A resolution calling on the leadership of the City of Philadelphia to implement the over 140 recommendations and next steps found in the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia, such as expanding the Safe School Corridor Program, ensuring witness relocation, creating a helping hand program, examining firearm restrictions, reducing retail theft, examining drones, increasing the closure rate of homicides, supporting Philadelphia's youth and instituting the Promise Initiative. Stated Meeting 105 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Curtis Jones for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (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 Resolution No. 240045.
A resolution Stated Meeting 106 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing the appointment of a Chief Ethics Officer for the Council of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, 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 Stated Meeting 107 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 240049 -- let me go back. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 240048.
A resolution renaming the 10900 block of Kirby Drive "Tony Caruso Way" in recognition of his decades of service to the Far Northeast Philadelphia community.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brian O'Neill 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 Stated Meeting 108 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING 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 Bill No. 240049.
The resolution authorizing requests to the Law Department to represent City Council in appeals from decisions of the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment, and if the Law Department declines to render such services to City Council, authorizing the retention of outside counsel to provide such services.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Stated Meeting 109 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING Cindy Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, 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.
The Chair -- will the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 240050. Stated Meeting 110 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution renaming the 2900 block of 22nd Street "Ray Murphy Way" to honor Ray Murphy for his tireless service to the North 22nd Street community.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, 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 will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 111 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes have, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read any additional resolutions on the Final Calendar today.
A resolution recognizing February 2024 as Career Technical Education Month in the City of Philadelphia introduced today by Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson 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 Stated Meeting 112 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted.
And a 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 a planet-wide effort to mitigate the effects of global warming introduced today by Councilmembers Thomas and Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion on the resolution. Stated Meeting 113 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. Thank you to my co-sponsor. 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 has been adopted.
And a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Cherisse McGill, founder of Lokal Artisan Foods for her enduring education to the City of Stated Meeting 114 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia as a businesswoman and organizer introduced today 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, and I'll be making remarks on the floor about it. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 115 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted.
And a 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 examining the use of urgent care centers to fill the void in prescription care introduced today by Councilmember Jones.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting 116 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING
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.
And a resolution 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, introduced today by Councilmember Jones. Stated Meeting 117 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you again, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (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.
And a resolution recognizing and supporting the recognition of Stated Meeting 118 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING February 2024 as American Heart Month, introduced today by Councilmember Harrity.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Harrity for a motion on the resolution.
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.
Stated Meeting 119 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING And a resolution celebrating Lunar New Year in the City of Philadelphia, introduced today by Councilmember Driscoll.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Driscoll 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 be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 120 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing Philadelphia City Council to hold hearings and meetings investigating stop-and-go establishments that violate restaurant liquor license requirements and further diminish the health, safety and well-being of the surrounding community, introduced today by Councilmember Bass.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the motion has been adopted. Stated Meeting 121 02/01/2024 2/1/24 - STATED - 2ND READING All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing Pioneering Economist and Professor Dr. Bernard E. Anderson on the occasion of Black History Month, introduced today by Councilmember Ahmad.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Ahmad for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution, and I will have comments on the floor later. Stated Meeting 122 02/01/2024
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.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Are there any speeches on the part Stated Meeting 123 02/01/2024 Majority? Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
Thank you, Council President Johnson. Last week I warned that the very thing that makes Philadelphia Philadelphia is under attack, because many of our neighborhoods are becoming hostile to the Black and Brown families who've steward them for generations. And I said then that we have a choice. The communities that endured redlining, endured de-industrialization, endured de-investment, would they finally be able to look to their local government as their protector or will we let the displacement tidal wave wash them away? Today I'm proud to answer this question through action by Stated Meeting 124 02/01/2024 1 of my Defying Displacement Campaign. Defying Displacement tackles our City's housing crisis head-on, delivering real results and sending a powerful message that the status quo will no longer be permitted to uproot our neighborhoods. My first bill cracks down on rampant illegal discrimination against Philadelphians using housing vouchers. The Fair Practices Ordinance already prohibits property managers from discriminating against persons based on the source of income they use to rent and purchase property, including housing vouchers. However, 67 percent of landlords citywide still refuse to accept housing vouchers. In amenity-rich areas, this number jumps to 83 percent. Discrimination against Philadelphians using housing Stated Meeting 125 02/01/2024 that many tenants have no choice but to give up their vouchers if they want to find a place to live. Meaning, tenants give up hundreds of dollars in rental assistance each month that they are entitled to by law. I am confident that my legislation will help thousands of low-income families access a safe, stable and affordable home, and signal to landlords and property managers that the days of openly discriminating against Philadelphians using housing vouchers are over. Homeowners desperately need our help as well. Families and seniors who have proudly owned their homes for decades are being displaced. Not by rising rents, not by mortgage payments, but by Cityimposed property taxes. During the last round of property assessments, Stated Meeting 126 02/01/2024 107,000 homeowners saw their assessments jump at least 50 percent. 31,000 by at least 100 percent. 6,000 by at least 200 percent and 3500 by at least 300 percent. These are sudden increases that are simply too much for the average household to bear. It is time for the City to recognize and rectify its own role in displacement. That's why today I'm introducing legislation that will freeze property taxes for low-income homeowners at their current level. By making sure our neediest homeowners can afford their tax bills, we invest in their ability to remain in our neighborhoods, where they can continue to shop, dine and work on our commercial corridors, steward our neighborhoods and public spaces and reinforce their block, sense of community. Stated Meeting 127 02/01/2024 all. Because today I'm also proposing a change to the Home Rule Charter that ensures payments made into the Housing Trust Fund get invested back into our neighborhoods. Developers may build larger than their zoning would typically allow if they include affordable housing in their developments. But rather than actually build these affordable units on site, most developers choose to make a payment in lieu of providing affordable housing to the City. Developers in the City routinely earn support for overscaled projects by promising neighbors that these payments in lieu will be reinvested back into their communities.
But that is very rarely the case because not once, let me say that again, not once since this payment in lieu option Stated Meeting 128 02/01/2024 bonus payments led to a proportionate increase in the Housing Trust Fund. This means that the City essentially cheats our neighborhoods with overscaled developments out of benefits and that we underfund affordable housing programs citywide. If we're serious about building genuinely affordable housing, this City must use its Housing Trust Fund as intended. This means spending it on affordable housing in amenity-rich neighborhoods where residents can easily access family-sustaining jobs, high-quality schools, public transportation and other amenities that will help them to thrive. And I'm confident that when we put the power to decide this in the hands of the voters, they will agree that an investment in our neighborhoods is always a good one to make. Stated Meeting 129 02/01/2024 every colleague who sponsored these bills, including Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Minority Whip Nicolas O'Rourke and Councilmember Rue Landau who sponsored the full package as well as Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Mark Squilla who all sponsored pieces of the package. And I also want to thank every Councilmember who even talked to me about these bills. I look forward to working with all of my Council colleagues, the Parker Administration, neighborhood-minded developers, the community and other stakeholders to refine these bills as they advance through. And to the residents of the City of Philadelphia, I hope that defying displacement re-assures you Stated Meeting 130 02/01/2024 is going to bat for our neighborhoods. And we will not rest until every one of our constituents has access to safe, stable and affordable housing, whether that is a home they already own, a new construction unit funded by density bonus payments or a high-quality unit rented using a housing voucher. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank those who came out, who gave public comment about the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia. This is not a perfect document. It is a beginning point for future discussions about safety in the City of Philadelphia. So I Stated Meeting 131 02/01/2024 input and I thank them that they read it. That doesn't always happen. I want to point out Recommendation No. 62, which is Risk Terrain Modeling. What that calls for is not to look at just the who has committed a crime but where that crime was committed. I will give you the example, if you've ever watched those nature shows where the lions hide in the tall grass by the water. The reason they do that is they know that's where the antelope will wind up. They don't have to go all over the Savannah. They know where they're going to wind up. Last week we talked about the incident where the suspect was killed, the officer was shot and it was done in a corner store. In the film of that corner store, my eye caught two gambling machines, two illegal skills games machines. And Stated Meeting 132 02/01/2024 hole for where things go down and whether or not the officers that came in and saw them posted up there, we don't know the details of that. But we know those gambling machines were there. I couldn't come to the briefing and I couldn't come to the press conference because on the other side of town in my District there was a 19-year-old who did like a lot of young men do, his sister called, said she was having a problem up the school. Ill-advised, he comes up to the school to handle his little sister's business and wound up at a corner store where there were more machines. Some of the young men in the neighborhood shot him to death. I raise this because what those two incidents have in common are illegal gambling machines. Now, Stated Meeting 133 02/01/2024 up and down the turnpike on this issue. And I think it was in 2016 the door was open because there was a law that passed saying that you could put these machines at truck stops. Well, they didn't stop there. They opened the door and they are now in every neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia. We don't know how many there are. We don't know how much money they make. Nobody regulates them. Nobody taxes them, so they are totally disrespecting the City of Philadelphia. So when those powerful lobbyists said to me, but you know we're winning all the law cases up there and the state has superseding powers over local resolutions, well, I grew up in a neighborhood called West Philly similar to a lot of neighborhoods people here grew up Stated Meeting 134 02/01/2024 walked in the schoolyard and you know there's no backyard to the Alamo and you know you're going to have to stand and deliver -- in the middle of that I told you I had one round left, Prez, I'm saving it for a special occasion -- but sometimes you can't get out of that and you know you're going to get jumped. You still got to fight. Even if you lose in court, even if you lose and get superseded by the state, you don't get respect unless you stand up for what is right for the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. Too often those are watering holes for bad things that happen, and we have to save ourselves because it ain't coming over the hill and, you know, we have to show first that we're willing to stand up. So, therefore, Mr. President, I call for a quick hearing on this Stated Meeting 135 02/01/2024 by the last guy. That was smooth going out the door, by the way I'm not going to sign that. Okay. I can take a joke. But what is not funny is what happens when we have inaction.
And we can't stop the NRA. We can't stop Washington and insensible gun laws in Harrisburg, but we can handle our business here in the City of Philadelphia. And I call on my colleagues to help me do that, help us pass that and I call on the Parker Administration to sign that. Thank you, Mr. President. )
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Thank you, Councilmember Jones, for your Stated Meeting 136 02/01/2024 I share your concern as it relates to these corner stores and some of the issues related to those stores. Today is the first day of Black History Month. And every year during Black History Month, we like to partner with some of our District Councilmembers across the City of Philadelphia to do our Black Business Crawl. I've been doing it every year since I've been in City Council. But this year will be really special for us because we introduced a resolution in City Council today to honor Charisse McGill who passed away January 15th of this year. A lot of us in City Council know her. I know all of my staff know her. She was the person who founded, I'm probably going to say this wrong, the Lokal Artisan Foods, and she also was known for her French Toast Stated Meeting 137 02/01/2024 was loved by many. She was Director of Special Events at Valley Forge Military Academy before leaving the education space to become an entrepreneur and open her own business. She was debuted and made appearances and had pop-up initiatives at different festivals such as the Roots Picnic as well as Made in America. She received awards and recognition from the City of Philadelphia 76ers Buy Black Program, the United Way of Greater Philadelphia Southeastern Pennsylvania, the African American Chamber of Commerce and so many others. She was appointed to Executive Director of the Farmer Markets Coalition. For us in my office when we do the Black Business Crawl this month, we will do it in honor of her Stated Meeting 138 02/01/2024 life, her legacy and what she has done and what she means to the City of Philadelphia. We always encourage the idea of the growth of Black businesses and Black entrepreneurship and she was the face of that for a lot of people in the City of Philadelphia. And for my office and our team when we do our Black Business Crawl, she will be in our thoughts and our prayers. Her mother and daughter are with us in City Council today. They did not want to give remarks, but I will ask them to just stand up for a second so we can give them a round of applause and let them know that this legislative body will continue to support the family. (Applause.)
Her daughter is 18 years old, graduating senior this year. So we want to make sure that we support her as it Stated Meeting 139 02/01/2024 158 as well as that CATTO Scholarship Program that she's so excited to apply for so she can start her journey and follow her mother's footsteps and go to college for free. So thank you colleagues for supporting this resolution. And thank you, Council President.
Thank you. Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. I wanted to remind all of my colleagues and their team members about the SEPTA briefing that we will be hosting today. Special thank you to Councilmember Driscoll who is the Chair of the Transportation Committee and also Stated Meeting 140 02/01/2024 the Chair of Transportation. We will be hosting a briefing with SEPTA regarding the Bus Revolution Plan prior to their final vote on the plan within the next week. So I offer this opportunity to all colleagues to please attend to find out about the changes, particularly in each District in the City. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to follow up on that. Thank you, Majority Leader Kathy Gilmore Richardson. I'm looking forward to that Septa briefing. As many may be aware, there was just conversation around cutting or eliminating the Chestnut Stated Meeting 141 02/01/2024 Line, which is a vital line that runs throughout Northwest. And so, cutting this line would really have been crippling the entire economy in that part of town. And so, we're just hopeful with Governor Shapiro's announcement that we'll have the resources to be able to function and operate that line. But I actually wanted to speak today just a couple of things really briefly. The first is around a resolution that we introduced supporting and recognizing Half A Million Kids, which is an organization that's dedicated to talking about foster care and adoption here in the City of Philadelphia and really working to raise those conversations to a higher level and wanting to focus on children who are waiting in the foster care system and waiting for adoption. Stated Meeting 142 02/01/2024 and expect more through the CUA system. This is something that I've spoken about extensively in the past and I've spoken on my own personal experience relating to this matter. But when we invest less, we get less. And I don't know in what world we think that we can invest less and get more, especially when it comes to the young people in our city. And then we wonder, well, what's wrong, why aren't things turning out. You know, more appropriately why don't we have better outcomes for our young people. And the reason that we don't have better outcomes is that we haven't made the investment, the critical investment that we need to make. Kids end up trafficked. They end up with mental health issues and illness, and often homeless. They Stated Meeting 143 02/01/2024 addictions in their situation, and the City continues to hold resources, financial resources, that belong to these young people while they are in our care. So monies that are supposed to be used for their care, the City somehow feels that it's okay to siphon those funds often to the General Fund or often to the departmental budget and not provide those resources to those young people when they graduate from the system to ensure that they don't end up in a homeless type situation. So we've got a lot of work to do, and we look forward to working with Half A Million Kids who has a plan to address it and will be connecting with each and every Councilmember in the future to hopefully put that plan into action. So that's something very positive that we look forward to working with Stated Meeting 144 02/01/2024 our new Chair of Health and Human Services, Dr. Nina Ahmad, to make sure that that happens. I wanted to also speak very briefly around a bill we passed in 2017, Mr. President, and that was around stop-and-gos. And I know, Council President, you were there, you were part of the conversation. Councilman Jones, I know we had that conversation and your work on these gaming machines is an extension of that work. And so, when I looked at the video of what happened last Friday night, it just all came back. Because here was an establishment that is supposed to be a bar, supposed to be a tavern. Councilman Driscoll, I know that you in the past are familiar with these sorts of operations. I'm sure this was not any sort of tavern that Stated Meeting 145 02/01/2024 that any of us have ever seen because it was a stop-and-go. So no matter what you call it, it has a liquor license. It's supposed to be a restaurant. It's supposed to have seating for patrons.
It's supposed to be an asset to the neighborhood where people are to purchase a meal and sit down and eat, and it was none of these things. And what it was it turns out, what it looks like is just an alleyway where you can come in, you can come purchase whatever you want to, drink or get high with, whether it's alcohol or shots of liquor or take-out beer or Nyquil, crack pipes, whatever you want to be able to purchase to be able to get on. So I'm calling out to the various departments to do the enforcement that we called upon, Stated Meeting 146 02/01/2024 seven years ago. We asked for this enforcement many, many years ago, and when are we going to see it. I understand that they're shorthanded. But in seven years you can't get it done? This is absolutely ridiculous that we allow these folks to operate in a way that is detrimental. They are a blight on our community and we need to stop it immediately. So I look forward to bringing that conversation back to the forefront, especially in light of what has happened in recent days. I think that we need to continue on that conversation, and look forward to also talking about the video game addition, which further blights our neighborhoods and adds nothing of value economically to our communities. So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Council President. This morning my colleagues Councilmember Driscoll, Harrity and Squilla announced the formation of the Kensington Caucus. The Coalition is represented and it's represented by Councilmembers who live or at some point our Districts meet. The goal of the Caucus is to work as a unit and to restore the quality of life and address challenges that are being faced by the Kensington community. The Caucus will prioritize community engagement and ensure that the voices of the families, schools, businesses and nonprofits in Kensington are reflected in the legislation we produced. Through unity and Stated Meeting 148 02/01/2024 -- through unity and a legislative response, we will work to execute the Kensington Marshall Plan, which will provide clear goals and a pathway forward for working with leaders at the local, state and federal levels. I want to take the opportunity to thank my Council colleagues who in some way or another have reached out to either myself or members of the Caucus and have offered their support and their willingness to want to work with us because they have recognized that Kensington is a place where many amazing people call home. We talk a lot about what is happening in the community as it relates to crime and how young people are involved in it. What we're seeing in Kensington and the crime and the violence that we're seeing in parts of Kensington that Stated Meeting 149 02/01/2024 area where many of the high crime numbers come from as is reported by the police department is a direct result of what we as a government has allowed to happen in that community. And so, I am grateful, I'm appreciative of all of you. I'd like to recognize Councilmember Curtis Jones who as part of his Public Safety Plan included the Marshall Plan and has consistently provided support. I'd like to also recognize the Parker Administration who have consistently made us a part of the conversation in their process as they discuss strategies to resolve what is happening in Kensington. And so, I look forward to the passing of the resolution next week and working with each one of you to again restore the quality of life for the families and the men Stated Meeting 150 02/01/2024 Thank you, Council President.
You're welcome. Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you, Council President. The words of Reverend Holston who testified today kind of echoed with me regarding a trauma-centered approach for gun violence here in the City. Tomorrow would have been the 31st birthday of my nephew who was killed by an illegal gun in December of 2022. So I'm only 37, right, so he was really like my little brother. And as I go through this day with my family and my friends, with his children, right, the trauma that they're facing every day is unconscionable. Stated Meeting 151 02/01/2024 we as a city need to make sure that we really invest in trauma-centered approaches. Because again as the Reverend said, 81 percent of folks who pick up a gun are more likely to be victims themselves. And there are children who are angry in the City because they have been affected by this violence, so we have to make sure that this body invest in those approaches that really work to intervene in a child's life before they go and pick up these guns. The cycle will continue to happen unless we intervene early. I'm committed to making sure that this City appropriates the funds necessary to intervene in a child's life early to prevent the youth from going down the wrong path because once you jump off the porch, there's no coming back and we all know that. Stated Meeting 152 02/01/2024
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Landau.
Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues. As Vice-Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee, I share a commitment with Chair and Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas to examine Philadelphia's progress on carbon neutrality and climate change. And I'm excited to have the opportunity to co-introduce the resolution with him today to hold hearings on the subject. The resolution we are proposing is a call to invite experts and community members into City Council, to help Council evaluate our progress towards carbon neutrality and to potentially re-evaluate our goals. Let's be Stated Meeting 153 02/01/2024 clear, climate change is not a distant threat. It's a present one. Families across Philadelphia are experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand. They're living through unprecedented flooding, air quality issues and more. Our most vulnerable residents are feeling these climate-change impacts at disproportionate rates. We owe it to our neighbors, our residents and future generations of the City to take bold and meaningful steps toward a carbon neutral city. In the coming hearings, we will investigate the progress made so far, identify the roadblocks in our path and hopefully identify strategies on how we can overcome them to speed up the City's progress on our climate change goals. I'd like to thank Councilmember Thomas for the Stated Meeting 154 02/01/2024 Oversight Committee on this issue and all of our colleagues who signed on today. Also, I want to take a moment to speak in support of Councilmember Gauthier's package of bills she introduced today. As Vice-Chair of the Housing Committee, I proudly stand behind Councilmember Gauthier, Chair of our Committee, with her Defying Displacement Campaign introduced today to combat housing insecurity in our city. These bills are not just legislation. They're a commitment to ensuring every Philadelphian has access to safe, stable and affordable housing. As many of you know, I've spent much of my career before Council fighting for housing justice and it's an issue that's close to my heart. I believe together we can build a Philadelphia Stated Meeting 155 02/01/2024 thrive, addressing the root causes of displacement and fostering a city that stands as a beacon of housing justice. Thank you.
Thank you, Council President. Before I make the remarks about today's resolution, I wanted to acknowledge Jenaye Mumford and Tiphanie White for their help and support in collecting items for survivors of human trafficking. We just completed the month of January, which was Human Trafficking Prevention Month and they went above and beyond to get us the supplies we need to get to these survivors. So thank you very much. I want to speak to the resolution that I was very Stated Meeting 156 02/01/2024 celebrate a national treasure, Dr. Bernard Anderson, as we kick off Black History Month. Not only because of who he is, but what he means to me. You've all heard all of his achievements, but I wanted to underscore while he was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment Standards Administration in 1993. He helped to create 23 million new jobs and reduce Black youth unemployment at that time to its lowest levels in 25 years. In this role, he was given a very high profile unprecedented platform to publicly making the case to investing rather divesting in the well-being of Black and Brown children. His impact of his work is still being felt so many 30 years later. His examination and study of racial economic disparities, scholarly publications throughout Stated Meeting 157 02/01/2024 to his appointment. I also wanted to say what makes him so very special, he's been a mentor to many, including to me. What he makes special in his unwavering commitment and vital ongoing work towards the practice of America equal to the promise of America. I want to re-emphasize that, making the practice of America equal to the promise of America. His work to create opportunities and craft policies that gave every American an equal chance at full economic participation is his enduring legacy. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jim Harrity.
Thank you, Council President. I'd like to start off by Stated Meeting 158 02/01/2024 my privileged resolution today about Heart Disease Month. I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease at 38. So those of us here who think they're too young for something like that, you should really take this opportunity to get checked. Just a little story: This weekend I spent most of my time at the University of Pennsylvania because four days my father wasn't feeling well having chest pains. And as most of us men try to do, he thought he was tougher than what was going on and that it would just go away. My family got very lucky. By the time my father got four days later to the University of Pennsylvania, his main artery, what they call the widow-maker, was completely blocked 100 percent. If Stated Meeting 159 02/01/2024 even two more minutes, the doctor said he would have never survived. It just goes to show the importance of getting checked regularly for everyone. This is very important. The signs are different for everybody. Where men have chest pains and this kind of thing, women do not get that. Their symptoms are completely different, nausea, shortness of breath, things like that. So if you're not feeling right, please go get checked out before something happens. It's very important. And like I said, it doesn't matter how old you are. It can happen to anybody. I had my first heart attack as I said at 38. I now have three stents. I've had an angioplasty and other things done. It is not fun. So getting checked out is probably the best way for you Stated Meeting 160 02/01/2024 in order. Heart disease can be controlled with medicine. So please get yourselves checked out. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other requests for speeches from the Majority?
Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand and adjourn until Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. prompt. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor will Stated Meeting 161 02/01/2024 (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Have a great day, everyone. ) Stated Meeting 162 02/01/2024 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. C.