COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 27, 2025 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG, JR. ELIZABETH McCOLLUM NAZARIO, CHIEF CLERK
Members, please take your seats. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)
I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. I will ask for all visitors to please retire to the seats outside the rails. Please take all side conversations outside of the Council chambers. And before proceeding, I'll ask all those present to please set your cell phones to silent or vibrate. Thank you very much. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Elder Morris M. Singleton, Sr., Pastor of Victory Community Baptist Church of Germantown. He is here today as the guest of Councilmember ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers, visitors and guests rise.)
Good morning. I want to thank Councilman Cindy Bass for this opportunity. All Councilmembers, City officials, dignitaries and to the City of Philadelphia bring greetings from the Victory Community Baptist Church of Germantown where I serve as a Senior Pastor. And during tough times, it's still a blessing to be alive. Can you do me a favor and just clap your hands for life. Thanks. If everyone can bow your heads in a word of prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus we thank you, Lord, on life, health and strength. Before we ask you, God, for anything, we thank you for everything. We come to you not as the last resort but the only choice, for the word of God says that the government is on your shoulders. God, on today we ask that you allow this agenda to be your perfect agenda. Allow the decisions to be made for the betterment of our city. God, on today we need you in a time like this. Come into this room, God. Come into our city. Cover our city. Go to Harrisburg. Cover Harrisburg. Cover this entire United States of America. God, we trust you on today that things will get better. We thank you, Lord, on today for how life already is, God. you, Lord, and we trust you that the reduced crime rates shall come. We thank you, God, and we trust you for protection over our citizens. We thank you, God, and we bless you, God, for protection over our officers. And, God, we trust for equality. And, God, we trust for peace, joy and happiness. We thank you, Lord, for the love that's in our city, the love that's in this room on today. God cover us and comfort us in a time like this and we will give you all the glory, all the honor and the praise. And we magnify your great name on this great name for your word says that this is the day that you have made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you, God, for it's already done, already done. In Jesus name we do pray and everyone says Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks the Pastor for the invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 20, 2025. The Chair recognizes Majority Deputy Whip Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 20, 2025 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 20, 2025 stand approved. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is a request for leave of absence. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, of the Majority, a leave of absence is requested for our Coach, Councilmember Thomas.
Thank you, Councilmember. The leave will be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of the Minority, there are no requests for leaves of absence.
Thank you very much. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a motion regarding certain legislative matters that may arise during this course of today's Council session and that listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council, and as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, amendments to bills re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson may be added to the agenda for today should those matters arise during the course of this session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us in chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate you taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our great city. We certainly invite you to come again. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. take a quick opportunity to recognize my special guests here today, Dr. Arlene Bennett and Dr. Carl Bennett. We are honoring Dr. Arlene Bennett, who was the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania's Medical School and has been engaged -(Applause.)
My friend and mentor is still practicing psychiatry at the young age of 91, so let that be a lesson to all of us. (Applause.)
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips.
you, Council President. I am pleased to be starting a series called Recognizing our Youth-Serving Organizations in the City of Philadelphia. And this month, I had the opportunity to recognize who are here today the Read by 4th Initiative and their commitment to early childhood education. So if they can stand. Read by 4th is here today. We want to say thank you for your presence. And also, another youth organization is here today. Beyond the Bars is here today celebrating their 10th anniversary. (Applause.)
So thank you to Beyond the Bars and Read by 4th for all of their work and helping young people here in the city of Philadelphia. Thank here today.
Thank you, Dr. Phillips. Most people may or may not know that I am a reading captain so -(Applause.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you, Council President. Before we dispense with the regular order of business, I wanted to also recognize Suhayla Cornwell, who is in 4th grade at Quba Institute. She is my guest here in City Council chambers today and will be shadowing me for the duration of the day. of our future members of Philadelphia City Council and I wanted to welcome her today. So stand up, Suhayla. (Applause.)
Welcome to City Council. Come on over, Suhayla. She's in 4th grade so we're going to give her a resounding welcome. She's on spring break. (Applause.)
And today she is Councilmember-to-be Cornwell. So thank you so much. (Applause.)
Thank you, Member Gilmore Richardson. Always inspiring to see our young people on the path of doing great things. At this time, the Chair O'Neill, who will present a resolution honoring and congratulating the St. Joseph Preparatory High School Football Team. (Applause.)
Would Head Coach Tim Roken and those accompanying him please join the Councilmember at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approach podium.)
I will hope that Member Phillips is a part of this presentation. (Laughter.)
While the seniors are coming up, there's 25 of them, I should preface this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. And because of gentlemen, they took it in a different direction. They won the entire State Championship at the highest level. For the third year in a row academically The Prep -- as I've told some of my staff, you don't have to say St. Joe's Prep in Philly, it's The Prep -- they are known nationally and have been for years for the academic excellence. But in the last decade, they have also become nationally known as a football powerhouse. And I'm very proud to be here. And I want to ask -- I'm fortunate enough that I have a Temple, almost a graduate now of Temple who's been an intern interning with me for a while and going to hate to lose him. Finn Killion. Finn, I want you to the football team. Finn is not only a graduate of The Prep -(Applause.)
His dad and his four brothers are also graduates, and he made sure all this was put together. And also, a lot of people don't know it but someone that I have always had a fondness for because he's the nicest guy in City Hall and also fairly brilliant as a broadcaster and as our Council President's Director of Communications who's a Prep grad, and that's Vince Thompson. Vince, get up here. (Applause.)
Okay. So first, I just want to introduce the four people who came with the team. Principal Andy Cavacos, Coach Tim Roken. You can applaud. (Applause.)
Athletic Director Dan DiBerardinis, who many may know his father Mike and his brother Justin, who served in this body as staff for several years, and Director of Communications Bill Avington. (Applause.)
And Councilman Young's up here with me because The Prep's in his District. So honoring and congratulating St. Joseph's Preparatory High School Football Team for their success in winning the PIAA 6A State Championship. (Applause.)
And our Education Chair Coach Thomas would have been up here with me, Hershey, Pennsylvania trying to win a state title in basketball. Should mention that. (Applause.)
The St Joe's -- whereas, the St. Joseph's Hawks beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic in a landslide victory, kind of like the Eagles, 35 to 6 on Saturday, December 7, 2024; and
I just want to say before I get started I'm proud of you guys. I went to a neighboring school to the west, Girard College, so I used to come down to The Prep to practice with you all when I was on the wrestling team there. So I know how hard you guys work in every athletic endeavor at that particular school. Whereas, after winning finals, St. Joe's Prep Hawks won their third straight championship title. Just give that up, three in a row. (Applause.)
Securing what is their sixth out of the last seven PIAA 6A titles; and Whereas, in a display of teamwork, talent and execution, the Hawks ran the ball 80 yards for a touchdown on the very first play of the game; and Whereas Khyan Billups ran the ball seven times for 155 yards in 2 touchdowns in the first quarter alone, helping to lead his team to a score of 28 to 6 over Pittsburgh Central Catholic by halftime;
So what Councilman Young is saying is that The prep has their own Saquon. Whereas, the team's hard work, dedication and commitment secured the Hawks their ninth State Championship state title in the school's team history; and that's all very recent history; Whereas, the St. Joe's Prep's mission is as a Catholic, Jesuit, urban college preparatory school. Their mission is to develop the minds, hearts, souls and characters of young men in their pursuit of becoming men for and with others -- and that is really what you leave with when you graduate -- and has demonstrated this with excellence in both athletics and academics; now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, we Hereby honor and congratulate St. Joe's Prep High School Football in winning PIAA 6A championship title. Further resolved, that an Engrossed copy be presented to the St. Joe Prep Football Team, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body that's signed by our Council President and most members of Council. That's an inside baseball thing -- football thing. But I'm very proud of having been a graduate there and that they're still going strong. And just as a little aside, when I was a junior most of the school burned down over the Christmas holidays. It was a terrible fire. And this, a many times-told story but not so much recently, a wealthy graduate developer offered a lot of land in I think it was Montgomery County to The Jesuits said, no, we're in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, we have a mission. And the Jesuit church is right next to it. And they stuck it out. Had an easy chance to go out and become a suburban school. And I might mention the importance of that is I don't think it's any different than when -there's no campus. In terms of the teams they're playing against, almost always have because they're going national and they're going statewide they have campuses with football stadiums and all that. The Prep football team gets on a bus and goes out to Belmont Mansion. They play home games at somebody else's field. This is not an easy chore for And what these young men start as all different backgrounds, they all leave with the same level of excellence for life, sports. Whatever may come, they are ready for it and they've earned it. So I really want to congratulate the school and the Jesuits as well as this football team for sticking it out with us. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Coach Tim Roken for remarks.
Thank you, President, Council and thank you, Councilman O'Neill, and everybody here this morning. Thank you, Finn, for putting this together as well. It's an honor to be up here today in front of you all. Obviously, we are at St Joseph's Prep at 17th and Girard. My name is Tim Roken. I'm the Head football coach there, been there since 2010 and just finished my sixth season as a head coach but have been a part of this program for 15 years now and this community. And Councilman O'Neill spoke about in unbelievable ways what the mission of the school is and us as coaches within the building and coaches within our staff. We strive every single day to develop these young men. Not only -- they obviously get developed and held to a high standard in the classroom, but we strive to do that as well on the these young men develop and want to see them develop and move on to not only just go on and potentially have an opportunity to play football, but to use that and the lessons, the life lessons that they learned through this great game, to be able to help them in their life and become future husbands, better husbands, fathers and leaders of our country, which hopefully like Councilman O'Neill and others around the country have. It's a very special place. This is the City of Brotherly Love. And at St. Joseph's Prep, the brotherhood runs very strong and it runs throughout the alumni. And I'm very honored to stand up here in front of you today and accept this recognition. So thank you all. I thought it was unanimous, but I know there is one La Salle guy out there today, but that's okay. We won't hold it against him. And we just got another victory so we'll take that, that's fine, when it came down to it. No, but thank you all for this. This is an honor for myself and our seniors. This is over 20 of our -- 29 seniors within our program. And this is just an unbelievable group. This senior class went 36-4 in the last three seasons with three state titles and they have passed on a ton of knowledge and leaders and led in a very unbelievable way this year to be able to pass on to this next group. And hopefully, we have an opportunity to stand up here same situation. And I wish all these young men behind me the best in their future. And I hope you at some point get an opportunity to meet them because in being a part of their lives as a passenger in their ride here throughout St. Joe's Prep in the last four years, it's been an honor to get to know them and watch them grow up as young men and the relationships that they built. They'll figure out the scoreboard and things like that, but the relationships that they built and the life lessons that they learn at The Prep and within our program will last them a lifetime. So thank you again all and I hope everybody enjoys your day. Thank you.
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones who will present a resolution honoring and recognizing the Overbrook High School Girls Volleyball Team for winning the 2024 American Conference Championship. Would Principal Julian Graham and those accompanying him please join the Councilmember at the podium. Joining Member Jones are the following: Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson, Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Jim Harrity, Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young, Councilmember Rue Landau. (Councilmembers and guests approach podium.)
Well, President, I'm honored to be up here after The Prep did their thing, but I'm here now to represent The Brook. I was asked, did this represent the colors Gratz or any other school like that. I said, no, make no mistake about it I'm from Overbrook. You may have noticed on the news yesterday that we had another alumni come down. His name is Will Smith, who came back to his alma mater who joins on the Wall of Fame people like Wilt Chamberlain, Wali Jones, Walt Hazzard, great Ws that came from there. And it is -Hightower, yeah, you got it. And it is impressive to me that we are continuing this, Principal Graham, tradition of people who come through those hallways and are forged into great things. According to No. 47, he said bad things happen in Philly. Well, yesterday we renamed the bridge, Good Things Happen in Philly and Great Things Happen at Overbrook High School. (Applause.)
So the brief message I would give all of you today is the kids from the young men from The Prep had it hard. They got to get up, they got to go to practice, they have to have good grades, they have to achieve their goals on and off the field. It is hard for the doctor over there that we are recognizing at a young 91. It was hard to go to medical school to make it every day and be able to survive while she did it. It is hard for the members of SCI Phoenix every morning to have to walk those tears. What we get to do as our hard. Hard is going to happen. Will Smith said it yesterday. It's the choices you make for the outcomes you want in this life. And I'm so very glad that you're on the right track to do the right thing. And therefore;
Thank you again, colleague Councilmember Jones. What an awesome and amazing week it's been for the Overbrook High School where I was proud to be a math teacher in the 2005-2006 school year, teaching in the 9th Grade Success Academy, Transitional Math and Algebra 1. So we are so proud to have the ladies of Overbrook High School here, our alumni and also Principal Graham. And today we are honoring and congratulating the Volleyball Team for winning the 2024 American Conference Championship. (Applause.)
And whereas, the Overbrook High School Girls Volleyball Team, under the leadership of Head Coach Carly Dunbar and Assistant Coach and alumni Teresa Graves, has achieved an outstanding 12-0 record in the American Conference during the 2024 season, securing the title of American Conference Champions; and Whereas, the teams --
And whereas, the team's victory over on October 16, 2024 is a prime example of the resilience and perseverance. In this thrilling match, the team triumphed 3-2 in sets; and
Whereas, Captain Kimora Locke and her twin sister Keyanna Locke put Overbrook in a strong position with a 25-22 win in the first set, showing the excellence of twins; and
Whereas, Shaniya Hall led the team in the second set, scoring key points to help secure a 25-23 win; and
Whereas, despite Gratz winning the next two sets, Overbrook rallied in a decisive final set. With the score tied 8-8, Victory Fennell's service led the team to four points; and
And whereas, Shaqeuah Henry then scored on all three of her serves, guiding the team to a 15-8 win in the final set; and
Whereas, Justice Williams Turner, Deijah Taylor and Aniyah Wood also made significant contributions, adding valuable points during all sets of the game;
Whereas, the team demonstrated tremendous skill, determination and sportsmanship throughout the season, ultimately finishing with a 12-1 overall record, with the sole defeat coming in a playoff match against upper division schools; and
Whereas, the Overbrook High School Girls Volleyball Team exemplified teamwork, dedication and hard work with each player contributing to their own collective success, and every match serving as a testament to their commitment to excellence; and
And whereas, the support of the Overbrook community, school faculty and families has been invaluable in helping the team achieve its remarkable success; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, That Overbrook High School Girls Volleyball Team is hereby honored for their outstanding achievement of becoming the 2024 American Conference Champions for their impressive 12-0 conference record and for their athletics and sportsmanship; and Further Resolved, that an Engrossed copy be presented to the Overbrook High School Girls Volleyball Team with the utmost respect and admiration of this legislative body. (Applause.)
Aw, man, I wasn't expecting to say anything to be honest. But just give it up for these young ladies, y'all. (Applause.)
And so, I just want to say one thing that we have to stop doing is painting our public school students as desolate. They come from some challenging situations, but they are great. lot of difficulties, things in the communities that they have no control over. And often times our schools get a tag that they do not deserve. So I will say this: Do not give up on our public school education system because I'm a product of that and I earned a full athletic scholarship from that and with minimal resources, which forced us to have the grit that we had to have because the equity was not the same. The investment was not the same. And so, these young ladies showed that level of perseverance. And I think I have four seniors that will be going on to college, whether it's to play. But the one thing I hope that they took from playing sports, the academics. It promoted getting to school and it also promotes good health, mental health, spiritual health and physical health. And these young ladies encompass and embody that. And one of the things they displayed that I mentioned yesterday, in my office I have a brick. I don't know if anybody's paid attention to it. It's probably one of the most precious bricks I've ever owned, because it was an example of what Will Smith stated in his book about building your foundation, building your brick-by-brick. And that's what they did to get to the level that they're at of being 12-0. One, a sport that is not dominated by Black women. We know that. Two, they did the thing a team. And I saw them communicating for a couple of games I was able to get to. And I'm like, wow, look at this communication. Look at that. And I don't know if they understood that and understood what that means. When they go on into society and what they have to deal with and how you have to communicate with the people and how you have to learn how to negotiate and have those navigation skills and also emotional intelligence to survive those things, those adversities that come your way in society, and that's what's being built at the castle on the hill. There's a lot of greatness that comes out of that. Great things come out of the castle, right. And so, that's what we're building. And I'm working my landscape of our programs, both academically and athletically, because Overbrook will be a contender in a school that you don't want to face in the near future when it comes to sports. And I mean that because I come from it. And I'm dead serious about it. I take this work very personal. Challenge me if you want to. I take this very personal when it comes to academics, when it comes to student performance, when it comes to student success. My girls know it because they hear me bark and they look at me, aw, man, why he got to -- because I am responsible for a portion of their life. And you don't understand what it feels like to lose a student on your watch or a student say, hey, thank you, because I remember what you said to me in those hallways and you changed my life, you saved my life. So that's what this work is about and that's what this greatness is about. And these girls deserve all the honor that they can get, because this they will carry with them for the rest of their lives and they can give it to their children. So we thank you. They thank you, Councilman, everyone, Councilwomen. Listen, we couldn't -- Overbrook is ecstatic. Overbrook's community is ecstatic about this. And the girls, they've been smiling.
I had never seen them smile so much. Oh, and Councilman Council President, thank you for the donation that we know is soon about 100,000. )
All right. So we know it's coming. I told him I know where to find him at. But, no, we appreciate that, because a lot of times it gets lost. But we appreciate everything. I'm lost for words now, but thank you. Thank you so much.
Before the next presentation, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the presence of State Representative Andre Carroll who's joining us today. (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, who will present a resolution honoring and recognizing impactful women in the 7th Councilmanic District in celebration of Women's History Month. Would Darlene LaTorre and Crishtbel Mora and those accompanying them please join the Councilmember at the podium. Joining Member Lozada is Councilmember Cindy Bass, Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, Councilmember Rue Landau. (Councilmembers and guests approach podium.)
Good morning. As we get settled in, I'd just like to say that over the course of the last month I've had an opportunity to recognize just in my District but across the city of Philadelphia who are doing all they can to make sure that as women we have all of the support that we need to continue to live in our communities and in our families. And often times we don't take time to sit back and soak in all of the good work that we're doing. Sometimes we don't have an opportunity to say thank you the way that we should and express gratitude to the women around us, and we wait until tragedies happen before we give women their flowers. And so, I want to thank all of my colleagues who throughout the month of March have recognized the good work that women do in our communities and in our families. And if you haven't said thank you or I appreciate you to a woman in family, I encourage you to do it today. A hug, just a simple thank you sometimes go a long way. Today I recognize four or five more women who are selfless. They just keep giving and giving and giving and giving and often times don't get the recognition. So we are going to wrap up Women's History Month with this resolution. Whereas, Women's History Month began as a national celebration in 1981 -- you believe it took folks until 1981 to recognize the contributions of women -- when Congress passed Public Law 97-28, establishing the week of March 7th as the start of Women's History Month; Whereas, in 1987 Congress passed Public Law 100-9, the entire month of March officially designating March 1987 as "Women's History Month"; and
Whereas, since 1995 Presidents have issued annual proclamations recognizing March as "Women's History Month," celebrating the numerous contributions women have made to the United States, and acknowledging the specific achievements of women across diverse fields throughout American history; and Whereas, the City of Philadelphia will join the Nation in honoring and celebrating the invaluable contributions and achievements of women, with a particular focus on the remarkable women in the City of Philadelphia; and
Whereas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, women comprise of 52.6% of Philadelphia's population, reflecting the City's position as one of the major metropolitan areas in the country with one of the highest ratios of women to men; and Whereas, women of every socioeconomic background have made significant, historic contributions to the growth, development and resilience of the City of Philadelphia, shaping its culture, economy and society; and
And whereas, the City of Philadelphia celebrates and acknowledges the diverse roles women play in shaping local communities, from leading grassroots organizations to making significant strides in health care, sustainability; and Whereas, it is important to recognize that the contributions of women in Philadelphia have often been underrepresented and that the ongoing celebration of Women's History Month provides an opportunity to elevate their voices, ensure their achievements are acknowledged and inspire future generations of women leaders; and
Whereas, the City of Philadelphia reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that women's rights and contributions are recognized yearround, fostering an environment of inclusion, opportunity and respect for women in all sectors of society; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the City Council of Philadelphia, That it hereby recognizes March as Women's History Month in the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Darlene LaTorre and Crishtbel Mora for remarks.
I received this recognition with deep gratitude, especially during Women's History Month, a time not only for reflection but for action. International. Women's Day is a day filled with history, struggle and dignity. It is a powerful reminder of bad faith by so many women who raised their voices when it was dangerous to do so, who opened doors that were once tightly down to us their responsibility to continuing to playing even spaces with courage and determination. Today Philadelphia is writing an unprecedented chapter with a woman leading the future of this city for the very first time and many other women holding key leadership roles across institutions. This is not a coincidence. It is the result of years of effort, resilience and persistence by women who never gave up, even when the system wasn't built for them. I thank the City Council for this award. It not only honors me, but also makes me feel more committed to my role as a journalist, as an immigrant, a mother and a woman. I know all too what the walls we must climb for heard and represented. And I also know when one woman moves forward, she does not work alone. She clears the path for many more. I received this recognition on behalf of the women we don't often talk about, those who don't make headlines but who change life every day, in schools, in community, in organizations and small businesses and their homes, women who make empathy a powerful force, daily work, a tool for change and leadership, a collective action. I arrived in Philadelphia three years ago. And since then, I have felt embraced in every corner of the communities I serve, listening to their stories, walking their streets, and witnessing their struggles and to be a journalist but to become an ally, because telling what hurts them and what inspires them is also a way to build justice. I'm going to repeat this in Spanish. (Spanish translation). Thank you, Philadelphia, for allowing me to be a part of this transformative time. And thank you to all of the women who through their example inspire us not to settle and to keep fighting for a society where equity is not a privilege but a granted right. Thank you very much. (Applause.) MS. LaTORRE: Good morning, everyone.
Good morning. MS. LaTORRE: I want to thank God and I want to thank team for allowing me to share a little bit about myself. My name is Darlene LaTorre, born and raised at Lawrence and Erie Avenue and born into the automotive industry. But I stand today here as more than a car painter, a tow truck operator or a business owner. I am a woman breaking barriers and building a legacy for me and my boys. Passion isn't enough in this industry. It takes pleasure, courage and purpose. This industry wasn't built for us, but we belong in it. Through the Paint Shop, I teach young girls that cars represent independence, confidence and problem-solving. This is bigger than cars. It's about proving that unconventional dreams are worth chasing. If doors don't open, build your own. If space don't exist, create it. Let's lift as we climb and show the next generation that there are no limits, only possibilities. The road won't be easy, but it's worth the drive. Thank you. (Applause.)
Before we go to the next order of business, we also have joining us today former staff member who rose to the rank of Commissioner of Streets, Ms. Crystal Jacobs. Thank you for joining us today. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Sergeantat-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Will the Chief Clerk read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications in her possession.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting for the consideration of your Honorable body a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2942 and 2944 West Wishart Street; 3323 West Allegheny Avenue; 3212 North 33rd Street; and 3216 North Newkirk Street located in the 4th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code. And pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 250147, 250149, 250175 - 45 days; 250176, 250177, 250204 and 250205. Council President, there are no other communications in my possession.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Phillips, Dr. Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. I have two privileged resolutions honoring Beyond the Bars and Read by the 4th.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution honoring March as National Reading Month and recognizing the "Read by 4th" Initiative for its commitment to early childhood literacy.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring and celebrating Beyond the Bars on the Occasion of Their 10th Anniversary for Their Dedication to Empowering Philadelphia's Youth Through Music, Leadership and Community Engagement.
This bill will be placed -- this resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Nothing today.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
Good morning, Council President. Today I have two bills for introduction. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the two bills.
An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on 47th Street between Chestnut Street and Kingsessing, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Designation of Bicycle Lanes," to authorize a bicycle lane and removal of a travel lane on 47th Street, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one non-privileged resolution.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the non-privileged resolution.
A non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2942 and 2944 West Wishart Street; 3323 West Allegheny Avenue; 3212 North 33rd Street; and 3216 North Newkirk Street located in the 4th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Good morning, Council President, colleagues and the public. I have two privileged resolutions. And if I could have 30 seconds after the introduction to just acknowledge them.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution declaring March 17, 2025 as "Bayard Rustin Day" in the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing March 31, 2025, as Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Philadelphia, a day to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of transgender people and to lift up the joy, light and laughter that transgender people experience and bring into our communities.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rue Landau.
Thank you so much, Council President. I just wanted to take a second to acknowledge my colleague, all of our colleagues, State Representative Andre Carroll who's here today. He also introduced a resolution in the State House to recognize March 17th as Bayard Rustin Day. So we wanted to do this to make sure there was a companion bill, especially because we get to recognize and honor our own homegrown hero Colman Domingo later today, who starred in that role so brilliantly. So it's all coming together. And thank you for always lifting up the voices of the LGBTQ community at the state level. (Applause.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Good job. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Quetcy Lozada.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer four privileged resolutions.
Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution recognizing Sanaa Rahming, Samiya Rahming and Julissa Ortiz for their middle and high school girls' wrestling accomplishments on the occasion of Women's History Month.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Life and Legacy of former Heavyweight Champion "Big" George Foreman.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Life of Eusebio "Bonn" Batan, Fishtown's "Mayor of Crease Street."
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution honoring and congratulating Chef Kyle Timpson for winning Season 23 of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brooks.
Good morning, Council President. I have three ordinances and one privileged resolution to introduce today.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bills and resolutions.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code ("Business Income and Receipts Taxes") to increase the amount of exemption from the receipts portion of the Business Income and Receipts Tax, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, ("Personal Property Taxes") by deleting all existing Sections and replacing them with an annual tax on certain intangible personal property, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," and Chapter 19-2800, entitled "Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Tax on Wages and Nets Profits," to expand eligibility for wage tax and nets profits tax relief; to further reduce wage and net profits -excuse me, profits tax rates for low-income nonresidents; and to provide for grants to low-income City residents in an amount equivalent to the PICA portion of wage and net profits taxes paid, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution recognizing March as a National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and honoring the work done by advocates to reduce barriers to social and civic participation experienced by people living with developmental disabilities.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jim Harrity.
Thank you very much, sir. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nic O'Rourke.
Thank you, Council President. Nothing to introduce today.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill -- excuse me. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Driscoll.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Neill.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending The Philadelphia Code by increasing the penalties for the prohibited parking or maintaining of semitrailers and truck tractors at residential properties, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Neill.
I omitted on that bill that I introduced that it's being co-introduced by Councilman Driscoll. My mistake. Thank you.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bills.
An ordinance authorizing an encroachment in the nature of planters in the vicinity of 322-40 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Traffic Code," to revise procedures for operation of an automated vehicle noise enforcement system and creating Section 12-1138, entitled "Automated Vehicle Noise Enforcement."
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two privileged resolutions and one bill.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the bill and resolutions.
An ordinance authorizing an encroachment in the nature of planters in the vicinity of 219 West Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution recognizing the Montreux Jazz Festival and the rich jazz history of Philadelphia and expressing the City's desire to host a world-class jazz festival in Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and celebrating Sharon A. Powell on the Occasion of Her Official Retirement.
This bill will be referred -- this resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you Council, President. Good morning to all our guests and colleagues. I have two privileged resolutions. One is being co-introduced with Councilmember Bass and the other is being co-introduced with Councilmember Rue Landau.
Thank you very much. Will the Chief Clerk please read the titles of the privileged resolutions.
A privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Dr. Arlene Parsons Bennett for her contributions to the City as a prominent community organizer and the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania's Medical School, on the occasion of Women's History Month.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Celebrating the Extraordinary Efforts of WOAR Philadelphia's Center Against Sexual Violence.
This resolution will be 2ND READING placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The next order of business, as there are no reports from committees, is the consideration of the Calendar. The Chair recognizes Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following bills and resolutions are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Nos. 250245, 250255 and 250066-A. The following bills and resolutions on the Calendar are being held: 250168, 250250, 250251, 250252, 250253, 250254, 240333 and 240665.
Thank you. Before considering the bills and resolutions, we will consider public comment as follows: Your public comments must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at today's Council session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you're not already signed up for today's session, please do so now by giving your name to Ms. Hasson at the table outside the rails to my left. Once you have signed up, you will be called in the order in which your name appears on the sign-up sheet. Under ideal circumstances, the commenters each will have three minutes to speak. However, this time limit may vary from session-to-session. The time limit will be today two minutes. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faith to the two-minute limit. When you begin speaking, you will see a green light on the podium. Where there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, the light will turn yellow which is your reminder to conclude your remarks. Once two minutes have passed, the light will turn red and the Sergeant-at-Arms will disconnect the microphone. At that point please yield the podium to the next speaker if you have not already done so. I also reserve the right pursuant to our rules of Council to limit repetitious comments on the same subject matter. I will now ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker.
First, we have Representative Andre Carroll. Then our Arlene Bennett Ahmad. Then Kate Perez, Julia Cadwallander and Jeremy Blatstein also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.) STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARROLL: Thank you. For the record, I'm State Representative Andre D. Carroll. I have the privilege of serving the 201st Legislative District, which covers neighborhoods Germantown, Logan and West Oak Lane of Philadelphia. I want to say thank you, Council President, and thank you to the members of City Council for having me here today. I want to thank you, Councilmember Landau, for your exceptional work and advocacy in this space. Thank you for also the companion resolution for the resolution that I introduced in the Pennsylvania State House that would make March 17th Bayard Rustin Day in Pennsylvania and now Bayard Rustin Day in Philadelphia. Bayard Rustin, for many who don't know, is first and foremost a Pennsylvanian born and raised in West Chester, Pa, but he also was the curator of the 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, as well he was a big component in the Civil Rights Movement, which a lot of us are the beneficiaries of that movement. And because of his sexuality, he was written out of history. And as the second openly Black gay State Representative in the state of Pennsylvania, I felt that it was my due diligence to make sure that he's uplifted in this time. And later on today we will be joined by Domingo Colman. I'm looking forward to that as well. I want to thank you also, Councilmember Landau, for your resolution around Transgender Day of Visibility, which is this Monday. My colleagues across the aisle in the Senate, our Republican Senate, Senators, have introduced some anti-trans bills this week that I look forward to defeating when I get back to the State House next month. But I want to in this moment lift up that as we look at our trans-semblance, their existence is not a threat to the existence of anyone else. And we have to remember that these folks deserve to exist as the same as anyone else. So I really want to thank you for that. The late Dr. Martin Luther King said it best, A threat to justice anywhere -- well, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Sorry, I stand corrected. I do not want to misquote him. So I want to thank you for your time today. Appreciate you and thank you for the amazing work. (Applause.)
Good morning, Council President, members of the Council and the special friends of mine, Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Councilwoman Nina Ahmad. Thank you very much for inviting me here today and recognizing the work that I've done over the years. I just have a few things to say. I love Philadelphia. It's my home. It's the home of my parents. I went to public schools. I went to Blankenburg, Shoemaker. I didn't know Wilt Chamberlain, but I could see him. From there, I went to Girls High, Class of 1951. Didn't have the money to go directly into college so I went into the Air Force. I was an airborne radio mechanic, but I attribute this all to my parents, my teachers, the opportunities that I had in Philadelphia. It's my home. It's your home and I love it, and I thank you so very much for having me here today. (Applause.)
We have Kate Perez, Julia Cadwallander, Jeremy Blatstein. And may Autumn Wynde and Megan Malkemes also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
I'm Kate Perez. And Trump's policies target marginalized groups, civil rights and threaten all Americans, whether by financially crushing institutions like pausing $175 million to Penn with the excuse of a transgender athlete competing years ago, shutting down research studies for having words like gender identity and ejecting visiting researchers at the border on the basis that messages criticizing Trump's repressive research policies amount to terrorism. How long until passing resolutions puts you on a terrorist list? Hundreds of Palestinian nurses and doctors are being held without charge on suspicion of terrorism, which allows the Israeli Occupation to hold them in torture camps indefinitely, with many reporting coercing confessions through torture. The recent deportations of Venezuelans shows that just suspicion of gang affiliation is enough for the American government to ignore court orders and deport you to a terrorist prison in another country with no due process. Since the beginning of time, Palestinians have told us they will never leave their land and I condemn Trump's use of the word voluntary transfer in place of ethnic cleansing. Beyond cutting waivers and research funding, the President is weaponizing deportation against protected speech, using ICE to disappear political dissenters without ever revealing a badge number, warrant or just cause, where green cards can be revoked for hurting the President's feelings and ICE can hold citizens without charge as collateral arrests. ICE detainees are not entitled to representation like those arrested by the police. We know for a fact that Palestine will be free, and every dollar we give to destroy it is wasted. We should condemn Trump repealing a policy that tried to ensure U.S. weapons were not used in war crimes, especially as we supply 80% of Israel's weapons like the ones used to drop on the Red Cross headquarters in Southern Gaza this week or dropped on the Al-Mawasi safe zone. The Occupation blocked all aid from entering since the 9th and has ramped up their mass casualties, refusing to coordinate rescue operations, leaving thousands to bleed or starve to death on hospital floors. We should call on Congress to support Bonnie Watson's call for the media arms embargo. And the last thing we want to do is normalize the destruction of free speech and promote a sister city that designates children and toddlers as legitimate military targets. Free Palestine. Arms embargo now. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is Julia Cadwallander. I'm the Managing Director of Read by 4th. Thank you, Councilmember Phillips, for recognizing the work of our campaign today. Read by 4th is Philadelphia's grade-level literacy campaign, and our mission is to ensure that every child in Philadelphia can read on grade level by the time they enter 4th grade. Read by 4th is a coalition of partners across the city who are invested in protecting our children's right to read. The reading captains here with us today, including the Council President, represent hundreds of folks across the city who volunteer to help families in their neighborhood know how to support their children's literacy development. Our partners mobilize their communities to be champions for literacy and we know that the community has always been the heart of hope, resistance and change, and that is so needed in this moment when we see attacks on public education. No matter what else is happening in the country we know that Philadelphia is a city that cares about reading. We will not give up on our children. The City has made significant investment in the science of reading and structured literacy. We boast the area's first teacher prep programs that include this in their training, and we have a growing number of resources for families to access high-dosage tutoring for kids who need more help. We are making progress and we need to continue to invest in evidence based practices for the long haul. Thank you to our partners who make this work possible, to our dedicated reading captains and this City Council who ensure that Philadelphia remains a city that cares about reading and protects our children's right to read. Thank you. (Applause.)
Hello, City Council. My name is Jeremy Blatstein. I'm here in support of Bill No. 250245. It moves land out of the Philadelphia Land Bank. For Turn the Key, right, Turn the Key, let's talk about it. 900 houses have been approved. 450 are under construction. 235 are completed. 195 are sold. 75 of those are sold to City employees, some being your staffers in this room. And 23 are under agreement for sale. That's $13.6 million in Turn the Key mortgages. It's working. But the problem with the Land Bank is the RCO process and their involvement. We're going to talk about a hypothetical situation right now. What if your wife, your aunt, was the head of an RCO, would that be a conflict of interest? So if your aunt was running an RCO and was preventing development from happening and was holding up the process, it should be discussed and talked about. It's just something to keep in mind as we move forward, right. That's the reason why we need to streamline this process so that there's no conflict of interest when this happens. We need to make sure that we get housing built right. Housing, housing, housing, housing, that's what Mayor Parker wants. That's what I care about. That's why I come up here every day or every week, sorry. And I just want to acknowledge Councilman Thomas with his championship game today. Raise your hand, because we're talking about SEPTA, if you rode SEPTA in the last week. All right. Look at these hands. No hands from Council. We got some staffers. I know there might be some people out there that don't want to raise their hand, even if they're riding. But based on this, we know that nobody from City Council except for Councilman President Johnson has rode SEPTA in the last -- this year. I don't think that's true, but Councilman Thomas rode it with me last Friday.
In the last three months, this year. You did it last year.
It still counts. He's the first, the OG. But Councilman Thomas did ride with me on Friday. So, Councilman Thomas, thank you for that, and ride the ride and grow Philly to 2 millie. Thank you. (Applause.)
We have Autumn Wynde and Megan Malkemes. May Shane Janick, Kysheen Wilson and Denise Anderson also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Autumn Wynde. Good morning. I'm a paralegal at Community Legal Services, which provides free civil legal assistance for low-income Philadelphians. I'm here today on behalf of CLS to support the resolution opposing the Trump Administration's suspension of income-driven repayment plans for student loans and its attempt to politicize the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. We thank Councilmember Landau for addressing this important issue. Oh, sorry. We thank Councilmember Landau for addressing this important issue to our clients. My work at CLS focuses on helping low-income Philadelphians who are struggling with consumer debt, much of that work involves helping people to navigate their student loans and trying to find the most sustainable and affordable repayment options for them. Here in Philadelphia over 300,000 residents had more than 11 billion in student loan debt. Income-driven repayment plans offer a lifeline. They allow borrowers to make affordable payments based on income and family size, and they open the door to loan forgiveness after a set period. And for public service workers, these plans called IDR plans, are often the only path to qualify for public service loan forgiveness, a program Congress created to support those who dedicate their careers to serving their communities. Most of my clients qualify for income-driven repayment plans and would be unable to afford any other plans. Without an affordable payment agreement, the risks of defaults can include garnishment of wages and Social Security as well as seizure of federal tax returns. The Department of Education's recent actions have thrown these critical lifelines into chaos. In response to a court ruling, the Department of Education went much further than necessary and effectively shut down all IDR plans, including those that were never in question. Yesterday as a result of a legal challenge to this action, the department returned the IDR applications to its website, but they have yet to make commitments for when they will resume the processing of applications. Making matters worse, a new executive order charges the Department of Education with writing new regulations that appear intended to exclude public service workers from loan forgiveness based on the population they serve. At CLS we stand ready to help. If you have constituents, which you do with student loans, CLS is a resource that is open for low-income residents of Philadelphia. Our intake process for new clients is posted on our website. We are also available for information sessions to ensure borrowers of the rights and to help them get the help they need. We urge City Council to pass this resolution and send a strong message that Philadelphia stands with borrowers against unlawful actions and in favor of economic justice. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning, City Council. My name is Megan Malkemes and I'm a member of POWER Interfaith representing the Hunting Park Coalition, a growing base of community members in Hunting Park, building our collective political power in both Councilmember Young and Lozada's Districts. And I'm here to testify in support of Bill No. 250245. So I was raised in Boston and grew up in a neighborhood very similar to Hunting Park. And what brought me to Philly besides my love for its people, its culture and its strength was also no longer being able to afford rent in my former neighborhood. And I'm here today because I know what gentrification looks and feels like. And when I hear as I listen to the stories of lifelong Philadelphians deeply concerns me. And as I've listened to the stories of the people of Hunting Park, I hear stories of elders living on fixed incomes, unable to afford rising property taxes. I hear residents express fear as they watch rent in their neighborhood climb hundreds of dollars year after year. I hear stories of homeowners being harassed by developers trying to buy their homes for exploitative prices. And since moving to Philly, I myself have struggled to find housing I can afford. Despite relying on SEPTA and working full-time, finding housing I can afford in North Philly has been a struggle. And my access to housing has consistently felt based on luck, luck that I have been protected by the people of the city when our housing resources have been not enough. And so, City Council, I'm here today because I'm tired. The people of Philadelphia are tired. We're tired of having to use our resources to bridge the gaps between what our people desperately need and what resources the City has to offer. And we're tired of the developers whose profit motive is driving this housing crisis, being asked what should be done about housing before we are. And so, City Council, I'm here before you today with a question, who do you work for? And I ask this question not as an accusation but an invitation. The people of this city are eager to partner with you on creating new housing possibilities and they just want to know if you'll join them. We want to partner with you, Councilmembers Young and Lozada, to try and solve this problem. And so, we'll be hosting a town hall on May 3rd at Gibson Temple Baptist Church. We hope to see you there and begin this partnership. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning, City Councilmembers and all guests. I really appreciate the opportunity to speak today. My name is Shane Janick, the Executive Director of The Arc of Philadelphia. We're part of the largest advocacy network for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And we're here in support of Councilmember Brooks' resolution to acknowledge March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month here for the city of Philadelphia. We want to celebrate that introduction of that resolution. I'm also here to speak on behalf of my older brother David Janick. He has a variety of complex diagnoses that include intellectual and developmental disabilities, and he uses our homeand community-based services system 24/7 to support his livelihood. And I wanted to really celebrate this resolution and acknowledge what awareness really means for the community with developmental disabilities. This is a community that has been historically segregated away from society. We've created institutionalized settings in past generations to actively not be aware of this community. And so, this is a huge stride in the Disability Rights Movement for the City of Philadelphia. And one thing that we can now do with this stride is put that in lockstep with our state colleagues and federal colleagues to start developing a strong homeand community-based services system in order to support our people with develop intellectual and developmental disabilities that are our neighbors, no longer in institutionalized care. And so, I just really wanted to celebrate that and put support forward from the Arc of Philadelphia for the resolution. It's a huge stride and we really appreciate it. And especially with what's going on federally, it's now more than ever we need to create a more inclusive society with the attacks on our home- and communitybased services system, which is entirely funded by Medicaid dollars at the state and federal level. And so, this resolution, is a step in the right direction and one that we fully support. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
We have Kysheen Wilson, Denise Anderson. And may Lurline Jones, Margaret Laramie, Joshua Stein and Karriem Sweets also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, Philadelphia Council. My name is Kysheen Wilson, the Chairman and founder of the Hunting Park Coalition. I'm here for the Land Bank bill, and I'm here to express why affordable living must be at the forefront of the conversation about affordable housing in our communities. It's not just about building homes. It's about making sure that families can actually afford to live, work and grow in the neighborhood that they call home for generations. I know firsthand how difficult it has been navigating housing in the very community that I care so much about. I've seen families struggle to keep up with rising causes, forced out of their homes, watching as the neighborhood they help build become inaccessible to them. I've watched elderly who have lived in a community for decades facing the heartbreaking reality of being priced out, and I have spoken to young people who wonder if they'll ever be able to afford a home where they grow up. Too often rising costs and gentrification pushed families out, forcing them to start over with little to no resources. When we prioritize affordable living through fair wages, rent control, access to essential services, we create stability, and stability means that our young people can remain in the same school, local businesses could thrive and families won't have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. But it's more than -it's more about -- I'm sorry. But it's about more than just stability. A thriving community isn't one where only a few can afford to live. It's one where everyone has a fair shot of success. Prioritizing affordable living isn't just about today. It's about securing a future where our communities don't just survive but they thrive. Let's make affordability a priority and not an afterthought. Our communities deserve that. And lastly, I would like for Council's 7th District and Council's 5th District to come out to our town hall May 3rd, Saturday, 2025. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is Denise Anderson. I'm a member of POWER Interfaith representing Servant Partners and Spirit and Truth Fellowship, which are in Councilmember Young's and Councilmember Lozada's Districts. I'm deeply concerned about the rising rent costs, property taxes and increased displacement in our city. I've had conversations with 20 people in my neighborhood and they're concerned too. I'm a middle-income person living in Fair Hill, which is the second lowest income zip code in Philadelphia. When I bought my little three bedroom rowhome 10 years ago, it cost me $50,000. My mortgage is less than $300 a month. I don't have problems affording my mortgage. But the house I bought was over 100 years old like every other house in my neighborhood because my neighborhood has always been low income. For generations, families have struggled to keep up with repairs on their houses. Houses in my neighborhood are cheap to buy but expensive to own. I've had to put at least $30,000 into my house over the last 10 years to keep it livable for my family, ripping out a moldy kitchen, repairing floors and fixing a leaky roof. Many other friends and neighbors in my neighborhood cannot afford these types of repairs. I have one friend who inherited a house from her mother who had to abandon the house because her floor was buckling. Another friend managed to buy a home through a rent-to-own deal and had to leave hers because a leaky roof made the walls and floors rot. The renovation was so expensive that she abandoned this family asset because she couldn't pay it. A third member -- a third neighbor had to leave her house when she paid a contractor to renovate her kitchen and he ripped out the old kitchen and never replaced it. Houses in my neighborhood are still incredibly affordable. You can buy a threebedroom house for less than $100,000, but they're not livable. There needs to be more robust and well-funded programs in place to help low-income people repair their 100-year-old homes so that they can hold on to family assets and be able to make the choice to stay in their homes, especially in the face of rising costs and new development. In conclusion, we want to partner with you, Councilmembers Young and Lozada, to try and solve these problems. We'll be hosting a town hall in the 5th District on May 3rd at 3:00 p.m., and we hope you'll join us to begin this partnership. Thank you.
Good morning. I'm Margaret Laramie and also a member of POWER Interfaith and my church Riverward's Church, which spans Councilman Squilla and Councilperson Lozada's Districts. I'm deeply concerned about rising rents and property taxes and the increased housing insecurity that they cause. My neighborhood near Somerset and Aramingo, I've talked with more than a dozen people over a couple of years, there's a lot of worry about the future. But it's not much talked about, especially amongst the elderly because it's just too big and scary and there's a sense of what's the use anyway. I recently asked a grandmother across the street if she'd be interested in a low-rent seniors apartment complex nearby, which was just opening up in January. And she whispered, no. Why? Her daughter with a young child can't afford the house rent without her mom's income. What happens next when the elderly person is no longer there? But on my mind today mostly are frustration some friends went through over the last year. One rented from a family friend under the table when she was on the street after a hospital stay. Most of her SSDI went out in cash the first of the month, the land lady standing at the bank leaving little left for phone, laundry, transportation, personal hygiene and other needs for her and her daughter. Lo and behold, last September her Section 8 case came up. I didn't think they ever came up for anybody. They're like a myth. Things moved really fast, but there were very few apartments in her area accepting PHA. She agreed to one, but couldn't get the paperwork done in time and it was given to someone else. Councilman Squilla, between Somerset and Cambria, (inaudible) and Tulip, a whole little affordable community has bloomed. Zillow lists Somerset Station as PHA Welcome. I haven't seen that much. Okay. Also, Grace Townhomes, a WCRP development right there, plus the low-income senior apartments on Janney Street, they were all quickly filled and now the waiting list, the years-long waiting list. In conclusion, we want to partner with you to multiply these affordable housing efforts. I wholeheartedly support the Land Bank bill under consideration, No. 250245. Thank you. (Applause.)
We have Joshua Stein, Karriem Sweets. May Aaron Bonfante and Adelaide Lyle also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Good morning, City Council. My name is Lurline Jones, and I'm a member of POWER. And I represent St. Paul's Baptist Church, which is in Councilman Young's District. I'm deeply concerned about the increase in taxes that's making our neighborhood or making the St. Paul's neighborhood almost unaffordable. As a lifelong Philadelphian and a stakeholder and a full-fledged lover of our great city, I would like for City Council, the Mayor, to make sure better and affordable housing is available and not just for seniors. We hear a lot about seniors and I'm a senior. However, I know that seniors are having a problem. They can't get their house fixed, so big business comes in and takes over the property which means that all as the property goes up better, then also the taxes go up. But I'm also concerned about those young people who are just trying to start out, those young families who are growing. And most important, we need housing that meets the needs of those with disabilities. We cannot afford to allow big business and big money to influence the necessity of affordable living conditions. So, therefore, I invite my Councilperson Young, I also invite Councilperson Phillips to also come out on May 5th to our meeting so that we can understand where you are. We can also back you, and we want to partner with you. We want to be a part of what we can do to solve the living conditions of our great city. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is Joshua Stein, not /Stine/. I am an undergraduate social work student at a university outside the city. I intern at an organization called the Simple Way in Kensington. I'm here with POWER Interfaith as well to express concern about what I've seen on the ground during my internship related to rising rent costs, property taxes, increased displacement in the city. Before I began working in the Kensington neighborhood, I consistently heard a particular narrative or an image about what Kensington looks like and who the individuals are that make up the fabric of this neighborhood. What people told me is a version of the truth that focuses on a sensationalized, albeit real issues this neighborhood faces, a large unhoused population, substance abuse, crime, more. What people don't see though are the countless residents of the neighborhood who have lived there for decades and are now facing the risk of displacement because of rapidly rising rent costs. This is not to mention the alarming rate at which gentrification from Fishtown and, to a lesser extent, Port Richmond is seeping into the community. As I've gotten to know the neighborhood, I've observed a few things during my time there related to housing that concern me. One thing in particular I want to highlight is the presence of vacant lots. Divestment has left many vacant lots, abandoned buildings, old industrial sites and more in the neighborhood, and these become a hot spot for the billion dollar drug trade and drug-related violence. There is a vacant lot just down the block from where I work at the Simple Way. Part of what our organization does is we buy vacant lots and convert them in community gardens to grow fresh fruit and vegetables with the neighbors and turn something destructive into something beautiful. But when I questioned my boss about why we can't buy this particular vacant lot which can be conducive to crime, she explained, a private developer already owns it and is holding it waiting for the value to go up. This is not an isolated incident. Private developers can swoop in on vacant lots and hold the property just waiting for the value to accumulate. This is not only predatory, it destroys communities. It raises housing costs for long-time residents by limiting the availability of affordable housing as well as encouraging crime. So we want to partner with you, Councilmembers Young and Lozada, to try and solve this problem. We'll be holding a town hall. I echo what Meg said on May 3rd at Gibson Temple Baptist Church. We hope that you'll be there. Thank you.
I'd like to recommend that if you all want to invite us to a community event, my office is in 484. Please make sure you stop by and drop off the information so that we know. Because you all have given us the information here, not just me, anybody, right, it's difficult to make sure that I actually can attend and I'm happy to attend. I just want to make sure that you all know that my office is in 484. I'm happy to attend any community meeting. Thank you.
Hello. My name is Adelaide Lyle. I'm a Penn student living in Councilmember Gauthier's District and a member of POWER Interfaith as well. As others have said, I'm deeply concerned about the rising rent costs, property taxes and increased displacement in our city. I've had conversations with other students and residents in West Philadelphia and they are too. I'm concerned because in the three and a half years that I've lived in Philadelphia, I've seen how developers work with universities to push out local residents and destroy communities. Every time I take SEPTA, I walk past 40th and Market and see the empty lot that used to be the UC Townhomes. Two years ago there would have been children, their parents, elders, spending time together outside. I witnessed how my neighbors, the people living in those 70 units, took care of one another and advocated for people across the neighborhood. They created art, built relationships with other West Philadelphia residents and students and brought life to the neighborhood. The eviction of UC Townhome residents not only broke up that community but further gentrified West Philadelphia. For the sake of developers and Penn donors, local residents had to pack up their lives and move all over the city, leaving their homes, schools, doctors, public transportation and other forms of support. The violent displacement of West Philadelphia residents is not unique to the UC Townhomes. Across the neighborhood I see how Penn and its allies continue to expand into residential neighborhoods, replacing people's homes with academic buildings, parking lots and luxury housing. People's homes are being destroyed so that Penn donors can have another place to park. By prioritizing the needs of developers, the City failed all West Philadelphia residents. We don't want more luxury housing, higher rents and more evictions. We want to preserve community. We want a reasonable cost of living. We want to work and go to school in a neighborhood and city that protects us. In conclusion, we want to partner with you, Councilmember Gauthier, to try to solve these problems. We'll be hosting a town hall in your District on May 4th at Salt and Light Church, and we hope you'll join us to begin this partnership. Thank you. (Applause.)
We have Ethan Stein, Kathleen Brindle. May Rebecca Graham, Matthew Kerr, Isaiah Robinson and Shylynn Black also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Hi, all, Councilmembers. My name is Ethan Stein. I am the North Philadelphia organizer for POWER Interfaith. And I am representing congregations like Wayland Temple, Morris Brown AME, Hunting Park Coalition, Gibson Temple Baptist Church, Spirit and Truth and others, which in a combination of Councilmember Young and Bass -- oh, not Bass, and Lozada's District. I'm deeply concerned about the rising rent costs, property taxes and increased displacement in our city. And I've had conversations over the last two years with hundreds of residents and members within these congregations, and I'm concerned not only because I am the organizer for POWER but because I've had personal family members struggle with housing in the city. I have an aunt and four cousins who were homeless and when they went to the City for emergency housing, they weren't able to receive anything. They got a possibility of a waiver in maybe six months. And so, my family had to work to scrounge up money so that the rest of my family wasn't homeless. And we're talking about a woman with four kids that was a victim of domestic abuse. And if someone like that can't get housing in an emergency situation, who can in the city. And so, for that reason and because I myself am a father who wants to have housing for my family and provide for them, I want that for all the residents of North Philadelphia and Philadelphia. broadly. I want to invite Councilmember Young and Lozada to solve these problems with us. And we'll be hosting a town hall on May 3rd at Gibson Temple Baptist Church. We'll get you the information and we'd love to begin this partnership. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is Katie Grendel, and I'm a youth minister from Frankford in Councilwoman Lozada's District here with POWER Interfaith and Servant Partners. Today I want to speak in support of the Land Bank bill and about how the futures of our youth are stifled by the rising housing costs and property taxes. In 2022 I became the first independent woman in my family to purchase a home because of a first-time homebuyers homeowners grant program. Additionally, without the Homestead Tax Exemption program, I will easily experience financial hardship as property taxes increase in our city. When I first purchased my home, I felt proud and hopeful. I enjoyed seeing my youth expand their dreams as I told them that they too could own homes one day. Today I think of the housing futures of two young men I've had the honor of working with. One spent many years in the foster care system and his one dream is to finally have a home of his own. He deserves this hope. But in the City's housing climate, I am fearful he will never be able to afford this dream. The other young man consistently struggled attending high school for three years. He routinely told me he was just waiting for his dad to save up enough money to buy a home so he could have a sense of stability and be able to focus in class. Instead he has bounced around from couch to couch over the past two years and he dropped out of high school this week. Affordable housing has the power to change the trajectory and the legacies of our youth. Today I wonder if my youth can truly afford to dream of their own homes. Without supportive programs, homeownership was impossible for me. And I fear opportunities like these are becoming less accessible every day for the working-class people of Frankford. City Council, I am here today because I feel hope rapidly succumbing to despair. I despair when developers have greater access to properties in my neighborhood than our own children. I despair when I tell the story of how I bought my home and the first words I hear are I could never do that. Hopefully, you don't lose your home to property tax or I never knew that there were programs to help me buy a home. Councilwoman Lozada, are you willing to make changes in support of the dreams and aspirations of our young people when so much is already stacked against them? Please show us with your actions that the futures of our youth matter to you and attend with us at the town hall on May 3rd at Gibson Baptist Temple Church. Thank you. (Applause.)
We have Rebecca Graham, Matthew Kerr, Isaiah Robinson, Shylynn Black. May Talona Coleman and David Alexander Jenkins also make their way to the podium. (Witnesses approached podium.)