Good afternoon. I'm Lynn Landes of Smallstreetsphilly.org. Regarding Resolution 250221, where once again City Council is condemning President Trump. This time it's regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. City Council would do well to focus more of its attention on our own shortcomings, specifically on our own Department of Licenses and Inspections and the devastation brought down on many of our neighborhoods because either the regulations or the inspectors or both are inadequate to the job of ensuring that buildings are in good repair in Philadelphia. Too many buildings, some of which are historically important, are deliberately allowed to deteriorate beyond the point of salvation, as described in a recent Philadelphia Inquirer series Crumbling City. At the heart of the problem is a culture of complacency, the Philadelphia shrug, if you will, as well as some real engineering challenges when it comes to problems such as the complete removal and a replacement of a rowhome and its possible adverse impact on adjoining properties. The good news is that these are all solvable problems if we seriously focus on them and give them our best efforts. Thank you.
We have David Weisberg. May Ogbonna Hagins, Wanda Walker and Maddy Booth also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good afternoon, Council President Johnson, members of City Council. My name is David Weisberg. I use he/him pronouns. And I'm proud to serve as the Executive Development Communications Officer for Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia's largest comprehensive health and wellness center serving our LGBTQ community. When I learned earlier this week of the opportunity to come to City Council to provide support for a declaration of this week as National LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week in the City of Philadelphia, it felt like an important but rote exercise. For the past 23 years, this week in March has been a time to recognize our beautiful and diverse LGBTQ community and its unique health needs, from HIV to endocrine disorder to other prevalent vulnerabilities. While we've made great strides in these areas often through a partnership between the City and Mazzoni Center, we've not yet met our goals and there's much more work to be done. The sense that this was any kind of a rote exercise, however, changed dramatically over the past couple days when news began to surface of the Presidential administration's plans to potentially and perhaps very quickly shuttered the CDC Division of HIV Prevention, undermining decades of progress in our efforts to eradicate HIV. We should all understand this is not merely an attempt to deny vital healthcare to the LGBTQ community. It's an orchestrated campaign by this administration to deny the existence of LGBTQ people whatsoever. In this context, the declaration of this week is National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week in Philadelphia is not only a symbolic gesture, but an act of determination and defiance that our city will not step back in its efforts to provide the compassionate and affirmative care that our LGBTQ community needs and deserves. Indeed it will require increased efforts and participation on our behalf. And so, I urge members of City Council not only to make this valuable declaration about this week of awareness, but even more importantly to commit yourselves to increasing our partnership to care for some of the most marginalized members of our community. Our goal advanced in this proposal, which I will circulate to Council, for increased participation between the City and Mazzoni Center should be to eradicate HIV in Philadelphia and not as the administration in Washington wishes to ignore and erase the existence of a beautiful LGBTQ community that is a vital part of our vibrant city. Thank you. (Applause.)
Ogbonna Hagins, unseated council president and fourth generation chattel slavery survivor. I stand before you today not to speak against Donald Trump. That's not my focus. My focus is on the American Freedmen, the very people this body continues to ignore. You found the time and the energy and the urgency to write this resolution condemning the Donald Trump administration. You put your heads together, drafted language and stood firm to say this is wrong. But where is the same passion when it comes to the American Freedmen, the progeny of the emancipated, the cotton pickers, ones that hung from trees? Where is that same urgency? I submitted the redlining repair bill to this Council over a year ago -
Can you also talk about the condemning of Trump, which is germane to the resolution ahead of you, sir.
Jermaine or Tito, whatever, I'm staying exactly to this bill and this is not my time being taken away, brother, you know. You don't know what I'm going to continue with.
American Freedmen deserve the same priority you gave this resolution. Where is the outrage for the billions of lost wealth, the families robbed of generational stability and the economic despair that's left Freedmen communities vulnerable for crime and violence? You say you want to reduce crime, yet you ignore one of the root causes of crime, economic deprivation. It's very possible that if Freedmen home devaluation had not been deliberately devalued, right, maybe the drill killers wouldn't have been happening. Maybe the crime and violence that we see -
Mr. Ogbonna Hagins, can you speak on the title of the resolution please?
I am speaking on the resolution but you keep interrupting me, Council President.
Council President, you're not being right, brother. If I was a Jewish person standing up here, you wouldn't stop me from speaking.
Thank you, sir. That's enough. Please call the next speaker.
Wanda Walker and Maddy Booth. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, good afternoon, beautiful people. My name is Wanda Walker. And as always, I'm going to speak about generational wealth. So I would like to make a proposal or resolution that seniors should not have to pay property taxes. After 30 years of paying property taxes, they should get an abatement. You should not have to be poor or struggling to get a tax abatement. They've done their part and now we have to find other ways to get revenues. I think from hearing everyone speak today that there is a housing hustle going on. From 2020 to 2024, 53,000 people left Philadelphia. So where's the urgency for 30,000 new units? We have now discovered that everything our developers build are generally not affordable for the average Philadelphia person. Problem is we have low wages and our median income is only 35,000. We are the number one poorest big city. So we need to build our workforce. That means educate our children in the trades and the technology and then they can get the jobs for the development that the developers want to do. Right now I challenge everybody to go to a development site and find a Black person working on that site or a young person. It's a problem when they claim they're building something affordable that's not affordable for us, and we don't see us on those jobs. The jobs will make it possible for us to be able to afford what they're building. As it stands right now, only outsiders can afford the average house that's going up. Development starts at about 280 -
Ms. Walker, how are you doing? And you know we welcome your comments. But the bill you're speaking on is talking about condemning Trump. It has nothing to do with housing. And so, could you keep it -
I hear people talking about condemning Trump. And I would like to say don't focus so much on one person. We don't know if he'll make it through the whole term or not. We need to get ourselves together -(Laughter.)
I'm just telling the truth, you know me. We need to get ourselves together because funds are being cut and we need the funding. But when we do get the funding, we have to make sure we put it in the proper hands and the proper places. And rehabbing is one-third the price of developing something from the ground up. It would also supply jobs to the smaller contracts. So I'm just trying to use a little bit of common sense here. We need to get our kids educated for the development that Philadelphia is trying to do. Thank you. You sure you don't want me to do another five minutes?
Thank you, Council President and members of Council. Good morning or -- I don't know if it's afternoon yet. My name is Maddy Booth, and I am the proud CEO of Vetri Community Partnership, a local nonprofit founded by Chef Marc Vetri and restaurateur Jeff Benjamin to nourish minds, bodies and communities with nutrition education through cooking. I'm thrilled and excited that Councilmember Thomas and hopefully Council will recognize the need to mark March as National Nutrition Month here in Philadelphia. I'd like to take a few minutes to talk about why nutrition through cooking is important to build a healthier and happier Philadelphia. Now, I know at least some of you are thinking, here comes another lady to lecture us about eating our vegetables. You're a little bit right about that. Vetri Community Partnerships programs offer a really unique opportunity for kids and people of all ages to learn how to cook using nutritious ingredients, accessible techniques and delicious recipes. Our talented educators put the tools, including knives, into people's hands and offer age-appropriate instruction in how to cook nutritious, delicious recipes that help build a love of cooking and eating food that tastes good and nourishes your body. We teach anyone, any age, any skill level, any socioeconomic status how to cook. Cooking and nutrition go hand-in-hand. Research shows that self-perceived cooking skills, believing you're a good and capable cook leads to individuals making more nutritious choices for themselves and their families. This is particularly important in Philadelphia where data has shown that kids eat fewer than one serving of vegetables per day. Diet-related health conditions like hypertension and diabetes also impact adults across the city. While we can prevent and manage disease entirely through cooking and nutrition, we can certainly help people gain the skills and the confidence to cook and eat well. With our food and nutrition security partners and the task force newly-formed by City Council, we will continue to work to make Philadelphia a healthier, more joyful place to live. On behalf of our team -- hi team -I'm grateful to be here for the opportunity to talk to the esteemed members and members of the public about the importance of nutrition and cooking. And if you haven't yet joined us for a free cooking class, please come by. I do recognize 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING some faces. You have been in our teaching kitchen. You can find more information at our website, vetricommunity.org. And we look forward to seeing you all in our teaching kitchen.
Council President, there are no further names for public comment.
Thank you very much. We will now consider the bills and resolutions of the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. Will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 250221.
A resolution condemning the Trump Administration for its 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING reprehensible actions to drastically defund the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which will have a devastating -
-- which will have a devastating effect on the enforcement of fair housing laws, damage communities and escalate the affordable housing crisis.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau for a motion regarding Resolution No. 250221.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING
It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution No. 250221 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 240427-AA.
An ordinance amending Section 14-305, of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Nonconformities," by providing further provisions on changes from 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING nonconforming uses, all under certain terms and conditions.
Member Young, do you want to be acknowledged before I call up the bill?
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the 5th Councilmanic District, Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to provide a little bit of clarity on what this bill does. There seems to be some confusion. What this bill does is prevent bad actors from returning to a use that they have already abandoned, right. And essentially when it comes to 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING zoning, grandfather uses, you're considered to abandon your grandfather use once you change your use. And this particular piece of legislation just clarifies that by saying if you abandon a grandfather use without a zoning permit, which you are legally obligated to get a zoning permit for whatever use change you have unless it's a single family, you're obligated to get a zoning permit. And what this legislation does is if you change your use without getting a zoning permit, then you cannot go -- you don't have the benefit of going back to that grandfather use by-right. And so, that's what this legi -- this legislation aims to protect communities by allowing communities some say when there is 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING a change in use from a grandfathered use to a new use. And so, I've been working with my colleagues on this legislation, worked with the Administration on this legislation, worked with stakeholders on this legislation. And when it comes to the overall arching of nonconformities, the Administration and the Planning Commission specifically said that, yes, we need to take a look at this entire section of the Code. We were waiting on some changes. We never received that. So we moved forward with just working with the stakeholders that we've been working with on the legislation. But I wanted to thank my colleagues for their robust conversations around this legislation. We've again made some changes to exempt certain Districts 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING from colleagues who felt that this legislation will impact the District differently. I respect that wholeheartedly. But I'm going to ask my colleagues today for a yes vote on this legislation as we look to protect the public health, safety and welfare of some of the residents in the city.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill passe finally. Will the Chief Clerk please call the roll.
Councilmember Gilmore Richardson. COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING RICHARDSON: Aye.
Aye. The ayes are 15. The nays are 2. Majority of all members having voted in the affirmative the bill passes. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250066.
An ordinance amending Chapter 11-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Openings and Excavation in the Streets," to impose additional penalties on violators of underground permitting 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING requirements, under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jim Harrity for a motion.
Sorry, Council President. I make a motion to amend the bill. Is that what I'm doing?
You're amending Bill No. 250066. Has a copy of the amendment been circulated to all members of Council?
Yes, Councilman. I have it in front of me now. Thank you, Council 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 250066. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 250066 be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the bill has been amended. This bill will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING Council. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250100.
An ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk cafe in the vicinity of 177 Markle Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Will the Chief Clerk please call the roll.
Councilmember Gilmore Richardson. COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING RICHARDSON: Aye.
Aye. The ayes are 16. The nays are 0. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative the bill passes. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250 -Council will be at ease. Councilmember Thomas, would you like to be voted aye or nay on the last bill?
I vote aye. COUNCIL PRESIDENT 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING JOHNSON: Thank you. That's 17 to 0 for Bill No. 250100. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250147.
An ordinance authorizing PHILIPPIAN BAPTIST CHURCH or a subsequent owner to install, own and maintain an encroachment at 5801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19141, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Will the Chief Clerk please call the roll.
3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.
Aye. The ayes are 17. The nays are 0. Majority of all members having voted in the affirmative the bill passes. Will the Clerk please read any additional resolutions on today's Calendar.
A privileged resolution recognizing March as National Nutrition Month in the City of Philadelphia to 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING raise awareness of the importance of nutrition education and healthy eating habits, and to recognize the contributions of Vetri Community Partnership in promoting community health wellness. Introduced by Councilmember Thomas.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution should be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing March 2025 as "Creative and Nighttime Economies and Arts in Education Month" in the City of Philadelphia. Introduced by Councilmember Thomas.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Legislative 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING Oversight to hold hearings on the status, conditions, operations and economic factors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to ensure the future of this City cornerstone as we prepare to welcome the world in 2026. Introduced by Councilmember Thomas.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I definitely want to recognize Councilmember Jones, the District Councilperson for the museum and the great work that he does as well as yourself, Council President, who's on the Board of the museum. And as a collective body, we're always concerned about the workers there. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING So with that energy and with the support of my colleagues, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia for 35 years of dedicated service to those affected by violence in South Philadelphia and across the City. Introduced by Councilmember Jones on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes the Chair of Public Safety, Councilmember Curtis Jones, for a motion on the resolution.
On your behalf, Mr. President, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring the life and legacy of the honorable Phyllis W. Beck, retired judge of the Superior Court, who was a treasured member of the Philadelphia legal community, philanthropist, trailblazer and mentor. Introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Landau for a motion 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING
A privileged resolution declaring March 17th through the 21st, 2025 as National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week in the City of Philadelphia. Introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring and recognizing women in the City of Philadelphia who are leading impactful initiatives in health, wellness and fitness that empower, connect and uplift women. By Councilmember Lozada.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Lozada for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. 3/20/25 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution should be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.