Thank you, Madam Chair. Tomorrow, on the Archipelago of Puerto Rico, the Navy will be again resuming the bombardment against the wishes of the Island and of the people. There has never been an issue that has brought the citizens of the nation of Puerto Rico, both in the Archipelago and in the states of United States of American. The governor of Puerto Rico has made it clear to the new administration that she wishes the bombardment to end immediately. She wishes that the Navy remove all of its facilities out of Vieques and leave the island alone. Lawsuits about the health of the people of Vieques have been instituted. And it has been shown that cancer, heart conditions, the fauna, SPEECHES the sea, the fish, everything is being contaminated by the bombardment, constant bombardment of the Navy, over the last 60 years. It is about time -- this Council passed a resolution three years ago; it was the first City Council in the United States to pass such a resolution calling for the ending of that bombing and the removing of all Navy exercises out of the island. It has been followed now by 25 other cities across the United States and other state legislatures. Just last week, Governor Pataki of New York led a delegation of politicians from the New York Assembly and the City Council of New York down to the island to express their solidarity with the people of the Archipelago and the Island of Vieques. Even a Republican is talking to the president of the United States and telling that president that this bombardment is wrong and it should end. I think they should begin to hear those voices. The Governor of Puerto Rico, the people of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Ricans in the United States are unified on the issue that the Navy should cease, desist, and remove themselves SPEECHES immediately. Tomorrow, across the United States -in Chicago, New York, Cleveland, New Jersey, Newark, and Philadelphia -- there will be demonstrations calling for the cessation of these exercises. I would like to see all of my colleagues join us in this struggle that we have ongoing against abuse, the oppression, the destruction by the Navy of what Geraldo Rivera called last night "the destruction of paradise." They should end it, they should end it now. At 5 o'clock, we will meet at Broad and Cherry tomorrow, and probably stop traffic once again, in order to get our message across. Thank you very much.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam President. Two additional comments before I talk about what I'd like to talk about. First, I want to thank Councilman Goode for his astute pickup on the matter that we had taken up during the session with regard to a particular bill. I appreciate his sharing that SPEECHES information with us. Hopefully, there will be a more appropriate resolution to that particular matter. Secondly, with regard to Councilman Ortiz's comments, based on my recollection of last year, Councilman, if you would like to let me know the items that you would like from Fresh Fields so that at an appropriate or early time, I'll be able to do the necessary shopping to take care of while you are in the fine care of the Philadelphia Police Department, because I anticipate that you will be arrested. (Laughter.)
Unfortunately, Madam President, on a much more serious note, I wish to speak on some incidents that took place the other night at a candidate's forum in the 52nd Ward, cosponsored by the ward and the Wynnefield Residents Association and the Parkside Association of Philadelphia. This was billed as and did, in fact, happen. It was a candidate forum for the Democratic candidates for District Attorney at the Penn Memorial Baptist Church. Let me from the outset, Madam SPEECHES President, make this statement: Anti-Semitism has no place in the 52th Ward or in this city. I will not tolerate this kind of activity, either in the ward, my committee people, nor my constituents will in the ward, in the 4th District that I represent, and I certainly will not tolerate it anywhere in this city. I have black, or African-American, and Jewish committee people who are offended at the kind of comments that people tell me that they heard outside the church during the conduct of this particular event. It was a good candidate forum until some people decided to go off on their own agenda about their own issues and talk about things that have no place in decent conversation. This election is a very serious election and it is not an election about race or religion; it is an election about the administration of justice through the District Attorney's Office. Let me first apologize on behalf of the good people of the 52nd Ward, the Wynnefield community, to both of the candidates for the behavior of some people who came into the SPEECHES neighborhood for the sole purpose of disrupting and attempting to abuse both of the candidates who had a right and who were invited and had a right to express their views, whether individuals liked their ideas or not. That's the great thing about being in America: People do have a right to run for office, express their views, and the public does have the right to express themselves in, an appropriate and decent fashion. In our community, we treat our guests with respect and dignity, regardless of what their views are, because, in my view at least, that's what elections and campaigns are all about. Let me say again that I denounce any derogatory remarks, whether racial or religious in nature, that may have been made to or about either of the candidates who came out that night and spent some time with us to talk about their campaigns and why they should be elected or reelected to that particular office. I think the nonsense in that regard needs to stop. This is a serious election. People have a right to run, people have a right to express themselves, but this kind of behavior has SPEECHES no place in our city and should not degrade the level of discussion in this particular race. And, finally, later today, Madam President, I will send a letter to the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission to ask them to look into all of these incidents, as they apparently have been taking place in other parts of the City, and ask them to also monitor for the rest of this election campaign that kind of activity. It, again, has no place in this city. I regret the incidents that happened, although I cannot control what takes place out on the sidewalk or out on the street, and certainly none of that activity took place inside the church. We had a good exchange, the candidates had an opportunity to express themselves. And quite honestly, the only real disruption came in an exchange between a couple of the individuals and myself in an attempt to restore some level of dignity and order to the particular proceedings. It's unfortunate the way things ended, and I regret that. But more importantly, I think the behavior was unacceptable and it has no place, racial or religious, in this campaign or in this SPEECHES city. And I wanted to share that with you, Madam President, and with my fellow colleagues.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No further speeches.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 3, 2001. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 3, 2001, at 10 a.m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and Council stands adjourned until Thursday, May, 3, 2001. Thank you. (Adjourned at 11:49 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, April 26, 2001, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter