Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING affirmative, this bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 040972.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code relating to zoning and planning by adding a new section 14-1629 entitled "Yorktown Special District Controls."
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.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.)
The next bill to be consideration is Bill No. 040999.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Zoning and Planning," by deleting and no longer permitting the preparation and retail sale of food for consumption off premises as an accessory use in the C-2 Commercial District.
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.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 040935.
An ordinance amending Section 10-1001 of the Philadelphia Code related to fees of Commissioner of Records to increase the fees for recording documents.
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.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 041001.
An ordinance amending Section 19-203 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Payroll Deductions" by permitting employees to authorize payroll deductions to purchase long-term care and other voluntary insurance benefits through financial integrity resources management.
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.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. Bill No. 041042 will be called up for consideration.
An ordinance authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to file an application with the Office of the Budget, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under the Redevelopment Assistant Capital Program in an aggregate amount not to exceed $113,770,000 to assist in the development of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Care Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Girard Avenue Streetscape and Mount Airy USA.
This bill having been read on two different days, the 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Cohen. I'm recognizing, Councilman Cohen.
Okay, thank you. I would like to move to divide the Comcast approval from all others.
Why is there no second? I can't understand this Council'S freedom to give taxpayer money even though it may be State money instead of City money.
Councilman, I think you made a motion. It was not seconded. If you want to go forward, please do.
Seems to me that at a time when SEPTA is threatening increases to $3 a fare that money for SEPTA would be much more appreciated by the people who need help than the rich corporation which may have 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING started poor in Philadelphia. It was so poor in the beginning that they often used my office for a headquarters action in Council. That was in the early days when cable TV was new. But like most other groups, when they became rich, the became -- excuse me to the three Republicans -- they became Republican in policy and decided that government money ought to be used by them. And that makes no sense to me. For a time when the schools need money desperately or the library is hungry for money, these are important needs, but if Comcast wants to be a government agency with the right to use government funds, let them give up private ownership and let the profits go to the City that it help lower the tax rates for everybody else. I don't see any offer by Comcast to go public, and I see no reason whatever why they should be treated in a special way. I can't see any difference frankly to the situation in which we're giving tax-free money to Comcast, and the Bush policy which most Members of this Council oppose when he gave back he said to the rich people their 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING own tax money. It wasn't their own tax money. They paid it as part of taxes. It was government money. What's the difference between our giving $30 million to Comcast of State tax money and the Bush tax plan for the rich only. I can't understand why this Council would so obediently lie down on the ground and say, "Yep, tough luck, SEPTA riders, maybe you're not going to be able to go to work anymore because you can't afford the fees. Maybe you can't send your kids to school because you can't afford the transportation money to send the kids on SEPTA. But Comcast, my God, they're rich and powerful. We've got to yield to them." It makes absolutely no sense. And again, I make my appeal. I think when Democrats are elected on democratic programs that speak to the interest of the working people and the middle class and the poor people, when you get elected on that platform, I think you have an obligation to vote that way. I can't see suddenly becoming members of another party which has a different political 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING philosophy. And, therefore, I urge some colleague to come forth and second. Or else I think we ought to announce from this point forward we're a Republican organization following George Bush's policies. Let me try another motion if that one won't. I would move that Comcast Corporation be deleted from this bill.
Gosh I wish I knew the secret of Comcast securing 16 votes in this Chamber so easily.
Thank you, Madam President. With all due respect to my colleague -
I really don't understand how a democratic organization can lie down on a job this way and say yes, let's give government money to the rich and powerful and let's not worry about anybody -
Thank you, Madam 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING President.
Councilman Cohen, I did recognize Councilman Goode. I though you were finished. Councilman Goode.
I absolutely do not. Thank you, Madam President. With all due respect to my colleague, he did in fact vote for the Comcast KOIZ, which I voted against. We are voting on a package of projects, many of which are community development projects. This is a matter of returning tax dollars that the citizens of returning tax dollars that the citizens of Philadelphia paid to the state which Governor 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING Rendell have sent back to Philadelphia. If we could consider these individually, I would like to, but we can't so I believe we should move on.
Thank you sir. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, thank you. We're in the holiday spirit I know today, and I would just like to thank on behalf of the Republican Caucus Councilman Cohen for continuing to reach out to us to build bridges to the Republicans. If he keeps doing it, we may actually second one of his motions one of these days. Thank you.
Thank you. Councilman Cohen, your light is on. Are you finished?
Well, just one last comment. At least I can say this for the Republican Party: They're open and they vote the way they campaign, and I think that's an honest factor that the Democratic Party here 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING in Philadelphia ought to observe. If you're going to campaign as a Democrat, I think you've given your vote to the constituency that you're interested in them and not in the wealthy people that we always accuse the Republicans of being interested in. But here in a body of 14 to 3, 13 Democrats are sticking with Republican philosophy. I think that's shameful and ought to be changed in Philadelphia.
With all due respect to my colleague -- I thought that was a great introduction, Councilman Goode. I should have used it the last time. With all due respect to my colleague, I believe Comcast and all the other issues in this bill are Philadelphia issues and not Republican and Democrat. Thank you.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the 12/16/01 - STATED - 2ND READING bill pass finally. The Clerk will please call the roll.