I really appreciate it. That will conclude the hearing. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm told District Council -- we're not going to act on this matter today. I'm told you want to testify in the future. So if I just recognize you and you can testify, we'll make sure we notify you the next time there's a hearing on this bill. Oh, is there a Kenneth Green here? Would it be okay to call you the next time we -- I'm going to close this hearing and we'll provide public notice the next time that there is a hearing on this matter. So I'm going to -- (Witness speaking without microphone.)
Yes. We 113 2/20/08 - LABOR - BILL 080003 will accept your testimony for the record in writing. You are Kenneth Green from Club Valiance, Inc., for the record? (Witness speaking without microphone.)
Thank you very much. (Witness speaking without microphone.)
Hold on a second. Come to the microphone and go ahead and get your statement on the record. (Witness approached witness table.)
My name is Kenneth W. Green. I'm the President of Club Valiance, Incorporated, the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters.
Okay. Why don't you go ahead and read your 114 2/20/08 - LABOR - BILL 080003 statement.
Okay. We, the organization of Club Valiance, Incorporated, a member of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, strongly oppose Bill 060432 introduced on May 18, 2006 by Councilmembers Kenney and DiCicco.
I'm sorry. We're not discussing that bill today. This is Bill 080003.
Okay. Then I can move on? Because basically what we wanted to do was oppose the ordinance 17 that's requiring the outside City residency requirement.
This ordinance will take jobs away from the current residents and future children of the City. It has also a potential negative impact on African-Americans in the City. It also creates additional costs in training due 115 2/20/08 - LABOR - BILL 080003 to the lack of knowledge of the City. African-Americans are traditionally underrepresented in the City of Philadelphia Fire Department. The benefits have not been proved or justified how this will be helpful to the Philadelphia Fire Department. There is no hard data on this subject. It also destroys potential work that the Fire Leadership Academy is performing in the Philadelphia high schools. There is also a shortage of paramedics nationwide. It's not just a Philadelphia problem.
This concludes the hearing. (Committee on Labor and Civil Service adjourned at 1:40 p.m.) 116 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on February 20, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)