2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
And a resolution authorizing the City of Philadelphia's Joint Committees on Public Safety and Education to hold public hearings regarding the Philadelphia School District policy for the dismissal or release of students to parents, guardians or other individuals for the purpose of verifying the identity of persons who remove a student from any Philadelphia public school, introduced by Councilman Jones.
I'd like to speak to this resolution for a brief second.
I want to 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING commend my colleague Councilwoman Blackwell for bringing forth the young man, Nelson Mandela Myers, who rescued young Nai'lla from her situation. I've been off my game ever since talking to the grandfather of that child today, who we recognized in Council. This resolution allows for us not to pile on to the SRC or the School Board's current fiscal woes, but it allows us to work together with them to examine the extraction policies that are currently on the books that removes young people from schools. It is kind of not as widely accepted from school to school as it should be. There are bits and pieces in different places, and we need to codify that policy. In addition, we need to explore different technologies that can be used to universally allow for -- maybe even bar codes or some other things to allow for acceptance of IDs and people that are from time to time removed from the list 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING when people go through divorces or when people have protection orders. There are a whole plethora of things that may change the status of a parent or a guardian, but we need to update those policies and procedures in light of all that is going on in this Chamber today and unfortunately in our school systems. So we want to work with the school system to kind of assure with law enforcement and with the School Board, SRC to assure parents when they drop those precious babies off, they're dropping them off to a safe haven. So with that, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution celebrating and expressing appreciation on the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it. That resolution is adopted.
And a resolution confirming the reappointment of Christopher Lewis as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2018, introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
On your behalf, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it. That resolution is also adopted.
And a resolution approving the appointment of George Ginder to the Veterans' Advisory Commission, introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution approving the appointment of Tony Jenkins to the Veterans' Advisory Commission, 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And Resolution No. 130034, entitled "A resolution approving the appointment of Joseph Melendez to the Veterans' Advisory Commission," introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
The 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And Resolution No. 130035, entitled "A resolution approving the appointment of R. Edward Speller to the Veterans' Advisory Commission," introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
Mr. President, I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.) 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And Resolution No. 130036, entitled "A resolution approving the appointment of Delano Stones to the Veterans' Advisory Commission," introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
I move for its adoption, Mr. President. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.) 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
And Resolution No. 130037, entitled "A resolution approving the appointment of Ernest Landers to the Veterans' Advisory Commission," introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 2/14/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
And Resolution No. 130095, entitled "A resolution approving the appointment of Aronda Smith to the Veterans' Advisory Commission," introduced by Councilman Jones for Council President Clarke.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our Calendar. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
There being none, are there any speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll first start off by saying happy Valentine's Day to everyone. And as we go through this process, I don't think some of our taxpayers are going to feel love after those bills go out tomorrow. But as we enter the budget season, Mr. President and colleagues, it is critical that Council fully understands the impact the AVI will have I recognize that officials on the local and state level have worked diligently and continue to work diligently on relief measures to protect those most vulnerable Philadelphians. Throughout the budget process, I will pay special attention to those in certain parts of my district, which is the 2nd Councilmanic District, who could see the largest jumps in their property taxes. I firmly believe that residents and properties that have been under-assessed for years need to pay their fair share, but I will also act as an advocate for these residents to ensure that we aren't taxing them out of their homes. Many average Philadelphians cannot afford to pay a tax bill that is four, five or even six times larger than their last bill. And so I've been working with my staff and Council technical staff to comb through the basis throughout the 2nd Councilmanic District to fully understand the impact of this new system and how it would have an impact on all the residents in the 2nd Councilmanic District to craft sensible relief measures for those most affected. And so I wanted to really take a look at this process. We have been getting bits and pieces of information, some from the City Controller's Office. I will be briefed, with other Councilmembers, by the Administration, but it's something to really pay close attention to as we go through this process, because we also don't want to have a system where there are winners and losers based upon a system that has been broken which is now currently being corrected. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. President. First, I want to recognize two students who are interning in my office as part of their 12th grade graduation requirement at Sankofa Freedom Academy of Frankford. I have Malika Tender, who is someone who is interested in public policy. So don't be surprised if you see her sitting in my chair in the very near future. And Jeremiah Rodriguez, who is interested in criminal justice. We want to thank them and recognize them. They sat through their first Council session. Stand up. (Applause.)
They sat as part of their first Council session. And I want to add to the words expressed by my Council colleague Councilman Johnson. Whether it is immigration, which is something that we need, and I want to thank Councilman leadership in this, the good news is, this city has grown. It has grown because of new immigrants. It has grown because of values, and many of the neighborhoods throughout the City have improved. And so that is the good news. I also agree with Councilman Johnson that this Council is tasked with the duty of figuring out how it protects folks as it introduces and hopefully accepts a system that is fair. And that is what AVI is about. It is about fairness. And the system has been so broken that how you get to fairness sometimes may be a tough pill to swallow. But we have worked too hard and far too long, and I trust that with your leadership and the amount of talent that is in this Council that we're going to get this done. And in the words of President Obama in his speech, imperfect sometimes, but it is and should move the needle forward. to work together with our state delegation, who is doing their part to give us the tools, and let everything be on the table as we try to protect as many people as possible, to keep people in their homes, but we go to a system that's fair, so that as we talk about the other taxes that hopefully we will be able to address as this discussion moves forward, whether it's our BIRT tax, our business privilege tax, our U&O tax, that we get to a system that is fair, that is equitable and reflects the growth and the potential of the City of Philadelphia. So thank you, and I look forward to working through that in the upcoming months.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you. We want to say thank you, Squilla, for the flowers. We thank you for the candy. And these little animals are nice, although that's part of our agenda. But thank you very much, and, again, happy Valentine's Day to everyone.
Thank you. Councilman Squilla, not only did you take on the responsibility of Councilman DiCicco's district, I see you also took on the responsibility of providing flowers on Valentine's Day as he did on an annual basis. Good move, sir.
There being no other speeches, at this time I'd like to call on Councilman Greenlee for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 21st, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A adjourn 93:21 agreed 14:21 19:7 24:16 assure 78:11,13 abducted 8:2 11:3 adjourned 93:24 agricultural 61:4 26:19 54:4 56:3 attached 44:10 abduction 8:6 94:5,13,15 Alert 8:6,13 12:22 58:2 62:14 64:4 46:25 49:12 9:24 12:22 14:4 ADJOURNME...