What I'm proposing is that as part of the overall training program, as part of that six months to a year, you provide what amounts to, in educational jargon, as a "co-op." Okay, in other words, you are giving them the basic skills, you're giving them the education, but then you place them in a job so that --
Now, would Peirce College be doing that, or would you be asking the state to do that?
Would or Peirce College do the placing, like Drexel University does?
Exactly. We would search for the jobs, and we have been. In other words, we partner with business and industry. To give you an example, we have a pharmacy tech program. We are partnering with CVS and Rite Aid. They come to us, and they'll take every one of our --
Now, what has happened when presented this proposal to the 84 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform State?
And we think you ought to be -- and we would be supportive of that. We'd be supportive of any efforts in this direction to expand the definition work, to be a realistic definition, which would mean preparing to be able to enter the workforce.
And a combination of training and sort of on-the-job training seems to me to be a very useful approach. Councilman Ortiz?
'Cause we think it's great. 85 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform
And that's all I'm trying to do, is to tell you that you don't have to convince us of -- MR. MORELLI; I'm not selling. What I was doing was describing a model that I believe -- that I know works. And we're willing to work with any City, State or federal agency that would want to incorporate this type of model into the welfare-to-work programs.
The purpose of these hearing are exactly that, Mr. Morelli. The purpose of these hearings is to build up the pressure, the consciousness that -- because no one really out there is talking about this except the thousands of welfare recipients that going to be affected that they're worried that they're going to be hurt. And they're the only ones really that seem to be concerned because newspapers are not putting it out except for a few stories here and there. So what we're trying to do at these hearings is to begin putting out the force, the education so that people become concerned. I like that Peirce and Drexel are here because we need 86 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform those institutions to join in the effort. We've got to force them to change the definition of work. They're not going to do it willingly. We have to get masses of people involved that -- because March 3rd is not just going to affect just welfare recipients. March 3rd is going to affect this Penn's Landing, it's going to affect the Convention Center, it's going to affect the Marriott Hotel, it's going to affect everything that we've been trying to do in this city. And if we don't make the changes that are necessary to make, then you can count on DisneyQuest, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy to just keep walking down the highway, you know? (Applause.)
But the thing is that we need Drexel, we need Peirce, we need you folks to begin joining us in this effort that we're trying to put forward. It is -- it's taking us -- it will take us even more. We're hopefully -- we're in a an election period that hopefully this issue will become a priority of the mayoral candidates. I 87 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform hope that they begin to understand that the wage tax reduction and this other aspect will mean very little if we have 75,000 people out on the streets. So that it's something that we're trying to get across to people, that they have to begin talking about-- and not only talking about but forcing the state legislature to begin making the changes that are necessary. At one point, we may need you and other people join us going to Harrisburg and do the things that we need to do.
And we also want to make sure that you're in touch with Mayor Deputy Donna Cooper, who is heading up the Philadelphia program for the mayor. We want them to know what your model program is so that they can take advantage of it. Because what we're talking in terms of putting pressure on the state legislature, there's much to be done right here in Philadelphia.
Because we can't afford to just wait for the State to act. We've got to be ready to act if the State begins taking 88 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform people off of cash assistance. So I just like to urge you -- have you had contact with Miss Cooper?
Well, we urge you to move in that direction, and you can use our name. Since I'm the one that's here, say that it's at the request and suggestion of Councilman David Cohen that you are in contact with them and you want the City to know fully about your program so that it can be ready for operation, moving in the right direction.
Well, look, we thank you both very much for being here and we're very delighted to see as venerable an institution as Peirce dealing with this problem.
And we wish you very well in your program. And if you get an unfavorable response or it looks to you like people are stalling, let us know. We'll help open the doors.
Thank you. We'll 89 12/09/98 - LAW & GOV'T, HEALTH & HUM. SVCS. - Welfare Reform certainly let you know.
Thank you very much. Arun Prab -- you have to forgive me. Prabhakaran? Okay, when you identify yourself, sir, would you begin by spelling your last name so that the