Stated Meeting 1 02/01/2024 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, February 1, 2024 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK F. SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting 2 02/01/2024
Good morning, everyone. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. The Council will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire to their seats outside the rails. Before proceeding, I will ask all those present to please set your cell phones to silent or vibrate. Thank you. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Brother Mohammed Shariff of Center City Mosque, also a resident in the 2nd Councilmanic District. He is here today as the guest of Councilmember Mark Squilla. I will ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers and guests rise.)
Good morning. Stated Meeting 3 02/01/2024 rise just yet. I was going to give a little I guess introduction before the invocation. I just want everyone to know something, that I really love the City of Philadelphia. I love this City. I truly love the City. I would not be who I am today without the City of Philadelphia. I love the wonderful people here, the wonderful organizations. I love the wonderful facilities that this City has offered me so much. I wasn't born here. I wasn't even raised here. I settled down here about 11 years ago upon marrying my wife and I live very close to the historical YMCA on Christian Street. In fact, that is where I met Kenyatta Johnson. Another reason why I love this City is because it is open to the worship of God. Specifically, it's open to houses of worship and Stated Meeting 4 02/01/2024 synagogues. And in Arabic we call a mosque a masjid. And this is why I love the City of Philadelphia. See, you have to know something. My great-grandparents are from a land that was colonized by the United Kingdom and it caused a lot of ethnic cleansing and racial divisions. And unfortunately, that racial tension and discrimination last until today. And that resulted in and it unfortunately does result in the demolition of mosques. And that's what millions of Muslims have to deal with in that land called India today. But we're still blessed that in this blessed city we have the freedom to have a house of worship, to have a church or a synagogue or a mosque, and other people don't have that. And I'm so grateful to be Stated Meeting 5 02/01/2024 of Philadelphia. Even really, really holy lands, every mosque is being destroyed. Every hospital has been destroyed to the point where any remnants of being Muslim or Islam is being removed. But here in Philadelphia that's not permitted. In fact, you enjoy other religions and we have the freedom to do that. You know, several weeks ago at the United Muslim Islamic Center in South Philadelphia, unfortunately due to some ignorant people it was desecrated and vandalized. But Kenyatta Johnson stood up. He made it clear that in the City of Philadelphia houses of worship were to be safe and protected. And real quick, Councilman Squilla told me to tell everybody this story. See, in Center City Philadelphia there are thousands of Stated Meeting 6 02/01/2024 live here, but there is not one single mosque in Center City Philadelphia. And that's what we live with every day. However, when the St. John's Church on 12th and Market learned that we had no mosque, they offered us to use the back of their church, a room, to assemble for Friday prayer, and we've been doing that for 10 years. They have been so hospitable to us, allowing us to have our Jummah or Friday prayer, communal prayer together. And knowing that we were looking for a property, Brother Howard Bernstein, a Jewish friend of ours introduced me and met me at his property on 1320 Walnut Street, and I let him know that us Muslims are looking for a place to build and to pray and to worship. He looked at me and he had tears because he realized there was Stated Meeting 7 02/01/2024 City of Philadelphia. He said to me, I'll sell it to, Mohammed, for an affordable price so that maybe you can buy it and start a mosque and bring some hope to people who are hopeless living on the street. And hope is what Councilman Squilla said is what people need. Hope is the establishment of these houses of worship in the City of Philadelphia. Hope is like the Center City Mosque, and it will give it. And guess what, 19 days ago on January 12th God blessed us with the opportunity to purchase that property.
How beautiful is the City of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, the City that I love and the one that you work for. In this beautiful City of Stated Meeting 8 02/01/2024 the strife that's going on in the world, a Muslim who has been renting a room from a church for more than 10 years meets a Jewish store owner who sells him his property at an affordable price. All this is done by the grace of God. Now, in Islam when we begin to recite the Quran, we say Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem, which means in the name of God, the most merciful, the most beneficent. And it said in Chapter 57, Verse 25 God says, (Arabic translation) which means, Indeed we sent our messengers, we sent our messengers with clear proofs and with them we sent down the scripture and the balance of justice so that people may administer the justice. When God says that he sent down the messengers, he's referring to all messengers; Abraham, Moses, Stated Meeting 9 02/01/2024 Ishmael, Noah, Jacob, Muhammad. Peace be upon them all. He sent them down and then he sent down the scripture, the books and the skills. The skills mean the skills or the balance of justice. He sent these things down so that people will stand for justice and as people of faith who follow messages of God, I remind you respectfully that we cannot allow prejudices or our vices to get in the way. We cannot allow our own desires for worldly gain to prevent us to do what is right. We cannot allow our fears or the lobbying efforts of other people to prevent us to do from what -- to prevent us from doing what is just, especially the beloved Councilmembers here today. Those who are entrusted to govern society must be those who stand for justice. Stated Meeting 10 02/01/2024 Arabic, the word dua means invocation. And I begin our invocation today with, All praises and thanks are due to our creator, our nurturer, our provider of all things. Oh Lord, we thank you for the countless blessings that you shower upon all of us. We thank you for every meal, every piece of clothing and every breath of air that we take. Our Lord, please help the people of Philadelphia and the people around the world. Oh Lord, we see the torment, the killings, the murder and the bullets flying across this City and across the world, and we beg of you to provide a ceasefire, a cease to all that is inhumane, a complete stop to the treachery. Oh Lord, we see our fellow brothers and sisters in this City and across the world occupied by Stated Meeting 11 02/01/2024 drugs, occupied by addiction, occupied by depression and occupied by evil people. We pray, our Lord, to end this occupation of all people and all places and please replace it with safety and peace. Our Lord above the heavens, we pray for the City Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson, Mark Squilla, Jaime Gauthier, Curtis Jones, Jeffrey Young, Quetcy Lozada, Cindy Bass, Michael Driscoll, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Anthony Phillips, Brian O'Neil, Nina Ahmad, Rue Landau, Isaiah Thomas, Jim Harrity, Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O'Rourke. Make these City Councilmembers one that are brave and strong and speak the truth. Make this City Council one that works today for not a special interest but for all interests, and protect those, our Lord. Protect those who are poor, those who suffer Stated Meeting 12 02/01/2024 sickness and physical illness. Give aid to the refugees. Provide an ease to the widows and protect and provide ease to the orphans. I am the (Arabic translation), which means, Oh God, please give us good in this life and the hereafter, and please protect us from the fire. Amen. Thank you so much. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks Brother Shariff for his invocation. (Applause.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, January 25, 2024. Stated Meeting 13 02/01/2024 recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, January 25, 2024 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, January 25, 2024 stand approved. All those in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is request for leaves of absence. Stated Meeting 14 02/01/2024 Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Majority, there are no requests for leave of absence today.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Minority Leader Councilmember Brooks for request for leaves of absence.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. On behalf of the Minority, there are no requests for leave of absences today.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council Stated Meeting 15 02/01/2024 not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar and a motion placing a resolution on or returning a resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice Stated Meeting 16 02/01/2024 actions by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matter stated by Councilmember Gilmore Richardson may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of this session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Stated Meeting 17 02/01/2024 will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize guests and visitors joining us in the chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend the legislative affairs of our great city. We certainly invite you to come again. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson who will present a resolution honoring the African American Children's Book Project on the occasion of its 32nd Annual African American Children's Book Fair. Would Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati and those companying her please join the podium. Also joining Councilmember Gilmore Richardson will be Councilman Squilla, Stated Meeting 18 02/01/2024 Driscoll, Councilman Phillips, Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Gauthier, Councilman Thomas, Councilman Harrity, Councilman O'Rourke and Councilmember O'Neill.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. It is certainly my humble honor and privilege to continue in our pre-pandemic tradition and also in the tradition of my mentor, former Councilmember Blondell Reynolds-Brown to present the annual resolution to the African American Children's Book Fair. So we're honoring the African American Children's Book Project on the occasion of its 32nd Annual African American Children's Book Fair, whereas with the reported double digit illiteracy rate in Philadelphia, the need never ceases Stated Meeting 19 02/01/2024 attention to the urgency of giving children access to the books that will empower, enrich and enlighten them on their literary journey. If you can't read, you can't succeed. The African American Children's Book Project understands that a literate population is a working goal-oriented population, thus benefiting all. And whereas the African American Children's Book Project, which was founded in 1992 by Vanessa Lloyd-Sgambati -- give her a round of applause. (Applause.)
Was created to promote and preserve children's literature written by and about Black Americans. To achieve these efforts, the African American Children's Book Project collaborates with authors, illustrators, Stated Meeting 20 02/01/2024 publishers, book sellers, educators, librarians, consumers and corporate entities committed to promoting literacy. Books can change lives, especially when young readers see their images in the reading material and whereas the African American Children's Book Project understands that reading is a personal experience, and access and choice are one of the hallmarks of their programming. Their stellar youth programs include book fairs, book signings, workshops, I read to See Me program, author, illustrator and virtual inschool visits. Educating consumers on trends, resources and youth literature, guidance on establishing home libraries and advocacy initiatives to promote Black American children's literature around the world and whereas the Stated Meeting 21 02/01/2024 the African American Children's Book Project is in response to numerous studies that show that children who read outside of their normal school coursework tend to excel in other aspects of their lives. The African American Children's Book Project emphasizes in their programs for children preschool to young adult the importance of not only giving access, but also giving choice of what they read, books that will nourish and encourage them to seek greater opportunities in life. The African American Children's Book Fair is that destination to achieve this goal and -
Whereas the African American Children's Book Fair is one of the oldest and largest single day events for Stated Meeting 22 02/01/2024 children books in the country, with an average yearly attendance of more than 3500. It is a true book fair that brings national award-winning authors and illustrators for children from PreK to young adult to Philadelphia. These presenters, American Library and New York Times best-selling authors and illustrators, they are the stars of the book industry that have produced some of the best books of our generation and -
And whereas rich or poor, no one leaves empty-handed, as the books themselves are priced to the level where they are more affordable. The legendary literary row gives away free-of-charge posters, bookmarks, postcards and resource information on literary trends. The Educators Book Giveaway program allows teachers and Stated Meeting 23 02/01/2024 receive free books of our guest presenters to use in the classroom or libraries and --
Whereas Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati is the founder and CEO of the African American Children's Book Project. As a literary consultant, she is a much sought-after expert on trends on diverse books and how to incorporate these books into homes, schools and libraries. She created the book fair because she believes that all children should have access to books that reflect their images. With the book fair now in its 32nd year, it is clear that Lloyd-Sgambati's vision continues to resonate around the world. Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati's effort has put Philadelphia on a literacy map as an important destination for children's books. The organization's virtual events have attracted a global Stated Meeting 24 02/01/2024 2021 Annual Book Fair attracted 3,000 viewers from Rome, Paris, London, Albania, Botswania, London and the four corners of the United States. Many want to come to Philadelphia to see literary magic at work in person and -
Whereas each year to kick off Black History Month, the African American Children's Book Project honors people in the community who open the pages of books and keep the literary flames ablaze not only in Philadelphia but across the country.
Whereas this year's book fair will highlight individuals who've made contributions to literacy either from the written word or as corporate partners and -
Whereas Stated Meeting 25 02/01/2024 is an award-winning radio executive who serves as the Senior Vice-president of Programming for iHeart Media Philadelphia, which he oversees seven different radio branches, which serve a variety of different varieties and cultures within the Delaware Valley area. D.C., assuming that's you?
As he is commonly known, his reputation is one of the most respected and innovative programmers in the country by working in multiple formats with multiple genres and overseeing an anomaly of prestigious talent. Corbett, also D.C., has spent the last 20 years of his three-decade career programming some of the most influential urban stations in America, and for the Stated Meeting 26 02/01/2024 12 years have been at the helm of the nationally recognized powerhouse WDAS-FM and WUSL-FM Power 99 in Philadelphia. He's an active member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy as well as being a BIM-affiliated member. Corbett is a graduate of North Carolina A&T, HBCU, State University and -
Whereas Stephanie Mays Boyd has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She currently serves as a member of the Senior Management Team as Director of Sales and Marketing with ASM at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Stated Meeting 27 02/01/2024 Boyd provides leadership to the dynamics -provides leadership to a dynamic sales and service team by creating sound strategies that yield $7 million of revenue to the City yearly. She is an active leader, volunteer, philanthropist, fundraiser and contributor to the community of Philadelphia. She places a high level of interest and contributions with nonprofit and academic organizations that advocate the welfare and advancement of women, diversity and inclusion, children, youth and arts and --
Whereas Glenda Armand is the author of over a dozen books for children. Her books highlight the achievements of African Americans both famous such as Frederick Douglass, Love Stated Meeting 28 02/01/2024 Long, and little known like Blind Tom Wiggins and Augustus Jackson, the subject of Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better. Glenda was born in New Orleans and raised in Los Angeles, which she wrote about in her book, All Aboard the Schooltrain: A Little Story from the Great Migration. She has had a long career as a teacher of prekindergarten through 8th grade and as a middle and high school librarian. These roles have prepared her as a second act as an author of children's books. Glenda feels that through her writing she's still teaching and instilling in children a lifelong love of reading. This is a dream come true and -
Whereas Shawn Martinbrough is the author of Stated Meeting 29 02/01/2024 Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling, published by Penguin Random House, and an Eisner award-nominated artist whose projects include Batman/Detective Comics, Luke Cage Noir, the Black Panther, Hellboy, Promethee 13:13 and Thief of Thieves, the graphic novel series co-created with Robert Kirkman. Shawn is the writer of Red Hood for D.C. comics. His two-part story features the Gotham City neighborhood of the Hill, which introduces new characters to the Batman universe. Shawn is co-author of Judge Kim and the Kid's Court. It's going to be Judge Sadie by the time it gets to my granddaughter. A new children's book series from Simon & Schuster and is the artist of Like Lava in my Veins, the best selling kid's book with Stated Meeting 30 02/01/2024 Derrick D. Barnes. Shawn created story boards and the art for Netflix Blood Brothers Documentary and for Mike Tyson: The Knockout. He is a Vanity Fair contributor and Shawn's art work has been showcased at the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York and -
Whereas the free 2024 African American Children's Book Fair will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024 live in person at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and whereas Council has no doubt that this year's iteration of the book fair will meet all the lofty expectations inspired by its history of excellence. We encourage all of our City residents, young and old alike, to discover for the first time for once again the wonders to Stated Meeting 31 02/01/2024 in the pages of a good book. Now, therefore be it resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia that we hereby honor the African American Children's Book Project on the occasion of its 32nd Annual African American Children's Book Fair and further resolve that in gross copies of this resolution be presented to the African American Children's Book Project further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Vanesse LloydSgambati for remarks.
Thank you so much, Katherine. I remember the first time I got this award. You were -- the resolution. You were an intern, and this is a full Stated Meeting 32 02/01/2024 for me. President Kenyatta Johnson, I want to acknowledge that and a dear friend of mine, Chris Sample who was instrumental in making sure a lot of things happened for me here in City Council. My Councilman Curtis Jones, I got him on speed dial. You know, I'm a constituent. You know the kind I'm talking about. And I also want to acknowledge Cindy Bass, Kendra Brooks, Jamie Gauthier and Anthony Phillips. Anthony Phillips was an intern many moons ago at the African American Children's Book Fair. And every time I see him or hear about someone like him, I know that the future is bright for this City of Philadelphia. If you ever have any doubt that the future is not bright, come to the book fair. Lines wrapped around the corner. Stated Meeting 33 02/01/2024 singing and dancing. It's all about books. Parents come buy armloads of books to refurbish their home libraries. But I also want to acknowledge here because it's very important for me the people who've been a very important thread of the tapestry of the African American Children's Book Project which produces the African American Children's Book Fair, Derrick Corbett. He is Philly-bred now I like to say because he's been here long enough that we own him. But if he should write -- if you want the playbook on how to be a success and have integrity but also defined by kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness, his employees are here. Patty Jackson, Lorraine Ballard Morrill and I see Frankie Darcell somewhere in the -- oh, straight ahead in the mix, taking Stated Meeting 34 02/01/2024 of their busy day to come to support him. I've known him for 28 years and he never changes. He is a kind, thoughtful person and that's how I define him above everything that he's accomplished. Stephanie Boyd, when they said to me, Community College, who I adore, we have outgrown the space. I didn't know what we were going to do in the midst of COVID and they said we couldn't do it. I picked up the phone and called my soror Stephanie Boyd. And she said, No problem, we're in the big house now. Imagine a Black woman created something and we're at the Pennsylvania Convention Center because the people who come needed the space. They needed the visibility and they needed the access. Reading is a very important part of my life. I wake up in the Stated Meeting 35 02/01/2024 the beginning to the end, I'm on the phone with publishers asking for books that reflect our images, begging authors and illustrators to come. And this year all the major stars who have won awards for the American Library Association will be in Philadelphia. And you know what's really good? The kids when they come in the door, they get a free book. Not a book like -- we call them dumpster books in the industry, but a book that reflects their images. And the person who wrote and illustrated the book is there. Imagine what that ownership means. I was listening to Shawn Martinbrough and his description of the things. He's known as the King of Black comics. I mean, this guy is huge in the comic book world. And of course, I want to close out and mention this wonderful book that Stated Meeting 36 02/01/2024 wrote and it's really fascinating. It's called The Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson made a Sweet Treat Better. Do you realize that he was 9 years old, a freed person who went to the White House at 9 years old. He's working in the kitchen serving the Presidents of the United States.
We know a lot of 9 year olds. This man was freed. He ended up being one of the richest Black men in Philadelphia. Most of us don't know that story, and this is why I do what I do. He cultivated modern day ice crime. Some of us remember when we used to put salt to churn that ice cream. This was his invention. And one of my favorite ice creams, mint chocolate chip, he created it, okay. So this is the reason why I do what I do, because these are stories that need to be told. So when our kids Stated Meeting 37 02/01/2024 there, they can look up and they can say, I'm part of a generation of people who brought something to this country. And I end this by saying a book opens up a world of opportunities. Whenever I think of where I began and where I am now, it was always about reading some book or something. I'm as comfortable on the Champs-Élysées as I am walking down Broad Street. And I end this because I remember the first time I came to this mic. Anna Verna was the City Council President. Io faccio bene tutti, speriamo ci vedi domani. Now, y'all want to know what I just said. I said, I want to thank everyone and I want good will and I will see you tomorrow. )
Council will be at ease. Stated Meeting 38 02/01/2024 (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-at-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body, a resolution appointing Elizabeth Woods to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District; and A resolution appointing Louis Tice to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District; and A resolution appointing Paul Levy to the Board of Directors of the Center City District, all under Stated Meeting 39 02/01/2024 certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any our communications he has in his possession.
The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilman Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions for introduction.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Stated Meeting 40 02/01/2024 Mr. President. Today I offer one privileged resolution.
The Clerk will read the title of the resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing February 2024 is Career and Technical Education Month in the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
Thank you, Council President. Today I offer five bills and one non-privileged resolution.
The Clerk will please read the titles of the bills and resolution.
An ordinance amending Section 14-702, of The Stated Meeting 41 02/01/2024 Philadelphia Code, entitled "Floor Area, Height, and Dwelling Unit Density Bonuses," to add requirements related to the use of payments in lieu of building affordable housing to receive floor area, building height and dwelling unit density bonuses; and amending Section 14-533, entitled "/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District," to add requirements related to the use of payments in lieu of building affordable housing; and An ordinance submitting Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes and Collections, by adding a new Chapter 19-4600 entitled, "Low-Income Tax Provisions," providing for the refund or forgiveness of real estate tax liability of certain low-income residents attributable to real estate tax increases and increases Stated Meeting 42 02/01/2024 in the assessed value of the taxpayer's homestead; and An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination," to clarify and enhance protections against housing discrimination for housing assistance program participants; and An ordinance providing for the submission of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for mandatory annual appropriations for the Housing Trust Fund; and An ordinance amending Section 21-1600, entitled "Housing Trust Fund."
Stated Meeting 43 02/01/2024 The following bills read will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, further providing for mandatory annual appropriations for the Housing Trust Fund. This is for referral to committee.
The following resolution read will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I have two resolutions.
The Clerk will read the titles of the resolutions. Stated Meeting 44 02/01/2024
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold hearings to investigate the City's progress on its carbon neutrality goals to meaningfully participate in the planet-wide effort to mitigate the effects of global warming; and A privileged resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charisse McGill, founder of Lokal Artisan Foods, for her enduring dedication to the City of Philadelphia as a businesswoman and organizer.
The following privileged resolutions will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Curtis Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have three resolutions and Stated Meeting 45 02/01/2024 one bill.
The Clerk will please read the titles of the bills and resolution.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," to create a distinction between hospitals and alcohol or substance use rehabilitation facilities; and A privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold public hearings to explore the effects of recent Rite Aid and pharmacy closures in Philadelphia, understand the impact this has on prescription access and vital pharmacy health services for senior citizens, and examine the use of urgent care centers to fill the void in prescription care; and A privileged resolution Stated Meeting 46 02/01/2024 authorizing the Joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings investigating the mapping out of trauma centers across the City and how they are selected when transporting shooting victims; and A non-privileged resolution also naming the 1200 Block of North 58th Street "Waverly B. Woodson, Jr. Way."
The following bills read will be placed on -- the following bills read will be referred to the appropriate committee. The following privileged resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. And the following non-privileged resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. Stated Meeting 47 02/01/2024 The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Good morning, Council President -- good morning, Council President. No bills or resolutions today.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Quetcy Lozada.
Thank you, Council President. Today I offer one resolution.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A non-privileged resolution establishing the Kensington Caucus to represent a united legislative front in addressing the crisis in the Kensington area.
Stated Meeting 48 02/01/2024 This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Good morning, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one non-privileged resolution.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A non-privileged resolution for referral appointing Paul Levy to the Board of Directors of the Center City District.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council.
Stated Meeting 49 02/01/2024 The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Good morning, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jim Harrity.
Good morning, Council President. I have one privileged resolution today.
Will the Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing and supporting the recognition of February 2024 as American Heart Month.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting 50 02/01/2024 The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke.
Thank you, Council President. I have nothing to introduce.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Mike Squi -- Driscoll.
Council President, I offer one privileged resolution and two bills.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bills and resolution.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land within an area bounded by Salmon Street, Ontario Street, Richmond Street and Westmoreland Street; and An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing Stated Meeting 51 02/01/2024 the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Holme Avenue, Academy Road and Willits Road; and A privileged resolution celebrating a Lunar New Year in the City of Philadelphia.
The following bills read will be referred to the appropriate committee. The privileged resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Neill.
Mr. President, thank you. I have no bills or resolutions.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Mark Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. Stated Meeting 52 02/01/2024 I offer one bill and two resolutions.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bill and the resolutions.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Wood Street, 4th Street, Vine Street and Lawrence Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution for referral appointing Louis Trice to the Board of Directors for the Old City's Special Services District; and A non-privileged resolution for referral appointing Elizabeth Stated Meeting 53 02/01/2024 Woods to the Board of Directors to the Old City Special Services District.
These resolutions will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two resolutions, one privileged, one non-privileged. Thank you.
Will the Clerk please read the titles of the resolutions.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia City Council to hold hearings and meetings investigating stop-and-go establishments that violate restaurant liquor license Stated Meeting 54 02/01/2024 requirements and further diminish the health, safety and well-being of the surrounding community.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing the nonprofit Half A Million Kids to bring awareness to children living in the foster care system and ways Philadelphia can work collaboratively to help find permanent homes for foster kids.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one privileged resolution to offer.
Stated Meeting 55 02/01/2024 2ND READING Will the Clerk please read the title of the resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing Pioneering Economist and Professor Dr. Bernard E. Anderson on the occasion of Black History Month.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. There being no reports from committees today, the next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. As there are no bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for the purpose of calling up resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions is Stated Meeting 56 02/01/2024 being called up for the Second Reading and Final Passage today: Nos. 240032, 240033, 240034, 240042, 240045, 240048, 240049 and 240050.
Thank you. Before considering these resolutions, we will consider public comment as follows: Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at today's Council session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already signed up for today's session, please do so now by giving your name to the Sergeant-at-Arms at the table to my left. Once you have signed up, you will be called in the order in which your name appears on the sign-up sheet. Under ideal circumstances, public commenters will each have Stated Meeting 57 02/01/2024 three minutes to speak. However, this time limit may vary from session-to-session. Today the time limit will be two minutes based upon the significant number of individuals who will be commenting on certain resolutions that are presented before us today. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the two-minute limit. When you begin speaking, you will see a green light on the podium. Where there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, the light will turn yellow which is your reminder to conclude your remarks. Once the two minutes has passed, the light will turn red and the Sergeant-at-Arms will disconnect the microphone. At that point, please yield the podium to the next speaker if you have not already done so. I also reserve the right Stated Meeting 58 02/01/2024 pursuant to our rules of Council to limit repetitious comments on the same matter. I will now ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker.
Please come to the microphone and give your comments. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you. I will ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our speaker.
Okay. I am here in support of the implementation of 140 recommendations for the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia. There's a recommendation there Stated Meeting 59 02/01/2024 specifically for Philly youth. I wanted to share a personal story. My son, 10 years old, has been participating in a nonprofit community soccer team. The entire time we've been on the soccer team his coach has been trying to get us a full field bill to be our home team. We practice now at 12th and Cambria. Rebuild came to Fotterall Square just four blocks away. I'm sorry. Our team came to quite a few meetings for a rebuild. Our coach is so well connected that he had investors who would pay for the field to be built in conjunction with the City. I don't want to use my full time beating a dead horse, but Fotterall Square used $3.9 million with Rebuild and we were not heard and will continue to struggle for a home field. Under this same agenda item, Stated Meeting 60 02/01/2024 I'd like to produce a reality, the poverty-to-prison pipeline taking the route of illiteracy. 52 percent of Philadelphians are functionally illiterate and that's cited from the Read by 4th website. Meaning, they can barely read bills, job applications or homework instructions for their children. I don't know about you but if I could not read, I would be frustrated in this world. With illiteracy rates this devastating, that trickles down to our youth. Illiteracy leads to feeling worthless or depressed. Continuing on this poverty-to-prison pipeline, if you are the child of an illiterate parent that can barely provide in this City with a facade of wealth, you will feel hopeless or worthless. So why would this child not care -- the child would not care to participate in violence in this Stated Meeting 61 02/01/2024 City. So let's address the need for Philadelphians to have an affordable and free mental health care because I believe we are in a mental health state of emergency. Okay. Thank you for allowing me to speak.
Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I'm John Stated Meeting 62 02/01/2024 Kromer. As some of you know, I was Philadelphia's Housing Director during the Rendell Administration. I was also office neighbor for the Council President many years ago at Fels Institute of Government. I have some written testimony which I'd like to share with you. It's in regard to Resolution 240032, and it describes my concern about the need for a large amount of capital to address Philadelphia's critical affordable housing problems. This need is well-documented and there are no resources currently available to address it at this scale, which is needed to really resolve this issue. Set-asides for developers, new bond issues, infusions of federal and state funding are not going to work or are not going to be sufficient. Instead the approach that I'm proposing is a modification Stated Meeting 63 02/01/2024 of the 10-year tax abatement, it's something that Council already approved during the pandemic years to fund rental assistance. And I'm proposing that this be instituted as a permanent policy. I have included an example, an illustration of how this would work with respect to a Center City Condominium development. I'm not talking about just leveraging the funding for one condominium or one row of houses. I'm talking about everything that receives a tax abatement. If we're talking about equitable development, this is a way to fund affordable housing. It won't cost the City any funding and it's an approach that can be implemented this month. Thank you.
Stated Meeting 64 02/01/2024 Will the Clerk please call the next speaker.
The next speaker is Queen Judith Robinson commenting on 240042 and 240045. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. Queen Judith Robinson here speaking on the aforementioned bills or resolutions. My good friend here, Sergeant-at-Arms, is circulating that booklet, the book that I would like all of you to make sure that you take a photo of because I would like you all to have a copy of that book. So Black History 365, Black Lives Matter, let's prove it, you all. We need to have knowledge of ourselves. It will help us get our minds right and prepare for the future. As I watched our elected officials on Martin Luther King Day preparing kids at Girard College, I Stated Meeting 65 02/01/2024 thought to myself I wish I was there. I would have been able to say to all of you all, we're seeking prevention. Prevention in North Philadelphia. As I look at this bill, Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia, I purchased this book over 20-something years ago, the first time I heard you all talk about a blueprint for a safer Philadelphia when poor Faheem Childs, that young man, was murdered at Peirce School. And we claimed as a Black community we would never see that happen again. Since that time until now, more of our children under 18 years old are dying, and then they're asking for their body parts at these trauma centers. It's unfortunate truly. We, Black children, mostly are cannon fodder for this madness. Congressman Dwight Evans was Stated Meeting 66 02/01/2024 the Appropriations Chair all those years ago, and we promised our community a blueprint for a safer Philadelphia. So when I hear that now all these years later, it's unfortunate. I'm here in the spirit of Clara Baldwin in North Philly, she said, Don't change your address, address the problem. That's why I'm here every time. Thank you. (Applause.)
Reverend Chris Kimmenez commenting on 240042. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm the Reverend Dr. Christopher Kimmenez. I'm the Executive Director of Healing Communities PA and the Associate Pastor for Social Justice at the People's Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, and I'm also a resident of the 2nd Councilmanic District, speaking in support of Councilmember Jones' resolution, the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia. The Blueprint is full of ideas that are currently working all over our city and in communities nationwide making huge strides towards safer communities. Talks about fully funding education and ending the school-to-prison pipeline. Talks about the relationship between poverty and race and criminal justice. Talks about really investing in mental health and trauma and re-entry and Stated Meeting 68 02/01/2024 acknowledges the role institutional racism has played in oppressing communities. It talks about the use of credible messengers. In short, it talks about meeting needs instead of just measuring risk. Last year for the first time we saw a major investment in our communities. And as a result, we saw a 21-percent drop in gun violence and homicides of violent crime. It was the largest single year drop in history and we did it with 300 less cops. We need to continue that investment, not change course. Many of us are here because we support the Blueprint and its approaches rather than returning to occupational broken windows policing. We agree that the root cause of crime is poverty. We agree when you invest in communities and give them the resources they need, Stated Meeting 69 02/01/2024 crime goes down. We agree that people make better decisions when they have better opportunities. Affluent communities have been doing this for years. They spend less money on cops and criminal justice because they spend more on jobs and hospitals and libraries and rec centers and parks and schools. But when it comes to our communities, historically the City has invested elsewhere. This Blueprint if we actually follow it and fully fund it shows the world not only that 2023 wasn't a fluke, but it creates a moral budget that shows the world that Philadelphia puts people and communities above power and profit. Thank you. (Applause.)
Will the Clerk please call the next speaker. Stated Meeting 70 02/01/2024
The next speaker is Reverend Greg Holston. commenting on 240042. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Reverend Gregory Holston. I'm standing here as a co-facilitator of the 57 Block Coalition and also standing with those who have rallied today for a safe Philadelphia. I stand here in support of the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia. In particular, I want to lift up the area of trauma. I was talking to one of our credible messengers who goes on the streets, and he talked about the story of a young man that had been bullied, that had been victimized, that had been fearful for his life. And that person, that young person, decided to pick up a gun to protect himself. And as he was protecting himself, he shot somebody. And when Stated Meeting 71 02/01/2024 he shot somebody from what the story is, he felt a sense of power that he never had in his life. Our young people are telling us over and over this lack of power in their life or agency or control over their life is a driving factor why they are shooting, and it is those who have been victimized who are the most likely to be the ones who are shooting. The public defender told you last year, many of you last year when she testified, she said 81 percent of the people that they represent for shooting someone have been victims of crime in violence themselves. Trauma is at the center of this. Yet we still spend 13.5 million on community gun violence in this City, and we have come here several times over the last six years and I've shared with you $100 million has to be the base level of Stated Meeting 72 02/01/2024 what we're talking about. And all over the country they're spending more. In New York City right now they're spending half a billion dollars. We know what to do. Trauma's at the core. This church right now that has a trauma center that they're spending out of their own money to deal with all of the trauma they've been experiencing in that community and they reach out to the City for financial support and they've got none because they said, we don't give money to churches for trauma. We got to change. We have to change. And I believe all of you here can help us do that. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
Will the Clerk please call the next speaker. Stated Meeting 73 02/01/2024
The next speaker is Rikeyah Lindsay commenting on 240042. (Witness approached podium.)
For the record, my name is Rikeyah Lindsay, and I'm here to stand in support of Resolution 2400042, specifically as it relates to the implementation of things like ending the school-to-prison pipeline, providing services for re-entry, mental health services and neighborhoods of deep poverty, safe spaces in communities for young people, and there was a young person who meant to be here today. However, they did not have their ID. And so, I'm going to read a statement on behalf of that young person. Hello. My name is -- I'm Rikeyah Lindsay representing, and Annalee Martinez and Annalee is a youth advocate -- she is a part of Stated Meeting 74 02/01/2024 the Youth Advocacy Program fellow at the Juvenile Law Center. Juvenile Law Center advocates for rights, dignity, equity and opportunity for youth. We work to reduce the harm of child welfare in the justice system, limit their reach and ultimately abolish them so all young people can thrive. Young people in the Youth Advocacy Program learn and engage in policy advocacy, media outreach and public education. Youth build leadership and storytelling skills, gain political knowledge and create a community with their peers. Annalee wanted to be here today to show her support for investing in communities, not in systems. Annalee feels that to show their support for investment in communities, we should invest in things that will help youth thrive, help them to stay in their Stated Meeting 75 02/01/2024 neighborhoods, schools and around support for systems -- out of systems. When Annalee entered the child welfare system, she lost contact with her adopted family, relatives and friends. They did not have a place to place her, which led her to enter into the justice system. It created more problems for her later down the line. So being in a child welfare system and the juvenile legal system made her education experience even harder. She shouldn't have had to experience that, but so many other youth also have to. And so, we want to see City Council and those who have power invest in programs that help youth stay out of the streets, programs that help youth learn skills and staff professionals that invest in them, programs that care about the well-being of children. Stated Meeting 76 02/01/2024 And so, that's my time. Thank you. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Ogbonna Hagins commenting on 240042. (Witness approached podium.)
Ogbonna Hagins speaking on 240042. I'm opposed to it, absolutely opposed to it. You may ask, well, why are you opposed to this? This is about making Philadelphia safer. But in 2021, there was a Roadmap to Safer Communities. Councilmember Jones, I think that was yours. And structural racism and inequality are at the root of gun violence so why are we talking about programs, why are we talking about nonprofits. Why aren't we talking about addressing Stated Meeting 77 02/01/2024 what your report said is the driver of crime and violence and gun violence. What, are you scared? Are you afraid to address the very real issue that has been facing the American Freedman aka Afro American community just about forever? And I think that it's very inconsiderate for people not to be paying attention. Of course, you know, we got our technology, but we can pay attention and not be on our cell phones while our constituents are talking to us. And all I'm saying to you very calmly and cooly, all these other programs that you're talking about obviously are not going to work and they haven't worked in the past. But have you addressed structural racism? Have you seriously addressed poverty and have you seriously addressed unemployment Stated Meeting 78 02/01/2024 and underemployment? So do what you have to do, but don't lie to the people and say that you're against gun violence, you want to stop gun violence and your report says that structural racism is at its core and you're not dealing with structural racism. You're actually a part of the problem and you're actually practicing structural racism by not even addressing this issue. Have a great day. (Applause.)
Lynn Landis commenting on 2400042. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Lynn Landis of LynnLandis.com and safestreetsphilly.org. There are many parts of Resolution 2400042 Stated Meeting 79 02/01/2024 Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia that deserve the public support. However, there was no mention of rescinding Philadelphia's sanctuary city designation, which has encouraged the trafficking of drugs and people into the City, nor was there any mention of the Police Department's failure to enforce the law or the District Attorney's failure to prosecute certain types of crimes. All three of which have led directly to an avalanche of criminal activity in the City. The reported crime rate in Philadelphia is alarmingly high, but that rate would be even higher if the District Attorney and the police would do their job. Please consider taking the following actions: First, demand that the District Attorney enforce local, state and federal laws. Second, educate the police. Certainly, the City should Stated Meeting 80 02/01/2024 hire more police, but the very real problem is a cultural of complacency where the police routinely refuse to issue civil violation notices or make arrests so that the same people show up, usually the mentally-ill and drug-addicted in neighborhoods harassing residents and businesses day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year. Third, educate the public. Both property owners and tenants have a legal right and responsibility under City laws Titles 9 and 10 to maintain their sidewalks and to keep them clear of criminal behavior and prohibited conduct. The public only has the right of easement to pass by, but not to sit, stand or otherwise occupy a sidewalk. Most people are unaware of their rights, and the City should issue a public service Stated Meeting 81 02/01/2024 announcement and education materials for a public safety awareness program. In closing, it is not compassionate to allow crime to go unchecked or for people to live on the street in an unsafe, unsanitary and uncivilized situation for all concerned. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Michelle Armstrong commenting on Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson's CTE Month resolution.
Good morning. My name is Michelle Armstrong and the Executive Director of the Office of Career and Technical Education at the School District of Philadelphia. I want to publicly thank Councilmember Gilmore Stated Meeting 82 02/01/2024 Richardson for her introduction of today's resolution recognizing CTE Month. The School District offers CTE programs in 43 occupational areas, often leading to industry-recognized credentials or certification in addition to the student's high school diploma. CTE courses offer our students the ability to get specific, practical and professional skills. That can mean the difference on a college application or to fast-track into a first job. We also want to thank the Councilmember for her unwavering support of her CTE students, especially her legislation which supports them in their journeys to be employed with the City of Philadelphia. We further want to thank Council for its commitment to our CTE programs and for recognizing Stated Meeting 83 02/01/2024 their value. Our students are better-equipped for their future careers to make their dream a reality because of your support. Thank you. (Applause.)
Wanda Walker commenting on 240033 and 240034. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, beautiful people. My name is Wanda Walker and I'm here for Bills 33 and Stated Meeting 84 02/01/2024 34. I plan on coming every Thursday because my passion is generational wealth, and I'm going to continue to ask City Council to figure out a better way to distribute properties. I'm not really for or against Gilmore's 33 and 34 because I didn't see the property recently to know whether it's something that could be given back to the family. I was here on your last two Thursdays and I asked the same thing. I don't want to make it sound like I'm complaining. I'd rather sound like someone who's giving suggestions or ideas. Please find a way to give back property to the families who have lost these properties because most of the properties in the Land Bank are from entangled titles or not being able to pay taxes, but these are properties that were paid for in full, someone paid a mortgage Stated Meeting 85 02/01/2024 for 30 years and then paid taxes for 40 or 50 years, and then their family lost it. So please find a way before you just give it to PHA. I was here the last two Thursdays of the year, and now here I am again. And every single time I come here you're giving land away to PHA, which is nothing but a developer. So I don't care if it's a private or public. It belongs to the family who lost it, and they should be given an opportunity to regain that property before you all just give it away. Thank you very much. Have a nice day. (Applause.)
I just want to clarify for the record that Bill Nos. 240033 and 240034 which was just spoken on are sponsored by Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier. Stated Meeting 86 02/01/2024 Will the speaker please call -- will the Clerk please call the next speaker.
The next speaker is Renita Miller commenting on a resolution introduced today by Councilmember Ahmad. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. I'm Renita Miller. I am here on behalf of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We want to express our appreciation to Councilmember Nina Ahmad and express support of the privileged resolution recognizing the extraordinary contributions of Dr. Bernard E. Anderson, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Anderson was the first African American to achieve tenure as a full professor in the second Stated Meeting 87 02/01/2024 ever appointed to the Wharton School faculty. A nationally acclaimed economist, Dr. Anderson's unparalleled commitment to eliminate economic inequality in his tireless efforts to bridge racial divides in American economic life have made a lasting impact on our community, the City of Philadelphia and beyond. His legacy is inspiring and one of excellence, dedication and public service. Thank you again for the esteemed recognition of Dr. Bernard's incredible contributions. Thank you.
Avigail Milder commenting on 240045. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting 88 02/01/2024
Good morning. My name is Avigail Milder and I live in South Philadelphia. In response to Bill 240045 on appointing Chief Ethics Officer, I believe that one is -- okay. I believe that one is sorely needed given the unethical set of events transpiring at the FDR Park due to Council's failure to properly authorize them via ordinance. Councilmember Ahmad, I attended the Pro-fields rally on Saturday and heard your ringing endorsement of artificial turf made from polyethylene fibers as safe and PFAS-free. Whether it is derived from corn or petroleum, the resulting material is the same, plastic. The manufacturing process of the grass lays is the same, which means that the turf you're talking about contains toxic PFAS. You Stated Meeting 89 02/01/2024 said -- you quote, "Checked all the specifications of the material," but that is not an independent toxicology report. That is what we want, specifically the total organic fluorine test as recommended by the EPA. Why can't the Federal Park Conservancy even name the manufacturer of this mystery nontoxic turf? We need proof, and we would like to see this proof before the so-called Conservancy destroy over 40 acres of wetlands, meadows and clear-cuts dozens of irreplaceable heritage trees. The problem is this, you can't prove it exists because it doesn't. As Dr. Kyla Bennett who discovered PFAS in turf says, "There are no brands that are PFAS-free. That is just a lie." Councilmember Ahmad, you're being lied to. Council, you are all being lied to Stated Meeting 90 02/01/2024 and it's going to cost children's lives. We've seen it with lead. We've seen it with asbestos and we'll see it with PFAS. The notion that there is some miracle turf that will fly in here like a magic carpet and make all our dreams come true is a total fantasy. Let's be ethical, not irresponsible. Leaving a toxic legacy to our children, that's not ethical. Risking our kids' health, that's not ethical. Councilmembers, I urge you to do the right thing. Pause the plan at FDR. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Dr. Bernard Anderson. (Witness approached podium.)
Stated Meeting 91 02/01/2024 Good day, Dr. Bernie.
I am Dr. Bernard E. Anderson, Emeritus Professor, Whitney M. Young of Economics at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. And I want to thank Councilwoman Nina Ahmad for nominating me to be recognized on this occasion. Let me say that I am a native Philadelphian, born and reared in South Philadelphia, 15th and Christian where I grew up in a female-headed, three-story rowhouse. I will say that God lifted me from that background to the highest levels of higher education, of public service and leadership of one of the nation's major philanthropic foundations. The opportunity to make remarks on this occasion, in fact, made me feel like a mosquito in a nudist camp. There was so much Stated Meeting 92 02/01/2024 there my heart didn't know where to begin. But will begin at the beginning and say that I was inspired by my widowed mother. My father died in an automobile accident when some members of the family were going to Atlantic City. I was 2 years old. I do not remember my father. My mother never remarried. She raised me and my brother Kenneth alone in a house that was headed by my mother, my grandmother and my aunt. But I will say this, Mr. Council President, I was inspired by the men in that District that you had recognized as the Doctor's Row in South Philadelphia.
Yes. And we will be in touch with you to recognize that area for another -but let me go on because I don't Stated Meeting 93 02/01/2024 want to exceed the two-minute limit. I have been fortunate to serve not only as a member of the faculty of the Wharton School, some say is the west point of American capitalism, but also as Assistant Secretary of Labor, a Senate-confirmed position in the Clinton Administration. I was also an economic advisor to Jimmy Carter during the 1976 campaign. I held the senior leadership position in the Rockefeller Foundation, but through it all I had as my objective understanding and finding a way to eliminate racial inequality in American economic life. I have written widely on this issue. And Councilman Young, my District Councilman, knows of the work that I've done in this area. And I will continue on this path. I don't teach anymore -- by the way, one of my students was Stated Meeting 94 02/01/2024 former Mayor Michael Nutter. He graduated 1979. He did a good job in class. He didn't make an A, but he did very well anyway. And I will continue despite the fact that I'm not teaching anymore -- Emeritus professor does not teach -- I will continue to work hard to make Philadelphia a great city to live, work and play. And so, I thank the Councilwoman very much for her gracious recognition for me on Black History Month and I wish all members of the Council much success in the work that you have to do. Thank you and good-bye.
Will the Chief Clerk please call the next speaker.
The next Stated Meeting 95 02/01/2024 speaker is Kayla Perez commenting on 240033. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Kayla. First, I would like to thank the Councilmembers who have had the courage to call for a ceasefire in Palestine. I encourage the Council to add an emergency addition to today's docket to pass a permanent ceasefire resolution both in Palestine and Yemen. In December, the World Health Organization estimated it's about one child every 10 minutes. That's about one child every four speakers. In the strip as big as our city and doubly densely populated, Gaza has had at least 30,000 bombs dropped on them since October, and 1,000 more people have been slaughtered since the international port of justice found that acts committed by Israel and Stated Meeting 96 02/01/2024 Gaza appear to be capable of --
-- genocide convention. This is absolutely related to as Philadelphia has a direct hand in funding --
Can you speak on the topic of the actual bill and resolution, which is 240033 which refers to the Land Bank and District Council 3 so -
I think that anything that has to do with money within Philadelphia has to do with calling for a ceasefire as we have a direct hand in funding. The internationally banned white phosphorus bombs dropping on them. The Pennsylvania Treasury Department Stated Meeting 97 02/01/2024 has about $56 million worth of Israel war bonds. As of --
Will the Chief Clerk please call the next speaker.
The next speaker is Muti A. Ajami Osagbord -Osasbord. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Mute A. Ajami Osasbord, and he just butchered my name, like unreal. I'm here to talk about Resolution -- let me get this correct -- 240042. It's by Brother Curtis Jones, Councilmember Jones. Now, this was just dropped in my lap like 20 minutes ago and I just came on deck. I want to talk about not necessarily the resolution, though I do want to talk about the resolution, but I Stated Meeting 98 02/01/2024 want to talk about Brother Curtis. The brother is a man of integrity and he's a genuine article. I just came home from out of the penitentiary, and a lot of the things that this resolution talks about will curtail or feed or help a lot of the problems that we have in this City. Some of the things I highlighted that he pointed out was like creating a safe corridor program, creating a helping hand release program for the sisters and brothers that's coming home, examine firearm restrictions, reducing retail theft, ensuring witnesses relocation, examining drugs, I don't really know what that's about, increasing the closure rate of homicides, definitely a must, supporting Philadelphia's youth and instituting the Promise Initiative. I don't know what the Promise Stated Meeting 99 02/01/2024 Initiative. But prayerfully, Brother Curtis, you can give me some of that and I can digest it and work with you on what you doing. But what sticks out to me in this resolution is it says, Brother Curtis is calling for the leadership of the City of Philadelphia to implement over 140 recommendations. The next steps found in the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia. The fact that this body hasn't done so is disgraceful. It is absolutely disgraceful. And if we're going to solve problems in this City, we have to have a holistic approach and keep droning on and on about gun violence is not going to be successful. It's going to be like the proverbial dog chasing its tail. The number one form of violence in this City is domestic violence. Well, that says my time is up. It was a pleasure Stated Meeting 100 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING and I look forward to working with those who are sincere about solving the problems. Hotep. (Applause.)
That concludes today's public comment period. We will now consider the resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. Will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 240032.
A resolution approving the 2023-2024 Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program Statement and Budget, which addresses the expenditure of $150 million by various agencies in the third year of the Neighborhood Initiative Program.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Stated Meeting 101 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING Jamie Gauthier for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move 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 for Resolution No. 240033.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Stated Meeting 102 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING Bank to dispose of 5906 Market Street and 5908 Market Street located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 103 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 230034.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 4320 and 4322 Lancaster Avenue located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier for a mention on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move 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. Stated Meeting 104 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 240042.