Hi. I'm Janet Bernstein. I work for Frankford Group Ministries in Frankford. And we're definitely going to be approaching Councilman Mariano to add Ward 23 and 62 to this.
I can see where it would be very useful. There's a lot of vacant lots and soon-to-be-vacant lots in Frankford, and there's a lot of people, businesses, or organizations that have their eye on those with really good purposes for them. And some of them would be applicable for this. And I want to thank you for addressing this kind of issue, and I hope that you have further progress with the select committee. And I want to just repeat that, yes, it's -- there's been tons of people who have spent tons of time clearing lots. If nothing done is on that lot, immediately afterwards, you've got trash again. If something is done, there's not trash afterwards.
Good afternoon. My name is Paul Malvey, I'm with New Kensington Community 185 12/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 980794 Development Corporation. We have a fairly successful open space program. We work with the Horticultural Society and OHCD with volunteers and groups, large and small, to clear vacant lots. And we definitely support this bill and will work with our City Councilman, Mr. DiCicco, to have it included into our neighborhood. We would like to add, though, that we would hope that this bill would lead to a way that the acquisition of the properties can be sped up throughout the City.
See, I need to repeat this. This bill can't legally change the acquisition process. What this bill does is allow people to occupy and improve the land during the acquisition process, 'cause acquisition is governed by state law. I mean, there are only limited ways. And no matter what we do here locally, it's a state law process. What I did many, many, many, many, many, many, many years ago was try to find a way to allow people to occupy these vacant buildings -- 'cause at the time, the focus was on vacant buildings -- while we went there all of this 186 12/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 980794 process, while we went through all of this process. Now, there are other creative things that people can do, by the way, but we can't discuss them all here today. We appreciate your support, but I want to know, and I see the lawyers looking at me, this can't change the acquisition process that's set forth by state lay. There's nothing we can do. But it is a way where we can allow people to go on the vacant lots and in the vacant properties and occupy them to abate a public nuisance while we go through this laborious state law process. Okay?
Yes. I just want to add that we would like to see it include groups as well as individuals that are working.
Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who would like to testify on this bill? 187 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS (No response.)
Thank you very much. This brings us to the end of our public hearing on this bill, which is Bill No. 980794. We will now take testimony on Bill No. 7 980621, 980641, 980685, and these are the bills that are otherwise gloriously referred to as the "sidewalk behavior bills." So I think we have administration witnesses that are here, Mr. Nardone and the Law Department, I see the Health Department representatives, Commissioner Richman. Can we have the City people at the witness table? (Administration witnesses come forward.)
I will be out of the chamber for two minutes, so everybody, don't go anyplace. We're going to do this right now. (Short break taken.) (Proceedings resume.)
Good afternoon, everyone. We are now about to take testimony on some bills: Bill No. 980621, an ordinance amending 188 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS Section 10-611 of The Philadelphia Code entitled "Public Places - Prohibited Conduct," by deleting Section 4, subsection d., under certain terms and conditions; Bill No. 980641, an ordinance amending Section 10-611 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Behavior," by providing that certain portions of the 3rd Councilmatic District shall be covered by the prohibitions and penalties set forth in said Section 10-611 of the code; Bill No. 980685, an ordinance amending Section 10-611 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Behavior," by providing that the 7th Councilmatic District shall be covered by prohibitions in the bill and penalties set forth in said Section 10-611 of The Philadelphia Code.
Thank you, Council President Street, members of Council. My name is Michael Nardone, Deputy Managing Director for Special Needs Housing. I am joined to today by Estelle Richman, Commissioner of Health; the City Solicitor, Stephanie Franklin-Suber; John Gallagher, Special Advisor to Police Commissioner 189 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS John Timoney; and Dean Kaplan, the City's Budget Director. As you know, last June the Administration testified in support of the sidewalk behavior bill. We continue to support this bill. And since that time, we have been working hard to ensure that it achieves the primary goals of transitioning people off the streets and into appropriate services as well as improving the quality of life for Philadelphia citizens. Consistent with these goals, the Administration has been developing a plan which provided meaningful residential and outreach services to chronically homeless individuals who are presently living on the street. An inter-agency task force, made up of representatives from across City government, including Health and the Police Department, the Office of Emergency Shelter and Services, OHCD, Law, the Budget Office has been meeting since early summer, and the plan developed to date is outlined in the document which I have available for folks for distribution today. 190 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS While enforcement of many of the provisions contained in this bill will not begin until mid-January 1999, the Administration has already launched social-service initiatives contained in this plan. The plan contains several key elements: An enhanced outreach case-management capability focussing on the most chronically homeless individuals; Expanded residential placements providing more appropriate services for this often hard-to-serve population; Increased behavioral health support within the emergency shelter system, as well as an intake case management and day programming; And, finally, development of enforcement protocols and a plan for police training in anticipation of this new ordinance. We believe this represents a comprehensive approach, and we look forward to working with Council over the next few months to ensure that the ordinance achieves the goals set forth by Council in improving this legislation. I would like to turn it over now to 191 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS Commissioner Richman to talk about the new outreach in residential services which we are putting in place. And following Commissioner Richman's presentation, John Gallagher will discuss protocols developed in anticipation of enforcement as well as plans for police training. And also, Dean Kaplan and the City Solicitor are here and available for questions for members of Council. So with that I'd like to turn to Commissioner Richman. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Good afternoon, President Street and members of Council. I am Estelle Richman, Commissioner for Public Health. The Health Department continues to see the sidewalk behavioral ordinance as an opportunity to identify and provide services to people with mental illness and/or addictions and are homeless. The Department of Public Health currently funds outreach teams who work on the streets of Philadelphia to engage homeless individuals, many of whom suffer from mental littleness and/or substance addiction to convince them to enter shelter or other supportive 192 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS residential programs. As part of the response to the sidewalk behavior ordinance, we will significantly expand resources devoted to people who are homeless and who need outreach and case management services. Specifically, we plan to more than double the number of persons included in outreach case management, expand the hours outreach is available from 4 hours to 16 hours. In addition, the Behavioral Health Mobile Emergency Team will also be able to respond to calls for assistance.
We plan to refocus outreach by targeting the 200 people who have been identified in Center City and provide them with case management to ensure placement in the appropriate setting and the support needed to monitor them in such a facility. By combining outreach and case management, we provide continuity of person and increase the probability that an individual will remain in housing and in treatment. We plan to enhance the outreach Coordination Center at Project Home to prepare it for the expanded City outreach effort. This will include a new management information system to 193 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS track clients and provide data for strategic planning. An outreach project coordinator has been hired, and a data coordinator is being hired. In addition to increased outreach efforts, the task force has developed a plan to create several new residential programs for people who have had chronic homelessness. Between November 1998 and mid-1999, approximately 160 new residential beds are projected to be created for individuals with mental illness and substance addiction who have had chronic homelessness. To this end, the City is developing two 25-person entry-level residences with the appropriate level of support for individuals coming off the street. We are creating 50 permanent supported, independent living sites by July 1999. Individuals currently in entry-level facilities will be transitioned to the supported independent living sites, creating 50 entry-level openings in current mental-health and substance-abuse residences. We will create 13 entry-level openings in current substance-abuse residences by developing one new recovery house by December 194 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS 1st. Individuals currently in entry-level residences will move into this facility, freeing up a corresponding number of entry-level slots. We have initiated development of two new Safe Haven facilities to come on line in early fiscal year 2,000. And we've hired a coordinator to manage the outreach case management and residential service initiatives and a residential gate-keeper to manage the flow of clients into residential placement. In addition, several meetings have been held with providers to discuss mission, values, and operational procedures. Reporting requirements target population, and communication mechanisms are also reviewed. Approximately 100 people, all providers, have attended these sessions. I will now turn the testimony over to John Gallagher of the Police Department. And at the end, I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Point of information. Are you going to allow all the 195 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS testimony first, then come back?
Yeah, we'll come back and everybody will have -- we'll have the classic free-for-all.
Good afternoon. My name is John Gallagher. I'm an advisor to Police Commissioner Timoney. He asked me to express his apology that he could not be here in person today. It was unavoidable. But he did ask me and his counsel, Karen Simmons, to be here to give you an update on our progress in the Philadelphia Police Department with the sidewalk behavior ordinance in the past several months. We've had many meetings, both internally and with the Office of Special Needs Housing and the Health Department on this ordinance. " This is a civil enforcement tool that looks similar to a traffic ticket. We've also decided that, at least 196 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS initially, the police supervisors will carry these CVNs in their vehicles so that whenever the ordinance comes into play in the early stages, a supervisor will have to be called to the scene before enforcement. We just think that when an ordinance is new and confusing to the officers, that's the safest practice. The first side of the ordinance dealing with the bicycle-riding and the parking on the sidewalk and such will be easy to enforce. When a violation is detected, the officer simply issues a CVN the way that a parking or moving violation might be issued. More problematic are the provisions that deal with lying or sitting on the sidewalk and the various panhandling prohibitions. In these instances, officers are being trained to follow the protocol as established in the ordinance, and they're going to follow that protocol to the letter of the law. This includes the warning procedures. First the verbal, then the written warning to follow in English and Spanish. Should the offender refuse to heed these warning, to cease 197 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS the violation, the ordinance requires the officer to determine whether the offender is in need of, quote, social services, unquote. After much discussion, we all agreed that this is a very difficult call for a police officer to make because it's involving ascertaining the need for or food shelter, psychological treatment, alcohol or chemical dependency, and other needs. Therefore, the Police Department and the Police Commissioner have determined that it's best if the officer assumes that the need for social services exists. The ordinance requires that once the determination is made that the need exists, then the officer must call for an outreach team. Prior to issuing a CVN or taking any enforcement steps, the officer must await the arrival of the outreach team. If the outreach team is not available, then under the ordinance, the enforcement is precluded. We have been creating a directive, a police directive that the officers will need to follow. It's the law of the Police Department. 198 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS We're on our fourth version. It's been completed and circulated to our working group for comments. Upon final completion of this directive, it will be issued and it will be the basis for our training in the Police Department. If you allow me a moment, I'd like to discuss the training, which will be in several different components. First of all, commanding officers of each district and their training officers will go to the Police Academy and be trained in the enforcement this ordinance. The training officers then will be able to return to each district and train the rest of the police officers. A second part of the training focuses on new police recruits. We have made this ordinance and enforcement of this ordinance a part of the new curriculum that all new police recruits must study and must master before they graduate from the Academy. A third aspect of training involves the annual recertification that's required under Pennsylvania law for a police officer to remain a police officer in the Commonwealth. 199 11/18/98 COMM.
OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS And, finally, videotaped scenarios are being created that will depict the various common situations that we anticipate will arise under this ordinance and the enforcement of this ordinance. It's important to note that all this training is being designed and is being conducted in conjunction with the Health Department and outreach team personnel. We've already begun this training with these folks. This is not only Police Department training. We've also begun outreach team ride-alongs with police officers, so we're very confident and very optimistic at this beginning stage for the inter-agency interaction and cooperation that we've had so far. If anyone has any questions when we're done, I'll be happy to try to answer them.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. For Commissioner Richman or for Mr. Nardone, how much new City General Fund dollars will be employed to expand the current services as 200 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS discussed in your testimony as compared to dollars coming from either CDH proceeds or federal and state grants or other sources of other governments? How much is actually new monies coming out of our General Fund? And what is the projection of that over the course of, say, the next five years.
Dean Kaplan. The City's Budget Director. In the FY '99, we are projecting that the General Fund contribution for sidewalk ordinance implementation will be $840,150. And that is included in the transfer ordinance, which was forwarded to City Council with a request that it be introduced last week, which it was. We have estimated ongoing costs for the current plan of $4.7 million. We have not divided the outyear costs between General Fund, CVH grants or general revenue fund source yet; in part, because we want to get some sense from the first several months of the implementation of exactly what those costs will be, where they'll come from, what might be eligible for different funding streams. 201 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS There's no question that there will be an increasing portion of General Fund contribution necessary, though, as we go out.
That's the annual recurring cost for what we're proposing this year. The total cost for this year is about 5.7 because there's some start-up dollars involved.
How long do you think it would take, either from an analysis standpoint or from an implementation standpoint, to determine what impact on the General Fund this program's going to have through the course of, I guess, forever through the course of its life?
Well, I think we'll a more detailed estimate when the mayor proposes his budget at the end of January. We'll include our estimate of where the program will be. As I said, I think that we have to all assume that that is going to change, however.
Then I won't pressure you anymore than to ask if you have a guesstimate. 202 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS
My assumption is that because a lot of the program right now is depending on CVH reinvestment dollars, and we can't assume that those dollars will be here forever, that the majority of that 4.7 will eventually end up in the General Fund, say, maybe three-quarters of it, so a little over 3 million.
Presumably, in the very long, it will increase, at least from an inflationary rate. It also depends on our success in having people staying off of the streets and stay in some sort of treatment and eventually make a transaction to less demand for --
Well, I think that that gets to my next question, which is: What type of interview process do we undertake now to determine where these people have come from originally? Are the predominantly Philadelphians, do they come from the region, have they come from outside of the region? Do we conduct, on intake or through 203 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS continual contact with them, just exactly what their origin was? Were they originally Philadelphians who lived in or neighborhoods? I mean, we had some reports that people, you know, who had been in, for example, the New Jersey prison system that wind up either on the streets of Philadelphia or in one of our shelters. And what -- if we don't do it now, what is our -- what's the potential of at least getting some kind of file or case on these people as to where exactly it is they came from? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: It's a several-part question. We do do it now, probably not as thoroughly, because we all have some concerns of whether people outside the region will be coming in to take advantage of some of the new services. We do try to find out now where the people, so to speak, slept before they became homeless. The majority of the people by far are people who have been in Philadelphia. We're trying to tighten that system, to make sure we can confirm that a person is a Philadelphia resident. And part of the reason 204 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS that we have built in a tracking system with an MIS system is to know that, to try to figure out how people are moving, what are the reasons for their homelessness. Are they homeless because of their disability, are they homeless because some kicked them out, are they homeless because they've been discharged from another facility. So we're really trying not only to look forward, but we are also trying to figure out where in the past has the system broken down so we can stop homelessness at the first level.
But today, generally, we don't really know the -- we kind of generally know their origin, but we don't know for sure. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We aren't tracking it through an MIS system now. We generally ask the question; it is not being strictly tracked. We will now start tracking it.
Is there a plan for how to do that? Is there a set of protocols that intake workers, counselors, other people will have to undergo to try to determine the origin of these individuals? 205 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: There are a whole series of formats that the case managers will have to fill out on people as well as getting in part what will be the data that will be captured by the MIS system. But as you know, MIS data is only as good as the people who input it.
Right. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: So that we will be trying to capture as much information as we possibly can by the case managers and are equipping them with protocol to be able to capture that data.
If we discover that a reasonable percentage of people originally came from somewhere else, either in the region or another state or another region of the country, has there ever been any discussion or contemplation of trying to recapture some of the costs that are associated with those services and these expanded services from the jurisdiction where these people originally came from? 'Cause one of my concerns is if we do this so well, if we are so successful in putting the dollars forward, finding the monies from 206 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS savings for CVH, or I'm less enthralled with the expanding need of funds coming from the General Fund, but we can see how it works out. If we become good at this, do we risk the possibility of absorbing the burden of social services for every surrounding community around Philadelphia or in the region or in the middle states area?
Well, I think you raise a very good point, and I think that's something we're going to have to monitor going forward. Just to add on what Estelle has said, in the initial planning of this, we really are targeting individuals who really have been the most chronically homeless and they've been known to the system for a long time. And I think that in terms of the planning that we've been doing in this initial phase, we've really been focussing on that group who -- I don't know where they were maybe five years ago but that they have been residing on the streets for --
And even if look at our population now and, say, this is the picture that we have in 1998, how do we keep -- how do we stop being the social-service provider for the 207 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS region into the future? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We're actually trying to be very sensitive to this. In the late 1980s, 1988, '89, Philadelphia probably had a larger homeless system than most of the surrounding communities. And we were aware that people, we thought, were busing people in, giving them tokens, giving them money to come into Philadelphia. We did often meet with some of those counties around why we couldn't do this, and that we would be returning people that we didn't think had residency in Philadelphia to those counties, and they needed to take responsibility for them. There was never a financial move to recapture the dollars; there was more of an effort to return the individuals to those accountable states or counties. Again, as move into a cutting-edge system, I think we're going to have to be very vigilant in terms of mistaking sure we're serving people who have a history of being in Philadelphia. Part of that is beginning to target people -- know the names, know the histories, know 208 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS they've been in Philadelphia and make sure that we are aware of who these folks are. Of course, there are people who are new to the system in terms of having been in Philadelphia who are recently homeless that we need to be careful not to exclude in this process.
Yeah, I want to be sensitive and want us to take care of our own. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Right.
But I think it's inherently unfair in a city that's facing what it's facing from a tax base and from a social problem perspective to have to absorb what surrounding, more affluent counties and townships and cities will not or refuse to absorb and place on the backs of the middle-class taxpayers in Philadelphia. And that's why, from a (unintelligible), I have some serious concerns, although not opposition at this point, but serious concerns to the expanding reliance on the General Fund potentially to provide these services 'cause I think middle-class taxpayers are also struggling and also need that consideration. 209 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS
I want to say that and to expand on your comments to include low-income taxpayers too, 'cause low-income taxpayers are paying too.
Let me correct my characterization. I'm talking about people who get up every day and struggle to go to work.
And take care of their children, pay their taxes, get to work get on public transportation or keep their car running. "Middle class" maybe is too generic a term. How about "working people"?
That's right 'cause a lot of low-income people are also footing the bill. To tell you how concerned some of us are about all of this, we were here and remember the infamous night when the fellow went on "Nightline," and said, "If you're homeless, go to 210 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS Philadelphia. Philadelphia has the best homeless programs in the country." I mean, I saw it when it happened and I was stunned. And I was a member of this Council. I think I was the Appropriations Committee Chairman at the time. And we ended up, much to the dismay of a lot of people, deciding that we had to draw a line in the sand because we were becoming the homeless capital, not only of the region, not only of this little small region, but of the larger region. And it created all kind of problems for us because people were literally coming, and some of 'em were coming and some of 'em camped outside my office for several months as a result of some of the actions that we took. There are two things that have concerned us over the course of implementing -- of discussing this program. One was welfare reform that has the potential to create numerous people who could end up being impacted by this bill. And, two, if we do too good a job, we can't have people from the entire region, including Jersey and other states, coming here because they believe this is the place where they can go and get the 211 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS best treatment available at the expense of people who are here. And part of the information and technology system that is being purchased and put into effect will help us to be able to both identify and therefore know where people come from and be able to control that kind of problem. But it's a very, very serious concern.
I think we're all willing to take care of the needy members of our Philadelphia family, and we want to make sure just who those family members are.
Councilwoman, before you get started, it has been brought to my attention by Councilwoman Blackwell that Amy Williams, Mike Hardy and Paul Stienke and Abdul-Malik Muhammad are all here from her district to testify on this bill, and I think they are here to testify on Bill No. 980641, which is a 212 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS bill that was introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell to include certain sections of her district in the bill. We are going to have to continue with this discussion for a few minutes. If you want to just identify yourself for the record and state your support for the bill 8 -- I understand people have meetings to go to -- the Chair would be more than willing to allow that at this time. If you want to stand up and do that right now, we will allow that.
My name is Paul Stienke, Executive Director of the University City District. We are in favor of this bill, and I have prepared testimony which I can leave behind.
My name is Amy Williams. I am President of (inaudible, speaking off-mike) and Chair of the University City Community Council, which represents all the neighborhood associations in University City. We supports Bill 23 No. 980641.
Thank you. Is there anyone else, the other folks? Abdul-Malik Muhammad, would you like to just identify yourself and say whether you support the bill.
(Not entirely audible, speaking off-mike.) I'm the president of the (inaudible), and we do support the bill.
Thank you very much. What about Mr. Hardy? UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: He is not here.
You want to represent him? Just kidding. Okay. Well, thank you very much. You're certainly welcome to stay and testify if you like, but if you do have to leave, at least you're in the record, and your support for the bill, Councilwoman Blackwell has circulated an amendment which I know you've seen and support.
And you may leave your testimony, and we'll incorporate it into the record. Thank you very much. 214 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes you for questions or comments.
Thank you. As many of you know, we circulated throughout West Philadelphia a quality-of-life newsletter, and --
Councilwoman, you're going to have to speak just a little louder.
Okay. We circulated during these hearings a quality-of-life newsletter and an opinion poll on the rear of it, which many of you have seen. When we took the poll, certainly we did not poll the University City area because we met with them, and that community wanted in. The result of our polls showed that two-thirds of District wanted out, and a third of the district, the University City Community Council area, that includes an umbrella group of organizations (Squirrel Hill, Cedar Park, Spruce Hill, and several others) wanted in, and that is why we stated in the article and believe that we are -- and agreed to abide by the opinion of the people in the District because we believe that it is our duty and obligation to represent them, 215 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS irrespective of our on preference. And that is why we have asked that that area be included. And we're glad to do that. I would say on this subject that we're talking about now is that several years ago, the President was around then and many of us, Councilwoman Verna, we had a debate about us funding people in the region and not in the area, and certainly OESS now, anybody who goes for emergency shelter now has to show where they have come from. I mean, we do not -- we no longer do that for many years. And we are not the, quote/unquote, social-service provider of the region, we stopped that many, many years ago, in the eighties because it was a big issue. But we do have a lot of people, unfortunately, in our City and homeless and who will be further impacted, as the President just said, on welfare cuts. I certainly am glad to see that the Police Commissioner and his department has agreed to send for social-service outreach when people, after a verbal warning and a written warning don't move. Some people are not going to move if you 216 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS give them a notice in writing, we know that. They were people on the street in the beginning. They could be mentally ill, drug-addicted, or absolutely hostile because they're are out there. And I still think that it is unconscionable that we're fining them, we still have a right to fine them $25 when they're homeless in the beginning. And I still find all the provisions that I found terrible in the back even getting a planner and having to get a permit for a planner, not being able to ride a bike on your sidewalk or sit or stand, all of those things, like having luggage or a backpack or a suitcase on the sidewalk for more than 15 minutes, and I still find all the issues out there unconscionable, they're unconscionable now. But I will say that in terms of the initiatives that are specifically mentioned, I've had hear Commissioner Richman talk about what they want to do in a mental-health and drug-and-alcohol issue, but in terms of the -- in terms of the issue that deals with homeless people, we introduced a bill to transfer million into the 25 budget. Councilman Nutter introduced a bill that 217 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS would transfer money, I believe it was 15, into the Health Department and OESS. And the issue is that we are focussing on people who have drug-and-alcohol and mental-health problems. But for plain, ordinary homeless people, people who could be out burned out today, as happens on the news every day, and people who are just down on their luck, we do not have resources for them. Thirty beds is nice, but 30 beds won't take care of what we have now. And I say to this Council that we do not have shelter for people who need it. I'm glad to hear that they're starting a day program at Ridge. You've got to do a lot more than one shelter, if you want a convention here, even in Center City, without homeless people here on the streets. You need day programs, but we need plain outright homeless beds for people who need it, Philadelphians who come from neighborhoods all over the City, we need homeless beds.
And this bill does not address that. It addresses that people have to disappear, but it does not say where they go, there is no money 218 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS really budgeted for homeless people. The pittance that was mentioned here is almost insulting. So I say to my colleagues, we still have not dealt with the issue. I know this bill 6 passed that says you can't lie or sit on the sidewalk, can't set a suitcase on the sidewalk for more than 15 minutes, you can be locked up in front of your house if you have an argument with your mate and they call the police and say you're obstructing the view. You still have to get a permit for all kinds of things, from vending to handbills. All of that, I find unconscionable respond. But since that bill passed, I will respond to the to the issue that, Mr. President, we do not have beds for homeless people, and the situation will be exacerbated on March 3rd, when the welfare cuts come in. And I certainly would like for the Council to address that. We are not paying for people out of the region, we're talking about Philadelphians who don't have shelter. What are we going to do about that?
Thank you very much. 219 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
Thank you, Mr. President. My question is for Commissioner Richman. A couple of weeks ago, there was a briefing in the mayor's cabinet room as it relates to this bill. And one of my colleagues, I think, raised the question, Would we as Council people be notified in advance of any facilities that may be placed in our districts? On of the summary plan, the implementation plan summary, you mention that there are two 25-person entry-level residencies, one of which has already opened. And the second is projected to be open in early 1999. Could you tell me the location of those two facilities? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I don't have in front of me the addresses. One of the 25-person entry-level residences is one that we've used in past years.
Which is. . . ? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Which we used it 220 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS last year.
Where? I don't mean an exact address but, the street name, the intersection would be fine. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: 20th and Tioga.
And the other one? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: The other one, at this point -- West Tioga. I don't think we have found a site for the second one as of yet. We're still looking.
Well, let me ask you this 'cause I got a call a few days ago where someone suggested to me that there's a site on Spring Garden Street, around Second or Third and Spring Garden that is being looked at. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We are looking. We haven't identified -- I'm not even sure where are. Has that one --
I mean, one of the groups that we've been talking to has put that forward, but no decisions -- I mean, we haven't -- we're still in the initial stages of identifying sites.
Well, the group 221 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS that you're speaking to, if they decide that that's a site that's suitable, would you make the decision to put the facility before you speak to the Councilperson -- who happens to be me in this case -- or would you just go forward and contract for that facility?
Our intention is to advise Council of where we're putting the facilities related to the sidewalk ordinance.
Because the information I got, and that's why I'm asking it for the record is that the decision has already been made. And my other question, I guess, goes to: What type of clients, residents will be housed in this facility at Spring Garden Street, if that were the place that you decided on? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: These will be people that have mental illness or addiction problems and who are homeless.
Substance abuse, 222 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS alcohol abuse? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Right. I mean, any kind of addition -- mental, drug, alcohol abuse or a severe mental illness, or co-occurring.
When a decision is made where you begin to look at a site for a facility, does any consideration -- is there any consideration given to the area where the facility will be located, the sounding area and any type of impact that that facility or the facilities and businesses around it may have on that facility? For instance, the place on Spring Garden Street, I think, is one block of Finnegan's Wake, which is a very popular night spot and serves alcohol. And I'm wondering if that is the appropriate place or a place that would be the best type of place to have a facility that would house people with alcohol-abuse problems. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: In our attempt not to be in a residential area, we've been looking at more commercial areas. Unfortunately, if we exclude almost any area that's not commercial or any area that is nonresidential, it would be very difficult to locate these facilities 223 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS where people would be accepting them. So we're trying to find a balance. And, certainly, in looking at this particular area, it seems to be mostly commercial. There's not a lot of residential family homes around, which makes it more suitable for a residential facility of this type.
Well, I guess we can debate whether it's residential versus commercial. It's becoming much more residential, the area is seeing a lot of growth in the residential section. But I also think that we have to be more sensitive to the commercial aspect and what type of commercial business is being conducted there. I mean, this is not a 9-to-5 operation. Finnegan's Wake is open 7 days a week, and they literally serve thousands of people alcohol during the 7 days that they're open. And I'm not a NIMBY. I think everyone knows me by now. I'm not a NIMBY, I generally try to find some common ground, but I really would like to know well in advance before a decision is made. And I would also like to try to be helpful, 224 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS to see if I can find you a site in my Councilmatic District that can avoid some of the problems that I foresee coming. Tomorrow night, I have a meeting with the Northern Liberties Civic Association. They represent the area at Third and Spring Garden. They are already complaining about this facility, and I didn't even know for certain whether it was being looked at or not, and I'd like to have this information in advance. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We will talk to you about this particular site.
Thank you. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I think we would be willing to work with all of Council around identifying sites for these kinds of programs in any of the areas. We are looking for about three sites now that would house people with mental illness and substance-abuse issues, where we need to house approximately people. 22
Thank you. 23 I have no further questions at this 24 time. Thank you. 25
Thank you. 225 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Mr. President. Commissioner, can you describe the difference between the people that would be going into the entry-level houses and a personal-care clientele? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I'm not sure. The distinction? People who are going into entry-level housing and what other kind of housing?
And the residents that are already in a personal-care home. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: People in personal-care homes don't necessarily have treatment issues. They may have a drug and alcohol problem, they may have a mental illness, but they don't have to have them to be in those kinds of homes. People in these houses, by definition, will have some type of disability. They will either have an addiction, or they have a mental illness, or they will have both. 226 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS
Okay. Because 20th and Tioga, the one that you actually have is certainly in my district. And I know that was a personal-care facility prior to it now being the entry-level residence. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Okay. This was an entry-level residence last year.
Okay. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: So we did not consider it a new facility. It had been zoned for the activity that we're doing this year in the past year of the.
Okay. But I would like to also know ahead of time in the future. Someone did mention it to me, but it was sort of informal, just through a conversation, about what used to be Perkins, and they did mention that it was also zoned that way last year. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Yes, it's been under the zoning to permit this kind of housing for at least two years.
Okay. Well, I'd like to know too ahead of time. Thank you.
Thank you very much. 227 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. To continue on that line of questioning from Councilman DiCicco and Councilmember Miller, it is my understanding through dealing with issue like this in the past that under the American With Disabilities Act, people have an absolute right to establish residence to gain the support and help that they need. But one of the main restrictions on the protection of ADA is that people have to be recovered. They cannot continue to use alcohol or drugs. And then once that happens, or if it happens that individual is no longer protected under ADA. Is that incorrect? My understanding is that residential facility for substance-abuse issues comes under the protection of the ADA Act and the Fair Housing Act, as long as the individuals residing there continue to remain clean and sober. Is that accurate? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: That is generally correct. 228 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS
What protocols, what rules would be in effect at these facilities that would ensure the cleanliness and sobriety of the individuals who are residing there? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Realistically, we cannot assure that's going to take place. Our concern is making sure that people who have addictions are going to receive some treatment and have a place to live. We know that we are bringing them into housing, that they have not, in some cases, made that commitment yet, but the job of the staff in that housing is hoping to get them to do that. If we exclude these individuals from coming into these houses where we will have an opportunity to convince them to be clean and sober, we will end up with them back on the street.
Right. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: So our hope was, at least if have their body, if we have them in a residential setting, we can work with around trying to help them understand why they need to make a decision. If we exclude them, we have no way to 229 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS convince them --
There's no 4 suggestion or discussion about exclusion. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Okay.
People who are on the street who have substance-abuse problems need to be indoors and need to be in some program to help them change. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: That's correct.
The question is, in a 25-person residential setting, obviously, if you have kids in the family, you'd have to have 14 rules and regulations and protocols to ensure that 15 this facility could integrate and cooperate and 16 work well with the surrounding commercial or 17 residential community. 18 My question is, what are those 19 protocols? And are they in some written form that 20 we can determine from the operator of the facility 21 what their responsibilities is to at least ensure 22 to the best of their ability that people are no 23 longer continuing to abuse alcohol or drugs? 24 COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I do believe 25 they all have protocols that no one can use or 230 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS abuse alcohol while they're in those facilities.
And what happens to those people, if they're discovered? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: If they're struggling?
Yes. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: If they're usually in the facility, they're usually asked to leave and invited back once they stop using. But if there are not protocols that are very strict in that, we will try to make sure they do exist.
Could you possibly provide to the Chair and Members of Council with those specific protocols that would be employed by companies or by groups or nonprofits that would be operating these entry level facilities? And the only other thing I would suggest, and, again, not a District Councilmember speaking but listening to what District Councilmembers have said already, I think you need to do more than just advise the District Council people where you're putting 'em, because the suggestion that you're going to advise them means that you've already made the decision, it's going 231 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS there, and we're just going to let you know about it. And I think there needs to be more of a process involved in that happening, as opposed to simply calling somebody on the phone and saying it's there. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We will make every attempt to work with members of Council. We have felt a little bit of pressure to make sure that these facilities are up and renovated by the time ordinance goes into effect.
But, remember, the thing that I've learned in the time that we've been dealing with this problem, from advocates of organizations that try to get people clean and sober, is this they do not work without the cooperation of the surrounding community. If they become isolate an isolated island, people who are not getting the cooperation of the surrounding community, then they're not going to be successful. So kind of doing it and trying to get the cooperation after the fact, I think it's kind of a tandem effort that needs to be undertaken to tell people what's going on, enlist their support, 232 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS and make them sensitive to what those needs are as opposed to plopping something down and then trying to accomplish that afterwards. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Okay.
I just want to say, Councilman Kenney, I would like to work with you and members of Council to try to identify some of these sites. This is a real challenge in terms of trying to find an appropriate area to put in facilities. And any help that members of Council can provide in that respect, I think, would be very helpful. I mean, we spend a lot of time looking for sites, and a lot of effort has gone into facilities that meet the requirements of the various agencies to provide the type of oversight and the type of environment for clients. And if there was some assistance that members of Council could provide in that area, I think that would be a very helpful thing.
But, again, not assistance, but be provided without --
Yeah, without the 233 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS prior information. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: This is the first time we will be doing entry-level housing and drug and alcohol, so we'll be watching and working with it very carefully. Up to this point, the drug and alcohol system has mostly been recovery houses where there is a requirement for clean and sober in order to be in the housing.
Well, I don't want to get into that subject, but that's for recovery houses that are licensed -- COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: That are licensed by --
That are contracted by the City or state, but not all those other guys out there. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: You are absolutely correct.
And that's what we want to try to avoid. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Yes.
The Chair recognizes 234 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to follow up on what Councilman Kenney spoke talking about, I didn't know he was going to say that. Commissioner, I mean, I don't really understand. We talked about this in mayor's cabinet last week. Now you're putting in another place in another District Council's office without talking to him. I mean, it's simple. You either let us know or you don't do it. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We have not put someone in --
But we're talking about something, and we're not even talking to Councilman DiCicco. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We are just beginning. We've been looking for housing. We usually look at several housing before a definite decision is made.
Commissioner, you know, I really don't understand this. Sometimes I think maybe you just don't like me and I suppose 235 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS I'll have to live with that. You put the one up in my district with Komar (ph.), it caused me grief and anguish for a year. Then we tell you at a meeting that we don't want to have it and got to let us know, but you just told Councilman Kenney that, Well, sometimes we're under a rush to get these things. The people that live in these districts need to be able to know what's going to happen in their world. And we can talk about villages and we can talk about everything but nothing happens that doesn't affect the District Councilperson. We're like the marines at Okinawa. We're the ones that go on the beach first, we're the ones that get the mud in our face and the bullets in our head. You know, whatever you do, when they come down, they don't go picket Ed Rendell's house, they do mine. They don't call Ed Rendell's office or your office, they call mine. When a crazy guy goes up there and smashes the window on Oxford Avenue, I'm sure they don't call you about it, they call me. That's what I need to know. I mean, I don't understand it. If I 236 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS was going to move to John Street's street, would say, "John, how's your neighborhood? Is it a nice neighborhood, John? What are the schools like? Is there a supermarket close? Is there a place I can go jogging? Can I walk my dog?" I mean, that's all I'm asking, common courtesy. But it seems like the agenda -- and it's a good agenda, but you're stepping on our heads. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Councilman Mariano, we will try very hard to make sure that all Councilpeople know when we first start looking.
Well, Commissioner, let me tell you, trying hard enough may not be good enough. 'Cause I'm going to tell you right now, now this is from a District Councilmember, but there's --
I know you are. 237 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS But, you know, but I can't live with this anymore, Mr. President. They tell us stuff and then they don't do it.
They don't do it. I mean, it's simple. Yes, Councilman, we'll just let you know. We could have saved a lot of money on that one issue, now we're talking about something else.
Well, I thought it was well made at the mayor's cabinet office.
Can we stress how well it has to be made? I mean, there's no gray area here, it's black or white. You either tell me or you don't. You either tell the District Council people or you don't. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. Commissioner, I just want to say one 238 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS thing about those -- you understand I hope you understand -- COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Yes.
Mr. President, I have been here since 1976 as an elected official for Council. And, honestly, I think we have become -- you know, I said earlier on that this bill violates the first, eighth, and fourteenth amendments, and I absolutely do not believe that it's going to withstand the challenge that will come. But I refuse to be part of a discussion that talks about everything except the victims and the people who are homeless. Somebody's got to say that we are our brother's keeper and that we, as elected officials, have a responsibility to try to resolve this problem. I resent the fact that everybody says, Sure, don't make it in my neighborhood, and I 239 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS don't want any city dollars for these people, those people, those dirty, filthy, smelly people. You know, people just don't disappear. I don't understand how this Council could try to give that tone in the record, and I won't be a party to that. We can solve our homeless problem -- I've said it since I've been here -- if we have the commitment to do so. It doesn't take a lot of money. The implications of the Republican Convention coming here, I understand are $300 million. We find money for things we deem important. It doesn't cost a lot of money, but it takes a little bit of commitment and a little bit of people wanting to work it out and to not blame the victims for being homeless. I think it's time that we refocus our energies on solving the problem and stop thinking that every dollar you spend, if you spend something, if you find a bed for somebody, you're doing somebody a doggone big favor, when these are people who live here, who were born here, and who have rights too. These are people who vote. These are 240 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS people who, when they're on their feet, pay taxes. And these are people who have families and who can down on their luck and who live and breathe as we do. I am urging my colleagues, let's take a look at that, let's talk about more about solving the problem instead of what problem it creates for each of us. I resent that and I won't be a party to that, and I resent the whole tone of this Council, which is why I said in our last Council session that I will not be a part of these, quote/unquote, quality-of-life laws that continue to take away rights. I resent that. I resent people who say you can't talk too loud, you can't get utilities if somebody in your family's been convicted of drugs. You can't do all of these because there's some problem in your family because you've been down on your luck. God only knows, as we've heard many times, there but for the grace of God go I. None of us is dead yet. We don't know what the future brings. And I'm not afraid fail but only afraid that if don't stand up for what know in our hearts 241 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS is right, if we don't you fulfill our obligations as elected officials, then we have done wrong by the citizens we're elected represent. My goodness, we don't just represent people who are doing well and who make decent salaries and live in as nice houses as we do. We represent everybody. We don't have the right to make that decision. Within my Councilmatic district, I represent all kinds of people, all races of people, all people from all income levels, and people with all kinds of ideas, but we don't have a right to say I'm only going to represent a certain group of them. The rest of them need to find some place out of the City, and we're not paying any tax dollars for them. Well, we don't have a right to do that. It is our job, it is our responsibility as elected officials to find a way to resolve this problem. And we know how to do it, we know how to do it. Let's stop crying about putting a few dollars, which is not, Mr. President, in this description. You know, why don't we find a way to 242 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS pay shelters every months, a lousy $12 a month.
In New York, they get a hundred dollars a head. Here, we get $12 a day. It doesn't pay diapers and food and clothing and shelter -- $12 a person, that's what we pay. Why don't we pay shelter leaders on time? Why don't we work? I've talked with the Administration about a grant program. There's some state money available. Why don't we give shelters grants so that these shelters where so many people are outside because the shelters are so bad that they don't want to live inside. Let's have decent shelters where people can say, Let's pay shelter leaders on time, let's not have them call me to keep their utilities on because they can't afford to pay gas and electric because the City can't pay them on time, and everybody's everybody's stuck. Everybody's a victim because we have not prioritized that as a city, and we need to do that. Let's refocus ourselves on -- let's refocus our energies on the kind of leaders that we want to be, the kind of leaders we can look up to and be proud of. That's the kind of Council I 243 11/18/98 COMM. OF WHOLE - SIDEWALK BEHAVIOR BILLS want to say we are, and that's the kind of leader I want to say I am. And that's what I think all of us should do. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. At this time, I would like to bifurcate this hearing. By that I mean, recess I would like to the public hearing, go into the public meeting, and take an action on the bills that are ready at this time so that then we can continue the discussion here. - - - 244 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING
So at this time, we will recess the public hearing. We will know go into a public meeting. And at the public meeting, I would like to recognize Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980549, the first TIF bill.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 980549 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation.
Mr. President, I have an amendment to the bill. Should I offer that now?
Okay. I have an amendment to the bill which was discussed earlier with Council for the Reading Terminal Market and the representatives of PIDC. Do I need to read that in?
I have it here to be circulated. 245 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING
Please circulate it, and can we get help? I'd like to see it.
While it's being circulated, can I read into the record a small letter from Bob Butera from the Pennsylvania Convention Center?
It's addressed to me, dated today, November 17, 1998. Dear Councilman DiCicco: I am writing to you in support of the proposed Convention Center Garage now under consideration for a Tax Increment Financing. I believe that the construction of this facility would greatly enhance our plans for the Convention Center and the years to come and will stimulate further economic development of the area around the Convention Center. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Robert Butera, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Convention. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Councilman, would you like to offer the 246 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING amendment?
Yes, sir. The amendment to Bill No. 980549, it's an addition to be added under Section 3.
Does everyone have a copy of the amendment? Everyone has a copy of the amendment so it's not necessary to read it. Is the amendment supported by the Administration?
It's supported by the Administration, and it was an accommodation for the merchants that we provide, as the amendment states, certain amounts of discount parking spaces during the week and certain amounts of spaces during the weekend to accommodate the merchants and people who shop at the Reading Terminal.
The Chair recognizes Councilman for a motion on the amendment.
Mr. President, I make a motion that the amendment to Bill No. 24 980549 --
Be adopted. 247 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. Bill No. 980549 is amended.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on the amended bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 980549 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. At this time, I'd like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 980705. Has that amendment been distributed? This is an amendment to the bill that creates the Jump Street Tax Increment 248 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING Financing District.
Can we have the amendment distributed? (Amendment is distributed).
This amendment simply narrows the boundary of the TIF to exclude currently-occupied properties. It is my understanding that the Administration has worked with the community and the developers to fashion this amendment, and it is agreed to by everyone involved. The Chair moves the adoption of the amendment. Is there a second? (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. The amendment is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a --
Mr. Chairman, I 249 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING move that Bill No. 980705 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, as amended. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980719.
I move that Bill 13 No. 980719 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 908746.
I move that Bill 23 No. 980746 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.) 250 11/18/98 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980794.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 980794 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered - - - 251 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 980715
We now have before us only Bills No. -- The ones we're considering are Bill No. 980715. Is there anyone here to testify on Bill No. 980715? (No response.)
Whose bill is this? Is there anyone here to testify on Bill No. 9 908715, the naming of public buildings.?
Mr. President, that is my bill. I did not know if anyone from the Administration is here to testify on the bill, but there is one amendment.
Okay, so we will here that bill after we finish with the --
Is there any member of the general public who's here to testify on Bill No. 980715? (No response.)
Well, now I know we can let it wait 'cause there's nobody from the general public. So it's obviously only Councilmembers and Administration members. And that makes it very different. 252 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING That brings us to end of our public meeting on the bills that we acted on. - - -
We will now resume a public hearing on the bills that are currently before us. Does anyone have any questions from the Administration on Bill No. 980621 or 980614 or 980685? These are the three bills that are before us. Bill No. 980621 eliminates the handbilling prohibition in the bill. Bill No. 980641 adds certain portions of the 3rd Councilmatic District into the ordinance. This is Councilwoman Blackwell's bill, she has an amendment. And Bill No. 980685 is a bill that's sponsored by Councilman Mariano, which includes all of his district in the sidewalk bill. Is there anyone that has any questions from the Administration on these bills. Bill No. 23 980621, 980641, 980685? (No questions.)
If not, we 253 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING appreciate your coming. We need you to maybe stand by for a few minutes 'cause we don't know how many other members of the general public are here who may want to testify on any of these bills, and may need your expertise. Is there from the general public who wishes to testify on Bill No. 980621, 980641 or 980685, anyone? (Audience member raises her hand.)
While she's coming, let me know that Mr. Martin, who's here for the next hearing, the finance hearing, certainly attended and made a pledge to the Mary Jane Shelter, as did I, of course at a fund-raiser a few weeks ago because these shelters are so -- these shelters are in such bad shape that we had a fund-raiser to try to raise money ourselves to help them. But we certainly would like to thank him for his commitment in that arena. 254 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING
Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your statement.
My name is Ruth Burchette. I'm founder of Heritage Community Economic Development Corporation, and like to make comment in reference to the reports that were given by the people who testified specifically to the placement of residential facilities within neighborhoods. I happen to share Councilwoman Blackwell's sentiment about our responsibility to care for our people. And I believe when you -- and certainly I've fought for a lot of funding for housing and have been (unintelligible), but I also, as a disabilities professional, am very clear that residential facilities throughout the City of Philadelphia, under mental health, mental retardation have principles for placements in communities, principles that, you know, that advocate for people not being warehoused into 255 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING certain sections of the City. It is clearly unfair that sections of the city, such as North Philadelphia, where we reside, are often the target of the placement of various type of homes. I advocate for the Department of Health, which has superb guidelines that it utilizes for the placement of residential facilities for the mentally regarded and mentally ill, that they consider using and developing some principles for the placements of residential facilities for substance abusers. We have in our community these recovery houses every other block. It is clearly unfair. And as this Council looks at attempting to devote additional resources to that, we want you to also look to developing policies which go along with that. You have the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, which has names of 6,000 block captains that are never consulted when anyone wants to come into a neighborhood and do anything, and it is simply unfair. I appreciate the fact that the Commissioner testified that they've had a series 256 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING of meetings with providers of services, but be very clear, the people who live in the communities need to be consulted as well, not simply the people who have funded and paid to do their job. And I have clearly been one of them. We have a situation where housing development in our community finally is coming through in North Philadelphia, in the area where the riots were years ago. I live in the same house that I was born in, I have the same address and phone number as when I born. We've been there 48 years. And I defy no one to tell us that we don't have any say so as far as what kind of facilities and services will be in our community. We expect this Council to protect us in that regard and also protect others who live, who would seek to live in our communities as well. So it's not a not-in-my-neighborhood kind of a thing that I am saying. It is clearly not that because elders in our community see people who are addicted. They are so compassionate. It is clearly unreal. It is unreal. We do care. It is not the issue of not 257 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING in my neighborhood. But unless we know that Council can't turn our neighborhoods around and we have to a part of turning our neighborhoods around. And in order to do that, we have to be a part of the decision-making. And you disenfranchise us when we're not able to be in that posture.
Thank you very much. We appreciate it. You know I appreciate it.
Yeah. It's just not fair. And I've slept on the skirt of the State building myself and fought for housing. We brought a million dollars in this town when it was on the verge of bankruptcy. So I've been on both things. I've run a CRR where people with mental illness live. You know, I've run a shelter and those kinds of things. So we do care, but let me tell you --
I'm sorry. We have 258 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING so much to do here today, there are people waiting.
That's fine. But all the people with drugs, their problems don't come from North Philly.
We understand. You know I know, 'cause I'm from North Philly. Councilman Kenney?
Just quickly. I'm sorry I didn't get your name when you first came in.
Ruth, I just want to thank you for coming in and expressing what you've expressed. From time to time, I will ask a question or I will make a statement that I try to be as clear and sensitive as I can. And when you come in to this table and expressed yourself the way you've done, it makes me understand that I may be correct in trying to protect what neighborhood working people need, and that's information and the ability to cooperate with our problems, to 259 11/18/98 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - PUBLIC MEETING make things better for people. I just want to thank you for expressing that, and I think you've expressed it better that I did in my questions.