Stated Meeting, June 18, 2020

Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:22 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Good morning. We're going to get started. We're going to start with the reading of a couple of paragraphs with respect to our current status in the state-authorized emergency status. So our understanding is that state law currently requires that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view meetings and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and could be also found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 attendance, and members that are in attendance, please indicate by saying aye or present when your name is called. Mr. Decker.

Councilwoman Bass.

Present. Good morning.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Brooks.

Good morning. I'm present.

Good morning.

Councilman Domb.

Good morning, Council President and colleagues.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Gauthier. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Good morning, everyone. Present.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.

Good morning. Present.

Good morning.

Councilman Green.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues, Mr. Decker, and the public.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Gym.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present.

Good morning.

Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Council President, I want to thank you for your leadership during these unprecedented times. Thank you all.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Good morning.

Councilman Johnson.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.

Good morning, sir.

Councilman Jones.

Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, viewing public.

Good morning.

Councilman Oh. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Present. Good morning, Council President and colleagues.

Good morning.

Councilman O'Neill.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Parker.

Good morning, Mr. President and colleagues. Present.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Good morning, good morning, good morning. Thank you.

Good Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Councilman Squilla.

Good morning, everyone. Present.

Good morning.

Councilman Thomas.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And just a special thank you to the tech staff for the late night last night and making it happening again today. Thank you. I appreciate you all.

Good morning.

Council President Clarke.

And good morning, everyone. Thank you all and, again, thank you for your hard work, particularly through last night, both Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 members, staff, and support. Thank you, guys. Really appreciate you all. So we've established a quorum, so Council will now come to order. Despite the great need, there will be no invocation today. We will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent prayer for our city, its leaders, and the citizens during the current public health crisis. We will ask you now to observe a brief moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)

Thank you. Thank you very much. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 11, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla. (No response.)

Councilman Squilla. (No response.)

Not Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Jones.

Councilman Jones, can you -

Unmute, Councilman.

I move the minutes be approved. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, June 11, 2020 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. And our next order of business Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.

Thank you, Mr. President. There are no requests for leaves of absence on behalf of members of Council.

The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And our next order of business is communications, and the Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, by your request that my Administration note all business before Council that should be considered related to our response to the pandemic or otherwise necessary to allow for expedited action, I respectfully request and submit for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution ratifying the Mayor's Declaration of Emergency Related Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 to the COVID-19 health emergency.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. No additional communications?

I have none, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And, Mr. Decker, if you will please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.

Councilman Henon offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 22-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Purchase of Credited Service,' of Title 22 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Public Employees Retirement Code,' to allow certain employees to purchase credited service for prior military service without payment of certain interest for a Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 certain time period."

Referred to committee.

Councilman Jones offers on behalf of Council President Clarke a non-privileged resolution ratifying the Mayor's Declaration of Emergency Related to the COVID-19 health emergency.

Next week's Calendar.

Councilman Green offers a non-privileged resolution calling upon the Congress to allocate fair and direct federal support to all of America's communities, regardless of population size. Councilman Green also offers a non-privileged resolution calling upon the Congress to enact and fund a national, sustainable water affordability plan similar to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP").

And Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 next week's Calendar.

Councilwoman Bass offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Landlord and Tenant,' requiring landlords to give tenants notice of alternative ways to meet tenant obligations to make security deposits; and by providing for certain landlord and tenant responsibilities related to the payment of rent and security deposits."

Referred to committee.

Councilman Oh offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 17-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Goals for the Participation of Disadvantaged Owned Business Enterprises in City Contracts,' by adding a new requirement that City Council be notified of certain changes to existing City contracts valued over $1 million to ensure expansions adhere to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 standards."

Referred to committee.

There are no other bills or resolutions being offered by the members today, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. Our next order of business is reports from committees, and the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a report from the Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee of the Whole reports out seven bills and one resolution with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, will you please read the report.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee of the Whole, Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Bill No. 200285, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2021 through 2026 inclusive"; and Bill No. 200286, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2021 Capital Budget"; and Bill No. 200287, entitled "An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2021"; and Bill No. 200288, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Parking Tax,' by revising certain tax rates"; and Bill No. 200290, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Business Income and Receipts Taxes,' by revising certain tax rates"; and Bill No. 200291, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Wage and Net Profits Tax,' by revising certain tax rates"; and Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 200292, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Real Estate Taxes,' to eliminate the discount for early payment of real estate taxes"; and Resolution No. 200331, entitled a "Resolution approving the Director of Finance's Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund Withdrawal Certification for purposes of allowing utilization of $34,276,000 in the Reserve Fund for General Fund purposes in connection with the FY2021 Operating Budget," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills and resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 day of Bill Nos. 200285, 200286, 200287, 200288, 200290, 200291, and 200292. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200285, 200286, 200287, 200288, 200290, 200291, and 200292. All those in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. Our Resolution No. 200331 will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 report from the Committee on Rules.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports out four bills with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, will you please read the report.

The Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 200183, entitled "An ordinance approving the ninth amendment to the redevelopment proposal for the Point Breeze Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Washington Avenue, South Twenty-Fifth Street, Reed Street, the rear property lines of the 1400 and 1500 block of South Taylor Street, Tasker Street, South 25th Street, Moore Street and South Broad Street, including the ninth amendment to the urban renewal plan, which provides, inter alia, for Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 it consistent with the Point Breeze Redevelopment Area Plan and generally consistent with the most recent Comprehensive Plan approved by the City Planning Commission of the City of Philadelphia"; and Bill No. 200346, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 56th Street, Arch Street, Conestoga Street, and Market Street"; and Bill No. 200349, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to amend certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled 'Overlay Zoning Districts,' by creating the '/AME, American Street Overlay District'"; and Bill No. 200350, entitled "An ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 bounded by Norris Street, American Street, Berks Street, and 3rd Street; and amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to amend certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled 'Overlay Zoning Districts,' by creating the '/BNA, Berks and American Overlay District,'" respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200183, 200346, 200349, and 200350. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200183, 200346, 200349, and 200350. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Green for a report from the Committee on Finance.

Thank you, Council President. The Committee on Finance reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, can you please read Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

The Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 200347, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Keystone Opportunity Zone, Economic Development District, and Strategic Development Area,' to provide for additional extensions of certain benefits, for the purposes of facilitating economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Green.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 200347. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 200347. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a report from the Committee on Law and Government.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Law and Government reports out seven bills and three resolutions with a favorable Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the report.

The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 200076, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter calling on the Police Department to eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk, as approved by Resolution of the City Council"; and Bill No. 200208, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the creation of the Office of the Victim Advocate, as approved by Resolution of the City Council"; and Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 200328, entitled "An ordinance amending The Philadelphia Code to add a new Chapter, entitled 'Employee Protections in Connection with COVID-19 Emergency Health Order,' to provide workplace protections in emergency health orders and regulations, provide protections for employees against retaliatory actions both for the disclosure of information related to employer non-compliance with such orders and for refusal to work under unsafe conditions caused by non-compliance with such orders"; and Bill No. 200355, entitled "An ordinance amending an ordinance (Bill No. 180293), entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan Nos. 34-S and 41-S by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portions of Packer Avenue from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to the Pierhead Line of the Delaware River and Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 the City Plan a right-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes"; and Bill No. 200363, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 20-101 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Residence Requirements,' by restoring the requirement that no person shall be appointed as an employee in the civil service, including but not limited to police officers, unless he or she has been a bona fide resident of the City for at least one year prior to appointment"; and Bill No. 200367, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission"; and Bill No. 200370, entitled "An Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Commissioner, on behalf of the City, to enter into a concession agreement with Bicycle Transit Systems, Incorporated for the operation, maintenance and expansion of a bicycle sharing system, an essential service during the COVID-19 period"; and Resolution No. 200080, entitled a "Resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter calling on the Police Department to eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk"; and Resolution No. 200216, entitled a "Resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the creation of the Office of the Victim Advocate"; and Resolution No. 200377, entitled a "Resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation of a Citizens Police Oversight Commission, and to authorize City Council by ordinance to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 composition, powers, and duties of the Commission; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills and resolutions to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 200076, 200208, 200328, 200355, 200363, 200367, and 200370. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 200076, 200208, 200328, 200355, 200363, 200367, and 200370. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. Resolutions No. 200080, 200216, and 200377 will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Thomas for a report from the Committee of Streets and Services.

Thank you, Council President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports out two bills with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Decker, please read the report.

The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 200351, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the operation of sidewalk cafes during the COVID-19 emergency until December 31, 2020 in areas of the City where such activity currently must be otherwise authorized by special ordinance, and allowing expanded activity by currently licensed sidewalk cafe operations"; and Bill No. 200352, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 11-100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'General Provisions,' to authorize the Streets Department to permit closure of the public right-of-way, including on street parking spaces, for public health, welfare and safety purposes during the COVID-19 public health emergency until December 31, 2020, including expansion of business uses that cannot operate in Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 limited indoor capacity and/or service due to the COVID-19 emergency," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Thomas.

Thank you, Council President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200351 and 200352. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills 200351, 200352. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla for a report from the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development reports out two bills with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.

The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, to which was referred Bill No. 200293 entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance,' by making revisions, including but not limited to, the exception for emergency contracting"; and Bill No. 200344, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code to create a new Chapter 9-5000, entitled 'Food Delivery Services,' to regulate third-party food delivery services, require certain disclosures to consumers, and provide for a limitation on certain fees charged to consumers," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 as to permit the first reading this day of Bill Nos. 200293 and 200344. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 200293 and No. 200344. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee of Public Health and Human Services. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee reports one bill from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.

The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 200306, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-4100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces,' by adding new definitions and requirements to ensure that certain health care employees are compensated for lost wages and medical expenses in the event they contract a communicable disease at work during a pandemic or epidemic event," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Bass.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of Bill No. 200306 today. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 200306. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and this bill will be Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 2ND READING placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. Those bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. There are no other additional bills on our First Reading Calendar today, so today we only are considering those legislative matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar that directly pertain to the COVID-19 crisis or that require expedited action to continue essential government function. There are several matters on the Calendar that meet these criteria. The prime sponsors of those matters have communicated their desire to have them considered today. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 2ND READING I, therefore, recognize Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up those matters from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 200296, 200297, 200298, 200299, 200300, 200329, 200330, 200294, 200295, 200302, 200304, and 200305. All other resolutions and bills are being held.

Thank you, Councilwoman. So before considering these resolutions and bills, we will consider public comment, and it will go as follows: Under normal circumstances, public comment must concern matters of the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, your phone number, and the number of the legislative item you are commenting on and whether you are in support or against the legislation to add to the list. At the appropriate time, we will telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Under ideal circumstances, you would normally have three minutes, but given the existing situation, we are going to impose a two-minute time limit. We have a significant number of individuals testifying today, so I ask you please to adjust your testimony to reflect a two-minute limit. What I would like to do, we will make sure that you know when your Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 two minutes is approaching, so we will have a timer. A bell will ring at approximately 30 seconds prior to the two-minute limit so you can wrap up your remarks. We thank you very much for your anticipated cooperation with these rules that have been established as a result of our current condition. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made in the same manner and to limit the scope of the testimony to only certain items on the agenda during this particular emergency. So thank you very much. The legislative matters today, your testimony is only limited to the bills that were called up by Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 So we will now reach out. We're going to take a brief moment to allow the tech support to tee up the calls. I'm told that there is a timeline that they need to adequately time and tee up those individuals. So we'll take around five minutes and then we will continue when notified by tech support. One last thing, I just want everyone to be aware that this is a public meeting and it's being recorded. So because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. So I would ask Mr. Decker at the appropriate time, once we get the tech support teed up, we will start calling the names. (Pause.)

Thank you. Thank you very much. We are ready for our public comment session, so Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 hopefully you all are connected and ready to go. I will now ask the Chief Clerk, Mr. Decker, to please read the first name on our list.

Madeline Shikomba.

This is she. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can. Good morning. Please proceed with your testimony.

Good morning, City Council. What I choose to speak on was the bills pertaining to -

Just state your name for the record, please. I'm sorry.

Madeline Shikomba.

Go ahead.

What I wish to speak on was basically the bills Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 concerning the relief to be provided to tenants concerning their ability to pay their rent. The bills are 200305, 200294, 200295, and 200302. I do support these bills, and hoping that they provide relief to the tenants. While I'm sitting on this phone listening to City Council, I'm going to make this comment. I'm appalled at the number of bills that you people are trying to pass under the goals of the pandemic. How do you expect people to read all these bills you be bringing up here and be on top of these things? This is very nefarious activity by City Council by sending these bills. I know what I'm supposed to speak on, but I'mma speak on this, because I have never seen such a list of bills in my life. And then you expect the public to comment on these bills when you not even having session? And you don't even know when the sessions are being held for committees to even speak Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 on these bills? I mean, this is really a shame. I mean, I'm appalled at these activities. And you know that you also had an all-night session last night. I don't know what the hell you doing at an all-night session, but I'm flabbergasted. How can you be passing all of these bills? Must have been at least 30 bills I sat here writing down on my paper. Okay? I know I'm supposed to speak on the bills. I already told you the bills that I approve, okay, but I'm just really appalled at the number of bills that you trying to squeeze through City Council using COVID as a coverup to pass a lot of bills that you know the public didn't have access to, can't get access to. How we going to fight this? I don't know, but I'm really -- (inaudible) right now. No, I can't. This is just too much for me to handle.

Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madeline.

Bye.

Bye.

Adam Butler.

Hi. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

My name is Adam Butler. This testimony is in regards to Bill 200350. I'm a volunteer at the Cesar Andreu Iglesias Garden, which is located in the proposed overlay district that this bill would create. The garden was created by neighbors to provide food and a gathering place in an area that has been completely neglected by the City for decades. Unchecked new construction has already been devastating to this particular area. Dozens of families have Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 been displaced in the past year as predatory developers acquired property, neglected real estate, and ignored the pleas of neighbors upset about the impact of construction on their homes and open spaces. This is a spot zoning bill by the Planning Commission's own description, and it shouldn't be under consideration. It is clearly designed to benefit -- it is clearly designed to benefit a development project that will be led by Scannapieco Development, who has no apparent experience in this neighborhood. There has been no community involvement in the planning process, and introducing the zoning variance without, at a minimum, giving neighborhoods an opportunity to respond to a specific plan is totally unacceptable, pandemic or not. If indeed there will be an affordable housing component in this program, the neighbors would like to have Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 input on how that will be defined, who will benefit, and how that commitment will be guaranteed by the stakeholders. In addition, the introduction of a 200-foot structure in this neighborhood is a radical change and should include proactive community discussions. Scannapieco, APM, and the Councilperson Sanchez's office proposed that a huge disposition of this property be given away earlier this year. We opposed it, and the Land Bank agreed to delay. The Planning Commission heard testimony on this, voted to delay, and the Rules Committee overruled them. The conversation has still not happened in the community, and seeing a zoning bill come forward without any notice to the neighbors who will be impacted has enhanced the feeling among the neighbors that these projects will happen whether anyone in the neighborhood wants them to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 happen or not. Council should not allow it. I am limited in time and I have a lot more to say, and I'll leave you with this: Stop treating us like we are stupid. Everyone understands when we are being manipulated. Tear down every racist statue. Abolish the tax abatement. De-fund the PPD, and save our neighborhoods.

Thank you so much for your testimony, sir.

George Gould. (No response.)

The next speaker is George Gould. (No response.)

Next speaker, Mr. Decker.

Next speaker, Kevin Moyer.

This is Kevin Moyer on the record. Can you hear me? Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Yes. Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Good morning. Kevin Moyer. I'll be speaking on behalf of a few of the housing bills, starting with 200295. This is the eviction moratorium extension. I ask that City Council clarify when the action is in regard to this bill. It's currently unclear what constitutes an action as far as it should be unlawful for a landlord to take any steps in furtherance. So what those steps may be. Number two, this bill should include some kind of requirement on the tenants' end to provide some kind of proof that they are affected negatively by COVID, be it financially or through the illness. Right now it requires nothing on the end of tenants. So even tenants that are perfectly (background Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 noise) are unaffected by this. Number three, fund it. If it's so important to City Council that tenants not be particularly hurt, we understand that, but it needs to be funded by the City. (Background noise) Bill No. 200305, I want to read Article I, Section 17 of the Pennsylvania Constitution regarding ex post facto law. No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of contracts, or making irrevocable any grant or special privileges, shall be passed. This law is unconstitutional. It will be challenged. I urge City Council not to try to ex post facto affect private contracts. This is the one that admits for a year-long repayment plan. This is essentially the same as requiring grocery stores to give out carts of groceries in exchange for IOU's or telling credit card companies that they must waive payments for essential goods for a year. You're Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 putting all the costs on the property owners, and I urge City Council to fund these programs and pay the owners what they're rightfully due if it's so important for them to continue. Those are my comments. Thank you.

Thank you for your testimony, sir.

The next speaker is Vikram Patel.

Hello. Good morning.

Good morning. Please state your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Yeah. My name is Vik Patel. I'm an attorney at the Housing Unit at Community Legal Services. I'm here speaking in support of the bills in the Emergency Housing Protections Act. First, though, I'd like to express gratitude to all the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Councilmembers who have supported these bills and to the sponsors, especially Councilmember Gym, Brooks, Gauthier. Every day all of us that work as part of the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project receive numerous calls from renters who are struggling right now because of the pandemic. Numerous renters have lost their jobs, and even though they've applied for unemployment compensation, they have not received what they qualified for, especially right now, because the state has closed down the dispersal of payments. So rental assistance has only reached a small portion of the renters that need it. The City's CERA program approved rental assistance for 4,000 households, for which we're very thankful for the City for, but this only accounts for a small percentage of the households that need rental assistance. The state also has its own rental assistance program, but this isn't Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 even going to start taking applications until next month, and won't even start paying out until later after that. Right now the money to provide landlords with back rents and renters with stable housing isn't there yet. These bills will give renters and landlords the time necessary to access that $150 million that the state has allocated for rental assistance. Also give renters and landlords the structure through the diversion program to resolve disputes and negotiate reasonable payment agreements while also preventing renters from drowning in mounting late fees and protect them from illegal lockouts. Now, this pending wave of evictions, it's not going to hit all Philadelphians equally because of systemic racial inequality. Philadelphia's black community has been affected most by housing instability before the pandemic. During the pandemic, it was once again hit the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 hardest, and if these bills don't pass, it's going to be hit once again because of our inaction. I urge you, please, pass these bills for the sake of the City and everyone affected by the pandemic.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.

The next speaker is William Lublin.

I just want to remind everyone just on the call you have a two-minute time limit.

Good morning.

Good morning. State your name for the record.

Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is William Lublin. I am a Philadelphia native, a real estate professional for almost 50 years, a property management professional, and the owner of numerous properties in the City of Philadelphia. I would speak against the bills known Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 together as the EHPA, Bills 294, 95, 301, 302, 304, and 305. While I believe they are well-intentioned, they can be devastating to the owners and operators of rental properties and penalize those individuals and businesses disproportionately, many of whom are small investors with only one or two properties or elderly retirees relying on rental income to support their families or provide their retirement income. Rational property owners don't want to evict anyone. The time and costs are too great. They always result in a business loss for the property owner, and almost any property owner I have ever met in 50 years would rather have a tenant making some sort of periodic payment plan than have to spend money to evict them, absorb the lost rent, pay to renovate the house to clean out the items that are left behind that's too heavy for the tenants to carry, and then be forced to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 take 30 to 60 to 90 days to re-rent the unit. Obviously there are more tenants than landlords, and while society has long vilified the landlord and previous testimony of tenants before Council painted pictures of rapacious landlords and victimized tenants, not every landlord is vicious and every tenant is not a victim. Property owners are important to the City. In February of this year, I sent checks for almost $400,000 to the City of Philadelphia for 2020 real estate taxes, and I am certainly not alone. Property owners generate billions of dollars in revenue for the City. The City also looks to landlords to pay water and sewer rents even when they are the responsibility of the tenants and no rent is being received. These ordinances place the burden of housing the tenants on the back of the property owners, without providing Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 them any source of relief or recovery from additional fees charged by the City during these periods of non-payment. Owners are still liable for mortgage payments and late fees. They may face foreclosure on the individual properties or foreclosure on their primary residences. Tenants that are not paying rent typically are not maintaining the property and are not maintaining the property -

Sir, if you can kind of wrap it up, because your time is up.

Okay. All I'm asking is that the considerations of the ordinances would be more practical if there was a balanced approach and some input from trade associations, landlord organizations as well to perhaps help the City provide some relief to these property owners while protecting the tenants that are also victims of the pandemic. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Thank you very much for your time and for the good work that you guys are trying to do however you pass these.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.

This is George Gould. I'm trying to testify.

Okay. We called you earlier.

George Gould.

Go ahead.

Hello. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you, Mr. Gould. Please proceed.

Thank you.

You have two minutes.

Good morning. My name is George Gould, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here. I will speak about the five emergency Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 housing protection bills up for final passage. I'm a senior attorney at Community Legal Services. I have worked with many of you on many important housing legislation over many years. These bills certainly fit that category. I'd like to thank Councilpersons Gauthier, Brooks, and Gym and their staff and other Councilpersons and their staff for all their hard work on these tremendously important bills. The eviction moratorium bill will extend the moratorium when the bill is passed up until August 31st, unless the tenant is causing imminent threat or harm. The eviction diversion bill will create a diversion program requiring a conciliation conference between the landlord and tenant prior to filing the eviction action. I have been very involved -- I was very involved in the creation of the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program with Judge Rizzo, and this program will save many homes. It was mentioned that there is going to be a state rental assistance program, although it might not be for a while. Hopefully this will be part of the eviction diversion, and what will happen is landlords will get the money that they are owed. The illegal lockout bill will amend the current law and allow tenants to bring civil action for illegal lockouts and be able to restore possession, damages, and attorneys' fees and costs. The hardship repayment bill would require landlords to agree to enter into repayment agreements, which would have the tenant begin paying the full amount due after August 31st and pay their arrearages over a nine-month period. I believe despite the previous testimony, that this is very reasonable. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Finally, the waiver of late fees. A landlord will not be able to charge late fees and interest on back rent during the COVID emergency period. Again, I thank you for working on these important bills. They are needed very, very much.

Thank you.

Because what will happen if nothing is passed, there's going to be an amazing amount of chaos in this city with tenants being evicted without being able to pay and landlords getting their bills.

Thank you, Mr. Gould. Thank you.

The next speaker is Jacob Speidel. (No response.)

Jacob Speidel. (No response.)

I'll remind speakers to use star 6 to unmute Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 yourselves.

Hello. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can. State your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Good morning. My name is Jacob Speidel. I'm the Director of Tenant Rights at SeniorLAW Center. I'm speaking in support of the five emergency housing bills. At SeniorLAW Center, we provide free legal assistance to thousands of seniors each year, including to victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation, elders facing housing crises and homelessness, and grandparents raising grandchildren. We support these five bills as a small step, part of a balanced approach to respond to this unprecedented crisis and address a coming avalanche of evictions. COVID-19 has not gone away. If Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 people are forced into unsafe living situations, we can expect another wave in infection and for more vulnerable seniors to die. With this package of bills, tenants will still owe rent. Landlords will still be entitled to rent. What these bills do is, they create an orderly process and time for tenants to get back to work, for tenants to receive back unemployment benefits and government assistance, and to use this money to pay their landlords the rent that is owed. Money is coming. There are, as you've already heard, $150 million that have been allocated by the state, and we certainly hope to see other assistance potentially from the City. Tenants who are looking to move need time for the rental market to open up again and allow people to move. People can't move, because nobody is moving. Please pass this package of Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 five bills.

Thank you so much for your testimony.

The next speaker is Victor Pinckney. You need to use star 6 to unmute yourself. Victor Pinckney.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Yes. My name is Victor Pinckney, Sr. Good morning, Council President and Councilmembers. I'm the Vice President of HAPCO Philadelphia. HAPCO Philadelphia is the Commonwealth's largest membership organization for providers of low- to moderate-income private rental housing. HAPCO Philadelphia's membership owns primarily single family, duplex rentals on the streets and neighborhoods of Philadelphia. I also own and manage rental properties in Philadelphia. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 We do understand during these trying times, that we all are going through hardships, tenants as well as landlords. You have good tenants; you have bad tenants. You have good landlords and bad landlords. While I say that, I'm testifying today against Bill 200294, 200295, 200302, and 200305. If these bills are passed, it will have a devastating effect on rental property owners. I currently have a tenant that has not paid rent since February. That pre-dates any COVID-19 emergency period. I was finally able to get a court date scheduled for July the 14th, which I doubt very seriously that that will actually happen. If these bills are passed, my case will get continued if the tenant alleges a COVID-19 hardship, which they surely will do, and I will have no ability to dispute the allegation. I will then have to wait until Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 September to send them a notice or conciliation conference in October to get into court, if I'm lucky, and then will not get an actual lockout until at least November, December. This tenant has no intention of paying. I am now going to lose nine months of rent. That will be devastating to a person owning a single one home, one rental property. I have another tenant who is working and has the money to pay rent, but realizes he does not have to. So it's not paid and there's nothing I can do about it. The state moratorium on evictions is on July 10th. Tenants should not be allowed to live rent free after that date. Under these bills, however, this tenant will be allowed to live rent free for at least an additional three months. My business and the business of members of my organization cannot survive on this. The Governor's emergency declaration wasn't declared Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 until March 6th, 2020. Under these bills, however, they extend the COVID-19 emergency period retroactively to March 1st, 2020. Again, that was before there was an emergency. Additionally, for rents that were due before March 1st --

Mr. Pinckney?

-- I will be prevented from proceeding on this case as well. Regarding the payment plan --

Mr. Pinckney, can you wrap up.

Yes, sir. These bills take away any incentives for tenants to pay rent on time even if they can. My mortgage payment, taxes, utilities, and repair bills, however, do not stop. Not having the rental to pay for these expenses will destroy my business. Thank you for listening, Councilmembers, and please vote against Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 these bills.

Thank you, sir, for your testimony.

The next speaker is Sherry Thomas.

Hello, Council. Can you hear me?

Yes. Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.

Yes. Good morning. My name is Sherry Thomas and I'm the Director of Housing at the Legal Clinic for the Disabled. I'm here to support the bills in the Emergency Housing Protection Act. At the Legal Clinic for the Disabled, we represent people with injuries or illnesses like stroke, brain injury, diabetes, respiratory illness, and mental health diagnoses. These folks are already at high risk of contracting COVID and now are worrying about being Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 evicted during the pandemic. The risk to them of fatally contracting the disease is ever present, and housing is a human right that can literally save lives. If you don't pass these bills, we're going to see large numbers of people evicted within a short period of time. People will have to quickly find housing in a market that just recently reopened. This is really difficult for people with mobility issues, special needs or limitations, and many will be forced to move in with family or friends, resulting in crowding conditions or entering an already burdened shelter system. When we think about reopening, we have to think of the high risk of transmission when people are shuffled around in this way. Rental assistance, as we've heard, is a crucial piece of recovery, but it is only one piece. I've represented stroke survivors, people with brain injuries, and others with Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 impairments, and these clients often have difficulty gathering documentation, communicating, and processing information. The rental assistance is really of little use if people lack the time and the ability to get to it before an eviction takes place. This legislation is a major step in ensuring the time to access it. The policies that you'll set in place today will impact families for years to come. The trauma of an eviction is lasting, and data shows that it is black and brown communities that bear the brunt of the trauma. We know policies matter. They impact generations of people. Being homeless can change the course of someone's life and their children's lives. Today you have an opportunity to do that, and you must take it. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 so very much for your testimony. The next witness?

The next speaker is Leia Yarmin. Please use star 6 to unmute yourself. Leia Yarmin.

Hello.

We can hear you now, Leia. Just please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Absolutely. My name is Leia Yarmin, and thank you for hearing me and thank you to the person who went before me whose testimony I wholeheartedly agree with. Are you ready for me to go?

Yes, please.

Okay. Good morning, all. My name is Leia Yarmin. I am a social worker serving people who experience housing insecurity in this city. As I didn't hear enough on this Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 call, I just want to say housing is a basic human right. And during this pandemic, I've been shocked and saddened and angered by the lack of City action in protecting and offering housing. The lack of access to, maintenance of, and safety in housing is violent, and it's easy to see the oppressive racial element when you look at the statistics of who it is that experiences this poverty and lack of housing security in Philadelphia. I speak today about the Emergency Housing Protection Act. The collection of bills should be passed, and I wanted to be on record that I do not believe it is enough. The bill asks for an extension of the moratorium on evictions, for mediations prior to eviction, rent repayment plans, and the waiver of rent late fees. I believe that this bill can be a foundation of how much further necessary protections can be built. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 I would like it -- excuse me. Our citizens deserve housing, and I believe that their housing can be protected through rental forgiveness and for pushing the burdens we placed not on individuals, not on landlords, but on financial institutions. We should not be evicting people who are vulnerable -- is that my whole time?

Yes. I know, it comes up rather quickly. If you could just complete your sentence, that will be great. Thank you so much.

Thank you. I support this plan, but I also believe that in order to protect the people of Philadelphia, we need to have a rental forgiveness and -- dang, I didn't expect it to go so fast, so I guess that's all I have to say.

All right. Listen, thank you so very much for your testimony. We greatly appreciate you sharing with us today your Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 perspective. The next witness, Mr. Decker?

Marquis Combs. Star 6 to unmute.

Hello. Can y'all hear me?

Yes, we can hear you, Marquis. Do us a favor and please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

All right. My name is Marquis Combs. Today I am representing Altman Tenants Union and I am speaking on behalf of for the Emergency Housing Act that we are discussing. Millions of people have already lost their jobs and had their income in some other way affected by COVID-19. Those of us lucky enough to get through the unemployment website still aren't in a position to have financially saved first, last, and security move-in fees. In the event that this mass Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 eviction does take place, what will most likely happen is a lot of people will be forced into homelessness. And there's never a good time to be homeless, but in the middle of a pandemic, it is especially cruel to put capital over community right now, and I believe that is what a lot of these so-called good landlords are doing. What happens if you want to stay? The landlords lose out on some money? Well, guess what, a lot of your tenants have been losing out on money for the past few months. They've been scratching and surviving, trying to make a $1,200 stimulus check stretch throughout these past few months. A lot of people don't have money for rent right now. But I would just like to ask these landlords who are against this bill to really ask themselves what do they think will really happen to their tenants if they do evict them right now? Do they Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 really think that their tenants will be -- do they really think that their tenants will still be safe given the COVID-19 pandemic? Do they think that their tenants will be able to find housing in this current market? Or do they actually realize that they are condemning their tenants to homelessness and to health risks? And that's my time. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Marquis. Next witness to testify?

The next speaker is Samantha Petty. Star 6 to unmute yourself. Samantha Petty. (No response.)

The next speaker is Yosuke Araki. Star 6 to unmute. Yosuke Araki.

Hello. Can you hear me? Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Yes, we can hear you. Just please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Hi. My name is Yosuke Araki. I'm speaking on behalf of the Emergency Housing Protection Act, all the bills included. I find it really ironic how all of these rental associations, like PRA and HAPCO, are asking for empathy from City Council when that's literally the one trait that they lack, profits over human lives. I mean, the lack of social empathy and solidarity to get people through a pandemic is disgusting, but the question in regard to housing right now is who does the financial responsibility of pandemic response fall onto? It should not fall onto renters, as these psychopaths would lead you to believe. It should not even necessarily fall onto the psychopaths either. It should fall entirely on the government's duty to Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 wholly neutralize the effects of this pandemic. But bipartisan leadership on the federal level has given 80 percent of benefits from tax changes in the stimulus bill to millionaires. Nancy Pelosi is already driving through more corporate handouts in the HEROES Act. There is a cultural and structural lack of social empathy and solidarity to get people through a pandemic of this proportion. These bills will provide significant protection against inevitable reactions that will be taken by financially hit rental owners who will blame and punish their helpless tenants for their monetary losses, punishable by homelessness and, consequently, punishable by death. We're in a global pandemic. Not passing these bills will hold you accountable to death. It is incumbent upon City Council to pass this package of bills, all of them, which unfortunately wouldn't even meet the degree of threats Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 we're faced with. Eviction mediation repayment buys time but still leaves the responsibility of pandemic response on renters, but not doing so will set a terrible precedent for future pandemics that will only become more frequent, amounting despair on your constituents which, as you've seen in the past few weeks -

Excuse me, sir. Thank you. That will -

Thank you.

You're welcome. Thank you so very much for your patience. We greatly appreciate it. The next witness scheduled to testify, Mr. Decker?

Fonam Priakh. (No response.)

Star 6 to unmute yourself. Fonam Priakh. (No response.)

Next speaker, Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Norah Purcell.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you, Norah. Listen, Norah, state your name for the record and then proceed with your testimony. You'll hear a bell go off to signal when your time is up. Okay?

All right. Thank you. This is Norah Purcell. I will give some facts about the current crises and how it will affect the most vulnerable. The Coronavirus shows no sign of slowing. Florida had 2,600 new cases yesterday since they reopened. Black people are dying from Coronavirus at three times the rate of white people, two million total cases in the U.S., 27,975 new cases since yesterday in the U.S. Twenty million people in the U.S. are currently unemployed. One in six black workers are unemployed. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 Black and Latino people are two times more likely to rent their homes. The federal CARES Act is set to end July 31st. What will happen when all these people lose money from the CARES Act, are unemployed, and are allowed to be evicted? Housing is a human right, and the most efficient way to keep people healthy during the global pandemic is to keep them in their houses. Ithaca, New York has been the first city in the U.S. to enact a rent free for the duration of the pandemic, and I suggest Philadelphia set an example and do the same. At a time when our black community members need support the most, ending eviction moratoriums will worsen Coronavirus and harm poor renters in the City who are disproportionately black. I appreciate the Tenants Union of Philadelphia for informing me about this meeting, Community Legal Services. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 I talked faster than I meant to. But Housing Protection Act is the least the City can do. People are dying, and to save their lives, you should keep them in their homes.

Thank you so very much for your testimony. We greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Mr. Decker, can you please call the next witness to testify.

Felini Williams.

Hi. My name is Felini Williams. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you well. Listen, just state your name again for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Thank you. My name is Felini Williams. I'm speaking in favor of the five bills of the Emergency Housing Protection Act. I want to thank everyone for the chance to speak today Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 and the people that have spoken in favor of this Act before me. With the amount of people that are unemployed as a result of COVID-19, a lot of people are struggling to have money to feed themselves and their families, and evicting them from the house is actually the worst thing you can do in this situation. Landlords and developers have been focused on their profits and how much money they can make off of people for a long time and not the basic human right of housing that we all deserve. We need to figure out as a community how we can protect everyone in this crisis and not kick people out on the streets. On a personal note, my landlord has been telling us to move out in July, and it's terrifying to think of the possibility of having to look for housing in this time. But thank you for the time to speak, and that's all I have. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Thank you so very much for your testimony. Mr. Decker, will you please call the next witness.

Natalie DiFrank. Please use -MS. DiFRANK: Hello.

Natalie? MS. DiFRANK: Yes.

Yes. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. You'll hear a bell, Natalie, signaling when your time is up. MS. DiFRANK: Okay. Hi. My name is Natalie DiFrank and I am a renter in the City of Philadelphia as well as a sexual health educator, and I want to speak to supporting the five emergency housing bills. I specifically work within the LGBT community and I'm aware of the immense amount of trauma people are experiencing at this point, especially Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 the black LGBT community. When we are not giving housing at a point where black people are experiencing two pandemics at once while being murdered by the police as they walk outside or sleep in their home is unacceptable. Not only will having housing protect individuals in the City of Philadelphia from experiencing -- from being able to protect themselves physically from what has been informed and paid for by this state, by staying at home is the safest way that we can do this, other than letting the COVID-19 process. Any jobs that are available now for people are only jobs that are used for essential workers or where corporations are not providing accurate or COVID protection to their workers, and this is unacceptable. There is no way that landlords are going to sit here and say that renters are the ones who owe them money when they are obviously Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 financially privileged to be able to own multiple properties. Renters as a whole are people who have marginalized identities and do not have access to own land within this area. This is unfair and wrong, and we need to support the five emergency housing bills in order to protect the community and hope that people experience less trauma than what they already do from just walking in the street outside. Thank you. That's it.

Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Decker, will you please call the next speaker.

Lori Fulton.

Yes. Good morning, City Council. This is Lori Fulton for the record. I am speaking in support of the housing protection -- the Emergency Housing Protection Act. I am a singer and voice actor, and I have been proudly living in Philadelphia since Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 1981. I implore you to listen. When the moratorium on evictions is lifted, what will thousands of Philadelphians do? COVID-19 attacks the lives and killed thousands of Pennsylvanians. Although Pennsylvania's numbers are lower every day, more are still -- more Pennsylvanians are still dying. The Coronavirus' deadly impact has closed performance spaces, theatres, and restaurants where I work. All of my work in addition has been cancelled or postponed until 2021. What will happen to me and thousands of Philadelphians who are out of work through no fault of their own when the moratorium on evictions is lifted? How long will the pandemic unemployment assistance be awarded? Will there be another stimulus bill to help Philadelphia residents make ends meet. I just received my $1,200 a week ago. City Councilmembers, please listen to the voices of Philadelphians Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 who are the lifeblood of Philadelphia's economy and culture. I ask City Councilmembers to think on the alternative. Think about the thousands of Philadelphia constituents losing their homes, apartments, and businesses, finding themselves homeless and completely impoverished for the first time in their lives. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.

The next speaker is Christina Gesualdi. Please use star 6 to unmute yourself.

I think I did. Can you hear me?

Yeah, we can hear you. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Okay. Great. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 My name is Christina Gesualdi. Good morning. I'm a renter in Philadelphia and I'm also part of the Philly Tenants Union, and I'm speaking in favor today of the Emergency Housing Protections Act, all five bills, but I really want to narrow into Bill 200304. This is a bill that asks for relief and recovery of losses when an illegal or forced eviction happens. And just to make very clear, this is already happening during COVID, and this is also something -- it's not new, you know, after COVID. It's something that has happened before COVID as well, landlords, small, medium, and large, just shutting off utilities, showing up at the property, sending building managers or sending intimidating family members, forcing entry to the property to forcefully evict their tenants, and a lot of times it's an illegal eviction. The court hasn't fully processed. They don't have an active rental license even. Sometimes it's a Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 mass eviction. We've seen that already in our city. And like if a bill can't even -- if this bill is only asking for a minimum of $2,000 toward recovery of losses for the tenant when something like this happens, if that can't pass like to recover people's -- I mean, I don't think $2,000 can recover anyone's trauma and losses really from a forced eviction, an illegal eviction. But as a bare minimum, if that can't pass, then I just urge us to think like what are we protecting. What myth are we protecting about how this city and housing properties work. It's just as bad as people protecting the Columbus statue. Worse actually and -yes. That's all. Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony.

The next speaker is Alicia Frausto. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020

Good morning.

Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.

My name is Alicia Frausto and I'm a former leader with One PA, a former teacher, and grocery store worker. Thank you for providing me this opportunity to testify on the ways in which Philadelphia City Council can help ensure that vulnerable renters are protected during this economic and health crisis. My housemate used to work at a restaurant, while I worked as an independent educator and part-time at MOM's Organic Market. When restaurants and schools closed, both of us lost half our incomes. We reached out to our homeowners or landlords and informed them of this. They responded and said they would reduce our rent to $1,200. We tried to negotiate for a larger relief, but they wouldn't move the price down. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 We still cannot afford this, but we had a choice - choose $1,200 a month or be homeless. It was made very clear that the priority has and would be that the rent is paid and not that the health or well-being of us as individuals are important. The e-mail went on with them sharing information about how you could pay based on unemployment checks. They also suggested jobs that we know are highly at risk. And for what? They got in the business of providing housing, a human right, a right that shouldn't be negotiated, especially during a global pandemic, a business that has a history of shutting black and brown people out of the wealth game. This can very well lead to many of us being formally or informally evicted next month. This is my story: My landlords were two white men who were actively gentrifying a predominantly black Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 neighborhood in West Philadelphia, and they decided to rent to us, two brown queer folks. During the negotiation process, they had the nerve to tell us they were nervous to rent to us in the first place because of our jobs, and they told us to consider not renewing our lease because we couldn't afford it. What if we wanted to renew and stay in our home? They would have found some excuse or raised the rent, and many black and brown folks can't afford the rent price anyways. There was a housing crisis before this moment, and the global pandemic was not something we created. The wealth gap is not something we created either. It's something the government created, and it's something the government has a choice to fix at this moment. Racism and classism in the poorest big city of the United States goes on in the housing game, and the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 underlying prejudices and assumption about who we were or what we could afford showed up in our negotiation process. Philadelphia City Councilmembers, I am calling from California because of this crisis to demand that you pass the full Emergency Housing Protection Act so renters like myself can be protected during and beyond this pandemic.

Thank you. Good? Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.

The next speaker is Kyla Van Buren.

Hi. Can you hear me?

Yes.

My name is Kyla Van Buren. Throughout this crisis, after losing my job, I volunteered multiple days every week to try and support other tenants. I flyered neighborhoods, Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 answered endless housing questions, read through leases, and helped people try to communicate with landlords. And throughout all of this, the only thing that's clear to me is the severity of this housing crisis and how few options people in this city have. We need more rental assistance. I know people keep saying it's coming, but with no clear promise and no protections, we're all left waiting in fear for what our landlords will say next and what will happen when the courts reopen in July. Recently I've been trying to advocate for a tenant who has become disabled due to a complex illness. For two years she's been trying to secure a housing subsidy, and during this pandemic, she lost her work, so is in even more trouble. When she tried applying for unemployment and other public health benefits, she's been stuck in the bureaucracy of that system and Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 still hasn't heard back or received any aid, and even if she does get granted aid, it will only be about $500, which is less than half of her rent. Do people like this deserve to be slapped with evictions, late fees, back rent, and harassment from landlords? Just because Governor Wolf has declared business as usual doesn't mean that it's safe for Philadelphia renters to be evicted and displaced, while we are still very much in the middle of this health crisis. I ask you, all of you, City Councilmembers, please extend the eviction moratorium. Please allow for year-long repayment plans. And please pass the Emergency Housing Protection Act. Thank you.

There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.

Thank Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING you, Mr. Decker. Can you please recognize Katherine. We will recognize Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson at this time for a point of information.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader and Council President and colleagues. I ask to be voted -- I ask to be noted as voting aye on all bills and resolutions. I need to be excused for special business.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Leave shall be granted. The record will reflect your aye vote.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you. That concludes our testimony from witnesses. We will now consider the resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. And, Mr. Decker, if you can please read the Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Bill No. 200296.

An ordinance constituting the Fifteenth Supplemental Ordinance to the General Gas Works Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1998; authorizing the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the "City") to sell, either at public or private sale, one or more series of Gas Works Revenue Bonds and Gas Works Revenue Bonds to refund such Bonds.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green for an amendment to Bill No. 200296.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment on your behalf to Bill No. 200296. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. All in favor of the motion Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and Bill No. 200296 has been amended. Bill No. 200296, as amended, will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 200297.

An ordinance constituting the Twenty-Third Supplemental Ordinance to the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989, as supplemented; authorizing the Bond Committee to issue and sell one or more series of tax-exempt or taxable Water and Wastewater Refunding Revenue Bonds and revenue refunding bonds.

Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Brooks.

Aye.

Councilman Domb.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gauthier.

Aye.

All right. The tech guys, we have feedback. Go ahead, Mr. Decker, as they try to correct that.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson is voting aye. Councilman Green. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilwoman Gym.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Oh.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilwoman Parker.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Squilla.

Aye. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Councilman Thomas.

Aye.

Council President Clarke.

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all the members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200298.

An ordinance 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; authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions.

Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.

Councilwoman Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Brooks.

Aye.

Councilman Domb.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gauthier.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson is voting aye. Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gym.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Oh.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilwoman Parker.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Squilla.

Aye.

Councilman Thomas.

Aye.

Council President Clarke. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200299.

An ordinance authorizing the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into an amendment agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania for provision of payroll banking services to the City.

Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.

Councilwoman Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Brooks. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilman Domb.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gauthier.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson is voting aye. Councilman Green. (No response.)

Councilman Green.

You're muted, Councilman.

Aye. Sorry. Sorry. Aye.

Councilwoman Gym.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Councilman Oh.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilwoman Parker.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Squilla.

Aye.

Councilman Thomas.

Aye.

Council President Clarke.

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200300.

An ordinance approving the Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints and conditions, and acknowledging the receipt of the Revised Forecast of Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2026.

This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.

Councilwoman Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Brooks.

Aye.

Councilman Domb. Stated Meeting June 18, 2020 6/18/20 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilwoman Gauthier.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson is voting aye. Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilwoman Gym.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.