Committee Hearing, March 13, 2012

Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE, CHAIR COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN TASCO BILL 120020 - An ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district in an area that generally includes the areas roughly bounded by: (a) York Street, Carlisle Street, Girard Avenue and 19th Street; (b) York Street, the SEPTA Regional Rail tracks, Susquehanna Avenue and Watts Street; and (c) the Diamond Green, Kardon Atlantic, University Village and Wanamaker School developments, to be known as the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District... - - - Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com

Good morning, everyone. Can I have everybody's attention, please. This is the Committee on Rules. For the record, we have a quorum with Councilman Goode, Councilwoman Bass, Councilman Henon, Council President Clarke and myself, Bill Greenlee, as the Chair. Ms. Marconi, will you please read the title of the bill before us today.

Bill No. 120020, an ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district in an area that generally includes the areas roughly bounded by: (a) York Street, Carlisle Street, Girard Avenue and 19th Street; (b) York Street, the SEPTA Regional Rail tracks, Susquehanna Avenue and Watts Street; and (c) the Diamond Green, Kardon Atlantic, University Village and Wanamaker School developments, to be known as the North Central Neighborhood Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Improvement District; designating North Central Management Corporation, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, including a list of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with the North Central Management Corporation, relating to the District; and authorizing North Central Management Corporation to assess property owners within the District a special property assessment fee to be used in accordance with the approved plan; all in accordance with the provisions of the Community and Economic Improvement Act, and under certain terms and conditions.

Thank you. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Before we take any testimony from the public, I would recognize Council President Clarke.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning to the panel. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)

I'm glad to see you all here. I just want to briefly -- and I talked about this the other night, for those of you that were at the community meeting up Temple, but I'll say it again. As I said at that time, this is a process. It is a proposal. You will have input, as I said the other evening, as witnessed by you being here today in City Council. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 of years, I can say now, of concerns raised by particularly the long-term residents of a section in the North Philadelphia community around the perimeter of Temple University. We had a whole lot of meetings of people raising concerns about the activity of some of the students that were in the community in the middle of residential blocks doing what 18, 19-year-olds do when they have no supervision - parties all night every night, trash being put out every day of the week, landlords who did not respect the neighborhood in terms of their development, putting debris out, construction debris out on vacant lots next to the thing. It's just been a whole lot of history relating to the problems associated with this development. So as a result of that, there were a couple of things that were proposed. Initially there was a proposal that I submitted. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 called a Student Responsibility Bill. After looking at a number of models that had been put in other places, it became clear to me that the City realistically was not in the position to enforce that bill, because it would have required responses to the complaints, it would have required a followup by License and Inspection, and looking at the other areas, it wasn't done nearly as well as what's proposed. So after talking to a number of the residents and some of the landlord community, we talked about a program that was put in place in other parts of the City called a Special Service District. The one the most referenced was the one in West Philadelphia centering around University of Penn and Drexel. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 of it. That allowed them, the Special Service District, to hire people to provide security in the neighborhood. If you go out there around 40th and Market and Chestnut in those areas, you'll see people riding around on bikes with uniforms cleaning up, riding little scooters and doing all the other things, and those are, by and large, people that were hired from the local neighborhood to provide that service. So it was thought that something like that could be done in this particular neighborhood to deal with the issues that I mentioned earlier. Initially, there was a thought that this particular funding would only come from properties that house students. It was understood, based on the Law Department and the ability to determine what properties were students, that it had to be broader. , commercial properties. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 down, we put together a proposal that would essentially impose a fee on properties that rented to primarily students but actually also other people, because you couldn't separate the two. The thought was that that funding that will be raised by those individuals, exempting -- and I want to emphasize, exempting individuals who lived in single-family homes, individuals who lived in owner-occupied properties that decided that they wanted to rent to students, that they would be exempt. That proposal was put forth. As the statute reads in the law, it is a long process by design, because it wants to make sure that everybody in that targeted area has an opportunity to participate in the process, as witnessed by the number of meetings that were had in the neighborhood and today, the first of two hearings that must be held in Council. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 everybody in this room and the neighborhood decided that this would be something that they will want, this bill 5 could not pass until, I think, June 20th, mid June. That's the best-case scenario.

And I'm assuming that everybody in here is not supporting this. So that's the way the law is structured. The language that went out into the bill, which is why I'm glad I attended the meeting the other night, probably should not have gone out that way, but as I said, it was a proposal. Because there was some language that, understanding the nature of the neighborhood, that actually touched some things. We all, all of us, know the history of the neighborhood and Temple University. So whenever you deal with that, you got to make sure that you're very careful about the proposal and the language. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 person that testified the other night and we made notes about the issues that were raised at that particular meeting. I think all of you should have a packet. And, again, this is based on what we've heard the other night and we talked about the issues that were concerns and we talked about some of the recommendations as it relates to changing some of the language and some of the information in the bill. We may have missed some things, so today if you continue to have further issues as relates to something that's not on here, I want you to please look at this, because this is important, because this is the template on, if we move ahead, how you do it. So the bottom line is, this is a proposal that came as a result of me personally hearing a whole lot of concerns, understandably, by residents in that community. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 don't you do a NID. I mean, it's just not something that I would have done if it were not for the residents. So I'm happy to see you here today. I want to make sure that you get your points across and be in a position to ensure that everybody has an opportunity to have the appropriate input. And even after all of that, at the end of the day, if it's understood that this is not something that's needed or wanted in that particular community, this is probably not going to happen, but I just think that the City of Philadelphia -- and I'll take the responsibility in my little world -- has not been in the position to adequately address the problems as it relates to the student issues. I mean, I know of a number of issues where people have called 3-1-1 and people have called Temple Police, and it's not the appropriate response. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 night -- and I'm sorry for taking so long, but this is like really important. I want to make sure I get it all out. Seven o'clock at night I'm walking with the Commissioner of License and Inspection. We're walking down the block, and somebody is pouring cement with a big old cement truck. And we're saying, Well, it's 7 o'clock at night. The guy had no permit to do that. If it were not for us being there, we wouldn't have caught them. But I understand the nature of the stuff that's going on. , resources, so we can adequately deal with the challenges associated with the neighborhood. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 said that they're prepared to be very supportive of this particular issue and will work, if we decide to proceed, to ensure that people contribute to this fund. There's one other thing -- and then I'll shut up, because I know you all need to talk -- that was discussed, not in detail, this whole notion about not -- the whole notion about only doing housing for students, which has been an issues that a lot of people have raised some concern. There has been some preliminary conversations about some of the landlords actually getting involved and developing affordable housing for residents, if we decide to proceed down that line, but, again, that will all be based on what the community is interested in. So with that, Mr. Chairman, thank you for indulging me.

Thank you for clearing that up, Mr. President. Just one thing, a lot of -- there's going Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 to be a lot of amendments put in today, I understand, and they're going to reflect some of the changes you had spoken about, correct?

Correct.

Any other questions, comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)

Before I call the first list of witnesses, just a few quick ground rules, and I appreciate everybody's cooperation in this. We want everyone to get your point across, but we do have a lot of people that want to testify here today and we do have other hearings here today. So in fairness to all, we ask that you keep your remarks as brief as possible, again, with still getting your point across and letting us know how you feel. I don't want to set any kind of definite time limit, but we reserve the right to ask people to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 conclude their testimony after a reasonable amount of time. If you have written testimony, that will be made part of the record, and we ask that rather than just reading the statement, that you summarize your statement. And please, as much as possible, don't be repetitive and just say the same thing that the person before you said. Finally, the stenographer here, Michele, is very capable, but she can only take down one statement at a time. So please no speaking out, no shouting out, and only the person at the mike can speak. And if you need to have conversation, please just step out in the hallway momentarily to do that. So we appreciate everyone's cooperation. And with that, I'm going to call the first panel. Oh, and if you're not on the list, if you have not signed up and you at some point wish to testify, please see Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Ms. Marconi here and give her your name. Thank you. I'm going to call the first panel of witnesses. What we're going to do is call people three or four at a time to try to keep things moving as quickly as possible. So the first panel will be Karen Fegely from the Commerce Department, Beverly Coleman, Herb Reid, Jr., and Nick Pizzola, if they're all here. I know Ms. Coleman is here. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

Good morning, Ms. Fegely.

Good morning.

Could you please identify yourself for the record and proceed, please.

Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of City Council. My name is Karen Fegely. I'm the Director of the Neighborhood Economic Development Unit within the Commerce Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Department, and I'm here today to provide testimony in support of Bill No. 120020. This bill will allow for the creation of the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District. The creation of improvement districts is consistent with the City's Strategic Plan, especially with core service areas of jobs and economic development and healthy and sustainable communities. It is commendable when property owners join together to plan and pay for services such as supplemental cleaning, public safety, beautification and marketing. Formation of an improvement district is most successful when property owners in a specific area due to the nature of their area and business have a shared economic interest in cooperating to pay for very specific things that are over and above what the City normally provides. As part of the ReStore Philadelphia Corridors program, Commerce Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 plays an increasingly active role in working with the existing business improvement districts and assisting property owners who may wish to explore creating a district. While Commerce has not been as closely involved with the property owners planning the North Central NID, we believe that the NID could have a significant positive impact upon conditions within the neighborhood, particularly if there is ongoing financial support from and coordination with Temple University. We applaud North Central property owners for acknowledging the impacts that activities associated with their properties have upon the general neighborhood and for investing their time to develop a plan where they commit ongoing funds to address these issues. Creation of a NID could create an organizational structure and funding for ongoing services that would complement and enhance the many existing Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 community efforts already underway. In an area that has experienced rapid change due to the creation of off-campus housing for students, a successful NID could be a positive force for stability within the neighborhood that provides a way to address quality-of-life issues for homeowners and long-term residents. We urge the NID organizers to continue to conduct outreach and secure support from their peers who own rental properties or commercial properties who would be subject to paying the annual assessment. If the NID does not have broad support from these owners, it will not be successful. As the NID organizers refine their plan, we urge them to more clearly outline what services the NID budget will be able to purchase and more clearly indicate how the BID assessment will be calculated after the first year. The result of this successful collaboration can be a dynamic neighborhood improvement district that Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 promotes the long-term stability and viability of North Central neighborhoods. This worthwhile effort deserves the support of the City. Thank you for your consideration. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you, Ms. Fegely. What I would ask is if our panel will all speak and then if we have questions, we could ask. Ms. Coleman.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of Council. My name is Beverly Coleman. I'm Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and Economic Development at Temple University. I'm here to testify in support of the neighborhood improvement district. Temple University is concerned not only about our campus, but also about what occurs in the areas surrounding the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 university. We recognize that the strength of our neighborhood and the university are intertwined. We cannot be a stellar educational institution without being surrounded by a community that is vibrant and vital. Similarly, the neighborhood benefits from a university that is committed to fostering a positive environment and which also serves as an important economic anchor for North Philadelphia. Over the past five years, Temple has hired nearly 1,400 individuals from the communities surrounding Main Campus and the Health Sciences Center. In 2001, we launched the 20/20 Scholarship program, which provides 250 four-year scholarships over ten years to students from the four zip codes surrounding Main Campus. These are only two of the ways that Temple supports the long-term sustainability of North Philadelphia. Recently, we have witnessed a significant growth in the number of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 students living off campus. This increase has created economic opportunity and helped contribute to the success of redevelopment efforts, including Progress Plaza and Avenue North. At the same time, the increase has also created stresses in the neighborhood. Due to concerns about the increase in community complaints pertaining to noise, parties, vandalism and violence attributed to Temple students, President Hart convened a Community and Students Issues and Concerns Task Force. The Task Force, whose recommendations are now being reviewed, is charged with developing a comprehensive approach to policies, programing and services with respect to student behavior and safety. Temple University is committed to partnering with other organizations to sustain and improve the neighborhood quality of life. The NID is particularly important because it will address key issues, most notably trash and safety Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 concerns, that detract from the stability of the neighborhood. Enactment and implementation of the NID should help to alleviate a number of the complaints and concerns that are being voiced, especially those by long-term residents. We are very willing to work with all parties to work through concerns about the NID. Temple supports the NID and expects that it will contribute to a more positive quality of life.

Thank you, Ms. Coleman. And, Mr. Reid, before you start, if I could ask all the witnesses -- the first two certainly did -- besides stating your name, if you could say are you representing an organization, are you a homeowner in the area, a resident in the area, that kind of thing. Mr. Reid.

Good morning. Thank you. My name is Herb Reid. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 landlord in the area as well as a member of the Steering Committee for the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District. While I'm a huge proponent of this particular plan, my only duty today is to explain the process to this point, and I apologize if I repeat anything that the President has stated. The NCNID is being organized for the purpose of providing additional cleaning and security in the community surrounding Temple University. The proposed NID is being organized to address the problems the community has experienced with Temple students, developers, as well as landlords and representatives from Temple University, as well as illegal dumping, unruly students, non-responsive landlords and so forth. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the ward leaders, as well as landlords and representatives from Temple University. Councilman Clarke suggested the solution to address the problem was to form a NID to be paid by landlords and businesses within the NID. A series of informal discussions ensued and a local landlord organization, TAPA, along with Temple University agreed to pay for a consultant to help develop a proposal. Econsult Corporation was hired in March of 2011 to prepare a feasibility study on how to create and implement a neighborhood improvement district. The basic concept was to create a new organization that would provide street and lot cleaning and some basic security services. It would be funded by an assessment on all investment properties, investment properties being all properties not held for personal investment -- not being held for personal use rather. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 and the landlords agreed that it would not be appropriate for owner occupants to be assessed. The intention is for the assessment to be percent of current 7 real estate taxes on each investment property. The legislation calls for assessment of up to percent to allow 10 flexibility in the future, but all initial budget projections are based on a 7 percent assessment. We believe that between the assessments and voluntary contributions, we will have 450,000 in funding for the NCNID. The boundaries have been laid out, so I won't repeat that. The services we are planning to provide in the initial budget are cleaning services, budgeted at $275,000, to provide 15,600 hours of annual service; and security, budgeted at 75,000 to provide 3,400 hours of service; as well as streetscaping, budgeted for $20,000. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 These services will be in addition to those services now provided by the City, not in lieu of. The NCNID agreement will terminate after five years, unless Council reenacts this ordinance following a review of the programs and services provided by the NCNID. A small group of landlords have been working with representatives from Temple University, Econsult, the Commerce Department and the Councilman's office to prepare this proposal that is in front of you. Since the submission of the plan, discussions with various stakeholders and community leaders have been held. On February 22nd of this year, a meeting with community leaders was held with approximately 35 block captains, pastors and other community activists attended. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 members attending. We've learned a lot from these meetings, and some things from those meetings and suggestions on amendments to the preliminary proposal based on suggestions from the community will be implemented, and I believe you will hear that from Councilman Clarke's office. As a landlord, I believe this new entity will have a strong, positive impact on moving North Central Philadelphia forward and I am willing to pay this assessment in order to see this happen. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I would like the record to reflect that Councilman Green and Councilwoman Tasco, members of the Committee, are also present. And, Mr. Pizzola, before you start, just again to keep things moving, the next group of witnesses that I have Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 here, just so you're ready to come up, is Delores Johnson, Judith Robinson, Vivian Vanstory and Lee Huang. I hope I'm pronouncing that right. Mr. Pizzola, please.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of Council. My name is Nick Pizzola and I have been a landlord and developer in North Philadelphia for six years. I renovated my first house on Carlisle Street in 2007. It was a former crack house. My neighbors thanked me for ridding the neighborhood of a problem. In 2008, when I built my first new home on Monument Street, my neighbors thanked me for getting rid of a trash-strewn, weed-filled lot next to their houses. In 2009, when I provided handicapped parking on an empty lot on that same street, my neighbor thanked me for being concerned for her well-being. In 2010, when I supported and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 paid for permit parking on that same street, Monument Street, my neighbors thanked me once again for helping them park in front of their own houses, as they had before my students arrived in the neighborhood. In 2011, when I needed security and cleanup in the house I was building on Fontain Street, my neighbors thanked me for using them to provide those services. Have those efforts, trying to be a responsible landlord, improved the community? Unfortunately not. There's no doubt that growth and development has brought problems as well as improvements to the community. Unruly, disrespectful student behavior is a problem. Trash and illegal dumping is a problem. Parking is a problem. Crime is a problem. These problems have not been able to be solved with present services provided by the City. These problems Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 have not been able to be solved by the efforts of existing community organizations, as admirable as those efforts have been. If these problems could be solved with the existing efforts of the City and community groups, why is everyone who has attended our public meetings complained about student behavior, trash, development and crime? As a landlord, I realize that my efforts alone cannot improve the community. What is needed is an organization that will provide additional funding and management to deal with specific issues of student behavior, trash and parking. The North Central Neighborhood Improvement District is to be put in place to do just that. Cleaning of graffiti, cleaning of sidewalks and lots, in addition to that which the City presently provides, will be put in place. Security, in addition to what the Police and University Security Department puts in place, will Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 be supplemented by what the neighborhood improvement district does. Sidewalk repairs, tree pruning, in addition to once again what the City provides, will be put in place. These additional services will improve the quality of life for those who invest, work and live in the community. I believe without the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District, nothing will change. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I don't know if anybody else has any questions. Ms. Fegely, if I could just ask you a real quick question, if you could come back up, please. Thank you. Have you had direct involvement with other improvement districts in the City?

Yes.

Would it be fair to say that once -- and I know Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 oftentimes they're controversial to start. Would it be a fair statement to say that once they're in place, most of them, if not all, have worked pretty well and people are satisfied with them? Is that a fair statement?

Yeah, that's a fair statement. And usually through this process, through the process of the hearings and the community meetings, I would say yes, support is usually garnered, and then once the services are put in place, people are pleased.

Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? (No response.)

Thank you all very much for coming up. Again, the next list of witnesses, please, Delores Johnson, Judith Robinson, Vivian Vanstory and Lee Huang. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 (Witnesses approached witness table.)

I have Ms. Johnson's name first. Is that Ms. Johnson? (No response.)

No? Not here? Okay. Ms. Robinson, you're next. Please identify yourself.

Good morning. My name is Judith Robinson and I'm here to testify on Bill No. 120020. We have a problem in our community created by some Temple students, you know, bad behavior, loud music, et cetera, things we all know. Underage drinking, that's a major problem. Sanitation issues, we all know. And the developers are a problem with illegal dumping, working without permits, overcrowding in properties. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 disrespect of the homeowners and residents of North Central. But after reading this whole bill, this bill here before us today, it does not address the problems. It's unfortunate, but it begs a question more so than anything. What is the responsibility of Temple University and the landlords who rent to students in North Central? Instead of developers taking some of their money from their deals with these student houses to correct the problem, they're being allowed to create this bill that taxes all rental units and other properties, even those landlords who do not rent to students, and it doesn't solve the problem. That's the most important thing you should be clear on. The worst thing that we can do as lawmakers is pass another law, out of this Committee especially, that does not solve the problem. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 This is a problem around many universities. The homeowners, mostly African American communities, are not receiving the policing, License and Inspection, health and sanitation services. We have a problem of lack of enforcement of present laws on the books. Enforcement is the key. This bill is not the answer to the question. If at some later date the community requests this NID -- and I think that's what you need to be clear on. Maybe these other NIDs are working because the community asked for them -- then we can have more input, but now is not the time to move forward with this NID. I want to ask the question, what about the Temple charettes that we have had and agreements that we've had with Temple overall? It's Temple University students. They're expanding into a residential community. It's a large institution. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 having a great anchor institution, but they don't want to take the responsibility for their students and this growing expansion in our community. They're going up in the air now instead of coming to a community and having some kind of respectful action. It's unconscionable why they would not respectfully create a growing community. It could be a good thing. You know, I'm all for a good thing with this growing institution. But these developers have been allowed -- they look at Google Maps and have actually sectioned off our neighborhood for the taking, ignoring sections as they perceive as undesirable, although students are in this area. I live -- I'm a homeowner and a business owner in this area. I live above this designated area. I talked to a young man right down in my neighborhood, and there are 12 students in one house in the next block from me. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 this. So if we have any out-of-order behavior, we still would have to resort to the same thing we're resorting to now, calling the Police, calling Temple Police, et cetera. So let's not cordon out an area for the developers and then deny homeowners who are dealing with the same issues, these resources. Past hearings on this issue have been held in other areas, and I've looked it up. You all had a hearing here, maybe not in this Committee, but Wynnefield residents came here and talked about the same issue. I talked to Curtis Jones' office and his staff, and they were very helpful. They said they set up a task force, including the university, the neighbors, License and Inspection and Police, and they look at -- they call them "hot houses," where License and Inspection should go and to check if there's overcrowding, et cetera. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 this before we run ahead and do the NID. Let's look at this task force.

Let's talk to Councilman Jones and his staff about how to better deal with this in a more comprehensive way. Even with these amendments, this bill is uncalled for. Temple lives all over North Philly, as I stated, and we do not need these limiting boundaries. The bill has incorrect information. It went out incorrect. I want to ask the question, how many of these packages came back to City Hall because they don't have the owners' name correct or they have incorrect address? So the list is wrong. So it's going to give us a major problem in trying to defeat it. Temple University has proposed for the Class A. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 shameful. Temple University needs to come. Their community liaison person needs to stop being lazy and come into the community, meet the people. We're there, we're interested in being partners with Temple, but to take a lazy approach, to use developers and hide behind them, it's just shameful for a big institution like Temple. You got a big institution and developers, some of them with over 50 units of housing, and they want to attack senior citizens who might have inherited one or two properties while Temple gives a darn donation. )

-- to suck dollars out of our community. They're here to suck dollars out of our community and don't want to give anything back. They should be doing this job now before we even start talking about an NID. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 We are homeowners, business owners, citizens asking you all please do not vote this bill out of this Committee, place an undue stress on our community to defeat an illegal bill. North Philadelphia is prime land. I sell real estate years. 9 Don't tell me we're not in a prime piece 10 of land. I don't care how bad the 11 raggedy houses are. They tear them down 12 like they did with the NTI. We got all 13 this land now. And development is moving 14 up Broad Street. We go to Planning all 15 the time. We know what's going on. 16 So please do not take away our 17 community right to create benefits of 18 economic development, job creation, 19 cleaner, greener communities. We all 20 want that. We're planning for year 2035. 21 Please give us a chance to do that. Give 22 us a chance to plan for our community. 23 Thank you for your attention. 24

Thank 25 you. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 (Applause.)

Ms. Vanstory.

Good morning, Council. Congratulations, Mr. Clarke, President of City Council. I'm glad that you stated and I didn't have to read this verbatim, my speech here, but my name is Vivian Vanstory, and this is my story. I have lived at 15th and Thompson for the last 29 years. My whole life has been in the neighborhood. I grew up at 18th and Master Street with my six brothers and sisters. Today I own two other properties in the neighborhood, which I rent to my family. In 1983, I founded Community Land Trust Corporation, CLTC, to preserve open space in my neighborhood and reverse the rapid deteriorating housing stock. We maintain 1500 block of Cabot Street as a space, a garden on Thompson Street. We manage a City property on the 1200 block of 15th Street through Burns Street, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 three whole City blocks as an urban park. Most people consider my neighborhood to be North Philadelphia, but I plan to call it Green Hills, like the original it was in the 19th century. I would like to say that this is not about trash. It's not about cleaning and greening. It's about taking control of our community. And I -- (Applause.)

-- have been denied as a community housing development organization to not be a part of the participation of the decision-making process here. You have outside developers that have planned our community. And I urge you, Council, if you would like to be elected in four years, you would study this very carefully. (Applause.)

There are a lot of illegal things in this bill that you need to go over. The people have not Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 received it in the entire community. They excluded Temple University, as you say they said, from Carlisle Street to 19th Street. Temple is the biggest entity here, and why don't you tax them. They said this is not about taxes. This is a 7 percent taxes on top of poor people like myself that is struggling here. That's an entrepreneur. I will be paying approximately percent taxes for 12 five years and these people will be a 13 second government to me. It's totally 14 unacceptable. 15 Thank you for your time. 16 (Applause.)

Mr. Huang, before you start, just again, so the next group of people can be ready, next on my list, I have Reginald and Louise Bundy and Lessie and Heather Drummond. Please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. President, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Councilmembers. Thank you for your time this morning. My name is Lee Huang, H-U-A-N-G. I am a Director at Econsult Corporation, which is an economic consulting firm based in Philadelphia. I am here representing Econsult and I'm speaking on behalf of Econsult Senior Vice President and Principal Stephen P. Mullin. Econsult was engaged by Temple University and the Temple Area Property Association in 2011 to assist in the formation of a neighborhood improvement district. With significant contributions from a Steering Committee made up of members from Temple and TAPA, who in turn were in contact with local politicians, institutions, commercial property owners and residents, Econsult drafted the following documents in support of the enactment of the North Central NID: A preliminary NID plan; the development of a boundary map of the North Central NID; a list of properties Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 within the North Central NID boundaries, including classification as either subject to NID assessment or exempt from NID assessment; a proposed budget for Year 1, including subtotals by major expenditure category; and Econsult also provided some advice to the Steering Committee in its drafting of bylaws for the North Central Management Corporation. As a consultant to the North Central NID, we have gotten to know it very well, but our firm has studied NIDs throughout the City and I would like to state for the record that we have found that they are largely positive for the City and for their neighborhoods. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits, but by and large, NIDs represent an effective form of organizing resources to improve neighborhoods. They're often responsible for declines in crime activity, increased retail sales in commercial corridors and improved property values. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 In the case of the North Central NID, owner-occupied residents are exempt from assessment, so they do not have to pay in, but will reap the benefit of intensified deployment of clean and safe resources beyond what the City currently offers. The property owners who are subject to the NID assessment and who would be paying in are getting a localized concentration of these funds. In a sense, the NID represents a pooling of resources towards activities that any one property owner would not have the funds nor the incentive to provide on their own, but which together are necessary for functioning commercial corridors and safer streets. And the City is getting a partner to work with at a local level to coordinate neighborhood-level improvements and interface with neighborhood level concerns. Let me close by thanking Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Councilman Clarke for his leadership in casting the vision for this NID and for his commitment to this area and to his constituents. I have appreciated the work of Kevin Dow, Dennis Murphy, Rosalie Leonard and others in the Nutter Administration in supporting NIDs throughout the City and in assisting this particular enactment process. The Temple Area Property Association and Temple University have been great clients to work for, and you have seen and will see in their testimonies that their commitment to this area runs deep. The NID enactment process is designed to safeguard opportunities for people to express both support and opposition. And so for those who have chimed in and will chime in with your opinions, I thank you as a resident and a taxpayer for playing an important part in this democratic process. Thank you very much. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

Thank you, sir. Any questions or comments for these witnesses? (No response.)

Seeing none, thank you. (Audience member indicating he has questions.)

No. No, sir. That's not the way it works. Sorry. Council President Clarke.

Thank you. I just want to respond to one question real quick about the boundaries. The boundaries were based on -- correct me if I'm wrong, the landlords thought that they were going to be able to get certain membership in their organization to be supportive of this, and when they selected the boundaries, it was based on the level of people within that area that they thought would be supportive. So I Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 don't know if ultimately it has to shrink or if it has to grow or whatever, but that's the issue why the boundary. So it wasn't like we just picked out a boundary based on a geographical issue. It had more to do with the fact that there were a concentrated number of residents -- I'm sorry; property owners in that particular area.

I would like to speak on that statement, sir.

Go ahead.

That's what the problem is, is what they thought. They are the landlords and we're the people. In order to form that more perfect union, they should have came to us.

I understand. That's why we're here today. (Applause.)

I'm just responding to problems, we're talking about Diamond Street, the reason why it stopped at Diamond Street. So it Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 had to do with --

But it doesn't fit any natural boundary. We have Diamond Street, which is our historic corridor. We have been cleaning with the non-profit Susquehanna Clean Up/Pick Up from Broad to 22nd Street. The students use the state store on 22nd Street. They are from Broad Street all the way back to 22nd Street. Who decided that was the boundary? I live there. I would be willing -- I'm saying this on record -- to pay more taxes if I was going to get a better community. Nobody asked me.

All right. Well, I was just responding to your question about why Diamond Street.

Because they haven't talked to the community. That's what the problem is.

Okay. Thank you. (Applause.) Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

Let the record reflect Councilman Jones, who is Majority Leader, is also present in the room. Reginald and Louise Bundy, Lessie and Heather Drummond, if they are here. Are they here? (Witnesses approached witness table.)

How y'all doing?

Please have a seat. And for those new Councilmembers who are not familiar, Mr. Bundy was a former Sergeant-At-Arms here and used to run a tight ship in this place.

Brand new day.

There you go. Mr. Bundy, please proceed. I'm sorry. State your name for the record and proceed.

com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 A. , retired Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms. It was a good job while I was here. I appreciate it. I'm here in the reference of what's taking place in our neighborhood. And I'm reaching 40 years. Why 40 years? Because President now, Councilman Clarke, 5th Councilmanic District, President past, John Street, was our Mayor also. All these things are happening today is because these things should have happened 35 years ago. They didn't happen because the vote was lost for the housing. Housing went north of Allegheny Avenue. Nobody complained then at that time those houses were being deteriorated over and over, over and over. Everywhere you went, these houses was falling apart. Had you traveled to North Philly like the gentleman here did, Mr. Goode, y'all would know what was taking place in the City of Philadelphia. These houses finally started coming down. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 grabbing. I didn't find nothing wrong with land grabbing. If you had the money, you get the property. But don't blame other people for the problem that you incur. You incurred these things because you let it happen. They didn't let it happen. You let it happen. Things are happening today because people are moving into the area. Why didn't people move into the area? Because you didn't take care of it, but you're the first one to cry. Don't cry about spilled milk. Hey, look, solve the problem. This is what our problem is today. I asked the Councilman when I was down here working, I came to Councilman Greenlee and Mr. Goode, Can y'all help me get signs in my block? Because we ain't trying to stop the bad people. We're just trying to make a little safe haven so we have somewhere to live. We all getting older. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Everybody in this room is going to get older. You can't just sit back and say, Today I can say what I want to say. No, you cannot, because it don't belong to you. I got the signs. Councilman, Mr. Greenlee. How you doing, Mr. Green? Mr. Goode. These people helped me get these signs in my block from Stop Drugs to Town Watch. If you walk on my block right now, you would see all these signs. It looks like a highway. It's not there to stop the bad people. It's there to make you feel like you have somewhere to live. All these houses are going to come down eventually. Land grabbing has been around for a long time. People didn't know it. Land grabbing has been around them 40 years I'm talking about. This Councilman -- excuse me. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 lot of foot work. He did not get the respect he should have gotten. He's still not getting it. Everybody on this panel up here needs the same respect, because you were put here. You know why you were put here. You asked for that job. You're doing your job. Other people want to do your job for you. They should be sitting up there, not you. Those are the ones that should be sitting up here trying to do your job. They cannot do your job. They do not know City government. I got in City government because I worked here. It was free. I enjoyed it. Any time I come down here, I always feel good when I walk in this door, because their education is here. Education is for everybody. Every time they say there's a City Council hearing, people should get up off their butts and leave the old and the useless alone. As the world turns, come down here and learn what's is going on with the City. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 is how you know. Don't wait until something happen, then you cry. This is all your education right here. This is why you're here, to educate the people, and I see y'all trying, but they don't hear you. Rest my case.

Thank you, Mr. Bundy. Thank you. Ms. Bundy, you would like to speak also?

I'm going to only say a few words. My name is Louise Bundy. I live in the 1700 block of Seybert Street, and I am here to let you know that my area, if I turn like this, is not properly done by the so-called people that supposed to be in charge of my area. Councilman, I have called down many a times and had other people to call many a times, and I have to have them to come down because our lots be looking like a forest, you know, when it's Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 raining and stuff, when it rains a lot. We shouldn't have to go that way. See, I'm a senior. I've been fighting for seniors all my life. Now I'm 72 years old as of January the 1st, and you know what? I'm going to continue fighting and I'm going to fight for me. I'm not here to argue with nobody. Beech is doing their thing where they are and they taking good care of the area. If you go to them for certain things, you can get it. Vivian Vanstory is doing her thing where she's at. Okay? All right? She looking like she said something about four blocks or whatever. I live in the middle of this. So that means that I'm caught in the middle. St. Joe's Prep the other day in the City of Philadelphia helps us, and I'm going to speak up for them, because they've come to help us when we need help when nobody else does it. Okay? I don't want to argue with nobody. I don't think we should be Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 arguing. I think we should be trying to get together to help each other. And I do believe if the NID was going to hurt us all the way, I would not be here sitting here now. I listened to what they said. That's why I'm sitting here. I'm not -- and also I listened to what my Councilperson said. I don't believe that my Councilperson -- and I'm not saying it because he's here. I don't believe that he would put us in a position where we would have to feel as though somebody going to come and take our homes. Nobody is going to take our home, because he not going to let them take our homes. Okay? We not going -- that's not supposed to be what we're here for. (Applause.)

We're here to help each other, and this arguing and bickering and fighting and everything, this stuff here is wrong. It's wrong that we can't get together and help each other instead of going through all this Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 mess that we going through. That's why we don't have nothing now. That man came -- excuse me. Councilman Clarke came into our area walking with my husband -- I was working doing a few hours work. My husband -- and I was feeding the children at the Y. My husband walked with him for all over the place. Okay? And when he came again, my husband walked with him again. I walked with him. I've had little things in my block where I've invited people through the years, and he can tell you, to come in so that they can come in. And even when President Street was there, I did the same thing. What I'm saying is, we need to stop fighting with each other and try to help each other. Okay? I don't believe these people in the NID is here to hurt anyone. I think they're trying to do what -- it might not be what everybody think that it should be, but I'm trying to figure this out. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 If two and a half, three years our Councilman done went through all this area, then you tell me why haven't something happened in two and a half to three years when we used to be able to see a progress now and we haven't seen too much of nothing? Why hasn't it happened? We need to not be able to living in filth. See, when you get a certain age, people feel as though you don't have no sense, but that's a lie. I'm here to prove that. I'm here to prove it. And you know what? Thank God I got my mixed gray here, and if it turned white, I'll use that, too. I'm here because I love where I'm at. I love my people, and I'm going to fight hard. I'm not here to hurt anyone, but I ain't going to let nobody hurt me either. And I love him because he always in his own way try to help us. And I'm not being smart. I'm being serious. Even when he act as though he Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 don't know I'm around, I'm still in his corner, because I see what he does for people. Okay? And I don't think people should try to act as though he's the enemy. He's not the enemy. He's the person that's trying to help. You think he would have gotten these people here, the NID here if he thought they was going to hurt? Some of the words in there may not be the way it should be, but as he told us before, all that's going to be corrected. We need to stand tall with each other and stop fighting with each other and maybe we can get something done. Thank you.

Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you. Before Ms. Drummond speaks, I just want for the record, Ms. Bundy came up to me before and said she was nervous, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 she didn't know if she wanted to speak.

That's right. I am.

But she said she was going to get revved up. She got revved up.

Thank you.

Ms. Drummond, please identify yourself.

Good morning. My name is Lessie Drummond and I am -- first of all, a little background other than my testimony, that I was raised in North Philadelphia as a child. I have two rental properties, which I acquired from my parents who departed years ago. In my testimony I'd like to pose some questions, and then maybe -- I am quite sure maybe you will answer some of them. I have some answers to them that I think will give you some food for thought. And the first one, it says, How will Bill No. 120020 impact on Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 single-family homeowners? This is my answer: Because the homeowners were excluded from paying assessment fees, single-family homeowners were denied an opposition vote. They have no say in their community. Without the vote to oppose or defeat for anything that affects the homeowners and the community at large, to me that is not American. That's the un-American way. (Applause.)

How will this bill affect small businesses and small landowners? They will be forced to pay an additional tax through the assessment fees determined by the NID association. Small businesses and landowners will be forced to charge more for their services and rental properties. Many small landowners would like to continue to rent to low-income families, but the increased taxes will force them to increase rental charges and force these families to live Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 elsewhere. This would change the diversity of the neighborhood. As we know, that because we as small landowners, along with the giant landowner and realtor investors, we are considered the affected property owner, and we do have the right to oppose the bill. And I will tell you frankly, after I've gone through it thoroughly, I do oppose the bill 100 percent. (Applause.)

How will this bill benefit Temple University? Temple was exempted from the assessment fee. Temple may voluntarily contribute monies. Through their Board of Directors, Temple, along with TAPA, has supreme power and control of the NID. By having off-campus housing for their students without having the use of their own money, Temple will benefit at the expense of others. How will this bill benefit -- I have to always get it wrong. I always Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 say TAPA, which is incorrect, but how will -- and TAPA, of course, is a group of investors who are supporting all of the Temple efforts by providing student houses in the community. This organization will be able to continue to build housing for Temple students. This organization will be able to secure more land and property and will have total control. The possibility of securing properties from low-income homeowners and seniors is great through foreclosures or the incapacity of these residents to live in this area. What input does the homeowners have in the policy-making decisions that directly impact on how they live in the NID? They have no voice in making decisions. Policies and decisions will be made solely by the NID association. What jobs are created for the community? (Applause.) Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

Community jobs are not mentioned in the bill. However, the association has the right to use services inside and outside the community. They also have the right to get an outside NID to bill and collect assessment fees. I don't think that leaves a lot for the people in this community, many who are out of jobs, who are seeking work, but it seems like they are not a part of this. We have these big agencies coming in with the building, but it really is not allowing the community at large who really need jobs, because this is a poor area. They're not giving them the chance to get the employment. They should get something out of this, and as far as I'm concerned, they are absolutely getting nothing. What does a non-profit management association -- I'm sorry. Why does a non-profit management association get paid 17 percent of a budget to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 benefit itself? (Applause.)

The association is much too powerful and has the ability to suck the NID dry by outlandish salaries and the ability to form as many salary paid jobs as they choose. This is a question I'm posing to you as a panel. I know how it affects me. I know how it affects my neighbors and the people in that area and especially the seniors. I'm going to pose this question to you: What would you do if this bill was proposed in your neighborhood? (Applause.)

And you as a homeowner who live in your home was denied the right to a vote to oppose it or be for it? As you can say, to me it would be illegal. You would not stand for it if that was in your neighborhood. (Applause.) Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

For the reasons I have and the questions that I have posed to you, I'm going to ask you to please vote no for this bill. And I know that if you really empower the homeowners, that if we can get together, we can find a solution for, as you say, the problem of safety, which we know, and trash. My mother has lived on that block for 40 years, with her little broom, cleaning up. I know she couldn't do it by herself. So all I'm asking you, in memory of my mother, in memory of all the seniors who maybe can't do it anymore, we need help, but we do not need to be controlled. Thank you. (Applause.)

Please identify yourself for the record and proceed. And if I could just say, we have a lot of people to testify, so please make your point, but please be as Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 brief as you can. Thank you.

I'll be very brief. Good morning, Councilmembers, press and media agencies and concerned citizens. My name is Heather Lee Drummond. I just have a few questions. I was told by Councilman Clarke this whole process to get to where we are now took about a year of planning and taking time and meeting with Temple, with him, with members of the Temple Area Renters Association. One of the main questions I have is, why was the decision of tax assessment the first solution? As far as I'm concerned, if you had a year with Temple, why wasn't fundraising, grant-writing, proposals, sending this out to the community even in the media and the press over that year? You may have been able to raise the two and a half million dollars to cover this NID as opposed to trying to tax and assess from Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the poorest residents and landowners in this entire City during one of the harshest economic downturns in modern history. That's one of the questions right there. Would you like to -- okay. I'm going to keep going.

Finish your and then --

Okay. Another question I have is, who are the actual incorporators of the management corporation? That was also asked at the other meeting and never answered. The names of the incorporators and the date of incorporation. If this bill has yet to be passed, why is the management company already in place? That's something that can done -- it's very quick to incorporate, one of the quickest cities to do that. Why is that already in place with those names not on the bill or on the resolution, the name and the date of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 when that actually happened? That's another question I had. This NID to me seems like a glossed-over way to actually support gentrification in this neighborhood, and pretty much is making a current modern-day feudalism, the way they had in England in the Middle Ages, when the word actually "landlord" comes from that, when people were actually double taxed. They were taxed by their area, then taxed by a few of the lords to pay an additional assessment. I am pretty much here to say on behalf of this community, if Temple and TAPA want this NID, they can pay for it themselves for the first five years. (Applause.)

After that five years and, you know, they actually can say, This is what we're willing to do and see the actual progression, I am pretty sure that everyone in that community would not mind Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 sharing, homeowners and landowners together, to pay into this after we see what's actually done. So if this is such a great idea, you believe in it, it's supported, that's what probably should happen. You should put your money where your mouth is. And that's just as simple as that. These people have been promised lots of things from different companies, different corporations at different times. Temple has great power, great fundraising power, to get what they need to get done. They have a lot of extremely rich alumni. There's a reason that all of Cecil B. Moore Avenue has changed and all the brand-new arenas are being built. There is money there. Why are you asking the poorest people to pay for what they can do? This year that this took to plan should have been from fundraising and grant-writing so that there's actually money to pay for this two and a Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 half million dollar bill. That's it. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Just a very quick question for -- I know the Bundys live -- do you actually live in the community now? Do you live in that community now?

No, I do not live, but I actually am a co-owner of property in that. And I actually have stayed in that community. My grandmother used to live there and I have spent summers with her.

No; I understand.

So in my lifetime, I have actually physically lived within this area.

I'm just trying to keep the record who is who. And, Lessie Drummond, do you presently live in the community now? Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

I don't live in the community now, but I lived there for years.

Okay. Thank you.

And still have the connection with the community.

Thank you. Council President Clarke.

I'm going to respond to a couple of the questions real quick, and I think questions by two of the individuals testifying. The first question was about single-family homeowners. The lady in the back -- I'm sorry, ma'am.

Please come up to the microphone.

About single-family homeowners was the question, why are they being -- your first question. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

Oh, okay. I think the first thing I noted was that they were being exempted from the assessment, but by doing that, I felt that that was, as you say, throwing a bone to them not to be able to vote.

Okay. Let me say to you, and I said this the other night, the vote is for purposes of the individuals who are eligible to pay taxes under this proposal to basically say we agree to tax ourselves or we don't agree to tax ourselves, period. The thought that you in the community, the residents, the people that work, don't have a say so is just inaccurate, because at the end of the day, these individuals up here will have the ultimate say as it relates to whether or not this proceeds, not TAPA, not Temple University, not anybody else. All right? So you being here speaking personally and actually for a couple of the other members who are at-large Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 members, we represent you directly, right? And I can speak as a person who lived and was born and raised in the 5th District in North Philadelphia all my life and having a 30-year career in public service for the 5th District, I take this very seriously. And as was said earlier, if it not for the people in this room and a whole lot of other people, I'm not sitting here. That's just the simple reality. So while you may not have a formal vote, trust me, you have influence and you have a say in this process, believe me. (Applause.)

I just want to respond. You had another one. With respect to the jobs issue, there was no specific language in the job. Before anything, if in fact this happens -- because, as I said, this is the first formal meeting in the Council session. This is a long process. Before Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 anything is agreed to, if people agree to proceed, there will be a document that indicates all of the jobs, be it as it relates to support for security, cleanups and any other thing associated with it -- and, trust me, based on our history with dealing with these kind of programs, we will ensure, and I anticipate that the recommendations from all of the parties will be that all of the jobs will be for the local residents. I mean, that just makes all the sense in the world. So that's going to be in there, if in fact we proceed. This other question about over the last couple of years raising money outside of this particular process, there were these conversations early on in the process about voluntary commitment. We understood early on in that process that people just simply weren't prepared to voluntarily commit, and there has to be some level of certainty in terms of how much money we'll actually have to do a Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 process. So the concern is if the first year everybody might say, Yeah, yeah, okay, this is good, and you might get a certain amount of dollars and you hire a number of people, and then the second year, people all the sudden, I had a bad year, I'm sorry, I can't contribute. Then you got to lay a bunch of people off or you can no longer provide that service. So the thought is -- and when you have people saying that they were willing to try to get their members to vote for this, you have some level of certainty in terms of resources. That's the only reason.

May I pose one thing?

Briefly, please.

I will, and I'll leave. I think that this particular NID did not give the homeowners the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 choice of opposition. However, it's my understanding that this was not done in some of the formation of some of the other NIDs.

Yeah.

My question is why. Why was it done in this one?

Right. The most recent NID was the Chinatown proposal, and in that particular NID, they proposed under the NID -- and correct me, gentlemen, if I'm wrong -- that everybody in that targeted area had to pay the tax. There's no way in the world that I was going to ask everybody in this targeted area to pay the tax for a problem that they didn't create. So --

Thank you.

So from day one, the people in the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 neighborhood did not create this problem and the people, in our mind, that are creating the problem as relates to the students should be the ones that pay the freight to correct the problem, and the individuals from the organization have stepped to the plate and said they're prepared to do that. Because I don't think that people like -- these folks here should not have to pay for it.

Thank you. Thank you all.

I'd like to say one very quick question.

Very briefly, please.

Very briefly. You were saying that Temple is giving voluntarily and that you didn't have the exact number yet of the amount that Temple was willing to give.

Trust me, they're going to -- it's going to be a substantial contribution. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

But there's no exact number yet. So I find it interesting that you know the amount that you need to assess us for, but Temple hasn't given that number yet, what they're willing to give. So it's like they know how much money they want from us, but not how much money they're willing to give.

I understand.

There's a serious problem.

That's a legitimate question, and I don't know if Temple is prepared to respond to that today, but I know that there have been conversations, and, trust me, it's going to be substantial, if it happens.

And, remember, we're not voting on this bill 23 today. So there's going to be some time --

This Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 is a long process.

-- to work on this.

Can I just say one thing, please?

Real quick, Ms. Bundy, because we're really running behind.

Just one thing. It's not a question. I just want to mention -- I forgot to mention one organization that has been helping. They're the newest ones in our neighborhood, which is called MAP, M-A-P, which means Mankind Against Poverty. They're there to help us also. They just don't come out and do street work, but they will help you if you come in there for anything else.

Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm sorry. I should have announced earlier. The next group of witnesses, please, Reverend William Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Moore, Peter Crawford and Mark Zwick. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

Good morning. Reverend Moore, please identify yourself for the record and proceed, please.

My name is Peter Crawford.

You're not Reverend Moore, right? Reverend Moore, please.

My name is Reverend William B. Moore and I'm Pastor of the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church in North Central Philadelphia for the last 38 years.

No. Go ahead, proceed.

Thank you, President Clarke, Chairman Greenlee, Committee members, Councilmembers. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today. As I indicated earlier, my Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 name is Reverend William B. Moore, Pastor of the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church, 1328 North 19th Street in North Philadelphia for the past 38 years. I'm a proud resident of this city. In some of the most challenging times, my wife and I reared two children in the neighborhood. We have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. When we saw the ugly, we rolled up our sleeves to make it better. I'm pleased to witness the renewed interest in North Philadelphia. However, it saddens me to witness the thoughtful planning of growing North Philadelphia being swept aside by the big bucks of private developers who buy land, get an over-the-counter permit and do the development -- (Applause.)

-- and do the development without the input of the community. Too much of the development now is serving the dormitory needs of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Temple University. While I do not oppose students nor housing, for our congregation itself has built a $4.4 million senior home, ten townhouses for first-time homeowners, we have rental property and we also participated with the Beech Cooperation, on the Board of whom I sit, to share in over $30 billion worth of development in North Central Philadelphia. While I do not oppose students nor housing, as I said, more consideration needs to be given to where these houses are placed and how it impacts the existing community. The William Penn Foundation with the Beech Corporation was charged by Dr. Bernard Watson, who was President of the William Penn Foundation, and John Haas to work with Temple as a major partner and the community stakeholders to orderly develop the North Philadelphia homeownership zone. That would include not only housing but other forms of development. And with the cooperation of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 then Mayor Street and Councilman Clarke over the last 30 years, this investment has paid off richly. That work then is the foundation, I believe, in this section of North Philadelphia that has built the foundation for the renewed interest that we now build on. And I'm sure that there are many in this Chamber who remember not too long ago that it was dangerous and unsafe to walk past two blocks of Temple University. We need now to step back, look at what has been done and how we continue to move forward together. It just might be that the neighborhood improvement district is the next step, but we need to do it thoughtfully and correctly so that it does not become the neighborhood interruption district. However, from what has been distributed, I am not clear and many of the residents do not see how the NID, Temple, the Temple Area Property Association and the residents' interest Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 come together, particularly when the controlling number of members are the developers and Temple University. I read with interest TAPA's mission statement that reads in part, We hope both to represent the area property owners in the neighborhood and issues and to encourage responsible development and property management. To me it's a good goal, but this statement is offensive. It is a statement that is straight out of the attitude of the '50s and '60s that says don't worry, trust us, the people with the money will take care of you poor folks. (Applause.)

Mr. President, the NID needs to focus on clean and safe services, and that's wonderful, but if it is not built on mutual respect and cooperation, the residents who have endured the toughest of times will continue to be, and rightfully so, up in Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 arms. We don't want to go back to nothing. None of us want to do this, but we do need to bring this plane back to the terminal and have a more informed discussion, away from the turmoil of meetings where very little gets done. It does appear that a lot of work and thought has been put into the formation of the NID and the residents were brought in almost as an afterthought. It is now time to correct this problem and move forward together. Let me just say in conclusion that I certainly took with great interest the gentleman who spoke earlier in the panel that said that he rehabilitated a drug house and the neighbors thanked him, but I would also remind him that many of the young people who were in those drug houses are people now that are members of my congregation and other members of the congregation worked with when they were on drugs, and because of our work, before Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 he rehabilitated this drug house, we dealt with them so that the people who were there no longer went back there, and for that, our residents thank us. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, Reverend. (Applause.)

Whoever would like to go next, just identify yourself, please, and proceed.

My name is Peter Crawford. Good morning. I have been a landlord in North Philadelphia since 2002, and I'm one of the organizers of the North Central NID. My tenants come from all ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds. I have tenants who work the cash register at Acme, who check out your books at the public library, who wait tables at Applebee's and who stock shelves at Home Depot. Some are native Philadelphians; some are products of our Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 public schools here. Most of them are also college students, but they don't fit the profile of the spoiled rich college student. They have to work to pay their bills just like the rest of us. North Philadelphia has been a challenging area in which to do business, to say the least. Hardly a year goes by without one of my tenants being the victim of a burglary, attempted burglary or a robbery. One property that I own was broken into four times in a single year. In the past couple of years, the burglars have become more and more brazen. We have had incidents where the front door was kicked in at dinnertime at night when the tenants were home. We had another burglar try to put a ladder up to a second floor window at 12:00 noon when the tenants were also home. These are the conditions that we're faced with. Apart from crime, there is the issue of the blight and the vacant properties. In 2009, a portion of a Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 dilapidated property next door to mine fell on top of one of my houses. Fortunately no one was injured, but it was a frightening experience for the tenants and for me. I later sued the owner, and I am forcing her to make repairs. I had to board up another vacant property next to mine because my tenants were looking out their window and they were seeing strangers running around the vacant house at odd hours. Again, these are the conditions that we're dealing with in North Philadelphia. I dream of the day when there won't have to be any security doors or window security bars in North Philadelphia, when a resident can walk home from the subway at 11:00 p.m. and not look over his shoulder, when a resident can look out her window and not see a weedy vacant lot or a decaying shell. Working together, the landlords and the residents, we can make that day a Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 reality. But it's going to take more resources than the City has to offer right now. The City has to stretch right now just to pay for basic services. What we need is a new source of funds. A group of us landlords has decided that as much as we hate taxes, we hate the crime and the blight that surrounds us even more, and we are willing to commit our own funds on an ongoing basis to this neighborhood to make it a place that everyone can be proud of. These funds, along with funds contributed by Temple University, will give us a start toward restoring North Philadelphia to its former glory, the glory that some of our older residents remember. I've talked about the challenges of doing business in North Philadelphia, but one of the pleasures has been meeting some of the fine long-time residents. Outsiders will tell you there are no good people around here, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 but nothing could be further from the truth. Hidden among all the blight are well-maintained blocks and good neighbors with pictures of children and grandchildren on their living room walls. Only by combining the landlords' funds with the dedication of these long-term residents can we hope to create a better neighborhood. I hope you will lend your support by voting in favor of the North Central Neighborhood Improvement District. Thank you.

Thank you. Before you start, first let me just -- (Applause.)

-- the next group of witnesses I have, Tom Massaro, Henry Nicholas and John White. So if they could be ready to testify. And let me repeat my statement Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 from the beginning of the hearing. If you have written testimony, it will be made part of the record and you don't have to read every single word. It will be made part of the record and you can certainly summarize your statement. Sir, please.

Hello. Thank you for your time today. My name is Mark Zwick. I am a property owner in the North Central neighborhood. I am also the President of the Temple Area Property Association, known as TAPA, as well as co-founder. TAPA members all own property in the NID area. TAPA was formed in 2008, in December 2008. Our initial purpose was to start a dialogue with Councilman Clarke to find out how to address the problems the community was experiencing with Temple students, developers and landlords. In January 2010, after an Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 informal contact and discussion with Councilman Clarke -- Council President Clarke, excuse me, convened an evening meeting with representatives from TAPA, Temple, as well as ward leaders and block captains to discuss the best ways to address the community's concerns. Council President Clarke suggested that the three groups represented - the landlords, University and community - consider forming a neighborhood improvement district modeled after the University City District up at Penn and Drexel, which has been in place since '97. He also asked that the NID be funded by the landlords and the University, but not the residents, which was stressed to us. TAPA realized what Councilman Clarke proposed made good business sense and we agreed to support his initiative. In addition to working to implement the NCNID, TAPA also looked at what else we could do immediately to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 improve relations with the community, the University and the City of Philadelphia to support the growth and redevelopment of the area near Temple University in a responsible way while the feasibility of the NID was being studied. As a result, TAPA and its membership supports local non-profit organizations with donations. About one-third of TAPA membership fees have been invested in the community through donations, both large and small, to local non-profit organizations such as: In 2009, the food cupboard, Little Africa, we donated $1,200 and a freezer. In 2010 and 2011, the 32nd Ward Annual Community Wildwood was about a thousand dollars per year that we have donated. We also support the Tree House Books Literacy Program, and Halloween and holiday parties sponsored by Temple Police. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 TAPA supports the goals of the proposed NID, including the focus on clean and safe services such as cleanup of sidewalks, vacant lots and alleys. TAPA also supports safety improvements such as cameras, additional lighting, sidewalk repair and tree maintenance. TAPA recognizes that in recent years the increasing number of students living in off-campus housing in the North Central area has also meant increased levels of trash, noise and other inconveniences. The services of the NID are supplemental to those provided by municipal government. We think that the NID services will help to offset the effects of the increased number of students in the area and contribute toward making the neighborhood a safer, cleaner and more pleasant place to live and maintain businesses. Thank you.

Thank you. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Any questions or comments for the witnesses? (No response.)

Seeing none, thank you all very much. Again, Tom Massaro, Henry Nicholas, John White. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

Mr. Massaro, I have your name first, so if you would like to start, please.

My colleague is in a rush. I would defer to him, if you're willing.

Absolutely. Whoever would like to go next. Mr. White? Sorry. We certainly know James White. I'm sorry. I had John down here. Sorry.

That's perfectly okay, Mr. Chairman.

Thank Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 you.

Chairman Greenlee, members of the City Council Committee on Rules, I am James Stanley White, former Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to explain why I do not support the passage of Bill No. 120020 in its present form. I've worked in this neighborhood for 33 years in multiple capacities, to include as the Administrator of the Home Improvement Programs Division in the Office of Housing and Community Development during the Administration of Mayor William Green; as the Commissioner of License and Inspections and the City Managing Director in the Administration of Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Jr. (sic); as the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Temple University under President Peter J. Liacouras; and for the past 13 years, as a member of the Temple Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 University Board of Trustees, where I chair one of the standing committees of the Board and serve on the Executive Committee, among other committees of the Board. My opposition to Bill 120020 is based primarily on the following: First, the residents of North Philadelphia have endured years of hardships created by circumstances beyond their control, including the absence of governmental investment in the infrastructure, housing stock and social services. I personally have vivid memories of the suffering experienced by long-time residents of this neighborhood, particularly those owner occupants who, despite being below the federal poverty level on their income, could not receive assistance to make much-needed repairs to their homes because of the policy of their municipal government, which withheld expenditures of Community Development Block Grant funds in selected Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 sections of Philadelphia. In 1980, immediately after his inauguration, Mayor William Green reopened these programs, and I was given the assignment, by the way, by Mr. Tom Massaro, who then was my boss as the Director of OHCD, to reactivate the Basic Systems Repair Program, the Grant Program and the Section 312 Loan Program in North Philadelphia and each of the other such neighborhoods in the City. Councilmen Lucien Blackwell and John F. Street, State Legislators Roxanne Jones, David P. Richardson, Hardy Williams and numerous others pushed for these services to be expedited and that minority contractors be given an opportunity to compete for the contracts awarded by the Office of Housing and Community Development, as well as residents of the area hired to work on these renovation/repair projects. Secondly, there are too many unanswered questions about the partnership forged between members of the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Temple Area Property Association and certain members of the Temple University Community Relations staff. Questions like, first, who are these persons who are the leaders and members of the Temple Area Property Association? Two, are they residents of this neighborhood? Three, are they residents of Philadelphia or elsewhere in Pennsylvania? (Applause.)

Four, is it true that they convinced Temple University to provide the funds to engage the consultant who prepared the plan for the establishment of the neighborhood improvement district now described in Bill No. 1020020 (sic)? Five, have the owners of these rental properties complied with all applicable regulations of the City of Philadelphia? Six, what is their track record in construction/renovation activities in Philadelphia according to records within my old department, the Department of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Licenses and Inspections? Seven, have the appropriate background checks been conducted to ascertain their worthiness to use the extraordinary powers granted to the North Central Management Corporation -- (Applause.)

-- by the bylaws in Exhibit A-4 of Bill No. 1020020? Eight, why is Temple University the only entity identified by name in Exhibit A-4, Bylaws of the North Central Management Corporation within Bill 120020? Nine, who authorized the inclusion of a Temple University building as the, quote, registered office, end quote, of the North Central Management Corporation as stated in the Bylaws of the North Central Management Corporation? Ten, how was the Temple Area Property Association able to secure the use of a Temple University academic auditorium to hold a community meeting on Tuesday night, March 6th, 2012 -- Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 (Applause.)

-- for the purpose of promoting Bill 120020? There are numerous other questions that I have personally or that have been presented me by people who have complained to me in reference to this issue. Members of the Consortium of Cecil B. Moore Avenue Neighbors, who in the 1990s under the leadership of then Council President John Street and State Senator Shirley Kitchen, reached an agreement with Temple University to support the construction of the Liacouras Center Complex. Now they feel that in 2012 the University has betrayed them. As the Temple University Executive Vice President, I was the Chairman of the University's Planning Commission which met regularly with the Consortium and I supervised the preparation of the community development plan, which specified the Temple University Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 commitments of resources and access. And I also should add that I came before this body thereafter to testify on the passage of the necessary legislation that we needed to continue with this project after you were assured that we had reached this agreement. I, therefore, am sensitive to the importance placed on this loss of trust by those who resent being excluded from the planning process for the proposed neighborhood improvement district. I should also add at this point that it was under the Administration of Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Sr. that as Managing Director, we led a planning process which led to the establishment of the Center City Improvement District. So I say that to say that I'm fundamentally not opposed to this concept. I'm opposed to the process that brought us to today. (Applause.)

Third is that there Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 is a general feeling that the Temple Area Property Association is more interested in the advancement of the goals of their enterprise, which is rentals to Temple University students, rather than to the improvement of a quality of life of all residents in this area. The proliferation of illegal advertisement posters on utility poles is but one example of this. And I would remind each of you distinguished Councilpersons that the history here in Philadelphia is that these same type campaign signs that you put up or have put up have always been a source of complaints by citizens, when we have these same type things, which are much more unsightly and contribute to blight, hanging on the utility poles illegally throughout this neighborhood. Their use of the word "Temple" in the name of many of their companies, the flying of Temple "T" flags on the outside of their student rental properties and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 other subtle suggestions that some of these properties are in fact owned by Temple University have all contributed to the perceptions which are largely responsible, I feel, for the widespread opposition to Bill No. 1020020 and have severely damaged Temple University's reputation as a good neighbor. Four, regardless of their intentions, the manner in which the Temple Area Property Association has conducted its business, coupled with questionable judgment on the part of those assigned to represent Temple University in this important matter, has created a serious breach in the North Philadelphia-Temple University town gown relations. This unfortunate situation is not in the best interest, I feel, of any of the parties to this dispute over the proposed establishment of a neighborhood improvement district in this area. The resolution of this dispute is one of the most critical challenges, I feel, facing Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 all of us who care dearly about the people who live, work, study, have businesses or visit this neighborhood. I hope, Mr. Chairman, that the legitimate and complex issues you will hear during these proceedings will be addressed in the spirit of fairness, with transparency and recognition of all that the residents of this area have endured in years past. And I would like to add for the record that one of the persons who I met in 1980 when Mayor Green opened the OHCD programs to North Philadelphia and other neighborhoods of Philadelphia, that one of the persons I met was in fact now Council President Darrell Clarke, a person who I was impressed with as a military person. I was highly impressed by his focus, his dedication and his straight talk in dealing with me as the Administrator of the Home Improvement Programs Division. I still carry that admiration and respect for him and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 personal pride in where he's gone, which when I first met him I was almost certain that he would be a future leader in this great city. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members of the Committee, for hearing me.

Thank you, Mr. White. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Mr. Nicholas, would you like to go next?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry that my Councilperson is not present during this testimony. My name is Henry Nicholas. I am a 45-year resident of North Philly, the block captain of a very exciting group of residents; that is, before eminent domain appeared and wiped out all of my members, both those in the community and those members that I represent. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the LMI Jeffers Nursing Home, where I represented 185 members, and although I am the largest union represented at Temple, they never told me that they had disbanded the nursing home. And I asked what they were going to do with the building. They never told me what they were going to do with the building, notwithstanding they just had thrown out 185 of my members. Then I saw some building signs going up, and I said, There is no permit to build. And when they knew that I understood what permits was about, they said, We're going to make sure your members have jobs up at another place. And they had jobs for 60 days and they sold the other place, too. It is problematic for me because I've been there now more than 40 years and the contempt and disdain for the community that these developers have. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 told me that if I didn't like it, they will take over my house, too, and they own all the decision-makers, so I had no 5 place to go. For the year and a half, every morning based on -- and the only law violators that nobody -- and I don't know who they own, but they told me they own somebody. I have to get up and sweep the sand. They have not -- there has not been a single hard hat at none of the buildings in North Philly, not one. Not a single silt screen, not one. They have dumped the dirt and piles of it. No one can see it. At the YMCA along the Carlisle Street entrance when they were tearing down the five-story building, the mothers and their kids had to get out in the street while they dangle -- Tom Massaro and I staged a sit-in one Saturday morning because we were so disgusted, and then we demanded that then State Representative Jewell Williams come, because we wanted him to see it. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 And then when Jewell Williams left, we demanded that the captain came. And what was so painful when we said the debris that they are throwing in the play yard at the YMCA is crumbling, the captain said, What the hell do you care? It's not your kids. And so it is problematic because -- and I'm here and I represent Temple. I fought with Jim White and against my city, Councilman, when they were trying to build Peter Liacouras Center. So I am a day-to-day witness of what goes on in the community. They have absolutely no 17 disregard. They went below the property line and knocked the historical statue off my house and said it was too bad. And we've complained to everybody, and we have come to this body, because we believe that it would be a mischaracter of justice that if you would support this bill. And I say that with an entire investment. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 As a community resident in North Philly when I moved there, I offered to restore all of those historical houses along 15th Street using my money, presented a plan. They told me they were going to tear all of those houses down, it wasn't worth it. That was before eminent domain came. So I've been there for 41 years and I'm there every day, and the builds there have no 12 respect for nobody in the community. They won't even tell me where they live. They gave me the address of a vacant lot down on the street. And so I'm here because I will be in North Philly until the end of times. And I don't intend the times to come so soon. My house was knocked down in the back when the property fell down on it when Mayor Rendell was the Mayor here. He was so embarrassed, he came out and raised all of the properties in 12 hours.

com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 property would become a vacant lot, leased the property, with an idea that it would become a green space. And for almost years, I've kept the property 6 clean, built trees around it, and when I 7 asked after the developers came, I wanted 8 to know the status of my property. 9 Somehow the lease that I have -- and I'm 10 prepared to go all the way and prepared 11 to seek legal justice, if necessary -- 12 that somehow that document is missing out 13 of the file. And I have the original. 14 And there's some funny things going on 15 and they don't all look nice. ) 17

I'm a resident 18 in North Philadelphia and intend to stay 19 there. I never was given the opportunity 20 to restore the historical value of the 21 community. I was going to put up the 22 money. But now the developers are 23 running amuck. 24 There has not been one union 25 job in North Philly, not one neighborhood Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 person hired in North Philly. (Applause.)

We offered them at taxpayer expense a ten-year abatement. The City don't even get tax money because they pay off in cash at the end of the day. And there's no one from the community -- we couldn't even get one YouthBuild worker to get any help at all over at the project, and we've tried. We've tried. We have everything documented and prepared to give Council a -- because we've been documenting for one year now. The community don't have a chance. We would strongly urge that you rescind this operation. (Applause.)

Bring us something different. And so I don't know why I was not -- when I had the money, I was willing to restore all the historical value of those houses in the City. They Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 said, No, we're going to tear them all down and start from scratch. So something is wrong with this picture, and we believe that this body would do us grievous harm if you go forward with this plan, and I would strongly urge that you send this back to the drawing table.

Thank you. Before Mr. Massaro speaks, the next group of witnesses that I have, so they can be ready, is Mitch Wolfson, John -- I'm going to mess this up bad -- Athanasiadas and Jonathan Weiss. I hope John understands the name I gave. So Mr. Massaro. And also please let the record reflect that Councilman Kenney, the Vice Chair of the Committee, is present. Mr. Massaro, please.

Thank you. I'm going to testify briefly from the vantage of serving formerly as the City's Housing Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 and Community Development Director as well as for the City of Newark, New Jersey, as a resident of this community, as a person who has been a private developer in the City -- I've done over 300 units -- and as a person who has worked with and been a service provider to Freedom Theatre, the YMCA, the Richard Allen Homes and some of the churches in the community. First, I'd like to make three points. One is that Temple I think over the last 30 years under the direction of Mr. Fox and Mr. Giddis and Jim White and Peter Liacouras has overall provided many positive impacts for the community, many. And Temple I think in the last 30 years, in very large ways, has worked constructively with the community. Second, I feel that NIDs in general, as a city planner and in particular in this district to attract private development, overall is very positive. If there are economic benefits Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 to the City and to the community, I would support a NID. And, third, I appreciate the fact that Councilman Clarke has convened people to kind of focus on how we do community development well. There are positive aspects to this proposal and there are some fundamental serious flaws. I'm going to address the flaws. One is, I feel that there should have been better citizen participation in drafting this document, in drafting the operations. Number two, there has been an egregious destruction of historic property in this neighborhood that is just mindless. Beautiful single-family homes are being ripped down to put up ugly plywood -- stucco over plywood houses. On North 16th Street, which was once called the Gold Coast, there's just been a hideous building put up that looks like a garage with stucco on it across Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 from the Messiah residence. Number three, from a planning point of view, I feel this is fundamentally flawed professionally. There is no commitment to comprehensive neighborhood development - open space, single-family homes -- (Applause.)

-- multi-family homes, student housing and housing for the people that are there. There is no 13 commitment to that in the bylaws. The two biggest problems is, right now this is a NID, a non-indigenous development zone. This morning on the way here, Mr. Nicholas and I, Ms. Delores Johnson and others, Bruce Crawley and others, have been helping us. This morning we did another census. We went from Cecil B. Moore down to Girard on North 15th and came up Carlisle. There is a total of 137 workers this morning. Exactly six are African American. Exactly zero are Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 women. (Applause.)

Number two, I would ask the people at TAPA -- and I say this as a former developer myself in Germantown and Mount Airy -- I'd like the top members to present to the 9 community, if you did a million dollar 10 project, could you tell us exactly, 11 because the project is done, how much 12 went to Philadelphia-based firms, how 13 much went to Philadelphia-based minority 14 firms, how much went to Philadelphia 15 female-owned firms and particularly 16 African American-owned firms. And I 17 would ask the top 20 members to document 18 that, because in some cases, the 19 developers are responsible and engage the 20 community. In most cases, they don't. I approached six of these developers and asked them to take a kid from YouthBuild. Not one would take them. That is a fundamental flaw. This neighborhood within one Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 mile of Cecil B. Moore and Broad Street has lost over 11,000 units of affordable housing in the last 30 years under the Community Development Program. A couple hundred have been put back. What this District will do is create thousands of high-cost rental housing. There is not a plan or a commitment here to do one unit of affordable housing. That is a fundamental flaw. (Applause.)

The irony here is that the existing long-time homeowners in North Philadelphia are grossly overassessed, grossly overassessed. The developers of these projects pay for 50- and 60-unit buildings sometimes just hundreds of dollars a year. Single-family homeowners that are alone can pay thousands, thousands of dollars. So I would propose this on the development end: One is, there has to be a commitment to keep low- and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 moderate-income housing in that neighborhood and to provide more affordable housing. The City has allowed single-family residences to be upgraded on zoning. On some single-family lots there's now 30 units. The land value in this community is $100,000 to $125,000 a unit. When a developer goes from ten units on a lot to 40 units on a lot, he just got a gift of about $4 million of land value. I say this: Let's take 50 percent. Let's give the developers incentive zoning. Let's increase the density on a selective, thoughtful basis, but the value should not go to a developer who doesn't live in this city. The value should go to the community for affordable housing. (Applause.)

I think we should set goals in this District for economic opportunity. There shouldn't be a job that goes up there when the kids from Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 YouthBuild that are two blocks away sit there without an internship. That's wrong. That's fundamentally wrong. (Applause.)

I also wanted to show you that the biggest problem in the neighborhood now are caused by irresponsible developers. We have wonderful developers; we have irresponsible ones. We took video this morning, just this morning, at 1510 North 15th Street where the developer took a single-family house, ripped it down and is putting up 50 or 80 units. They are, as we speak, mixing the cement in the street. The cement goes into the City sewers. That's 1510 North 15th Street. As we speak, they're mixing the cement in the street, and it pours right into the sewers. At the YMCA, the 1400 block of Carlisle, for the last two years the developers in the 1400 block of North Carlisle have mixed that cement on the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 sidewalk in the street feet from the YMCA daycare playground. Councilman Clarke had his staff out there to document it. We've been to L&I. They have been unresponsive. We got a response from the Councilman. We haven't had much response from L&I. Go to 1401 North 15th, you'll see this morning there's 57 piles dumped on that lot, and it blows onto children in the Y and the kids going to music lessons at the Freedom Theatre. That's been going on for two years. That's contempt for this community. When Mr. Nicholas and I went over, they said, They're not your kids, why are you worried about it. And every day at the Y, the people take washcloths and wipe down all the playground equipment, because they dump the cement on the machine, they shake the bag. We have it on the videotape and you watch it blow onto the children at the Y. That's been going on for two years. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 There's not a silt fence on 90 percent of the jobs. There's not a dust barrier. L&I could spot that before they got out of their car. You just put the black fence on the ground so the mud and cement don't wash into the sewers. The sewers there have been cleaned over 9 times, the intersection of Carlisle and 10 Master Street, 12 times in the last year, 11 because the developers on the 1400 block 12 have clogged them. I say let's enforce the L&I regulations. Let's have good developers live by the law, and let's all work together. (Applause.)

Thank you.

And we will provide the videotapes of this, if you'd like, on the iPad.

Thank you. First, I want the record to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 show that Councilman Johnson is present. Also, if there are people here that are here for what was going to be the o'clock Finance Committee hearing, 6 that will commence as soon as we finish 7 our hearing here. Sorry for the delay. 8 Sorry for those of you who have to wait. 9 Any questions or comments for 10 this group? 11 (No response.) 12

Seeing none, thank you. Mr. Mitch Wolfson, John Athanasiadas and Jonathan Weiss. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

I have Mr. Wolfson first. Is that you?

I would like to thank the Committee for the privilege of testifying. My name is Mitch Wolfson. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, although I now reside outside the City. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 system and a Temple University grad and a former Army officer. I took an oath to duty, honor and country, and still believe in that today. I am active in my local community and have volunteered on Meals for Homeless, rehabbing houses both in Delaware County and Philadelphia. I attended a six-month NID certification program sponsored by Drexel, along with Peter Crawford. We met and exchanged ideas with other NIDs. I am also a Temple landlord, a TAPA member and a member of the Steering Committee. The members of the Steering Committee are all honorable and ethical people whom I've had the pleasure of working with. We have put in numerous hours to this point on the NID. There are no hidden agendas. There's a lot of misinformation or no information on the NID. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 to do with the NID, and many are valid. The one complaint I heard is, No one asked me. I did ask my neighbors, and all were supportive. There is not one place to go where you can communicate with the entire community. The other complaint I heard concerns compensational Board members. There is none contemplated. "We will be taxed" is another falsehood. The only tax will be on rental properties and businesses at 7 percent of the current tax. Those being taxed will have the right to vote on this measure. That is taxation with representation. I now pay Philadelphia real estate tax without the right to vote in the City. The tax would amount to $70 on a property where the current bill is a thousand dollars. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 non-profits, including Temple, will fund the NID. Another complaint I've heard is, We're already doing this. It is true that certain blocks are being cleaned. What we are talking about is a much larger area than anyone is doing that we would put under professional management. The NID would also address broken sidewalks, improved lighting and safety issues. "I don't trust the Board of Directors. " There will be a conflict of interest policy and there would be transparency with NID contracting. How do you trust any board? The proposed bylaws have been nitpicked to death. We realize there are corrections to be made to address legitimate complaints. Some have already been made. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 We need to follow the NID regulations and need a clean non-profit that meets all the required governmental filings. " This is partially true. What benefits the community also benefits the landlords and vice versa. There is no eminent domain provisions in this bill. I heard a complaint about taxing senior citizens, and that's not true, except for me, because I'm a landlord, and any other landlord or businesses who are senior citizens. Why would anybody be opposed to removing trash or extra security in the area? In a perfect world, we would not need a NID, as there would be adequate police protection and street cleaning. Without the NID and funds going directly to this District, things won't change. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 The NID will cure some of these problems and is a big improvement, but don't expect an overnight cure. This is a first step in a long process. Not all landlords agree with me. A comment by one said, I already clean the front of my property, I have adequate security. He is forgetting the rest of the neighborhood and the community. I would like to thank Councilman Clarke for proposing the NID. We in the informed community appreciate and support your efforts. Thank you.

Thank you. Whoever would like to go next, please identify yourself and proceed.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is John Athanasiadas. I am the owner of City View Pizza, a business located at 1434 Cecil B. Moore Avenue. I've been in Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 business since 2005. I recently bought property in North Philadelphia. I think a community is made of churches, schools, residents, business owners, members and leaders. I would like to consider myself a business owner and community member. At City View Pizza, we have donated to various charitable organizations in North Philadelphia. We also sponsor a Thanksgiving Day giveaway where food baskets are given out to underprivileged families in North Philadelphia. I hire all types of people at City View Pizza, from people who live in North Philadelphia to Temple students, anyone with food experience. I may not live in North Philadelphia, but I do care about North Philadelphia. That is why I support the North Central District. I have the same problems everyone else does. The business next to me was robbed. The business across the street from me has been robbed. My Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 delivery drivers have been robbed at least times since 2005 from 15th 4 Street to 20th Street. My thoughts and 5 prayers are with them and their families. 6 Fortunately they were not seriously 7 injured. 8 We have a security issue that 9 needs to be addressed in North 10 Philadelphia. The North Central 11 Improvement District will provide 12 additional resources to help with this 13 problem. 14 As a business owner and a 15 landlord, I pay for a private company to 16 collect my trash at my business and at my 17 property. With the increase of traffic 18 to North Philadelphia, that service is 19 not enough. Every day we are constantly 20 sweeping and cleaning and collecting extra trash. It's everyone's fault, from business owners to Temple students to developers and residents. We need more trash cans. We need more street sweepers. We also need people to collect Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the trash. If residents do not have to pay for this service and landlords are willing to pay for the extra service, then as a business owner and landlord, I support the improvement. I am a believer of actions speak louder than words and there's always two sides to every coin, but if we do nothing at all, then things will remain the same. We can continue to suffer together or we can support the North Central District Improvement together to make a neighborhood cleaner and safer. Thanks again for your time.

Thank you, sir. And sorry if I messed your name up.

That's quite all right. I couldn't get it right before sixth grade.

Before Mr. Weiss testifies, the next three on my list, Debbie Rowe, Philip Browndeis and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Tarik Nasir. Mr. Weiss.

Thank you. My name is Jonathan Weiss. My company is TempleTown Realty. I've been investing and developing property in North Central Philadelphia for over years. I have 9 rehabilitated close to 70 historic 10 brownstones, along with constructing a 11 number of new buildings. I currently 12 have 17 employees, most of whom work in 13 North Philadelphia every day. Along with 14 those permanent jobs, I've created 15 countless shorter-term construction jobs over these 15 years. Throughout this time, I have hired many community residents, many minority contractors. My company is color blind. And one-third of my current employees live in North Central Philadelphia. My office is in this neighborhood and I come to work there every day. I also helped to create Tree House Books on Susquehanna Avenue. It is Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 both a bookstore and a community center. Dozens of neighborhood youth come to Tree House every day after school for help with their homework, to read books, to do creative writing and to produce a literary magazine. We have hundreds of volunteers there, and in addition to selling books, last year we distributed over 3,000 free books in the neighborhood. I tell you all this not as a way to pat myself on the back, but as a way of saying that I am part of this neighborhood, too. I take offense at the frequent characterization of developers and landlords as fly-by-night, irresponsible speculators or destroyers of this neighborhood. I, and most of my fellow landlords -- certainly not all, but most -- are responsible people who invested deeply in this neighborhood and sincerely want to see it thrive and prosper. As to the NID proposal, I was Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 originally reluctant to support it. I will have one of the largest total assessment bills. I already pay tens of thousands of dollars to the City every year in the form of real estate taxes, business privilege taxes, rental licenses, storm water fees, trash collection fees, and I could go on. Why would I want to pay more? But I took a look at the impact that some of the other special services districts have in Philadelphia. University District and Center City District are remarkable models and they have significantly improved the quality of life, the livability, of the areas where they operate. I've come to voice my support for this new initiative and to encourage other landlords to support it as well. Yes, it will cost us some more, but it can make North Central Philadelphia a better place to live, a better place to work, a better place to shop and a better Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 place to invest. The NID will be a way that many investment property owners can pool resources together and have a significant impact on the area's livability. My support has come with an important condition, though. It's that the landlords, those actually paying to support this new entity, those paying the assessments, should have substantial representation in administering the funds. That's representation with taxation. With that one condition, I would like to urge City Council to enact this measure. I'd like to make one other brief point. It is very unfortunate that some have tried to characterize this initiative as trying to take control of this neighborhood. It is unfortunate, because nothing could be further from the truth. That assertion is fanning fears among the community and creating a lot of heat, but not much light. This entity Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 has no powers of governance, no zoning authority, no condemnation authority. It is not a development entity. It is created purely to create services, and I would hope that all would come to recognize it as really being able to have a positive impact in the area. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Just stay there for a second. Councilman Kenney.

Thank you very much. The questions I have are not about the NID. Generally I follow the lead of a District Councilperson once they negotiate and deal with the legislation that they're putting forward, and if it's not unreasonable, I normally will support it. I'm just curious. This gentleman in the middle is a pizza shop owner. You're a developer. And, sir, I didn't hear what you --

I'm a developer. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

How many units have you developed in this Temple area?

I'm one of the smaller developers --

Speak into the mike, because she can't record it.

I'm one of the smaller developers. I've only developed three. On the other end would be Jonathan, who is a major developer.

How many units?

I've developed over 250 units.

Now, you had testified relative to there are 17 employees. They are permanent, I assume, property maintenance and those folks. When you actually do the development, how do you hire a construction company?

Well, we are a general contractor, so we perform most of Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 our work. We have many local employees. We have a strong track record of hiring minority contractors. I stand by the record, and be happy to go into more detail with that.

One of the issues -- and I'm certainly not suggesting you're doing this, but I'm trying to figure out the construction industry at that level. I have some ongoing concerns, which I'm working on in a different project altogether, relative to the full collection and payment of taxes, that workers sometimes are paid in different ways, either like cash or with 1099's where they're responsible for paying the taxes themselves. Can you tell me how you handle your and what your interaction is as a general contractor, what your interaction is with your employees.

Sure. And to be perfectly honest, my business practices have evolved, as my company has grown, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 and when starting out, I think that many developers are faced with trying to get a job done as low a cost as possible and frequently engage in hiring undocumented workers or will hire people as day laborers.

I'm very liberal when it comes to immigration, so I don't have an issue with -- anyone who knows me here, I don't have an issue with documentation. My issue is is that how people are paid and what we get back in taxes from the individuals. So if we're letting the employees be responsible for paying their own taxes, sometimes I'm sure they do, sometimes they don't. If we're paying them cash, we're not getting anything back at all.

True.

And a lot of that money doesn't stay in the community. And the other issue -- again, I'm not saying you did this, but when you Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 listen to the testimony of folks relative to construction practices, with not putting up appropriate blinds and things to stop the dirt and mixing cement in the street and on and on and on, I mean, I think L&I does have an absolute responsibility to get out there and do something about that, but do you think a developer needs to have some control over what goes on when the construction is being done?

Oh, absolutely. I mean, developers should be ultimately responsible for everything that goes on at a site. And just to your earlier point about paying cash versus 1099's, there's many people who pay cash. It's really a double-edged sword because there is a significant labor pool in North Central Philadelphia that will much prefer to be paid cash and who are available to be and --

This is not Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 a union versus non-union. I'm sitting next to a former business agent for a political director for a labor union. But my issue is when it comes to workers in those categories, we aren't even sure what qualifications they may have or not have to wire a house, to wire an apartment building, to do what's necessary in the plumbing. It's kind of like -- this becomes almost a union versus non-union argument, and I'm not making that argument. What I'm making that argument is qualifications of employees and whether or not when they get paid, we're getting what we need to fund the Fire Department, the Police Department and schools and everything else. And I'm working towards making sure that those practices are followed. Whether you hire union or you don't, that's on you, but my point is is that people need to pay what they need to pay.

I'd agree, and I'd agree with many in this room who said Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 that L&I could be more comprehensive and do a better job. It's unfortunate -- I understand there's not the funds.

Well, it's also Revenue, which is what I have my problems with relative to their diligence in going after what's owed to the City. But if we have this continuing underground economy in construction and in other areas, I think we're really missing a lot of money that's on the table that we could be providing services to people who live here and do pay their taxes.

I would just say I'm a member of the BIA and I know that entity -- organization engages a great deal on those matters and I'm sure would be thrilled to have ongoing -- if you're not already having conversations about that.

We're talking about it now. But I just wanted to get some insight into the development Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 process in the City. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilman Goode.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be brief. Mr. Weiss, you said you'd be more than willing to elaborate upon your diversity track record with regard to your development projects. Please feel free to do so.

I'm not sure quite how to do that in this forum.

I'm asking you to quantify it rather than use words like "many."

Quantify -- well, for my most recent project, I think we had 20 or 25 percent of our contracts were minority contracts. That was actually a $12 million project. It was one of the first LEED Gold buildings in North Central Philadelphia. And we Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 worked with -- I'm sorry. I'm forgetting the name of Anthony Fullard's organization, but there's an organization that employs local people. We work closely with his organization. We work with the electrical unions. You know, I'd be happy to -- I don't have those numbers --

You mentioned one project.

Yes.

You said you think it was percent. 15

Right. 16

But you said 17 you've done over 250 units of housing, 18 and you said you'd be more than willing 19 to elaborate on your track record. I'm 20 just asking you to follow through on 21 that. 22

I would. I don't 23 have documents for all of my projects in 24 this forum. 25

Please feel Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 free in the future when you provide testimony to provide that type of information. We'd be more than willing to read it and then respond to it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. And if you'd like, you can get those documents to me and I can share it with the Committee, if you have those figures.

Thank you.

Thank you. Any other -- (Audience member shouting.)

Please, no shouting out, please. We've been doing good so far. Any other questions or comments? (No response.)

Seeing none, thank you three very much. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Again, Debbie Rowe, Philip Browndeis and Tarik Nasir. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

As I did before, I would appreciate when you identify yourself, if you could say if you're a resident in the area or own property in the area, whatever, or represent an organization. Ms. Rowe, please.

Hello, everyone. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. Correct me if I'm wrong --

Just identify yourself for the record first.

My name is Debbie Rowe. I'm a resident of North Philadelphia, born and raised here.

In the area that we're talking about?

Yes, in the affected area.

Okay. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

I have a rental property that is right next door to me. It used to be a crack house, and I acquired it from the City, fixed it up, and it's a beautiful home now. Correct me if I'm wrong, the Community and Economic Improvement Act, 53 P.S. 18101 is a Pennsylvania state law that is being used to execute the beautification of the City of Philadelphia. Therefore, by Temple University being funded by the state, this exempts them from paying taxes, as well as the City of Philadelphia. I basically agree with those who oppose the bill for the reasons mentioned. And in addition, I really oppose the bill as well for the fact that I -- I'm into beautifying the City of Philadelphia. I work hard. I sweep. I go along with the, you know, beautification of the City of Philadelphia to the point where I was -- have a City contract right here that I've Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 been holding on for ten years. This contract said that if I had fenced in and cleaned up a lot, that in turn it would be given to me for my hard work and money. I invested thousands of dollars in this particular two lot. I have two different contracts saying that if I was to fix it up, that I would be given my deeds. My deeds have been on hold. They have been processed. The inspectors came out. They inspected the property. I did everything that I was supposed to do. And I'm in agreeance with President Barack Obama, if you work hard, if you do the right thing, if you do what you're supposed to do, then you should be rewarded for that. I have a problem because I see in the listing that the City has at least maybe close to 40 properties, and I believe my properties are included in that, because my deeds have not been released to me. And it is in the prime real estate area on Diamond Street, 1719 Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 and 1721 West Diamond Street. So I have a problem, because I think that according to this Bill 120020, that with the monies that's going to be raised from the residents that live or the property owners that live and the business owners that live in the particular area are going to have to pay taxes on. They're asking me to pay taxes on a land that they won't give to me, and I think that that is so wrong, because I beautified that lot. That lot looked like a jungle. I had to remove trees. I had to remove weeds that were big as trees. I had to remove bricks. I swept. I worked hard. And I think it's so unfair for the North Central Improvement Corporation to acquire funds from myself and others and use that money to develop property on and disregard my hard work, disregard my efforts to beautify a community that I belong to, that I love. So I oppose this act, and I would like to ask City Council to please Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 release my deeds for my hard effort and my hard work and for the money that I invested, the time. It's ridiculous, because I've seen people -- I've been in meetings and waiting for my deed. I've seen other people walk out with their deeds, and when it came to me, it was held back. I've had one excuse after another. I'm in this room now and a guy walks up to me and said he just got his deed. However, I've been waiting for mine's for ten years. And I feel like I am being discriminated against because of special interest groups. This goes deeper than just trying to beautify a certain specific area. This is like robbery. How could the City of Philadelphia ask me to abide by a law when they're breaking the law?

Ma'am, as far as the individual situation, I'm not familiar with that, but I understand your feelings against the bill. Thank you.

One more thing. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 I'll tell you what the situation is. The situation is that I acquired this contract from the City of Philadelphia to beautify a lot. I got it under the beautification contract of the City of Philadelphia. That's how I got it.

No, I understand that, ma'am, but that really is separate from -- but I understand your opposition to the bill.

But it's not separate from them taking that land.

All right.

And then selling it and then having a developer build on it. So that's what I oppose.

Okay. Thank you. Mr. Browndeis. And just, again, I'd like everybody to identify whether they live or own in the area. Thank you.

Thank you. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and members of the Committee. My name is Philip Browndeis. I do not live in the district, but I am here to support the people of North Central Philadelphia. Our City government has ignored this area for decades and has failed to provide basic services such as safety, lighting, neighborhood security and street cleaning on an acceptable, consistent basis. Now that Temple University is rapidly growing, real estate investors have swooped down on the area, and still our City Council says it cannot afford to provide basic services to the taxpayers. So now the developers want to create a neighborhood improvement district to provide those services. Perhaps if City Council stop giving away taxpayer money to developers, then it could provide the services that taxpayers have every right to expect. (Applause.)

TAPA are the Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 individuals behind this proposed bill. They do not live in the neighborhood, vote in the neighborhood or have the support of the majority of property owners in the neighborhood, but they do have the support of Council President Darrell Clarke. All NIDs and BIDs share a common trait. They are inherently contrary to the most basic principle of democracy - one person, one vote. TAPA learned an important lesson from the defeat of the Callowhill Reading Viaduct NID. If owner-occupied properties are not taxed, then owners cannot vote against the creation of a NID. Council President Darrell Clarke summed it up best during the March 6th community meeting when he told a long-time resident, quote, You won't have a vote, but you'll have a say, end quote. North Philadelphia is not alone in resisting a takeover of their neighborhood. Wealthy neighborhoods like Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 SoHo in New York are fighting back against a proposed NID, because it is always wrong to grant the power to tax to any group not elected by a majority. TAPA strikes an arrogant tone of privilege when in this dire time of state budget cuts for higher education it seeks a six-figure, multi-year, quote, voluntary, end quote, donation from Temple, a publicly funded university. Ms. Vanstory and the others who testified today will be vilified for their opposition to the creation of a NID. It will be said that they are motivated by fear, anger and a desire to stop progress. TAPA will say that the opponents to this ordinance are misinformed, even though they have read the ordinance, and that they exaggerate the powers granted to the North Central Management Corporation, when the powers of the NID are clearly stated in the text. City Council just gave away Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Dilworth Plaza to the Center City District, a private corporation, a little different than a NID, at no cost, for 30 years. Let's not keep making the same mistakes. Don't hand over North Central Philadelphia to real estate investors masquerading as a not-for-profit corporation. Thank you for your time. (Applause. )

Before Mr. Nasir, the next three people I have on my list are Edward Johnson, Reverend Lewis Nash and Beatrice Smith.

Excuse me. That is exactly what I'm saying. You know, you're turning over property --

Ma'am.

-- to these developers, especially the one that I have invested all this money in.

All right, ma'am. Mr. Nasir. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

My name is Tarik Nasir. I'm a resident and long-time investor in this proposed neighborhood improvement district. Good morning, President Clarke, Councilmembers and my fellow community members and leaders. I'd like to address Council and the Steering Committee on behalf of my fellow community members, leaders and investors who feel as I do. My outrage at the disrespect and slights of hand that is this neighborhood improvement district plan has brought me here today. I have questions to ask that I hope will be presented and answers demanded by this Committee. Firstly, I know as a member of TAPA and, as previously stated, that this plan has been in the making for the last two years at least. The 86 pages of this proposal include multiple exhibits, but none of them outline or define the involvement or consultation with any existing community-based organizations or Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 leaders. Why is that? Is it the opinion of the NID Steering Committee and Econsult that they have greater insight and understanding into the needs of the people than those who have been servicing the community for generations, like Vivian Vanstory's CDC and Beech Interplex? What is your justification for excluding these pillars of the community from your planning processes? It is the Pennsylvania Community and Economic Improvement Act of December 1998, not Philadelphia government, that potentially delivers powers of eminent domain to the North Central Management Corporation. Simply removing the powers from a list does not eliminate them. People here have expressed real fear that their homes can be taken away from them. Why are you seeking such power if your goals are to simply control your outrageous students' behavior and to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 keep your own sidewalks clean? Furthermore, it's understandable that our people would object to such an overreach of authority by the North Central Management Corporation's potential Board members, which is currently the Steering Committee incidentally. So what verifiable investments have been made individually and as a group other than a few small charity donations to demonstrate your past commitments to improving this community that have not made you money? Now, we have seen the vigorous community opposition to this proposed neighborhood improvement district, but not much input from those who have been asked to foot the bill; namely, the landlords. I must ask, do you honestly believe that if we were allowed a real vote rather than this sham that hundreds of honest stakeholders would vote you their new tax collector? And, finally, what are your Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 plans for our seniors? I sincerely pray that Council will require answers to these questions in the interest of the North Central Philadelphia community. Thank you for your time and consideration. (Applause.)

Thank you three very much. Our next group is Edward Johnson, Reverend Lewis Nash and Beatrice Smith. Are they still here? Yes, I see the people coming up. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

Also, early on I called a Delores Johnson. Is she here? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes, she's here.

Okay. She'll be in the next group. Not this group; the next one. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Mr. Johnson, I have your name first. If you could identify yourself and proceed, please.

Okay. My name is Edward T. Johnson. I live on the 1700 of North 18th Street. I'm one of the first homeowners of the Cecil B. Moore town homeownership. I don't really -- I understand the need of a clean district, but it's the execution. You have numerous of communities -- committees here that have not been consulted properly, and homeowners, too. Temple has a great vested interest in our community, but the problem is, as paying taxpayers, none of our money has come down to our areas to improve the areas. And second and thirdly, I'm right across adjacent to -- I mean, right across from the old New Faithful Church which is now being developed into 16 duplexes. Then on the other side of me there's a house that was rehabbed. It's Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Temple students. Trash has not been picked up for the whole year. The whole yard is full of trash. Right now I'm having that addressed right now. On the other side of me -- no 7 one has talked about this. With any development, the Philadelphia Housing Authority has never been called here, since they own the majority of the houses in the neighborhood, is owned by PHA and the Redevelopment Authority. They have not been down here discussing the issue, too, because they own the majority of the property. It is sad that -- a lot of us are aging, are getting older. I'm going to be retiring within three years from my job. I've been on my job almost 34 years. Seniors have faced a lot of difficulty in such difficult times. They don't have the money when the taxes go up. That's the big concern there. There's not enough younger people there to keep tax money flowing, so you need to Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 concentrate on building affordable housing and extend it to Cecil B. Moore town shift from low- to moderate-income people to keep an income pace there. The Temple students are there temporary just to get an education. So their needs are not there. They're just there to get an education. They don't live there or pay any taxes. So, you know, they don't have the same vested interest as homeowners here. And if I believe you come better to talk with the owners here, people will be more receiving of this when you have more inclusion, because as black people, we have been redlined and left out of a lot of things. That's what you hearing the anger here. We've been redlined and left out of everything. We had the Drexel area, Penn area, which used to be called the Bottom Black. It's eliminated, gone. South Street, that area there is eliminated, gone with changes like this. And people had little Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 or no say so. Include the people here, restructure it, you may get some support, but you got to restructure it with the people in mind. And, also, the developers are getting a very big handout. Give some of the loans or make loans available for people who own businesses here so they can keep their business going during this difficult time, because the area is very poor, face it. So the people that own businesses here are very strained. Have a system where they can get loans to keep their businesses going. Keep them in mind. The same things that you gave -- the grants or loans or whatever on Bainbridge that you give to the developers, give to the homeowners or business owners here. Make us feel included. We pay taxes. These people don't live in and don't pay taxes. They don't live here. So include everybody. Include everybody, then you may have some Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 support.

Thank you. Reverend Nash.

I'll wait.

Okay. Ms. Smith. Please identify yourself and proceed.

My name is Beatrice Smith. I live at 1533 North 20th Street. I'm in the Cecil B. Common Homes. I've been living in Philadelphia since I was seven months old. I was born in Florida. My family moved here and we lived in a home in Philadelphia since I was 8 years old. As I got married, my siblings, my cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone owns a home here in Philadelphia. When they made this bill, the main people are not included in this bill, which are the homeowners. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 I'm not going to go through it. What needs to be done with this bill is to have it completely deleted, the whole thing, restructured, with the homeowners having the say. And hopefully everyone that's in this bill that are backing each other will back the homeowners. We can tell you more than anyone, because we live here. They've lived here as long as I have, some longer, because they're older. I am now 68 years old. So I've been here living in Philadelphia and been a homeowner for more than half that time. We can tell you what we need. We can tell you what will keep this neighborhood, our whole community, safe, clean, but no one asked the homeowner. I hear the developers saying they're neighbors. They're not my neighbors. They don't want to be my neighbors. They don't want to live here. They want to get -- they want to profit from my community. They want to profit from us. But they do not want to be my neighbor. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 So they don't have as much in this as I do. Stop dividing us, because when you divide, you divide and conquer. You're tearing the homeowners apart. If we're North Central Philadelphia, we're all North Central Philadelphia. We're not Brewerytown. We're not Yorktown. We are all North Central Philadelphia. We are all homeowners. No one asked us. Everybody else can move out when you get ready. You don't like something, you move. We are homeowners. We are here for life. We cannot move just because we don't like a bill. They want us to pay for cleanup that you mess up. You want me to pay you to clean your mess up. No. I am already being fined. I can't put my trash out to a certain time. If my trash is not cycled the way it should be, I am fined. Temple students don't -- renters throw their trash anywhere any time they get ready. I have to get out and clean mine. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 I'm not get any younger. I have a big empty lot in front of me. Let the wind blow and all of the trash comes in my yard, because I'm on the corner. So, therefore, I have to constantly clean, because they come past there and they say -- they can -- ten to one, now that I'm speaking on it, I am going to be covered with all kinds of tickets and fines. But anyone can tell you, this is what happens. But we are cleaning. We're already being fined. These bills are already on us. Let us be the ones that set up the rules and regulations, because from what everyone has said here, including the contractors, the first ten pages, so to speak, promises me heaven. The next ten pages promises me definitely hell. This is what it does. I'm not getting any younger. I'm getting older. But by the time my tax abatement is up, I can't afford the taxes, but you want to increase my taxes. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 And you say you are in -- you want to develop us? But you're not helping the people that are making the neighborhood to stay in the neighborhood. By the time -- if my children are not able to maintain their property right here because they're going to have the same taxes I'm going to have, they're going to lose my property. Either they're going to lose it to taxes or if they're smart, they will sell it, but they cannot keep it. And instead of you helping us to keep our property by helping us pay taxes or keeping our taxes down so that we can stay here -- because we're homeowners. We're not renters. We're not going to tear up the neighborhood.

We're not going to bring all kinds of drugs and crime in here, because this is where we live. We can't call the police and say we see a crime going on and the police come to my door. He says, Oh, these are the people that you just called about? com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 head. And then when I'm gone, that's another one bites the dust. Who else is going to stand up? No one. Because you are throwing us to the dogs.

Point of information.

Councilman Goode.

Good afternoon. Just for clarity of the record -- and I'm not taking a position on any of this. I'm asking you to actually decide. Are you saying for the record that there should be no neighborhood improvement district or are you saying there should be more people included in the neighborhood improvement district?

I feel as though the homeowners should be the head of the committee, because that's where we live.

I'm asking which one you're saying. So if you're saying that the homeowners should be Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 included in the neighborhood improvement district --

Most definitely.

-- you're saying that the homeowners should be taxed.

I am saying that the homeowners should be included in it and I'm not saying we should not be taxed. We're already being taxed.

I'm just asking you. This is an extra assessment. You're saying --

Oh, no. We should not -- no more taxes.

But that's the choice. The choice you're making is that there should be no neighborhood improvement district or --

We want --

Ma'am, let the Councilman finish his question.

Or if there is a neighborhood improvement district Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 that includes residents, then under the state law, the residents have to be taxed. So it's one or the other. Either you want no district or you want a district that improves residents where residents are taxed for extra services. That's the way it works. So I'm just asking for clarity of the record what is your testimony.

I'm going to ask you. I have to ask you. What are we paying taxes for? We are paying taxes -- from what this bill says, we're already paying taxes. Well, what you asking us to pay more taxes for?

That's what the bill is for. The bill is to ask people whether they want to be assessed more taxes. That's what the bill is.

Unless you're a single-family homeowner.

You want us to pay more taxes for what we're already paying taxes for? Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

For the people who are covered under the bill 4 right now, it's asking them if they want to pay more taxes for more services.

Who is covered under this bill?

It's within the bill. There's a list of properties. It's property owners. It's not residents.

But what about the renters?

In terms of the residences and other residences, they're not covered in the bill. They are covered in the bill --

Well, no, we should not be taxed more.

Ma'am, please let him finish before you start talking. Please.

You can answer the question and I can accept your answer however you want to give it to me, Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 but at the end of the day, I'm asking for some clarity. And so if you don't want to pay more in taxes for more services, then you don't want to be included in the bill.

What more services am I going to get that I'm already getting, that I'm already paying for?

The services that are outlined in the bill right now are for cleaning and security and some other things. If there was a new neighborhood improvement district that had new people who governed it, they could determine what those services are going to be, but you would have a bigger pool of people, a bigger pool of money and a different governance structure that decides what's going to happen. So you would determine what services will be provided, but at the same time, you'll be paying more taxes for more services. And so the only question I ask -- and I'm going to leave it alone if Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 you don't answer the question directly -- is, do you want no neighborhood improvement district or do you want residences to be included in it where they pay extra taxes for extra services? Which is your testimony? One or two.

You can't do that to me.

I just did it.

You cannot do that to me.

Ma'am, let me ask you --

I just have a point of information.

Councilman Kenney.

In your testimony, you said the word "abatement," when your abatement is up. I didn't understand what that was.

The tax abatement that we have. We had a ten-year tax Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 abatement. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the bills that you want us to pay for.

So I understand your position, you currently have a ten-year tax abatement?

Yes, we do.

When is that up?

Some have ten, some have five.

When is yours up?

I bought my home in '06.

So it's '16?

Thank you.

But you're not paying real estate taxes now?

I'm paying for the land, yes.

All right. I just wanted to make sure I understood Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 you.

And one other question and then I want to move on to Reverend Nash. He's been patient. You're a property owner obviously.

Yes.

Do you own any other property?

No, I do not.

You will not be taxed under this bill, ma'am. You will not be taxed under this bill. Councilman Clarke explained -- Council President explained that right in the beginning. Homeowners, single-family homeowners, are excluded from the assessment in this bill. Okay?

No. That's not going to work.

It's true.

That's what the bill says.

Because we are not Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 included in this.

All right.

What I'm saying is, we are not on the committee and we are homeowners, and eventually it is -- and you know it like I know it. Eventually you're going to draw us into this, if it's five years from now. They're going to include us, one way or the other. (Applause.)

If not me, then it's going to be my child that has --

Councilman Goode.

Point of order. You're entitled to your testimony. I heard everything you said. I understand the anger. I understand partially what you're saying is what other people said when they've testified on improvement districts, which is that they believe they should be getting more Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 for the tax they already pay. But what this legislation deals with, as authorized under state law, is to provide an extra tax assessment for extra services. That's what the legislation does. So it's not a matter of whether anyone agrees with that or not. That is the state law. And so under the state law, people can agree to be assessed more for more services if they choose to. It's your choice. That's all I'm saying.

And if we don't?

And if you don't choose to pay more taxes, then you won't be charged more taxes, and right now you're not included in the bill. Therefore, you won't be charged more taxes.

Right now. (Someone yelling from audience.)

All right. Hold it.

No. It's just that Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the whole bill needs to be deleted and redone with homeowners included on the board to have some say so on what goes on in your neighborhood. If I don't want to be added on to get more taxes, then what are you going to do? I don't get police when I call each time?

Ma'am, that's not -- okay. Reverend Nash, please. I'm sorry. You've been patient. Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much. I guess it's afternoon by now.

Well into the afternoon.

I thank Council President for bringing this bill and also allowing this community to come to have a voice. Thank the Councilmembers for sitting and listening to us very patiently. My name is Reverend Lewis C. Nash, Sr. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 1510 West Stiles Street. I am the Founder and CEO of Map Holistic Community Development, which is located at 1533 West Stiles Street. I've been in the North Philadelphia area since 1967 when I was born by Alice Maidie McNair Nash on 17th and Norris. I went to George Washington Carver School and watched the transition. I went to Benjamin Franklin, Strawberry Mansion, Roxborough, graduated from Franklin. The reason why I say this also, I am a member of Caulk (ph) Coalition, who helped develop the North Philadelphia Train Station. I am a member of Local 332, a labor member, who has been with 332 since 1989. I also am a member of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 developed, those who are making millions, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, at the end of their fiscal year, after they file their taxes, I think that they should also be included in the NID and also putting up funding to clean the neighborhoods that they say that they are cleaning. As I listened to the conversation about the developers, why aren't they coming to clean up our streets? Well, let me explain something to you. Since 2000, I have been an owner and occupier of Faith and Deliverance Outreach Ministry at 1510 West Stiles Street. I've watched drug deals. I've called police and got assistance. I've watched buildings fall. I've called City Council and I've gotten assistance. I've even torn down a building myself because of the blight and the drug use and terrible things that were going on next door to my church. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the trash. They did. Temple students live on 15th and Stiles, along with me, about from St. Joe's Prep all the way to Broad Street and the Regency Apartment on Carlisle Street. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen in North Philadelphia. I'll get to that in the lower North Philadelphia portion. But I've watched the Temple students come and go. They've been polite to me and to my neighbors and constituents who I help in that neighborhood. I've never seen a party. I'm not saying it doesn't happen in other neighborhoods, but the Temple student does not come out and pee on the ground and trash the neighborhood as well. They put their trash out and they recycle. So for us to sit here and assume that all of Temple University students, whether on campus or off campus, is a real terrible blight to our neighborhood, that is not true. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 I really want to see the NID, simply because it will help the non-profit organizations that were supposed to keep the community clean that received funding and don't have adequate facilities for the neighbors to go to. We are charged to use their facilities, and they are receiving money from the federal government and City grants and other things. There was a big lot on Cecil B. Moore that was supposed to be for the Billie Holiday Museum, I believe it was. The money was stolen, misplaced. Then that land was also sold to a non-profit organization, who built a hundred-unit Temple University student housing. And also 15th and Cecil B. Moore all the way to Jefferson Street, another non-profit -- a non-profit organization built two blocks, one side of student housing. That's a non-profit organization. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 out how much money did go back to the senior citizens, how much money did go back to the lower-income families, neither one of them houses was built for low-income families. They put Temple students in. So they receive a residual income as well. So what I'm simply saying is, don't -- do not disband the NID, but let us come to a resolution and let us have some amendments done that will help us come together and to improve our neighborhood.

Because I like where I am and also the senior citizens in our neighborhood that comes to my non-profit organization, they receive help on their rebates. We help them fill out their rebates. We help them with their water bill, the electric bill. And we're not telling the NID, you got to pay us and you got to let us control the money. What we're saying -- we invested in the neighborhood. We're in the neighborhood. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 want to see a neighborhood improvement district. Because why? Before there was an NID -- I want to make this statement and I'm going to end, because I'm getting nervous. When I'm praying and preaching, I can do a little better. But before the NID came, there was trash. Before the NID came, there was bottles. Before the NID came, there was crack. Before the NID came, there was house invasions. Before the NID came, there was drug deals and drug busts and it was murder. Before the NID came, there was unsecured property and blighted areas and land. Before the NID came, there were non-profit organizations receiving millions of dollars, but yet and still, nobody cleaned the whole Columbia Avenue. So whoever is saying they cleaned the whole Columbia Avenue, it's still trashed up, and the NID will improve that. Whoever said that they cleaning the 1500 block of Stiles Street, guess what? com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 the little geographic location she does, it's still trashed up. So I think we do need a NID to bring some security, some stability, some economic growth and some new jobs. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Reverend. (Applause.)

Councilman Kenney.

I just have a request. And, again, this is not about the NID. I have confidence in your District Councilperson, who is our President, is going to work this out and get something done. That's been his style since he's been here, is to try to work at everybody in the neighborhood. But there's been a lot of stuff said about Temple University today that I have some concern about, and while I recognize as a former college student at LaSalle, I may have at times been a Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 little louder than I should have been, and apologize for that to the people up at Olney, but the request I have is that -- and I missed Ms. Coleman's testimony early. I don't really know the numbers, and that's why when we have this next hearing, I would like her or somebody to bring these numbers back. I just want to know what the total employment of Temple University and the hospital, how many people actually work for Temple, and if I could find out how many of them are City residents and if I could get some demographics as to ethnicity and race and gender, I would really be interested in knowing the impact, the positive and economic impact, of Temple University and its hospital on that entire North Philadelphia neighborhood. I don't know the numbers, so I'm not assuming what they are. And I know, Ms. Coleman, you told me you could probably get them pretty clear, because I Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 really do think -- when institutions deserve to get battered around, they deserve to get bettered around, but when we look at the overall picture of what Temple is providing there, what I think it's providing there, I think we should know the numbers in context when we're having this discussion, and I would just make that request to Temple. Thank you.

May --

Very quickly, please.

As far as Temple University is concerned, like I said, I've been in North Philadelphia since 1967. I've watched that little street. I forget the name of that little street that Temple closed up right across from 16th and Berks where next to the playground. I've watched them close that up. I've watched Temple evolve. But my statement here is that the reason why I'm making this statement, Temple University Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 employs a lot of people in North Philadelphia. So if Temple was to pack up, I believe North Philadelphia would have a bad economical turnaround. So we're not simply saying that we don't like Temple, but Temple is a great employer. Members of my church work for Temple. Temple donates to most of the -- every one of these organizations that have stood up here and opposed it. And I think it's very, very disrespectful to the Councilman and the taxpayers to sit -- to come up here and use this platform to address your personal issues to gain lots, more money or control. I think that we just need to amend the bylaws and things right here that will include the residents and make sure that they receive something out of the NID, and which has already been included in here. So let's just do that and stop using this platform to build your own organization and your personal Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 intents.

Thank you, Reverend. And just for the record, after we're through the testimony -- and I think we just have a few more people -- we're going to temporarily go into a public meeting and there will be some amendments, and the Council President will discuss that a little bit. Thank you very much. Now, the final group I have -- and these are the four names I have left -- Delores Johnson. Is she here? I heard yes somewhere. Shaka Trotter.

Yes.

James Johnson. (No response.)

No? Okay. And Ruth Burchett. Okay. I think I heard three say yes. Please come up. Is there anyone else here that wants to testify? Okay. Please come up, because Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 we are way behind, and I would ask you to be as brief and as to the point as possible, because we've had people waiting for the next hearing for quite a while. Thank you.

Just an hour.

It's all relative, right, Councilman?

I heard you. (Witnesses approached witness table.)

Whoever would like to go first, please identify yourself and proceed.

Good afternoon. My name is Delores Johnson and I reside at 1540 North 15th Street, and my family and I have been living there since the '40s. I have a multi-family dwelling. I live in the property and I also rent to people in the neighborhood. I don't only rent to students. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 But my problem is, as far as the bill is concerned, I oppose it, because in the bill, it mentions that this corporation can buy, sell real estate. And what does that have to do with keeping the neighborhood clean and security? And I'm afraid that section 9 about buying and selling real estate, they have an opportunity to take your property by eminent domain, which has happened to me four times. I was not able to get money from the bank to rehab these properties after they took it. They told me in order for me to rehab the properties, I would have to go to a bank to acquire the funds to rehab it, which I did. I have A-1 credit, and every bank in Philadelphia, every last one of them, turned me down. I didn't know this until I went to the vice president of the bank at Broad and Chestnut Street, told me -- I think it was PNB Bank or PNC Bank at the time. She said, Ms. Johnson, I don't Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 want to have anything to do with this mess. They are redlining you. So I was not able to get -- I went and hired a lawyer, but the lawyers didn't help. The lawyers were in the City's pocket, which I didn't know until after I had spent all my money. So this is what I'm afraid of, that they will eventually have the power to take our property from us.

Okay.

Question?

We'll hear from everybody first. Council President will address that. Who would like to go next?

My name is Donny Moore and I'm the block captain of the 1700 block of North 19th Street, which is in the area that they're building. And, no, I do not want to be taxed, to answer the question. No, I don't want to be taxed. But my concern here is -- being Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 here is that we complained about the student housing and the developments and stuff like that. On my block they are right now developing a unit. But what I did was, I called the Zoning Board, and they stopped the development because they didn't meet with us, the community. And they met with us. Not only did they met with us, they agreed to do certain things that we asked them for that. We made them agree to do certain things. I have a copy of this for them. That's what we did. We met with them and got the legal department and they did certain things that we requested. Like they don't block the streets on our block. They cover -- they already started construction. They don't block our streets. They will not block our streets. They will not work on Sundays. They will -- they won't start before 7:00 and they will end by 6:00. But it's up to us. It's up to us to challenge this when the Zoning Board goes up. And once it goes up and Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 you didn't challenge it, why are you complaining when you don't challenge something? I challenged it. It worked, and it worked for the community. If they're going to do something and you can't stop them from doing something, get something. Get something. Now, this neighborhood development, I don't know if it's going to work or not, but I'm saying to you right now, it's not only Temple students. You keep talking about Temple students, Temple students. It's the people in the community. I got robbed two times. I got robbed once and my car was tore up. It wasn't a Temple student that did that. It wasn't a Temple student. Stop that about Temple. It wasn't Temple that did this. We got kids in our neighborhoods that's tearing up our neighborhoods. Now, if they're going to put cameras -- and I had to put my own surveillance camera in, and they robbed me and I still had a surveillance camera. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 They got caught on surveillance. If they're going to put a camera up there and not just on Cecil B. Moore, not just on Dauphin Street, Susquehanna, they're going to put a camera up there on Carlisle Street, if they're going to put it up on Gratz Street and Bouvier Street where they walk up and down selling them drugs, well, I'm for it if they're going to put them there. It's where they put this stuff at. If it's going to help us out now, we need help now. You talking about -- we need help right now, is where we need help, the things that's happening now. So many robberies happen in our neighborhood where we live at. And I live 1715 North 19th Street. Thank you.

Thank you. And just a question. So you live there. Do you own any other property in the district? Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

No, I do not.

So you know you will not be assessed any taxes.

No, I will not.

Right, you will not. Okay. Sir.

Thank you. Good afternoon, City Council and all members of this Committee. My name is Shaka Trotter and I'm with the Contractors' Roundtable Council. And I just want to say thank you for having me here. I really appreciate it. I'm here as a son of North Philadelphia. I don't own any property, but I was educated in North Philadelphia and with the most precious blood, Saint Lukowitz, Saint Columbus, even though he wasn't a saint, on Lehigh Avenue. And I've watched institutions like Temple University gobble up our neighborhood like pack men and pack women, take, take and not give back. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 insurmountable amount of money and political power, and they pretty much move through our community at-will unless you challenge them. I want to say thank you so very much for being here and standing up and having the audacity and courage to say no 9 more. You have -- this is a tactical war. Not only are you to meet with Temple and City Council, but you got to go to the banks that's giving Temple this money to build the things in your neighborhood that you no longer want. I want to say thank you -- first, congratulations, Councilman Clarke, and I want to thank you -- no. 18 This is sincere congratulations, Councilman Clarke, because you have helped us. I'm here to support you. It's not shame on you, Councilman, but it's shame on Temple University for taking advantage of our community. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 community and can't name one black contractor, you know. I challenge you too to bring your books in. Who are you hiring? You're not going to get credit for hiring some crack heads in the neighborhood. You're not going to get no 8 applause from us. You have to do some real meaningful work here. Them, just like Temple, they don't have the main concern for the homeowners. They're there for ongoing ruthless pursuant of profit, and whoever gets in that way, they will crush. But thank you so much for being here. Now, here's the switch and bait. You talk to Temple. You challenge them. They say, Well, we are in agreement with this equal opportunity, and they have meetings, right? Now, they agree to the economic opportunity plans. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 from Temple. So what happens now is, you're fighting a ghost. You can't get the statistics, Councilman Kenney, that you asked earlier. You said what are the ethical backgrounds, who is hired, how many black people, how many black contractors on this job, you know, what's their percentage of monies that they were awarded for contracts. When you don't have that information, you're fighting a ghost. All you can do is sit back and look at the devastation in our community. You can't tell me that this abandoned buildings and this atrocity that's committed on our community, that it isn't planned. To me it seems like Temple pick and choose the areas they want to invest in. Like somebody picked they favorite son, which one they have to decide who is going to go to college. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 everything else falls to the side. Is that fair to say? And our community suffers from it, the community that I grew up in before I went to West Philadelphia. Even I raise hell in West Philly, but I was born and raised in North Philly and I don't like what I see. So, again, a homeowner came to us and said, Let's not fight. I don't think the fight is with Councilman Darrell Clarke or the Council, City Council. I think the fight and the real corporate culprit is Temple. When we fight with each other, the enemy always manages to slip away and do some more dirt tomorrow. So I say for ourselves and history, let's change the world from what it is to what it should be. Thank you so very much. )

Thank you. Ms. Burchett, please. Identify Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 yourself and please proceed.

Hi. My name is Ruth Burchett. I'm a resident of North Philadelphia. Having served -- I do not own property inside of this NID, proposed NID district. However, having served as block captain, committee person, judge of election and head of a non-profit of the area and also the child of a couple that purchased property in North Philadelphia back in 1950, I was raised to be concerned for community, and I remain so. This district ends at the block of -- the west side of it rather ends at the block of the home that my parents purchased, and we're fifth generation. I'm real clear that the concerns that this NID is proposing to have over our area will impact areas beyond the boundaries that are designated. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 bill. It has no consideration for the long-term residents of North Philadelphia. I am appalled that for decades rather than our -- and I'm speaking as someone who was sitting on my steps the night of the riots, and this encompasses -- part of this area encompasses that area. I'm appalled that we would be -- to have our community with the funds for revitalizing our community having intentionally been withheld from our area for decades to the point of mass deterioration, to the point of whole blocks being leveled, and then conveyed for speculation to developers or whomever. That's how we got to today. This didn't just start when Temple housing started going up. This was a deliberate plan. And how dare the City of Philadelphia, with our lawmaker body being the City Council, enact laws that would further endanger our well-being. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Temple property owners who are multiple in the ordinance, there are many of the people who are corporations, not people, they're corporations, who own multiple properties that give you an indication of their wealth. Unlike the homeowners or long-term residents of the community like my family, there's one property. It is very often heir property. It is very often in the name of someone who is deceased. Yet family members continue to live there. " Well, many of those exist. And so your ordinance doesn't take in considerations those kind of situations where you have a property that is owned by someone who is deceased, yet the ordinance speaks to owner-occupied rental units will not be taxed. Well, if the person is dead already and you're the granddaughter living in that house, are you going to be taxed? com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 be taxed? These are realities that exist within our communities. I was disappointed to hear at the meeting at Temple University on March 6th that one of the reasons -- and this came from Councilman Clarke as well as a representative of the product -- what is it? The organization of developers who have developed many of those homes. And I keep forgetting the name of it. But anyway, they both noted on record that one of the things that led to the creation of this ordinance is the fact that there was trash, that Temple students were putting out trash. In fact, Councilman Clarke noted that when he ran for election, he was walking -- you were walking the streets and you noted that you did notice the trash being put out. m. m. That's an ordinance that exists already. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 should not be troubled with passing ordinances for something that exists already. It exists already. When I give out food to the elderly every Tuesday, I have elders complain over and over again that sanitation workers, officers, with plastic gloves open and dig through their trash to notice even a -- anything that's recyclable and they end up with a ticket for $25. If they don't pay it within a certain term, it's doubled to $50. That's a concern. How come the ordinances and the laws that we have aren't being enforced fairly? They aren't being enforced. Why are the Temple students and those property owners, those commercial property owners, not taxed as well, not given citations as well? That is the solution.

com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 bill, well, we have Philadelphia Police, Housing Police, Temple Police, Town Watch, you have your own individual vigilance on the community who have your eyes and ears like me, and, you know, we don't need to hire another company to come over us. Temple Police need to police their own versus policing residents. They're on task literally, literally to keep us away from their students, to guard their students against us, and their vigilance needs to be targeted toward their own students. It is incredible as a community development corporation, having gotten awards literally from L&I for cleaning in one summer 92 vacant lots, to have Temple University students come out and trash our neighborhood the way that they have. And we fought to stop the graffiti in our community. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 students tagging geology. Nobody in the neighborhood tags geology and other kinds -- we got an increase of graffiti, we've got partying, we got pissing up against walls and that. I'm very grateful to Councilman Goode and Councilman Kenney for speaking to the issue of the contractors who have people, many of them not even speaking English, not that you have to, but Philadelphia is always touted as a union town, a union town. When we bid for houses up at 21st and Norris, there was a big deal about this being a union job, and we got no jobs, not one job. Even those HUD Section 3 regulations required neighborhood hires. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 and dumping it onto vacant lots. One of the vacant lots is in the 1900 block of Norris Street where my family resides, and we have right now as I speak to you six piles of construction debris. So I'm telling you that the issues that this bill is addressing, it does have impact beyond the boundary. I guarantee you it does, because it's there. Now, we have --

Ma'am, could I just ask you to please wrap up, because we really need to --

I'm going to wrap up.

Thank you. Please.

I always get this here at Council. I have input. I'm glad you don't have your little three-minute clock up there.

I didn't want to do that to you. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020

So here's the deal. For a contractor to short dump debris on a block that I'm block captain of and we call 3-1-1 and report it and then have that contractor bold face enough to say to me, Oh, we're just trying to beautify the neighborhood, we trying to fix up the neighborhood and you all are fighting against us, and anyway, I got my record expunged. Why is it they're having more clout in the community than we are? I'm not going to pat anybody on the back about redeveloping this 5th Councilmanic District when it's their fault it got tore up from the junk street. I don't like it. It is unfair. You're unfair to our community, and this is predatory. It is predatory, and it is a threat to our community. This ordinance itself and use of the NID is excessive. It is an excessive remedy for the problems that were stated as the rationale for coming up with this. Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 (Applause.)

Thank you. Is there anyone else here to testify? (No response.)

I see none. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to temporarily, listen to me, temporarily recess the hearing to go into a public meeting, but as was stated before, there will be at least one more public hearing on this bill. We have to wait at least 45 days, if I'm right. So the Committee on Rules temporarily recesses the public hearing and goes into a public meeting on Bill 20 No. 120020. The purpose, I'm going recognize to Council President Clarke to introduce some amendments. Council President.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 First, I would like to thank everyone who came down here to testify. This is the American way, democracy at work. As I said earlier, everybody will have a say and will have a level of input into this particular process. In addition to the additional public hearing that's required in City Council, there will be a series of public meetings in the neighborhood to continue the discussion. Real quick, Councilman, I would like to run through a series of amendments that are based on concerns that were raised at earlier meetings and again here today. I'd like to refer to the sheet that was passed out earlier on Bill No. 120020. The first recommendation on the amendment we are deleting, because, frankly speaking, I don't like the language in that that talks about liens and fees. We'll have to deal with that at a later date. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 The second one, amendments to the Preliminary Plan. Example A, Item 2, P. 1, Service Area, where it says, The service area of the proposed district includes taxable properties. There will be an amendment to do the following: We'll clarify that only commercial properties, which include properties rented to tenants for not for profit, will be assessed -- I'm sorry; excludes. I'm sorry. Single-family owner-occupied homes will not be assessed for the NID since they do not fit the definition of commercial properties. That's clear? No single-family homes, no 17 owner-occupied homes will be included in this provision. We're going to clarify that language to ensure that there's no 20 doubt that people who have expressed that concern. Additionally, in reference to the property list, in the earlier version it did not delete all of the properties that will not be subject to it. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 further clarify, in the amendment we will actually cross out properties that are not within the category. So those properties that are exempt will be crossed out in the amendment so there could be no mistake that those properties are deleted. S. and it goes on and on, 810 -- I'm sure we don't have to get into specifics. That will be in the language. Additionally, as it relates to the assessment fee, there was an issue about the assessment fee not to exceed 10 percent. There will not be any different ranges as it relates to assessment. This will clarify that whatever the assessment fee is for those properties that are eligible that I said earlier are only commercial properties. There will be one set fee, not different fees as it relates to the assessment fee on those properties. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Language added to clarify the order to renew the NID. We want to clarify in order to renew the NID after five years, the same process must happen. So if there's any concern about some automatic renewal of the NID, if it happens, because I keep saying that, this is the start of a process, that it will be automatically be renewed by an over-the-counter permit. That cannot happen. We're going to clarify that language that you must have the same process - community participation, a series of hearings, the same timeframe. Bylaws. Bylaws was -- some of the language was of concern. There was an issue about the listing of class of properties. In particular, it hit a hot-button note in the community meeting about identifying certain properties in a class reference, and that was probably not a good choice of language as it relates to some of the neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 There shall be no reference to class of properties. So that will be deleted in the bill. It will simply be a designation of properties, period. So it won't be like Temple University is a particular class, landlord-owned properties is a particular class, residential properties are a particular class. There will be no reference to class. Additionally, powers of the bylaws, the references to Municipalities Act.

" This was an extremely hot-button issue as it related to the conversation the other night. To clarify that -- and I know that this was the case, but to clarify that, that language is deleted. We are also going to delete "powers," because that in some instances is an inflammatory word. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 provision will be stricken and that will be solely based on the internal governance. And there will be no ability of the NID to acquire and develop properties. I want to make that clear. There's no ability for the NID to develop and acquire properties. We're going to clarify that as related to the internal governance and also the ability for the NID to continue additional development. " Again, further clarifying language in the bylaws, that provision is deleted. So to clarify, the NID will not purchase real property in the community, because that is a significant issue that has come up again today. There was also issues about in the original version the powers allows for the acquired -- for the -- basically by the NID -- let me get this clear. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Okay. This is only for purposes of within the power of the NID. It changed language so that it only allows the lease of an office space and acquiring or lease of supplies and equipment, period. So that's the language within the internal bylaws that say that that particular NID's only sole purchasing power, if you want to use that term, is for purposes of purchasing materials and purchasing leasing space for the purpose of the office. " That is a serious concern that was raised about a separate entity other than the government purchasing liens for properties that are in arrears of their particular real estate tax. That provision will be amended where the community -- the language to allow Management Corporation to request that City impose liens. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 position to impose a lien as it relates to a property that are in arrears of their assessments or their taxes. So the NID will not be authorized to do that. So these are based on the conversations that we've had to date will be in this document, the amendment that will be submitted formally to the Committee. I anticipate as we continue this dialogue, there will be additional conversations related to potential other amendments. There is an issue -- and I'll bring it up now, because there's a concern about who will ultimately be on the Board of Directors. I personally don't want to suggest by myself who should be the person or the makeup of that particular Board, but that will be a significant part of the continued conversation, because we understand there's significant concerns about the makeup of the Board. All right? So with that, Mr. com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 guess I am a member of the Committee.

You are a member of all committees.

I would like to formally offer this amendment to the legislation. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and seconded that the amendments that the Council President just discussed be approved to this bill. All in favor? (Aye.)

Opposed? (No response.)

Hearing none, those amendments pass. And now we will recess the public meeting and go back into the public hearing. As I said before, there will be other hearings, at least one other hearing on this at least 45 days from now. Information will be distributed. And with that, the hearing on Discover Works Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/13/12 - RULES - BILL 120020 Bill No. 120020 of the Rules Committee will stand in recess until the call of the Chair. Thank you.

Thank you. com CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on March 13, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. -------------------- MICHELE L. com A abandoned 204:16 abatement 116:5 171:24 178:21,22,24 179:2,7 abide 154:19 ability 7:20 68:6 68:7 221:4,7 221:10 able 6:22 19:20 30:24 31:2 49:20 61:6,10 66:7,9 70:23 76:7 104:21 140:7 172:6 196:13 197:4 220:15 absence 101:12 absolute 144:7 absolutely 67:20 99:18 113:16 144:13 academic 104:23 accept 176:24 acceptable 156:11 access 106:2 accounts 6:21 accurately 226:5 acknowledging 18:16 Acme 90:21 acquire 153:19 196:17 221:5,8 acquired 63:17 151:5 155:3 221:24 acquiring 222:6 act 3:22 61:25 62:5 151:8 153:24 161:14 218:10 220:14 221:12 action 37:8 actions 135:7 active 18:2 128:5 activists 27:23 activities 18:17 47:14 103:23 activity 5:8 46:23 actual 71:13 72:23 add 106:3,15 109:12 added 183:6 219:2 addition 27:3 31:21,23 32:4 96:23 137:8 151:18 216:8 additional 12:18 24:12 31:14 32:6 64:17 72:13 98:7 134:12 216:8 221:11 223:11 Additionally 217:22 218:14 220:12 address 11:19 12:17 18:21 19:8 22:24 24:16 25:5 35:6 39:16 95:21 96:8 114:14 119:11 130:10,21 160:8 193:15 197:16 addressed 109:8 134:9 165:5 addressing 213:8 adequate 131:22 132:9 187:6 adequately 11:18 12:16,19 adjacent 164:21 administering 139:12 Administration 48:8 100:17,20 106:16 Administrator 100:14 109:23 admirable 31:4 admiration 109:25 advancement 107:4 advantage 202:23 advertisement 107:9 advice 46:8 affect 64:14 afford 156:16 171:24 affordable 13:17 122:3,11 123:4,20 166:2 afraid 196:8 197:9 Africa 97:16 African 36:4 120:25 121:16 afternoon 132:22 156:2 173:11 183:15 183:17 195:18 201:10 afterthought 89:13 age 61:12 agencies 67:13 70:6 agendas 128:21 agent 145:3 Ages 72:9 aging 165:17 ago 24:24 53:13 63:18 87:11 agree 76:13,14 78:2 132:6 145:24,25 151:16 182:10 198:12 203:22 agreeance 152:14 agreed 25:11 26:2 78:2 96:21 198:10 agreement 3:14 27:5 105:15 106:8 203:20 agreements 36:21 agrees 182:8 ahead 10:18 39:2 50:13 84:20 ain't 54:21 61:21 air 37:6 Airy 121:7 Alice 184:7 Allegheny 53:15 Allen 118:10 alleviate 23:5 alleys 98:5 allow 17:4 26:9 222:22 allowed 7:2 35:15 37:15 123:4 162:21 allowing 67:15 150:14 183:20 allows 221:23 222:5,15 altogether 142:13 alumni 73:16 amend 193:19 amended 222:21 amendment 216:21 217:7 218:2,6 223:8 224:7 amendments 14:2 28:5 39:7 188:12 194:9 215:22 216:15 217:2 223:13 224:10,18 American 36:4 64:11 120:25 216:4 American-ow... com 2:18 29:12 44:4 112:17 120:23 124:23 124:25 126:9 186:6 200:7 carry 109:24 Carver 184:9 case 46:18 47:2 57:8 220:22 cases 121:18,20 cash 90:21 116:7 142:16 143:18 144:18,19,23 casting 48:3 categories 145:6 category 46:7 218:4 caught 12:13 58:18 200:2 Caulk 184:14 caused 124:8 CDC 161:8 Cecil 73:17 105:11 120:21 122:2 132:25 164:8 166:3 168:12 187:12 187:19 200:4 cement 12:8,9 124:16,17,19 124:25 125:21 126:7 144:5 census 120:21 center 21:15 105:17 106:20 113:14 137:2 138:14 159:2 centering 6:19 Central 1:21 2:25 3:3,14,16 17:5 18:9,15 20:3 24:4 28:12 31:17 32:10 35:3,11 45:22,25 46:2 46:10,12 47:3 84:17 86:10 90:18 94:13 95:12 98:11 104:6,13,18,19 133:21 134:10 135:13 136:7 136:21 138:23 144:21 147:25 153:18 156:6 158:21 159:6 161:18 162:6 163:5 170:7,8 170:10 century 43:6 CEO 184:3,22 certain 3:23 49:21 58:12 61:12 79:5 103:3 110:3 130:6 154:17 170:21 198:10 198:12,15 210:13 219:21 certainly 23:17 89:16 95:7 99:21 137:20 142:8 certainty 78:24 79:16 CERTIFICA...

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