Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 050790.
An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Use of Electronic Scanners for Customer Checkout."
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please 6/8/06 - STATED - 2ND READING call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. Bill No. 060091 is to be read.
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-400 of The 6/8/06 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia Code, entitled "Noise and Excessive Vibration."
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 060161.
An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code by prohibiting placement and maintenance of certain temporary fences in certain portions of the City.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman 6/8/06 - STATED - 2ND READING DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 060339.
An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Trades," by amending Section 9-1004, entitled "Contractors," by clarifying the exception from contractor license requirements for property owners.
This bill having been read on two different 6/8/06 - STATED - 2ND READING days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. 6/8/06 - STATED - 2ND READING We will now consider Bill No. 060340.
An ordinance amending Subcode PM, Maintenance Code, of Title 4, by adding a new section PM-307, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The final bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 060346.
An ordinance amending Subcode A of Title 4 by requiring the posting of certificates of insurance along with posted construction permits.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
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 Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to preface my remarks this morning by first saying that I very much admire Mr. Joseph Vento at Geno's for all the work that he has done with our City, helping police officers and contributing to many opportunities for charity during the course of his many years in business. The business itself has become an icon for the City in all of our promotional materials, in all of our advertising and commercials. In many, many MTV music videos you see the very well-known facade of Geno's Steaks, and times than I'd like to admit. The recent flap relative to the sign that basically says "This is America, Speak English" and "Management reserves the right to refuse service" I think is a bit mean-spirited, if I may say so respectfully. I don't think it's good for many of our new residents to see that kind of approach. I think that all of our new immigrants want to learn English. They all will eventually learn English, just as Italian immigrants and Polish immigrants and other immigrants from around the world that have come to this country and to this City over the years. I also think that the sign is not very good for tourism. I don't know how I would feel if I were a German tourist or a French tourist or a Brazilian tourist who came there and were having trouble with English and felt that my patronage was not wanted. to, in a very respectful way, in a very unemotional way, make a plea to him today to please consider removing the sign. I think that the many, many new residents in South Philadelphia, where I happen to live also, are of Mexican descent. I find them generally to be decent, hard-working people who go to work every day and try to do their best to become Americans. All of the issues relative to immigration I think had been skewed obviously by 9/11. Somehow in this country, the federal government has linked immigration and terrorism. It is absolutely false and untrue, and one has nothing to do with the other. As I've said many times before, the 9/11 terrorists were all documented people who were here legally. One of them I think had their visa renewed after death. So the people that we see who have difficulty coming to this country -because the rules have changed. Many say, Well, they don't follow the rule of law and they're not here legally, and that may be true in some people who are undocumented, but the rules changed. It is very difficult now to get into this country and has been for a number of years. People still suffer for economic strife, political strife and other types of issues that drive people to this country in the first place. But I do believe that such an iconic institution and business, one that is that visible for many of our residents, for the region and for the world, should consider the removal of the sign. I think it would be in the best interest of all of us, and I would like to make that request publicly and unemotionally, but I would like to see the sign come down. Thank you.