Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 24, 2019 10:55 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Good morning, everybody. We're going to get started. We're running a little late. If the members will take their seats and any visitors retire behind the rail. This morning we do not have a designated member of the clergy, so as always, the most significant stand-in is our good friend and our Council colleague, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Councilwoman, would you please give us -(Applause.)
If everyone will stand. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.)
Good Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 the privilege, Mr. President --
-- of saying prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for yet another day. We thank you for a day when we as Councilmembers can look forward to trying to serve people who have chosen us by ballot to lead them. We thank you for our leadership here in Council, and we thank you for all who help us do our jobs, from our cleaners to our Sergeant-at-Arms, all our support staff. We ask that you bless all of those who help us be what we try to be to serve our people. We ask that you do the same for the Mayor's Office, that you also bless those who have come to speak to us today to let us know what they think they would like to see us do and what they think their communities need. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 And, Heavenly Father, we ask you also to help us try to come up with answers to hard problems, the answers to crime, especially when we see such young children being hurt. We ask you to help us solve issues of homelessness and hunger and housing and people who need money to do those things. And, Heavenly Father, ultimately we just thank you. We thank you for all you are, all that you have allowed us to be, and we ask that you bless everyone here, the homes from which they've come and to which they return. These blessings we ask in thy name and for thy sake. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you. Can we have a little quiet, please. Our next order of business is Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 17, 2019, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 17th, 2019 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of Thursday, October 17th, 2019 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, a leave of absence is requested by Councilmember Reynolds Brown.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. Leave shall be granted. And the Chair now recognizes Councilman Oh on behalf of the minority.
Thank you very much, Council President. On behalf of the minority, there are no requests for leaves of absence.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone who has taken time out of their busy day to come down to witness their government in action. We genuinely appreciate you being here. We look forward to you coming every week. So, again, thank you for being here. We appreciate it. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee, who will present a resolution honoring PhillyCAM. Would Gretchen Clausing and those accompanying her please join the Councilman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
And joining Councilman Greenlee, we have Councilman Domb, Councilman Jones, Councilman Green. And also joining will be Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm very happy to be pinch-hitting here for Councilman Squilla to present this resolution honoring and congratulating PhillyCAM on their 10th Anniversary. PhillyCAM is the community media center that trains Philadelphians in broadcast production and airs original content on Philadelphia's public access television station and WPPM 106.5 FM. Whereas, on October 23rd, 2009, Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 channel went live after a 27-year campaign led by a grassroots coalition -- that's one of them right there -- to get public access television in Philadelphia; and
Whereas, currently, PhillyCAM produces nearly 100 hours of local programming each week on television and the radio station it launched three years ago, WPPM 106.5 FM. The non-profit currently has more than 800 members made up of an engaged constituency of people of color, working people, women, sexual minorities, people with disabilities, activists, educators, artists, seniors, returning citizens, and young people. The majority of members are people of color representing neighborhoods from across the City; and
Whereas, on October the 20th PhillyCAM will present the Cammy Awards which celebrate producers whose television and radio content bring together the people of Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 share media that promotes creative expression, democratic values, and civic participation. The Cammys recognize the creativity and commitment of its volunteer producers whose programming exemplifies values of inclusion, collaboration, discovery, learning, local focus, and quality; and
Whereas, the Cammy Awards take place on national Community Media Day 2019, a celebration of voices that bring awareness to the importance of free speech and accessible media for all individuals to have their voices heard. Taking a page from the Hollywood-style awards shows, the Cammy Awards event is a glamorous affair -nice, tuxedos and all, red runway -featuring a red carpet entrance and a celebratory cocktail reception and a formal awards ceremony, hosted by Cherri Gregg, community affairs reporter for KYW News Radio. It will be broadcast live at PhillyCAM (Comcast 66/966HD/967 and Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 29/30) and live streamed at www.phillycam.org/watch; and
Whereas, PhillyCAM is the non-profit designated by the City of Philadelphia to operate its public access television network. PhillyCAM content also airs on WPPM FM 90-watt signal that reaches about 800,000 people throughout the Philadelphia Region. It's a community media center that brings together the people of Philadelphia to make and share media that promotes creative expression, democratic values, and civic participation. PhillyCAM teaches people to create high-quality, non-commercial media. PhillyCAM distributes nearly 100 hours of local radio and television programming each week on radio and television; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby honor and congratulate PhillyCAM on the occasion of Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 10th Anniversary and wish them continued success in the area of free public access media. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Gretchen Clausing, Executive Director of PhillyCAM, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. Congratulations. (Applause.)
So it was ten years ago yesterday that I was up on the 7th floor of this building with a technician and PhillyCAM's cable channel went live for the first time. But today I'm surrounded by the incredible, hard-working, creative, and committed PhillyCAM staff, Board members, and members who all come together to do this work that we do. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 mentioned, this past Sunday we had our Cammy Awards, our national Community Media Day. We presented 12 awards to outstanding radio and television producers. Some of them are here with us this morning. And they were recognized for content representing the LGBT community, the Latinx communities, people returning from incarceration, living with HIV, or fighting the opioid crisis in Kensington, stories about the transformative power of jazz to looking at sci-fi and geek culture from a black perspective. So many of the Cammy recipients spoke about how they always had a dream to learn to use the mediums of television and radio to express themselves and how PhillyCAM -- and how at PhillyCAM they found a supportive, creative community to help them realize that dream. And all of this would not have been possible without the support of City Council. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 years. I want to acknowledge specifically Councilman David Cohen and Councilman Ortiz, who were here back in the early days of the fight for public access. They were champions of this issue. I want to thank Council President Clarke and outgoing Councilpersons Blackwell, Greenlee, and Reynolds Brown for voting to amend the franchise in 2007, making it possible for PhillyCAM to become a reality. And I want to thank all of the Councilpersons present for the work that you've done in supporting not just PhillyCAM but the School District channel, the City's channel in the last franchise renegotiation with Comcast. I want to make a note that there's also potentially a fight on the horizon in Washington, DC at the FCC as they try to rewrite the rules that could change how PhillyCAM and the other PEG channels here in Philadelphia are able to Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 I certainly hope that's not the case, but we may indeed need your support again to ensure that what we have all built on in the past ten years, we can kind of carry forward and continue to grow. PhillyCAM producers are gearing up for 2020. We've got the presidential election and the census, and we are excited to be out there using media to get people fired up to vote and be counted. Thank you for this very meaningful honor and for making it possible for us to do this amazing work every day. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, and congratulations one more time. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 quiet, please. Thank you. Our next order of business is communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Mr. Decker, please read those messages.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 190555, 190562, 190637, 190638, 190645, 190658, 190704, 190711, 190718, 190744, 190748, 190762, 190763, 190766, 190783, and 190784. And I am pleased to advise you that on October 23, 2019, I signed all of the bills which were passed by Council at its session on October 10, 2019, except Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 160026-A, which I am returning without my signature. And I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of certain properties located in the Second Councilmanic District; and A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to dispose of certain properties located in the Second Councilmanic District, which will be transferred by the City to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, by conveyance of such properties to the Philadelphia Land Bank; and An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to lease from the School District of Philadelphia certain land and improvements known as a portion of South Philadelphia High School, owned by the Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 School District of Philadelphia, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional communications?
Thank you very much. That concludes our communications, and our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce three bills and two privileged resolutions.
An ordinance renaming and designating the property Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 commonly referred to as Mill Creek Park, located at 4615 Fairmount Avenue, as the "Lucien E. Blackwell Park" in the City of Philadelphia; and An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Sloan Street, Baring Street, State Street, and Powelton Avenue; and An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by prohibiting vending on Market Street between 33rd and 34th Streets.
Those three bills will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution Recognizing and Honoring Kenneth Woodson on his years of service to the Philadelphia Zoo and congratulating him on his retirement.
Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Today's Calendar.
And a privileged resolution Recognizing and Honoring David Shaw for all the work he has done for the Blind and Disabled Community.
Also on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one bill, one resolution, and I wish to be recognized after the title of the resolution for a motion, please.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to convey to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority all or a portion of a parcel or parcels of land in and about the area bounded by West Thompson Street, North Orianna Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Street, West Girard Avenue and North 4th Street, for further conveyance.
And a non-privileged resolution calling for the installation of a Philadelphia Historic Marker on the west end of Eakins Oval, near Ericcson Fountain on Spring Garden Street, to commemorate the 100th Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest known Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Nation, on November 28, 2019.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Good morning, Mr. President. I have one resolution co-sponsored by most members of Council.
A privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Aaron Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 McKie as he begins his first season as Head Coach of Temple University's Men's Basketball Team.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Council President, I have two non-privileged resolutions.
A non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to dispose of certain properties located in the Second Councilmanic District, which will be transferred by the City to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, by conveyance of such properties to the Philadelphia Land Bank.
Next Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 week's Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of certain properties located in the Second Councilmanic District.
Next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I have one privileged resolution on my behalf and one non-privileged resolution on behalf of Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez.
A non-privileged resolution calling for the creation of a Domestic Workers Standards and Implementation Task Force and appointing a (9) Person Task Force to consider, analyze, make recommendations to City Council's Committee on Law and Government Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 and the Mayor's Office of Labor, for the City on the legal protections, benefits, and working conditions for domestic workers.
And a privileged resolution recognizing November 7, 2019, as ADHD Awareness Day and honoring the work of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and its Philadelphia affiliate for its work to support families raising children with ADHD.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one non-privileged resolution that's co-sponsored by Councilmembers Gym, Green, and Taubenberger, and one bill.
Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Thank you, Councilwoman.
An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," to require certain businesses to implement and enforce shopping cart containment systems.
And a non-privileged resolution calling on the General Assembly to adopt House Bill 590, which amends the Public School Code to add curriculum requirements for Health classes across Pennsylvania to educate students in an age-appropriate manner about mental health, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities.
Next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Thank you, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Good morning, Council President. I have one privileged and one non-privileged resolution today.
A privileged resolution honoring the tenth anniversary of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, a leading criminal justice reform organization dedicated to securing freedom for the unjustly imprisoned, preventing wrongful convictions and aiding exonerees' transition to restoration.
Today's Calendar. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
And a non-privileged resolution urging the United States of America's federal government to enter the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons among all United Nations member states, to prevent the threat of nuclear war and devastating humanitarian consequences to Philadelphia and our international neighbors.
And that will be next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning, colleagues. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Mr. President. While I have no bills or resolutions today, I do have two bills I'm introducing on behalf of Councilman Mark Squilla.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to lease from the School District of Philadelphia certain land and improvements known as a portion of South Philadelphia High School, owned by the School District of Philadelphia.
And an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," to revise certain provisions of Section 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Overlay Zoning Districts," by modifying the /CTR, Center City Overlay District, Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Society Hill Area to create additional standards concerning height, parking, signs, and special reviews, and making related changes.
Referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Councilman. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions, and our next order of business will be reports from committee, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 190704, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Chestnut Street, 30th Street, Walnut Street, and 31st Lower Level Street"; and Bill No. 190717, entitled "An ordinance continuing the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District, a business improvement district encompassing certain existing and future Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 boundaries of the City of Philadelphia, and continuing the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District Corporation to serve as the neighborhood improvement district management association for the District; approving a new plan for the District, including a list of proposed programs and services related to the development and promotion of the hotel and tourism industry in the City and County of Philadelphia and their estimated cost; providing for special assessment fees to be levied on eligible hotel property owners within the District to fund such programs and services; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with PHiL DC relating to the District; and reauthorizing PHiL DC to assess eligible property owners within the District and collect or cause to be collected special assessment fees to be used in accordance with the approved plan; all in accordance Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 the Community and Economic Improvement Act," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 190704 and 190717. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 190704 and 190717. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Committee of Law and Government.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Law and Government reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 190607, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination,' amending Chapter 9-4100, entitled 'Promoting Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Workplaces,' and adding a new Chapter, entitled 'Protections for Domestic Workers,' all to provide protections for domestic workers and to establish remedial and enforcement provisions, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 190607. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 of Bill No. 190607. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. This bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman -- Councilman Green, I'm going to recognize you. I recognize Councilman Green for a report from the Committee on License and Inspection on behalf of Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the Committee on License and Inspection reports four bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Decker, please read the report.
The Committee on Licenses and Inspections, to which was referred Bill No. 190106, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 3 of Subcode PM ('The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code') of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'General Requirements,' to add provisions relating to bed bug infestation; adding Chapter 9-4500 of the Code, entitled 'Responsibilities Concerning Bed Bug Infestations,' to establish various requirements for landlords and tenants relating to bed bug infestation and to establish requirements related to bed bugs in connection with certain residential occupancies and the sale of residential property"; and Bill No. 190610, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions,' Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Chapter 9-4500, entitled 'Prohibition on Use of Certain Bags and Checkout Bag Charge,' to permit the use of only certain bags by retail establishments at the point of sale or for a delivery; and establishing a charge payable by the consumer to the establishment, for the provision of other types of bags"; and Bill No. 190767, entitled "An ordinance amending Subcode A of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code (The Philadelphia Administrative Code), to further provide for timelines and administrative fees in connection with various permit applications; and to establish a special surcharge in connection with accelerated permit reviews"; and Bill No. 190785, entitled "An ordinance amending Subcode A of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code (The Philadelphia Administrative Code), to provide for fees for solar panel Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 projects," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Chair of the License and Inspection Committee, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 190106, 190610, 190767, and 190785. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 190106, 190610, 190767, and 190785. All those in favor say aye. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reporting out of committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had their first reading. They will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. There are no additional bills on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions that are on our Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 2ND READING Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Bill Nos. 190814, 190818, 180729-A, 190606-A, 170517, 190506, 190551, 190611, 190612, 190613, 190655, 190660, and 190711. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you. Okay. We have a significant amount. Before considering the bills and resolutions today, we're going to have our public comment session. It will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you have not already done so, I'd ask you to sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the middle of the Chamber. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 There's a podium and there's a device on that podium. When the light turns yellow, you will speak. When the -- I'm sorry. When the light turns green, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks. We have a significant number of individuals who have signed up to testify, so what I'm going to ask you to do is to give two minutes for your remarks. So if you have any remarks that were scheduled to be three minutes, I'll ask that you please adjust those particular remarks to adhere to the two-minute limit. I want to make sure that everybody gets a chance to speak. So rather than cutting off on same subject matter, my preference is to allow individuals that signed in today, give everybody an opportunity to speak. So I Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 ask that you please condense your remarks to around two minutes, if at all possible. Mr. Decker, will you please call the first name on the list.
Bob Russell, commenting on Bill No. 190551. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm here to talk about a bill that will correct the zoning for the Penn Presbyterian campus. It's currently zoned as RM-1 and we are correcting it to CMX-4, which accurately reflects the work that's being done on the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center campus. Penn Presbyterian and Penn Medicine want to continue to make significant investments in that facility over the next years and decades, and a Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 correct zoning classification will help support that. I'd like to thank Councilwoman Blackwell for supporting this as well as City Council for supporting this. I'd also like to thank the many members of the community groups that we work with on a regular basis who are out here today to also support this zoning change. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Aaron Wise. I represent West Philadelphia and West Powelton Concerned Community Council. I am the current President of the organization. And on this bill, I would like to thank the Council and Council President for hearing our demands. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 We wish for this going to be built and this bill be passed. It will help a lot of people who have kids, and it will help a lot of certain people in our neighborhood. So we definitely need this bill passed, definitely. We're also totally against the new zoning change. We feel as though that the people who are trying to move into the neighborhood now do not understand the culture of the neighborhood, and we want to keep it the same way it always has been for the past 40 years. So we're hoping that this bill be passed and that the zoning will not be changed. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. (Applause.)
Pam Andrews, commenting on 190551. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I am Pam Andrews, Chair of West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO. I'm here to express our community support for the corrective zoning change for Penn Presby Medical Center. Penn Presby wanted to add an ecology center in order to support people in our neighborhood who have cancer back in 2017. Excuse me. Can you hear me?
Saunders Park/West Powelton voted to support the addition because they saw the value to the neighborhood. After discussing further with the Zoning Board and the Philadelphia Planning Commission, Penn Presby realized that they would need a zoning change in order to continue to update the campus. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 The current bill would rezone Penn Presby Medical Center to CMX-4 Mixed-Use Commercial, which more accurately reflects the current activity of the Penn Presby Medical Center campus and is in line with the zoning of other hospitals in the area. The current RM-1 zoning doesn't allow for a hospital, medical, or healthcare practitioner usage. We, West Powelton, want to support this change so Penn Presby Medical Center can continue providing state-of-the-art care to the area. We consider Penn Presby Medical Center an anchor institution in the neighborhood that has always acted as a good neighbor and in good faith. Thank you.
Kathy Banks, commenting on 190551. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
And I am a Board member of the West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO. I'm in support of the Bill 190551. As a Board member of the West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO, I attended monthly meetings for over a year which Penn Presby held with various surrounding community leadership in order to supply information and gather feedback in their press to have their antiquated zoning changed. Penn Presbyterian is one of the top-rated hospitals in the nation. Penn Presbyterian's Level 1 trauma, one of the top in the country, includes PennSTAR Flight, the air medical services which covers 11 counties in Pennsylvania and much of Delaware and New Jersey. Penn Presby is also one of four safety hospitals remaining which provides Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 a significant level of care to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations. Penn Presbyterian Hospital must be able to go forward in order to continue to provide excellent care and research to all.
Thank you so much for your testimony. (Applause.)
Miranda Boyston, commenting on 190551. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. Good morning, everyone. My name is Miranda Boyston. My husband and I own a home in West Powelton near the hospital campus. I'm also in support of rezoning, because I want Penn Presby to be able to continue providing the best care for us as we make our lives in the neighborhood. Just recently, about two weeks ago, I had to visit the ER for heart palpitations. I was really thankful that Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 that kind of care was close at hand when I needed it most. Thankfully it wasn't anything serious, but I received excellent care then and I will certainly go back if other emergencies arise in the future. I want Penn Presby to be able to make the necessary updates and additions to continue providing these services to my family and my community, whether that be emergency care or cancer treatment. I believe rezoning will allow for that, and I believe that Penn Presby acts in good faith and that our neighborhood RCO will still be able to have influence and rapport with them while giving them the room to stay relevant. Thank you.
Lynn Landes, commenting on 180457. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Lynn Landes of safestreetsphilly.org to speak on 180457. As City Council considers this bill to prohibit the sale of certain tobacco products to protect the public, Council should also consider streamlining and strengthening the processing and enforcement of prohibited conduct under Title 10. I would like to thank SEPTA and the City for removing the bus benches along East Market Street between City Hall and 12th Street. It is unfortunate that the benches cannot be there for the convenience of SEPTA passengers, but they have been completely overtaken by panhandlers, loiterers, drug addicts, and drug dealers. I would also like to thank the City for securing the sidewalk area around City Hall where recently the homeless and others had built shelters Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 and occupied the area, making parts of City Hall an encampment and a dumping ground. This begs the question, if the City can clean up City Hall, why can't they clean up other public spaces? The laws against repeated panhandling, chronic loitering, and other prohibited conduct violations under Title 10 should be enforced. Likewise, the City should also close any loopholes in Title 10 so that City officials may not take advantage to not enforce these laws. In addition, justice should be accessible. Most businesses do not have the time to go to Central Detectives to press charges against repeated offenders. So doesn't it make more sense for the police at the scene to take down that information? As for the homeless and the mentally ill, these problems are clearly beyond the ability of non-profits to handle. The City needs to take control Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 of the situation and review the $100 million budget of the Department of Homeless Services. Currently the City owns no shelter spaces, but it should. The City should also unite with state and federal authorities to build more long-term facilities, particularly for the mentally ill. Leaving the homeless and mentally ill on the streets to wither and die is a barbaric thing to do. It's time to combine compassion with common sense for the common good. Thank you. (Applause.)
Joe Danihel, commenting on 190814. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. This is an official decree of the people in writ of mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 remedy. Every week, Council, Mayor, Governor, and others transfer private property to the government, probably unlawfully. Three years ago, the people voted out the status quo. The people demanded oath-violating public servants be prosecuted. Has attorney generals refused to prosecute and allege RICO-style conspiracy to deny rights in my 11 filings for trial by jury? How can the people reelect candidates that lie to God and violate their oath of office? And why isn't that front-page news in the New York times, Washington Post, and other papers? If committing one crime one time would land persons in jail, why has no official been prosecuted? The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law, breach of close, breach of fiduciary duty. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987; 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384; PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 28; 26 PA CSA 703, 705, 708, 709, 711, 712, 713, 716, 902, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. I call on the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate and prosecute all involved in the theft and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming Avenue. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 25 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 fireman can refuse to fight a fire. The sovereign people require oath, Constitution, and law be enforced, and jail is required for all who violate oath, Constitution, or law. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow this continuous monumental corruption. (Applause.)
Cat Nguyen, commenting on 190660. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I'm here to oppose the Bill 190660 to create the South Philly BID Market. This put a very spacial assessment fee that we can't afford, and this assessment fee be used to pay for the services that we don't need, unrealistic, or is already duplicate for this neighborhood. I personally thank you, Mark Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Squilla, Councilman, to have an open communication with us to negotiate the bill as it's going through. Thank you. (Applause.)
Joe Cox, commenting on 180729-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you. Good morning. My name is Joe Cox. I'm running for City Council as a progressive independent in our election that is 12 days away. Yes, we need to discourage litter, but we need to provide trash cans and recycling bins. It is a problem that I bike miles and see numerous "don't litter" signs, but no trash cans or recycling bins. I just saw the article that came out about the conditions we are putting street cleaners through. We need to get rid of the leaf blower program. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 We should provide living wage jobs to street citizens and low-income people to clean our city. Stop being cowardly. Make people move their cars. The leaf blowers are banned in some areas, parts of New Jersey, DC, and most of California. We are putting out more pollution by using these. Climate change is real. Let's fight it, not add to it. We are putting our workers through hazardous conditions working without basic human rights, such as bathrooms. The number one reason for absenteeism at school is asthma. Again, think of the kids. It is also statistically proven that pollution and the lack of quality of life brings more crime. Do we want more crime? Do we want to fight climate? Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Mr. Decker, our next speaker, please.
Shondra Jackson, commenting on 190797. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Councilmembers. I came here this morning because it was my understanding that Councilwoman -- our Councilwoman Bass was discussing the bill -- the resolution introduced for Dr. Waller, and we was coming in support of that, because for those who don't know, Dr. Waller is there during the voting process, he supports security, he also supports when children are murdered in the City of Philadelphia in Germantown, Mount Airy, Chestnut Hill. Dr. Waller is there, in his pockets, in his heart and his spirituality, and as a citizen of Philadelphia, I think he deserves it. So I came out here today. I don't care who don't like me. When I support you, I'm here for you. Even if I Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 don't feel good, I'm here for all of y'all. We may not agree all the time, but we have to inhale City of Philadelphia and exhale City of Philadelphia, regardless of whether we agree. I think we ought to show up regardless and show that we are unified and have unity in the City of Philadelphia. And I want to thank y'all for y'all time, and most of all, I thank you for your important work that you do for the City of Philadelphia. Thank you, and have a wonderful day. (Applause.)
I'm here to speak on Bill 190606. This bill is horrifying. This is a bill that will grant the City Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 general power to take eminent domain of any properties that City agencies deem as vacant for longer than six months, delinquent, or blighted as determined by a City agency. This bill is going to allow open season for corruption that is already running rampant through City agencies, and it's going to be open season for developers to further push the agenda of gentrification and displacement on poor, working-class communities in Philadelphia. Over a year ago, about a year ago, I came in here and I told Council President Clarke, who left because he knew he was about to get got up in City Council today, that he would not use our community as a chessboard and we are not his pawns, but since Council President Clarke insists that our neighborhood is a chessboard and we are his pawns, we were showing that we are not pawns and we are not rooks and we are not knights, but we are kings and we are queens and we will Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 rise up. And every day people are coming together and people are seeing that if we come together, we can win. Darrell Clarke must go, and he will go if he's written out, voted out, or if he leaves up out of here in handcuffs, because I will not rest until my community can breathe. He has the nerve to have a prayer vigil tomorrow about -
Sergeant-of-Arms. (Microphone turned off.) Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Comments to the legislation, please. (Ms. Bennett talking without microphone.)
Sergeant-of-Arms. (Ms. Bennett talking without microphone.)
Thank you for your public comment. Mr. Decker, our next speaker, please.
Hasanah Bennett, commenting on 190797. (Witness approached podium.)
I just want to get our children back, reunite mothers and families. Give us affordable housing and not have to be removed out of public buildings and being violated like that. I'm not going to just go through the (unintelligible). Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 Give us justice and healing and reunite mothers and children and our families. I want to be a good mother and see my children again. I'm asking them can they get the courts to bring the families back to DHS.
Gerald Bolling, commenting on 190551. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Gerald Bolling. I'm from the Black Bottom. It's an indigenous group here in Philadelphia, which we get no respect from Philadelphia or anybody around me. I would like to say this: We want to support Penn in their efforts to put this cancer center up, but also we're looking not to only get some jobs, but we're also looking to be in leadership Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 and ownership. We want to partnership with Penn so our guys and our girls can get off the street from using drugs and stop going to jail. If you look at our neighborhood, our neighborhood has been decimated incredibly by drugs and alcohol. So what we want to do with Penn in this resolution here is build a partnership with them. When they build the building up, we going to not just be a worker on the building, we want to actually have a contract with them doing contract work, and then after that, we want some more contract work with cleaning the building up so we can take our people in our neighborhood that's now known as University City but is known as Black Bottom and it will stay that way forever, that our people will get a job and start to move in the right way and live a livable life. Thank you. (Applause.) Stated Meeting October 24, 2019
Elizabeth Waring, commenting on 190551. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I've been a resident of West Powelton for 40 years and member also of the community organization. Also I've been employed by Presby for some time -- well, a long time ago, but I'm in support of change for the zoning, because with the ever-evolving technology in healthcare and all that we need, I still see quite a few antiquated areas in Penn Presby that should be updated, and also the zoning is antiquated. But Presby is an integral part of our community, and the trauma center is very beneficial. I have family members as well as I who have been treated there, and I support them strongly as a community and as an Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 individual. I've seen a lot of changes in our neighborhood that does not reflect changes that should be done at Presbyterian. So also we'd like to have input and influence in what goes on at Presby, not necessarily have control. So thank you, and I hope the bill is passed. (Applause.)
Thank you for your public comment. Mr. Decker, is there anyone else to provide public comment on today's agenda?
Good morning. My name is Jacqueline Wiggins and I'm a long-term resident of North Central Philadelphia. I'm responding to Bill 190606 regarding vacant and surplus properties. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 While I can certainly agree that the City has a surplus of vacant properties, I have real concerns about the real roles of the property commissioners to transfer such land and the disposition of those properties via the Redevelopment Authority and the Land Bank. I also have concerns about the qualifications for those who will be able to acquire such properties as stated in the full bill. I think developers will be given priority. I know they will be given priority over others, especially those as stated in the bill who may even be in a payment plan with the Water Department or PGW. Also, suppose I don't want a garden next to my property or an Airbnb, which my block is experiencing badly. I think this bill needs further delay and further discussion by the people. Thank you. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, is there anyone else to provide comment on today's agenda?
Ruth Birchett, commenting on 190606-A. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Ruth R. Birchett. I'm here in stark opposition to Bill 190606 and I'm here also to address specifically Council President Clarke, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Johnson, and Councilmember Quinones-Sanchez, who are party in introducing this bill that will seek to rob property owners of their property. I want to remind and educate this City Council -(Applause.)
-- that you need to look at Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who in an opinion wrote Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 that eminent domain was never meant to rob United States citizens of their property. That's exactly what this bill does. (Applause.)
And you can expect, you can expect for citizens to meet you at the bar of court if indeed you seek to push for this. How dare you? How dare you seek to rob someone of their property if they haven't been in it for six months? How dare you? That is no different -what you're doing here in Philadelphia, the so-called birth place of America, is no different than what's happening in Washington. This is a Trumpian move on the citizenry of the City of Philadelphia, and it is unacceptable. Darrell Clarke, I'm glad you came in. It's time to re-call you. See, in Washington they call it impeachment. Here in the City Charter it's called re-call. I say re-call Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 10/24/19 - STATED - 2ND READING Darrell Clarke. I don't care what you're doing. Those of you who are here and you are members of the republican party -(Microphone turned off.) (Ms. Birchett talking without microphone.)
Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Decker, is there anyone else signed up to provide public comment for today's agenda?
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. Chairman.
We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of Resolution 190814.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 10/24/19 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Forty Fourth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of Resolution 190818. Stated Meeting October 24, 2019 10/24/19 - STATED - 2ND READING