It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing and congratulating the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 on the momentous occasion of its 125th anniversary, celebrating over a century of exemplary leadership, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the rights and welfare of electrical workers, introduced by Councilmember Squilla on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Mark Squilla for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for adoption of the resolution on your behalf.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing the extraordinary contributions and lifetime achievements of Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, founder of Afrocentricity and founder of the Molefi Kete Asante (MKA) Institute for Afrocentric Studies in the Germantown neighborhood, introduced by Councilmember Bass.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of this resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed. The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to examine the impacts of the current crisis threatening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAPEd) on food and nutrition security in Philadelphia, including barriers to accessing benefits, disruptions to nutrition education and outreach, consequences for residents, and opportunities for coordinated city and community response, introduced by Councilmember Ahmad on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, for a motion on the resolution.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing and affirming the City of Philadelphia's commitment to public health grounded in scientific evidence and opposing state proposals that would weaken proven protections including childhood immunizations, community water fluoridation, and practical steps that limit the spread of disease in schools, introduced by Councilmember Ahmad.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution.
Council President, there are no further resolutions in my possession.
That completes our calendar for today. Are there any speeches on behalf of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Thank you so much, Council President. First, as a mother of four daughters, I would like to acknowledge the deep sadness and anger that many of us are feeling in the wake of Kada Scott's murder. And I'm praying for her family and friends as they grieve, and I am committed to working with all of our partners to make sure that our city is safer for all women. Next, I would like to give an explanation on why I voted no on the bill to add two business representatives to the Equal Opportunity Review Committee. I'm not opposed to expanding the EORC and adding more diverse voices, but this bill gives more seats to business interests without adding more seats for representatives of workers. Under the current structure, business and labor have equal representation on the EORC. Each group has two members. By adding two members to represent business interests, this gives businesses twice as many representatives as labor, which diminishes the role of unions and working families in making important decisions about economic opportunities in our city. I'm not opposed to adding more members to the EORC, but it must be done fairly so that both businesses and labor have equal representation. And I had this conversation already with the bill sponsor, so it was not a surprise. It was mine, not paying attention. I'm going to be fully transparent that I missed it. That's what I was supposed to do. I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who took part in Wingohocking Neighbors Day. I was so overwhelmed last week with all that was happening after a difficult year in Nicetown, where I live and where I'm from, from the murder of LGP QUA in May to the deadly explosion in June. It also impacted us here in Council. This event was especially meaningful to me and my neighbors. Over a hundred community partners showed up in Nicetown with resources, food, music, and care. We had ten local food trucks and small businesses on the street and provided 1,300 free meals. We had a record clearing clinic, free haircuts, activities for children, two stages, and over a dozen amazing performances in honor of QUA. I want to extend a special thank you to Councilmembers Isaiah Thomas and Jim Harrity. Your support helped to make this the biggest and best Wingohocking Day yet. I also want to thank Council President Johnson and Councilmembers O'Rourke, Landau, and Phillips for showing up in Nicetown to help me celebrate my community. One of the main goals of Wingohocking Neighbors Day is to bring resources directly to the community so that people can take advantage of the programs, services, and opportunities that our city has to offer. We know that there are a lot of resources available online, but some folks, especially our seniors, prefer to have the information on paper. That is why my office has also created several resource guides to share with constituents. These are available online at my Council webpage, and a hard copy have been placed on each one of your desks. 0 is an addition to my office's first Youth Opportunity Guide, and it provides resources especially for younger children and adults, as recommended by my interns when they realized that certain things weren't available for young adults and those that are transitioning into adulthood. The next one is the Food Access Guide. The Food Access Guide has information on community fridges, soup kitchens, free groceries, and meal programs in Philadelphia. With thousands of families set to lose SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown, these resources will be particularly important in the coming weeks. Please share widely and reach out to my staff if you have any questions or need additional copies.
And lastly, my staff and I have reached out to many of you about our annual Spooktacular event at John Heinz Wildlife Center. Every year, hundreds of families come out to enjoy the interactive nature exhibits, archery lessons, fall crafts, costume trail of trees, and so much fun. Yesterday, my office learned that we will have to cancel Spooktacular this year due to the federal government shutdown. The staff at the refuge have been furloughed and do not have access to their email accounts. Meanwhile, ICE agents are still getting paid for separating families. Parents can't buy groceries for their kids. This is another clear example of why we must take a stronger stance against this Trump administration. The people who are most impacted by this shutdown are not politicians or elected leaders; they are children in our communities. And we all have a responsibility to speak up for them. Thank you so much, Council President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nicholas O'Rourke.
Thank you, Council President. In this political climate, in this day and age, there's been -it's almost hard to find people who have rooted or principled political positions. I'm not talking about necessarily in this chamber. Generally, what we see on social media, it's a lot of -- a lot of backbiting and talking, but historically what it meant to be left wasn't just progressive or identity based. It meant labor. That's what historically as a political position throughout history. The left was labor based. And so for that reason I stand with my minority leader on the positions that we took today. And I thank folks for understanding that. That having been said, I also want to acknowledge that today I introduced a resolution with Councilmember Rue Landau to honor the life of one Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow. As I breathe out what the trees breathe in, as the trees breathe in what I breathe out, as we breathe in each other, God breathes in all of us and breathes us out. Rabbi Arthur Waskow taught that the name of God Yahweh was a breath. No vowels in that word. It was breath. Breath is life. And he taught us how interconnected we all were, both with each other and with the ecology of the world that we are all one. He was born in 1933. He died this past Monday, October 20th, just a couple days after his 92nd birthday. Lifelong activist, in part because of his activist background. His father was a labor organizer. His mother and grandfather were active in voter registration and political camps, and campaigns. We had the honor of hearing today Reverend Gregory Holston, former executive director of Power. We heard from Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, a great giant within the Jewish community. And we also had in attendance Rabbi Nate DeGroot, who is now the executive director of the Shalom Center, an organization that Rabbi Arthur Waskow founded, who were all here and also were yesterday in person at the funeral that was held at Mishkan Shalom in his honor. This is a man who bred and helped stimulate a resistance movement. He resisted, just to count the role, war, for example. He fiercely opposed Vietnam to the point of making public appeals to dodge the draft and refusing to pay taxes. I'm talking about real resistance, things that's going to shake stuff up. He resisted antisemitism, right? He never stopped defending Jewish people. And resolutely understood the mission of communal preservation as deeply related to the Judaic concept of Tikkun Olam of repairing the world. Xenophobia, he resisted, perhaps because of his history, threat and reality of exile for Jewish peoples. He was a stark opponent of the immigration policy of political parties. Remember, you were once strangers in the land of Egypt. This is what he stood for. He was arrested in his eighties, right? 80-year-old man protesting the Obama administration for its rampant deportation policies. Many know that as much as we may like President Obama, folks recognize him as deporter in chief. Principled positions that he stood on. He also resisted so many other societal ills ranging from apartheid in Israel, as well as South Africa, to war in Iraq, to homophobia, to the recent genocidal war in Gaza that has devastated and shaken to the core American Jewish life. He knew the Mosaic mantra, “Let my people go,” meant for everybody. That's who Rabbi Arthur Waskow was. So it is my honor to know -- to have known him, to know of, and to occasionally be in community with him. And with those faith leaders who seek what Rabbi Arthur Waskow sought, renewal. ” This is the kind of giant we're talking about, who with care and clarity offered reinterpretation for what liberation may mean for each generation.
Though there are always particularities, this work to renew exists across faith. It's a religious tradition as I see it. And one I hope to fruitfully contribute to in my ministry, in my work, in my life for the days that the Lord allows me to live. A giant like Rabbi Waskow is a shining example of the faith it takes to take on how faith is supposed to look. I salute and I thank him. I pray that his memory, and I know it is, is a profound, profound blessing for those that walk in the tradition. ) Thank you. Further, we've already honored her and I thank Dr. Anthony Phillips, “Anthony,” as Jimmy likes to call you, for his leadership. And I appreciate your, Council President, for allowing us to take a moment of standing silence. It's so hard to know what to say in moments like this as we consider the life of Kada Scott. But it is a month where we recognize domestic violence, right? And each year, an organization that this body holds close, in fact, it was the first event I went to coming back from parental leave, Women Against Abuse, implores us to take a particular pledge. A pledge against the culture in which Kada Scott's story could unfold in all the tragedy that it has. A pledge that all of us need to be clear on. But in this moment, I know this to be so true for our young brothers. So to them, but of course to anyone listening, I hope the words of this pledge resonate and cause reflection, because we need reflection in light of this. The pledge reads: “I pledge to take action as an advocate for healthy relationships. ” And this is the part that moves from advocacy for someone else to fighting to build a new culture. ” That ain't just flower language. That is a call to action, to be the change we wish to see and to make the world that we ought to be making, in the words of Rabbi Arthur Waskow, to help heal the world. What are we doing to help heal it? Amen, amen, amen, and to another young Philadelphian gone too soon, we call her name Kada Scott. Pray, Philly. Thank you very much.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
Thank you, Council President. I ask to be excused to take care of other Council business.
Thank you very much. You are excused. Any speeches on behalf of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.
Thank you, Mr. President. Finally, I beat fast-finger Phillips to the button.
Finally. I figured it out. I figured it out. Two things, one, an announcement and two, a question to my colleague, Isaiah Thomas. So he knows the question in advance. First, 30 years ago, hundreds of buses were loaded by men of color for the Million Man March. It was transformative in many ways to see that many African-Americans that close together without a curse word, without a fight, without a murder, without -- people rushed to apologize when someone stepped on your foot. “No, brother, I'm sorry.” That kind of spirit permeated over the approximate 1 million men when we got to Washington, DC. We hope to honor that anniversary Sunday, 12:30, from different locations. And in the flyer it says this: around the way we will be assembling at Broad and Master in North Philadelphia in your district. We will be assembling at 30th and Market in West Philly, in Jamie -- in Jamie Gauthier's district. We will be assembling at Broad and Christian in South Philadelphia, to assemble at Love Park to kind of commemorate what happened. It's a run, it's a walk, it's -- whatever way you can get there -- by Uber. But it is to recognize the timeliness of this 30th anniversary. That it was started then based on the feeling of oppression from Washington. And its anniversary falls on that same feeling of oppression coming from Washington. So it's time for us to recalibrate and recommit to an agenda that we need to kind of move forward. I always said, no matter what we were going through in this chamber, that if you want to clean up the world, start under your own feet. And I think that acknowledgement to organizations like sororities, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Links, and others that have kind of run circles around us men. And it's time for us to catch up with this celebration. So please join us 12:30 from those locations. The question on the floor, Mr. President, from when we used to do these meetings online during COVID, we always, before the actual meeting, was to turn to Coach Isaiah Thomas to get his perspective on those 76ers. So I want to do that and yield the rest of my time to ask him, did you see the game last night?
Thank you, Council President. I have my remarks that I'll save for a little later. But I do miss political sports talk. I think that's what we used to call it.
That was our virtual tradition. At that time, we were pretty terrible as it relates to sports teams. Sorry to all of our sports teams. But we're in a totally different place right now. So it's a pleasure to see the game last night, watch some of our rookies. And, you know, I think in a serious note, sports brings us together as a city, right? I think anybody who knows us knows that the Eagles parade this past year was one of the best moments for a lot of Philadelphians, as you saw the same thing around 2020 -- 2017. And so it's good to see all three of our major sports teams doing well. Hopefully we'll add a fourth with the Flyers, and someday a fifth with the WNBA team that's coming on the horizon. So, thank you, Councilmember. We're in a great space right now and it was a great game to watch last night.
Thanks for the commentary, sir. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. Today, colleagues and those in attendance, I just want to celebrate the life of Kada Scott. And I want to thank all of our colleagues who together sponsored this resolution to honor her life and legacy. Kada was a young woman whose light and kindness reflected the very best of us Philadelphia. She was a daughter, intelligent, creative, faith-filled, full of promise. She dreamed boldly about what she can build for herself and her family. At just 19 years old, she opened her own beauty spa right in Mount Airy. She was a neighbor of 19150. She had vision and determination. She believed in the power of self care, community and purpose, using her gifts to pour love into the people around her. But what made Kada truly special was not what she just did -- not just what she did, but who she was. Her family remembers her gentle spirit and bright smile that can warm any room. They shared that she was the kind of person who made others feel seen, who reminded you of your worth and who carried joy wherever she went. Her story has touched so many because it feels deeply personal. Kada was our sister, our daughter, our friend. She represents the bright, kind, driven young people who fill our neighborhood with life and hope. And when this tragedy struck, it reminded Philadelphia how connected she was to us. So as her family grieves, we are reminded that Kada's life is not defined by what happened, but by the love and light she shared while she was here. Her legacy is one of compassion, calling us to look out for one another, to keep believing in the good, and to keep building the kind world she deserved to live in. So in her honor, at the request and support of her family, our office continues to collect donations through this Saturday, October. We will be -- our office will be open from tomorrow from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. and then on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 1514 Wiser Avenue. We're collecting self care items, gift cards, as well as non-perishable items for the family. And also keep in mind that there's a 17-year-old daughter. So if there's anything that you could think about for her daughter as she prepares -Kada's sister as she prepares for college, show that kindness as much as you can. What Kada's family said she wanted for us was to continue loving, giving, and uniting beyond this moment. So today we don't just remember Kada, but we could commit to living as she did, with a heart that believes in people. And so to Kim, Kada's mother, Kevin, Kada's father, and Kada's sister, I'm so deeply sorry for what has happened, but also know this: Kada's name will continue to be spoken and her story will continue to be told. And as the late Congressman John Lewis reminded us, we must continue to make good trouble, necessary trouble, in the name of what is right. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Dr. Phillips. And just want to clarify on behalf of Member Jones, the gathering for the march on Sunday. It starts at 8:00 a.m. at those particular locations: Broad and Christian in South Philadelphia, 30th and Market in West Philadelphia, and North Philadelphia, Broad and Master. Just for the record. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduced legislation to honor Dr. Molefi K. Asante, a visionary whose intellect and commitment have reshaped how the world understands Africa and its people. Dr. Asante is internationally recognized as the founder of Afrocentricity and has given a voice to a framework that reclaims African agency, reshaping scholarship and affirming dignity, culture, and identity for millions. From establishing the nation's first PhD program in African American studies at Temple University to mentoring over 140 doctoral scholars, his legacy is reflected in the generations of thinkers he has inspired. His more than 100 books and 500 articles have made him one of the most cited African scholars in the world. And in my neighborhood, through the Molefi K. Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies, he continues to advance global understanding and local empowerment. Although he was not able to make it today, we proudly recognized Dr. Asante and his wife for their outstanding and extraordinary achievements, his lifelong service to scholarship and his enduring contributions to the world. We are planning to have a presentation in the near future so that folks can meet and greet with Dr. Asante and learn more about the work that they are -- he and his wife are doing at the center on Germantown Avenue. And I want to thank everyone for co-sponsoring. And I wanted to just say, just very briefly, as we talk about the Million Man March, the anniversary of it, and we also talk about Kada Scott and the tragedy that has unfolded before all of us, that it's never been more important that we get our young men together. There is a vulnerability that women, and I will say specifically black women of all ages, that there is a vulnerability that exists and protection is needed, protection is important. You know, what we do and how we handle our situations or our community, there is just so much to be done. And so I want to just put that on the hearts and minds of everyone who's attending the Million Man March gatherings this weekend. And again, my condolences to the Scott family for their loss. Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Mark Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just an announcement for anybody who has RSVP'd to Terminal Tour from COUNCILMEMBERS and lunch. It will be starting at 1:00 p.m. today. Thank you.
Thank you, Council President. Before anything else, I echo what my colleagues have said, that we are all heartbroken about the murder of Kada Scott. As a mother of two young women, my heart is with her mother. I send my prayers to her parents and offer my deepest condolences to Kada's family, friends, and loved ones, and to our city that had hoped for a very different outcome. And then moving on, I wanted to talk about the resolution that I introduced today. Science matters. As a scientist by training, I will always defend science and data-backed evidence because they save lives, guide smart policy, and keep our city moving. That's the spirit of the Defense Science resolution we advance today. Public health. Public health is critical for all of us. I also wanted to comment on the bill that was just passed. We advanced equity with the Economic Opportunity Review Committee legislation. This doesn't weaken standards or transparency. It improves outcomes, bringing in the Asian American and LGBTQ plus Chambers, along with labor, which already has DC-33 and 47 there, and neighborhood enterprises. And the city has only one seat. It broadens perspective, strengthens cultural competency, and makes competition fair. This is not a voting body. This is an oversight body. So there are no votes cast in this body. When more qualified firms can compete, public dollars expand opportunity, Philadelphia gets better value and more families benefit. And here we are again, facing a federal crisis that threatens dignity, food on the table. On October 20th, 2025, Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services announced that because of the shutdown, November SNAP payments will not be issued unless Congress acts immediately. Nearly two million Pennsylvanians are affected. The Commonwealth cannot backfill those costs. People can use unspent EBT funds and DHS will keep processing applications, but new November benefits won't load without a budget or a continuing resolution. Residents need help and should use PA 211 and Feeding PA resources. However, for some neighbors, that means they will not eat. SNAP is a lifeline for children, seniors, people with disabilities, working parents, students, and veterans who sacrifice for this country. SNAP-Ed, which helps families stretch light-tight budgets, is also disrupted right when it's most needed. Philadelphia will show up for our neighbors, but families shouldn't rely on charity to cover for a political failure. I'm urging the administration to treat food access as an emergency, aligning Parks and Recreation, the Free Library, Public Health, and the Managing Director's Office to push for clear stigma-free information by zip code and by day through city channels, libraries, rec centers, senior sites, and 311. We must also join our state partners and federal delegation in demanding an immediate end to the shutdown and full protection of SNAP and SNAP-Ed. Food is not negotiable. And there is a through line to in today's work: evidence, equity, dignity. Defending science keeps people healthy. Empowering the EORC opens doors so more Philadelphians can participate in our economy. Protecting SNAP keeps families, including veterans, fed during a crisis. This is government people can see, touch, and feel in daily life. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Good afternoon, Council President. Two things. I'm going to try to be very brief. First, I do want to take a moment to acknowledge the family of Ms. Scott. Clearly, there have been some heavy hearts and a lot of remarks. It's a very emotional situation that really captured the entire country, not just the city of Philadelphia. So I do want to say a special thank you to Councilmember Phillips for his leadership as it relates to supporting the family. A special thank you to Councilmember Bass. Although the family didn't live in her district, clarity remains were found in her district. Their leadership and willingness to work together, I think, is really important. Representing this legislative body and being as supportive as possible, not just to the family but to all of the people who had to experience trauma in that situation. I also want to say thank you. I will also say thank you to State Rep. Andre Carroll, because he was the state rep there for his leadership as well. And I also want to say thank you to the members of the Education Committee and the School District of Philadelphia. The School District of Philadelphia committed to doing a better job of maintaining its 20 vacant buildings here in the city of Philadelphia, which clearly sit in the 10 different districts that are represented by our colleagues, Council President, here in City Council. And while we thank them for this effort as it relates to providing emergency staff to address this issue, we are going to definitely take them by their word. But I am going to work with our colleagues and encourage folks to visit these sites, look at these buildings, take pictures, make sure that it's something that's not an eyesore to the community, and ensure that if that is the case, that we're proactive instead of reactive and put us in a position to make sure that our communities are as safe as possible. So to all of the legislators and different sectors of government who stepped up because of this unfortunate situation, I just want to say thank you to you all. Very much appreciate it.
Outside of that, Council President, I introduced a bill today around the BIRT exemption -- I'm sorry, around BIRT tax reduction, specifically looking at daycares. I think about Councilmember O'Rourke's package that he introduced. I think about my bill around energy. I think about Councilmember Phillips's speech around the Water Department. I think about other things that I've listened to; Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Young, talk about quality-of-life issues in their districts. And when we think about the fact that the $100,000 exemption is going away, there's one business and there's one industry in the city of Philadelphia that touches every district and a lot of families, especially working families that are struggling. And that's daycares. And as a father of two who's paying for daycare myself, I thank God that with the inflation and the cost of living going up, that I'm able to somehow find a way to continue to pay for -- my wife and I to continue to pay for our child.
Well, you know, I -- unfortunately, I don't -- I'm not able to take advantage of that, Council President. They -- I got to pay the whole price.
No, I appreciate you, Council President. But in all seriousness, we as legislators have to step up right now and try our best to make sure that businesses continue to grow and thrive in the city of Philadelphia, and ensure that people can continue to afford to live in our great city. And so I know that there are a lot of thought leaders as legislators that are trying to contemplate what we can do as local government to help offset the rising costs and to help keep people in our city and in their homes. And I'm hoping that this legislation is another example of us trying to think through what we can do to support businesses who support families, as well as families who are in need. So I thank all of my colleagues who co-sponsor this legislation today. We look forward to in-depth dialogue, both with the daycare industry, families, as well as the members of City Council who are going to be voting on their support legislation. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rue Landau.
Thank you, Council President. I'm going to try to keep this short. I first wanted to thank Councilmember Isaiah Thomas for his leadership in supporting our small businesses and making childcare more affordable for Philadelphians. Right now, we could all use a break, but parents and entrepreneurs especially. So thank you for leading this charge. I'd also like to shout out and thank my amazing legislative aide, Jazmine Easley, for speaking on behalf of the resolution I introduced commemorating the 2025 Philadelphia Walk to End Alzheimer's. The Memory Walk has been happening around the country since 1991, and as it's the most common form of dementia in older adults, I know many in this room have likely seen the disease firsthand. Jazmine, I applaud you for your efforts in walking for your great-grandfather, and I encourage everyone to show their support for Alzheimer's patients and their families who care for them. I'd also like to thank you, Council President, for introducing a resolution calling for hearings to examine the impacts of the current crisis threatening SNAP. With nearly 500,000 Philadelphia residents projected to lose access to their SNAP benefits in November if the shutdown continues, this concern is extremely urgent. Coordinated action is needed in our local and state government, and I appreciate your urgency in this matter, as well as Councilmember Ahmad's participation. And finally, I just want to take a second to lift up colleagues Nicholas O'Rourke and Anthony Phillips for their beautiful verbal eulogies of both Kada Scott and Rabbi Waskow. I think the two of them kind of having to speak of their memories now just kind of holds up what we -- what we need to do and what is so essential here in Philadelphia. We have a young woman who really just gave back in her life and was taken so soon and so horribly, and a man who lived until he was 92 working, fighting for everyone's rights, fighting against violence, fighting to make every single community a better place. These bookends are a moment in time right now for us to really take a deep look at ourselves, the actions that we're taking when we are not speaking out, when we need to speak out more, and how we need to make this a unifying effort. Realizing that if we don't all come together on all of these issues, we will never succeed in finding Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America, the world, a better place that we want it to be. So thank you both so much. Appreciate you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Jeffrey J. Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. First, I would like to, you know, also congratulate Mutha Knows and Mikey Dredd that their morning show is something that gets Philadelphians going. I think iHeartRadio needs to understand that Philly is Philly and we like to be local and, you know, the Breakfast Club is okay, we're going to watch on YouTube later on in the day. But we want to hear our local folks on the radio in the morning. So I think it's going to be something that they learn when they realize that the listenership in the mornings are going to drop on Power 99 just because we don't want to hear that. And I've seen that all over social media from folks, they just -- they liked the Breakfast Club, but they would prefer Philadelphia, to be honest. Second, I want to thank Councilmember Rue Landau for the introduction of the Resolution, honoring the Alzheimer's Walk. And, you know, I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer's, my paternal grandfather. I remember one day I was coming home from, like, work with my dad going over my grandpop's house. I had a suit on. He had no idea who I was. He looked at me and said, asked my dad, “Who's that? ” And that just broke my heart, like, that my grandfather had no idea who I was. So I understand what those families, you know, are going through and dealing with that. I also would like to give my condolences to the family of Ms. Scott. I mean, as I'm sitting here and writing my notes, I'm writing my notes with a pen that says Women Against Abuse, right? Domestic violence. And man, like I said, this -- real people really go through real things. And domestic violence is something I've witnessed in my life firsthand. And it's nothing that I would put on anyone, particularly as a child, to watch family members go through domestic violence. It's just -- it is heartbreaking. And to know that people who claim to love each other, people who claim to be, you know, wanting the best for someone, to hurt someone like that. So it just makes me just sad all over again. I can -- I'm picturing myself as a 5-year-old child watching things going around in my household. It's crazy. But today, we introduced a bill that will prevent vacant lots without a building permit in the 5th Council District. And I was inspired by Councilman Jamie Guathier. When you look at development that's happening in the 5th District and gentrification, sometimes you have folks who are just speculators who just buy property, you know, tear it down, sit on it, and wait for the market to shift so they can just, you know, build a half-a-million-dollar house. But that creates blight in communities. And so what this bill would do is it would prevent folks from demolishing properties without having a building permit for the erection of a new property, unless the property, of course, is imminently dangerous, unsafe, and things like that. We, you know, we have to -- preservation is the ultimate way to create affordable communities. And I think this bill is about preserving our communities in the 5th Council District. I want to thank my colleagues for passing a bill today where we remapped part of Hunting Park, the 5th District portion of the Hunting Park neighborhood. As you heard from Ms. Audrey Coles today, who testified, this was a communitydriven effort. From the moment I got elected to this position, we worked with that community to ensure that that neighborhood looks like what the community wants it to look like. And so this remapping is a labor of love that took us about over a year to get done. But as you can see, those community members are grateful that we took the time to get it done for them. Today, we also introduced a resolution that would hold hearings to examine the refund system of our city.
When we owe our city money, they come get it, but when they owe us money, it takes them months and years to give it back. So we got to figure out why does it take that long, right? Because that is, you know, it -- when it comes to accounting strategies for businesses, when it comes to family members, working people in this city who will -- who would need that money, they can't wait six months to a year to get that money back. And so we really have to examine why it takes so long to process refunds. When you're a city worker and you owe the city, they take that right out your check. But if you -- if you got to get some money back, again it takes a very long time. And they only can give it to you in a check form. This is 2025, like, we should be able to have a direct deposit up into our accounts when we get -- where we're owed a refund from the city of Philadelphia. So I look forward to hosting this hearing to examine that particular issue. And finally, Mr. President, we also introduced a resolution today which will rename Oxford Street from Broad Street to 15th Street as Jake and Sarah Adams Avenue. For those who don't know, Mr. Jake is the owner of Barber's Hall, Mr. Jake and Ms. Sarah, and he finally has decided to retire. And he sold his property to Temple University. And I want to be able to give Mr. Jake his flowers while he can still smell them. Mr. Jake is in his 80s, he has done so much for the North Philadelphia community. He was ward leader for 15 years, a committee person for over 50 years. And I think, you know, I -next week, hopefully my colleagues will be able to pass this legislation. And I encourage everyone who hears my voice, who knows Mr. Jake, who knows Barber's Hall, who loves that community, to come out to testify and show your support and love because that man really, really deserves that. And so with that, Mr. President, I close. Thank you so much for allowing me to endorse today.
Thank you very much. As we wrap up, I also just want to thank the colleagues who worked together and showed up and supported the family of Kada Scott, but also most importantly, working together as a unit on issues that are very near and dear and critical to the residents here in the City of Philadelphia. And they're watching how we operate, how we come together in times of crisis, and most importantly, how we advocate to move the City of Philadelphia forward. So I commend all of you. And most importantly, beyond my hearts and prayers going out to the family, we will have a very robust hearing. We're looking at our criminal justice system as a whole from top down to make sure we don't fail another person, young person moving forward. Because ultimately, as leaders in government, we have a fine responsibility, right, to lead and make sure we're protecting those who are most vulnerable. And so I'm looking forward to the hearing and also some policy changes in terms of our criminal justice system. Because the family needs more than just prayers and words and speeches here on the Council floor. So we're going to do a deeper dive and look at our whole system, criminal justice system as a whole. With that being said, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas for a motion to adjourn. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young.
I'm sorry, Mr. President, I have to get this out, Mr. President, I apologize for this. But on Monday I attended the Janazah of London Major, who's a 16-year-old who was shot and killed in North Philadelphia. I happened to know her mother personally. Her mother lost two kids to gun violence before they were 17 years old, right? So that is something I have to get out there and to let the community members know that this is something that we are staying vigilant. And to those, I will always be quarrelsome when it comes to the issue of gun violence in our city and making sure that we are preventing these teenagers from being killed. I'm sorry, Mr. President, I had to get that off. So I wanted to say my condolences to my friend Dee for losing two children before they even had the opportunity to finish high school to gun violence in North Philadelphia. So thank you for that, Mr. President.
Thank you, Member Young. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. Mr. Sam, I know you'll appreciate this. I want to say happy birthday to my father. I said I was going to do that last week. Today's my dad's birthday. Happy birthday to my dad. And with that being -- I know he's watching right now. So happy birthday, Dad. Mr. President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you all very much for the good work today. ) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. a. m. C. m. S.