Thank you. The clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 990495.
An ordinance amending Subsection PM of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code," by extending the emergency nuisance abatement program to include the 1st Ward, the 2nd Ward, the 39th A Ward, and FINAL READING - BILL 990495 the 39th B Ward.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass -
Will the clerk please read the title of Bill No. 990495. Thank you.
An ordinance amending Subcode PM of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code," by extending the emergency nuisance abatement program to include the 5th Ward.
This bill FINAL READING - BILL 990495 having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? The clerk will please call the roll.
Councilwoman Tasco is voting aye. Council President Verna?
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. FINAL READING - BILL 990605 The clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 990605.
An ordinance amending Subcode PM of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code," by extending the emergency nuisance abatement program to include the 1st Ward, the 2nd Ward, the 39th A Ward, and the 39th B Ward.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question mow is, shall the bill pass finally? The clerk will please call the roll.
Councilwoman Tasco is voting aye. Council President Verna?
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That concludes the calendar.
Are there any speeches on the part of -- Councilman Kenney, your light's on.
Okay. Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President, but I request to be last, Madam President. SPEECHES
I thank you. Are there any speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. As many people may know by now, there's been reports in the media as to a potential health crisis with our firefighters, and potentially, for that matter, with for police officers relative to the issue of Hepatitis C. And the fact that our paramedics and firefighters are always, along with our police, on the scene first of a disaster or a catastrophe, whether they're crawling through a floor of a fire of a dwelling that's fully involved, where there's crack needles and crack vials on the floor, or whether or not they're on the scene of an accident where there is a large amount of blood and other body fluids that they need to deal with as a result of their duty. A couple things. I think that every firefighter and police officer should be tested. Home Access is a company in Pennsylvania which is providing to our firefighters now free testing SPEECHES kits which allow for the anonymous testing of our employees in this regard. They are not exposed by name but simply will be able to learn the results as to whether or not they are in fact infected with Hepatitis C. If all of our firefighters and police officers obtain the test or go through the testing process, which is very simple and done at home, we can get at least an idea as to what the problem may be as a result of the results of those tests. I think the City has a responsibility to what are our frontline troops here in the City of Philadelphia to do whatever is necessary to provide the resources and to do whatever is appropriate to support these firefighters -- right now, there's about 30 that have been tested and have tested positive. There is more testing ongoing as we speak. I think we need to work with the Fire Commissioner, with the City Administration, and with Council's Committee on Public Safety and Public Health to determine what exactly is an appropriate response to this problem facing our loyal and brave employees. This potentially could SPEECHES be a statewide problem or even a national problem so that, hopefully, we may be able to tap into resources that we may need in order to address the problem appropriately. The issue now is time. Assuming we find out how many people are involved and infected with this disease, the better we will be able to respond to it and the more cost-effective we may be able to respond to it. As time go on and people have obtained the virus and go untested and untreated, down the road, the cost that may face the City in potential liver transplants, which is the ultimate result of not being treated properly, could rise into the tens or twenties or hundreds of millions of dollars. So what I would urge is all of our firefighters and police officers to obtain the test, and for the City and the Police Commissioner and Council work together to monitor the situation and to find out what the extent of the problem is, and then to work forcefully and effectively to respond to these people so that their lives can be safe and that their families won't be devastated SPEECHES economically by this hardship. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Council Madam President, I think in its first year of independence that this City Council has received the approval of the voters of Philadelphia because all 12 Democrats and 3 Republican incumbents were elected by the people of Philadelphia. And I think it's a tremendous compliment and shows that people in Philadelphia understand the City Council. Thank you very much, and congratulations to everyone.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to add some comments about the election as well, but I want to say to Councilman Cohen that I both appreciate his comments, and I'm SPEECHES assuming that this is a new era of length of speech for Councilman Cohen. (Laughter.)
I believe it may have been the shortest in his time here. I'm looking forward to that in the new term. Seriously, Madam President, a lot has been said in the course of this campaign and election season and a lot has been written. And I, too, am pleased about everyone's return, but I feel compelled to make a few comments. In the heat of these kinds of battles and given some of individuals that were involved because of our personal and political relationships with them, a lot of things have happened in the course of this election season. And I just want to say that whether on the floor here in Council among colleagues or even on occasions with staff or people that we know or other friends that we have, in the course of that battle and in the heat of the activity that happens, a lot of things get said and a lot of things are done. We are public officials who are SPEECHES required to at times express very private feelings, but often in a very public fashion. And to any of my colleagues or staff here in the building or other individuals, for myself, any of the things that I may have said or done in the course of the campaign, if it made people uncomfortable, I certainly regret that, but I certainly continue to reserve the right to speak my mind when I feel compelled to do so, to try to do the right thing. But we understand that we're mature elected officials here and we know how to conduct the business of the City of Philadelphia. In my view at least -- and I learned this many, many years ago. Councilman Kenney and I had the occasion to play high school football, and I learned from a great coach that when the contest is over, it is over, and you're required by sportsmanship to extend a hand, to go over to whoever you had the day with and how ever things turned out, to congratulate them for how things went, for how the contest was conducted. And I've certainly done that. I've had an opportunity to talk to Mayor-elect Street and expect to talk to him in the days and weeks ahead. SPEECHES And so, for me, the election and the campaign and the rhetoric that go along with it really did come to a conclusion at 8 o'clock on Tuesday. We have business to do. I bring the same enthusiasm and excitement and energy and time that I've tried to display here in this body and which I bring to the conclusion of this term and certainly to January. I expect that we will work together, and we will be successful. We will agree on many things, and at times, we may disagree. But we will be respectful in those disagreements because the disputes between and among politicians are of less interest to the citizens of this city than the work that we do and the performance that we put out on our field here in City Council. And so I'm, with great excitement, looking forward to a new term. I think the days will be exciting. We will conduct the business of this city in a respectful fashion. We have a job to do, and I'm fully prepared to do that job going forward. And so I look forward to working with everyone. SPEECHES Generally, I'll probably just continue to be my normal, regular self here, over on the side. From time to time, I may talk on the phone even. But I look forward to working with you, Madam President, as we go forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
In the same vein as Councilman Nutter, I think we've had one of the most interesting elections I've ever been in in the City of Philadelphia. Obviously, it's been the closest election that has ever been in the City of Philadelphia. And it seems that it's not even over yet, as my friend Frank DiCicco just commented to me. But the commentaries have been and the questions have always been put forward by a lot of editorial boards about how this Council is going to react and act. I've been here 15 years. I don't ever think that this Council ever acted irresponsibly in my tenure here. I wasn't here when there were fights on the floor in City SPEECHES Council and that's what they keep on bringing up. I believe this Council has acted responsibly in the last seven years. There's been a new climate in the Council, a climate of discourse and opinions and openness in which every Councilperson is able to present his or her ideas, discuss them openly and publicly. And I think that we will have that atmosphere continue. I think that too many issues, during the last seven years, did not get the public discourse that they needed, and I believe that this time around, that is not going to happen again. We are going to move this city into the 21st century. We are going to create a middle class in this city. We are going to bring back the population to this city. I think that we all have to commit ourselves to, one, the creation of a tax base within our boundaries of the County of Philadelphia, and, two, the regrowth of our population and the creation of a city that it is not only for tourists but for all of the citizens that live here. So I believe that if we do that -- and I think this Council is committed to doing that, SPEECHES and I believe that we will also, with a new Charter change, have a greater responsibility with the educational system, and we have to be vigilant that the changes do not bring patronage, that they do not bring abuse, and that they actually do what they were structured to do -- bring accountability to the system and make the Mayor more accountable and make this Council more accountable for the success of our educational system. And I believe that this Council is ready. I think the additions to this Council of Blondell Reynolds and Wilson Goode will make us even stronger, and I believe that we will move forward in that manner and with that purpose. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair at this time recognizes Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. I agree with all of the comments expressed by Councilman Ortiz, save one. The question of the charter change and the educational supplement is far from decided. The number of no-votes was highly significant and all of the SPEECHES legal issues remain as to the rest, and the question in my judgment is that this will not be going into effect as of the scheduled date because it will be up to the courts. I agree with everything that's otherwise been said. We have to remember in the Council that our main responsibility is to the voters who sent us here. And if we keep that mind and any other sentiments expressed, I think this is going to be a very successful four years. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark.
Thank you, Madam President. I express my appreciation and congratulations to my colleagues, all of whom won in a hotly-contested race, and the citizens of Philadelphia have chosen well in selecting you. While I have chosen to retire at the end of this session, my respect, admiration, and love for you as individuals and for the unique work that this Council does remains unabated. I SPEECHES will be watching you and cheering your exploits because I know that these little bare-knuckle fights keep our corpuscles moving, but that each of you has nestled in your heart what is best for the city and, the city is in good hands. Thank you.
Thank you. I had said in the caucus that I was extremely proud of each and every one of my colleagues, and I wanted to offer my congratulations to them. I know that we all are working for the same goals. Will we always agree on every issue? Absolutely not. But I will tell you, as a body, we all want to see the same things: we want Philadelphia to be a better place, to work, and to rear our children. I think if we work together, we could all sees those things accomplished. And I, too, am looking for many wonderful things to be happening in the next four years, and I am very, very excited about it. At this time, I would like to recognize Longstreth.
Madam SPEECHES President, I think that everyone in this room and most Americans recognize the fact that the fastest-growing segment of the American population are those of us who are fortunate enough to be 65 years of age or more. (Laughter.)
During the pre-election data that was developed by our friends at the editorial boards of the two newspapers in town, it was suggested that Councilman Cohen and I step back because of our advanced years. Well, it gives me great pleasure to tell you, if you failed to notice it, that Mr. Cohen led the Democratic candidates for at-large in his total votes recorded, and I led the Republicans for the total votes recorded. And I would like to simply say that the I'm glad that the people were a little more discerning than the newspapers. (Laughter.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. SPEECHES
Thank you, Madam President. Earlier today when William Penn was here, some of us may have noticed him looking over at Councilman Longstreth's empty desk. The Councilman was out on some business. And I think it was just to say hello to him, 'cause the questions I get asked most about Councilman Longstreth are, is it true he introduced William Penn to his wife? (Laughter.)
Is it true that when William Penn left Philadelphia, he had a deal with Thacher that Thacher would stay and play football for Princeton? And was it also true that the only time William Penn came back was to watch Thacher play football at Princeton? But we have among us someone that's, I think, as important to the history of Philadelphia as William Penn, and certainly a treasure. And when you talk about loyalty, I think those people that have had Thacher as a friend can attest to his loyalty, but loyalty to one's alma mater, I would question anyone can match Thacher's record. SPEECHES He played football for Princeton so he attended all the games when he was there. But for decorated service in World War II, he has attended every Princeton football game home and away since then. And that's a period, I believe, of over 60 years. Today, Thacher is celebrating his 80th birthday, and -- at least he says it's his 80th; William Penn might have some other numbers for us. (Laughter.)
But it's his official 80th birthday, and I would ask us to share in Philadelphia's joy on Thacher's reaching this milestone two days after his reelection, and I would ask Councilman DiCicco -- who I believe at least thinks he has the best voice in City Council and may actually have it, but Thacher would be the only one to compete with him -- to start us in a rendition of "Happy Birthday," and if we could stand and celebrate it, I would appreciate it.
That would be great. ("Happy Birthday" sung to Councilman ADJOURNMENT Longstreth.) (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark for a motion to adjourn.
Madam President, I move that this body be adjourned till Thursday -
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Wednesday, November 10, 1999. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. And Council will stand adjourned until Wednesday, November 10, 1999. ADJOURNMENT (Adjourned at 11:40 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, November 4, 1999 were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter