This is, after all, their national headquarters, and yet 216 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 it's the only city in the nation without a public access system. And that City Council has a system that City Council one year ago has required -- or an ordinance. Please do not miss this chance again. Thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Joy Butz. I'm a member of Kensington Welfare Rights Union and I'm also a member of the Philadelphia Access Coalition. We, the working poor, and those working for social justice say no to media filled with stereotypical and demeaning imagery. No to media that denies our basic humanity and renders us invisible. And no to media that promote and justifies our oppression. We have too few outlets in which to tell our stories, to speak our truth. From the criminalization of the 217 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 poor, our youth, seniors, working poor, and immigrants to the war on terror, the mainstream media has continued its historical role as a willing propaganda machine for corporate interests and has blocked dialogue debate on publicly owned airways. We believe that communication is a human right, that under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 in our United States Constitution, everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expresses this right, including freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Public access is essential to democracy. Let's make sure Comcast operates to make public access happen. And we request that until Comcast makes a public commitment to adequate funding of public access, that we ask that no transfer agreement be 218 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 reached with Comcast. Thank you.
And I would just like to add, Chairman Clarke, that Comcast in other cities is supporting public access. In a refranchise agreement in San Francisco, which has a much smaller cable base, subscriber base than Philadelphia, Comcast recently committed to a $4.4 million, over-four-year commitment to the operating funds of the public access system of San Francisco. That's $1.1 million a year in operating support to the San Francisco public access system. They are not really talking about that type of support here, and we're asking you in City Council to support us, to support the public, to support your constituents to make sure that Comcast makes that kind of commitment here to its subscribers so that public access can be realized in our 219 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 city. (Applause.)
Thank you. Any questions of these witnesses? (No questions.)
Hearing none, I thank you for your testimony. Anyone else interested in testifying on this bill? (Phyllis Gilbert comes forward.)
I just learned about this today so that I will provide you with written testimony and hand it to you later.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify, even at the last minute. I'm the Director of 220 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 Peace Action in Pennsylvania. We have a thousand members approximately in Philadelphia itself. I'm also --
Ma'am, I'm sorry. Please state your name for the record.
Sorry. I was just getting to that. My name is Phyllis Gilbert and I'm the Director of Peace Action. And I'm also testifying on behalf of the Philadelphia (indiscernible) Network, which has a number of organizational members in Philadelphia. On behalf of these two organizations, we insist that the City's Public Property Committee adopt a mandatory condition for the transferring of Time Warner's franchise to Comcast and that Comcast -- that that commitment be to make public -- a public statement and commitment to provide adequate money, 221 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 startup money, for facilities and operating for the Philadelphia Public Access Coalition. As you've been hearing, it's been years since this idea first was 7 approved by City Council, and we think 8 it's really important for the democracy 9 in our city -- that's one of Peace 10 Action's primary missions, to promote -- 11 or to help to promote democratic 12 communities in our city. 13 Public access -- and some of 14 the problems that we see that public 15 access could overcome in this process 16 are, one, that it would be affordable 17 media access -- or because affordable 18 media access is wanting for a wide 19 variety of organizations such as unions, 20 basic human needs organizations, environmental organizations, and peace and justice organizations. You've heard a little bit about that today. Many of these organizations do not have sufficient financial wherewithal 222 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 to afford costly TV broadcasting, and public access would, of course, do that. Major media has become more and more controlled by the influence of large corporations such as Comcast and monopolies, so that these important voices that I just referred to are not given sufficient airing. Many, many ordinary residents are seriously uninformed about the former issues needed for participating -- or viable participation in democracy. And, five, broadcasting has become more significantly focused on entertainment rather than giving the constituents the kind of information that they need to be a really good participant in democracy. So Peace Action believes that these problems have greatly contributed to the fall in voting by citizens, and more important, the failure in efforts to hold public officials accountable. The remains of our democracy is 223 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 at stake. We think it's an extremely important issue, and I really appreciate you giving it a hearing. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Anyone else? (Witness comes forward.)
-- and members of the committee and members of Council. Thank you for the opportunity for me to speak. My name is Irvin Benjamin Shannon, and I'm the Executive Director of the Harmonious Volunteer Center. I'm affiliated with organizations all around 224 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 the Philadelphia area, and the issue that I hear about public access is appalling. The fact is that companies can sell our subscriber dollars for massive amounts of money and deny us, the local citizens, the access to talk to one another. I'm an advocate for the reopening of Women's Medical Hospital that served more than 200,000 people around this immediate area. I'm an advocate for gaming problems that are going on. I'm an advocate for the reduction of crime. And public access will certainly be one vehicle that would allow us to talk to one another across the City in order to reduce some of these problems and some of these issues -- perhaps maybe even take some of the strain of work on you representatives that we've elected here to the public office to make these decisions on our behalf. 225 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 In representing many of the organizations that we have been assisting in the form of technology as we go from analog to digital, as we continue to make technological advances, they deny us the opportunity to, in large, in the under-served neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Now they -- Microsoft is building a school at 40th and Girard called The School of the Future. We hope to be involved as a community organization and we hope to link in our local community-based organizations as well. Many initiatives have been taken by many major organizations, but only in supposition, small amounts -- small, very, very small percentages. I think that it's appalling if we allow companies to monopolize our consumable dollars for entertainment through technology. I'd like for you to consider 226 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 'cause I don't care whether we have one company, five companies or whatever. I think that the moral factor here is that we need public access that has been denied to us for over 20-some-odd years. We need to be able to talk to one another as neighbors to solve these many, many problems that we have collectively. As a crime deterrent, I'd like to mention in closing that public access would allow us community organizations to talk to one another in order to locate and assist our local law enforcement public servants that serve us in regards to the crime and the shootings and the killings and shootings. The one killing that I observed not more than a week ago in West Philadelphia was when a young man walked up to another young man and just pow-pow. I was able to place a 9-1-1 call. The perpetrator got caught, and I do believe that they were able to get the victim to the hospital in time. That was just one 227 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 point of being able to continue to communicate with one another. We have systems in place, everything except public access, and I would like for you to consider -- or whoever is in charge to put in the financial commitment, whatever is necessary, because when you equate the numbers that I heard here earlier today with the transfer of this Time Warner to Comcast, $3800 times 49,000 customers in Area II represents $176 million. If we as subscribers can spend that kind of money, I guess they have five areas? If we project it out, we're looking at about maybe 12 to 15 percent of the City's population. I think financially, they can afford whatever it is in operations and technology and training, education and what have you in order to help us little people. I thank you for your time.
Thank you, 228 06/5/06 - Public Property/Public Works - Bill 060440 sir. Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
This concludes the public hearing on the Committee of Public Property. * * * 229 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting
We will now go into the public meeting. Councilwoman Tasco, can I please ask you for a motion on Bill No. 6 060470.
Mr. Chair, I move that Bill 060470 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for the suspension of the rules so that this bill 12 can be read at the next Council session. (Motion seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Those approve? Those opposed? The ayes have it. Councilman Kenney, can I ask for a motion on Bill 060264. I'm sorry Councilman, I forgot. For the record, Bill 060264 will be heard on Thursday, at 9:30, at the request of the sponsor. Councilman Kenney, could I ask 230 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting for a motion on 060314
Mr. Chairman I move that Bill No. 060314 be reported out of this committee favorably and a request be made for a rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. (Motion seconded.)
It's bee moved and seconded that Bill 060314 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Those approve? Those opposed? The ayes have it. Bill 060314 will be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Councilman Rizzo, I ask for a motion on 060336.
I move that Bill No. 060336 to be moved from this committee with a favorable recommendation, with the rules of Council to be suspended so it can be heard at the 231 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting next session of Council. (Motion seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded that it Bill 060336 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Those who approve? Those opposed? The ayes have it. Bill 060336 will be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a rules suspension so as to be read at the next session. Councilman Ramos, can I please ask for a motion on Bill 060338. I'm sorry. Councilman Ramos, do you have an amendment? There has been an amendment that has been discussed and circulated on Bill 060338. Councilman Ramos, can I please ask for a motion on the adoption of the amendment.
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 060338, 232 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting as amended be --
On bill 19 060338, I move for the adoption of the amendment.
Bill No. 24 060338, a request for the amendment, all in favor? 233 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting Those opposed? The ayes have it. Councilman Ramos, I ask for a motion on Bill 060338, as amended.
I move that Bill 7 060338 be reported out of committee, as amended, with a favorable recommendation and a request that rules the of Council be suspended at our next Council meeting. (Motion seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded that Bill 060338 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Those who approve? Those opposed? The ayes have it. Bill 060338 will be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension as requested for reading at the next session of Council. Councilwoman Tasco.
I respectfully have to recuse myself from 234 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting this vote in that I am a member of the Board of City Trusts.
How could I forget that, Councilwoman. Councilman Kenney?
Mr. Chair, I move that Bill No. 060390 be reported out of this committee favorably and a request made for a rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. (Motion seconded.)
It's being moved and seconded that Bill No. 060390 be reported out of committee. Those who approve? Those opposed? Let the record reflect that Councilwoman Tasco has recused herself as she is a member of the Gas Commission.
City Trust, all right. And the Gas Commission, by 235 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting the way. Bill 060390 has been reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and the rules will be suspended so as to allow reading at the next session of Council. Can I get you on the next one, Councilwoman Tasco?
I move that Bill No. 060434 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that a request for the suspension of rules of Council be given so that this bill can be read at the next session of Council. (Motion seconded.)
Those approve? Those opposed? Bill 060434 is reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council. Councilman Rizzo, Bill 060440. 236 6/5/06 Public Property/Public Works - Public Meeting
I move that Bill 060440 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council of Council be suspended to be heard at the next session of Council. (Motion seconded.)
Those who approve? Those opposed? Ayes have it. Bill 060440 is reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension so as to allow reading at the next session of Council. Thank you very much. * * * 237 C E R T I F I C A T E 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 Monday, June 5, 2006, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. _______________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO 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.)