-- we can make it through and so on, the type of thing we can afford to do when there is so much time. But we don't have that time. The cigarette tax bill that you all approved will then go 46 million around the mouth of our starving School District, but we know that it would hang by a thread in Harrisburg. In the meantime, our School District, facing the most draconian budget cuts in its history, has already distributed 3,800 pink slips and cut back essential personnel and programs. If further enacted, these cuts will compromise not just the learning environment of our children and their education, but will also jeopardize their safety and their well-being. Budgets passed have set our School District to this current fate. Many of our leaders in Harrisburg have simply failed us. If an injustice somewhere is an injustice anywhere, this injustice to our School District is one against the children of our Commonwealth. I think that given that picture, we should be able to expect our local leaders, our City Council leaders, to have our backs and that of the thousands of its children and families presenting a very visible strong front against the wavering and hostile forces in Harrisburg and outside of it in favor and on behalf of our children and their school communities. (Applause.)
If at the end of the day the liquor by the drink tax, the U&O tax, the cigarette tax, the whatever tax, any source of funding, any additional source that can supply funds needed for truly viable and operational schools, then I would expect our leaders to show a strong front on behalf of all those bills. We know you do -- we know if you do, and then we will remember that you did, even if Harrisburg shows contrary. But if you choose to set politics as a priority against the well-being of the most vulnerable residents of your city, we will remember that also, and this is a fact, because we will remember it. (Applause.)
We continue to work very hard to make our voices heard. We expect that you will continue to work with us very hard and to present a very united front in favor of our children and of our schools. Thank you. (Applause.)
Ted, I understand you're speaking for Action United?
I want to thank you for allowing us to condense our public comment and thank you for your continued support for schools. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, President Clarke and other members of City Council. My name is Theodore Stones. I live in the Germantown section of the City and am a leader and member of Southeast Regional Council of Action United, a statewide organization of lowand moderate-income families whose local membership totals 25,000 families. Action United is also a member of the PCAPS Coalition, which has come together to make our public school system one of Philly's crown jewels instead of one that under-serves and disenfranchises its children. (Applause.)
One month ago I gave testimony before the Finance Committee to voice Action United's support for Councilwoman Sanchez's proposed Ordinance 130161 that will reform the use and occupancy tax and raise desperately needed money for our schools. In the weeks since then, of course, the school has made drastic cuts to programs and personnel and gave out 3,800 pink slips. So I'm here today to restate the need for Council to pass this ordinance and -(Applause.)
-- and we are very disappointed that this ordinance has not even been brought up for a vote today. I would like to propose on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Philadelphia and the citizens of the City of Philadelphia that City Council would reinstate this ordinance and vote on it today. (Applause.) (Audience members yelling "vote.")
We feel that this is a very important ordinance and we would like to know where Council stands on behalf of this ordinance. So please reinstate this ordinance and vote. I am aware that you already passed the cigarette tax. Even if this tax is approved by the representatives in Harrisburg, it will not come close to filling the gap of $304 million we need for the deficit in the school system. It is time to change the dialogue about school funding. The dialogue of how can we raise the bare minimum to patch a budget hole is the wrong dialogue. The dialogue we need to have is how the City of Philadelphia is going to provide a high-quality education for all of its children, and we need you to commit to finding the money it takes to do that. Now is not the time to stand back and congratulate yourselves because you might have raised a fraction of the 304 million. (Applause.)
The people of Philadelphia, children and adults alike, are counting on you to keep going, to find more ways to support our schools and ensure a bright future for our city. The use and occupancy tax is one way to do that. The current plan attempts to balance the School District's budget with high taxes on homeowners and regressive tax on cigarettes and massive cuts to the pay and benefits of the people that work tirelessly to provide the best education they can for our children under very hard circumstances. At the same time, the businesses in Philadelphia are going -are getting a huge tax break at the same time big businesses in Philadelphia are getting a huge tax break, 2.4 million for Penn Center, 2.8 million for Liberty Place, 3.4 million for Franklin Mills, and that's without even mentioning the property tax abatement that's benefiting Comcast and other corporations. In short, you have agreed to a plan that at best will barely balance the school's budget by taking money from teachers and enacting a tax that regressively burdens low- and moderate-income people. Meanwhile, the most profitable businesses in the City are walking away with a huge tax break to pad their already loaded bank accounts. We're not asking the corporations to not pay their healthcare benefits, not send their children to school. We're asking them to take a fair share in keeping our schools operative and to better our schools. (Applause.)
At a time when everyone is being asked to make sacrifices, it is only right that large businesses in Philadelphia step up to the plate and start to pay their fair share. The use and occupancy legislation gave City Council the chance to step up to the plate and deliver real resources for our schools. We call on this body, which has stood in support of schools over the last two years and which voted with our coalition for a moratorium on school closings, to continue taking its share of responsibility and delivering for Philadelphia's children. A few seconds, please.
Do your part, stand with us for high-quality education for all children. Stand with us for justice. On Tuesday we will go to Harrisburg and call on the state to do their part as well. Together, we can make public education the priority that it needs to be if Philadelphia is to have a future that we can be proud of.
Thank you very much. And please vote on the resolution. (Audience members yelling "vote.")
Thank you, Mr. Stones. Thank you for your testimony, sir.
Rebecca Reedman Moore and Susan Gobreski speaking on behalf of Education Voters, commenting on Bill No. 130161. (Witnesses approached podium.)
My name is Rebecca Reedman Moore and I'm a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. I'm a mother of a public school graduate and a current 11th grader. I love Philadelphia, but I come to you today with a heavy heart to talk about education funding. There are so many things to be concerned about. Here are a few: We are driving teachers away. I know an excellent teacher who used to teach in the suburbs and chose to come to the City. He told me that this spring was the first time he thought, Maybe I should think about leaving and looking for a job elsewhere. My daughter will be in 12th grade next year. Without counselors, there will be no one to write the required counselor recommendations, to share information about scholarships or answer questions. But my daughter at least has two parents who went to college. I'm more concerned about other children. As you know, many Philadelphia high school seniors will be the first in their families to apply to college. Having no counselors could be devastating for their ability to get into college and for their life chances. Two years ago, a family friend died. Her daughter's friends, including my child, couldn't concentrate at school, but they could go to the counselor's office and cry and talk and sit with the counselor. Students and their families have crises all the time, mental health crises, sudden illnesses. They need to get connected to support. They need to get 504 plans to help them through. They need IEPs. The counselor and nurse help families and students stay standing during these times and to pick up the academic pieces. And this you need to listen to. My daughter tells me her friends at school all feel, they all feel that the City has given up on them. I don't believe that, but I worry about the messages that we are sending our children. Our students are smart. They know students across the City border still have all things that are being taken away from them, music and art, librarians, counselors, non-teaching assistants and school safety workers, after-school activities, enough teachers. What do they think when they see this picture? I think they will think that the adults believe those kids are worth spending money on, that those other kids outside the City deserve a decent education but that the children of Philadelphia do not. We need to let them know that they count and that we will fight for them. Dr. Martin Luther King said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." More recently President Obama said, "But here is the thing, it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own way puts our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice." I am here to implore you, help it bend a little more towards equity and justice today. Pass the use and occupancy tax. (Applause.)
Let's send our children in Philadelphia a different message, the message that they all, every one of them, are worthy of respect and love. They have potential, and they deserve schools with adequate funding. Thank you. (Applause.)
My name is Susan Gobreski and I just want to say one thing. There are several dozen parents out in the hallway testifying. And, again I repeat, at the end of the school year, instead of just coming through nice and early when we can count on you, we're waiting. We've been waiting and working. I'm a little emotional today because families are at graduation and they couldn't be here, but they've been reaching out to you to ask you to do more than the minimum, more than just a little bit more than the minimum, but to figure it out. So we're going to be judging you not just by what you do but by what you don't do, and we will be voting.
Harry Levant, commenting on 130182-A. (Witness approached podium.)
-- members of Council. It was Albert Einstein who said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By applying that definition, the School Reform Commission can be certified as insane. (Applause.)
For each year, we come back here facing deeper and deeper cuts, deeper and deeper budget deficits. My name is Harry Levant. I'm the current President of the Home and School Association at Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, better known as CAPA. (Applause.)
CAPA has a world-renowned artistic program in six different majors and state-of-the-art academics where 99 percent of our children go on to four-year colleges. Yesterday I testified before the School Reform Commission. At the start of the testimony yesterday, two groups of students presented themselves and played two musical interludes for the members of the Commission. At the end of these musical interludes, all five Commission members and Dr. Hite rose to their feet and gave the students a well-deserved standing ovation. Two hours later I came to the podium and posed the following question to the School Reform Commission: What were going through your minds as you were giving a standing ovation to students, knowing that you had just a week earlier enacted cuts ending their musical careers? This madness must end. I come here to praise this body for, Mr. President, you and your members have been -- had dumped on you time and time again these ridiculous budget deficits, and there are many of us out here who believe that this has become a political pawn in Harrisburg looking at 2014 and beyond. If that is so, I urge this body to recognize that you are our voices. Right in front of me is a rail that separates you from us. I understand why that rail is here for practical reasons. However, when it comes to education funding, the arts, safety, I have brothers and sisters who are fasting at Broad and Walnut. We are -- (Applause.)
We are energized like never before, and I am here to ask you to do everything in your power and wisdom to find money for the District. But then take down this bar. There are five people at 440 North Broad where there are no checks and balances. They are cutting on our backs. You, this body, need to get more actively engaged so that our music programs are restored, our school safety, our counselors, our nurses. If you think just giving us the money you can rely upon 440, it won't happen. Please, over the summer, let your voices be heard so that the proper restorations, the School Reform Commission restores what we so desperately need.
Wayne MacManiman. (Witness approached podium.) MR. MacMANIMAN: Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, sir. MR. MacMANIMAN: Thank you, Council President Clarke. Thank you, other members of City Council. I'm going to speak on behalf of the airport extension. I could say that over the last year and a half, two years, we have dumped a lot of time, energy getting involved with our communities, talking to the residents of the City of Philadelphia, the folks that matter, in my opinion, the most, the folks that live in poverty, the folks that don't have good jobs. And part of the big fight that we had was, we had big business, U.S. Air, coming in and wanting to do significant business in our city, but wanted to do nothing with providing good jobs. We have talked to many members of Council, and at the end of the day, I will concede this battle, that big business will succeed and win and the workers will get nothing out of it. But I can tell you that we are not going to give up on the battle. We're going to win the battle, because ultimately it's the City, the residents of this city that are going to matter. We have to -- in order for people to have an opportunity to start over, they got to be given a chance, and when we have big business like U.S. Air coming in here and creating jobs, they have to be jobs of meaning, not poverty jobs. Paying a minimum wage is not acceptable. I want to thank every member of City Council that I've worked with. I continue -- I want to continue that relationship moving forward, but we must do something, and it starts with you, the members of City Council. It starts with our leadership of the City. And I'm asking for your help in moving forward with this battle that we continue to remember the number one goal. That's the people of our city and how do we raise their standards. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Markita Morris-Louis, commenting on 130311. (Witness approached podium.)
-Councilwoman Tasco, other members of the Council. My name is Markita Morris-Louis. I am Vice President of Community Affairs at Clarifi, formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley, and I urge you all to support Councilwoman Tasco's resolution urging the Pennsylvania Assembly to prevent payday lenders from coming into Pennsylvania. (Applause.)
Clarifi's mission is to lead our communities on a path for lifelong financial literacy and also financial stability. So we urge you to keep payday lenders out of Pennsylvania. Payday lenders will undermine our mission by draining billions of dollars from our economy, forcing people away from mainstream banking services and financial services into loan debts -- rolled up debt into a trap that will lead them into a cycle of poverty. Please, we urge you to support Councilwoman Tasco's resolution, to go to Harrisburg, tell the General Assembly that Pennsylvania, particularly Philadelphia, does not need payday lenders. They are proposing a so-called micro finance loan, which is really a payday loan in disguise. It is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We ask you to recognize it for what it truly is, and it is definitely not good for our communities. Thank you very much.
Tyrone McCall. Tyrone McCall, commenting on 130311. (Witness approached podium.) MR. McCALL: Good morning, members of City Council.
Good morning. MR. McCALL: My name is Tyrone McCall. I am Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project's Board of Directors and a resident of South Philadelphia. I'd like to thank Councilwoman Tasco and other members of City Council for her resolution opposing efforts in Harrisburg to flood the state with predatory payday loan storefronts. Many studies, including ones done by the Department of Defense and the Pew Charitable Trusts, has shown that payday loans cause extreme financial hardships in communities around the country. As a resident of Philadelphia, I find it extremely worrying that members of our State Legislature would even consider allowing these loan sharks to set up shop in Pennsylvania. While I'm disappointed that the bill has begun to move forward in the legislative process, I would like to thank Banking and Insurance Minority Chair Mike Stack as well as Senators Anthony Williams and Larry Farnese for opposing the measure. As an organization comprised of unemployment workers, PUP stands firmly against any efforts to de-regulate payday loans in Pennsylvania. Again, thank you, Councilwoman Tasco and other members of City Council, for speaking out against predatory payday loans. (Applause.)
The next three speakers in this order, Clarc King, Chanel Alexander, Joanna Darcus. The next three speakers, Clarc King, Chanel Alexander, and Joanna Darcus. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Thank you, Mr. President of the Council, Councilmembers. I am addressing proposal 120118, the feasibility of transferring PGW to a private entity. I believe it's unnecessary right now, and I want to ask the Councilmembers a rhetorical question. Can the public, can the general citizenry own anything? Can they own their public school system? Can they own public utilities? This seems to be a movement to strip all public assets away from the citizenry as dictated by Wall Street and the power of private-sector finance over government. I ask the City Council to consider a transaction tax at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange that will help facilitate the operation of government and support the standard of living of Philadelphians. I wanted to say that the reason of our national economy destabilization is that Glass-Steagall has not been reinstated and the fed's unlimited bailout system continues. We have a rational sequester, the attack on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unrelenting unemployment, evidenced national destabilization. However, we have perpetual war being funded, and plans are expanded for the inevitable thermonuclear confrontation with Russia and China. This is insanity. We need political power at the highest levels of leadership to implement precise daycraft that executes the stabilization of the United States. Glass-Steagall, U.S. national banking, funding the redevelopment of North America will stop the collapse of the national economy. We here in Philadelphia can create the public bank and begin to fund the redevelopment of Philadelphia. Be the change. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good afternoon, Council President, City Council members. My name is Chanel Alexander. I am a Program Manager of Anti-Predatory Lending in the Community and Economic Development Department of the Urban Affairs Coalition. We stand as one of many organizations, some which you have already heard from today, as part of the Stop Predatory Payday Loans in Pennsylvania Coalition. We want to first thank you, Councilwoman Tasco. We want to thank other Councilmembers for your steady, your continuing stand and fighting payday lenders from preying off of the citizens that live in the City of Philadelphia. We are encouraged that you are still continuing to stand and reminding the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that the current legislation will not hinder individuals undergoing financial challenges in our state, that it will hinder the individuals because it will keep them in a trap of debt. The current bill under the name of SB 975 is masqueraded as a bill of reform offering micro credit, but the loans are nothing more than a long-term debt trap. Profits are made from consecutive loans taken out, and so that individuals never have a chance to get out of the burden of debt. Payday lenders make their profit this way through consecutive loans. This puts the borrowers at risk of overdrafting accounts. It draws them away from mainstream banking institutions, which will leave them at the mercy of payday lenders in the future. The cycle will continue unless the State Legislature recognizes the current PA legislation needs to be upheld. Payday lending is illegal. We are asking that City Council stands with the community organizations in Philadelphia that are working diligently to build wealth in our communities, educate our communities through financial education and anti-predatory loan options. In other words, don't give up. Please keep standing through this resolution along with Councilwoman Tasco. If this bill passes here, this is what might meet you in your districts: More individuals trying to make ends meet, but unable to because they will have less viable credit options. More people will struggle to stay in their homes. More people will struggle to pay taxes, and more people will struggle to support Philly businesses. We ask that you please stand firm in your commitment in opposing legislation that will allow 1,000 or more payday loan storefronts to come into Pennsylvania. We thank you ahead of time for your support, and we thank you for your service. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is Joanna Darcus. I'm an attorney at Community Legal Services, and I am here today to speak briefly in support of Councilwoman Tasco's resolution against the legalization of high-cost payday loans. Pennsylvania has one of the strongest laws in the country against predatory payday lending, but the out-of-state payday lenders are working hard in Harrisburg to roll back those consumer protections. In states where payday loans are legal, lenders target low- and moderate-income individuals. A recent study showed that over 80 percent of borrowers earn less than $40,000 a year and more than 40 percent earn less than 20,000. The last thing struggling Philadelphians need is high-cost debt. We thank the Pennsylvania senators on the Banking and Insurance Committee, Senators Stack, Williams, and Farnese, who voted against the payday lenders bill, and we thank Councilwoman Tasco for her ongoing leadership to combat predatory lending practices. We urge everyone to get more involved with the effort to keep our existing protections in place. More information is available at stoppaydayloanspa.com. Thank you. (Applause.)
If I could just have a brief part of your time. I'm Lance Haver, Director of Consumer Affairs. I want to thank Council for considering adding their voice to the thousands of voices from clergy, labor, community groups across the state. Keeping payday lending out of our city is an important fight, one that we're very thankful that you're joining with, and we hope that you'll pass the resolution. Thank you.
Okay. Another alteration on public comment. We're trying to do our best to accommodate everyone. We have far surpassed the number of individuals that we traditionally allow on the same subject matter, but I would like to accommodate you all. I know you came down here today, and this is a very important matter. So I would like to make this -- and I don't want to call it proposal, but this is what we'd like to do. We have ten people left on the list, and what I'd like to do is to cut the time in half, a minute and a half, as opposed to not allowing any more comment on the same subject matter, so it gives everybody an opportunity to speak, but we're going to ask that you limit that comment to a minute and a half so we can try and accommodate everybody. Okay? So we're going to have the list. We're going to read the list, those ten individuals, and we'll proceed from there. And I thank you in advance very much for your cooperation on the minute and a half. We're going to call the names and you'll just come up. I was hoping you all would applaud that, say, yeah, he's trying to be quick. (Applause.)
Annette Erling, Susan Clampet-Lindquist, Arden Cass, Tina Kluetmeier, Anne Gemmell, Denise Larrabee, Carol Blum, Aviva Kaminsky. (Witnesses approached podium.)
Please state your name for the record before you begin.
My name is Ron Whitehorne. I'm a member of the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools, and what we face here today is unprecedented. Our schools have already had their budgets slashed to the bone, and now we face the prospect of opening in the fall without adequate staff to ensure student safety, let alone conditions conducive to learning. That we can even entertain such an outcome is an indictment of our society's priorities and values. In our view, we need to do a whole lot more from both the state and the City than what is being asked for by the School District. We need funding to improve our schools, not simply maintain the status quo that does not meet the needs of our children. The bare-bones five-year budget plan of the SRC may make investors in school bonds happy, but it writes off the future of thousands of young people who will fall through the cracks in this plan. We need funding -(Applause.)
We need money to fund contracts with school workers and teachers that are good for students and fair to school employees. We can't forget that teacher working conditions are students' learning conditions and that attracting and retaining good teachers means competitive wages and benefits. Finally, I stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters from Unite Here. Their sacrifice is what this City Council should be all about, and you can start by passing the U&O bill. (Applause.)
Good afternoon. My name is Denise Larrabee and I have two children in Philadelphia's public schools, schools at which my children are happy and thriving. Like all of us, they are distressed by what they are hearing about the cuts to the funding of our schools and what awaits them in the fall. I am able to speak to you today, but dozens of citizens are not being allowed in this meeting right now. They are out in the hall, and there are seats available. Today the Philadelphia Inquirer ran an article stating that Governor Corbett is determined to help solve the Philadelphia School District's financial crisis. I and many others believe it is foolhardy to rely on the state to come through for us. Last week I went with a group of parents and children to Harrisburg to deliver 4,000 letters to Governor Corbett and state legislators. When the children attempted to deliver their letters to Governor Corbett personally, he refused to meet them for even a few minutes. Here's a photo of the children delivering their letters to the secretary. It was the perfect metaphor for his and the State Legislature's treatment of Philadelphia students over the past several years. Relying on the state to enable Philadelphia to tax cigarettes is far too big a risk given the state's previous response to the needs of our schools and their aversion to taxes in general. I strongly urge you to bring Bill 130161, Councilwoman Sanchez's use and occupancy tax bill, to a vote today and pass this means of raising funds for our schools, for we do not need the state's approval for this measure. (Applause.)
The cigarette tax is a solution that is likely to fail, and if it does, you will have failed Philadelphia's children. An undefined Plan B, Councilman Clarke, is not acceptable. We know these are difficult decisions for you all to make with political ramifications, but parents will stand by Councilmembers who stand up for Philadelphia's students. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good afternoon, all. My name is Carol Blum and I am the parent of two daughters who attend Meredith Elementary School. I'm here today to ask Council to increase funding for public schools. This week I've been thinking of Malcolm X, that controversial visionary, since he coined the phrase "by any means necessary." I think we need to fund public schools by any means necessary. (Applause.)
Now, I'm a pacifist and I am a conscientious objector. I do not condone violence in any way. I agree with Quakers when they say there is no way to peace. Peace is the way. But how can peace be the way with our young people in Philadelphia when we show them so little in positive regard? We show them little respect when teachers and school administrators do not have the most basic tools for creating positive environments in schools. How can we sleep at night knowing we are sending students the message no more music education, even though research shows it helps us to develop our brains in complex ways and it soothes us into calmer states for improved concentration. No more counselors to help you through the rough patches in life, which we all have, adults and young people included. No more nurses to attend to you when you are unwell. No more secretaries when your parents need to talk to someone at school. I'm wondering if City Council members have to bring in their own pencils, copy paper, and tissues to work. I wonder how City Council would feel if they didn't have high-tech security systems in City Hall to make you feel protected. I wonder how well you as Councilmembers will serve your constituents if you do not have a secretary to field your phone calls. Anyway, my point is this: Quakers say that peace is the way. I say that education is the way to create an informed citizenship where young people have choices for viable economic futures.
Is that it? I understand that there were a couple of people whose names were called that were in the hall.
Annette Erling, Susan Clampet-Lindquist, Arden Cass, Tina Kluetmeier, Anne Gemmell, Aviva Kaminsky.
I'm right here. I'm right here. I'm sorry. (Witnesses approached podium.)
It's okay. I just want to give you -- I'm sorry you were in the hall. We have altered -- just to briefly tell you, we have offered the public comment timeline because we wanted to let everybody speak who was on the list. So we ask that you keep your comments to a minute and a half, because we want to make sure everybody who has signed up get an opportunity.
My name is Aviva Kaminsky. I'm here with my son Archer who is starting kindergarten in September, and his father and I both work for the City, so we have to go -- we have to live in Philadelphia, and we bought a house in the C.W. Henry catchment, because it was the best school and we wanted our son to go there, but at a PTA meeting the other day, our principal told us that if they only have a principal and teachers to run the school, she won't be able to open the school. And the idea that my son may not have a school to go to at all because of these cuts is outrageous to me. And I know that there are taxes that can be collected. I know that there are funds that are available so that this doesn't have to happen. And the idea that we have to go to Philadelphia schools but those schools are so completely underfunded is really shocking to me. And I wanted to bring my son today so that you can see the face of what it looks like that you are not funding properly and what it looks like for a child who might not be able to go to their school. Thank you.
My name is Annette Erling. Before I start, I just wanted to say it was difficult to come in here and see all the empty seats after all of us have been waiting outside for hours. So that was really -(Applause.)
My husband and I have been in the City for about 20 years and we conservatively estimate that in those 20 years between all our taxes, we've probably conservatively invested $200,000 or more into the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania just in our taxes. We have not only invested money; we invested tons of time and love and commitment to the City, and to have this feeling that suddenly it's all being dishonored, that while -- my son goes to Independence Charter School. He's 10 years old. To suddenly see, Sorry, you already don't have a gym, you don't have a crossing guard, you don't have a full-time librarian, you won't have anything. There will be a teacher in a classroom. That is it. That is not honoring the commitment that we made to the City. Our property taxes are about to rise about 140 percent next year, and I've been telling everybody that's great. I'm so happy about this, because we can invest more in the City. Pay your taxes, do the right thing, invest in the children. Then I look at the property tax map and I see that all of the businesses around me are going down. The nuisance parking lot, $23,000, down in taxes next year. The apartment building that never cleans up its trash or chips the ice off of its sidewalk, down next year. All of the money that we're putting in is being wiped out by that drop in property taxes. I couldn't believe my eyes. (Applause.)
I want to say, please, please take the use and occupancy tax and make it right. Make it right so that the businesses are paying their fair share and so that the citizens can be honored for our commitment and our investment.
My name is Tina Kluetmeier and I'm honored to have the opportunity to speak before City Council today. My voice is a little horse because I was in the hallway with my -
Sorry. I had hoped to participate earlier in the process, but most of my volunteer hours have been dedicated to our kids' Odyssey of the Mind teams at Masterman and Independence Charter Schools. OM, as we call it, is a creative problem-solving competition that synthesizes science, technology, and the arts. For the past few years, it's been entirely funded and facilitated by parents at both of these schools. We were proud parents when our sons' team at ICS took first place at the regional tournament and competed in the state tournament in Mt. Pocono this spring. One of the things that we noticed at the state tournament is that school districts that invested in these kinds of opportunities swept the award ceremony, devastating our kids. Despite the time, talent, and effort that they put in and their parents into this endeavor, they just couldn't compete at the same level. Another parent told me that the School District used to support Odyssey of the Mind throughout Philadelphia, but schools stopped participating when funding for programs like this was eliminated in a previous round of budget cuts four or five years ago. We've already lost so much. Not surprising, according to a recent New York Times article, income is a better predictor of success in school than race, confirming both our observation and our experience in Mt. Pocono. It's our responsibility to work together as a community to close this gap. My husband and I moved to Philadelphia from the Boston area in the late 1980's at a time when the City was a ghost town after 5 o'clock. Nevertheless, we bought a house in the 19146 area code 20 years ago this August because we're committed to urban communities. Since then, we've been thrilled by the investments made by City Council and the Mayor to create a thriving urban center that's helped reverse the City's population decline for the first time in over 50 years. While we appreciate and enjoy the many cultural opportunities that Philadelphia offers, it's the neighborhoods -(Microphone turned off.)
Ma'am, ma'am, we need you to conclude your remarks, please.
So let me end by saying that the finger-pointing has got to stop. Yes, the state should increase its funding for the Philadelphia public schools, but the City, including its corporate citizens as well as homeowners and small businesses, must dig deep to support our children. Our property taxes have doubled while our salaries have declined more than 30 percent since 2008. It's time for leadership today.
Hold on. Mr. Decker? Your name -- this is the deal. And you may have unfortunately been in the hall.
The rules of Council as it relates to public comment authorizes Council; i.e., me, to cut off conversation on the same subject matter, which we have done -- could have done about half an hour ago. Because we understand the importance of that, we said we're going to take the final names on the list, cut the public comment time in half to accommodate everyone who had signed up.
They told me outside I could get on the list at 10 o'clock, who's ever in charge outside.
I don't know who told you or where they told you. I'm telling you what the story is now. So we have tried to accommodate everyone who was on the list, those people that were in here, people that were in the hall, and we're going to conclude our public comment now on the same subject matter.
Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help. (Audience members booing.)
Folks, folks, look, this is the deal. Now, I understand how passionate you all are, because there's nobody more passionate than the people in this Council, because we have voted to raise people's taxes -- let me -- I'm going to ask you to be respectful, because I've been extremely respectful today. These people in this Chamber have voted consistently on an annual basis to raise taxes, the taxes that people were complaining about two speakers ago, because we understand the importance of public education, and we're going to vote it again this year to put $74 million on the table for schools, more than we were asked to do. And this notion that somehow Harrisburg won't do or authorize, I don't know if that's going to happen. I'm optimistic and I continue to be optimistic. The reality is, that $74 million translates into $125 million next year. That's significant funding from a local revenue stream. Now, I'm probably not supposed to get into this conversation because I'm sitting at the chair, but I don't want people to be misled about what we have done in this Council Chambers on a consistent basis and what we are doing now to provide opportunities for public education, because at the end of the day, if you look at the record, this Council has consistently stepped to the plate sometimes when no one else has. So I just want for the record. Now, with respect to our process, we ask people to respect our process. We have put eight public hearings, eight -- I want to make you sure you understand -- eight public hearings where we allowed and asked people to come in and testify on behalf of schools and other City-related areas. There was a gentleman who referenced the rail up here earlier about we are separated by the railing. There's no other legislative body in the country where you can be this close to your elected official and be able to interact and have this much opportunity to have a process where you're allowed to have input into the process anywhere. And I'm proud about the fact that you have this opportunity to come to your City Council, because at the end of the day, we're here because you all supported us. So with respect to the process, I ask that you please respect our process. We have had a significant number of speakers. We've had a significant number of public hearings, and we will continue this dialogue, because at the end of the day, as was referenced by a speaker earlier, guess what, the $300 million that the SRC is asking for is not enough. We clearly understand it's not enough, but it's to allow us to continue our education as is. And that's not enough. This City Council will continue to be involved in the process, as we currently are, for the broader picture, because at the end of the day, you have to have a sustained revenue stream to get some continuity in the school system, which we do not, because it's been an annual budget by crisis, and we got to stop that. So with respect to us, I ask that you please respect our process, and we will make sure that we do what we need to to continue for public education.
Sir, and I apologize for that. I will take that responsibility. I apologize for that. But we have to move on because we do have business to conclude today. And, again, I want to thank you for coming down today, sir.
Thank you. So that would conclude our public comment. I will ask Mr. Decker to please read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read -(Audience members yelling.)
Folks, I'm telling you, please. Let us conclude our business. I will 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 today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, would you please now read the titles of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. 130535, entitled "A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Third Ward of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 130536, entitled "A resolution supporting the Diversity Visa program and urging the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to preserve the Diversity Visa program as an integral part of the comprehensive immigration reform legislation"; and 130537, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 1901 through 09 North Thirty-Third Street, 1911 through 1915 North Thirty-Third Street, 3210 through 3212 Arlington Street, 3211 through 3219 Arlington Street, 3216 Arlington Street, 3220 through 3226 Arlington Street, 3223 through 3237 Arlington Street, 3230 Arlington Street, 3236 Arlington Street, 3225 through 3227 West Berks Street, 3233 through 37 West Berks Street, 3210 through 14 Monument Street, 3217 Monument Street, 3220 Monument Street, 3223 through 25 Monument Street, 3224 Monument Street, 3228 Monument Street, 3229 Monument Street, 3232 through 34 Monument Street and 3233 through 37 Monument Street"; and 130538, entitled "A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Eighth, Twenty-Ninth and Forty-Third Wards of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 130539, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1347 through 51 North Front Street including 1352 North Lee Street"; and Resolution No. 130542, entitled "A resolution urging the Pennsylvania to oppose legislation that would weaken existing protections against predatory lending and harm the citizens of our Commonwealth by legalizing high-cost, small-dollar loans, commonly known as payday loans"; and Resolution No. 130543, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1736 through 54 North American Street"; and Resolution No. 130547, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the 54th and Columbia Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1717 through 25 North Fifty-Fourth Street"; and Resolution No. 130548, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the West Philadelphia Redevelopment Area, identified by house number and street address as 1410 North Fifty-Sixth Street"; and Resolution No.
130549, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Auburn Redevelopment Area, identified by house number and street address as 2118 East Monmouth Street"; and Resolution No. 130550, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2211 Blair Street.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda have been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I will ask Mr. Decker to read the titles of all of the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on your regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker will now the read titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 130255-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code by amending sections of the /CTR, Center City Overlay District to apply special controls to an area bounded by the west I-95, Race Street, 4th Street, and New Street"; and Bill No. 120142-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Miscellaneous,' by requiring the implementation of an electronic option for conducting and processing all City-related interactions or transactions and to report on the work processes for all such interactions or transactions"; and Bill No. 120143, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Miscellaneous,' by requiring the Finance Director to submit to Council, with the Mayor's proposed annual operating budget, an information technology strategic plan, following procedures to be adopted by the Managing Director"; and Bill No. 120959, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Erie Avenue, B Street, Venango Street, and Front Street"; and Bill No. 130245, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions"; and Bill No. 130387, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Frankford Creek, Aramingo Avenue, Wheatsheaf Lane, Sepviva Street, Butler Street, Frankford Avenue, Valetta Street, Coral Street, Vici Street and Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 120107, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 21 of The Code, entitled 'Miscellaneous,' by providing for the preparation of Fiscal Impact Statements regarding pending legislation and directing the Finance Director and Controller to provide such statements upon request"; and Bill No. 130445, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3801 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Finance, Taxes and Collections,' and such other provisions as may be appropriate, to reduce the net profits tax burden on certain existing and new businesses"; and Bill No. 130487, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Business Income and Receipts Tax,' by revising the alternative receipts tax computation"; and Bill No. 130324, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 2-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Recording of Deeds," and Chapter 10-1000 of The Code, entitled 'Fees,' by adding duties for the certification of deeds, providing for tangled title assistance, providing for certain fees and making certain technical changes"; and Bill No. 120614, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Sales,' by permitting sidewalk sales on a portion of Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 120901, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Ricardo Mejias to construct, own and maintain various right-of-way encroachments at 4004 North 5th Street"; and Bill No. 130016, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 10-722 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Use of Dumpsters,' by revising certain requirements for dumpsters and making technical changes"; and Bill No. 130154, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Bharat Patel, owner of the newsstand located on the southwest corner of Broad and Chestnut Streets, to construct, use and maintain conduits in and under the southwest corner of Broad and Chestnut Streets"; and Bill No.
130158, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on 7th Street between Lehigh Avenue and Somerset Street"; and Bill No. 130160, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no parking regulation on the 2700 block of North 7th Street between Lehigh Avenue and Somerset Street, both sides"; and Bill No. 130299, entitled "An ordinance authorizing, Nirlesh Desai, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the northeast corner of 17th and Chestnut Streets, to construct, use and maintain conduits in and under the northeast corner of 17th and Chestnut Streets"; and Bill No. 130356, entitled "An Sabrina's Cafe to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 908 through 912 Christian Street"; and Bill No. 130357, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Jerry's Bar to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 129 West Laurel Street"; and Bill No. 130382, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Girard Leopard Cafe, doing business as Bubba's Texas BBQ, to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 19 through 21 West Girard Avenue"; and Bill No. 130388, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-204 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Vendors in Center City,' by eliminating a previously designated vendor location on the East side of 5th Street, from Ludlow Street to Chestnut Street; and by adding to the list of locations that shall not be designated for vending 5th Street, Street to Chestnut Street"; and Bill No. 130413, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 119 by relocating the easterly curbline of Hutchinson Street, from Girard Avenue to Thompson Street"; and Bill No. 130414, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Hutchinson Street between Thompson Street and Girard Avenue"; and Bill No. B. Sweets & Treats to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 3138 Richmond Street"; and Bill No. 130421, entitled "An ordinance authorizing RRD Management to construct, own and maintain various right-of-way encroachments at 1300 Lombard Street"; and Bill No. 130449, entitled "An Atul Amin, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the southeast corner of 17th and JFK Boulevard, to construct, use and maintain conduits in, under and across the southeast corner of 17th and JFK Boulevard"; and Bill No. 130461, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Mekong River Restaurant to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1120 South Front Street"; and Bill No. 130462, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Farmers' Markets,' by amending the permissible locations"; and Bill No. 130463, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Fond Bistro doing business as Fond Restaurant to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1537 South 11th Street"; and Bill No. 130464, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking Greene Street, west side, Windrim Avenue to Roberts Avenue"; and Bill No. 130418, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code by amending Subcode PM (The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code), by providing requirements relating to the exterior maintenance of mixed-use buildings"; and Bill No. "
Thank you. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker shall call the roll, and upon called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills or indicate those bills for which the member is voting aye and those bills for which the member is voting nay. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye on all bills, except for Bill No. 130387 on which I vote nay.
Aye on all bills. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. Let the record reflect that Councilman Green voted nay on 130387. At this time, we will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of -- I guess the first one would be Bill No. 120340-AAAA.
An ordinance enacting a new Chapter 19-3800 of The Philadelphia Code authorizing the granting of tax exemptions to longtime owner-occupants of certain properties in the City of Philadelphia.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass 6/20/13 - STATED - 2ND READING finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Excuse me. I'm sorry, Mr. President. I apologize. I'm a no on that bill. 6/20/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
14, right. 14; 2. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 130182-A.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," by amending Section 19-1806, entitled "Authorization of Realty Use and Occupancy Tax," to further authorize the tax and to set the rate for such tax.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.