Just state your name and proceed with your testimony.
Go ahead. Stated Meeting 57 2/24/2022 Go ahead with your testimony, Ms. Knox.
Okay. First of all, I want to say thank you very much for what you're doing. My mother was a very proud woman, a sweet woman. Everybody loved her in the neighborhood, proud mother of two children, Aaron Wise and me, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of five, who loved her very much, and people in the neighborhood respect her and thought that she was awesome. She did anything for you. Ask her anything, she will do it. No problems at all. She started a drill team in 1989 and they doing very well, West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad. The Drum Squad is the Sixers. They doing very well. But, like I said, mother was a wonderful lady. I miss her so much, her and my father. Thank you very much for doing this for us. Thank you. Have a good Stated Meeting 58 2/24/2022 day.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Hello. My name is Jacob Zychick and I am the American Heart Association's Community Advocacy Director in Southeast PA. I'm speaking in favor of Resolution No. 220158 that recognizes February 2020 [sic] as American Heart Month, encourages Philadelphians to be mindful of their heart health, and honoring the American Heart Association for their advocacy on the issue of heart health. Thank you to Councilmember Bass and the entire Philadelphia City Council for their support of this resolution and the continued advocacy addressing health Stated Meeting 59 2/24/2022 equity and improving cardiovascular health for all in the City of Philadelphia. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for Philadelphians, taking lives at a higher rate in Philadelphia than any other major American city. The American Heart Association is committed to championing health equity. We continue to partner locally with community stakeholders and neighborhood organizations to address hypertension, nutrition insecurity, and improving life-saving bystander CPR rates. This has led to us locally distributing over 500 CPR infant kits and hundreds of hands-only CPR kits, launching the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund, which contributed over $800,000 to local non-profit organizations in North Philadelphia in and around the Temple University area, and providing guidance and technical support to local food Stated Meeting 60 2/24/2022 providers on nutrition standards. Once again, thank you to Councilmember Bass and the entire Philadelphia City Council for this resolution that recognizes February 2020 as American Heart Month, encouraging Philadelphians to be mindful of their heart health, and honoring the American Heart Association for their advocacy on this issue of heart health. We look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration with the Philadelphia City Council and the City of Philadelphia. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Mr. President, the next speaker is Daler Khamidov, commenting on 220051.
Yes. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Stated Meeting 61 2/24/2022
Just state your name for the record and proceed.
Yes. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Daler Khamidov. I represent the Northeast Philadelphia Liberty Bell Small Business Association. First of all, let me express my gratitude for the opportunity to speak to important people. Thank you so much, City Councilmen. You guys are doing a great job. I, like my many member of our association, have small company. We only work up to ten people. There are only two people working in my company, me and my employee. All the same time, I have a business selling carpet with great difficulty and pay. I have only hundred dollar daily, but I need two more mortgage, because the carpet business is very hard and difficult, but my budget doesn't allow to pay so much money. Stated Meeting 62 2/24/2022 There is absolutely no extra money in my businesses and so many businesses in our association. This is not a restaurant. Sometimes there is no trade at home, but you still need to pay two workers. Now many people don't want to work for that kind of money, because they thinking hundred dollar daily cheap. The supposed bill will generally kill businesses like mine, small businesses. We're working up to ten people. I always pray, not for myself but for my worker to never get sick, but if he get sick, I still pay for his treatment and this two weeks. I have to hire one more other worker and pay him too. I will simply become bankrupt. I will be forced to move my business out of Philadelphia, and I have several customer businesses like that where working up to ten people, and I planning move my businesses, all of them, out of Philadelphia. And there is hundreds of Stated Meeting 63 2/24/2022 such small businesses in our association, and they will all move out of City. For people who are out of work, the government take care them and pay them unemployment benefits. For low-income families, the government pay too for housing, for food, for utilities, for medicine, and even for cell phone. Thank you so much for taking care of us. According to this logic, you need to be principally and really care about people --
-- and help them too. Let the government take over the payment for --
Yes. Yes. Small business cannot take on such a (unintelligible) to themself.
It's a good idea. It's a good idea. So thank you for that idea. But this will totally kill so many small businesses. Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen. Let the government of the -so I'm totally against the Bill No. 220051.
All right. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. I think Councilwoman Brooks wanted to make a point of order with respect to the testimony of Mr. Khamidov. Councilwoman Brooks.
Thank you so much, Council President. This bill never included any businesses that are ten and under. So I think just for clarification, the initial legislation that was issued started at ten and above.
Thank you. Thank you. Some Stated Meeting 65 2/24/2022 misinformation. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you for that clarity.
No other speakers. Thank you very much for the public comment, and thank everyone for participating. We're now going to -- I think Councilwoman Parker is continuing to try to get in, but she's having some challenges.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to note for the record that I am present.
Mr. President, Whip, and Deputy Whip, thank you so much for having my back. I apologize.
We will always have your back. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Stated Meeting 66 2/24/2022 going to consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I'm going to ask Mr. Decker to please read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the resolution will be immediately removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Let the record reflect that we have always had 120125. That has been removed from the Consent Agenda. It will be on our regular and Second Reading Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read all of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. 220146, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the conveyance of an interest Stated Meeting 67 2/24/2022 assignment of the redevelopment agreement for 3252 Germantown Avenue located in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220147, entitled a "Resolution congratulating Carol G. Stukes-Baylor on being elected Vice Chair for the City of Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement, making her the first woman and woman of color to hold this position"; and Resolution No. 220148, entitled a "Resolution congratulating Eric Pryor on his appointment as President of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, making him the first Black President of PAFA"; and Resolution No. 220 -(Background noise.)
And Resolution No. 220150, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 6300 block of Lancaster Avenue Stated Meeting 68 2/24/2022 Way, to commemorate the Reverend Absalom Jones on his legacy as an abolitionist, clergyman and the founder of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, the first African American Episcopal Church in The United States"; and Resolution No. 220151, entitled a "Resolution also naming 24th Street, between Wharton and Reed Streets, 'Dorothy D. Allen Way,' to honor the life and legacy of Dorothy D. Allen"; and Resolution No. 220152, entitled a "Resolution recognizing the strength, determination, and contributions of renowned physician, Philadelphia City Councilmember, and Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ethel Allen, whose medical expertise and dedicated public service prioritized the City's most vulnerable residents and paved the way for future generations of independent Black women in Philadelphia politics"; and Stated Meeting 69 2/24/2022 220154, entitled a "Resolution congratulating Dr. Amy Gutmann on her confirmation to the Administration of President Joe Biden as the Ambassador to Germany and recognizing her many contributions to public life and service in Philadelphia and beyond"; and Resolution No. 220156, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week and Black Business Crawl organization, Black Kidz Can Cook and Kidz Meals on Wheels, on their dedication to helping feed children across the city of Philadelphia and showing them the importance of culinary skills"; and Resolution No. 220157, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to certain properties located in the First Councilmanic District pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Stated Meeting 70 2/24/2022 Act"; and Resolution No. 220158, entitled a "Resolution recognizing February 2022 as American Heart Month, and encouraging Philadelphians to be mindful of their heart health, and honoring the American Heart Association for their advocacy on the issue of heart health"; and Resolution No. 220159, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring creative entrepreneur and activist Ant Brown for his work in combatting violence among at-risk youth"; and Resolution No. 220160, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring Louis Scaglione - President, CEO, and Music Director of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute - on the occasion of his 25th Anniversary with the organization."
Is that it? Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for a motion to adopt each of the Stated Meeting 71 2/24/2022 Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that each of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and all of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda have been adopted. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting 72 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220155.
A resolution honoring the life and legacy of civic leader Elsie Wise for her dedication to community empowerment and mentorship through the founding of the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Team, and leadership in West Philadelphia civic organizations for more than 60 years.
Thank you, Council President, and I'd like to make a few brief remarks before calling for the adoption. Good morning, colleagues and to everyone tuning in from home. Last week I introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Ms. Elsie Wise, a community leader whose decades of work and activism in West Philadelphia created programs and institutions that will improve the lives of our youth for Stated Meeting 73 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING decades to come. A fierce housing advocate and youth mentor, Ms. Elsie dedicated her entire life to uplifting the community and the people around her. If you've ever seen the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Team at a Sixers game or community event, then you've witnessed Ms. Elsie's enduring legacy of youth mentorship and empowerment. For more than 30 years, this organization that she founded has provided kids with a creative outlet that instills leadership and determination, and expands their horizons beyond the blocks of their West Philly neighborhoods. Ms. Elsie was known by her community as everyone's grandmother, a reflection of how she extended her love and patience to everyone she met. Whether bringing dinner to Firehouse 5, Ladder 6 on holidays to thank the firefighters for their service or Stated Meeting 74 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING welcoming neighbors into her home, Ms. Elsie could always be counted on to bring people together over a home-cooked meal. Ms. Elsie's family and community have been coming to terms with the void that she left behind since her passing in December of 2020, but her legacy lives on, and it was an honor to introduce this resolution recognizing her and expressing gratitude for the many years she spent striving to create a better West Philly and a better Philadelphia. With that, I move for the adoption of the resolution.
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Stated Meeting 75 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. I'm sorry. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220009.
A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the removal of gender-based references throughout the Charter, and providing for the submission of the proposed amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Stated Meeting 76 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Because Resolution No. 220009 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the question is shall the resolution be adopted. The Chief Clerk will call the roll.
Councilman Green. Stated Meeting 77 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Thomas. Stated Meeting 78 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Two-thirds of all members of Council having voted in the affirmative, Resolution No. 220009 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220010.
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the removal of gender-based references throughout the Educational Supplement.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Stated Meeting 79 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING the resolution be adopted. And, again, because Resolution No. 220010 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the question is shall the resolution be adopted. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gym. Stated Meeting 80 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President Stated Meeting 81 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Clarke.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Two-thirds of all members of Council voting in the affirmative, Resolution No. 220010 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220082.
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the establishment of a Fair Housing Commission as an independent commission.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. And because Resolution No. Stated Meeting 82 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING 220082 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the question is shall this resolution be adopted. Chief Clerk, please call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting 83 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President Clarke. Stated Meeting 84 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Two-thirds of all members voting in the affirmative, Resolution No. 220082 has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210685.
Point of information, Council President. I believe that bill is being held.
It's being held. My fault. I forgot to correct my -- sorry about that, Councilman. Please read the title, Mr. Decker, of 210956.
An ordinance signifying the intention of the City of Philadelphia to organize the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority pursuant to authority established under state law, and amending Chapters 20-600 ("Standards of Conduct and Ethics"), 20-1200 ("Lobbying"), and 17-1400 Stated Meeting 85 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING ("Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance") of The Philadelphia Code to address ethics, contractual and other requirements applicable to the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority.
Thank you. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 210956. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting 86 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it. Bill No. 210956 has been amended. Bill No. 210956, as amended, will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 220006.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-4000, entitled "Income Inequality Initiative - Earned Income Tax Credit," by requiring employers to provide notification to workers regarding the availability of certain additional federal and City tax benefit programs and extending the Department of Revenue's notification and reporting requirements to such additional tax benefit programs.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Council President. Stated Meeting 87 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING I want to thank my co-sponsors for this bill, Councilmembers Brooks, Thomas, Green, Johnson, Gilmore Richardson, Gym, and Gauthier, all who co-sponsored this bill. Thank you for your support. As you know, Council President -- you've been a big advocate for this -- there's over a billion dollars right now of federal money in EITC credits, child tax credits, and now we have City wage tax refunds also that are available for 75,000 families in our city and about 300,000 residents. And when you think about it, it's over $3,000 per person potentially in federal, City, and local tax benefits. Now, we passed a bill a few years ago requiring employers to notify their employees about the earned income tax credit. This bill expands the notification to not only EITC but child tax credit and wage tax credit refunds, but we also added to this bill that all Stated Meeting 88 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING third-party payroll service companies, like ADP, like Paychex and others, will also be required to notify the employees of the checks that they provide about the earned income tax credit, child tax credit, wage tax credit, and other federal and City tax benefit programs. For these companies, it will be a tremendous benefit, I believe, in helping us get the word out, but I also think it's a great benefit for the payroll service companies to offer this service. Our goal is to try to improve where we are today and get this $1 billion into the hands of Philadelphians, and I'm hoping this will help. So I want to thank everyone for their support. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll. Stated Meeting 89 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Oh. Stated Meeting 90 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the Stated Meeting 91 2/24/2022 2/24/22 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Bill No. 220079.
An ordinance constituting the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Ordinance to the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989, as supplemented; authorizing the Bond Committee to issue and sell one or more series or subseries of tax-exempt or taxable water and wastewater revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.