt to house Philadelphia's accounts, never seems to give up in its pursuit of hubristic greed. No shameful brand should be too big for Philadelphia's most powerful corporate citizen. Comcast to banish from this mighty arena. Spectacore needs to divorce itself from Wells Fargo for its own sake so as not to be judged by the company it keeps on its facade. Sitting in South Philadelphia on I-95, thousands of people pass by it Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 every day. Millions attend concerts and enjoyable activities there, and in the summer of 2016, a near perfect political convention took place there that many of us look back upon with fond nostalgia. Yet the name Wells Fargo is fixed on it like a badge of shame. What does that say about us as a city? What does that say to those of us walking into the space who have been defrauded, denied a loan, cheated by the nasty practices of this corporate and villainous bema? Thirty more seconds. This begs the question, why do we need corporate branding on this structure at all? Why can't it be named after someone who exemplified courage, beauty, and dignity like Marian Anderson or an ideal promulgated here by the founders and be called the We, the People, Center or a name that says something about us as a city based on a character trait that we can be proud of Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 during these dark days, like the Philadelphia United Center.
Therefore, POWER calls upon Comcast to step up, be a better angel, corporate citizen, and denounce the Wells Fargo stigma for something morally righteous and infinitely better.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.)
Renee Wilson, commenting on 180409. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, Council President and members of Council. Hello. My name is Renee Wilson and I'm a member of Unite Here. I'm here today to speak in support of the resolution to rename the Wells Fargo Center. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Most of our members are low income and living check to check. I am appalled to hear about the scandal surrounding Wells Fargo's business practices, from opening fraudulent accounts to predatory lending practices, and all I can think of is that these are not practices that benefit working people like our members. I think that the Wells Fargo name has become a stain on our city, and that if we want to put our best face forward as a city, then they must -- the name must be changed. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Good afternoon. MS. McDONALD: Good afternoon. My name is Florence Penny McDonald and Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 I'm the Executive Director over Community Forgiveness and Restoration, a faith-based reentry program, and I'm here to support House Bill -- I'm sorry; Council Bill 180537 -
We understand. That means you've been somewhere else. I got you. MS. McDONALD: Yes. I've been on the fighting field for many, many folks and many, many places. I'm here to support the bill for respectfully requesting that Governor Wolf grant a pardon to Eric Riddick in consideration for the evidence established in his innocence. Now, I've been on the field working with inmates at Graterford for over 12 years, and I've had the occasion to minister to inmates who have committed crimes and who are rehabilitated and who will be coming home soon, and our organization helps to provide resources for them in terms of housing and jobs and Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 et cetera, but I've also had the occasion to talk to young men who were incarcerated who are innocent, and because of our laws, if they don't provide the evidence to show that they're innocent within the first year, it's called time bar. That means they can't bring it forth. Now, I've also attended many hearings in reference to innocent people who are incarcerated. There's no mechanism in our government for them to come out, even though the state knows that they are innocent. So I'm asking here today that you join with me with Congressperson [sic] David Oh that we would be in agreement to petition the Governor to grant this young man, Eric Riddick, his freedom. I also want to say that if you were falsely accused of a crime and because of the shock of being incarcerated and not knowing what you're Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 going to do or how you're going to get out and there's no mechanism for you to get out, how would you feel? Would you want somebody to represent you? Would you want someone to fight for you? Well, we need to change some of our laws. We need to change them. It's really a disgrace that we have people inside and there's no mechanism for them to get out. So we need to change the laws, and I thank you very much for your allowing me to speak.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.)
Joe Danihel, commenting on 180537, 180569, 180577, 180580, 180384, and 180397. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. I too am a victim of the RDA and its corruption. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 This is an official decree of the people in writ of mandamus quo warranto. As such, requires immediate action and remedy. Every week Council, Mayor, and others transfer private property to the government, probably illegally. From Kimball v. California, few protections are as essential to the individual liberty as the right to be free from unreasonable seizures. The last few weeks the Council, the District Attorney have been talking about wrongly convicted persons. Yet my home was stolen and the Council, Mayor, and others have not provided any compensation or constitutionally required immediate remedy. This shows clear intent to violate oath, Constitution, and laws. When did by the people, for the people become screw the people? Consent of the government is required before you act. People never gave consent to steal my home, steal my Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 just compensation and oppose my Seventh Amendment trial by jury. The Attorney General is required by law to investigate this RICO-style conspiracy to deny rights. If committing one crime one time would land people in jail, why has no prosecution of all officials involved commenced? The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law, breach of close, breach of fiduciary duty. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384, PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 11, 26 PA CSA 701, 703, 705, 708, 709, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. I call for the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate and prosecute all involved in the theft Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming Avenue. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 24 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a fireman can refuse to fight a fire. The sovereign people require oath, Constitution, and laws be enforced. Jail is required for all who violate oath, Constitution or law. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow monumental corruption.
Jacqueline Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 Wiggins, commenting on 180384. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. My name is Jacqueline Wiggins and I am concerned about Bill 180384 introduced by Councilman Greenlee for you, Council President Clarke. As a resident of North Central Philadelphia, a taxpayer, recently reelected committee person of the 32nd Ward, 11th Division the wording in 180384 "inter alia," which means among other things, gives me great anxiety. Why? Because it looks like the stadium. For over two years, the Stadium Stompers made up of residents, Temple University students, and others and now with a coalition called the No Stadium, No Deal Coalition has informed and alerted this City about Temple University's move to build a 35,000 seat stadium in North Central Philadelphia in Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 a highly residential, high-poverty neighborhood. The words "inter alia," among other things, can mean only the stadium. Temple University and you, Council President Clarke, are part of this gentrification move. We, the people, among other things, do not want any resolution coming forward to City Council about a stadium. We are opposed as residents to a Temple University-proposed 35,000 seat football stadium at Broad Street to 16th Street and Norris Street to Berks. It will mean campus encroachment into a residential community, permanent closure of 15th Street from Norris to Montgomery, and these streets -- some of these streets are named in this bill, nuisance tailgating, traffic and parking congestion, homeowner real estate taxes that are already increasing, exploitative research and programming targeting North Philadelphia families by Temple Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 University, environmental impact on residential quality of life, low wage part-time Temple University faculty, and undue tuition hardship on Temple University students. This is a travesty. Thank you.
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. I'm going to do something I don't normally do. I just want to use my Council President privilege. Nothing heavy. I just wanted to recognize somebody. You guys always recognize people when they come in here. I just want to recognize -- I know he's going to kill me for this, right? I want to recognize a world-renowned jazz bassist known internationally, who happens to Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 first cousin, Stanley Clarke. (Applause.)
He's going to light me up for that one. I'm sorry, cuz. I'm sorry. I had to do it. Roxborough, right? That's right. He's just in -- he's working on a project. He wants to come to Philadelphia. He's working on a special project. So it's good to see you, cuz. We're going to now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I will ask Mr. Decker to read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, you will now read Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 171131, entitled "An ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district, to be known as the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District, in an area that generally includes both sides of North 2nd Street from the north side of Callowhill Street to the south side of Girard Avenue, both sides of North 3rd Street from Spring Garden Street to the south side of Wildey Street, Spring Garden Street from North 2nd Street to the eastern side of North 5th Street, and certain blocks of streets that intersect portions of these streets; designating the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District, Incorporated, which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District"; and Bill No. 180166, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 19-1301.1 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Homestead Exclusion,' to increase the amount of the homestead exclusion"; and Bill No. 180217, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising requirements for accessory signs located within the area bounded by Juniper Street, East Passyunk Avenue and Mifflin Street"; and Bill No. 180384, entitled "An ordinance approving the fifteenth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Cecil B. Moore Avenue Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Fifteenth Street on the east, Jefferson Street on the south, Nineteenth Street on the west and Montgomery Avenue Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 north, including the fifteenth amendment to the urban renewal plan"; and Bill No. 180385, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Ridge Avenue, Gorgas Lane (extended), Henry Avenue, Valley Avenue, and Domino Lane"; and Bill No. 180395, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Bustleton Avenue, Solly Avenue, Eastwood Avenue and Stanwood Street"; and Bill No. 180397, entitled "An ordinance approving the forty-second amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, being the area beginning at the northwest corner of Front Street and Spring Garden Street, including the thirty-fourth Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 urban renewal plan"; and Bill No. 180133, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 17-104 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Prerequisites to the Execution of City Contracts,' by requiring contractors seeking to do business with the City to disclose certain demographic information regarding individuals serving as board members and executive officers"; and Bill No. 180368, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-3500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards,' by adding a section providing for prohibition on consideration of or inquiry about an applicant's juvenile records at any stage of the employment or licensing process, all under certain terms and conditions."
Thank you, Mr. Decker. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 shall the bill finally. Mr. Decker shall call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills or indicate those bills for which the member is voting aye or those bills for which the member is voting nay. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye on all bills. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING The majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. Thank you. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. And, Mr. Decker, if you'd please read the title of 180568.
A resolution urging the United States Congress to respond to the Supreme Court ruling in Epic Systems Corp. versus Lewis by passing legislation that guarantees the right of workers to pursue class action lawsuits in Federal Court.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180568 is approved. Mr. Decker, 180569.
A 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 Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180569 is adopted. Mr. Decker, Resolution 180570.
A 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 Forty-Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180570 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180571.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to dispose of certain properties located in the Fifth Councilmanic District, which will be transferred by the City to the Authority, by conveyance of such properties to the Philadelphia Land Bank. Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180571 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180572.
A 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 Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Eighth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair one more time recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180572 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180575.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1248 through 52 South 23rd Stated Meeting June 7, 2018 6/7/18 - STATED - 2ND READING Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Council President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 180575 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 180576.