You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to note for the record and for all Philadelphians that today a very strange thing occurred in City Council. A bill was introduced by Democrat, the Republican leader and super president of the City Council moved to amend it and receive the votes of half of the Democrats. The Republican policy of seeking to divide the Democrats is well known throughout the country. The fact that they never answer any questions is well known throughout the 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES country. I just want everybody to know how badly Philadelphia is being served by the strange alliance between what appears to be a majority of the Democrats most of the time in City Council and the Republicans which has elevated the Republican Party to leadership in a body of which they have 3 out of 17 members and in which they were roundly defeated, overwhelmingly defeated in the last election and apparently in full charge of the Democrats who vote Republican or voted to support Republican amendment was our famous and I hope lovely Majority Leader. But I need some answers and I'm going to continue to raise this question until the leadership of the Democrats which support the Republican dominance of this body explains why they are acting in a year in which Democrats are coming together in a way they never have before at the national level why are they at the City level moving in the opposite direction to turn over their hard-won right to lead this Council, why are they turning that power over to the Republicans. 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES Thank you, Madam President.
I'll be brief, Madam President. St. Joe's University basketball team has had an incredible season, a 27 and 0 record, and they are now moving on through the various tournaments and the NCAA competition. Normally we might recognize them for the tremendous season in the Atlantic 10, but I think in order to propel them on, we will wait until they move through the rest of the tournaments. They are special and they are champions. And whether it's Coach Phil Martelli or the Superior play of Jamir Nelson and Tyron Barley and the rest of the team St. Joe's University is in the district that I represent, but our colleague, Councilman O'Neill is a graduate of St. Joe's University and so we have talked about this and we will await their proceeding through the tournaments and wish them the best. But no matter what happens in the course of these tournaments, 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES they are champions and they brought great pride to Philadelphia and certain to the Wynnefield and Overbrook communities. So I wanted to recognize them at this moment, but hopefully they'll be here whenever the season ends. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President. I've heard my colleague Councilman Cohen now for I don't know if it's the 5th or 10 time try to paint things into a corner partisan politics in this Council that I find no evidence of. I find it to be absolutely absurd. I've been in this Council, it's my seven term. I have not been involved in a partisan issue. Yes, I run in partisan elections every four years. I have not treated an issue as a Republican or not a Democrat, to my knowledge. It's certainly 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES been my attempt not to. And the Councilman can accuse and insult all he wants. But the fact of the matter is, this is an elected body that is nonpartisan, bipartisan. I've supported more mayors' initiatives, all Democrats, that I'm sure my Council colleague Cohen has. And I don't apologize for my party affiliation because I can assure my colleagues if they're not already aware of it I wouldn't be sitting here if I had to run as a democrat because it would have never happen. I will continue to represent my district in this City and, hopefully, my colleagues on Council calling things and making judgments on things as I see them. I participate heavily in the Pennsylvania League of Cities, in the National League of Cities. I've been president of both. They're both overwhelmingly democratic organizations. It's the local government in the United States that the representatives are overwhelming Democratic. In the National League of Cities, the 80-some-odd years of having presidents -030404 - STATED - SPEECHES that's about how old the organization is, about 85 years old. I think there have been five Councilmembers elected President. I know I'm the only Republican. It's difficult for a Republican Mayor to be elected President of League of Cities, and the first test is does this person come at it in a partisan way. And if you get a yes on that, you're done as a Mayor. As a Councilmember, I just said 1 out of 85 years, I think one of the five Councilmembers. I don't see things in Democrat and Republican terms. I never have and I hope I never do. Others can say whatever works for them. That is how I treat my responsibilities here. And as someone said just a few weeks ago, the Rules of Council can change whenever nine people want them to. And if I am acting in a partisan way in carrying out my responsibilities under the Rules, I ask people to throw me out before I resign. Thank you.
May I have a 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES moment to respond?
Let me point out that Councilman O'Neill acts in the way all Republicans act. If they're in the majority, they have no time for democrats, don't talk to and don't ever explain anything, cut them out of all power. But whenever they're in the minority, particularly if they're in a tiny minority as the Republicans are in this Council, then they become bipartisan and nonpartisan. And Councilman O'Neill is working when he says that he is not nonpartisan, he's working in the best interest of the Republican Party because he knows that the people in the Philadelphia are strongly Democratic. And that's the evil of the Republican Party. Where they have the power, they hit you over the head have no room for Democrats. But let them get in a minority and immediately they begin yelling bipartisan and nonpartisan. So Councilman O'Neill, I understand your answer in line of general Republican 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES Party policy. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair again recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, I can tell you and my colleagues how often over the years I've heard this from Republicans about Democrats. People that are looking to have an ax to grind and find another reason why something happened. I don't buy it when it's Republicans talking about Democrats, and I don't buy it when it's Democrats talking about Republicans. I hope we can stick to the issues. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other Councilmembers that want to recognized? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
I move, Madam 030404 - STATED - SPEECHES President, Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March the 11th at 10:00 a.m., 2004. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 11th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 12:10 p.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 March 4, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR