Stated Meeting 1 3/9/2023 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 9, 2023 10:32 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILWOMAN SHARON VAUGHN MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting 2 3/9/2023
Good morning. We're going to get started. Okay. I note that the hour has come and we've established our quorum, so we will now have our invocation. And to give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Harold Jolley of the Second Macedonia Baptist Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Phillips. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers and guests rise.)
Council President Clarke, to all the members of the common Council and to all of you, my brothers and sisters, would you bow your heads as we center ourselves for a time of prayer. Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. Stated Meeting 3 3/9/2023 God, creator of all things, we pause and humble ourselves before your greatness and your majesty at this hour to say thank you. Thank you, oh God, for allowing us to see a brand new day, a day that we have never seen before and one we know we shall never see again. We thank you, oh God, for the ability to make use of our senses and our faculty. We are grateful and do not take you for granted for what you continue to do for us. Before we petition you for anything, we ask that you will just forgive us, oh God, for any wrong that we have done in your sight. Now, God, we pray for the very instructions of government which has been established to govern society. We especially pray for the Philadelphia common Council. We pray that you will just protect those who are serving and their families. We pray that you would continue to grant them wisdom, Stated Meeting 4 3/9/2023 compassion, and a heart to serve the people which have elected them to office. We know, oh God, that this role within government is not for the faint at heart, nor is it for the weary. We pray that you will just continue to supply the vigor needed to fight for justice and those who are oppressed and all humanity. God, we also would like to lift up the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. It seems as if wickedness of the land is prevailing, but we pray that you will turn the tide. In your word, it states if my people which are called by my name so humble themselves pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and we'll heal their land. We are seeking you and praying for healing in Jesus' name. Now, God, we pray that you will just continue to grant us the grace for all mankind. Allow this day and this Stated Meeting 5 3/9/2023 and fruitful. Continue to bless us on this day and days to come. In the name of Jesus who art the Christ, we pray. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much, Pastor. We really appreciate you being here today. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you. Again, Pastor, thank you so much for your spiritual guidance this morning. We really appreciate it. Before we start, I'd like to recognize -- I just wanted to recognize our Register of Wills, Tracey Gordon. (Applause.)
And I'd like to recognize the District Stated Meeting 6 3/9/2023 Attorney, Larry Krasner. Thank you for being here today. (Applause.)
We appreciate you. And our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 7 3/9/2023 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. The Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there is a request for leave of absence by Member Brooks.
Thank you. Let the record reflect leave shall be granted for Councilwoman Brooks. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session. Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the Stated Meeting 8 3/9/2023 matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, amendments to bills re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included in the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. Stated Meeting 9 3/9/2023 (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilman Squilla may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of today's Council session. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the motion is approved. And our next order of business is communications. I would request that the Chief Clerk please read the messages from the Mayor or any other communications that he may have in his possession today.
From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council Stated Meeting 10 3/9/2023 of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. I would ask the Clerk to please read the titles of the legislation that's being offered by our members Stated Meeting 11 3/9/2023 today.
Councilman Phillips offers an ordinance amending Section 12-919 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "On-Street Parking of Boats, Motor Homes, Truck Campers and Vending Carts," by providing for further regulation of semitrailer and truck tractor parking.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers a privileged resolution recognizing March 5 through 11, 2023, during Women's History Month, as Women in Construction Week in the City of Philadelphia.
Today's Calendar. Sorry. Hold on one second, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Thank Stated Meeting 12 3/9/2023 you, Council President. I wanted to recognize Sue Hoffman, who is the Project Director for Women in Non-Traditional Careers, WINC, who is with us today; also Tanja Hebron, who is a SEPTA construction equipment operator for TWU Local 234; and Noreen Buckley, who joins us all the way from San Francisco, California. She is an electrician with IBEW Local 6. Please welcome them in honor of Women in Construction Week. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you for being here today. We appreciate it.
Councilman Thomas offers a privileged resolution honoring and congratulating Champions of the Week, the Black Squirrel real estate collective, for their efforts to expand Stated Meeting 13 3/9/2023 the real estate business to more people of color through their "Philly Rise" real estate accelerator program.
Councilman Jones offers four bills and three resolutions. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale.
On his own behalf, Councilman Jones offers an ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Conshohocken Avenue between Belmont Avenue and City Avenue.
Referred to committee. Stated Meeting 14 3/9/2023
And an ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Lancaster Avenue between Woodbine Avenue and Sherwood Road.
And an ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Tower Street and Pensdale Street; Ripka Street and Wilde Street; Mansion Street and Hermitage Street; Green Lane and Manayunk Avenue; Lauriston Street and Markel Street; Terrace Street and Roxborough Avenue; Dexter Street and Monastery Avenue; Cotton Street and Manayunk Avenue.
On behalf of Council President Clarke, a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 911, 913, 915, 919, 921, 923, 925 West Auburn Street located in the 5th Stated Meeting 15 3/9/2023 Councilmanic District.
And on his own behalf, Councilman Jones offers a privileged resolution declaring March 18 2023 "Public Defender and Participatory Defense Day" in the City of Philadelphia to honor the dedicated work that the Defender Association of Philadelphia Participatory Defense Hubs do for Philadelphians.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold public hearings to examine the effects of tangled titles and gentrification on Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Councilman Jones Stated Meeting 16 3/9/2023 offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Real Estate Taxes,' to provide for a discount for early payment of real estate taxes."
I'm sorry. Councilman Johnson offers an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," to provide for a discount for early payment of real estate taxes.
Referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Stated Meeting 17 3/9/2023 Thank you. Referred to committee.
Councilman Johnson offers a privileged resolution honoring the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on the occasion of their 92nd North Atlantic Regional Conference, and declaring March 9, 2023 as "Alpha Kappa Alpha Day" in the City of Philadelphia.
Yeah. Thank you, Council President. Today we have members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority joining us today as they kick off their 92nd North Atlantic Regional Conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center today. I'm going to ask for all of them to stand as we acknowledge them. (Applause.) Stated Meeting 18 3/9/2023
Council President, today it's my honor to introduce the resolution declaring March 9th of 2023 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in the City of Philadelphia. I want to thank all of my colleagues for sponsoring and supporting this resolution. It has been ten years since the conference was last held in Philadelphia, and we are excited to welcome you back. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by African American women. It was founded in 1908 by nine students led by Ethel Hidgemon Lyle, a Philadelphia native, at Howard University in Washington, DC and now counsel nearly 355,000 members in North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some of the notable members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority includes Marian Anderson, who hails from the Second Councilmanic District; former Stated Meeting 19 3/9/2023 Councilmember Augusta Clark, who hails from the mighty Northwest -(Applause.)
-Dr. Maya Angelou; Bebe Moore Campbell; Althea Gibson; Alicia Keys; the late, great Coretta Scott King; Toni Morrison; civil rights activist Rosa Parks; Phylicia Rashad; the one and only C. Delores Tucker; Patti LaBelle; Alice Walker; and our current Vice President, Kamala Harris. (Applause.)
I want to welcome all the AKAs who have joined us here in Philadelphia City Council today. I want to take a special moment to acknowledge Ms. Elicia Pugues Spearman, the AKA's North Atlantic Regional Director. We welcome her to the City of Stated Meeting 20 3/9/2023 Philadelphia today. She presides over more than 16,000 members across 12 states, spanning the New England shores of Maine to the nation's capital of Washington, DC. I want to also give a shout-out to our local members, Stephanie, who is part of the Mayor's team, as well as Evelyn Sample-Oates, who are always representing the pretty girls with pearls. Thank you very much for being here today. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Council President. Stated Meeting 21 3/9/2023 Today I rise as the only member of the Divine Nine who is also a member of Philadelphia City Council to not only thank --
Councilwoman, hold on one second. Folks, if you need to talk, could you please take it outside. I hear this murmuring over there. Thank you.
Thank you, Council President. Again, today I rise thanking our colleague Councilmember Johnson as the only member of the Divine Nine who is also a member of Philadelphia City Council. I wanted to welcome the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to the City of Philadelphia on the occasion of their North Atlantic Regional Conference. I also wanted to pause to pay homage to someone who was in this body Stated Meeting 22 3/9/2023 for 20 years, the second Black woman to serve in Philadelphia City Council, Councilwoman Augusta Clark. She served from 1980 to 2000, and Augusta Clark was succeeded by Blondell Reynolds Brown, and Blondell Reynolds Brown was succeeded by me. And so I wanted to pay homage to the late, great Augusta Clark -(Applause.)
-who was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Welcome, lovely ladies of AKA. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Yes, Council President. And also within our own body, a young lady who is working hard day in, day out who is also a member Stated Meeting 23 3/9/2023 of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, I want to acknowledge Ms. Kyra Harris, who is a part of Sharon Vaughn's staff. Give her a round of applause. (Applause.)
And since we're on the floor doing acknowledgments, I just want to acknowledge the hard work of my colleague Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, who yesterday named a street after Ethel Hedgemon Lyle, founding member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, who is also a native Philadelphian. So thank you very much, Council President, for the time. (Applause.)
Thank you, Stated Meeting 24 3/9/2023 Mr. President. I'd like to welcome to the Chambers over standing near the wall to my right Bishop Zhoba Luca of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia, and his guest, Oleksandr Kovalev, Ukrainian Deputy President of the Zelenskyy party and a member of the Committee of National Security and head of inter-parliamentary groups with United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain. (Applause.)
Thank you for being here today. We appreciate it. That was on today's Calendar.
Councilwoman Gauthier offers three resolutions, a privileged resolution honoring the Wonderful Women of West and Southwest Philadelphia on the occasion of Stated Meeting 25 3/9/2023 International Women's Day.
And a privileged resolution renaming the 400 block of 60th Street in honor of the life and legacy of community and religious leader Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid of Masjid Mujahideen. Mr. President, Councilwoman Gauthier would like to be recognized for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of the resolution renaming the 400 block of 60th Street at this session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Stated Meeting 26 3/9/2023 (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 3903 Wallace Street in the Third Councilmanic District.
Councilwoman Bass offers a privileged resolution honoring Gwendolyn Schell for being a pillar in the community, and her exemplary work throughout the City of Philadelphia, and leadership among women.
That will be on this week's Calendar. Stated Meeting 27 3/9/2023 2ND READING
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. We have no reports from committee today, so our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. As there are no bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Nos. 220533, 230161, 230169, 230172, 230115, 220517-A, 220941, 220973, 22 -- no; 230001 and 230106. All other bills and resolutions are being held. Stated Meeting 28 3/9/2023
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Jones. We will now move to our public comment session, but before considering these bills, we have some guidelines. Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at today's session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already done so for today's session, you can do so now by signing up at the table outside of the Council Chambers with the Sergeant-at-Arms. Once you have signed up, you will be called in the order in which you signed up to testify. Today I think we can do three minutes. So you will be given three minutes to speak. I do want to indicate that we will hold the time limit to the three-minute limit, because we want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to testify. Stated Meeting 29 3/9/2023 When you go up to the podium, there will be a device. When the light turns green, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks and if you may step away from the podium so we can bring the next speaker up. I want to thank you very much for your anticipated cooperation with those guidelines. And with that, Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
The first speaker today, Mr. President, is Archbishop Mary Palmer. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. ARCHBISHOP PALMER: Good morning, Mr. President and members of Council. I am Archbishop Mary Floyd Stated Meeting 30 3/9/2023 Palmer. I'm excited to be here today. Yesterday the world celebrated women, and today I personally wanted to celebrate the ladies of the City Council with a floral bouquet personally from me to just say thank you for your service. We have some dynamic women in Council, and we should always be grateful for the sister effectiveness that so happens in this Chamber. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
The next speaker is Salima Suswell, commenting on 230198. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. Stated Meeting 31 3/9/2023 Thank you, Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier and Councilman Curtis Jones, for introducing this resolution to honor our father by renaming the 400 block of 60th Street Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid Way. Our family supports this resolution, and our father, a legend and fearless leader, gave his life to the Philadelphia community, spending much of his time on 60th Street uplifting and empowering our community. Our father encouraged us to be community activists and leaders at a very young age, to banish the drugs and criminal activity from the streets in close proximity to our masjid. I remember vividly walking down the streets of 60th Street with other community members chanting "drug dealer, drug dealer, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide." And that's who my father was. He taught us about uplifting community. And those drug dealers, they removed themselves from the streets Stated Meeting 32 3/9/2023 surrounding our mosque. My father had a calling and a mission, which he was committed to until his very last days. We miss our father dearly, but his legacy lives on through us all. Thank you very much.
The next speaker is Hudafa Abdul-Hayy, commenting on 230198. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council. My name is Hudafa Abdul-Hayy and I'm here representing Imam Khalil Abdus-Salaam, who is now the present Imam Stated Meeting 33 3/9/2023 at Masjid Mujahideen. He asked me last night to come and be present today because he couldn't be here. So I'm going to represent Imam Khalil and the rest of the Masjid Mujahideen family. We support this resolution and we appreciate it. And if I may, I would like to recite an Islamic tradition where our prophet, Muhammad -- may the peace and blessings of God be upon him -- he said that when God loves a man, he calls the angel Gabriel, and he tells Gabriel, I love so-and-so, so you also love him. So Gabriel goes back to the other angels of the heavens and the earth and he tells them, God loves so-and-so, so you love him, and because of this love that the angels have but because of God has for this individual, the angel Gabriel, alayhi salaam, will make God be pleased with him and all the other angels. It rescinds down to the earth where people begin to respect and love that individual also. Stated Meeting 34 3/9/2023 And as we can see just by this resolution coming about, that there was love and respect for Imam Asim. You have to excuse me because I get a little emotional, because he was a very close friend of mine. So we appreciate the love and respect that has been shown to him by City Council by way of this resolution and, again, thank you. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Tracey Gordon. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Tracey Gordon. I'm the Register of Wills here in the County of Philadelphia. Good morning, Council President, Councilmembers. I'm Tracey Gordon, your Stated Meeting 35 3/9/2023 Register of Wills, and today I would like to express my gratitude for your efforts in taking up the issue of tangled titles. It is heartening to see our local government addressing this important problem that affects so many residents in our community. Tangled titles have long devastated communities across Philadelphia, primarily Black and brown generational homeowners, leading to financial instability and uncertainty about property ownership. Your willingness to tackle this issue head on shows a commitment to ensuring that all members of our community are able to enjoy the security and stability that comes along with owning a home. The issue of tangled titles is a complex one that requires careful legal and administrative attention. Local governments such as your body will play a major role in addressing this issue by Stated Meeting 36 3/9/2023 implementing policies and procedures to help prevent tangled titles from occurring as well as providing resources and support for homeowners who are struggling with this problem. I personally have made this issue one of the cornerstones of my administration and proactively take steps to rally stakeholders to join in the fight. In addition to immense support this body has provided constituents, I will be dismayed if I did not include the legal non-profits who are playing a pivotal role, such as Christian Legal Services, Philadelphia VIP, SeniorLAW Center, amongst others. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the Philadelphia Bar Association, who established a Tangled Title Task Force, which I am a member. We will strive to provide essential information to this body to assist in crafting effective, streamlined Stated Meeting 37 3/9/2023 legislation. Thank you again for recognizing the importance of this issue and for taking steps to address it. Your leadership on this matter is truly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony, Madam Register. (Applause.)
Stated Meeting 38 3/9/2023 Ms. Spearman, welcome. State your name for the record and begin your testimony. (Witness approached podium.)
Elicia Pegues Spearman. Good morning, President Darrell Clarke and members of Philadelphia City Council. I am Elicia Pegues Spearman, the 35th North Atlantic Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I am present with my sorority sisters -- and I gather you can guess who we are with all this pink and green -- to testify in support of the resolution which was introduced by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and co-sponsored by many of you on this Council, which honors the 92nd North Atlantic Regional Conference, which is here today in the City. It begins today. They're flocking into this City strong, and it ends on Sunday. We are going to be soaring to greater heights of service and Stated Meeting 39 3/9/2023 sisterhood. That's our international theme under the leadership of our international President and CEO, Danette Anthony Reed. I have traveled from Connecticut to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly -- we named it, Sisterly AKA Affection to open the first regional conference of my administration. Our region extends from Maine to DC, and we have over 5,000 members here today in your city to spend some money. You will see college-educated Black women sporting pink and green throughout Center City. Our conference theme of First Love represents fellowship, innovation, respect, serve, and thrive. Accompanying me today are the President and representatives of Philadelphia's three local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated: Charlene Collins and her members of Omega Omega, which is the home chapter of our Stated Meeting 40 3/9/2023 visionary founder, Ethel Hedgemon Lyle. We also have Sharih Dixon-Turner, President of Rho Theta Omega. As Vice Chair, Marcia Shepherd-Baker, please stand. We also have Jackie Broughton Hugee and Milika Singleton as President of Omega Mu Omega. Please stand. And Evelyn Sample-Oates, my girl. Y'all already know her. Stand up, Madam. She was the 31st North Atlantic Regional Director. So I thank you all for joining me, because we are in the City because we do service, service projects in our community. We planted trees. We helped register voters, and we packed healthy and nutrition food packs and donate them. Philabundance Food Bank is going to get tons and tons and tons of nutritious food and goods to make sure we feed our babies on the weekends. We also offer numerous mentoring programs and scholarship opportunities. We are committed to Stated Meeting 41 3/9/2023 lifelong service, and look forward to continue to partner with you as we tackle some of the serious issues plaguing our city. And we invite each and every one of you watching and those listening on WURD radio to join us on Saturday, March 11th at the John F. Street Community Center in your district, President Clarke, which is our Community Day. So we're leaving the hotel and we're leaving the Convention Center. m. We are providing health screenings, a shredding event, City and utility resources, voter registration, and you know we're going to have a hip-hop youth program too. So thank you, Jamie Gauthier, for sponsoring the resolution that co-named the 400 block of North 53rd Street in West Philly after our principal Stated Meeting 42 3/9/2023 founder, Ethel Hedgemon Lyle, who founded our sorority in 1908 at Howard University and lived here for at least 25 years until she passed away in 1950. We had a super fantastic event yesterday honoring her legacy and are appreciative of your Councilmembers who attended yesterday. I know she already mentioned it, but Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, who is our Divine Nine sister representing Zeta Phi Beta, we thank you all for coming. Thanks to Mayor Jim Kenney and Managing Director Tumar Alexander, who continues to support us, and we look forward to seeing all of you at the public meeting, which is tonight. m.
at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and thank you for recognizing the notable North Atlantic region and for the adoption this resolution.
Thank you for your testimony. Stated Meeting 43 3/9/2023 (Applause.)
Thank you very much. I want to also just acknowledge the hard work that the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha has been working on, particularly around the issue of gun violence here in the City of Philadelphia. It is the number one most important issue that we are addressing right now, and I've had the opportunity to participate in several of your forums trying to come up with strategies and solutions around addressing the issue of gun violence. So I wanted to publicly acknowledge you for your hard work and your dedication around this particular issue. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Stated Meeting 44 3/9/2023
Thank you very much. Please state your name for the record and begin your testimony. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Yurdell Ings. I'm here for the testimony for my sister today. She has won a woman's award, and I am so proud of her. I am so proud of her. She has been through so many different phases in life and she has beat them all, beat them all, from a low to a gun to a high up on a pedestal. I'm very proud of her. I wish her the best of luck with this, and thank you.
Thank you Stated Meeting 45 3/9/2023 for your testimony. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Sue Hoffman. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Sue Hoffman and I'm here to speak in support of the resolution being introduced by Councilmember Gilmore Richardson recognizing Women in Construction Week and honoring WINC, the Women in Non-Traditional Careers initiative. I'm the WINC Program Manager and a Senior Associate with Philadelphia Works, our local workforce board who hosts the WINC initiative. I want to thank Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for recognizing and honoring WINC through this resolution. WINC especially appreciates the opportunity to bring more awareness of Stated Meeting 46 3/9/2023 construction careers for women to the City and region. Women now make up only 3.9 percent of those who work with tools in construction nationally and only 3.7 percent of active construction trades apprentices in the Southeast Pennsylvania region. During the last five years, the number of construction tradeswomen increased to almost -- by almost a third nationally to 314,000, and more women work as tradeswomen than as dental hygienists or veterinarians. Yet these high-paying and satisfying careers are not visible enough or accessible enough to all women, especially to women of color, who have faced the most workplace discrimination. Women who enter construction careers can make a half a million dollars more over their lifetime than women who work in traditionally female service jobs. Stated Meeting 47 3/9/2023 The once-in-a-lifetime flow of federal construction infrastructure dollars means that we have a responsibility as a community to bring more women into the trades and support them to succeed. That's why WINC organizes tradeswomen, contractors, unions, educators, workforce providers, and advocates to do better at recruiting and retaining more women in the construction trades. WINC also offers a summer tradeswomen readiness program to prepare more women for trades careers in construction, manufacturing, utilities, and transit, and we do that with our partner, the Finishing Trades Institute of Mid-Atlantic region, and Erin O'Brien-Hoffman couldn't be here today because she is hosting President Biden for his budget address later this afternoon. To end, I want to let you know Stated Meeting 48 3/9/2023 that you can connect with WINC by going to our website, WINCproject.org. That's WINC, with a C, WINCproject.org. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Tanja Hebron. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Mr. President and members of City Council. My name is Tanja Hebron. I am a construction equipment operator and I am here in support of Women in Construction Week. It's time to take notice of the determination and great work by women in construction. In fact, 44 percent of the women in the industry are in professional and managerial positions. The advantages of women working Stated Meeting 49 3/9/2023 include more income for their families, the opportunity to explore their talents, and the promotion of economic growth. When women work, they make money that adds to their family's financial well-being. Women in construction work in a wide range of roles, from management to surveying, civil engineering, and bricklaying. Women are respected for the work that they do and great opportunities to grow their careers. I want to thank Katherine Gilmore Richardson for her hard work and support for Women in Construction Week. Again, thank you. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Noreen Buckley. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting 50 3/9/2023
Hi. My name is Noreen Buckley. Hello, members of the Council. Thank you for letting me speak with you today. I'm an IBEW union electrician. I've been working with the tools for nine years, seven of them with the union. I'm also a member of the WINC Steering Committee. I'm here to ask for your support for the resolution brought forth by Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson to recognize March 5th through the 11th as Women in Construction Week. Visibility is one of the main tools that inform women and girls that careers in union construction jobs are an option for them. I've often been the only woman on a commercial job site. It's the norm, and it's quite isolating. I've also been on a job where I am one of two women on the site. This situation is Stated Meeting 51 3/9/2023 not much better, because we, the two women, are often intentionally placed in different crews and again kept separate. Through organizations like my union's Women's Committee and WINC, I'm able to have the support needed to continue to thrive as a tradeswoman. WINC not only encourages and supports women as they enter the construction trades, they also work with developers, general contractors, and public officials to create workplace environments where women feel welcome, where their value as a woman -- excuse me; where the value that women bring to these careers is fostered, and women have the ability to build meaningful lives for their families. Currently there's a national focus on recruiting and retaining women into the construction trades. The Department of Commerce is leading a main Women into Construction initiative aimed to double the number of women in the Stated Meeting 52 3/9/2023 union construction workforce, and they're supported by the various union internationals. Women in union construction jobs have a 23 percent higher cost of living wage compared to all other women. Women in construction jobs close the wage gap between men and women by 40 percent. In addition to the financial benefit that union construction jobs provide women and their families they support, it also promotes pride and leadership in women, and it all starts with visibility. If you can see it, you can be it. Thank you for your time. (Applause.)
The next speaker Stated Meeting 53 3/9/2023 is Marta Guttenberg. (No response.)
The next speaker is Jacqueline Barnett. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President and members of Council and those who are here in participation. I am Jacqueline Jeffries Barnett, for the record. I am a graduate of the Performing Arts High School and whose mother was an educator in the Philadelphia public schools and Fisk University Jubilee Singer and whose father is a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. I'm reared in the South, what we call below the Mason-Dixon line, and I was also former Secretary of Education for the City of Philadelphia and briefly served as Strategic Stated Meeting 54 3/9/2023 Initiative Director for the Register of Wills. I'm here today in support of a resolution that will be offered by Councilman Jones with regard to how tangled titles impact gentrification and vice versa. I am encouraged that the Council and the community will address this urgent matter that is not just relegated to Philadelphia but Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New York, and other cities wherein folks came to these industrial cities during the Great Migration to become homeowners and gained well-paying jobs to support their family. J.M. Brewer's Map of Philadelphia in 1934 drew very clear lines of living. While times may have changed, the maps drew lines where Italians, colored, and Jews could live, and it helped to determine whether banks should issue mortgages, and not in these culturally rich communities. Times may have changed, but the Stated Meeting 55 3/9/2023 persistent policies that lock certain groups out of wealth and wealth transparence remains the same and have crippled the dignity and respect of many Black and brown neighborhoods. There's no dataset that really accurately reflects the terrain of this map. Pictures are really worth thousands of words. These are not just houses. They are tangled. These houses are embedded and embattled in historically working-class Black and brown communities and should be deemed as such, no different than the relegation of Chestnut Hill, Chinatown, Powelton Village, and the Greater Northeast. Houses are historic, and families that live in them hence are historic as well, including Mantua, Strawberry Mansion, and others. Inspired by the Register of Wills and driven by my family legacy of my own where my grandfather from North Stated Meeting 56 3/9/2023 Carolina managed to maintain a third of our family farmland, some 350 acres today, was one of the few Black families that were able to persist. Some 16 million acres of land was once owned by Black families in 1912. Now that number represents 3.5 million acres of land in the same areas. Many of these families do not have legal counsel, and out of fear many did not make wills in an effort to protect their land from being taken. In the spirit of tax collection and houses being sold for pennies on the dollar to generate revenue and mitigate zombie properties, many of these tangled title communities filled a loud silence of newcomers, punctuated by busier streets, more Amazon trucks, and they see the sands shifting with no rudder in sight. Ironically, these historic communities are homes to the ominous footprint of educational institutions Stated Meeting 57 3/9/2023 that currently pay zero property tax, and yet their homes can be readily sold having lived there for more than one generation. I am eager to know how an upcoming hearing will determine the desperate impact -- disparate impact that is levied upon these families. And in closing, having a home is first base, and these homes are on the chopping block for reasons and what I might call a remainder of Jim Crowism. In the South, that's what we call it. And in the North, maybe it's Jim Snow. I don't know. They're covered and frozen out of their communities that they once called wherein policies create barriers of wealth. I look forward to this resolution being implemented. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Barnett. Stated Meeting 58 3/9/2023 (Applause.)
The next speaker is Marta Guttenberg. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Marta Guttenberg and I'm here to speak in opposition to 230115. This is a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Charter to establish the Office of a Chief Public Safety Director. I object to this resolution on many grounds. In my opinion, this represents an expensive, redundant pig in a poke that the members of -- that the residents of Philadelphia are going to have to buy without seeing. As you all are aware, there are many people in this city who are responsible for public safety, the Police Commissioner, the Mayor, the Assistant Stated Meeting 59 3/9/2023 Mayor, the District Attorney, the SEPTA Police Department, private security offices, and all of these people are still listed with their day jobs and their titles. It's not clear to me how a new ranking Chief Public Safety Director is going to interface with these people. My fear is that the kind of internal wrangling that stops Philadelphia at so many levels will just be worsened by appointing such a position. The last thing I want to say, and it was brought home by some of the accolades that were reported by previous resolutions, real peace and safety and improvement in our city has been brought about by individual persons, men working in their own neighborhoods. I urge Council to use whatever money they were planning to spend on this new position to support the real public safety that has emerged from individuals. Thank you. Stated Meeting 60 3/9/2023 (Applause.)
The next speaker is Lynn Landes, commenting on 210915. (Witness approached podium.)
-- of ProtocolsforDemocracy.org. It appears that Philadelphia City Council, their committees, and many, if not most, City departments are in violation of the City -- the spirit and intent of the First Amendment and Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act on one or both of the following two counts: One, restricting public comments to agenda items only and, two, not holding regularly scheduled meetings. Last week I addressed the first Stated Meeting 61 3/9/2023 count. However, I should add that before 2010, no public comments were allowed at City Council meetings, but instead public comments were restricted to committee meetings only. City Council was forced to stop that practice as the result of a lawsuit. Unfortunately, Council then came up with the current rule restricting public comments to agenda items only, which was challenged in a 2015 lawsuit where the court stated that the plaintiff had not been injured because he had not been actually restricted from making public comments on non-agenda items. The court's illogical ruling was not appealed, so this unethical practice has continued. On the second count, it appears that regularly scheduled meetings are not required of City Council committees, which is in violation of the spirit and intent of the Sunshine Act. And although I have not yet conducted a comprehensive Stated Meeting 62 3/9/2023 survey of all 121 City departments, I can say that Parks and Recreation holds few, if any, public meetings, while the Historic Commission does hold public meetings but only allows public comments on agenda items. I might also add that public meetings should be held in the evening, as they are in most, if not all, Pennsylvania cities and towns, not during the day when most people can't attend because they're at work. In a functioning democracy, the public must be allowed to speak on and hear all sides of any debate in order for City officials to lay claim to the informed consent of the government. Clearly, that is not happening here. It's long past time for the Sunshine Act to shine down on Philadelphia City government. Thank you.
Thank you. Stated Meeting 63 3/9/2023 (Applause.)
The final speaker, Mr. President, is Ogbonna Hagins, commenting on 230115. (Witness approached podium.)
Great morning. Ogbonna Hagins, H-A-G-I-N-S. Before I start to speak on this resolution, 230115, I just want to remind Council that I believe it was in 2017 that there was a committee -- a Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention, and I want to know what's the deal with that, you know. So when I look around this Chamber, I see decades of experience out here with these Councilmembers. I see what should be legislators and leadership experience that would amount to decades and decades for the City. Stated Meeting 64 3/9/2023 A Chief Public Safety Officer sounds good. It looks good on paper, but it seems to be to me that this is more smoke and mirrors to fool the people into thinking that something is really being done in regards to public safety. I want this body to know that you may be fooling some people or the majority of people, but you're not fooling me. I also want to let this body know that I, along with thousands of other Philadelphians, are victims of murder. My father was murdered when I was two years old. He was 21. I never saw my grandmother and she didn't cry, because she looked -- because I looked so much like him. You really need to stop introducing these bills and resolutions that absolve you from your work and your responsibility. This body passed a youth curfew bill that I would like the data to be released, because what I see in these Stated Meeting 65 3/9/2023 streets are youth committing crimes before the 10:00 p.m. curfew, and the data shows this, and you guys passed the bill. Why? To make it look good to the people? To make it look like you're really trying to do something to stop crime and violence? But, no, you're fooling the people and you're doing nothing. So ultimately I don't think this resolution should be passed, but instead the Committee on Gun Violence and the committees that deal with this should get in a room and figure out how to solve these problems. You guys are getting paid enough. You have more than enough time and energy to take pictures and all this other kind of stuff, but what about dealing with issues of this city? What about stopping the crime and the violence? (Applause.) Stated Meeting 66 3/9/2023
Do you know what it's like to see your grandmother cry every time she sees you because you look like his father? Do you understand what this is about? This is not any games. We need to take this seriously, and we need to take care of it now. Thank you. (Applause.)
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Thank you. Thank you all for your public comment. We really appreciate your participation. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the Stated Meeting 67 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Resolution No. 200533.
A resolution calling on Comcast Spectacor to reconsider its naming rights agreement with Wells Fargo based on its history of unethical banking practices.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Resolution No. 200533 be withdrawn. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution No. 200533 Stated Meeting 68 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING has been withdrawn. Mr. Decker, 230161.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority a deed conveying fee simple title to 800 West Cumberland Street located in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? Stated Meeting 69 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 230169.
A resolution authorizing and ratifying Council President Clarke's appeal, on behalf of and as representative of City Council, of the decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment with respect to 1451 North Broad Street.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Councilmember O'Neill, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.) Stated Meeting 70 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 230172.
A resolution renaming the 4300 block of Broad Street to "Prince Hall Way" to recognize, honor, and celebrate the life and legacy of Prince Hall.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting 71 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 230115.
A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director of the City of Philadelphia; providing for the method of appointment of the Chief Public Safety Director and defining their powers, duties, and areas of responsibility.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for an amendment to Resolution No. 230115.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the amendment to the bill, which has been circulated to all members of Council, be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
It's Stated Meeting 72 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING been moved and properly seconded. All in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution No. 230115 has been amended. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion on the amended resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the aforementioned resolution be moved and adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. Because Resolution No. 230115 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the Stated Meeting 73 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING question is shall this resolution be adopted. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting 74 3/9/2023 3/9/23 - STATED - 2ND READING