Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 11, 2021 10:17 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN 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 ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Thank you, and good morning. Good morning, everyone. We're going to get started now. I understand that the state law currently requires that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, the Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance, and members that are in attendance will please indicate that they are present when your name is Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 that your image is displayed on the screen. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please call the roll. (No response.)
Okay. Mr. Decker, if you can just call the roll.
Good morning. I am present. Good morning, Mr. President and Council colleagues and Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues and City Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the public. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning, Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning, members of Council. Good morning to the City of Brotherly Love Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 and, in Women's History Month, Sisterly Effectiveness.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning Philadelphia. I am present.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Calling for justice for all of our youth who have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 And, Mr. President, I'm having some technical difficulties. I can't turn on my screen or else I'll lose my sound. So I'm going to keep the sound on. Thank you all.
We need your sound, Councilwoman. Good morning.
Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, colleagues. I think today is the day with bad internet connection for us all. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, Councilwoman.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Present.
Good Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 morning, Councilman.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public.
Good morning to all. We have established a quorum, so we're now going to come to order. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair will recognize Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer of Heavenly Hall Church. She is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Gauthier. I would ask all members and guests to please bow your heads for the invocation.
Good morning, Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Clarke, Majority Leader Parker, Minority Leader O'Neill, fellow Councilmembers, and in particular Councilwoman Gauthier for this invitation. Let us pray. Oh, God, I hope in ages past, I hope for years to come, a shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that your finger of love touched us this morning to awake us and get the activity of not just our spirits but our minds, our hearts, and our bodies. There are many concerns that are before us - COVID-19, violence of gun and others, hunger, unemployment, sickness, despair, loss of hope, lack of care, concern, compassion, and, yes, Lord, even death. So with all of these things in mind, we ask that you will touch each Councilmember, you will strengthen their bodies that they will be able to make sound decisions, that you Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 that they will have clarity of thought and speech, that you will strengthen their spirits that they will be able in their decisions to promote healing and wholeness. Holy Spirit, be our invited guest in all that we discuss today in conducting the business of these thy people in the City that we love so much so that, Lord, trust will never be abused, integrity will never be compromised, and the wisdom that only comes from you will forever be endowed to these our servants, your servants, in their continued care for all people in this City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. This is my humble prayer, your servant. We ask in the name that is above every name, Jesus the Christ, we do pray. Amen, amen, and amen. God bless you.
Amen. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 so much. We really appreciate you being here today to give those inspiring words. Thank you so much.
And our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 4, 2021, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 4th, 2021 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 4, 2021 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And our next order of business is communications, and I'm going to ask Mr. Decker to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.
From the Mayor 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 Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 210002, 210075, 210076, 210078, and 210081. And I am pleased to advise you that on March 10, 2021, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on February 25, 2021: Bill No. 200617; and that on March 10, 2021, I signed the following bills which were passed by Council at its session on March 4, 2021: Bill Nos. 210073, 210077, 210080, 210120, and 210121. And I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1331 North 8th Street, located in the 5th Councilmanic District, in accordance with terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code, all under certain terms and conditions.
Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. Thank you. Now our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And just by way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. I want to thank you very much in advance for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, would you please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Parker offers one bill and one resolution. On behalf of Council President Clarke, Councilwoman Parker offers an ordinance authorizing and Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 approving the execution and delivery of one or more Service Agreements between The City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and/or one or more other City-related Authorities related to the financing of a Neighborhood Preservation Initiative which includes housing, commercial corridors, and neighborhood infrastructure programs.
Thank you. That will be referred to the appropriate committee.
Mr. Decker, hold on one second. Before we move to the next resolution, let me recognize Councilwoman Gym.
Yes. Thank you so much, Council President. I have to leave this meeting for official Council business and would like to request a leave for the rest of the Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 meeting, but would like to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Leave shall be granted. You shall be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions. Thank you very much.
On her own behalf, Councilwoman Parker offers a resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold hearings examining the race gap in home appraisals and its impact on homeownership and wealth accumulation in Philadelphia.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers four resolutions. On behalf of Council President Clarke, Councilwoman Gilmore Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Richardson offers a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1331 North 8th Street, located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
And on her own behalf, Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers a resolution supporting a City of Philadelphia "Lights Out" Campaign and recognizing and honoring the Bird Safe Philly Coalition, the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, and the Building Owners and Managers Association Philadelphia in their collaborative effort to protect the migratory bird population.
And a resolution urging U.S. Senators Casey and Toomey, and the U.S. Senate to pass House Resolution 1/Senate Resolution 1, "For the People Act." Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
And a resolution recognizing and supporting working women and mothers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in honor of Women's History Month and calling for a robust federal response to our nation's first "She-cession."
Thank you. I just wanted to be clear for the record that the bird safe resolution was co-introduced by my colleague Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, and the For the People resolution was co-introduced by my colleague Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Thank you very much, Council Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The record shall reflect that. Mr. Decker.
Councilman Henon offers one bill, 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 Cottman Avenue, Milnor Street, Princeton Avenue, and the Delaware River."
Councilman Jones offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9 of Subcode PM ('The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code') of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Additional Special Requirements,' to establish a program in which the City may perform certain urgent repairs and bill the property owner." Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Councilman Johnson offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution honoring Amanda Gorman, the first national youth public laureate, for becoming the youngest poet to ever speak at a U.S. presidential inauguration."
Councilman Johnson, you wanted to speak before the reading of the next resolution?
Yes. Yes, sir. Well, thank you, Council President. I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the purpose of this resolution just honoring the great work of this young lady, Amanda Gorman, who was the first national poet laureate but also the youngest inaugural poet who spoke at our President, President Biden's, inauguration with her poem The Hill We Climb, calling on unity and healing in the United States. Most Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 recently she was racially profiled in a building in which she lived by a security guard. So, you know, this resolution is really sending good vibes of encouragement, support, and empowerment. She talked about how one day she was an icon but another day being racially profiled, and that's what we deal with every day here in America, particularly as black people, irregardless of our status and/or position. And so this resolution is in honor and supporting her great efforts and encourage this young lady to keep on keeping on during this Women's History Month. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. That will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilman Johnson offers a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Philadelphia's own Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 "Smokin" Joe Frazier on the 50th Anniversary of his heavyweight championship win over Muhammad Ali in the "Fight of the Century."
Councilman, did you want to be recognized before this also?
Absolutely, Council President. We know he hails from North Philadelphia, the Fifth Councilmanic District, but when we talk about the boxing culture here in the City of Philadelphia, I take a nod to my colleague Councilman Curtis Jones who is always on the front line promoting boxing tournaments and encouraging young people to put down the guns and pick up the gloves. And when you think about the rich boxing culture and the history that we have here in the City of Philadelphia, you know, all this weekend we have had an opportunity to celebrate which we all know as the Fight of the Century. Philadelphia has a shining king Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 of boxing, which is our former heavyweight champion, Smokin Joe Frazier, who put Muhammad Ali down in the 15th round with a mighty left hook, also giving him his first defeat. So it is a great pleasure and an honor that I introduce this resolution, because as Philadelphians, that was a particular moment in the history that I look back on that I'm proud of that has put our city on the map, and we should always continue to celebrate those who are representing the City of Philadelphia in the best and brightest way. And so I enthusiastically introduce this resolution honoring the life and legacy of Philadelphia great heavyweight champion Smokin Joe Frazier, honoring his victory over Muhammad Ali during the Fight of the Century. Thank you very much, Council President.
Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Thank you, Councilman. And if anyone is passing 13th and Allegheny, you can see an awesome mural that was just unveiled yesterday, a local artist, and it is really, really special. Thank you, Councilman. That will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilman Green offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled 'Referenda Approved by the Voters,' by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that would decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 purposes."
And a resolution submitting to the electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled, "Referenda Approved by the Voters," by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes.
Thank you. Also referred to committee. Hold on a second, Mr. Decker. Councilman Henon, did you want to be recognized now?
Thank you, Council President. It was on the previous introduction that Councilman Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Johnson had introduced, the resolution recognizing the legacy of our rich boxing history with Joe Frazier and the Frazier family. I just wanted to -- point of personal privilege, that a lot of people -- I mean, look, 50 years ago and we're still talking about how proud we are of the City of firsts and proud of our family and our roots and our ability to really gather around each other for public safety, education, and having these stars and starlight power given back to the community, to the entire Frazier family. But they also brought people up with them. They also brought people up in the neighborhoods. They educated them. They connected them to jobs. They did job trainings. They were helping, again, with our public safety trying to put people -- make sure that people who fell on hard times be shown the right path. They also had a good supplier Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 network and folks in promotion. I know Joe Hand, Jr. -- or Joe Hand Promotions was Cloverlay then at the time, was the promoter. They're also celebrating 50 years. So I want to congratulate them in their tenure and looking after Philadelphians in many, many ways that still continue today with our legacy. So it's more than a fight. It's more than a family. All right? It's all of the City together rallying around one of its own, as we do. We take care of each other. We don't let anybody pick on us. We're very protective of each other and what we do. So I just want to thank Councilman Johnson for recognizing the 50-year anniversary, but it's much deeper than that, and I'm proud to be a part of it just like everybody has been for the last 50 years.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please continue. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Councilwoman Brooks offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution commemorating the life and legacy of community activist Shawn W. Wilson, whose tireless advocacy against gun violence and racial injustice advanced community safety and expanded a powerful model of neighborhood engagement for former first responders and veterans in the City of Philadelphia."
The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones -- I'm sorry; Johnson.
Yeah. Can I have a small point of privilege just acknowledging my colleague Kendra Brooks as she introduced the resolution honoring a young man named Shawn Wilson, who had an organization called Vets in the Hood, and he's been down to City Council on Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 several different occasions advocating and fighting for resources for our most prized individuals who have served our country, which are our veterans. And so I just want to commend her and also Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson, just making sure that we acknowledge individuals who are really on the ground doing the work. And, Council President, we know as the leader of this body, it was your hard work and your effort to create the Office of Veterans Affairs and also the Veterans Parade and also the veterans ceremony where we award them every year. And so in that spirit, I just wanted to take a moment just to acknowledge his life and his legacy. And he had a word that said love on purpose, particularly around this issue of gun violence that we're seeing here in the City of Philadelphia, and he had a spirit of just reaching out to young people and helping them change their lives and Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 really talking about really what it is to love on purpose. So I just want to acknowledge that for the record, and my heart and prayers go out to his family and also the Nicetown community as well.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please proceed.
Councilman Thomas offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating the Father Judge High School Wrestling Team for their second consecutive win of the Philadelphia Catholic League Wrestling Championship in their 2019 to 2020 season."
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to identify and examine potential systemic biases in oversight that create inequalities between Black Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 and white led schools, resulting in fewer resources or support for Black founded and led institutions.
Thank you, Council President. I appreciate it. I just want to take a moment to, first of all, thank my colleague Councilmember Bobby Henon for co-introducing the legislation with me as far as recognizing Judge as the Champion on the Week. And I also want to take a moment to thank all of my colleagues who co-sponsored my resolution around looking at black institutions, black-led institutions, specifically give a shout-out to my colleague Councilmember Jones, who had six black-led institutions in his Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 district alone, and he is one of the co-sponsors of this legislation. I've been in some interesting meetings as a member of the Education Committee and I've been a part of a lot of dialogue as it relates to how black institutions specifically are treated, and what I don't want to happen is for this conversation to be hijacked and then turn into a conversation around charter schools. This is not about charter schools at all. This is about black-led institutions and how black institutions are treated significantly different than their white counterparts. For me personally, again, I've been in part of some dialogues and I've heard some things that I feel like are really troubling, and I think that our best steps moving forward -- because I think that there's some perception issues around black institutions, black educators, black children, and black families. I think that the most Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 important thing for us moving forward is to move this conversation to a public forum so we can assure that the dialogue is one that's transparent, it's informative, it's factual, and it's one that's looked at through a lens of equity as well as justice. I believe in African-centered education. I come from a space of African-centered pedagogy. I'm very familiar with a lot of different initiatives that take place when you're dealing with African-centered pedagogy. Sometimes we start our day with Harambee, which is a key Swahili term that means let's pull together. Young people, they even count using different languages and terms. I listen to my son in Harambee and when they're ready to start, they don't say one, two, three. They say moja, mbili, tatu, and that's teaching the young people numbers in a totally different language. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 I asked my son this morning, son, what is your principle of the month? And he has a different principle of the month that's based on the principles of Kwanzaa. And so when you're talking about ujima and ujamaa and all the other principles, my son is learning those things at an early stage. When I get the opportunity to ask him about historical allusions, his perception of great black folks is not just limited to Martin Luther King or Malcolm X, and he's in third grade. I had an opportunity to listen to him recite a speech by Langston Hughes that he actually memorized, and in the speech, right, my third grade eight-year-old son was able to articulate in his speech the difference between when you are a person of color and when you are a person of color being forced to go in the kitchen and eat when there's company. So in the spirit of Langston Hughes and in the spirit of my son, I do Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 not want our black institutions to have to go in the kitchen anymore. I want them to be able to have the same access to resources, the same treatment, and the same privileges as their white counterparts. And so in the spirit of black equity, right, and only in the spirit of black equity, I emphatically introduce this resolution today. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Councilman. That will be on today's Calendar.
Councilman O'Neill offers one bill, 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 Cottman Avenue, the Montgomery County Line, the Bucks County Line, Interstate 95, Grant Avenue, and Roosevelt Boulevard." Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Councilwoman Bass offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution recognizing March 2021 as Brain Injury Awareness Month to increase understanding of chronic brain injury, reduce stigma, showcase the diversity of injury across demographics, and improve care and support."
And a resolution recognizing March 2021 as National Nutrition Month to educate Philadelphians on how to make informed food choices, and develop healthy eating and physical activity habits, while raising awareness of the need for accessible, nutritious food.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions for today, and our next order of business is reports from committee. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Council President. The Committee on Rules reports out three bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, will you 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. 200628, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes"; and Bill No. 210075, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes"; and Bill No. 210078, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I move that the rules Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 so as to permit first reading of this day of Bills No. 200628, 210075, and 210078. (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. 200628, 210075, and 210078. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez for a report from the Committee on Appropriations.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred Bill No. 210160, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, the Managing Director," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 210160. (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 Bill No. 210160. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that those bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading, and these bills will be Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 2ND READING placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 210183, 210184, 210185, 210186, 210187, 210188, 210189, 210190, 210192, 210194, 210196, 210200, 200618, and 210122. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with our Calendar, we will have our public comment session. So we're going to take a few Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 minutes, five to ten minutes recess to give our technology professionals some time to connect the speakers for today. So we'll take a brief moment, brief recess. (Brief recess.)
Thank you. Thank you. We're going to get started. Now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider the public comment. It will go as follows: Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of these matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 the legislative item you are commenting on, and whether you are in support of or against the legislation, and add you to the list. We will telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Now, under ideal circumstances they will each have three minutes, but today given the volume, we're going to ask you to limit your testimony to two minutes. Thank you. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started, and we will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will be reminded of this by a simple bell. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter you will be muted and Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same matter and to limit the scope of the testimony to only certain items of the agenda during the emergency, which could affect callbacks for public comment at the meeting. So please be aware also that this is a public meeting. So because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy, and by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. We are now going to get started, and I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker on the list.
Thank you so much, City Council. It truly means so Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 much to not only me but our entire team and our families to be recognized in Resolution 210187. We began the work in 2016 because we saw a wrong or rather an injustice and, to the best of our ability, tried to right it. I can only speak for myself, but perhaps the ladies on my team feel the same. We thought we would gather people together to lift their spirits to say we see you and we hear you. That said, I did not dream we would be leaders of a movement that has helped change the trajectory of our country. By showing my support of Resolution 210187, I'm showing my daughter and the next generation of women that their voice matters and that they matter. Thank you so much for your time.
Just for the record again say your name Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 briefly just for the record.
Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you for your testimony.
Yes. Beth Finn. If you could just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.
Yes. My name is Beth Finn. Resolution sponsor Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, members of Philadelphia City Council, thank you for considering this important resolution about the Women's Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 March on Philadelphia during Women's History Month. My name is Beth Finn and I am one of the co-founders of the Women's March on Philadelphia and the President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Women. I live in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia. When we started planning the first Women's March on Philadelphia in late 2016, we did not have any idea what the event would become here at home, around the country, and around the world. We would have considered the event a success if a few hundred people had shown up on the Ben Franklin Parkway to march in solidarity with us and our allies in Washington, DC. We were truly fortunate that our partners in the City's Department of Parks and Rec and Office of Special Events knew better what to expect. Bob Allen, Doug Robinson, Jazelle Jones, and all of their colleagues across countless departments Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 were instrumental in making sure that each of the four Women's Marches on Philadelphia were peaceful, safe, and successful. Without their expertise, the 60,000 marchers would not have been able to gather, exercise their First Amendment right of peaceful protest, and strengthen each other for the hard work we knew was ahead of us following the 2016 presidential election. Though the challenges facing women did not start with that election and they haven't been magically solved by our most current President, the 2016 election served as a catalyst for many Americans to start to claim their voices as citizens. This is the most powerful promise of our democracy. The first Women's March was an opportunity for ordinary people to jump-start their activism. It led to people demanding their rights guaranteed in our Constitution, to constituents expecting more from their elected Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 officials, and to record numbers of women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and underrepresented groups running for office. I am so proud of the work my resister sisters and I have done to organize these four years of women marches. I am proud of the platform we were able to create to amplify these voices, and I am proud of the incredible work that tens of thousands of people took on to make our city, our country, and our world a better place. There is still so much more work to do to guarantee that women are paid equitably for the work that we do, that women have autonomy over our own health and bodies, that the burden of maintaining a household and caring for our children doesn't fall solely on our shoulders, that violence against women, especially domestic violence, is taken as seriously as other kinds of violence, and that women are represented equally in all Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 places where decisions are being made. The passage of this resolution by this Council shows the commitment of the City of Philadelphia to these ideals. Thank you for your support and for your time.
Yes. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. I'm Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 in agreement to Resolution 210187, and I wanted to thank, of course, for introducing Councilwoman Richardson, along with Councilwoman Parker, Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, Councilwoman Gym, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilwoman Brooks, Councilman Henon as well as Squilla, Councilman Green, Councilman Johnson, and Councilman Domb. I just wanted to thank everyone again. I add on to all the comments of both my fellow organizers. As a black woman, one of two black women -- well, three black women who helped to put on the march, we found that there was even a lot of opposition within our own community being a part of this march, but I'm so glad that there was a sisterhood built out of it. I was so glad that we had a platform that we are now able to talk together in unity about all of us being a woman, but so many minority communities were also represented during this time. I am so honored that we were Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 not only a part of this Women's March, but we were part of a continuous movement that created such an impact across the world. I want to thank everyone who participated, including our Mayor and several of our Councilwomen who are on the line. I want to thank all of the men who were our partnerships and friends along with this march. And I just want to thank the Council for recognizing. We had one of the largest consistent marches, and there were not only the 65,000 that started that day but there were hundreds of thousands of people that came through the snow, through the rain, through the cold just to put forth a movement that will be written into legacy for the rest of our lives. And I am so honored today that Philadelphia has not only acknowledged it, but it will also be in the records for the rest of our lives, and our generations down the line can also open Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 to read as they follow this bill. So I want to thank you again. I want to thank the members of Council. And I am so blessed to witness this movement and that our movement had such impact, that we saw change. Thank you again.
Good morning to the distinguished and honorable members of the City Council of Philadelphia, to Council President Clarke. I would like to thank Councilwoman Bass for the opportunity to show my support for and speak on behalf of Resolution 210200, which recognizes March 8th as International Women's Day and an event to raise awareness of the adverse oppression and inequities that women have experienced and continue to experience globally, and to celebrate the Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 achievements of women around the world and to campaign for positive change. I am the Director of Education and Training and Outreach Services for WOAR, Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. For the past 21 years, I have dedicated my life to educating individuals and families how to prevent harm to children, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and women. WOAR, the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, formerly known as Women Organized Against Rape, was founded by women to support victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence at a time when victims of sexual violence were not treated with care, respect or dignity, and when offenders often walked away from the harm which they inflicted upon women and children. What we now know is sexual violence is an issue. It is a societal plague, and it is often used as a weapon of war. We know that sexual violence Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 knows no gender or orientation. It doesn't care about religion, race or socioeconomic level. WOAR was the first rape crisis center in Pennsylvania, and as a result of the leadership of women in the City of Philadelphia, there are now 50 centers in Pennsylvania, one in every county, that provides treatment for victims of sexual violence and promotes prevention education. City Council's support for Resolution 210200 will be an acknowledgment of the vital work conducted by women in Philadelphia and around the world and the importance of leadership of women. And the support for this resolution will continue to show Council's support and efforts to eliminate adverse oppression and inequities faced by women both in our city and around the world. Thank you, Council, for this opportunity to address you today. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
Thank you very much for your testimony. Appreciate it.
Greetings. As President and CEO of the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family Incorporated, I want to thank you, Councilman Johnson, and your co-sponsors for supporting the National Juneteenth Day of Observance bill and encourage all of you to send letters to our Congress representatives asking for their support. The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family was founded in 2018. Our core foundation was built on four pillars spiritual, cultural, education, and political. Each of these pillars represent areas that impact African American communities. Our goal is to research, plan, and organize initiatives Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 that will improve challenges that we face today. We are dedicated to raising cultural awareness, cross cultural exchange, and interest in the African diaspora's agenda. We work tirelessly to help the Juneteenth become the 46th state-recognized holiday, along with others across the City and the state, resulting in a delegation going to Harrisburg to witness the signing by Governor Wolf. We are thankful that Mayor Kenney has made Juneteenth holiday recognized until 2023 by Executive Order. I leave you with this: A lot more work needs to be done, so join the Family. Thank you for the opportunity to address Council, and I hope we can continue counting on you all's support as we move forward. Thank you.
Ms. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 Staley, just state your name for the record, please.
Thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony.
Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. Thank you.
Kofi Asante. I want to thank Councilman Johnson, City Council President, City Council for the opportunity to speak this morning. I want to say thank you specifically to Councilman Johnson for his courage and his moving the resolution forward to shine light on Juneteenth. Our community needs heroes that Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 they can touch, and Johnson responded to the urgency from our City Council from our Juneteenth President, Tamara Staley. She called him out of urgency because Juneteenth was not on the Calendar for the City, and he leaped into action like a super hero, like a hero we can touch, and he contacted his constituency and other City Councilpeople, and lo and behold, the Juneteenth was back on the Calendar. So we thank him for that. We thank him for his courage to be able to put the resolution to move forward our struggle as it relates to Juneteenth, and also to be able to join us in our movement in order to make Juneteenth a celebration in every household, that it becomes a stable name. When our communities say Juneteenth, they understand the struggles and the sacrifices of those who came before us. And as we move forward even into this year with the pandemic, all the things that have happened to us, it's Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 joyful to be able to know that Juneteenth is thriving and the programs and process that we are going to do as a Juneteenth Family. So all of you heroes and sheroes that are on City Council, please continue to join us and support the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family and the movement of the holiday Juneteenth on June the 19th even in 2021. God bless, and thank you for this opportunity.
Thank you for your testimony. The next speaker is Mark Harrell, commenting on 210190.
Good morning, Council President Clarke and members of City Council. My name is Mark Harrell. On behalf of the Board of the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family, I want to thank Councilman Kenyatta Johnson as well and his colleagues on City Council for introducing the resolution on Thursday, Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 March 4th urging the U.S. Congress to designate Juneteenth a national holiday. The Philadelphia Juneteenth Family is supporting our national mother of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal Lee from Fort Worth, Texas, currently 94 years old, who started a walking campaign to Washington, DC in 2016 and has continued it to bring awareness to the fact that there is support for it all across the nation. There is currently legislation in the U.S. Senate, Senate Bill 4019, and in the House, House Resolution 7232, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, that just needs to be passed into law. We want Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday. Yes, Juneteenth originated in Texas, but 47 states now have it as a day of observance to commemorate the ending of slavery, and more are making it a paid day off, including states like Virginia, New York, and Texas. We believe Juneteenth can be a Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 unifier, because it recognizes that slaves didn't free themselves and that they had help from Quakers along the underground railroad, abolitionists, both black and white, like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, soldiers and many others who gave their lives for the freedom of being slaves. It's not lost on us that the summer of 2020 saw the largest support of Juneteenth to be a national holiday because of the death of George Floyd highlighted the systemic racism that still exists because of the residual effects of slavery. We can't let the swelling support just simply disappear until the summer rolls around again. We have to make sure that Congress follows through with their commitment to honor the lives of those who came before us. Our goal with her petition, which currently has over 1.5 million signatures and we're aiming for 3 million, and her walk is to show Congress Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 and the President that she is not alone in her and the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family's desire to see national recognition of a day to celebrate freedom for all. Will you sign and support this petition to let them know as well? I want to thank you for your consideration and this opportunity to address you today. Victory 400. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. My name is Albert S. Dandridge III, and I am here to comment on Resolution 210083 on Bernard W. Smalley Sr. Bernie Smalley and I grew up in West Philly, directly across the alleyway from each other. His bedroom window faced my bedroom window. We would yell Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 at each other through the windows. We would meet at the back fence, at the corner store, at the G bus across the street from -- bus stop across the street from his house, at the 15 trolley stop down the street from his house. We had each other's backs on the streets. He was a better talker; I was a better fighter. After years of sharing each other's joys and sorrows, the roles became interchangeable. Last fall, we lost our Board of City Trusts' President, friend, and my former law partner, Ronnie Donatucci. I remember at Ronnie's funeral the priest giving the eulogy said that if Ronnie was not in heaven, there is no heaven. With due respect and with the same assurance as the priest, I do not believe that God would have taken Ronnie away from us at the Board without a plan. The plan is Bernie Smalley. I do not believe that there is anyone living who Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 cares more about the children, the administrators, the teachers, and the staff at Girard College than Bernie Smalley. I do not believe there is anyone living who cares more about the miracles that take place and the doctors, nurses, administrators, and staff at Wills Eye Hospital than Bernie. I do not believe there is anyone living who cares more about the charitable entities that help the citizens of Philadelphia than Bernie Smalley. I believe that God has a plan for my friend of more than 65 years and the new President. Thanks be to God.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Yasmeen Abbott, commenting on Councilman Thomas's resolution on Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 black-owned and led schools.
Thank you, Councilman Thomas and colleagues. My name is Yasmeen Abbott and it was imperative to send my children to a black-owned and operated school to complete their education. It wasn't a question. Black schools matter, and attending Universal Institute Charter School from 2011 to 2020 provided a strong academic rigor while having constant black empowerment daily. Raising black girls is already challenging in America. Having them receive education where academic excellence is exemplified was also imperative. Having them see educated black representations of themselves daily helped shape their confidence in who they are for nine years of their lives, going to school from kindergarten to eighth Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 grade. It also helped increase their social and emotional wellness, having a safe place to be educated by blacks unapologetically. They strive for higher education, attending HBCUs, and the importance of being strong, productive black citizens in society making a difference every day. Having the choice to choose that educational platform for my black girls helped me raise them without stress, worry, and fear that I already see as a black mother in America. Thank you all again for this opportunity, and a huge thank you to Universal Institute Charter School staff and school leaders. Their dedication to their students and their scholars is absolutely unmatched.
Thank you so much for your testimony. Appreciate it.
The next speaker Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 is Daniel Wideman.
Good morning. My name is Daniel Wideman, a proud parent of a West Oak Lane Charter School, black led and black ran. Thank you, Councilman Thomas, and his colleagues for the support and leadership of calling for this critical important hearing. I chose to send my child to a black-founded, black-led charter school because they put the kids first. They don't look at what the neighborhood is or where they come from. They don't look at how much money we make. They show kids the love and support, no matter where they come from. Every day they put the kids first. For the last three years, I have been a proud parent of West Oak Lane Charter School. The reason why, because my kid comes first in every decision I make. From the hurt, the pain and suffering that our kids go through on a daily basis, it is great to know that we Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 have charter schools like West Oak Lane in the community that is willing to pay forth and give the love and care to our kids. I chose this school. If that choice is tooken from me, it's not only going to hurt me, my child, but the neighborhood as well. Please, Council, take forth the effort that Councilman Thomas has put forth in front of you to support the black charter schools in the community. Black schools matter. Our kids matter. Their lives matter to us. Please, I'll ask that today that you believe in our kids the same way we do. They are doing a great job at the black-led, black-ran charter schools. Please do not let that voice get tooken away from us. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021
My name is Diane Clayton and I am speaking on behalf of the African American Charter School Coalition. I am also a grandparent of a scholar at Global Leadership Academy, which is a black-founded and led public charter school located in West and Southwest Philadelphia. I am here today to thank Councilman Isaiah Thomas and his colleagues who co-sponsored his resolution for their bold leadership in calling for a public hearing to examine the racial bias and discrimination that exists within the School District of Philadelphia's process of oversight, evaluation, and expansion opportunities for black-founded and led public charter schools. Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 In addition to being a strong academic school, Global Leadership Academy celebrates my child's heritage, educates scholars about black history, and gives scholars the opportunity to visit the historic places that serve as safe havens for our ancestors to find their way to freedom. Here we are in 2021 still fighting for our freedom and fighting for equity when it comes to public education. West and Southwest Philadelphia have very limited options when it comes to high-quality public schools. Not every neighborhood in our city has a Central, a Masterman or a Girls' High, not to mention these are special admission schools that require certain criteria to be admitted. We look forward to the opportunity to share our stories and challenges when it comes to maintaining our right as parents and guardians to attend a school of our choice and Stated Meeting March 11, 2021 exposing the double standards and inequitable process this District has implemented when it comes to evaluation of black-founded and led school. Our children are public school students, and the black schools matter and must be evaluated by a fair and equitable process. Doing anything less is not only discriminatory, but it also further hurts children and families like mine. We know doing what is right doesn't always mean that it is popular, but to remain silent on this very critical issue is to be complicit while our civil rights are being violated, and that is not okay. Thank you again for your leadership, Councilman Thomas, and your willingness to address this very critical issue.