Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. This morning, as you all know, the Mayor's office for a briefing, and I would just like to read for the record a letter that we received this morning addressed to me from the Mayor, reading as follows: "This is to confirm the request for delay in the Council hearing on the School District's budget" -- as you know, that's scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of next week -- "I made during our discussion earlier today. As you know, the Administration has been working closely with Governor Rendell's office to determine more accurately the District's financial needs. I expect this process to be completed in the next 30 days. "I look forward to collaborating closely with you and the members of City Council in the intervening weeks as we work to put in place adequate resources for our public schools. "With warmest regards, I am sincerely, John F. Street." be having school budget hearings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. So that at the time we do have our budget hearings, perhaps we will have much more information to work with. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I actually don't have a speech. I was still responding to the decision not to hold hearings on Monday and Tuesday.
I actually don't have a speech. I'm still responding to the issue not to hold hearings on the School District budget on read the letter from the Mayor. I listened to you read it. I'm still not clear why we're not having hearings.
It is our understanding that the Mayor and the Governor have been meeting. Apparently no one knows what the real deficit is. Mr. Nash has been working at the School District, and the Mayor has requested that he and the Governor work together so that when the budget is before us, we would have certainly much more adequate information.
We authorize been a situation in the history where we've not authorized the taxes.
So there's no reason not to authorize the taxes to finance the School District.
Well, if you have an issue with this, I'd suggest you personally speak with the Mayor.
He should have given me a phone call. That's why I did not attend the briefing. It is not about reauthorizing taxes. It is about the bill that would do the millage shift. If he's not for the bill, he's not for the bill, but as I said before, he's duck on this issue. And the truth is that the other two bills to be considered at that hearing were to authorize taxes to provide funds for the School District. We're going to do that one way or the other. If he's against the other bill, Bill 15, let him be against it. So what?
You're going to have a conversation with the Mayor, I assume?
In the end it's your decision whether to hold the hearing, but clearly, two of the bills could be heard on Monday and Tuesday. We could go ahead and authorize the taxes, and nothing that's going to happen between the Mayor and the Governor over the next 30 days is going to change whether we authorize the taxes. The only thing to be considered separate from that 15 that would do the millage shift. The Mayor is not for the bill. So what?
All right. Can we have this discussion later, and I'd like the Chairperson of the Education Committee also to be present at that time.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. As you know, this City Council passed the anti-predatory lending bill back in 2000 and the Daily News newspaper was very strong in supporting our efforts. I bring back the argument that former Councilman David Cohen raised every week in City Council. We ask the Daily News to stop printing the payday lending ads in its newspapers. We have being gouged and preyed upon. So we ask the Daily News to stop advertising. I see they're slowly creeping back into the advertisement pages of the Daily News. It's not helpful to the citizens of this city. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 3rd, 2007, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.) 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 April 26, 2007, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)